I've a question for the MINI-owning campers in here. Looks like I will be getting a Clubman (yay) but I want to know how it holds up when going on some of those slightly bumpy camp trails. I've hit nothing in my travels that taxes the Fozzie, so we are not talking (cue Harold and Kumar) *EXTREME* camping, but nonetheless it is off the asphalt.

What have your MINI camping experiences been like?

 

The car goes fine down dirt roads, but just like any other car, you want to be careful not to run over anything like the top of a boulder that will damage your under carriage. Someone in one of these threads posted a video of them driving their MINI through the woods at a pretty fast clip.

 

I'm camping right now! I took a week off to spend some quality time with Boo Boo ( Hawthorne actually, but my wife hates that name, and insisted that he is Boo Boo ). I'm exploring the coast's windy roads north of S.F.

On the trail, Go slow! The mushroom syndrome is caused by the suspension bottoming out hard. That force has to go somewhere. One big pothole is ( potentially ) all it takes. My Craven tower plates arrived last night, after I had left for the trip , so I'm taking it very easy.. You'll be happy with the extra space of the Clubman, the coupe just holds what I need for myself ( which includes a Guitar and mandolin in their cases, YMMV ). I should mention that I could get a bunch more in, but I wanted rear visibility, so my gear in the rear only goes as high as the bottom of the rear window. As for the extra weight, I don't notice it while increasing speed.

Bill in P.G.

 

Well ill chime in on this I don't own a Clubman...yet. But ive gone camping in my MC many times before. Last time we managed to fit all the camping supplies needed for a 4 day trip, +++ 3 full grown men. ( 2- at 5'9 and one at 6'3) Not to mention are fishing gear. Non-stop driving of 4 hours in the mountains. I think the clubman would more then handle your camping needs. Here is some pics from that trip