Most liked posts in thread: Towing your Classic

Dave, I think he could pull his P'up with his new Countryman just fine.

 

I can officially verify that the MiniFini draw bar and a front-wheel dolly is *very* do-able with a Mk.1 Cooper S....



I don't know if I'd say "I didn't notice it back there", but it was zero perspiration getting the car through multiple, rough construction zones on I70 from Dayton to Columbus - I actually had to be careful not to speed, and had no issues passing slow trucks and other traffic.

Fiona is home, ready to finish the last re-assembly steps once parts arrive:

 

To pull that kind of weight you should use the MINIFINI setup. It has more support with the bars that go into the body, rather than just using the 8 bolts that hold the bumper on like the other hitches. Then MINI FINI also has built a specific tow dolly for the classic. It's smaller and lighter designed just to fit a classic to save weight.

 

+1 on the MINI FINI.

Mark

 

For what's its worth, we go 80 mph on interstates, and as fast as the limit is on back road twisties, with our 800 lb teardrop in tow. Except for narrow bridges, and slow pokes, we are not keeping anyone up

Mark

 

If anyone is interested in a tow bar set up for a classic Mini or Moke, I have one surplus to my needs. (I have since bought a lightweight trailer) Car towed beautifully behind my Subaru. You almost forget it's back there... Pictures on request. $75 pick up in Northeast Ohio only (I can't be bothered to pack the thing up for shipping) or could possibly bring to a Mini Meet or event...
I can be reached at:
minimoke1968 "at" hotmail.com

And for those bragging about high speeds when towing, please take a few moments and think about the physics involved. There's a huge amount of mass back there that can make your day go bad in a heartbeat.

 

I hate tow bars as they are practically a permanent installation on the car. Tow dolly means not having to bolt anything to the towed car.

 

This unit just has a crossbar with a couple of eyes to clevis pin the rest of the tow bar on. Hardly even noticable when everything else is unhooked.
I've towed classic minis with a tow dolly, the tow bar and now a lightweight trailer. (6' X 12'-600 pounds with brakes) All of 'em have their advantages and disadvantages....

Driving your classic Mini to the event no matter how far:
Pros:
Well, no one will call you a trailer queen.
You have the pride of keeping a car decades old able to drive long distances.
Cons: Even if someone called you names, you've probably lost your hearing by then anyhow. Not to mention the kidney damage...
I refuse to drive my Moke on a freeway. Driving back roads to an event can take a loooooooooooong time.

Tow bar pros:
Easy to set up
Easy to store either at an event or home
Cruising to the event in air conditioned comfort with tunes...
Tow bar cons:
Cannot back up. If you get into a tight spot you need to unhook, reposition and hook back up again.
If the towed vehicle suffers a mishap in the front or rear suspension or wheel bearings, you run out of options for getting home...

Tow dolly pros & cons:
Pretty much the same as a tow bar with the following exceptions.
It's a bit more hassle to store at an event or home.
If the mishap is in the front suspension or wheel bearings, you can somehow get the thing up on the dolly to get home and deal with it.

Trailer pros:
All four wheels of the towed vehicle are off the ground. At the very worst, if some mishap occurs, you can winch the remains on the trailer and get it home.
Brakes-even though the Mini is pretty light, it can still push you around in panic conditions on a tow bar or tow dolly.
Trailer cons:
Much more cash for a good unit.
Can be a hassle to store at an event or home.
Even more wear 'n tear on the tow vehicle.

Having owned and used all three, so far I'm most comfortable with the trailer. But, that's just me.

 

A custom tow-dolly works just fine for towing a classic behind our Clubman or our MCS

Paul

 

This is awesome. I'd like to do something like this with my classic if I need to take her long distances.

 

We've got the Countryman covered with a new totally concealed class III system. I'm not saying you should try to tow 5,000 lbs. just that the bracket tested out to that point. I'll
get a couple of photos of installs we have done into the gallery.

 

I haven't found any photos in your gallery yet. Did you post them some other place??

Paul

 

Sorry to necro-post, but I figured I'd add to this thread instead of starting another...

I'm about to tow my classic using my 2005 Cooper S, a newly-installed MiniFini tow system, and a front-wheel dolly. Any tips? I've towed plenty of trailers in my day, but never with a manual, and never with something so close to the max capacity of the towing car - from what I'm reading here and elsewhere the Cooper S should have plenty of power to get the job done, but I'm more worried about the transmission. I'll be going about 90 miles, mainly on highways, with no big or long grades along the way so pretty simple. Thanks in advance!! --Matt

 

Just do it. You'll be fine.

My only tips are don't slip the clutch & watch your braking. Those are the weak links.

 

If that's all there is to it I should be fine then. Thanks man!