2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Trailer hitch?

The bed is 5'x6'... basically just a smidge narrower and a smidge shorter than my queen-sized bed. That's a double-wide sleeping bag spread out on it... plenty of room for 2 + our Cairn terrier who went camping with us last year. I'm 6'4", so when I'm alone, I tend to sleep diagonally across the bed, but it works just fine for 2 people (and I'd rather sleep with my knees folded up a bit than be in a tent on the ground).

The plastic top folding table that you can see w/ the water heater and basin on it is actually a part of the trailer. It is reinforced on the underside. When you fold the legs down, it can be placed on rails around the perimeter of the bench seating and the seat back cushions go down on top of it. This provides you much less standing room, but makes a 3.5'x5' (or so) bed that would work nicely for a smaller person at the same time (so Mom/Dad/Child could easily go out camping).

 

Pictures speak better than words... here is a manufacturer's pic of the inside in 3-person sleeping mode:



My trailer has the AC option, so that little storage compartment you see in this pic is open underneath and has a door to the outside and sliders so a window-unit AC can be pulled in and out.

 

Here, here! The Curt unit looks like an exact copy (at least in design) of the MDM hitch. It doesn't even look like a hitch that was engineered for the same car, but an exact copy where they bought a MDM hitch and sent it to China to be replicated. MDM service is out of this world... well worth the extra pennies to me to support someone who clearly cares about the MINI community and is innovating for our needs.

The Sportlink by MINI-Fini also looks very well made. The install that I saw on a couple of R53s was much more intensive, but it is an elegant solution.

I've thought about building a track gear trailer and perhaps if I get into Auto-X more I might do it, but I generally take my camper with me to DE events and I can't tow 2 trailers at the same time!

Were I going to build a track gear toter, I'd snap up one of these from Harbor Freight and bolt a locking pick-up bed utility box to the front for tools / jacks / compressors. A bit of fun with angle iron and a pipe through the center for locking the wheels to the trailer and I'd be ready to go. A friend of mine in Dallas built one like this and bought a full spare set of tools for the trailer only, so when he decided that he wanted to go to the track or Auto-X, he just packed a lunch and hooked up the trailer to go... no digging around for tools, spare brake pads, fluids etc and no unpacking when he came home.


http://www.harborfreight.com/1090-lb-capacity-40-1-2-half-inch-x-48-inch-mini-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-four-lug-wheels-and-tires-90153.html

And something like this (though I think this one is too wide for the trailer above):

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202221744/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=truck+box&storeId=10051

 

Support the community?

Other than by selling products for the cars?

 

Just a question.....don't bite my head off.....

 

Definitely not intended, didn't know how to read your question...
:beer:

 

Here is mine


I don't have pictures of it open-looks just like a regular popup.

The hitch is awesome- done by Minifini and custom install by Detroit Tuned including electric brakes and electric plug.

hidden receiver and electric plug

 

You can do more than sleep behind your MINI too! MiniDoMore.

 

I love that Thule trailer. It's pricy, but looks incredibly well made.

 

I had a less expensive trailer with small wheels and no shock absorbers and it shook the load and rattled the hitch unmercifully! Yakima sells this and it works well!

Putting a plywood deck on it to carry odd dirty crap (bags of manure for the garden) works, or for carrying plywood or sheetrock. I have the lightweight shocks (250lb rated) but eh 350lb shocks are also available.

 

Here's my hitch 'n towin' post from long, long ago.

BlimeyCabrio » Blog Archive » What’s that cabrio haulin’? Part 2

And I LOVE the camp trailers.

 

What is "M/A sponsor"? Did BMW-Group have anything to do with the MINI-FINI design?

 

They are a sponsor on this forum Motoring Alliance.....M/A.

The MINI-Fini is the "approved" hitch for the MINI. Even has factory installation instructions.

 

Well, I went with CURT instead because of their higher tongue rating and much more reasonable price ($650 less expensive!).

More details HERE.

 

What is the Curt rated for?

 

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

I see what you did there. :devil:

 

Well played cct1... LMAO

For those not "getting" the inside reference there, Curt blatantly stole their design from of another Mini-specific hitch manufacturer. Not saying the Curt piece lacks quality, but their business ethics certainly leave something to be desired.

 

This has been gone over and over again and again.

Might I point you to post number 50 in this thread http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/mini-stuff/3120-mdm-vs-curt-hitch-5.html#axzz2e1nSJDMI