7 replies to this topic

[TracyTwoMinis]

Hi folks. I am after advice on two issues. 1) I want to buy a towing dolly so I can tow my Mini 1000. I bought one off eBay, but when I picked it up, it's far too big, and I have to sell it again. I could do with something compact, but not a frame towing bracket type affair, instead something that lifts the front wheels. Does anyone know where I might find such an item, or have one for sale? 2) I want a rear wiper fitted to my Mini 1000, but the only Mini "specialist" I've approached so far suggested the rear wiper from a Maestro, which I think would wipe all of the rear of the car! Would I be correct in thinking that a wiper motor and one arm from a calssic Mini is the way forward?

Cheers dears!

[bmcecosse]

It's not legal to tow with a dolly - except for emergency recovery. Why a rear wipe? Just clean the glass and coat with RainX or similar..

[Jordie]

rear wipers sometimes come up on ebay.

as for towing dolly. we had to modify a frame to drop in to take the smaller diameter wheels. wasnt really designed for older cars. you may need to make or modify.

we plan to use our a frame but solid mount it to the mini using the front subframe mounts....currently our a frame uses chains around the lower arms and it can work loose.

[SA MINI]

It's not legal to tow with a dolly - except for emergency recovery. Why a rear wipe? Just clean the glass and coat with RainX or similar..

It is legal to tow using a dolly. Providing the dolly has brakes.

Edited by SA MINI, 04 July 2012 - 08:35 PM.

[TracyTwoMinis]

I may be using the term dolly incorrectly. I actually want something compact to be able to tow Mini with "Bini".

[Guess-Works.com]

Can a BMW mini legally tow a mini ?

Towing limit for a BMW MINI - 650kg so it's touch and go, once you add in the weight of either a dolly or A frame, then I think you'll be over.

Further to this you come into the areas of what constitutes a trailer...

My understanding is as follows...

A trailer can be braked or unbraked, unbraked trailers are limited to a MGW ( max gross weight ) of 750kg, with a further restriction that the MGW of the unbraked trailer cannot exceed 50% of the MGW of the towing vehicle.

A braked trailer must have all wheels in contact with the road, braked, Anything on a dolly, even if the dolly itself is braked, is technically unbraked as the wheels on the vehicle on the dolly which are still in contact with the road are unbraked, and likewise when a vehicle is on an A frame, so you are still restricted by the 750KG MGW.

The only exception is vehicle recovery

Edited by Guess-Works.com, 06 July 2012 - 09:55 AM.

[david036]

With using a towing dolly/A frame you getting into very grey areas. Technicall as I understand the rules these as already mentioned are only allowed as a form of emergancy repair. But more often than a blind eye is turned. Don't forget to check your insurance to make sure you're covered for towing!!

[TracyTwoMinis]

Ooh, there's a thought... thank you.