9 replies to this topic

[Minii_Matt]

Hi,
I'm looking at buying a tow strap for my mini to make it easier should it be needed to be towed. I was just wondering if anyone already had one of these and if so, where is it attached on the car?

Also, could a tow eye like this be fitted anywhere to a mini as an alternative?

Thanks in advance,
Matt

[Bungle]

i thought you had to use a ridged bar

[miniman retford]

MRA mini's do a towing eye to replace the front subframe mount bolt

http://www.mra-minis...-made-in-uk.htm

[Carlos W]

i thought you had to use a ridged bar

I think this is the case too, so make sure you can connect a rigid bar to your towing eye!


http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item5adc24d888

[pikey7]

i thought you had to use a ridged bar

why? afaik tow ropes are legal, must be a max length of 4.5M, and anything over 1.5m must be "clearly visible".

edit: only reference i can find to their "illegality" is from the highway code:

"In the event of a breakdown, be aware that towing a vehicle on a tow rope is potentially dangerous. You should consider professional recovery."

that doesn't make them illegal though...

Edited by pikey7, 20 October 2010 - 02:23 PM.

[Minii_Matt]

Thanks for the help so far guys. Would a tow eye like this be a better option then? And would it be possible to attach the tow strap above to the bolt in the front mount of the subframe?

Thanks,
Matt

[ukcooper]

I'd go with the mra type, got two fitted to the front of mini over a year now and no rust and looks good.

As for tow ropes i suppose it case of are you insured these days!!.

[samsfern]

i just use the towing eye on the front valence, but thats only really bolted on for trackdays on when i do breakdown, as mines debumpered and i dread to think how much damage it would do to the subframe if someone crashed into it.

I have been towed by the front eye with no problems.

I also have a hoop welded on the rear subrame, the hoop part of an exhaust clamp was used for this. I have had to be towed out backwards by it once when i put it in the kitty litter on a trackday.

[Gaffer]

i thought you had to use a ridged bar

why? afaik tow ropes are legal, must be a max length of 4.5M, and anything over 1.5m must be "clearly visible".

edit: only reference i can find to their "illegality" is from the highway code:

"In the event of a breakdown, be aware that towing a vehicle on a tow rope is potentially dangerous. You should consider professional recovery."

that doesn't make them illegal though...

apparently ropes are legal, i was with bungle but apparently not

[bunch1980]

I have a towing eye from mini spare for front not yet fitted though, and im sure with these towing eyes you are only meant to use a tow rope and not a
fixed/rigid tow bar is this correct?

I only need it really for a very short distance as I have the AA to be recovered and not sure if they need a towing eye to recover or not.
Where i live is though a low under pass under our flat so AA wont be able to come through just wanted to be able to tow it to garage really!!