13 replies to this topic

[sjbuckle83]

Hi everyone,



Whats the possibility of having a tow bar on a mini?

I play drums and would need a trailer to transport them. Are there are implications of doing this?
Also, I would be spending a lot of time on motorways and dual carriageways, is this anything to worry about?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!


Cheers
Steve

[Bungle]

its ok towing in a mini

the only things to watch out for is the maxium towing weight for a mini and the newer mpi mini's are not type approved for towing

[minislapper]

Can't remember the cut off date but it's 90's sometime. But definitely not legal for the very late ones.

You could always look at getting an estate or a van.

Edited by minislapper, 14 July 2006 - 11:44 AM.

[taffy1967]

I think it's the Twin-Point/MPi Mini's from late 1996 onwards that never got approval and you can probably blame BMW for that (amongst lots of other things!).

Mind you I imagine many Twin-Point Mini owners have fitted them anyway and i'm sure i've seen a few?

[Jake Blues]

you can probably blame BMW for that (

Nope....Rover!

[Dan]

I think it's the Twin-Point/MPi Mini's from late 1996 onwards that never got approval and you can probably blame BMW for that

It's because cars didn't have to be specifially approved for towing until august '98. The when the law came in, the Mini was already scheduled for deletion so why would they go through the expensive process of type approving the car to tow, and type approving all the different designs of towbar (yes the bar needs approval too) for a car that would only be in production for another 2 years that had a very small market share anyway? If you want to blame anyone blame the European Parliament for introducing the law.

You may well have seen some MPi Minis with tow bars because some of them can be fitted with one perfectly legally. Any car first registered before the 1st of august 1998 can be. Some people may have fitted their own tow bars to newer Minis than this, but fitting centers won't have. It is illegal even to fit a bar to such a car.

So if you want to tow you need a Mini from before august '98.

Or as has been said, a Mini Estate will take a drum kit.

[Jake Blues]

Someone find a picture of Ringo's customised, rear opening Mini saloon with his drums in please!

[JoeBodge]

where is the best place to get a tow bar for a mini from? as i imagine you will need some special bracket or something to mount it?

Edited by JoeBodge, 15 July 2006 - 12:52 PM.

[miniboo]

your wish is my command oh leather studded blues lover.

http://www.miniandmo....au/resto_2.asp

not Ringos mini but one very similar

And the actual mini

http://www.minispace...ringo/index.htm

[minimadjonesy]

you can get them from towsure

[Dan]

i imagine you will need some special bracket or something to mount it?

Errrm,

Well, you need a Mini towbar. Almost all cars need a different, model specific tow bar.

[Jake Blues]

your wish is my command oh leather studded blues lover.

If only every one was so acquiescent

[Guess-Works.com]

I have a towbar on mine... as I one of those bike racks which just slot on, got it from a show for 50 quid, got another in the garage which is a different design, but that's going on the trailer so I can put the bikerack on the trailer and then the trailer on the mini...

[Naughty 40]

Maximum towing weight is 400Kgs for a saloon