30 replies to this topic

[inim_repooc]

Soon I will want to tow a 10ft speedboat behind my mini. The weight is very low and that isn't an issue for my licence I don't think.. What I'm unsure of is if I can actually fit a towbar to my mini? It is a mid 98 model and I think that is right around the time the changeover of able to tow it not is? Also as mine is a jap import which first registered date counts? Thanks

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Edited by inim_repooc, 29 February 2016 - 12:19 AM.

[inim_repooc]

My car was built in October 97 l, but it is a 98 'model'

[Steve220]

Driving license, you'll be fine. When was the car registered? Usually that is indication of its first use, but unless yours is before Aug 98 then you'll need to find a type approved bar.

My worry here is the weight of the boat and trailer combination having a strain on your rear subframes mountings as you move it and during braking. The small trailers you see on here or at mini shows that are made from the rear end of a mini are what I'd class as max as they're not technically supposed to tow anything - just look at your vin plate, it should have a train weight. If it doesn't, it shouldn't be used,

Edited by Steve220, 29 February 2016 - 07:52 AM.

[Steve220]

If you did go ahead, you'd also need to sort out the wiring for the ancillary socket.

[inim_repooc]

Driving license, you'll be fine. When was the car registered? Usually that is indication of its first use, but unless yours is before Aug 98 then you'll need to find a type approved bar.

My worry here is the weight of the boat and trailer combination having a strain on your rear subframes mountings as you move it and during braking. The small trailers you see that are made from the rear end of a mini are what I'd class as max for a mini as they're not technically supposed to tow anything,

There are legislations for the weight of the trailer, ie it cannot weight more than the car unladen. So your boat and trailer cannot weigh more than 715kg?

the boat is only a 10ft'r and fully loaded with the engine and fuel it comes to about 300 kg. The first used date is confusing me as which date counts? The one in the UK when registered or the one in Japan, which I don't know - all I do know is the manufacture date is October 97 so it seems likely it would have been registered in Japan before then? Thanks

[Steve220]

How much does it weight with the trailer? The weight of the boat on its own is irrelevant. Do you have info on when the car was first used in Japan?

[inim_repooc]

Trailer is about 200kg tops so around 400 kg without people in total. And unfortunately I don't, not sure on what I could do?

Edited by inim_repooc, 29 February 2016 - 08:01 AM.

[Steve220]

See my first post, second paragraph.

[inim_repooc]

See my first post, second paragraph.

+1

[inim_repooc]

Unfortunately my vin plate is blank bar colour and vin..

[minifreek1]

General rule of thumb for towing with any vehicle is an 85% match.... so a 300KG boat plus 65-70KG of trailer would equate to a Mini weighing roughly 700Kg would be a train weight of 1.7 Tonne, which would be just under the maximum on a basic car licence...

 

I tow a large caravan with my Omega V6, and the train weight of that is just over 3 Tonnes, but I have 'grandad rights' on my licence as Im old and passed my driving test many many years ago....

 

I have a towbar fitted to my Mini, but I only tow a very small and lightweight trailer....

[minifreek1]

Unfortunately my vin plate is blank bar colour and vin..

 

It seems the combination of trailer + boat will exceed the max towing limit (approx 90% match) so you may not be able to tow legally...

 

Its a very grey area of what is and what isnt allowed to tow or be towed... there are no laws regarding trailers except they have to have reflectors (depends when built), lights (depends on size) and brakes (depends on weight and amount of axles)...

 

A Mini will be able to tow anything, but depending on what it is towing might not be able to stop...

[nicklouse]

in 1998 the rules were changed requiring CE approved towbars to be fitted. Also cars were to be homologated for towing.

 

now you may have issues it is an import but you may be OK it kinda depends on what it say on the V5c then there is the weight. the max weight that the mini can tow (earlier cars) is 400kg.

I have no idea what the stated Gross train weight is though.

 

PS the guide of 75% 85% is all pure rubbish. there are stated weights available look them up.

 

for example look up a LandRover they can tow over their weight.

 

finally if you go ahead as you think you are ok on weight get it onto a weigh bridge to check. especially if it is close to legal as you will get pulled over.

[inim_repooc]

in 1998 the rules were changed requiring CE approved towbars to be fitted. Also cars were to be homologated for towing.

 

now you may have issues it is an import but you may be OK it kinda depends on what it say on the V5c then there is the weight. the max weight that the mini can tow (earlier cars) is 400kg.

I have no idea what the stated Gross train weight is though.

 

PS the guide of 75% 85% is all pure rubbish. there are stated weights available look them up.

 

for example look up a LandRover they can tow over their weight.

 

finally if you go ahead as you think you are ok on weight get it onto a weigh bridge to check. especially if it is close to legal as you will get pulled over.

Thanks for your reply. my V5 gives only the date the car was first registered in this country - not too sure on the legal 'terms' on the first used date, as I'm pretty sure it would have been registered before Aug 1998 in Japan - but not till 2010 here.. 

[nicklouse]

and this is what you will have to find out. and then check with VOSA.

 

as if you just guess you might find yourself in a whole pile of pain.

 

VIN number to heritage and ask. etc then talk to VOSA as to the legalities.

 

it is unlikely that they will class it as 2010. but it will be up to you to prove you can tow with it rather than expect them to find out for you.