12 replies to this topic

[Ianwiltshire]

Hi I am new to this site I own a 1985 Austin Mini 1000 and I am looking for a towing bracket if anyone out there can help either with selling one or having one made I would be most grateful 

kind regards Ian

[Ethel]

If you mean something like this they are available from most Mini parts suppliers.

 

If you're intending to routinely tow a Mini on its wheels it's probably not legal and certainly not a great idea for the gearbox.

[68+86auto]

What exactly do you mean?

 

A rear tow hook?

 

A front tow hook?

 

A tow bar to tow a trailer with a mini?

 

Some kind of bracket to tow a mini behind a vehicle with a A frame?

Edited by 68+86auto, 04 June 2026 - 02:04 AM.

[mab01uk]

There is a photo of the Mini Tow Bar Kit that used to be sold by MiniSport in link below.

(Scroll down in link for photo of kit)

https://www.minispor...ni-tow-bar.html

I don't think they sell them anymore but there are often secondhand classic Mini Tow Bars listed for sale on Ebay.

 

This old thread below may also be of interest.

Fitting a Tow Bar to a Mini:-

https://www.theminif...-bar-to-a-mini/

 

[nicklouse]

Good luck as most companies stopped making any when Rover stoped the approval for their Mini to tow.

 

there is a company out in Germany that makes approved tow bars.

[coopertaz]

minisport may still sell them! google takes you to site but if you search they don't come up?! phone call to them may offer results, if not then ebay had some that mount to rear subframe and rear seat pan

[Frisco]

If you mean something like this they are available from most Mini parts suppliers.

 

If you're intending to routinely tow a Mini on its wheels it's probably not legal and certainly not a great idea for the gearbox.

 

Why would it be either illegal or bad for the gearbox?

[Quinlan minor]

 

If you mean something like this they are available from most Mini parts suppliers.

 

If you're intending to routinely tow a Mini on its wheels it's probably not legal and certainly not a great idea for the gearbox.

 

Why would it be bad for the gearbox?

 

Front-wheel-drive cars should never be towed with their front wheels on the ground.

Towing with the drive wheels on the ground can cause significant damage to the transmission of the car.

 

[Ethel]

You'd have to check your local towing/trailer regulations. The car will be considered a trailer, it'll need a trailer light board and likely other reflectors to the front & sides. It will have to be within the permitted limits of the towing vehicle & driver's licence. A Mini could slip in under the 750kg limit for an unbraked trailer, but that's the gross weight, including everything in it and the weight of whatever is connecting it to the towing vehicle. It wouldn't take much to go over the limit - the kerb weight of an MPI already is.

 

Regarding the gearbox:

 

The mainshaft locates in the end of the input shaft with a fairly weedy needle roller bearing. When you're driving in 4th gear both shafts are locked together, to directly turn the final drive pinion, so that bearing doesn't have to spin. Even in the other gear ratios it will turn slower than it would being towed in neutral, where the input gear won't turn at all & the mainshaft will have to turn to match the road speed.

 

You could carry the front wheels on a dolly, but that's pretty much bound to exceed 750kg, requiring both the dolly & Mini's wheels still in contact with the road to have operational brakes.

[Frisco]

There are plenty of A frame or dolly setups that have the brakes operational so if done correctly it wouldn't be at all illegal. A friend of mine used to do it all the time with a car (a panda) behind his camper. 

 

Fair enough on the mini gearbox specific issues, probably best avoided outside recovery type journeys. Most FWD cars with a manual box can be towed without issues.

[Frisco]

 

 

If you mean something like this they are available from most Mini parts suppliers.

 

If you're intending to routinely tow a Mini on its wheels it's probably not legal and certainly not a great idea for the gearbox.

 

Why would it be bad for the gearbox?

 

Front-wheel-drive cars should never be towed with their front wheels on the ground.

Towing with the drive wheels on the ground can cause significant damage to the transmission of the car.

 

 

For "modern" (80s onward) FWD cars with manual gearboxes it is fine. Once the diff is spinning the gearbox is oiled as normal. 

It's very commonly done in the camper community. 

 

As I replied to Ethel I take the point when it comes to mini gearboxes specifically

Edited by Frisco, 06 June 2026 - 06:46 PM.

[Ethel]

I don't know what the regulations are where you are, but in the UK any wheel in contact with the ground must have a brake. It can be done, but it'll quickly get more complex than a trailer for the whole car.

[Frisco]

I'm in Ireland, we have the same regulations about all wheels needing to be braked if the trailer is over 750kg.

Braked A frames are available.

 

https://www.towingaframes.co.uk/

Not my car but this is a legal setup and once installed it's very easy to use.

Attached Files

•  Screenshot_20260606_230356_Samsung Browser.jpg   58.98K   0 downloads

Edited by Frisco, 06 June 2026 - 10:13 PM.