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06-22-2019, 11:21 PM
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#1
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Illinois
Posts: 95
THOR #7230
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Towing a Mini Cooper
I am looking to buy a 2016 Mini Cooper, manual transmission, front wheel drive. Mini says no to towing it any way. But I have seen them on the road being both dolly and 4 down towed. I just don't know what year they are.
So any of you out there towing a Mini, what year is it. And how are you towing it?
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06-23-2019, 12:27 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.1
State: Colorado
Posts: 388
THOR #5190
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I had a 2015 Mini Cooper S (automatic) that we dolly towed for a couple of years before moving to a Jeep Cherokee we could tow 4 down. (I miss Mini but DW was done with loading and unloading the dolly)
The only issue I had was that about half the time after pulling it off the dolly it would throw up errors such as ABS Trouble, Engine Trouble and a few other scary messages. They would automatically clear after driving a mile or so. Eventually I tracked it down to the steering wheel not being fully secured (the dolly we used had a turntable). Once I got a better strap to secure the steering wheel, the errors never occurred again.
I mentioned it to my Mini dealer and was told "Don't mentions that to us again, especially if you are in for warranty work". The service rep said they don't support towing, even though the manual said only to tow with the front wheels off the ground.
Having said that, there are tons of people towing Mini's both on dollies (automatic) and 4 down (manual). I believe that Blue Ox sells baseplates for Mini's. The main thing is to never tell Mini that you have been towing. They seemed rather cool about it and had the attitude of don't ask, don't tell.
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Rick
2017 Thor ACE 30.1
2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain
RVi Brake 3
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06-23-2019, 12:39 AM
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#3
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Illinois
Posts: 95
THOR #7230
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Its hard to find any info on the 2006 year mini, even on Google.
Thanks for the info on the 2015.
I forgot to say that I currently dolly tow a 2008 Mini Clubman with NO issues.
My concern is with a newer Mini. Don' know if antthing has changed on the newer model years.
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06-23-2019, 02:55 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: A.C.E. 29.2
State: Oklahoma
Posts: 191
THOR #2542
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tacouser
I am looking to buy a 2016 Mini Cooper, manual transmission, front wheel drive. Mini says no to towing it any way. But I have seen them on the road being both dolly and 4 down towed. I just don't know what year they are.
So any of you out there towing a Mini, what year is it. And how are you towing it?
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We’ve towed our 2012 Mini Cooper 6 speed manual 4 down for about 4 years and some 20K miles with no issues. We use a Blue Ox tow bar and Patriot brake. I did have to wire an auxiliary power outlet direct from the battery in the Mini for the Patriot as all the Mini’s electrics are powered down when the ignition puck is removed from the car.
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Rick Norris
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06-23-2019, 12:12 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 37LS outlaw
State: New Jersey
Posts: 516
THOR #5248
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I tow a 2008 mini 6 speed manual four down, no problems. I use a road master tow bar ball coupler with a drop hitch to keep tow bar level.
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07-23-2019, 03:46 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Miramar 34.2
State: California
Posts: 133
THOR #14761
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Hey guys we have been towing 2013 cooper paceman for 2 months 6 speed manual about 3000 LB NO elect brake
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Miramar 2017 34.2, roadmaster front & rear sway bars, sumo shock, Roadmaster stabilizer bar, Koni shocks, F150 crewcab coyote motor , 2004 40th #26th edition 911, E350 2 door coupe, Mini Paceman 2013 6 speed manual toad/ RV
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07-30-2019, 12:31 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Massachusetts
Posts: 576
THOR #12830
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tacouser
Its hard to find any info on the 2006 year mini, even on Google.
Thanks for the info on the 2015.
I forgot to say that I currently dolly tow a 2008 Mini Clubman with NO issues.
My concern is with a newer Mini. Don' know if antthing has changed on the newer model years.
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Just bought a 2008 clubman to flat tow. Any pointers? Picking up the title tomorrow. The windshield is pretty straight up. Issues with damage?
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07-30-2019, 02:21 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Miramar 34.2
State: California
Posts: 133
THOR #14761
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yaktop
Just bought a 2008 clubman to flat tow. Any pointers? Picking up the title tomorrow. The windshield is pretty straight up. Issues with damage?
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Nice, good job and I am sure it’s a manual to tow 4 down. And with that said you have several opinions for the window. If it broke your comprehensive deductible will cover and will not affect your insurance rate. Secondly there are windshield guards that you can buy for towing, I’m sure someone here has a website for it. Thirdly there’s a guard that you can put on the very front end to help with additional protection. Have fun and enjoy the mini
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Miramar 2017 34.2, roadmaster front & rear sway bars, sumo shock, Roadmaster stabilizer bar, Koni shocks, F150 crewcab coyote motor , 2004 40th #26th edition 911, E350 2 door coupe, Mini Paceman 2013 6 speed manual toad/ RV
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08-02-2019, 08:13 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Outlaw 29H
State: Ontario
Posts: 28
THOR #4874
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Can I ask how and where you wired your DC plug for the brake? Battery is hard to get at so am thinking of drilling into the glove box,,,?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Norrirn
We’ve towed our 2012 Mini Cooper 6 speed manual 4 down for about 4 years and some 20K miles with no issues. We use a Blue Ox tow bar and Patriot brake. I did have to wire an auxiliary power outlet direct from the battery in the Mini for the Patriot as all the Mini’s electrics are powered down when the ignition puck is removed from the car.
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08-09-2019, 02:58 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Miramar 34.2
State: California
Posts: 133
THOR #14761
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV_Envy
Can I ask how and where you wired your DC plug for the brake? Battery is hard to get at so am thinking of drilling into the glove box,,,?
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Yep super pain to get at the battery . I do not use elec brakes as the car is about 3000’lb to tow. And with my Miramar I don’t even know it’s back there, if I had a jeep or a larger vehicle or a smaller tow rig then I would get electric brakes. I wish I had a better answer
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Miramar 2017 34.2, roadmaster front & rear sway bars, sumo shock, Roadmaster stabilizer bar, Koni shocks, F150 crewcab coyote motor , 2004 40th #26th edition 911, E350 2 door coupe, Mini Paceman 2013 6 speed manual toad/ RV
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