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Towing capacity of a mini?
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11596		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Dylans Clubby [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Towing capacity of a mini?
hi all,

what do you reckon? i ahve been doing a bit of work on boats recently and i ahve decided i want one, i originally wanted a 5 meter job but thats far too expensive, i reckon just a little tinnie would do me, i also know 2 blokes can pick up a tinnie, a small one weighs about 70kgs. then of course theres motor which is liftable, say 40kgs. then thetres the weight of the trailer (no idea about weight).

one of the blokes at work reckons about 500kgs (WOW! :shock: ) i know you ahve to take into account ballweight, foward weight as well as suspension and the actual towbar

all in all, do you think i could tow say a 3.5 meter tinnie with my mini? (998 sedan) or would i be better off with a van/ute with a bigger motor and different suspension?

Image
Author:  Harley [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
Don't think the 998 would enjoj pulling that around.
You wouldn't have nmuch fun if you wend down a boat ramp either.
Author:  cush [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
the usual towing capacity is 4 passengers isn't it? :)


or one cat.. :)
Author:  mickmini [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
national road rules say that if the trailer has no brakes, then it can't be more than half the weight of the car towing it - about 300kg in the case of a mini.

if the trailer has brakes then it can be the same weight as the towing vehicle - so about 600kg for a mini.

BUT these rules assume that the structure of the tow vehicle is designed to take the weight. Not always the case. I used to have a 1200kg car that the manufacturers said could only tow 1000kg maximum. My current 1400kg car is only rated to tow 1200kg. i think you will find that the Mini is not designed to tow more than about 300kg at a guess, whether the trailer has brakes or not.

Other things to consider are that the front wheel drive is sub-optimal for towing a boat up a wet and slippery ramp if the nose weight of the trailer forces the front end up. The boat and its trailer will severely restrict your rear vision making it difficult to back down the ramp and change lanes when driving. You might need some of those whacky extension mirrors that caravanners use.

Having said that, my mate has a hobie cat on a trailer that can't be more than about 150kg all up, and he happily tows it with his pulsar.

ask doorlady - they tow that cool mini trailer around
Author:  czerial [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
from the factory suplement that came with the 998 clubby S, maxuimum towing
weight is 400kg.
Author:  Mick [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
Since it's a clubby, just drive forward down the ramp. :D

That way the front wheel drive will grip the bitumen when you reverse up the ramp, and you can leave it there while you're out boating! :D




(Just jokes, clubbies aren't all bad, just un-sexy)
Author:  awdmoke [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Stacer 3.5 76kg
trailer 146kg
Mariner 8hp 36kg

Total 258kg

Should tow it OK, but FWD cars are crap on steep boat ramps.
If you do fit a tow bar, make sure they make it high enough, otherwise you will have to modify the dinghy trailer drawbar to look like Doorlady's trailer.
Author:  meeni [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
hmm i know someone whos rover pulls around car trailers with cars on it
Author:  coops [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
just choose your trailer wisely get a 10" wheel version as there construction usually is smaller over all.
Image

my trailer is a 13" wheel model and it only weighs 140kg it has a quintrex explorer on it we only got the bigger trailer because we took it Nth queendsland a few times

oh and all the time we towed it we used a front wheel drive car (mum's camry) it was fine on all the boat ramps even dirt boat ramps(muddy)
Author:  awdmoke [ Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good point ! Then you can use the same spare!

Actually the small trailer hubs are not Mini stud pattern (as the catalogue states) - they're Moke :D
Same PCD, but they have the larger studs.
Author:  Dylans Clubby [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 1:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
yeah i woulda got a lightweight trailer, just to make the entire package lighter but also i think it would look ridiculous if your trailer wheels were bigger than your car's wheels!

i think ill sort out all my debts before buying a boat, but is it agreed? is this do-able?
Author:  Bromley [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Keep us updated Dylan because I would be interested to see your mini/boat setup when you sort out your finances. Towing a small boat is something I may be interested in doing as well.

I have seen a few minis towing 1/2 van trailers. The one here in Wagga has a really heavy draw bar. A 1275 tows that very easily and it would weigh more than a aluminium boat when loaded.
Author:  coops [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
there is a guy in our mini club that tows a little racing yacht(dono what they are really called) and he has towed it to events in WA i think well he has been everywhere with it I will ask him how it went next time I see him :wink:
Author:  bnicho [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Someone on this forum (who shall remain nameless, but it's not me) used their 1100cc, drum braked Moke to tow their Mini van on an unbraked single axle car trailer. :shock: Not recommended!!

I once saw a Gold LS1275 in Geelong towing an 8 foot tandem trailer. But stick to the factory towing limits and you should be fine.
Author:  68matic [ Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
czerial wrote:
from the factory suplement that came with the 998 clubby S, maxuimum towing weight is 400kg.


i second that kristoff,
tow guy told me 2/3 is max tow weight = 400kg :wink:
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