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Car Trailer - Loan/Hire/Buy Cheap
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7029		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  mutant mini [ Mon May 09, 2005 7:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Car Trailer - Loan/Hire/Buy Cheap
Is there anyone out there that has a car trailer suitable for a mini that may be interested in either loaning, renting us or selling at a reasonable price?

We are looking at travelling on about 3rd June till 13th June, 2005.

Would be heading from Melb, Sydney, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne.

Will be using a Commodore V6 to tow so that should be OK.
Author:  sg [ Mon May 09, 2005 7:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Is Mutant coming Jan :shock: OMG if it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!.........
Author:  simon k [ Mon May 09, 2005 7:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Car Trailer - Loan/Hire/Buy Cheap
mutant mini wrote:
Is there anyone out there that has a car trailer suitable for a mini that may be interested in either loaning, renting us or selling at a reasonable price?

We are looking at travelling on about 3rd June till 13th June, 2005.

Would be heading from Melb, Sydney, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne.

Will be using a Commodore V6 to tow so that should be OK.


don't be so sure your commodore is OK for towing, make sure you've got an oil cooler on the transmission, otherwise it'll overheat and crap itself - seen it happen, and even if you've got an oil cooler, keep it in 3rd gear, don't keep it in drive cos the overdrive'll kill it
Author:  9YaTaH [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Car Trailer - Loan/Hire/Buy Cheap
skssgn wrote:
mutant mini wrote:
Is there anyone out there that has a car trailer suitable for a mini that may be interested in either loaning, renting us or selling at a reasonable price?

We are looking at travelling on about 3rd June till 13th June, 2005.

Would be heading from Melb, Sydney, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne.

Will be using a Commodore V6 to tow so that should be OK.


don't be so sure your commodore is OK for towing, make sure you've got an oil cooler on the transmission, otherwise it'll overheat and crap itself - seen it happen, and even if you've got an oil cooler, keep it in 3rd gear, don't keep it in drive cos the overdrive'll kill it


yep...good advice....depending on the model...early VS etc had an inadequate sump (4.5litre?) ......changed at VT I think....although towing a Mini is likely to be a relatively light load :D
Author:  Harley [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Has yourself or John got a truck licence at all, maybe you could hire one of them. It's no mini, but the steering wheel is in the right place! :D
Author:  mutant mini [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
It's a 2003 Commodore. Surely this would cope pulling a Mini.
Author:  simon k [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
don't bet on it Jan..... tho they might have an oil cooler standard now
Author:  minster [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  .
A 2003 commodore should be fine I tow boats with mine and so do my mates and they seem to go ok, but make sure in hilly areas you keep it out of forth or it will eventually crap itself.
Author:  Dylans Clubby [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Something everyone has failed to address here. is the car manual or auto??? although by your comments jan im assuming it is auto
Author:  Harley [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
The commodore should manage, provided the trailer is in top condition.
A 2 litre mazda van will tow a mini easy, the whole lot may weigh close to a tonne, but towing is not direct weight. Take it easy, avoid the hills, let the car rest/cool down frequently, it should be fine.
Author:  ryan [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
hey
if your passing by wollongong on the 5th (probably not, but if u are, you should come on our run.

Cheers ryan
Author:  simon k [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Harley wrote:
The commodore should manage, provided the trailer is in top condition.
A 2 litre mazda van will tow a mini easy, the whole lot may weigh close to a tonne, but towing is not direct weight. Take it easy, avoid the hills, let the car rest/cool down frequently, it should be fine.


2 litre mazda van is built for dragging weight around, low gearing etc. etc. - conformadores are a different story, and avoiding hills isn't an option when driving between Albury and Sydney :D
Author:  Chris [ Mon May 09, 2005 10:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
skssgn wrote:
Harley wrote:
The commodore should manage, provided the trailer is in top condition.

conformadores are a different story, and avoiding hills isn't an option when driving between Albury and Sydney :D


I 've got a VS 308 and it is useless for towing. Peak torque is about 3500 and it cruises at 110kph/1800rpm. Everytime it sees a hill it goes back a gear and this is only towing a kart trailer weighing 600kg. I would never use it to tow a car. These cars are not designes for towing anything.The gearing and torque curve are all wrong. BTW most of my towing is between Sydney and Goulburn on the Hume Highway.
Author:  justminis [ Mon May 09, 2005 10:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've towed my race mini Cairns/Brisbane and return a number of times in the last few years, similar distance you will be travelling. Used a V6 VR Commodore in the early days, handled it OK, barely. Now have V8! Advice about transmission oil cooler is good, and make sure trans is serviced (oil & strainer) before you leave too. You don't wont to labour the transmission in overdrive, it will overheat, pull it back to 3rd as been mentioned. I found the V6 would pull my trailer (all up weight 1200 - 1300kg) most places in overdrive.
You ideally want as light a trailer as you can get, single axle that is sturdy enough would be good although dual axle is more stable, you're pulling more weight though. Be wary of the rental trailers, they are built very heavy, sometimes 700 - 800kg empty. When it comes time to secure your mini to the trailer, cross over your tie downs as this will secure the car better, won't move around. Good luck with your trip.

Edit: My present Commodore has Gen III engine and is absolutely brilliant for towing my rig. Will pull it effortlessly on cruise control on open highway at 110/120kph, only kicking out of overdrive for the steeper hills. Obviously a different torque curve to the earlier 308 engines.
Author:  minster [ Mon May 09, 2005 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  .
I have a 5.0 litre also and yes it has a oil cooler and have not yet had trouble, have towed my boat many places and left in overdrive. I have also towed a very heavy ski boat which would have been close to two tonne and yes i knew it was there but locked in third it went fine, the low down torque of the 5.0 litre is suited to towing in my oppinion. My dad had a 3.8 litre with heavy duty tow pack and towed our boat (around 1.5 tonne) with 6 people in the car, luggage etc for years. Yes he now has a cruiser which is a lot better as its made for that type of thing but it is possible to do if you drive sensibly. Well thats my 2cs anyway.

P.S I also know people that have blown gearboxs in commodores while towing but they have all had transmissions that were on the way out and were driving stupidly.
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