Hi all, I have a mini 3.5 hrs away and want to move it on the cheap, but legal. The car and destination are located in sa.

What's the preferred legal method? Tandem trailer with elec brakes? Car trailer?

I have a vx Holden as the towing vehicle, has anyone used one as a tow vehicle before? Any recommendations?

Many thanks.

How much you looking to spend? I usually just borrow a car trailer for like 70$ a day and that makes it simple and easy.

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1978 Leyland Clubman S

Lol you are obviously not in SA. $70 good luck down here.

But for that distance I would go a car trailer, preferably if someone has one they could end you for the day.

Yeah u will crap it in with only 3.5 hrs travel..... I towed a mini from other side of melb to gawler on a car trailer a good 18hrs rnd trip..... And as long as your vx isn't slammed on its arse then should tow a mini fine... I haven't used one to tow a car trailer but have used one to tow a reasonable sized boat!!

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.... 1977 Leyland Mini S .....
.... 1972 Leyland Clubman .....
.... 1973 Leyland Mini Van ....

Have you done any towing in the past?
If not do some quick searches with SA dpt of transport etc and also check proper/safe load techniques. You don't want this to happen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLnLwFcSBc

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Hmm well if the mini is drive-able just pop down to your road transport authority and get one of those ...... ahhhh a An Unregistered Vehicle Permit , you can get them for 1-30 days in vic allows you to drive from one point to another.

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Project Pickles is ALIVE!!!!! Click Here!
Success is so much sweeter after the struggle

1 to 3 days here in SA and they are very useful, however a good backup plan would be required for a 3.5 hour trip...............

Should have no problem towing 1 mini on a good car trailer , I shifted 2 Mokes on a trailer last mouth piggy back style with my other halfs Vz last month about the same distance , no prob cruised about 90kmh

Thanks guys, something to consider, I have towed in the past, probably comparable weights but the loading is different, higher in the trailer.

Car isn't drivable and is without engine. Probably will end up with a car trailer, just checking the experience pool for ideas.

On the basis of your last post, A solid floor car trailer like the petrol stations hire would seem best. You would need to ensure any loose items in the engine bay/suspension are well secured.

I've towed car trailers with a variety of commodore and falcon company vehicles over the years using the heavy hire trailers and my own without any issue. My only suggestion would be to keep an eye on the temp gauge and go easy on the transmission particularly on hills.

Apart from being careful to not have too much or too little weight on the towball which means where on the trailer you place the car, the other consideration is around how best to secure the car onto the trailer.

Best practise these days is to secure an unsuspended part of the car and allow the body to bounce up and down as required rather than try to strap the whole car down if that makes sense. If a car has mag wheels that will allow straps through, some pass the straps through the wheels and secure front and back or sides; some use straps which tie down the tyre and wheel itself (probably too hard on a solid floor hire trailer). I find spending a bit of extra time on this area pays for a safe and less stressful journey.

Straps can and do break. I've also lost a racecar and trailer off the back of a car 25yrs ago when the older type of non-loop hitch loosened and bounced off. I always put a final bit of chain as a secondary means of securing the car. remember that the car can just as easily come forward under heavy braking if a strap breaks as go backwards off the trailer which is what most people first think of.

Hope this helps. Slow and steady wins the race!

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what about on the train if the seller is willing to take it to the depot and pick it up from there.

You may find someone on Ausmini will lend you their trailer.

I hated using 800kg 20 foot hire trailers just to move a 600kg 10 foot car. Hence why I bought my own 400kg 12.5 foot trailer.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

I've towed my mini a few times on a hired tandm car trailer. Around $80.
All have had solid floor. Towed with vy ss and pajero. Also towed a VL.
Both cars were manual, no problems.
Hired a tandem car only a couple of weeks ago to transport some 6m steel beams @ 150kg+ each. Was around $100 for 24 hrs. Not sure what prices are like in SA.

Cheers

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77 Clubman
1100, was daily driver
waiting to drop 1380 in!!

I have a very low, vy Calais that I tow with constantly! Not a hard job, I have a car trailer in the barossa I sometimes rent out if people need it. I wouldn't stress too much, it's an easy enough thing to do!

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-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar

I towed my minimatic from just out of Port Augusta back to south east melbourne with my V6 manual Magna sedan a few years back. On a car trailer from a servo. The trailer seemed overkill for the mini, but it did the job. And the Magna didn't miss a beat, get hot or anything, just cruised along at the speed limit.

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88 Rover 1.3i "Reggie"
99 Rover 1.3i “Grover”
12 Mini Cooper S "The shitter"
17 Mini Clubman JCW “Noddy”