Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper
| [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper [message #271308] |
Fri, 06 February 2015 14:41  |
Dolph Santorine
Messages: 1236
Registered: April 2011
Location: Wheeling, WV
Karma: -41
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I’m getting ready to do some shakedown runs as the weather improves in my area, and am going to do it with a “lifeboat” towed.
It’s an 2007 MiniCooper
Recommended tow bar setup?
Also, lighting?
Thanks.
Dolph
DE N8JPC
Wheeling, West Virginia
1977 GMC 26' Palm Beach
TZE167V100820
1976 GMC 26' Donor Coach
TZE166V101610
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| Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper [message #271602 is a reply to message #271308] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 09:15  |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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I tow the Mouse (Kia Soul) using a Demco base plate and tow bar. Compared to the Blue Ox setup, it's marginally easier to get on the front of the car. I was able to compare the instructions online, both companies are quite through in their directions. Both are also most helpful on the phone. For a Mini, I'd look at both and see if one is less trouble to install than the other.
Since the Soul has giant taillight assemblies, I removed them, and stuck a completely separate stop/tail bulb in each one and ran the harness up to the front. I used ty-raps<tm> and routed the harness along the outside of the passenger compartment. There was enough stuff and holes that it won't sag and drag even if the ties fail.
I left the GMC connector short, and wrap the harness wire around the baseplate attaching fitting on the driver's side to store it.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper [message #271621 is a reply to message #271602] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 11:37 |
Dolph Santorine
Messages: 1236
Registered: April 2011
Location: Wheeling, WV
Karma: -41
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Thanks.
Both Blue-Ox and Demco seem to be about in the same price range, so it’s going to be a feature set/ease of installation decision.
The input is appreciated.
Dolph
DE N8JPC
Wheeling, West Virginia
1977 GMC 26' Palm Beach
TZE167V100820
1976 GMC 26' Donor Coach
TZE166V101610
> On Feb 10, 2015, at 10:15 AM, Johnny Bridges wrote:
>
> I tow the Mouse (Kia Soul) using a Demco base plate and tow bar. Compared to the Blue Ox setup, it's marginally easier to get on the front of the
> car. I was able to compare the instructions online, both companies are quite through in their directions. Both are also most helpful on the phone.
> For a Mini, I'd look at both and see if one is less trouble to install than the other.
> Since the Soul has giant taillight assemblies, I removed them, and stuck a completely separate stop/tail bulb in each one and ran the harness up to
> the front. I used ty-raps and routed the harness along the outside of the passenger compartment. There was enough stuff and holes that it won't
> sag and drag even if the ties fail.
> I left the GMC connector short, and wrap the harness wire around the baseplate attaching fitting on the driver's side to store it.
>
> --johnny
>
> --
> '76 23' transmode Norris upfit
> Braselton, Ga.
>
> "Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper [message #271638 is a reply to message #271602] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 16:00 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Local Mini dealer told me there is NO WAY to tow the Mini four wheels down. Gotta use a tow dolly and then only a FWD-ONLY Mini can be towed that way!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"
> Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:15:22 -0700
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: jhbridges@ymail.com
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper
>
> I tow the Mouse (Kia Soul) using a Demco base plate and tow bar. Compared to the Blue Ox setup, it's marginally easier to get on the front of the
> car. I was able to compare the instructions online, both companies are quite through in their directions. Both are also most helpful on the phone.
> For a Mini, I'd look at both and see if one is less trouble to install than the other.
> Since the Soul has giant taillight assemblies, I removed them, and stuck a completely separate stop/tail bulb in each one and ran the harness up to
> the front. I used ty-raps and routed the harness along the outside of the passenger compartment. There was enough stuff and holes that it won't
> sag and drag even if the ties fail.
> I left the GMC connector short, and wrap the harness wire around the baseplate attaching fitting on the driver's side to store it.
>
> --johnny
>
> --
> '76 23' transmode Norris upfit
> Braselton, Ga.
>
> "Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper [message #271639 is a reply to message #271638] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 16:23 |
Dolph Santorine
Messages: 1236
Registered: April 2011
Location: Wheeling, WV
Karma: -41
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Senior Member |
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I know at least half a dozen folks who tow four down and one is a full timer.
Guessing 200,000 miles among them.
Caveats - manual Trans. Key in ignition.
Dolph Santorine
Dolph@DolphSantorine.com
Excuse me for not being my usual wordy and sporadically verbose self. This message is sent from my iPhone.
No trees were killed in the sending of this message and few long dead dinosaurs were involved. A large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
> On Feb 10, 2015, at 5:00 PM, D C _Mac_ Macdonald wrote:
>
> Local Mini dealer told me there is NO WAY to tow the Mini four wheels down. Gotta use a tow dolly and then only a FWD-ONLY Mini can be towed that way!
>
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
> ~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
> ~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
> ~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
> ~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
> ~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ______________
> |[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
> "--OO--[]---O-"
>
>> Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:15:22 -0700
>> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
>> From: jhbridges@ymail.com
>> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper
>>
>> I tow the Mouse (Kia Soul) using a Demco base plate and tow bar. Compared to the Blue Ox setup, it's marginally easier to get on the front of the
>> car. I was able to compare the instructions online, both companies are quite through in their directions. Both are also most helpful on the phone.
>> For a Mini, I'd look at both and see if one is less trouble to install than the other.
>> Since the Soul has giant taillight assemblies, I removed them, and stuck a completely separate stop/tail bulb in each one and ran the harness up to
>> the front. I used ty-raps and routed the harness along the outside of the passenger compartment. There was enough stuff and holes that it won't
>> sag and drag even if the ties fail.
>> I left the GMC connector short, and wrap the harness wire around the baseplate attaching fitting on the driver's side to store it.
>>
>> --johnny
>>
>> --
>> '76 23' transmode Norris upfit
>> Braselton, Ga.
>>
>> "Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper [message #271660 is a reply to message #271308] |
Tue, 10 February 2015 20:57 |
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SeanKidd
Messages: 747
Registered: June 2012
Location: Northern Neck Virginia
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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I would love to to my 03 Mini Cooper S, but was afraid of a $7000 6 speed transmission. I heard there is a trick with the ignition, if you turn it off, but do not remove the key, the steering won't lock, it only locks once the key is removed. Never tried it though. So the valet key may work the same way. North American motoring or motoring alliance forums may help.
They make a tow bar for it, it must work.? But I asked Chad at Detroit Tuned and white roof radio fame, he said not to tow four down. Despite seeing many being towed this way, I'm still skeptical.
Sean and Stephanie
73 Ex-CanyonLands 26' #317 "Oliver"
Hubler 1-Ton, Quad-Bags, Rear Disc, Reaction Arms, P.Huber TBs, 3.70:1 LSD Honda 6500 inverter gen.
Colonial Travelers
[Updated on: Tue, 10 February 2015 20:59] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper [message #271692 is a reply to message #271660] |
Wed, 11 February 2015 11:56 |
Who_dun_it
Messages: 176
Registered: April 2007
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Karma: 1
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SeanKidd wrote on Tue, 10 February 2015 18:57I would love to to my 03 Mini Cooper S, but was afraid of a $7000 6 speed transmission. I heard there is a trick with the ignition, if you turn it off, but do not remove the key, the steering won't lock, it only locks once the key is removed. Never tried it though. So the valet key may work the same way. North American motoring or motoring alliance forums may help.
They make a tow bar for it, it must work.? But I asked Chad at Detroit Tuned and white roof radio fame, he said not to tow four down. Despite seeing many being towed this way, I'm still skeptical.
We have successfully towed our 2003 Cooper S, four down. Key in the ignition so the steering wheel is 'free', one click past locked, trans in neutral. So far no sign of problems. We do not tow often and the longest day has been 350 miles. You can PM me if you would like more input.
Les
T.O. CA
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| Re: [GMCnet] Recommended tow bar - MiniCooper [message #271693 is a reply to message #271657] |
Wed, 11 February 2015 11:58 |
Who_dun_it
Messages: 176
Registered: April 2007
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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[quote title=Dolph Santorine wrote on Tue, 10 February 2015 18:38]Thanks.
Just read that there is no steering lock and the key is not needed. I'll have to check.
But it must be true I read it on the Internet.
Dolph Santorine
Our 2003 requires the key on, one click past lock, so the steering is 'free'.
Les
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