Towing with a Mini Clubman

Paul Bowers
Paul Bowers Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited September 2019 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hello to everyone,

We are newbies to Caravanning and am wondering if anyone has experience in towing a Swift Challenger 480 or similar 2 berth with a Mini Clubman Cooper S All 4 auto or perhaps knows someone who has.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Paul and Susan

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2019 #2

    My first reaction is one of horror. Perhaps you can prove me wrong by supplying the kerb weight of the car, the all up weight (MTPLM) of the van, the GTW of the car and the noseweight limit of the car along with the actual noseweight of the van. Check your weight plates on the car and your V5. 

    We can then take it from there.

  • Freddy55
    Freddy55 Club Member Posts: 1,810 ✭
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    edited September 2019 #3

    I just checked, using the CC matching tool. I made lots of assumptions about model type, but it came back with a figure of 92%.

    Obviously not definitive, but might be ball-park.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2019 #4

    I've no idea of weights of a BMW Mini ... & I'm not looking innocent ... but have you not seen a Mini on the road? They're HUGE! 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2019 #5

    The modern mini is more maxi than mini. I suspect that it would be OK

    Whilst waiting for somebody with experience check here for a start:  https://towcar.info/GB/

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,040 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2019 #6

    You have 1300kg to play with in terms of weight. That means it will crawl up hills, not be fast on the stop/starts, and, given how small the car is, it will probably pitch badly. And you won’t be able to put anything in the van. Or add a motor mover.

    The Clubman Range is still quite small. The Countryman Range are the much larger vehicles. We stayed next to a very nice 4Wd Countryman towing an Eriba Triton, with ease, but that’s a more robust car, and a much smaller van. 

     

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2019 #7

    With that car I would look for something far lighter. If you want a Swift model, then the equivalent Sprite the Alpine 2 looks a better bet, but other makes are even lighter and would be worth looking at.

  • derekcyril
    derekcyril Forum Participant Posts: 408
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    edited September 2019 #8

    Trailer tent could be an idea ? Never seen a mini with a towbar on . Are they legal ?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2019 #9

    I've seen Smart Fortwos with towbars .... they're not type approved for towing though wink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2019 #10

    You have 1300kg to play with in terms of weight.

    No idea where you conjured that figure from TTDA. I read that the MINI COOPER S All 4 has a 1500kg tow capacity and  75kg hitch load, 190BHP and 1525kg kerb weight.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,040 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2019 #11

    You must have found a better website than me ET. However, the tail will still wag the dog......

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2019 #12

    No idea if the quoted kerbweight includes driver. If not it would not seem too bad a match for suggested caravan with the weight of driver etc.

    If it were me I would seek the info. 

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