Topic: Toads (Read 3997 times) previous topic - next topic

I am new to LTV and still waiting for my 2022 Unity MB. My wife has a 2019 Mini Cooper S Auto that I'd like to take on some of our upcoming adventures. I have been researching 4 down vs dolly and would some shared experience on towing.  Thanks

Check the Minis owner manual for 4 down towing.  I would guess it isn’t, so you might have to use a tow dolly or a trailer.
A tow dolly can add about 500 lbs, and I think lots of complications, some say simple, I say not simple if it’s raining and you have to lay on the ground to strap down the wheels.
Remco, who sells lube pumps for automatic transmissions can tell you if your model is towable, 4 down.

Thanks- I figured the 4 down with an auto transmission was a non starter. Does anyone have experience with a dolly?

Some cars with automatic trans are towable 4 down.  You have to check each years models.

Craig,

I have a 2014 UMB and flat tow a 2019 Jeep 2dr Wrangler.
I'm pushing the limit on weight and always concerns me when traveling.
But my RV is a champ at towing.

Having said that, I've seen many Minis out there behind LTVs.
It has a lot going for it especially being relatively light weight.

I would contact your local dealer and speak with their service department before anything else.
With late model vehicles, they operate on electronic transmissions and could be problematic.

I use a Blue OX system to flat tow.
Their "Alpha Tow Bar", tow plate for the Jeep, and their Patriot auxiliary brake.

If you go that route, I strongly suggest that you adapt your Mini to 6pin power cable installed!
The electronics and the auxiliary brake will drain your Mini's battery to dead if you don't.
The purpose is to connect your toad to your LTV and draw power to trickle charge your Mini's battery while towing.
It's not cheap, because you're going to have it professionally installed.
Mine was about $3500 USD.

Don't learn the hard way, when I've already made those mistakes.

Good Luck!

You were right when noted that manual didn't support 4 down towing. Some people do tow a manual version of the Mini - when out of warranty - but believe that may have been prior generation chassis. Me personally, I have a 2017 Mini Countryman S, FWD only came in automatic like it's BMW X1 "sister" and is not 4 down towable. Approaching 70K miles, I am seriously looking at trading it for a new Ford Escape Hybrid which is 4 down towable (non-hybrid are not). At 3500 lbs, it should be a better vehicle than the Jeeps all clipping the 4200+ lb. Only similar in the 3200-3500 lb range are the Chevy Equinox (FWD or AWD), Chevy Trailblazer/Buick Encore GX (1.3L AWD only - not the 1.2L), and the new Ford Maverick truck (Hybrid only) built on a version of the Escape chassis but Ford only offered in FWD where Escape is choice of either.