14 replies to this topic

[scud]

Hi

Has anyone had a classic mini on the back of a smart car trailer (i.e. the ones you see behing motorhomes)

http://www.pistonhea...les/2578049.htm

The bed is basically 8ft long, thought with a bit of overhang as long as the wheels fitted on would be OK??

I know there are longer trailers out there, but was keen to get one as small as poss due to storage.

Thanks

[bmcecosse]

As long as the wheels go on - but with that design you will need to put the Mini on backwards - or the nose weight will be far too much.

[Dan]

Yes remember the Smart is rear engined!

[Shifty]

I'm not sure about the having the mini reversed on the trailer, I've never found this to be a stable way of carrying them. Even with small trailers I've always gone nose first.

[Dan]

But as Roy says, if you put a Mini nose first on that trailer the nose load on the coupling will probably be around half a ton! You can't put that much on a tow ball, it would have to be a Nato coupling or something.

[bmcecosse]

My 'home-made' trailer many moons ago was a reverse on design - worked well!

[Carlos W]

But as Roy says, if you put a Mini nose first on that trailer the nose load on the coupling will probably be around half a ton! You can't put that much on a tow ball, it would have to be a Nato coupling or something.

But if you reverse it on it'll be pivoting on the wheels and lifting the hitch off the towbar all the time, if the locking mechanism fails the trailer will come off!

[bmcecosse]

There will still be a good weight on the drawbar - ~ 1 cwt is ideal.

[Shifty]

All I can go in my own experience, whatever the trailer nose first has always given a more stable load.

[bmcecosse]

As long as the trailer is designed for the car to be loaded that way...... The trailer wheels will then be nearer the front - rather than at the rear as in this case. One snag with this trailer is that it will tend to 'cut' the corner behind the tow car.

[Broomer]

Is there any way of moving the axle forward? are they held on with U bolts on that type of brian james trailer's?

[Wil_h]

All I can go in my own experience, whatever the trailer nose first has always given a more stable load.

Yes, but not on THAT trailer. Personally I think that reversing a mini onto that trailer would still be a bad idea. It may be possible to move the suspension units to a more central position to make it work. But if you are spending £900 then you could just get a trailer that is right in the first place.

[Shifty]

Fair enough!!

If the OP buys the trailer I hope he can report back on which way works best!!

[scud]

err, all things i had not considered, may go more of a clubman/minno stylee

thanks for the input

[Shifty]

Have you seen the PRG range of trailers?

http://www.prgtrailers.co.uk/

Much cheaper than the Brian James stuff and very well thought of.