10 replies to this topic

[ROD]

I' ve got to move mini(50 miles) thats auto will this do any damage to the gearbox if i tow it on a bar??


ROD

[*DJH*]

What Do You Mean? Via Trailer, Rope, Or One Of Those Flash Car Puller Frame Things What You Have On The Back Of Motorhomes?

[fikus01]

i think it would do damage! maybe if the engine was running an it was in neutral it would be ok but u would have to hace some1 in it then i think legally if it was runnig.

[minislapper]

You can NOT tow an automatic. It must be moved on a trailer or A frame so the front wheels are off the ground completely. If not, you'll knacker it.

[*DJH*]

You can NOT tow an automatic. It must be moved on a trailer or A frame so the front wheels are off the ground completely. If not, you'll knacker it.

My Thoughts Exactly, Hence My Original Question

[Dan]

Depends on the age. Early auto Minis can be towed as the gearbox has a towing oil pump driven by the diff, they can even be tow started. I think the end date for this is '73 but I'm not sure.

HOWEVER it should be pointed out that it is not legal to tow a car like this except in an emergency to get it out of traffic. Unless you can physically turn the car into a braked trailer (or an unbraked trailer if your towing vehicle is heavy enough to do this legally) you can't tow it and I don't think A frames are allowed to be used for this anymore (we can't use them at work on the road anymore, only on closed roads). So if you need to move a car 50 miles, you need a car trailer anyway.

And by the way, an A frame doesn't lift the front wheels and will still knacker an auto that doesn't have a towing pump.

Edited by Dan, 16 January 2007 - 11:40 PM.

[ROD]

What Do You Mean? Via Trailer, Rope, Or One Of Those Flash Car Puller Frame Things What You Have On The Back Of Motorhomes?

I was gonig to use an a frame,

[ROD]

Depends on the age. Early auto Minis can be towed as the gearbox has a towing oil pump driven by the diff, they can even be tow started. I think the end date for this is '73 but I'm not sure.

HOWEVER it should be pointed out that it is not legal to tow a car like this except in an emergency to get it out of traffic. Unless you can physically turn the car into a braked trailer (or an unbraked trailer if your towing vehicle is heavy enough to do this legally) you can't tow it and I don't think A frames are allowed to be used for this anymore (we can't use them at work on the road anymore, only on closed roads). So if you need to move a car 50 miles, you need a car trailer anyway.

And by the way, an A frame doesn't lift the front wheels and will still knacker an auto that doesn't have a towing pump.

Looks like i'm borrowing a trailer!


Cheers all for your help,
I did think that i need a trailer with a auto,going back to what you said about the aframe i've used
one loads of times without any trouble.

ROD

[Dan]

Many people have but they haven't been illegal for very long yet, a couple of years at the most. As time goes on it will become more widely known that they have been banned and more people will get into trouble for it.

[Jordie]

i know someone who once lifted the back end (with a spec lift) of an auto vauxhall omega and towed it. When he got on the dual carriageway, the front wheels which were on the road locked up and caused the car to skid about madly. I think the box was knackered after that, as he was driving around 50mph.

[outcast]

Most autos can be towed for the 30 miles at 30 mph.This is by the AA training book.