Mini Countryman as a towing vehicle?

[Kacey88]

Hello friends!

I'm coming back into the horsey world after 5 years away. So excited!

I currently drive a 2.0 diesel Mini Countryman, does anyone else tow one horse with it? I know I have to go and look up all the technical stuff but it's all confusing me right now if anyone has any pointers I'd be very grateful.

(I have a B licence - considering getting the trailer licence if I have too)

 

[Polos Mum]

A quick google shows they have a towing capacity of 1500 kgs - a simple trailer will be 1000 kgs which leaves you with 500kgs for the horse / tack / water etc.
Then you would be towing right at the limit for the vehicle (not a good idea)

My 15hh normal mutt pony is 580kgs on a weigh bridge - so him on his own would be massively over weight.

I would look for a much bigger towing capacity vehicle.

 

[dixie]

I’ve actually seen one of these hitched to a trailer at a show. Didn’t look very safe to me, car way too small for the trailer set up.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I know that minis have beefed up a lot since my day, but the thought of towing with one is rather .

Is it this? Tow limit 1500kg. Not muscly enough for towing IMHO, though might just be legal.

https://www.carleasing.co.uk/car-le...&annualMileage=10000&initialPaymentMultiple=9

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I would never tow with one.

 

[paddy555]

is the car really going to be able to hold a trailer loaded at max. capacity down a steep hill?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

is the car really going to be able to hold a trailer loaded at max. capacity down a steep hill?

Also, if you had to stop on a steep hill, going up, could the car really even pull the trailer? It even got hairy once in my BMW Estate. Never mind with a car such as the Clubman.

 

[Kacey88]

Thanks everyone! I saw one pulling a trailer and was wondering what the story was.

I was hoping my next car would be a hybrid/electric. I wish it was easier to rent a two horse van - would probably only need it several times a year.

 

[sbloom]

I was hoping my next car would be a hybrid/electric. I wish it was easier to rent a two horse van - would probably only need it several times a year.

Move to England , you can hire them all over!

 

[Kacey88]

Move to England, you can hire them all over!

I think this is great, maybe things have changed here in the past 5 years! No need for everyone to own their own set up, so expensive too.

And aren't there certain ones you can operate on a B licence?

 

[I'm Dun]

Move to England , you can hire them all over!

Except they book up months in advance round here so not as easy to hire as you'd hope!

 

[tallyho!]

Best ask ROG… towing clinic link in my sig. Personally I would not but there may be options that I don’t know about.

 

[hock]

No chance! Towing is stressful enough even with an over qualified motor!
I actually thought this was a joke. Your poor car too!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I can remember being at Stow Fair many years ago and seeing a little Peugeot 205 hitched to an Ifor Williams front unload. To say we were appalled was putting it mildly. The thought of towing with a Mini, even a modern one provokes a similar reaction.

 

[Andie02]

I thought it was a windup too

 

[paddy555]

Kacey, would this help with the transporting?

 

[Andie02]

Paddy555 pmsl

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I actually did think to myself, "Well, maybe you could transport a Mini with a Mini."

 

[Kacey88]

Best ask ROG… towing clinic link in my sig. Personally I would not but there may be options that I don’t know about.

Thanks Tally Ho, I knew there was somewhere specific I should be looking. So it seems that it can pull a trailer and there are others doing it within regulations on a B licence. But I think you are right, it's a bit tight, I might look into changing it sooner rather than later so as not to be relying on family.

 

[sbloom]

Thanks Tally Ho, I knew there was somewhere specific I should be looking. So it seems that it can pull a trailer and there are others doing it within regulations on a B licence. But I think you are right, it's a bit tight, I might look into changing it sooner rather than later so as not to be relying on family.

Super lightweight single trailer and one horse. Much better to be safer, a heavy towing vehicle is always the best option and to only tow, laden, 85% of the maximum. This gives better braking ability etc.

 

[deb_l222]

I have seen a mini towing a caravan and they do have a surprisingly high towing capacity but towing a horse trailer with one????? Noooooo, that doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.

I have seen a Nissan Micra towing a caravan recently and meant to google that weight but forgot.

I would keep looking for something more substantial.

 

[Equi]

I barely drove my mini through winter because it was so hairy. A towing vehicle it is not lol

 

[tallyho!]

Super lightweight single trailer and one horse. Much better to be safer, a heavy towing vehicle is always the best option and to only tow, laden, 85% of the maximum. This gives better braking ability etc.

I think the whole 85% thing was a caravanning club rule when caravans tow gear had no brakes or any modern tech and cars were crap… https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.practicalcaravan.com/news/the-85-question?amp

 

[Tiddlypom]

85% is still safest if you can manage it. You don't want the tail wagging the dog.

 

[tallyho!]

85% is still safest if you can manage it. You don't want the tail wagging the dog.

Many factors need taking into consideration and 85% isn’t always realistic with modern cars and modern trailers. It limits what you buy and tow so it’s a shortsighted way of looking at towing.

Tail wagging the dog is all about SPEED and weight depending on the conditions. I hate the narrative of the tail wagging dog as it is so inaccurate, misleading and is off putting to many a potential safe tower.

Be informed, be scientific and be sensible.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Have you not ever driven behind a horse trailer or a caravan which is slewing from side to side whilst the driver carries on regardless? I have, and too many times .

That is the tail wagging the dog.

Speed and driver skill (or lack therof) is certainly part of it, but a good safe towing outfit is an essential starting point. Anyone towing should be aware of what can go wrong, and of how quickly problems can ramp up.

 

[tallyho!]

Have you not ever driven behind a horse trailer or a caravan which is slewing from side to side whilst the driver carries on regardless? I have, and too many times .

That is the tail wagging the dog.

Speed and driver skill (or lack therof) is certainly part of it, but a good safe towing outfit is an essential starting point. Anyone towing should be aware of what can go wrong, and of how quickly problems can ramp up.

What speed were they doing? Do you know? A driver ignoring a wagging tail must be pissed surely, you can’t mistake that feel. Been there.

I drive for a living but i am no truck driver. I am on the roads and have done over 50k a year most years. No I don’t see it that often actually. I see idiots driving too fast overtaking vehicles and they should only be found 60mph max. I have seen some horrors for sure including sheep all over the M4/M5 junction and a Nissan Navarro and a sheep trailer straddling the central reservation on their sides. I sometimes tow birds and funny loads like boats and motors. I don’t drive fast but my loads are more than 85% and legal on a weighbridge.

if anyone is in doubt you can go to a weigh bridge.

Caravans are stupid things anyway. No wonder they needed a “rule”.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Short answer no

 

[sbloom]

What speed were they doing? Do you know? A driver ignoring a wagging tail must be pissed surely, you can’t mistake that feel. Been there.

I drive for a living but i am no truck driver. I am on the roads and have done over 50k a year most years. No I don’t see it that often actually. I see idiots driving too fast overtaking vehicles and they should only be found 60mph max. I have seen some horrors for sure including sheep all over the M4/M5 junction and a Nissan Navarro and a sheep trailer straddling the central reservation on their sides. I sometimes tow birds and funny loads like boats and motors. I don’t drive fast but my loads are more than 85% and legal on a weighbridge.

if anyone is in doubt you can go to a weigh bridge.

Caravans are stupid things anyway. No wonder they needed a “rule”.

You're clearly extremely skilled, I think the 95% rule is very sensible for the average driver who tows less regularly.

I see terrifying sights on the motorway, luckily the worst ones tend not to be horses but I've seen trailers towed at up to 80mph.

 

[Birker2020]

A quick google shows they have a towing capacity of 1500 kgs - a simple trailer will be 1000 kgs which leaves you with 500kgs for the horse / tack / water etc.
Then you would be towing right at the limit for the vehicle (not a good idea)

My 15hh normal mutt pony is 580kgs on a weigh bridge - so him on his own would be massively over weight.

I would look for a much bigger towing capacity vehicle.

You can get an old trailer at much lighter weight, some of them come in around 650/750kg and I suppose it depends on what sized animal the OP plans to tow.

But agree with you it would be quite tight.

I towed with my 1650KG Insignia a single 17.1hh in an old Rice trailer and was below the weight so it can be done!