Recent posts

#81

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...

Last post by Dan Moffet - August 20, 2026, 02:16:17 PM

Does your van have solid or flexible subframe mounts? The subframe front bolts/tow ring are bolted to the subframe, with the front clip supported by them (flexible or rigid). The licence plate brackets are welded to the front valance (chin) and are not really structural.

Since you are towing by the subframe, the minor flex of a connection to the plate brackets may induce metal fatigue and cracking somewhere.

On my Mini, a broken wishbone bracket at the firewall was enough to induce a crack in the floor pan where the subframe tail bolts on. The cause of the "crack" sound from the floor every time I shifted gears eventually was traced to the failed bracket way up on the firewall. The wishbone bolt also tore a hole out of the steel plate the heater hoses go through (or master cylinders on a rightie).

I'd go around the brackets or cut them off.

   

#82

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...

Last post by 94touring - August 20, 2026, 12:03:50 PM

Pipe for spacers work.  If you can grab the spacers Lowe's carry that fit snuggle over the bolts and arrange them so they overlap making one solid sleeve, that does give a little more rigidity to the unit once it's all torqued down.

#83

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...

Last post by MPlayle - August 20, 2026, 11:50:12 AM

Dave, thanks for confirming my measurement.  I am also using pieces of black-pipe for my spacers.

My Van is a 1983 model and seems to still have the factory front plate brackets.  I am going to try to use them as extra center supports for the tow mount crossmember with it behind the plate brackets and as close to the front valance as possible.  I plan to "split" each bracket at the bend and insert the crossmember, then bolt the brack pieces to the crossmember.  If I can't get that to work, I will just remove the plate brackets.  I will be trying to finish up that effort early next week.

I did finish installing a battery cut-off switch on the ground line, so now I can disconnect the power easily while leaving the steering unlocked when flat towing.  I found a nice 3" x 3" 'L' bracket at Lowes for making a mount plate and attached it to the support post over the tunnel at the center front of the load deck.  It makes the key handy to reach, but tucked behind the line of the seat backs in a protected place.  I also used new cables to connect the switch to the body and the battery.

#84

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Tyres in California

Last post by 94touring - August 20, 2026, 11:31:14 AM

I even like choosing tires for my truck and bus with the least rolling resistance. Over inflated ect..  but realistically it's not gaining me a ton in fuel savings.     

#85

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Tyres in California

Last post by cstudep - August 20, 2026, 11:00:08 AM

Yeah seems pretty typical of most of the environmental arguments. I'm all for taking care of our planet, its the only one we have. But the hipocracy is generally pretty strong with the people at the top who cry the loudest and subject the rest of us to their "regulations" that they clearly have no intent of ever following themselves lol.

#86

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Tyres in California

Last post by 94touring - August 20, 2026, 10:44:32 AM

Whole thing seems ridiculous to me. The worst tires you can put on a vehicle as far as longevity goes are the OEM. You are lucky if the "OEM" tires last even 2/3 as long as the same brand/model of tire aftermarket. An "OEM" wildpeak at4w is not the same tire as the wildpeak at4w you get at the tire shop and the one from the tire shop will last a lot longer with fewer issues.

There is pretty much zero chance the miniscule increase in fuel mileage, if it even exists, is going to offset the cost of replacing the tires more often. Same goes for the supposed environmental argument, making and disposing of more tires isnt likely to offset whatever environmental impact there is in fuel mileage.

The environmental argument is a funny one to me. I just spent several days in Riverside. A nice area.  Trash all over from the homeless. 

#87

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Tyres in California

Last post by cstudep - August 20, 2026, 10:39:27 AM

Whole thing seems ridiculous to me. The worst tires you can put on a vehicle as far as longevity goes are the OEM. You are lucky if the "OEM" tires last even 2/3 as long as the same brand/model of tire aftermarket. An "OEM" wildpeak at4w is not the same tire as the wildpeak at4w you get at the tire shop and the one from the tire shop will last a lot longer with fewer issues.

There is pretty much zero chance the miniscule increase in fuel mileage, if it even exists, is going to offset the cost of replacing the tires more often. Same goes for the supposed environmental argument, making and disposing of more tires isnt likely to offset whatever environmental impact there is in fuel mileage.

#88

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Tyres in California

Last post by BruceK - August 20, 2026, 09:42:42 AM

I would bet tire shops on the borders of California in Nevada and Arizona are going to love this new law.

#89

Maintenance and Modifications / Tyres in California

Last post by 94touring - August 20, 2026, 08:38:59 AM

This new law effecting any mini owners out there? No more sticky tires? 

#90

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Latest maintenance on Miss...

Last post by MiniDave - August 17, 2026, 08:30:14 AM

26" between the bolt holes, just FYI.

My mounting bolts are 1/2" X 6" long, to space the crossbar out far enough to miss the lic plate bracket, however, that's on my later model car - I don't know what year your van is, so your mileage may vary. Also, I used black pipe for the spacers - cheap and easy to cut to size.