New trailer for the mini

[94touring]

Looking back at your pics, you've already got eye bolts up front. Perfect for having  a chain or smaller strap to one or more of your front D rings. You just don't want it extra tight because the suspension of the car needs to move freely of course. Toss something loosely over the rear subframe and hook into your center rear D ring and you're set.

[cstudep]

Speaking from experience on the over the tire method because I have steelies. Specifically on a "normal width" car trailer having to tie out to the edges with the car being so narrow in relation to the trailer, and with small 10" wheels....it really sucks.

With tie down points closer to the car width and larger diameter tires that method gets exponentially easier.

[MPlayle]

As I noted earlier, when I used the type of "over the tire" straps (as attached below) the trailer I was using had an open mesh deck.  Aligning the straps with the center line of the wheels (10" wheels were on the Mini) was very easy.

The end hook gets placed as close to the one end of the tire's contact patch as possible.  The strap just slides through the middle hook, so it is also placed as close to the other end of the tire's contact patch as possible.  The ratchet end is then laid flat in line with the rest of the strap and it all gets tightened down.  These really secure the wheels, but as noted by others, they do require being able to have them secure in line with the wheel.

I have used the "basket" style "over the tire" straps on a tow dolly as they were what was needed by the dolly.  They were on the large side for using with any sized Mini wheels but did work in that application (again, in line with the wheels).

[Red Riley]

Just FYI. I have used these for years on my Elf with 13 inch tires. Once you attach the wheel chocks and the straps, you drive it on and it goes in exactly the same spot every time and stays put. I used one on each wheel, and I trailered from South Carolina to Canada and to Minnesota and lots of other long drives. Never had any issues at all.
Fastraps

[Red Riley]

My Fastraps in use.

[cstudep]

That style of tie down would be ideal for sure, or a trailer that has those tie down rails permanently mounted in the floor.

I don't currently have a small trailer dedicated to the mini, so any sort of specific mounting like that would end up being in the way when I used the trailer for other things. I already have 4 trailers and convincing my wife I need another is probably out of the cards......for now at least lol.

[Dan Moffet]

Looking back at your pics, you've already got eye bolts up front. Perfect for having  a chain or smaller strap to one or more of your front D rings. You just don't want it extra tight because the suspension of the car needs to move freely of course. Toss something loosely over the rear subframe and hook into your center rear D ring and you're set.

The way I understand it, tow companies use the wheel straps/baskets because they'd be anchoring the unsprung part of the car, keeping a firm attachment of the wheels to the deck or dolly and let the car body wobble on its suspension. When using chains they try to hook onto axles or outer ends of independent suspensions. To tie onto the body means the ties could slacken on every bump. It is interesting to see heavy military vehicles like tanks chained on rail cars - crossed chains front and back as well as linear ones. A tank has to be anchored to the body because it has so many "wheels" inside the tracks.

[Dan Moffet]

I had my Mini hauled home a couple of times on a roll-back: entertaining to see the driver trying to make the basket type straps made for larger wheels fit onto my wee 12 inchers. But he did it. He declined to even consider the tow ring, even though we were going less than a mile.

[94touring]

Correct, suspension needs to travel. Strapping down the vespa you hook over each front handlebar and the rear metal frame on the back of the seat. But, this means you're compressing the shocks, so it's not really ideal but there aren't other options.  I tighten them up to almost full suspension travel and call it good. It works on a scooter ok.

If all I did was haul minis on a dedicated trailer that setup Red Riley posted would be something I'd consider.

[Willie_B]

I wonder if I could convert my tow dolly to use fastraps?

[Scargo]

Mine is a 12' Aluma tilt bed which some of you guys have seen. It hauls the Minis and Sprite effortlessly. Driving onto the trailer has never been a challenge.

I also installed a manual winch on the front frame rail in case I ever have to haul a non-running car.

I criss-cross my ratchet straps at all four outside corners, and I've never had a car shift around on me. I check the straps at every pit stop during my trips.