What would you guys like to see as an aftermarket replacement part?

[Merlin]

As an Oklahoman, I work in the natural gas industry. I have been busy as hell because of layoffs and am finding myself in a situation where I may be cut to 32 hours for an extended period of time. If there was a time to put effort forward, the time would be now.

Dan and I have discussed the idea of building parts that are hard-to-get or are missing from the market. Some of these included tow bar, mini-specific rental tools and replacement suspension components. 

Is there something that you guys would like to see available to market or would like to see a better quality version? Mild or wild, all suggestions are appreciated.

[MiniDave]

I know someone who would buy a reasonably priced towbar tomorrow......however I think the spacers for the bolts need to be stronger than what you can buy at Lowes or HD.

[MPlayle]

I haven't decided whether to go for a tow bar or small trailer for the Moke.  I've done a Moke on a tow bar behind a 2002 MINI Cooper-S before just fine.

It should work fine behind the bigger 2016 Clubman I now have as the daily driver.  Just have to work out getting the hitch and wiring on the Clubman.

[BruceK]

I know someone who would buy a reasonably priced towbar tomorrow......however I think the spacers for the bolts need to be stronger than what you can buy at Lowes or HD.

Umm, strong fasteners are good.  But Dave, as I pointed out to you sometime the during the trip out to the MiniMeet in California with my Mini in tow, the thing that kinda seems like a weak point is where the tow bar attaches to the front subframe.  There's not a lot of metal there.   On the other hand, I've towed probably 8K miles or so, and had no problems, so it seems to work okay. 

To answer the question posed in this thread, what I think would be cool is a Mini towbar of a design that more easily attaches and detaches from the car (i.e. something where one part of the towbar could be permanently left on the car for easy towbar hookup, but have it not otherwise noticeable.) 

[jedduh01]

Towbars = I love em.    Ive done Plenty of miles = Interstate everywhere....

We recently went to CMU meet + 3 of us towed.

My Volvo  = Towbar on  Moke = No problem  barely knew car was back there.

Friends GTI = Towbar Mini = at first he had big issues when coasting down hill + the car would waggle and really sketchy . We stopped and tightened the ball on the hitch + redistrubuted some weight in the car, more weight in the floorboards, Fixed his waggle = then no problem.
   
3rd friend = BMW x3 = Mini Behind. No problems. Towed fine. until he got home....
   I wasn there but he sent me thiese pics with ( "do not reverse" )  as a comment

I believe he was backing into his ' kinda flat drive way = and i would assume the steering tires Jacked one way . and the bar bent down.. 100 % user / driver error.

What worries me from this = what if this was a " REALLY HARD STOP ?,  would a normal towbar fold under like that one did, or was that just an effect of backing and turning.

I knwo major RV Tow bars have very solid mounts Left and right= Seems a special mount could be made to incorporate the Eyelit holes + the lower sub frame.. to give MORE attachment points.

Just my thoughts=  I Tow bar about once per year= but has me thinking...  Trailer would be much preferred.!