Parts Needed for Towing a 2013 Mini Cooper Behind a Motorhome

Question:

hello, Im interested in a tow plate setup to pull a 2013 Mini Cooper, 2 door, hardtop behind a coach. do you recommend one brand over another with consideration of ease of installation?

asked by: Rod M

Expert Reply:

I do have some recommendations for flat towing your 2013 Mini Cooper, but please note that on page 257 of your owner's manual it states that you can flat tow your Mini if is has a manual transmission. If you have an automatic transmission then you need to use a tow dolly.

A complete flat towing setup includes a base plate kit, tow bar, safety cables, vehicle tow bar wiring, a supplemental braking system, and a high-low adapter. I recommend going with the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX1307 because it fits your Mini whether it is a convertible, coupe, or hardtop. The Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar # BX7380 is a great option to use with this as it is rated for and comes with safety cables rated for 6,500 lbs.

The wiring kit that I recommend is the Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267. Once installed this is a simple plug-n-play product. You use the 6-Way to 7-Way coiled harness to connect the 6-Way on your Mini to the 7-Way on your RV. To keep your battery from dying I recommend using the Charge Line Kit # RM-156-25. Just connect this to your battery and the middle pin of your 6-Way to maintain your battery.

The most popular braking system that we have to offer is the SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO # SM99251. This system stays on your Mini after it is installed, but it installs in such a way that you hardly realize that it is there. After it is installed you just need to make a quick connection at the front of your Mini and then flip a switch before heading down the road!

Most flat towing applications require the use of a high-low adapter for the tow bar to remain level. I have linked our selection of adapters as well as a helpful article going over how to determine which one to use for your application.

If you need to go with a tow dolly then I recommend using the Roadmaster # RM-2050-1 which is rated for 4,250 lbs and comes with the ability to utilize brakes. Since this dolly doesn't come with a connector you need a 6-Way # PK11604 or a 7-Way # PK12706 as well.

Even though the tow dolly has lights on it you may want to install the Optronics Magnetic Tow Lights # TL21RK for some extra clarity.

Be sure to follow any special instructions in your owner's manual when it comes to flat or dolly towing.