Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2021 Mini Cooper Manual Transmission

Question:

Can a 2021 mini cooper front wheel drive manual be flat towed? I know the manual states it would void the transmission warranty but wanted to check if this was just to circumvent liability for potential user errors. It is my understanding that most front wheel drive and manual cars could be towed in neutral. Do you sell any necessary parts to accomplish should it be possible and please recommend such parts. Thanks!

asked by: John G

Expert Reply:

It's our understanding as well that basically any manual transmission vehicle is safe to be flat towed but there are some Mazda manual transmission vehicles that cannot be flat towed so it would be important for you to confirm this with a Mini dealer but that said we do have all the parts needed to flat tow your 2021 Mini Cooper with the # RM-521882-5 as a base plate kit.

In addition to the base plates, you will also need a compatible tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking to flat tow your vehicle. The most popular compatible tow bar is the Falcon All Terain, # RM-522. This has non-binding arms which makes the setup very easy to connect/disconnect.

For lighting/safety cables, locks, and covers for the tow bar we have the Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain kit part # RM-9243-1 which comes with all of that as one part number. The diode kit that comes with this allows you to splice into the taillight wiring so that your RV controls the vehicle taillights and does not require drilling into the taillight housings. This comes with a round 6-way connector that you will install on the front of your towed vehicle and enough coiled wire to go from there to the RV.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking in the vehicle being flat towed. The easiest system to set up and use is the Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR, that applies the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the tow vehicle is braking. This is the safest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.

Most likely you will also need a high low adapter so that the tow bar will be level when you are flat towing. I attached a link to a page that has all of the ones we carry.

I have included a couple of helpful links to our articles on flat towing for you. Be sure to consult the vehicle owners manual for more specific information on flat towing your vehicle.