borderline silly track tire transport

[spk74]

I recently sold my track car and plan to track my 135i. 3-5 day HPDE's mean bringing all kinds of crap (tools, ez-up, etc) and I like having spare tires (at least one for each side). Right now it's only 2 spares because I'm using street tires, but eventually I want to switch to Hoosiers, which means bringing 6-8 spare wheels (a set of wets with two spares and a set of Hoosiers with two spares).

What I need is a tow vehicle and a sturdy trailer (budget currently won't allow), and what other people do is tow tiny trailers behind their track cars. Well, I hate the idea of towing a crappy tiny wobbly trailer behind my 135i on my way to and from Alabama or Wisconsin.

Why not carry spare tires on a roof rack instead? I searched and it seems a few people do this (or have tried it), and the main problem with it is increased drag, reduced fuel economy. So, in addition to the tire rack, I am thinking of having a nose and tail cone made out of aluminum...and maybe applying my own special Roundel paint scheme. Your thoughts?

My question is, will my proposed solution draw too much attention? How many times will I get pulled over?

[spk74]

Damn, roof rack weight limit is 150 lbs?

I guess this will have to wait until they come out with a BMW Performance roof rack

[j1gzca]

Reminds me of this.

[bluesunit]

Hilarious. I'd paint it like a V2 rocket.

There was at least one person who was carrying 4 tires on the roof on a rack/platform. Very Mad Max.

I'd do the same as your roof rack design, but mount it up to a little trailer. The harbor freight specials can be hacked to make them not so dinky.

I personally carry four in the back with the seat folded down. I made some nice padded tire totes for them. Rest of my tools go in the trunk.

[spk74]

I plan to swap out my factory seats for my racetech's for HPDE's, so accessing the back seat isn't very easy. I suppose I could drive to/from events with the passenger seat loose. You/we might be on to something!

[pixelblue]

May be mistaken for a bomb I was able to fit three tires in the back seat without the need to fold down the backrest. 4th can be in the front seat. Got tire totes from tire rack so no worries about getting the seats dirty

[spk74]

Well, I could put a propeller on the back (to spin in the wind). "Officer, I respectfully disagree. You say you stopped me because I have what looks like a bomb on the top of my car, but clearly it looks like a torpedo."

Hmmm...I could paint it pink.

I apologize, I'm stuck doing AutoCAD drawings for a couple days and my mind wandered.

[Impervious]

Blimp car: Float to the track in style.

[bluesunit]

Originally Posted by spk74

Well, I could put a propeller on the back (to spin in the wind). "Officer, I respectfully disagree. You say you stopped me because I have what looks like a bomb on the top of my car, but clearly it looks like a torpedo."

Hmmm...I could paint it pink.

I apologize, I'm stuck doing AutoCAD drawings for a couple days and my mind wandered.

Sounds like my life.

Proving once again that, in most cases, mad scientists are actually mad engineers.

[Eddy@ApexWheels]

My friend with a really clean E36 M3 had a roof rack setup he would use to take all 4 of his BBS RG-R's with Hoosiers to autocross events. He couldn't put them in the car because of his roll bar with a rear strut tower brace.

I'll try and find a picture. See if an aftermarket roof rack can handle more weight.

[Groundpilot]

Originally Posted by spk74

Well, I could put a propeller on the back (to spin in the wind). "Officer, I respectfully disagree. You say you stopped me because I have what looks like a bomb on the top of my car, but clearly it looks like a torpedo."

Hmmm...I could paint it pink.

I apologize, I'm stuck doing AutoCAD drawings for a couple days and my mind wandered.

I would mount a machine gun on the roof as well and keep your sunroof opened so you dont waste your time. If a police officer stoppes you, just destroy the enemy before he starts talking nonsense and move on. I am still pissed after getting another speeding ticket the other day and view all highway troopers as my personal enemys. Actually i may consider this option myself

[BimmerMeUp]

I have a small trailer I pull behind my 135i. You'd be surprised how little the handling is effected by pulling a 500 lbs trailer.

[spk74]

^^^ have any pictures of your trailer? Where did you go for a hitch? I haven't looked into this since I bought the car (back in 2008 I thought people weren't able to get hitches installed).

[BimmerMeUp]

Originally Posted by spk74

^^^ have any pictures of your trailer? Where did you go for a hitch? I haven't looked into this since I bought the car (back in 2008 I thought people weren't able to get hitches installed).

My hitch is a custom build, you don't want one like it, it is nearly gold plated. At the time I couldn't buy something like this:
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...QCUR11184.html

There is a DIY on installation:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...ighlight=hitch

As I say, I spent a lot more, but the installation included wiring as well. You want a wiring module that includes the first two bullets from this:
http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-V...eid=2008300528

Says:

• Short circuit protection safeguards itself and the tow BMW 1 Series against harmful electrical shorts and mis-wire situations
• Virtually eliminates draw on the BMW 1 Series's taillight circuit

The trailer I built myself out of a polystyrene "job box" and plywood, using one of these frames:
http://www.harborfreight.com/1090-lb...res-90153.html

I don't have a picture, but lots of similar variations can be seen here:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...iler&FORM=BIFD

Here's the box I mounted:
http://www.amazon.com/TRUCK-CONTICO-.../dp/B000LEH58K

On my trailer, the box leads and faces the tongue, and the tires stack flat in pairs behind. I had to put a small platform to lift them up higher than the deck that is on the main frame rails because they stick out over the edges a bit, and the platform lifts them to clear the fenders, which they ride above.

I've seen this same frame used many ways, sometimes with the tires flat, sometimes in rolling position, sometimes with room for eight tires (six flat with two vertical pipes, two rolling position on a cross bar above the 2x3 stacks between the vertical pipes). My trailer uses 3/4" threaded bars fastened through the deck, and with PVC pipe "bumpers" surrounding the bars.

Be sure to spend some time making absolutely sure you can't lose any of your load, you want to strap and cable things down so stuff doesn't go flying in the event of an accident.

It is an awesome setup for my race tires, jack, and some other tools. No loading and unloading of the car, I just hitch up the trailer, throw the helmet bag into the car, and go!

Good luck, keep us posted on what you do.