Miata Mailing List: October 1992, Message #42
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   From: (none)
Subject: trailers
   Date: (none)

>In addressing the issue of engine ping, Eric Fancher mentioned the
>fact that he had a trailer for his Miata. I know that Mazda doesn't
>recommend pulling a trailer.  What are the recommendations for type
>of hitch, trailer, and maximum load?
>
I had a hitch fabricated for my Miata in early '90, before any were
commercially available.  The installer removed the rear tie down hooks
and welded the crossbar to the body where they had been.  A support
bracket is bolted throught the floor of the trunk.  The hitch fabricator
told me the max trailer weight would be 700 lbs, and the max tongue
weight would be 70 lbs.  I have never exceeded about 400 lbs, since
all I pull is 4 race tires/wheels, and some associated autox stuff.
I haven't heard any recommendations for trailers except Mazda's
"don't do it".  What I have seems to work without stressing the
body, but I'd surely never want to pull more than maybe 500 lbs.
The trailer I use is the smallest Sears build-it-yourself.  The
hitch is the removeable drawbar type, with only the receiver
visible below the bumper.  I THINK the drawbar is 1" square, which
I believe is the smallest available.  The company who fabricated
the hitch had done two other miatas that I know of when I had
mine done.  If anyone would like more details, I can snail-mail
a sketch of what they did.

Steve