Miata Mailing List: October 1992, Message #43
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   From: (none)
Subject: Miata Trailors
   Date: (none)

Monarch Mazda in Denver sell via mail order a hitch designed for the Miata.  
It bolts to the outside of the frame rails where the tie down hooks are.  
There are no holes to drill and it bolts on using four bolts supplied.  It is 
easier to remove the tie down hooks first, but, you can leave them in place.  
There is no welding required either.  The said some trimming of the rear facia
may be required but I did not have any interference.  Uhaul also sells a 
similar product (it may be the same one) at least they list it in their 
catalogs.  It is a standard hitch with tongue.  I modified it by cutting the 
tongue off an welding a receiver box on so that all you see is a 1 1/4 inch 
box below the bumper.  

I ran trailor light wiring through a rubber gromet in the trunk to the hitch 
so it is out of sight. 

The trailor is 1/2 of a 4 foot by 8 foot flat bed trailor kit bought at Sams 
Wholesale club for $180.  I relocated the axel forward and re-attached the 
trailor tongue (not difficult, just a few holes drilled).  Many people are 
using a 48 inch by 42 inch trailor kit available at Sears or JC Whitney for a 
little more.  Once assembled, I bolted a 3/4 inch piece of plywood to it and 
either bolt a car top carrier to it for liesure travel or a simple stake bed 
frame when going auto crossing.

The trailor is rated at 1000lbs but it will never see that.  Max will always 
be less than 400 lbs loaded.  The trailor hitch is rated at 1000lbs with a max
tongue weight of 50lbs.  On a trailor this short, you have to make sure it is 
balanced front to back.  

When towing, the only thing you will notice is you will down shift a bit 
sooner on a grade.  Otherwise you will hardly know it is there.  You can't 
even see it behind the car!  just be careful backing up.  It will jack-knife 
very quickly.

To sumarize: try not to weld directly to the body or frame, there is no need. 
Nor is there a need to bolt through the trunk.  The floor of the trunk is not 
a load bearing member and will not strengthen the hitch in any way.  I don't 
care what the hitch boys say.

I towed a full load, with wife, 2200 miles to Indy and back with no trouble no
change in operating temp was noticed.  Believe me, I paid attention.  

Sorry about the length,  if any one has any questions, i will be glad to 
answer them all.

Eric Fancher
Tejas Miatas
Austin, Texas