P5: pulling a trailer?
 

1) What is the pulling capacity of this car? What does the spec say?

2) Are there any trailer hitches made for this car? If so, do they requires chopping up the rear fascia?

Thanks

im not sure a car w/ ~140hp and ~140ft/lbs can pull very much . . .especially if there are more people/luggage inside.

if anything, you could probably tow a motorcycle or a jetski.
maybe a small trailer. . . you know, those short ones that only go up half the height of a car?

DON'T tow!!
 

My manual says specifically DO NOT TOW anything.

STOP!

Whoa

Hold on.


A trailer for the P5?

First off, if you have the auto then get the notion of pulling out of your head. The auto tranny has enough problems just getting the car around smoothly.

If you have a stick then you might be able to fudge pulling a small motorcycle or single jet ski. Expect to get a new clutch sooner than expected.

Finally if you read the owners manual that comes with the car. It says in section 4-11 under trailer towing, "Never tow a trailer with your Mazda."


Sorry bud,

You'll need to get a truck or SUV.

Sure you can tow, even though the manual says you can't. It also says you shouldn't modify the car as well, but people do that anyway.

Hidden Hitch and Drawtite have a hitches specifically for the P5. I have installed the HiddenHitch one which did not require any mods. Bolts on, no welding, took me about an hour. You will need to supply your own ball though.

I would not tow anything more than 1000 lbs. I have a small trailer with a 20 cu ft box from Sears mounted which I use for long trips. I have also towed a small boat 14 footer with no issues.

Other people have towed motorcycles or jetskiis. If you want to tow heavier things then you will have to get a bigger car or truck.

HTH

I stand corrected.

Thanks for the info Bruce.

Later,

Bill

Thanks, folks.

I don't plan on pulling heavy gear... just a tiny trailer that would hold a tabletop drill press, contractor-grade table saw, and various small building tools. I think the trailer (enclosed) would be vastly heavier than what it would be pulling. This wouldn't be a permanent thing, either... just every 3 days... and Michigan is flatter than Kansas.

I would be driving a stick, so I hope those WITH experience could share some reality with this thought. Thanks.

Hi uncleho

That should be fine. My trailer is 40x48 and weighs about 200lbs.

When I tow it I keep forgetting it's there. Jus make sure you don't exceed 1000lbs.

Have fun.

not everywhere :D

you guys are crazy pulling stuff with your mazdas. What's next some sort of SUV-minivan!

dude, my parents pulled a trailer with a datsun 510. you'll be alright, just remember to stay in the slow lane.

I don't understand why anyone thinks towing is "crazy".

If you have a real hitch, you'll be fine.

WTF is the difference of pulling a 500 lb trailer vs. stuffing 3 passengers in your car?

The weight may be further "back" with a trailer, but it's the same weight, and the same stress on the engine.

I've been driving my P5 for 2 years and 50,000+ miles, carrying about 150-200lbs of stuff (combined stereo and tools) in the hatch every single day. No problems. Even got 28 mpg on a recent trip to Cape Cod, with auto tranny and AC on the whole way.

Common sense rules the day - have fun and tow away.

~HH

seems like that might void some kind of warranty... drivetrain related... also seems like if the car was meant for any kind of towing, then it would say in the manual this car is meant for some kind of towing. Its funny how people will follow the manual to an extent, like oil changes and maintenance schedules, and then just kind of neutralize their efforts and do something like tow a trailer when it says not to. Just my thoughts on it...

Well check this thread for more discussion:

http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...threadid=25093

I don't know why the search here is so shitty, I even searched for the exact subject and it didn't find it. There are several people who tow and have reported no problems. The car can handle 500lbs amazingly well, and yes that's with an auto. And I may be wrong, but I seem to remember from some where that the 323/Familia is spec-ed somewhere in the world with a towing capacity.

James T

easy breasy
 

good day all, i have had my pro 5 since dec 01 and am now up too 69k on it...still running fine and i have had a reese hidden hitch on it the whole time....i only put a small 4 wheeler on it...well that is the heaviest thing i have put on it, and i have only put it up on it about 3 times....you can certainly feel it back there , so i wouldn't suggest putting anything heavier ...just a word of advice....

hey nice forums ....bout time i have found some