Trailers and Miatas

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2004 11:15 am

Diane Hall wrote:

Chuck Frank wrote:

Diane's idea of mounting the box with the hinge to the front is good if you are the absent minded type, but makes getting in and out of the box a pain.

If the box is mounted to the front half, I'd agree. But mine is on the back half.

Another thing to consider is tongue weight. With the wheels on the front on mine, I get more tongue weight and it causes the trailer to bounce less and pull better IMO. YMMV.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2004 11:28 am

RobLupella wrote:

Expect gas mileage to plummet. With 8 tires, the trailer and the loaded car my mileage goes from 30 to about 17mpg.

8 tires...wow! My mileage does drop towing with the Miata, but it's not quite that drastic. Probably because I have only 4 tires plus tools. Mine goes down about 5 MPG or so. You do know the trailer is back there though. I was shifting quite a bit going up and down those hills around Danville this weekend.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2004 11:40 am

Jeff Eng wrote:

Just another suggestion, but have you thought about one of these?
http://www.tiretail.com

I just got one for my miata and it seems to work pretty well, although it does attract some attention.

Jeff

Cute! Wonder where you put your luggage, cooler, tools, etc? My Miata is so small I have to pull over and get out just to change my mind!

Seriously, with two people, and all our gear I still can't bring all I need even towing the HF trailer. My next project is to add a rack over the tires to add more storage space. Might even add a light ot two while I'm at it . :wink:

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2004 3:24 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Cute! Wonder where you put your luggage, cooler, tools, etc? My Miata is so small I have to pull over and get out just to change my mind!

My wife and I proved that you can go on an 8 day honeymoon in a 1st gen Miata. You just have to pack creatively.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Apr 26, 2004 3:26 pm

Todd Breakey wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

Cute! Wonder where you put your luggage, cooler, tools, etc? My Miata is so small I have to pull over and get out just to change my mind!

My wife and I proved that you can go on an 8 day honeymoon in a 1st gen Miata. You just have to pack creatively.

Well I guess on a honeymoon you don't need many clothes. :wink:

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Wed Apr 28, 2004 2:37 pm

Vincent's certainly does have the bling bling covered!
The advantage to our mount system for our tires is that we have gone thru 3 different wheel sets and 4 tire sizes since we've had our trailer without having to do any significant changes. I debated the front/rear box configuration until I saw someone with the rear box take their tires off and had the trailer rear up like a bucking bronco, breaking the lights and license plate holder. Our's gets tongue heavy with the tires off, but if I have to move it, I just have Donna sit on the rear crossmember. Vincent where did you get your "kickstand", I keep looking for one of those.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Apr 28, 2004 2:58 pm

Chuck Frank wrote:

Vincent's certainly does have the bling bling covered!
The advantage to our mount system for our tires is that we have gone thru 3 different wheel sets and 4 tire sizes since we've had our trailer without having to do any significant changes. I debated the front/rear box configuration until I saw someone with the rear box take their tires off and had the trailer rear up like a bucking bronco, breaking the lights and license plate holder. Our's gets tongue heavy with the tires off, but if I have to move it, I just have Donna sit on the rear crossmember. Vincent where did you get your "kickstand", I keep looking for one of those.

Bling? Me? No way! :shock:

I was concerned about having to modify my setup when we got the Miata because it had 15" wheels vs. the 16" on the Cavalier. I bought two pieces of 1-1/4" dia. PVC and screwed it to the lateral braces, which raised the 15" wheels up to exactly the right height. To use my 16" wheels I remove 5 screws and the PVC and I'm back in business.

I've been there, done that on the "bucking bronco" Chuck. It only happens to ya once before you learn to remove only two tires at once though. :wink:

I noticed the "kickstand" in the instructions when I was doing the assembly on my trailer. I called NT with a P/N and the guy on the phone acted like I was looney. So I called the manufacturer direct (Lon-Chin...or whatever) and tried to order one. I spoke with a genuine Asian guy who hardly spoke English, but understood me enough to say $20 and get my CC number and address. It arrived in about a week and bolted right on just like the instructions had shown. Works great!

Vern Geddings · **Posted:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 1:13 pm

Just load up everything in the Talon and try towing it with the Miata like Kevin and Ryan did. :shock:

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 6:37 pm

I saw a couple at Deals gap 2 years ago that carried a full set of camping gear and luggage for a week stay in their Miata. If you have an M1 you should buy the spare tire relocation kit to get it out of the trunk. I have enough tongue weight that the trailer tows well, but I can still pick it up and move the trailer around. That helps a lot when we put it away in our storage shed, since I have to pull it up ramps, the floor is ~ 16" above the ground. The trailer never cost us more than a couple mpg even at speeds i won't admit to in print. We towed it thru the mountains of NH, VT, and NY with the Miata and hardly knew it was back there.

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