Why no tow Capacity [Archive]

SomeGuy

01-06-2010, 09:22 AM

I've seen a 3 tow a fairly hefty boat (16-18 foot w/ inboard/outboard) before on the road. My older sisters came with a trailer hitch (she got it used when an old guy passed away with only 2000km on the odo) which was apparently used for a utility trailer.

pacmann33

01-06-2010, 09:28 AM

I just got a hitch for my 2010. Haven't installed it yet. IT is a liability/warranty thing.

This same car has a tow rating in other parts of the world, with less powerful engines.

Just use common sense and don't beat on it and you'll have no trouble towing a light utility trailer etc etc.

I will be towing my GSXR to the track with mine, with a really really light utility trailer.

condor888000

01-06-2010, 10:18 AM

Yup, the 2.0L Mazda 3 is permitted to tow in Europe, exact amount escapes me at the moment however.

RedRaptor

01-06-2010, 10:23 AM

Towing a larger than 12-'14' aluminium boat is just suicide on the tranny. I guess that is why Mazda says no to towing.

I am looking to get a hitch installed this summer to pull a small utility trailer on the weekends to the cottage.

Just use common sense. Don't overload the car with people while towing.

pacmann33

01-06-2010, 10:53 AM

^what he said!

Weight distribution of your load is critical with these small cars. The trouble with boat trailers is tongue weight, the wheels are typically WAY back there on the trailer.

TheMAN

01-06-2010, 02:42 PM

tranny breaking is one thing... but the thing that concerns manufacturer's most is safety.... putting a trailer on means the brakes are overworked/underpowered and it may also damage the unibody... so the tranny breaking is the least of your concern when you're flying off a cliff because you can't stop!

kevcol74

01-06-2010, 03:15 PM

-cj-

01-06-2010, 04:24 PM

Well, it isnt because of lack of torque =) Mazda must know about the weak rods :chuckle

bubba1983

01-06-2010, 04:27 PM

mm the new 2010 ram comes to mind with an 18k lb max tow! mmmm diesel

TheMAN

01-06-2010, 06:19 PM

Mazda really seems to under rate towing. I was looking at the CX7, a CUV that can only pull 2000lbs?? I can't even pull my tent trailer with it! Yet my Escape pulls it great! (3500lbs rated) In fact I pulled a full body trailer with my 1966 Mustang on it no problem!

I guess that 2.3 Turbo isn't a towing engine! :chuckle
there's a thing called engineering tolerance and "fudge factor"... everything is under rated for a reason (structure, machines, etc)... that way it just won't break at the "limit" or slightly after that when someone decides to do something stupid

this is why you see people in the 3rd world countries piled on top of little toyota pickups mountain high and the whole thing is sagging but it just keeps going

Bowj

03-23-2010, 06:46 PM

what do you guys think about towing this boat with outboard motor (aside from the appearance) behind a 2004 mazda 3 sport? 112000 km on my car.
was going to get a class I hitch. is this sufficient?
thanks in advance for any advice.

Bowj

03-23-2010, 06:47 PM

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx2/bowjb/boat/P3230251.jpg

taz4432

03-23-2010, 07:56 PM

Personally, I'd think it should be fine and would do it myself without much of a second thought, but I'll let one of the more experienced guys chime in on this one since this isn't something I normally deal with.

Also, is your car standard or automatic?

Either way, that boat/trailer combo is very light and unless you're throwing on a monster motor, I wouldn't worry too much.

tommyx2

03-23-2010, 08:13 PM

what are your thoughts of towing a 14.5' alluminum boat with a 15hp mercury on it?
i've got the 2010 mazda3
haven't looked into hitches yet but i'm thinking about getting one just cause i don't want to rent this year for the fishing season....
thanks,

Tom

Woodman316

03-23-2010, 08:41 PM

1 thousand pounds should be fine. My beef is no towing recommend. Mazda Canada.

wikdslo

03-24-2010, 11:08 AM

If you go to a place like Hitch city or elsewhere, you'll find that you can only get a class 1 hitch rated for 200lbs tongue weight, 2000lbs tow weight.

That is what the HITCH is rated for, not necessarily the car.

Now, in Europe, these cars have a tow rating of 950kg.
However, here the manual says none. The car is no different. Most speculate it is a warranty thing, because towing is far more common in Europe, and overweight towing is far more common in NA.

What you could do is look at the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on the door jamb. (04 2.3 Hatch = 3843)
Then minus the curb weight of the car (04 2.3 Hatch = 2900ish)

You are left with approx. 943lbs of available vehicle weight.

Minus your own weight, and the weight of the trailer, passengers, cargo, etc.
What you are left with is your available tow capacity.... if you listen to the tow Nazi's.

Otherwise, don't be ridiculous. Load your trailer properly. And double check all connections, heights, pressures, and most importantly, make sure you can brake reasonably.

Most people on the road could care less if you overload your car and fuse your transmission into a ball of scrap metal.
What they are concerned about is you losing control and not being able to brake the vehicle properly.

GL and happy towing.

awhoy

03-24-2010, 01:39 PM

I have a Hidden Hitch installed on my 2005 Sport for 5 years now. Over the years I've used it quite a bit with my 4x6 utility trailer. It can tow a yard of gravel or a skid of interlock bricks, or a set of kitchen appliances without problem. The hitch is hidden nicely under the bumper so it is not noticeable at all.

Rob23

03-24-2010, 01:43 PM

just the auto trannys are no tow cappacity, standard can tow a small light wieght trailer.

DeadB2000

03-25-2010, 06:35 AM

Just being cautious here but if you towed a trailer and pooched your tranny or let's say your tranny just picked that day to lay down and die AND your dealership saw a trailer hitch installed, I think you could kiss your warranty goodbye. "We told you, no towing". Also in places like BC, they are extremely picky about towing capacity of cars and if you happened to get stopped there, they would poke your vehicle into a datebase and say "You aren't supposed to tow traliers with this car. Unhook it and leave it here". They are notorious for that.

Having said all this, if you are willing to take a chance, stick to a manual transmission. I have an auto and when forced to, I had to tow my wife's filthy lousy, stinking rotten, unreliable, poorly made, poorly engineered, constantly breaking down, piece of shite 95 Ford Ranger pickup. I only towed it a block to a service station parking lot and didn't even get out of first gear but I was concerned.

Just my two cents worth.

Woodman316

03-25-2010, 11:21 AM

Class 3 hitch for a bike rack, hitch for removable storeage racks and a harness because the lights are obstucted because of stuff on the rack.

chibi_man

07-06-2010, 12:42 PM

Bringing a topic back from the dead.

I have a 2010 Mazda 3 Sedan with the 2.0L

I had my dealership put my hitch on before I bought it. They never at the time said I could not tow anything with it.

I am going to have a conversation with them and see if I can get in "Writing" that I can use my hitch without concern over voiding my warranty. Seeing how they were the ones whom installed it.

Just being cautious here but if you towed a trailer and pooched your tranny or let's say your tranny just picked that day to lay down and die AND your dealership saw a trailer hitch installed, I think you could kiss your warranty goodbye. "We told you, no towing". Also in places like BC, they are extremely picky about towing capacity of cars and if you happened to get stopped there, they would poke your vehicle into a datebase and say "You aren't supposed to tow traliers with this car. Unhook it and leave it here". They are notorious for that.

Having said all this, if you are willing to take a chance, stick to a manual transmission. I have an auto and when forced to, I had to tow my wife's filthy lousy, stinking rotten, unreliable, poorly made, poorly engineered, constantly breaking down, piece of shite 95 Ford Ranger pickup. I only towed it a block to a service station parking lot and didn't even get out of first gear but I was concerned.

Just my two cents worth.

mrwiggs

06-01-2011, 09:40 PM

I'm building a 4'x6' square surface trailer for my 2004 Mazda 3i, the trailer has a capacity of 1600lbs not that it will ever be loaded that high and a hitch weight of 300lbs, for pulling race bikes to the track and construction material. The thing about trailers is weight distribution on the trailer "Balanced" so no real weight on the hitch or off balanced on the trailer causing lift... boats often have the cribbing wrong causing too much tongue weight and should often be moved back quite a bit.

I have a DZ license and pull two different 27' dual axle trailers around Toronto with a Dodge 1500-2500 king cab+bed = 47' nose to tail and load weight is everything for handling and breaking ability.

Never looked at the Mazda recommendations for towing but did notice first that you could put a hitch on it, I've seen a trailer on a Smart car too but they don't recommend it or cover warranty (so don't say anything) as long as your easy on and off the gas/ stay in the slow lane/ don't work the engine hard/ make two trips "do not push"/ don't tailgate...... use your head.

Shellabego

08-05-2011, 06:05 PM

I wish I had read this thread before purchasing and installing a hitch then punching the rod through the core on the second trip to the lake hauling a 14 ft tinner on a trailer with a 9.9 outboard. It was a mountain pass but everyone said it would haul it no problem, $4800 dollar later I have another motor and am not so sure I want to make the trip again. Apparently, I need a truck.

TheMAN

08-05-2011, 06:38 PM

you probably towed more than 1300kg and used overdrive... you should NOT when towing with such a low power/light duty vehicle... lugging it in high gears puts more stress in the engine than keeping the revs up... in addition, if you used the factory recommended 5W20 piss, that oil isn't meant for heavy duty usage... stresses you'd see under heavy loads

this is the mazda europe towing capacity list
http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/mazda.htm

Kiyomi

08-06-2011, 09:22 PM

mazda 3 is more sport orientated than other vehicles, thus towing is low on mazdas chain of thought. mostly they have thought of trying to get the best fun out of a car while being practical.

Booter22

08-06-2011, 10:08 PM

sol_searchin

08-06-2011, 10:36 PM

most eco cars can tow 1000lbs, if there is no recommendation I would still go by 1000lbs being safe, my POS 99 civic hatchback towed 1000lbs back in the day so I don't see why a bigger, beefier car can't.

dreadlock

08-21-2011, 11:55 PM

Any advice if were talking about the speed3? I'll definitely check wikdslo's advice to look at the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and minus the curb weight of the car. But for the most part, just use your head? Looking to tow a 14' aluminum boat, with up to 15hp outboard - or something in that area. Thanks.

07carbon3

07-24-2012, 12:35 PM

So I guess pulling a 8ft tent trailer wouldn't be a very good thing to do?

cwp_sedan

07-24-2012, 12:42 PM

So I guess pulling a 8ft tent trailer wouldn't be a very good thing to do?

No it wouldn't

taz4432

07-24-2012, 01:29 PM

Actually, I would say you would more than likely be fine towing an 8' tent trailer. Chances are it's no more than 800-900lbs, max, which is more than safe to tow with the 3. Look up the weight of it and go from there, but I would. Unless the car is automatic with no tranny cooler, in which case I wouldn't tow anything.

standsideways

07-24-2012, 01:32 PM

http://img.tapatalk.com/63fde721-dc32-7ff3.jpg

TheMAN

07-24-2012, 04:00 PM

see post 26

CelestSpeed3

12-03-2012, 08:11 PM

Back from the dead !

I looked up the MPS towing in Australia and it says the MPS can tow 2000lbs if the trailer has brakes.

Anyone have any objections to this other than what it says in the book ?

mazdasport

12-03-2012, 08:18 PM

i would love to hop in a mazda 3 and see a brake gain controller screwed on down by the footwell that would make my day :D

Back from the dead !

I looked up the MPS towing in Australia and it says the MPS can tow 2000lbs if the trailer has brakes.

Anyone have any objections to this other than what it says in the book ?

CelestSpeed3

12-03-2012, 08:31 PM

I'll make your day and you can see it for yourself.

If this can happen, then I'm pretty sure I can tow a trailer with my tires and tools.

http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=404058&d=1337466323

Something either like this:

http://www.miskatrailers.com/trailer_details.asp?cid=35&id=213

Or This with brakes

http://www.miskatrailers.com/enclosed_details2.asp?tid=166&sizeid=2&cid=40&sid=13&show=specs

standsideways

12-04-2012, 04:32 PM

Paul, john P @ OTA always tows a trailer with tires tool and camping stuff, to the track with his s2000, he said its no problem at all but he definitely isnt carrying 2000lbs.

Stephen deneka(SPDA) has a tire rack on the back of his subie, swings out like some bike racks do, his wheels get stacked on a pole and a cap goes on top, pretty cool tire rack IMO.

CelestSpeed3

12-04-2012, 08:42 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think I will hit anywhere close to 2000lbs. The only way I will is if I bring like 20 wheels and tires with me. I'm more concerned with the far events Grand Bend and Shannonville. I want to have everything in the trailer as opposed to packing the car.

standsideways

12-04-2012, 09:56 PM

Yea i hear ya, i packed the car to the tits many times this year, was such a pain playing tetris in a speed 3

midnitehour

12-04-2012, 10:02 PM

This is why you don't want to Tow that much weight with your 3.

Nothing to do with the chasis or drive train. just simply if you start to sway, you're pooched.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLnLwFcSBc

peterm15

12-04-2012, 10:05 PM

That can happen with any vehicle. Happens to transports all the time.

RedRaptor

12-04-2012, 10:11 PM

That can happen with any vehicle. Happens to transports all the time.

+1.

Check out my other thread and look at what I have towed with my NA 3.

That video shows the driver losing control and swaying side to side due to no apparent reason.

I don't understand why towing with a Mazda3 is such a hot topic. For many around the world and here, its just a way of life.