Custom P5 Trailer [Archive]

anarchistchiken

09-08-2005, 01:10 AM

I'm willing to bet it would be a lot more itme and money than you're willing to spend to do it right. You'd need to find a P5 with a good rear end, cut that off, reinforce it a good bit and set up the interior like you want. Then you'd have to figure out a way to custom fabricate some kind of covering for the front side of the trailer, and I would imagine doing something like that on a car/trailer like this is more easily said than done.

I also don't know if I would really trust a P5 transmission to pull something that heavy.

But if you decided it would be a worthwhile project, it would be a very badass little project.

Captain KRM P5

09-08-2005, 01:13 AM

the protege, at best, could tow 1000 pounds. the owners manual recommends not towing with a protege period.

i have seen a few plymouth prowlers with and toyota mr2s with trailers like this however.

Bala

09-08-2005, 01:20 AM

I also don't know if I would really trust a P5 transmission to pull something that heavy.
Cool idea! - but this is valid point. (Way) back in the day, I helped my friend build a matching trailer (with matching rims) for his slammed Nissan show truck out of a gutted, wrecked truck. It came out beautiful, but the only fab work was to the frame.

bestmazda01

09-08-2005, 01:21 AM

heres what happens when you use a protege to tow:

Bala

09-08-2005, 01:25 AM

heres what happens when you use a protege to tow:
(rofl) Holy Crap!

aMaff

09-08-2005, 07:57 AM

lmao, no joke

chuyler1

09-08-2005, 08:20 AM

Man I love that movie.

SilverBulletES

09-08-2005, 08:44 AM

Hah!

JCell

09-08-2005, 09:05 AM

great video!!!

Rogue

09-08-2005, 10:26 AM

http://www.motorweb-es.com/maletero/Passat.jpg

Rogue

09-08-2005, 10:27 AM

on a side note, what limits the Protegé's ability to tow? Engine, tranny, fram strength?

p5power

09-08-2005, 10:45 AM

on a side note, what limits the Protegé's ability to tow? Engine, tranny, fram strength?

or how about a combination of all three?? i'm sure we could tow something small, but I wouldn't push it in our cars. oh, and that vid is freakin hilarious!

Rogue

09-08-2005, 10:47 AM

i know one of the guys used to tow his motorcycle on a trailer w/o any problems.

MyZmZm

09-08-2005, 08:16 PM

http://www.motorweb-es.com/maletero/Passat.jpg
That is too cool! If I was in the habit of towing things, I'd probably look into doing something like that. If you'd totally gutted the interior, how much weight would you be looking at with something like that - either with two or four doors :D ? One thing that would probably help with aerodynamics would be to pull the 'trailer' in reverse, ie the curved ass-end of the 'car' facing forward with the chopped front end towards the rear, especially if you only used the 2 door model rofl

aMaff

09-08-2005, 08:20 PM

Good gawd, that is ridonkulous.

chuyler1

09-08-2005, 11:26 PM

How exactly does he pull into parking lots with that? It looks great for the highway but anything else and that would scrape bottom. It also looks difficult to get a 60/40 weight distribution on the trailer. Most of the weight will be on the car's rear suspension.

Rogue

09-09-2005, 01:16 AM

hey may have wheels tucked inside towards the front?

smurfedpro5

09-09-2005, 09:27 AM

http://www.motorweb-es.com/maletero/Passat.jpg
that is fucking cool (headbang)

Rogue

09-09-2005, 12:13 PM

another thing i just noticed....the trailer has exhaust

Nutari

09-09-2005, 12:18 PM

another thing i just noticed....the trailer has exhaust
and a huge ass screen..

Rogue

09-09-2005, 12:28 PM

screen?

cable43

09-09-2005, 01:02 PM

?
....... idk what to say.

rednecks_r_us

09-09-2005, 03:38 PM

another thing i just noticed....the trailer has exhaust

Maybe he has a generator in there and fabbed and exhaust for it.

Little camper with a TV and fridge inside.

Either way I think that looks sweet.

I know I'd slow on the highway to look at it.

CRISPY5

09-09-2005, 06:29 PM

the protege, at best, could tow 1000 pounds. the owners manual recommends not towing with a protege period.

i have seen a few plymouth prowlers with and toyota mr2s with trailers like this however.

I have a hidden hitch on my P5, and a small 4 foot trailer... I have towed it 30 miles loaded with my Dads John Deere lawn tractor several times... Had her up to 65 on the highway, stopped and started on hills, everything.... I don't even know it is back there unless I look in the rearview mirror...

I have an '03 P5 with a CAI and 4-1 header, and that's it... I could pull a lot more before my clutch even gives a crap..... let alone takes one.... That weight limit for towing is only there so the Mazda lawyers can handle idiots like the one in that video..... Which was awesome by the way!!!

p.s. I towed a pop up camper 200 miles from Groton Conn. to Vermont and back with a 1983 Nissan Sentra, and I made it all the way up that hill.......... (well, maybe not THAT hill, but a hill)... so there ya go...

p.s.s. I also towed a 1973 Grand Prix 10 miles (some highway) with a 1984 Buick Skylark (a.k.a. Chevy Citation) using a clamp on towbar......The only problem was getting traction when the front tires came off the ground... (boom05)

aMaff

09-09-2005, 06:53 PM

The only problem was getting traction when the front tires came off the ground... (boom05)
Ya...that's not really a good problem to have. I bet that was...well...interesting...

Livebait

09-19-2005, 12:22 AM

i was thinking of something like a smaller trailer anyone got any ideas?

chuyler1

09-19-2005, 10:59 AM

How about a roof rack box such as the ones made by Thule. Unless you need it to tow a motorcycle, ATV, or lawnmower a rack box is probably the best solution to increase cargo space.

If you are looking to tow a camper or something...perhaps you should rethink purchasing a P5.

Search the forum for words like "trailer" and "hitch". You'll find a few threads with people giving suggestions on hide-away hitches. I don't remember seeing anyone post pictures of their trailers but you can PM people to see what they have.

memo79

09-20-2005, 02:16 PM

You could use something like those fiberglass snowmobile trailers. They make them for 1 or 2 snowmobiles, and they're not too big. You could put quite a few things in there (besides a snowmobile), and it's not too heavy.
I can't find any pics on the net, but I've seen one. It's molded to the shape of the snowmobile, so it's not much taller than the p5.

AceProtege

09-20-2005, 02:18 PM

http://www.motorweb-es.com/maletero/Passat.jpg
are you for real????

that is sweet!

Speedwagon Dave

01-24-2006, 03:30 PM

If you are interested in a small cargo trailer, check out www.iwouldneedavstatus.com (http://www.iwouldneedavstatus.com)
We are making small fiberglass bodied trailers for behind your motorcycle or small car.
On the web site is a few pictures of our Holiday trailer behind my Protege 5.

aMaff

01-24-2006, 03:35 PM

linky not workey

i12drivemyMP5

01-24-2006, 04:29 PM

Horse pulls cart, cart fights back. I love how somebody always has some cool video or pic to go with thread topics. This has to be one of the best!..............

SkinnyJoint

01-24-2006, 07:29 PM

yea bad ass pic lol

MrValve

01-24-2006, 09:07 PM

If you are interested in a small cargo trailer, check out www.speedwagontrailers.com
We are making small fiberglass bodied trailers for behind your motorcycle or small car.
On the web site is a few pictures of our Holiday trailer behind my Protege 5.

That link did not work, but I found them here http://www.speedwagonmanufacturing.com/

Someone in town was selling a portable trailer that had a rowboat for the roof. I'll have to look up the link. It looked really light weight.
Here's the link http://www.towrowtrailers.com/ They're actually made here in Tacoma!

Personally I'd go for a modern teardrop trailer.

chuyler1

01-24-2006, 09:18 PM

Those speedwagon trailers look nice (decent sized wheels and aerodynamic styling). However, I doubt you can fit very much in them. You would have to pack stuff in duffle bags instead of suitcases and cram them in to make the most out of the odd shape.

brentmc79

01-24-2006, 10:50 PM

hex2bit

01-24-2006, 11:45 PM

The funny part about towing with cars...

If you take a look at the P5, it actually has a frame to mount a hitch to. This means that it was designed to atleast tow something. You still want to worry about weight and its affects on the car.

My dad has a Buick Regal, with a V6. It has enough power for towing, and a bit more weight on the P5. However, if you look at what they have to mount a hitch onto... they have nothing. The hitch bolts to the bumper in two spots, and it bolts to one spot of the floor under the spare tire. Infact, a lot of cars are this way, and they work just fine towing all kinds of stuff.

I feel safer with the setup the P5 has. However, I do know the P5 does have its limitations due to its wieght and powertrain. But as long as it is not a big strain on your car and does not greatly affect handling... then you should be fine.

In my case, I plan on hauling a boat with my P5. I'm trying to keep the weight to 1,500 lbs or less... but I really want one that weighs 1,800 lbs :) I have also found dealers providing optional brake packages for trailers, which would take a lot of the work off the car, especially in emergencies. I'd be more worried about stopping than going. I can always control how much I strain my car when I stepping on the gas, but I cannot always control how fast I must stop my car.

Nice video btw. I've seen it before, but it was a shorter version.

chuyler1

01-24-2006, 11:49 PM

I don't know about a trailer, but I'd really like to get one of those roof-mounted cargo boxes like someone mentioned earlier and have it paint-matched yellow on the top and black on the bottom. I think that'd look awesome.
http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/default.asp
Thule makes them...but they aren't cheap...and painting it will cost a bit too. I'd get one of those before a trailer.

rednecks_r_us

01-25-2006, 12:06 AM

That link did not work, but I found them here http://www.speedwagonmanufacturing.com/

Someone in town was selling a portable trailer that had a rowboat for the roof. I'll have to look up the link. It looked really light weight.
Here's the link http://www.towrowtrailers.com/ They're actually made here in Tacoma!

Personally I'd go for a modern teardrop trailer.

That trailer would be cool looking if it had some P5 tail lights grafted into it along with matching rims and painted the same color as the what ever car it was being towed by.

Antoine

01-25-2006, 12:16 AM

Interesting thread...Subailed ;)

(attn) Vendors: Make sure you apply for AV status BEFORE doing business on Mazda Forums.

p5power

01-25-2006, 12:25 AM

so those are the people who stole my 89 cav's tails....

http://www.msprotege.com/members/p5power/CavRear.jpg

...them bastards!!

chuyler1

01-25-2006, 12:32 AM

LOL! Good observation.

i12drivemyMP5

01-25-2006, 08:18 AM

I don't know about a trailer, but I'd really like to get one of those roof-mounted cargo boxes like someone mentioned earlier and have it paint-matched yellow on the top and black on the bottom. I think that'd look awesome.

I got one by Xport made out of ABS for around 125.00. Comes black but I guess it could be painted. Holds good amount of stuff. Simple tool-free mounting.

http://www.performancebike.com/help/pdf_files/xcess_cargo.pdf

hookdupdelsol

01-25-2006, 10:04 AM

I think a manufacturer was doing trailers of the Miata for a little while now.

A del Sol'r also did it with his and put a grille in it for when he is at a car show he can bar-b-q.

anarchistchiken

01-25-2006, 10:24 AM

screen?

There's a big screen in the windshield of the trailer.

chuyler1

01-25-2006, 10:32 AM

I got one by Xport made out of ABS for around 125.00. Comes black but I guess it could be painted. Holds good amount of stuff. Simple tool-free mounting.
Got any pictures of the box on your car?

A del Sol'r also did it with his and put a grille in it for when he is at a car show he can bar-b-q.
His trailer needs a drop. LOL. Looks nice though...you kinda need one with a Del Sol.

i12drivemyMP5

01-25-2006, 11:03 AM

No but I need to get some of every rack thing I have to carry shit with. I have racks for bikes, 2 kayaks, surfboard/windsurfer, cargo box on top & bike rack for back also. 1 wknd I will have to mix & match all possible configurations & take pictures. Just haven't gotten to it yet. Weekends usually get spent actually participating in these things or car maintenance/mods.

hookdupdelsol

01-25-2006, 11:44 AM

His trailer needs a drop. LOL. Looks nice though...you kinda need one with a Del Sol.

ha Ha.. I don't know, 10 of us traveled from PA to KY this year for a meet and we all had enough room. I didn't drive so I rode so two of our luggagess fit in the trunk. I know what you mean though! LoL

I forget his reasoning behind not lowering the trailer, I think it was just so it didn't hope around everywhere and didn't nessasarily fall 'into grooves' like most lowered cars do. Hmmm... Good question though!

chuyler1

01-25-2006, 11:55 AM

My guess is that it didn't have enough weight to compress the springs...and you're right it would prolly bounce around if the springs were too stiff.

hookdupdelsol

01-25-2006, 12:28 PM

My guess is that it didn't have enough weight to compress the springs...and you're right it would prolly bounce around if the springs were too stiff.

Upon looking at one of the Sol forums I came across the attached pictures. Looks like it was lowered, Hmmm....

Speedwagon Dave

01-25-2006, 12:53 PM

Hello p5power
Those are cavalier taillights on this trailer.
I have sent an e-mail to register as an AV, sorry about that. (boom07)

chuyler1

01-25-2006, 01:12 PM

hookdupdelsol

01-25-2006, 03:10 PM

I feel bad for the Del Sol. I always thought it was a nice looking sporty car. But it gets sooooo abused by the ricers that I could never own one. I rarely see one done up tastefully. Honda should bring it back.

Is that an 86 Cougar in the background?

I know what you mean. There are a few tastefully done Sol's out there. My first one is pretty much butchered up from about 3 years ago when I thought bodykits were the thing to do with loud exhausts. I was considering selling it but I think I might just take out a $3000 loan and go at it and getting it back to stock body with tasteful mods.

These are 2 of the most tasteful Sol's that I have seen in a LONG time!

Sorry for the threadjack!