ms3 hauler

[polski--ms3ski]

anyone think an ms3 could be able to haule a small traillerwith an atv on it i mean they do have some torque so i dont think it would be that much of a problem and do they weven make hitches fro ms3 ??

[MikeHTally]

Some idiot hitch shop will sell you anything. Might want to consult the manual. Says "DO NOT..."

[bgibb68]

as long as it doesn't weight 2000lbs or is cross country..... a buddy of mine used his old prelude to take a jetski to the lake on weekends...

as long as the tongue weight is light and you watch your speed you would be fine......but getting a hitch will be your issue....you'll have to find a custom one somewhere

[GhostMercury]

i kinda want to do the same for my dirtbike which hasn't been riden since I got a car 4 years ago

[Sport6]

as long as it doesn't weight 2000lbs or is cross country..... a buddy of mine used his old prelude to take a jetski to the lake on weekends...

as long as the tongue weight is light and you watch your speed you would be fine......but getting a hitch will be your issue....you'll have to find a custom one somewhere

The one for the regular 3 hatch works for the speed3, a few people have put them on before.

[oaklandopen]

anyone think an ms3 could be able to haule a small traillerwith an atv on it i mean they do have some torque so i dont think it would be that much of a problem and do they weven make hitches fro ms3 ??

it's not so much of a hp or tq thing, it's more of a transmission and driving dynamics thing. the drivetrain wasn't build to pull any more weight than just whatever passengers are in the car, the suspension wasn't built to support the weight of a trailer (that would end up sinking the back and raising the front). especially since it's independant suspension once the rear gets heavy the wheels will camber in like crazy, not like a solid rear in a truck. it's just not a towing car all around

my .02, i odn't recommend towing anything

[Txsandman]

I dunno, I tow dirtbikes with my car all the time. My bikes sit over the trailer axel and there is very little tounge weight. My trailer is light and with 2 bikes its around 1000 lbs, I just stay out of the boost when towing.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t110/TxSandman/IMG_0417.jpg

[GhostMercury]

I saved that picture lol

[polski--ms3ski]

i love that is that a one atv trailer and is the hitch the one mentioned earilier??

[240ka]

I dunno, I tow dirtbikes with my car all the time. My bikes sit over the trailer axel and there is very little tounge weight. My trailer is light and with 2 bikes its around 1000 lbs, I just stay out of the boost when towing.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t110/TxSandman/IMG_0417.jpg

gangsta, saved pic as well

[Txsandman]

Yeah, same hitch as the na 3. Hidden hitch pn 60201
http://www.hiddenhitch.com/fitguides/hitchsel_moreinfo.asp?vid=19459&partno=60201
Here's my old setup:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t110/TxSandman/IMG_0041.jpg

You can hardly see the hitch unless you look for it
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9720/dsc3645.jpg

[GhostMercury]

whered you get the hitch from

[Silver Ecstasy]

The only question --- WHY!?

Why do people do this to cars..I just don't understand it..

[GhostMercury]

Thats what happens when you dont have a truck....idk whats not to understand.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Truth. But c'mon..seriously? You mean owning a dirtbike, jetski or atv means so much to you that you couldn't just get a more practical vehicle, rather than towing this stuff with a performance vehicle?

Sounds like a fucked up order of priorities to me. If you have a trailer hitch on a MS3 or sports car..you probably don't have a house or your finances in order either.

Just my .02.

[jazzman]

Truth. But c'mon..seriously? You mean owning a dirtbike, jetski or atv means so much to you that you couldn't just get a more practical vehicle, rather than towing this stuff with a performance vehicle?

Sounds like a fucked up order of priorities to me. If you have a trailer hitch on a MS3 or sports car..you probably don't have a house or your finances in order either.

Just my .02.

Have we forgotten that the MS3 is a hatchback? I suppose I shouldn't haul 2X4's or plywood in the back either? It's not like putting a hitch on a Vette or something.

[Silver Ecstasy]

Have we forgotten that the MS3 is a hatchback? I suppose I shouldn't haul 2X4's or plywood in the back either? It's not like putting a hitch on a Vette or something.

That's not a fair comparison. You're right, it's a hatchback. Fold the seats down and load up whatever you need.

Installing a hitch and hauling shit just seems overboard for me. I know i'll draw fire because i'm criticizing something that everyone posting in this thread will do or enjoy doing, but this is just my opinion.

It isn't a Vette, but it isn't a pickup truck either.

[GhostMercury]

I have actually seen a corvette tow a trailer that same size to an autox

[jazzman]

That's not a fair comparison. You're right, it's a hatchback. Fold the seats down and load up whatever you need.

Installing a hitch and hauling shit just seems overboard for me. I know i'll draw fire because i'm criticizing something that everyone posting in this thread will do or enjoy doing, but this is just my opinion.

It isn't a Vette, but it isn't a pickup truck either.

+1

To be fair, I really do not plan to ever put a hitch on my Mazda. If I did have that need, I would buy a old beater pickup.

[Silver Ecstasy]

I've also witnessed a Ford GT with a trailer hitch installed to tow an extra set of tires and luggage. The older couple drove from North Carolina to here (Detroit, MI) for the annual Ford GT gathering. I couldn't believe my eyes...

Also, i've seen a Vette with a craptastic trailer made of 2x4's.

Like I said, priorities. I'd be owning a home, with enough additional income to fund a spare utility vehicle before I had extra toys to worry about hauling around.

[jazzman]

I've also witnessed a Ford GT with a trailer hitch installed to tow an extra set of tires and luggage. The older couple drove from North Carolina to here (Detroit, MI) for the annual Ford GT gathering. I couldn't believe my eyes...

Also, i've seen a Vette with a craptastic trailer made of 2x4's.



(omg) I want pics!

[Silver Ecstasy]

I'll have to ask my mom's bf. He has an 06 Ford GT and went down to the gathering. I'm pretty sure he has pictures, but I don't necessarily see or talk to him often. He's one of those "Has a lot of money, no brains" type guys.

I told him to ignore the 08 Shelby GT500KR (he has a 68 fully restored KR, wanted the 08 to match it.) Paid top dollar, now he's lost a lot since it isn't worth shit.. That's another topic though..

[tddelsol]

I thought that towing changed the load on the engine in turn changing the the boost charictoristics. which is why most gas turbo vehicles recomend not doing it . But im an idiot so load that bitch up.http://www.msprotege.com/members/tddelsol/trler%20copy.jpg

[bgibb68]

i hate to tell ya guys....but pulling a jet or a trailer with a dirt bike or atv will put less weight on the back end than hauling around 2 fully grown men.....they have a tounge weight of lke 50 lbs....pulling them not so bad as long as it's not on the autoban or cross country for god's sake....if all you had access to was a car and a jet ski....would you not use the car?? it's not that bad.....

[squidmotion]

The only question --- WHY!?

Why do people do this to cars..I just don't understand it..


hehehe you ask why... i ask WHY NOT? after all, it is a station wagon.

[Mz3Hatch]

I thought that towing changed the load on the engine in turn changing the the boost charictoristics. which is why most gas turbo vehicles recomend not doing it . But im an idiot so load that bitch up.http://www.msprotege.com/members/tddelsol/trler%20copy.jpg

LMFAO! Thats priceless photoshop right there. wowww! (shocked)

[Txsandman]

Truth. But c'mon..seriously? You mean owning a dirtbike, jetski or atv means so much to you that you couldn't just get a more practical vehicle, rather than towing this stuff with a performance vehicle?

Sounds like a fucked up order of priorities to me. If you have a trailer hitch on a MS3 or sports car..you probably don't have a house or your finances in order either.

Just my .02.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t110/TxSandman/IMG_0109.jpg
I have a truck. If I'm going to haul bikes offroad or camping gear for the weekend thats what I use. I have a more practical vehicle, the ms3. Why the hell would you think my priorities aren't straight? My car hauls ass when I want and bikes when I want. Do you need to see pics of my house now? You know nothing about me or why I do what I do. I have zero problems towing my light trailer with my car and will continue to do so.
Assuming to know anything about my houses or finances based off that picture is a douschbag thing to do.

[Silver Ecstasy]

You're right. If I looked at those pictures and said "Man, you're a douchebag". No one said that about you and you don't have to "explain" your finances.

Glad you have a beater to pull your toys with. But it's just a pretty redneck thing to do. Slap a hitch on a car as long as you can fit one, and pull shit. Lol, too funny. I won't let my buddy live it down that he put a hitch on his 06 GTO. What a joke.

[happy and angry]

i hate to tell ya guys....but pulling a jet or a trailer with a dirt bike or atv will put less weight on the back end than hauling around 2 fully grown men.....they have a tounge weight of lke 50 lbs....pulling them not so bad as long as it's not on the autoban or cross country for god's sake....if all you had access to was a car and a jet ski....would you not use the car?? it's not that bad.....If I had a jet ski, I wouldn't have a car whose owner manual specifically says "NOT SUITABLE FOR TOWING" and other warnings about installing tow hitches.

[astraelraen]

I would imagine if you had a powertrain related failure and the dealer saw a tow hitch installed on a car that specifically said no towing you would have some problems...

[bgibb68]

If I had a jet ski, I wouldn't have a car whose owner manual specifically says "NOT SUITABLE FOR TOWING" and other warnings about installing tow hitches.

and i bet you don't drink caffeine or have anything in your house 'cause according to the state of California everything is bad for you(puke)

[polski--ms3ski]

yea but a trailer cant have that much stress like id tow it to indian two houre drive and back i mean if anything have to need to take it to the dealer just take it off and i use to have a trooper before the ms3 thing was an awesome jeep untill the trans went and i got this and i have an atv and not allways wanting to depend on my friend and buying a light trailer made out of aluminume dosent seem bad to e the red ms3 looks awesome by the way and even better hooked up to a ktm nice choice of bike

[bgibb68]

point is you would be fine towing it short periods of time...2 hours to me is a short period of time....just don't make a 10 hour trip towing or try running 100 mph with it

[polski--ms3ski]

precisly im concidering it now

[mazdaspeedpower]

I would imagine if you had a powertrain related failure and the dealer saw a tow hitch installed on a car that specifically said no towing you would have some problems...


from my experience if you have any problems with the drivetrain the dealershit will hassle the hell out of you. when my LSD failed less than a year after purchase(pre-ordered car before it was released to dealershits) they wanted me to pay for the lsd, the labour, the clutch and the machining. even after pointing out all the known problems from their fucking list they still made me pay for the clutch cause its a wear item, despite the fact that chucks of metal had done the damage from shit flying around after the lsd broke to pieces...and to boot, they sold me a knock off clutch claiming it to be a spec stage three.

i say fuck everyone of the naysayers, if they dont wanna do it they wont. if you want to, then fucking do it and stop being pussies about shit. honestly if the trailer is balanced properly and you can lift it with one hand in most cases i dont see the issue of pulling it short distances while taking it easy. as long as its done correctly its not that big of a deal, just dont go hauling a boat up a mountain.(drunk)

[polski--ms3ski]

i love the way this guy is thinking

[MS3Pilot]

this thread = win

PS. My other car is a smartcar and I pull my 28,000 lb boat with it.

[bgibb68]

this thread = win

PS. My other car is a smartcar and I pull my 28,000 lb boat with it.

down hill right.....i noticed you didn't say anything about stopping

[oaklandopen]

i just towed an old jeep with my tacoma v6 and it was struggling, so there's no way your smartcar pulled 28,000lbs. i happen to know that the smartcar can only tow 23,500lbs you bs'er you!

[martispeed]

As far as causing extra strain on the car... My father towed our 18ft searay for 6 1/2 years with his 2001 impala. The car now has 260,000 miles and is still running. Its a sedan and not a truck uh oh... I sorta find it funny that some people think of the MS3 as a sports car or high performance car... its a stationwagon with a turbo haha. Although it is a great car for the money:)

[eg6motion]

Most other countries don't even have trucks and get away with towing boats, campers, atv's, bikes. Only in the US does this seem like a crazy idea.

[MS3Pilot]

Haha you caught me, I try not to pull more than 17,000 lbs with the smartcar.

No seriously though, my friend pulled a Glastron GX185 (18' bowrider, about 3000 lbs) with his Subaru Legacy. Old school one, with the classic NA 165HP boxer-4. That was an amusing ride to say the least.

[MS3Pilot]

As far as causing extra strain on the car... My father towed our 18ft searay for 6 1/2 years with his 2001 impala. The car now has 260,000 miles and is still running. Its a sedan and not a truck uh oh... I sorta find it funny that some people think of the MS3 as a sports car or high performance car... its a stationwagon with a turbo haha. Although it is a great car for the money:)

Damn Protege people dis-respecting. I'll meet you at waffle house.

J/k

[martispeed]

Haha no I mean i like the MS3 and all, I just find it funny when people call it a sports car or high performance car. Its a great car for the price... and as long as its kept mostly stock it seems very reliable

[ottawaP5]

What's written in the manual about not towing anything is just Mazda covering their ass. They just want to avoid warranty claims SHOULD something go wrong. I wouldn't worry about towing a light trailer.

[bgibb68]

you're not s'posed to race it either.....but how many people take their cars to the track????

[polski--ms3ski]

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t110/TxSandman/IMG_0109.jpg
I have a truck. If I'm going to haul bikes offroad or camping gear for the weekend thats what I use. I have a more practical vehicle, the ms3. Why the hell would you think my priorities aren't straight? My car hauls ass when I want and bikes when I want. Do you need to see pics of my house now? You know nothing about me or why I do what I do. I have zero problems towing my light trailer with my car and will continue to do so.
Assuming to know anything about my houses or finances based off that picture is a douschbag thing to do.

damn straigh

[speed3 britz]

I like this Thread alot! I was contemplating putting a hitch on mine as well to haul my KTM dirtbike if i dont end up selling it, or the jetski i plan to buy in the future. Props to you guys who already do! (2thumbs)

[mrcardio79]

The car wasn't designed for towing shit.
Just because nothing appears to be damaged or worn doesn't mean it isn't or isn't on its way to be.
Having a lot of torque doesn’t mean the car is designed to tow.
It’s your car do what you want but I wouldn’t be indorsing something that the car wasn’t built to do.

[turbo23]

Im my various trips to germany and europe in general. No one drives trucks. I beleive the US is the only country that drive around in trucks everyday. Everyone drives small economy cars, and almost everyone has a hitch. Thats ALL I saw were people towing small trailers. If your pulling a bike or smaller ATV you will be fine. The weight of any item on the trailer is going to be in the wheels of the tralier. So your basically pulling the weight, which isnt much for the engine and drivetrain.

[JingChuan]

The car wasn't designed for towing shit.
Just because nothing appears to be damaged or worn doesn't mean it isn't or isn't on its way to be.
Having a lot of torque doesn’t mean the car is designed to tow.
It’s your car do what you want but I wouldn’t be indorsing something that the car wasn’t built to do.

Lol, good research. I was searching here for brands of hitches people are using on their speed3s, and found this thread full of baseless opinion.

The Aussie owner's manual advises about 2000 lbs for a braked trailer, and about 1200 lbs for an unbraked trailer. They sell endorsed hitches at the dealers there.

It's the same drivetrain, approved to tow.

I guess the cars sold down under are "built to do" that.