Fitting Towbar

R LTD · Post by **R LTD** » Thu May 26, 2005 7:55 pm

I'm seeking advice about fitting a towbar to an MX5. Being Wellington based
we spend time over in the Wairarapa cycling and wish to gain the double
benefits of travelling in the car and taking our bikes. Has anyone fitted a
towbar for carrying light loadings like bikes to an MX5 that is light weight
and non obtrusive. I suspect we will need to have to manufactured. I have not
checked out the LSTA guidelines but believe their rules will be designed for
heavier loadings than cycles. Can one get exemptions?
Any advice, experience and guidance greatly appreciated.

Tony

garry · Post by **garry** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:21 pm

Hi Tony,

The simplest way is to just go to a place that does towbars and have one
fitted, it will comply automatically and probably carry more than you will
ever put on it.

I dont know about pricing, but there used to be places for around the $200
mark here in welly.

Garry

garry · Post by **garry** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:21 pm

Hi Tony,

The simplest way is to just go to a place that does towbars and have one
fitted, it will comply automatically and probably carry more than you will
ever put on it.

I dont know about pricing, but there used to be places for around the $200
mark here in welly.

Garry

animalmagic · Post by **animalmagic** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:29 pm

an alternative to a towbar?
<http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info. ... cts_id/679>

-- Regards Terry

So many cats. So few recipes.

animalmagic · Post by **animalmagic** » Thu May 26, 2005 9:29 pm

an alternative to a towbar?
<http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info. ... cts_id/679>

-- Regards Terry

So many cats. So few recipes.

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Thu May 26, 2005 10:02 pm

I have seen similar racks here. A neighbour in the Hutt used to have one on
his MR2. It was a clip on that fitted to the edge of the boot lid.

Regards
Euen

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Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 22:20:07 +1200
From: ~Jeff~ <jifjif@gmail.com>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Fitting Towbar
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I have one - it's a bar welded to the 2 rear tow hooks. Just the thing
for fetching building supplies

On 5/26/05, Euen Burke <euen.burke@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
[...]

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Thu May 26, 2005 10:02 pm

I have seen similar racks here. A neighbour in the Hutt used to have one on
his MR2. It was a clip on that fitted to the edge of the boot lid.

Regards
Euen

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Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 22:20:07 +1200
From: ~Jeff~ <jifjif@gmail.com>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Fitting Towbar
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I have one - it's a bar welded to the 2 rear tow hooks. Just the thing
for fetching building supplies

On 5/26/05, Euen Burke <euen.burke@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
[...]

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Fri May 27, 2005 7:26 am

The MX5 does not have any towing hooks, they are tie down hooks for shipping
only. The lightweight structure of the car was never intended to have any
weight towed by it. Good way to get an extra few inches in length though!!

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Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 08:07:09 +1200
From: ~Jeff~ <jifjif@gmail.com>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Colour (fastest)
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fastest one I've been in is Satellite Blue

On 5/27/05, Bill Rehm <bill@kase.co.nz> wrote:
[...]

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Fri May 27, 2005 7:26 am

The MX5 does not have any towing hooks, they are tie down hooks for shipping
only. The lightweight structure of the car was never intended to have any
weight towed by it. Good way to get an extra few inches in length though!!

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Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 08:07:09 +1200
From: ~Jeff~ <jifjif@gmail.com>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Colour (fastest)
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fastest one I've been in is Satellite Blue

On 5/27/05, Bill Rehm <bill@kase.co.nz> wrote:
[...]

poison · Post by **poison** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:14 am

We had this discussion last year about the towing/tie down
hooks and the consensus was that it's pretty well urban
legend about the hooks being for tie down proposes only. And
wasn't it your old car Nigel that was lifted up by it's
front hooks and no harm done?? I recall you showed me a
photo. Your first MX5 I believe??

Gazza
"PO1SON"

heck it wasn't meant to be turbo/super-charged either

http://images.google.com/images?q=miata

trailer&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi
[...]

poison · Post by **poison** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:14 am

We had this discussion last year about the towing/tie down
hooks and the consensus was that it's pretty well urban
legend about the hooks being for tie down proposes only. And
wasn't it your old car Nigel that was lifted up by it's
front hooks and no harm done?? I recall you showed me a
photo. Your first MX5 I believe??

Gazza
"PO1SON"

heck it wasn't meant to be turbo/super-charged either

http://images.google.com/images?q=miata

trailer&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi
[...]

Ian Chapman · Post by **Ian Chapman** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:32 am

Gavin

When I asked this question a few months back, someone advised they got
one from Eastern Engineering in Taita (I think they are on Eastern Hutt
Rd just north of Wingate). I recall they said about $200 - 300 fitted
and wired.

Regarding bike rack only facility rather than towing trailers, you
could get a lighter one made that had a fixed fitting that your bike
rack attaches to (a simple cylinder of appropriate size with a machined
groove around for the bike rack bolt to locate and stop it
bouncing/lifting off) but a trailer coupling won't fit. Although I
would guess getting a one-off designed and built may be more expensive
than their existing standard MX5 tow bar design.

Let me know how you get on as when we sell the sedan we will be MX5
only and need ability for carrying our mountain bikes and maybe towing a
light trailer.

Ian

Ian Chapman

Ian Chapman · Post by **Ian Chapman** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:32 am

Gavin

When I asked this question a few months back, someone advised they got
one from Eastern Engineering in Taita (I think they are on Eastern Hutt
Rd just north of Wingate). I recall they said about $200 - 300 fitted
and wired.

Regarding bike rack only facility rather than towing trailers, you
could get a lighter one made that had a fixed fitting that your bike
rack attaches to (a simple cylinder of appropriate size with a machined
groove around for the bike rack bolt to locate and stop it
bouncing/lifting off) but a trailer coupling won't fit. Although I
would guess getting a one-off designed and built may be more expensive
than their existing standard MX5 tow bar design.

Let me know how you get on as when we sell the sedan we will be MX5
only and need ability for carrying our mountain bikes and maybe towing a
light trailer.

Ian

Ian Chapman

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:36 am

Hi Gazza, not my car, 1st or any others!! I take them off straight away and fit a grill to stop those nasties going into the radiator.

From: poison
Date: 2005/05/27 Fri AM 11:14:14 GMT+12:00
To: MX5List<mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Fitting Towbar

We had this discussion last year about the towing/tie down
hooks and the consensus was that it's pretty well urban
legend about the hooks being for tie down proposes only. And
wasn't it your old car Nigel that was lifted up by it's
front hooks and no harm done?? I recall you showed me a
photo. Your first MX5 I believe??

Gazza
"PO1SON"

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:36 am

Hi Gazza, not my car, 1st or any others!! I take them off straight away and fit a grill to stop those nasties going into the radiator.

From: poison
Date: 2005/05/27 Fri AM 11:14:14 GMT+12:00
To: MX5List<mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Fitting Towbar

We had this discussion last year about the towing/tie down
hooks and the consensus was that it's pretty well urban
legend about the hooks being for tie down proposes only. And
wasn't it your old car Nigel that was lifted up by it's
front hooks and no harm done?? I recall you showed me a
photo. Your first MX5 I believe??

Gazza
"PO1SON"

heck it wasn't meant to be turbo/super-charged either

http://images.google.com/images?q=miata
trailer&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi
On 5/27/05, Nigel Every <nigel.e@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
The MX5 does not have any towing hooks, they are tie
down hooks for shipping
only. The lightweight structure of the car was never
intended to have any weight towed by it. Good way to
get an extra few inches in length though!!

Ian Chapman · Post by **Ian Chapman** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:39 am

Didn't Bill from Flyin Miata used to tow a U-Haul trailer to various
trade motor shows with all of his wares behind one of his first 'Turbo
Hacks'? I recall reading that he covered many miles towing the extra
weight and 'air-brake' effect of a big covered trailer. No mention of
whether he had to add a couple of extra doors after 50,000 miles!

Ian

Ian Chapman · Post by **Ian Chapman** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:39 am

Didn't Bill from Flyin Miata used to tow a U-Haul trailer to various
trade motor shows with all of his wares behind one of his first 'Turbo
Hacks'? I recall reading that he covered many miles towing the extra
weight and 'air-brake' effect of a big covered trailer. No mention of
whether he had to add a couple of extra doors after 50,000 miles!

Ian

poison · Post by **poison** » Fri May 27, 2005 12:03 pm

Oh sorry Nigel, thought it was you . I recall someone
showing me a photo of the MX5 they won (or got very cheap)
from a fund raiser and it was held up on a crane from the
front.

Cheers

Gazza
"PO1SON"

[...]

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Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 12:09:08 +1200
From: ~Jeff~ <jifjif@gmail.com>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Fitting Towbar
In-Reply-To: <s29706f9.078@ngc.co.nz>
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yeah, I was looking for that pic but it seems to be gone from their
site. I seem to remember Keith saying something about some scary
experiences with the "cart wanting to pass the horse" while driving
thru the Rockies...

Not the same as slinging a coupla mountain bikes on the back, obviously !

On 5/27/05, Ian Chapman <Ian.Chapman@ngc.co.nz> wrote:
[...]

poison · Post by **poison** » Fri May 27, 2005 12:03 pm

Oh sorry Nigel, thought it was you . I recall someone
showing me a photo of the MX5 they won (or got very cheap)
from a fund raiser and it was held up on a crane from the
front.

Cheers

Gazza
"PO1SON"

[...]

From jifjif@gmail.com Fri Apr 27 17:02:49 2007
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Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 12:09:08 +1200
From: ~Jeff~ <jifjif@gmail.com>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Fitting Towbar
In-Reply-To: <s29706f9.078@ngc.co.nz>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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yeah, I was looking for that pic but it seems to be gone from their
site. I seem to remember Keith saying something about some scary
experiences with the "cart wanting to pass the horse" while driving
thru the Rockies...

Not the same as slinging a coupla mountain bikes on the back, obviously !

On 5/27/05, Ian Chapman <Ian.Chapman@ngc.co.nz> wrote:
[...]

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Fri May 27, 2005 1:58 pm

Just a word of warning on bike racks. The revenue collectors are starting to take more of an interest and are booking people for obstructing their rear number plates with bikes on racks.

Just another way of keeping their customer contact numbers up and contributing to Cullen's treasure chest.

Cheers
Euen

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Fri May 27, 2005 1:58 pm

Just a word of warning on bike racks. The revenue collectors are starting to take more of an interest and are booking people for obstructing their rear number plates with bikes on racks.

Just another way of keeping their customer contact numbers up and contributing to Cullen's treasure chest.

Cheers
Euen

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