Towbars

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2005
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Sal

Towbars

Post by Sal » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:53 pm

I have been following the list for a while now and haven't seen discussion
on this yet.

I am interested in putting a towbar on my MX5 to carry bikes. Any
suggestions or comments on whether this is a good idea or has anyone done
it?

Sal

WiM
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Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 108
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Towbars

Post by WiM » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:02 pm

don't?


Quoting Sal <sally.vilsbaek@xtra.co.nz> on Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:53:36
+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time):

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I have been following the list for a while now and
haven't seen discussion
on this yet.

I am interested in putting a towbar on my MX5 to
carry bikes. Any
suggestions or comments on whether this is a good
idea or has anyone done
it?

Sal

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<DIV>I have been following the list for a while
now and haven't seen discussion on this yet.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am interested in putting a towbar on my MX5
to carry bikes. Any suggestions or comments on whether this is a good
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WiM
'91 1.6 MX-5 (due to immigration for sale)
www.mx5ireland.com
www.cardomain.com/memberp
WiM
'96 Subaru Legacy S/W GT twin turbo
'97 Suzuki TL1000S
www.mx5ireland.com
www.cardomain.com/memberpage/312875

zorruno
Black is the new black.
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Towbars

Post by zorruno » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:19 pm

Sal said on 11/15/2005 09:53 PM:
I have been following the list for a while now and haven't seen
discussion on this yet.

I am interested in putting a towbar on my MX5 to carry bikes. Any
suggestions or comments on whether this is a good idea or has anyone
done it?
Hi Sal, don't listen to the naysayers...

A few people have put towbars on (e.g. for bikes, small trailers,
jetskis etc). I know Peter Kite is one of them. If no one pipes up
(peter?) here is a search of the club site for 'towbar' to get you started:

http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=towbar ... lub.org.nz

Alto topdown mag autumn 98 apparently has a submission from someone who
installed one.
http://www.mx5club.org.nz/magazine/topd ... n_1998.pdf

cheers
zorruno
(z)

Sal

Towbars

Post by Sal » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:22 pm

Thanks zorruno

I'm sure I've seen one around town!

_\!/_ Sally
(00)
---o00-(_)-00o---

WiM
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:54 am
Location: Christchurch

Towbars

Post by WiM » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:30 pm

Sal, it's true that you don't often see a towbar on a 5, probably as
it is not the greatest car to pull a trailer or to put a set of bikes
on the back. But it's been done, in the Belgian club there is a guy
that has one, I'll ask where he got it from, maaaaybe it's a
worldwide brand...
Will update if any response.
Cheers,
WiM


Quoting Sal <sally.vilsbaek@xtra.co.nz> on Tue, 15

I have been following the list for a while now and haven't seen
discussion on this yet.

I am interested in putting a towbar on my MX5 to carry bikes. Any
suggestions or comments on whether this is a good idea or has anyone
done it?

Sal

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<DIV>I have been following the list for a while
now and haven't seen discussion on this yet.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am interested in putting a towbar on my MX5
to carry bikes. Any suggestions or comments on
whether this is a good
idea or has anyone done it?</DIV>
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WiM
'91 1.6 MX-5 (due to immigration for sale)
www.mx5ireland.com
www.cardomain.com/memberp
WiM
'96 Subaru Legacy S/W GT twin turbo
'97 Suzuki TL1000S
www.mx5ireland.com
www.cardomain.com/memberpage/312875

peter
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 125
Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 10:02 pm
Location: Auckland

Towbars

Post by peter » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:50 pm

Hi Sal.

I'm very pleased to have fitted a tow bar to my NA, got it done in Christchurch in 2001 by Blackwell Engineers after seeing one in Dunedin on an Otago member's car.

Have got plenty of use out of it with various-sized trailers ever since - loads of topsoil for the garden, delivering gazebos to the Hokianga, bbqs/tables/chairs to the beach - and recently brought a big trailer (empty) from Christchurch to Palmerston North for a friend. Most use is by taking pallets home from work for free firewood.

Obviously I watch what weight I load the trailer with, but have encountered no problems so far.

I would be happy to accept criticism on this subject only from those owners with totally original unaltered unmodified vehicles... ie still have the original tires and batteries. What? you replaced the tires? oooooh - MODIFIED VEHICLE!

Just kidding!

Peter
DRGN 1

R LTD
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 97
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 7:41 am
Location: Wellington

Towbars

Post by R LTD » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:03 am

Sal
i'm a keen cyclist and MX5 owner. You can purchase a removable bike carrier
that fits on the back of an MX5 with some minor modification. It will carry 2
bikes and costs about $110. An alternative is to have a towbar manufactured
that has a removable tongue sothat when not using it the bar is not so
obvious. From memory, Best Bars manufacture the towbar described.

Tony

Ian Chapman

Towbars

Post by Ian Chapman » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:45 am

Hi Sally

If you are near Wellington - try Eastern Engineering in Wingate (Lower Hutt). They quoted me about $250 without wiring for a certified towbar for our MX5 (they have done a few MX5's and loads of other cars). I think wiring was about another $80-ish. This is from memory so hope I recall correctly as it was about 6 months ago. We were going to fit one for carrying bikes, but never did.

My advice would be to avoid a removable tongue one if you want to carry bikes as they will wobble - the removable tongue has to slide in and out easily so has a bit of play which will mean the bikes and rack will move around the place - not good.

Ian

Bill Rehm

Towbars

Post by Bill Rehm » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:25 am

Cool 'art work' Sally

William

Robert & Robyn

Towbars

Post by Robert & Robyn » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:47 am

Tony
I race bmx and would love to use my mx5 when alone, do you know were
that removable bike carrier can be brought or seen. The one on miatamania.com
will not fit my car, it has a wing style spoiler. Best bars in Auckland told
me $750 because they have to make it as they go. Have looked under the back
and my have a going at making my own that is removeable. Just need to hold one
to two bikes.

Robert
TC3428
Pukekohe

From ibeardslee@gmail.com Fri Apr 27 17:22:19 2007
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Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 12:09:15 +1300
From: Ian Beardslee <ibeardslee@gmail.com>
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Removing electric aerial (was Re: Sticky aerial)
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First time it was 'fun-whoops, where does that extra bolt go'

It is a fairly simple task. A bit of a fiddle (the 'fun' part)
because the battery is in the way, but even with my aerial stuck up I
was able to get it out, dismantled (watch out for the motor magnets!),
cleaned, CRCed, drained and reinstalled in a couple of hours - handy
to have tools and CRC on hand before you start, instead of having to
buy as you go :-)


On 11/16/05, zorruno <admin@mx5forum.co.nz> wrote:
[...]

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;
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 23:18:54 +0000 (GMT)
From: Alan Fisher <afishe74@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Sticky aerial
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
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I got a new genuine mazda aerial mast from
www.mx5parts.co.uk for about $37 - it is abit tricky
to fit but not too bad.

Not sure if they will ship internationaly but it is
probably worth an email - failing that get it sent to
a friend/relative in the uk and then posted on - it
doesnt cost much...


--- Keith Cook <keith@thecooks.net.nz> wrote:

[...]

Sal

Towbars

Post by Sal » Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:29 pm

Thanks for all the help. I am in Christchurch so will try Blackwell
Engineering and see how I go.

Sal

Towbars

Post by Sal » Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:42 pm

Hi Jeff

Do you have a photo? or maybe if I'm in Akl I'll come back to you.

Sal

GrubbyMX
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 9:53 pm
Location: Christchurch

Towbars

Post by GrubbyMX » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:14 pm

Sal

Give EastCoast Engineering a call, they have been cheaper than Blackwells
for the last 3 towbars I have had fitted and their service is very good
as well (I have rung to ask if they could fit a towbar and been told they
are sorry that I will have to wait until the next day...).
I have not had one fitted to my MX but will be suprised if they have not
done one

Ralph

Sal wrote:

Thanks for all the help. I am in Christchurch so will try Blackwell
Keith

Sal

Towbars

Post by Sal » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:51 pm

Thanks Ralph

Will call them tomorrow

Sal

Vince
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 99
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 6:57 pm

Towbars

Post by Vince » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:16 pm

Hi Sal, there's definitely a few around. I took a photo of a green one we saw
in Brussels when we were there a couple of months ago, and I have heard
stories of a couple in NZ, so it's obviously a world wide thing!
Vince.

Sal

Towbars

Post by Sal » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:51 pm

Thanks Vince

Are thinking we don't really want to 'spoil' the look with a tow bar so the
kind that goes on/over the boot is sounding appealing. I will have to see
Jeff's.

Sal

Graeme H

Towbars

Post by Graeme H » Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:35 am

This is the kind of trailer you want after you get that tow bar sorted :0)

http://www.miatanet.com/motm/2005/bradley.html


Graeme H


[...]

peter
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 125
Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 10:02 pm
Location: Auckland

Towbars

Post by peter » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:15 am

about the 1/2 Miata trailer ( http://www.miatanet.com/motm/2005/bradley.html)

- it's nice, but you'd never get 1/2 metre ofbuilder's mix in that! Or fenceposts...

The best use for a spare back half of a MX5 is to turn it into a trike with a V8, like Max Whilby did in Christchurch.

There was a back half for sale on TradeMe a while ago,
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 487400.htm

Peter
DRGN1

Ian
I count 5-s in my sleep
I count 5-s in my sleep
Posts: 439
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 3:39 pm
Location: Arrowtown

Towbars

Post by Ian » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:51 am

An interesting thread...
The early model Honda CRV had a very low max tow rating from Honda - something
like 620KG if my memory serves me correctly.
I would be interested to know if Mazda have ever published such a figure for
the MX5, and suspect that the reputable towbar manufacturers will have access
to that and /or LTSA data on the subject.
I know that compliance (including an engineers certificate) for a towbar for
my small PSV COF involved a written chassis rating etc. I suspect that laws
relating to towing weights etc for all vehicles will be more strictly
monitored/enforced in the future..and a ton of coal on an unbraked rental
trailer behing the family Corolla might well turn out to be the most expensive
coal imaginable!

Ian
93 1.8,intake/ex mods,Megasqirt PNP,torsen ,konis,GC coilovers,Nitto-01,cage,sparco seat,Schroth harness.

EricW
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 7:07 pm
Location: Whangaparaoa

Towbars

Post by EricW » Thu Nov 17, 2005 7:34 am

What you might call an "MX 0.5" (and before anyone gets any ideas, I'll put
"dibs" on that as the personalised plate for my one).

Eric

Vince
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 99
Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 6:57 pm

Towbars

Post by Vince » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:00 pm

We've got a 96 CRV with a towbar that's rated at 800kg unbraked and 1200kg
braked. I've never had a trailer behind it, but I'd imagine anything over half
a tonne unbraked would be pushing the car around quite a bit, even moreso the
MX5 with an unbraked trailer. The way in which the load is distributed on a
trailer, particularly a single axle, also has a bearing on how well they tow.
I don't think Mazda really expected someone would want to tow a trailer behind
their MX5, but it can be done.
Vince.

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Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 04:10:18 +0000 (GMT)
From: glenn roberts <supasparky@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: ignition swith problems.
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
In-Reply-To: <20051117004529.TMRO14226.mta3-rme.xtra.co.nz@[202.27.184.228]>
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The ignition switch contacts can be easily cleaned to
get them back to new again...
Remove the electrical side of your ignition swith by
prising out the big circlip and seperate it apart to
get to the switch contacts, clean thouroughly with a
cotton bud and meths, Scrape off very gently any black
carbon deposits off the contacts faces but be very
careful not to scrape off the coating as it is a
special (Zinc??) non stick anti-fouling coating, and
if you use sand paper on them youl ruin it, and have
to keep cleaning it all the time,
( the best thing to use is a "fireglass pen" which can
be got from dick smith, Jaycar, Rs components etc.
then give the contacts a bit of a tweak to retension
them, once reassembled it will be as good as new.
Same advice for the electric window switches.


Glenn "SLYDIT"
http://miata.cardomain.com/id/supasparky
Currently building a DIY Turbo..Subaru VF10 Turbo, Weld el manifold, 2.5"exhaust,subaru BOV, Isuzu intercooler, 330cc GTX injectors, dual feed fuel rail,RX7 air flow meter, Greddy Emanage piggy back computor.Custom full length cold air box...YEEEEEHHHAAA
Hopefully finished by summer:)

Ian
I count 5-s in my sleep
I count 5-s in my sleep
Posts: 439
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 3:39 pm
Location: Arrowtown

Towbars

Post by Ian » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:27 pm

Hi Vince...
From memory, when Honda introduced manual transmission on the NZ new CRV,
this coincided with an uprated tow rating due to a redesign/strengthening in
the rear door area.
As I know to my cost, some towbar manufacturers will put any old label on
their bars, some of which are in excess of the vehicle manufacturers limits. I
am totally in agreement with you on trailer loading. I once owned a 26ft
caravan, and watched a guy take an identical caravan off the towball with one
hand and not even use the jockey wheel! I've found 50kg approx on the ball
works for me when doing some serious towing.
Cheers
93 1.8,intake/ex mods,Megasqirt PNP,torsen ,konis,GC coilovers,Nitto-01,cage,sparco seat,Schroth harness.

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