How Much Can the RX-8 Tow?
 

If I were to guess, I would say around a thousand pounds.

I would guess the manual will say "Do not tow anything" I could be wrong but I have seen sedans that say this!

Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.:eek:

Hitch
 

VWjet,

I will most likely get a trailer hitch as well. But, I suspect that we will need to pay for a custom hitch at a metal shop.

I had a Boxster. someone had done the custom work and sold them on line.

I want one to put a mountain bike carrier on. I do not want a bike rake on the roof. My bike gets muddy in NC and I do not want that dripping on my roof!!

I also have a trailer for getting mulch and stuff at home depot and Lowes.

Again, I seriously doubt we can go to UHaul and get one installed. I will be pleasently surpised if that is the case.

roachman

Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.
 

Yea, those are fun to drive and have rotary engines.
some of us want our cake and eat it to.

I want a sports car and I want to be able to get a 2x4 at home depot and have a mountain bike rack that does not drip all over my roof.

I put a hitch on my Porsche and it worked great!

i was thinking about towing a motorhome and going across country. Wonder if that'll void my warranty?

i should go through my 1st apex seal by texas.

My coworker's Escort ZX2 can tow up to 1500lbs, so I'd imagine that the RX-8 would be about the same.

Re: Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.
 

Isn't that why there is a pass thru hole between the rear seats? They say skis, but really mean 2x4s:D

for sure. tons of boat users (the "family guys") tow in their minivans, wagons, sedans... this would be no different.

if you had a small tent-trailor, or a light jetski trailor, it should be okay, as long as you expect decent gas milage or stellar performance (as anyone should when towing).

Re: Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.
 

maybe what you need is the RX-8 SPORT WAGON

methinks i should duck now to avoid the barbs thrown my way ;) :o

Because some of us want to autocross our RX-8 and will need to pull a small trailer with our competition wheels, jack, spares, etc.

I just picked up a chevy 2500 4x4 for $2k to pull my motorhome. Thank God I don't have to use my 8 to tow now.

Re: Re: Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.
 

It's time to revivie the RX-8 Sport Wagon Thread!!:D :D :D :D

i would say the rx-8 would tow 3 hot chickadees quite nicely, after all that's all you really need, right?

WELL??!!

I checked everywhere on-line and at Mazdausa.com, and NO TOW RATING for the RX-8? C'mon, it is a rear wheel drive car- surely to goodness it can tow 2k lbs? AT least in automatic form (clutch lifetime issues)?????

i remember reading the manual, and it said "dont tow anything" well it was stated vervatim, but more or less, that is the idea. I will look through the manual and scan it. (unless my memory is off at the moment)

Page 4-12 of the PDF version of the owner's manual:

"TRAILER TOWING: Never tow a trailer with your Mazda."

I guess they would rather you didn't bother, even if its possible (I'm sure it is) . . . I'll bet you could load up a jetski into the backseat, though, without a TERRIBLE lot of trouble. You'd just have to find some giant Zip-Loc bag to put it in :)

By the way, this is my first post here, so hey kids!

Why: Why NOT?
 

Some of us understand, some of us will NEVER UNDERSTAND. esp those who TOE and do not TOW

that being said, I want to tow (or is it TOE from my right foot?) a small 13-14 foot travel trailer like the burro, scamp, casita. Not more than 3000 lbs loaded, 1200 pounds empty, with custom made rear door to load my bike.

WHY u say?

Do not work and want to travel. Want to enjoy the 8 and the bike. Have both. Do not want to buy a truck. No fun driving a trunk at the Dragon.

I could pull the trailer to NC, park it for 300 bucks per month and take all the time to drive/ride both the bike and the 8 at the Dragon.
Then when I get tired, pull the trailer to another place in the USA, park and drive/ride my bike and 8 at another place.

Yes, no travel trailer over 14 foot 6 inches, no 6000 pounder as in those vids. No travel trailer over 3200 pounds or so. Car is 3xxx pounds.

No class 3 hitch, seems overkill but class 1, ie 1000 pounds seems not enough, so a class 2 might be the right one.

Yes, I know I have to do my work, research, this is a start
Also know I have to get the hitch connected right. Do not want to end up with a 2 part bumper.

WHY? WHY NOT, Cause we can.
Forget what the book/manual says, we do as we can
The book ( law says no speeding) so guess you all NEVER speed?
Remember rules are made to be broken! Just hope the engine/tranny/bumper do not get broken
Hey, I might have to add a tranny cooler, a scangauge and what not but why not?

thank you for bumping this old thread.
you tow whatever you can.
hope youre rear bumper isnt gonna fall off.

How'd you manage to latch onto an antique thread instead of just starting a new one?

Anyway, I know I've seen a few threads about installing trailer hitches on an RX-8, what to anchor them to, problems, etc. It's probably worth your while to search for those when doing your research. Then find a hitch installer who knows what he's doing.

Vagabond life with an 8, a bike and a home on your back sounds like a really cool plan.

Ken

Only works if you have the X-Men Spoiller Wing

that rear suspension is sagging pretty bad.
did you measure the hitch load? couldve moved the bike back a little bit to balance the weight.

Been towing this to the track now for 2 years 125 miles ea way all hiway speeds.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c.../IMG_1162W.jpg

Below is the link where I got the hitch then had it mounted at a local shop.

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2007_Mazda_RX-8.htm

Recently moved the toolbox back a bit and added 2 5 gal gas cans for those extra busy track days. :)

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=tra...zda+rx8&_rdc=1

All kinds of them right here :) lol

OK, that's the hitch I'm looking at, I'm competent enough to install it on my own, but how's it holding up? Specifically, how's the 8 holding up to the installation? There are several older threads concerning the Da'Lan hitch, which the ETrailer link points to (Da'Lan # 247472), and trunk panel cracking after only a few tows.

Nice track day rig you got going there!

i'd guess that someone actually used the elusive search function of the forums :evil_laug

500lbs

Any pictures of the rear of the car?

Thanks,

https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/...andboatvw9.jpg

well i just got a jet ski (about 600lbs with trailer) and im not really looking to get another car just to pull it.

given that someone actually used one to pull that gigantic boat im less hesitant about installing a tow package, now its just a matter of finding someone who will build the hitch i want.


gotta love the search button.

^ I would never knew...lol

I'm sure the 8 just like most vehicles is capable of towing something, it's just the effects of it and exactly how much you want to tow that are the factors.

Engine power is not the problem, however the transmission isn't designed for it.

</= 500lbs shouldn't be a major problem.

FWIW, you can carry a full set of wheels, a floor jack, a box of tools, and a small cooler without a trailer.

You can just get Tire Totes for the tires/wheels and they slide into the rear seats, 2 on each seat. The rest are easy.