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How Much Can the RX-8 Tow?

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Old May 23, 2003 | 07:48 AM
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Question How Much Can the RX-8 Tow?

I was wondering if there is a rating on how much the RX-8 can tow? I was thinking of getting two jet skis and a trailer. The RX-8 would be my only vehicle. I'm guessing it doesn't come with a hitch, but you can get one of those hidden hitches at U-Haul or something, right? Would it be able to tow two jet skis or not? TIA
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Old May 23, 2003 | 08:13 AM
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If I were to guess, I would say around a thousand pounds.
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Old May 23, 2003 | 08:17 AM
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I would guess the manual will say "Do not tow anything" I could be wrong but I have seen sedans that say this!
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Old May 23, 2003 | 08:35 AM
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Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.
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Old May 23, 2003 | 08:38 AM
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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
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Old May 23, 2003 | 08:42 AM
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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!
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Old May 23, 2003 | 11:34 AM
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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.
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Old May 23, 2003 | 12:45 PM
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My coworker's Escort ZX2 can tow up to 1500lbs, so I'd imagine that the RX-8 would be about the same.
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Old May 23, 2003 | 01:12 PM
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Re: Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.

Originally posted by roachman
I want to be able to get a 2x4 at home depot
Isn't that why there is a pass thru hole between the rear seats? They say skis, but really mean 2x4s:D
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Old May 23, 2003 | 01:16 PM
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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).
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Old May 23, 2003 | 01:43 PM
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Re: Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.

Originally posted by roachman
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!
maybe what you need is the RX-8 SPORT WAGON

methinks i should duck now to avoid the barbs thrown my way :o
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Old May 23, 2003 | 01:44 PM
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Originally posted by ACRX8
Why would you toe [sic] anything in a sports car
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.
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Old May 23, 2003 | 03:10 PM
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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.
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Old May 23, 2003 | 08:10 PM
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Re: Re: Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.

Originally posted by zoom44


maybe what you need is the RX-8 SPORT WAGON

methinks i should duck now to avoid the barbs thrown my way :o
It's time to revivie the RX-8 Sport Wagon Thread!!:D :D :D :D
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Old May 24, 2003 | 10:07 PM
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i would say the rx-8 would tow 3 hot chickadees quite nicely, after all that's all you really need, right?
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Old Jan 7, 2004 | 07:50 AM
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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)?????
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Old Jan 7, 2004 | 09:33 AM
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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)
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Old Jan 7, 2004 | 09:41 AM
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Red face

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!
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 12:26 PM
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From: Texas, Gulf Coast
TX Why: Why NOT?

Originally Posted by ACRX8
Why would you toe anything in a sports car - get a SUV or pickup truck.

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?
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 01:10 PM
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thank you for bumping this old thread.
you tow whatever you can.
hope youre rear bumper isnt gonna fall off.
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 08:34 PM
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I want to tow (or is it TOE from my right foot?) a small 13-14 foot travel trailer like the burro, scamp, casita...
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
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 12:15 AM
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 02:48 AM
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Originally Posted by BlackRX82006
Only works if you have the X-Men Spoiller Wing
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 10:32 PM
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:55 PM
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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.
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