Towing with the Rx-8
10-05-2010, 11:13 AM
#26
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I see guys that autocross with hitches on the back of their 8s and a small trailer with their tires, tools, air pump, etc.. all the time. Key word there "small". I am talking 5x5 or something similar.
10-05-2010, 11:48 AM
#27
kevin@rotaryresurrection
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i have a picture of rotaryresurrection towing an rx7 with his rx7, but i cant find it at the moment. of course, his rx7 is turbocharged with 466whp.
i think you should be able to tow up to 600lbs safely. which is what 3 passengers and some luggage would weigh. the rx8 is definitely used to lugging around that kind of extra weight, on top of the driver. so i think you're fine there.
the only real issue i see, is how are you going to attach the little trailer? the only tow things i've seen have been custom installs.
i think you should be able to tow up to 600lbs safely. which is what 3 passengers and some luggage would weigh. the rx8 is definitely used to lugging around that kind of extra weight, on top of the driver. so i think you're fine there.
the only real issue i see, is how are you going to attach the little trailer? the only tow things i've seen have been custom installs.
This was at least 2 years ago. I had spun a cam bearing in my denali's stock engine, so it was down and needed an engine. I found the 04 LS6 engine on craigslist in Nashville so I took my FC and a borrowed trailer and went to get the replacement for my truck. Needless to say when I posted a thread on LS1Tech entitled "irony" with these pictures, it didn't go over well.
At the same time a customer engine shipment came in. By now I had to return the borrowed trailer, so I used my tow dolly and just strapped the pallet down on it.
Well, damn my luck, while all this was going on my father in law's car broke down about 30 miles from (my) home and he needed me to go get it. It was a v6 maxima that weighed probably 3500lb. The truck was still down so I said f**k it, and went and picked up his car in the FC, and towed it back to my house to fix it.
Now I'm not gonna lie...towing the first two things were no sweat at all and something I'd gladly repeat anytime without hesitation. Towing that car was a bit nerve racking, as it plus the dolly easily outweighed my FC. Taking off from a dead stop I had to slip the clutch a bit extra, but after I got to 10mph boost took over and it would pull almost as well as my truck. The brakes were acceptable but not stellar. It was fine to do it for a short distance at medium speeds (50 or so) but I would never want to do it for very long of a distance. But man, I was getting some funny looks at stop lights, especially when I would take off and still be keeping up with the surrounding traffic while towing another car.
Overall when towing the main considerations are pulling power, stopping power, and suspension loading/tongue weight.
These cars cannot handle any significant tongue weight over a couple hundred lb. Small trailers and tow dollies are fine for this.
Other than this limitation, people are overly paranoid about towing. It won't hurt your engine or your (manual) transmission. Many of us have upgraded brakes and clutches which not only increase performance but can help with towing. As long as you keep the tongue weight down then towing a small or medium trailer will not be a problem.
Back in about 99 when I first started into rx7s, I only had my own rx7 (not this one), no truck or trailer(s). Me and a buddy used to go car shopping each weekend and I would look for cheap rx's to buy and fix, and resell. That's how I got started working on these. When I'd find a non running rx7 and buy it, I'd whip out the tow chain, my buddy would ride in the non running car for steering and braking, and I would pull him with the chain. I pulled many an rx7 home with my own rx7 before I bought my first truck.
Last edited by RotaryResurrection; 10-05-2010 at 11:52 AM.
10-05-2010, 03:19 PM
#28
dodging cones
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damn landers i was drinking a beer when i scrolled down to the pic of your 7 pulling that nissan and i almost choked for realz. you could have killed me! i have been lmfao for a while now.i think it is important to note for unexperienced people out there that rotaryressurection is a professional, and you should take extreme caution when attempting to follow his lead.
10-05-2010, 03:30 PM
#29
kevin@rotaryresurrection
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damn landers i was drinking a beer when i scrolled down to the pic of your 7 pulling that nissan and i almost choked for realz. you could have killed me! i have been lmfao for a while now.i think it is important to note for unexperienced people out there that rotaryressurection is a professional, and you should take extreme caution when attempting to follow his lead.
The thing I've towed that required the most experience and driving effort was this beast a couple months ago.
f250 crew cab, 4x4, auto, diesel. We figure his truck weighed about 8500lb, under the green tarp in the back is another diesel longblock weighing about 900lb more, and my trailer another 1600. My Denali weighs about 5600-6000 I guess.
This SOB was so heavy that it BENT the loading ramps to my trailer, and it actually warped my trailer slightly (the back end is sagging). Yeah, my truck would pull and stop this thing fine, but the trailer didn't like it a bit...it wanted to sway at speeds over about 35mph so I had to take it slow.
10-05-2010, 03:35 PM
#30
I don't remember
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10-05-2010, 07:16 PM
#31
dodging cones
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RR, really?
look at your trailer! its clearly bent my friend. next time do what i do..... call AAA and (after you pull a couple fuses) tell them your vehicle wont start. they'll tow it wherever you want! lol
and galen, i think that is what the OP was needing. i think a trip cross country with that setup would not be so hard.....did you build that trailer? and where did you get your hitch setup?
look at your trailer! its clearly bent my friend. next time do what i do..... call AAA and (after you pull a couple fuses) tell them your vehicle wont start. they'll tow it wherever you want! lol
and galen, i think that is what the OP was needing. i think a trip cross country with that setup would not be so hard.....did you build that trailer? and where did you get your hitch setup?
10-05-2010, 08:24 PM
#32
kevin@rotaryresurrection
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The trailer has gone for the most part back straight now that the truck is off of it.
10-05-2010, 10:39 PM
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The trailer I picked up at Harbor freight, they run around $250.00 but have them onsale occasionally for 200. It's 40"x48" just add plywood to the top. The one shown has 12" wheels and we roll 75-80 to the track. There is room for 4 tires as youve seen with 2 5gal cas cans inbetween the tires and the toolbox which has the jack and other tools for track days.
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The hitch is made by curt and can be picked up on ebay for $130 to $190. They have added a plate at the front where it bolts to the floor of the trunk for added support over the original release., so far it works well for me.
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[/IMG]The hitch is made by curt and can be picked up on ebay for $130 to $190. They have added a plate at the front where it bolts to the floor of the trunk for added support over the original release., so far it works well for me.
10-06-2010, 09:23 AM
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Any car with 130lbs tq + can tow 1100 lbs easily. The trick is finding a hitch that attaches to the frame so it does'nt damage or pull out your bumper. It will also alter your handling characteristics that is why towing is never recommended for small passenger cars and sportscars. The rx8 is high reving and suseptable to heat. A tow load may increase overheating in hot weather maybe wear the clutch too. Probably is'nt the best car for towing but it is heavy and powerfull enough to handle a class1 hitch and load in a pinch. I would do it if I had to. But a proper hitch set up would probably cost $600+.
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