Series II RX8 Trailer Hitch?
 

Hi guys -

Was looking at what the options are as far as installing a trailer hitch on the 8 to tow a small trailer (holding track wheels/tires, some tools, etc) to and from the track. There are some 'stealthy' trailer hitches on for the series I with the hitch coming out of the little rotary shaped piece on the rear bumper, but after a search for "trailer hitch" and "trailer hitch install", I didn't see anything related to an SII with a date 2009 or later.

Anyone have this done before? If so, pics/experience/thoughts?

thanks,

PCS

I did more poking around online, and all I can seem to find is the Curt hitch for the Series I RX8 - not sure if they all have the hitch coming out of the bumper in the rotor in the rear bumper...

Anyone have an idea on one for the SII?

A lot of guys tow a small trailer to the track to carry their R-comps, a jack, and a small assortment of tools. I'm just not convinced an 8 has enough torque to actually get moving. ;)

that's exactly what I'm looking for... just enough to tow a set of wheels/tires/ez-up/chairs to/from the track. I could tow with a trailer, but that means borrowing a tow vehicle and a trailer, tying everything down, and then driving to wherever the track day is. I have a dedicated track prepped car that I'm in on with a friend of mine that I do this for (that car isn't street legal), but was hoping to not have to go through all that for the street legal 8 when all I want to do is bring extra tires / etc. Besides, when I go with the other car, I have someone else to help with all the loading / unloading / driving duties... whereas when I go with the 8, it's often just by myself, haha.

If I actually owned a trailer and a tow vehicle, that would be a different story... though... it would still be much quicker and easier to move around something smaller for the purpose of tires / tools / etc.

probably just buy the S1 hitch and make it fit

I doubt they ever sold enough to warrant offering an S2 version given the much lower sales numbers

there are some threads on here for the S1 install and results

My concern with the S1 is that it looked like they went through the 'rotor' in the bumper. If that's the case, then it would go through the bumper on the S2. I'll have to see if i can find a shop in the LA area that carriers the S1 Curt hitches (or can order it) and see how it would fit and if we'd have to make some sort of extension / joint to go around the bumper...

Those were modified to go through the bumper to hide it. As purchased it's underneath the bumper cover.

I think this one with the hidden vertical receiver and wrap-around ball mount was a Mazda dealer option in the UK? You could get one custom made for what most of these sell for.

RX8 Towbar

Apparently they are made for S2, sorry, but you must not have searched:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-s...arness-211474/

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multime...horror-195227/

hrmm, i google searched, but must not have hit the right search terms or gone through enough pages... :(

My buddy installed #114723 on his and he says he likes it. The one thing he didn't like is that you have to drill. I don't have a picture of it but here is the website he bought it from: Mazda RX-8 Trailer Hitches
Just pick your year and it will give you your options. He said he got his hitch from Hitchweb the next day with free shipping. Hope this helps!

Sallyford -

your friend used the 2004-2008 hitch on his 2009-2011 rx8?

I currently have an inquiry in to Curt regarding the fitment on the S1 hitch on an S2 to see if they have any detailed information they can get from their engineering department. Also going to try to find a way to see if i can get the hitch / towbar from the UK...

Kind of figuring the Curt hitch was the S1 version and the person in the linked S2 thread didn't know any better.

UK dealer version still seems to be available available, I like it

HI,

My Rx8 has grand touring but i like sporty exhaust sound.
Question: If I upgrade my rx8 exhaust system, which exhaust system will provide really good sporty sound.

Also want to put easy removal trailer hitch for bike or small trailer ?
Question: Anyone has experienced to put easy removal trailer hitch on their rx8 ? If so, please help me out to choose correct one for my rx8 ?

Here is some URL that i review:
Bike rack installed into the custom hitch on our 2005 Mazda RX8 | Yelp
Hard Dog Hideaway Vertical Receiver Hitch, Removable Receiver Included for MX5

Good-wing-racing is selling trailer hitch for max 5 but i am not user will it fit in rx8 ?

Looking for a hitch
 

I’ve been searching around for a Series 2 trailer hitch to carry my other daily driver. Winter loss of daylight is coming so the 40 mile round trip by bike isn’t as safe. Rain and texting make for a potentially squished me.

Has anyone recently bought a receiver hitch for a series 2? I’ve got a 2010 R3. The quoted links are past freshness date (thanks once again Team).

I think you likely will have to get a Series 1 hitch and modify it to fit.
AFAIK the frame is the same... just the bodywork is different.
Other option would be a roof rack..

Thanks. I wondered if the rear frame was the same. Would seem overly complicated to change that too during the revisions.

Having just installed a Curt Class I on my Honda (no drilling required) - it appears that this Curt requires drilling on the RX-8 frame.

I am interested in a hitch as well - for mounting 3-4 bikes on my existing hitch bike rack on the RX-8.

From what I now understand the difference is where the bumper lines up. I think the series 1 hitch pokes through where the rear fog light was located. Not sure what’s in the same location series 2.

I think you would be looking at cutting a hole in the rear lower valence in the bumper...

Likely removing the center piece when the hitch is being used and replacing it could be an option as well.

Just going from memory on the rear bumper on SaudRX8's Series 2 on Sunday

I thought somebody made one with a hidden vertical receiver?

Custom? or a mass produced one?

Hidden hitch
 

I thought I saw the same in the UK trail I went down yesterday. Seems none are made now for series 2 specifically. The links you sent looked promising but I think need for supply dried up. Curse you Mazda for giving up 9 years ago. On the bright side it won’t be long before we start qualifying for collector plates.

If you can order a Curt one for a Series 1 I'm sure it can be modified to fit a Series 2.

Hit me up when you get it and I can give you a hand

Thanks D

sorry, it was probably the MX5 I was thinking of. Curt Mfg makes one for the S1. Pretty sure it’s a different company than Curtis. Think I’d try to get one custom made with the vertical receiver. This is the one from Harddog for the NC MX5


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...c9515916d8.jpg

Curt Hitch Installed
 

Hello all,

I received my Curt a few weeks ago and got around to installing it. No need to modify the rear bumper as the receiver tucks underneath.

For the Series 2 you will need to modify the angled supports to clear the mufflers. Pretty simple if you can weld, or like me, you know a good one locally.

The supports need to be cut off and reversed so the short tab is welded to the hitch - see photos.

I’m looking forward to biking part way to work again.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...7b3f26916.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...bb1afc78e.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...dbe9074fb.jpeg

Good job 😃

:iwstupid:

picture of it unmodified so people can reference the difference


BEFORE:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...a4ef0598e.jpeg


AFTER:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...23095a7ac.jpeg

That looks great. I may try it myself but I think you are making it look too easy. So I have a few questions if you can help.

How did you remove the braces? It looks like using an angle grinder to cut the brace off leaving the part on the cross bar and then grinding that down would work.

Did it actually fit as perfectly as it looks? Did you have to do any height adjustments or bend the braces?

I am thinking of bolting the braces back on instead of welding, what are your thoughts on that?

Again, excellent job. I also would just need it for a bike or two. Thanks for sharing.

Hello SDB

I have zilch for welding ability so my difficulty was getting that part done. Used a local fellow I work with maintaining work boats.

To remove the braces I used a cutting wheel on a grinder along with a cold chisel. Cleaned up the welded areas with a grinder. The braces are just swapped so the short tab is welded to the hitch bar (square to the bar). Nothing need to be bent.

You could probably bolt everything together but, there might be too much play in the joints on the hitch bar.

Painted the bare spots with chassis and roll bar paint.

I don’t know what cat-back is on my car but, everything clears. Get some rubber padded tape or cut sections of 3/8 fuel line to stop the annoying rattle of the heat shield on the hitch bar (the shield rests on top).

I cycle commute and in the winter dark months take my car part way to avoid death. Hitch works great for my gravel bike with commuter bags. Probably good enough for 2 bikes but, I’m not brave enough to use my 4 bike rack on this car.

if you look at the before picture I posted, he just cut the welds loose where the long end of the brackets are welded to the hitch bar, flipped the brackets 180* so the short end of the bracket is now at the hitch bar as in the after picture, and welded it up like that.

that’s why I added the before pic, it wasn’t clear to me until I compared them
.

Thanks again Team. Pictures work better than words sometimes.

Following I also want one

Trailer hitch on the 8
 

I personally think this is a great idea and I'm doing it right now to mine I got the six-speed so maybe burn the clutch a little bit but this 1.3 rotary has plenty of power I'm just welding a 2in receiver hitch directly through the triangle piece of plastic that I'm going to cut out with a Dremel tool can braces they go to the frame I'm going to weld straight to it