Hitch
- Thread starter Dragwn
- Start date
I would think that anything that had to be welded on (as opposed to bolted on) would be more likely to void the warranty since that would more likely be used for actual towing, which the car isn't rated for (but which some ppl do anyway, apparently with little trouble).
I wouldn't think that a utility hitch that bolts on and isn't for anything more than holding a bike rack would void it, though.
But that's just me thinking out loud.. No experience with these things myself... yet.
I wouldn't think that a utility hitch that bolts on and isn't for anything more than holding a bike rack would void it, though.
But that's just me thinking out loud.. No experience with these things myself... yet.
Warranty?
Don't have an answer on the warranty. But here's what I found when I had the same questions re putting a hitch on my '04 3 hatch.
- I could buy a hitch from a dealer in Canada
- Mazda UK shows a hitch on their web site for a 3, and gives a table of
allowable trailer weights, depending on whether the trailer has brakes
and the maximum expected grade that the car+trailer will be driven
on. Those weights were all in excess of 2000 pounds.
- when I looked at the .pdf install manuals on-line for the various US
hitch purveyors, like Hidden Hitch and DrawTite, they all started
basically the same, something like "using the existing holes in the
body" - yup, the 3 body comes from the factory with holes for
mounting a hitch. I can't say that's true for an '08, but it is for
'04 and several later years.
Bottom line, the bloody lawyers wrote the US manual and are afraid we'll
all kill ourselves and sue them if they allow us to put a hitch on the poor
little baby.
We pull a Coleman Taos popup camper with our 3, have put over 18,000
miles on the pair in the last three years, including runs through the
Rockies with mountain passes over 10000 feet. No probs, but you can't
be afraid to shift and let the engine stay in it's power zone. Trailer
weighs about 1300 pounds when we pull it.
If you want to check our hitch prices, try www.etrailer.com
Sorry I can't tell you if your warranty would be at risk.
Glenn
Don't have an answer on the warranty. But here's what I found when I had the same questions re putting a hitch on my '04 3 hatch.
- I could buy a hitch from a dealer in Canada
- Mazda UK shows a hitch on their web site for a 3, and gives a table of
allowable trailer weights, depending on whether the trailer has brakes
and the maximum expected grade that the car+trailer will be driven
on. Those weights were all in excess of 2000 pounds.
- when I looked at the .pdf install manuals on-line for the various US
hitch purveyors, like Hidden Hitch and DrawTite, they all started
basically the same, something like "using the existing holes in the
body" - yup, the 3 body comes from the factory with holes for
mounting a hitch. I can't say that's true for an '08, but it is for
'04 and several later years.
Bottom line, the bloody lawyers wrote the US manual and are afraid we'll
all kill ourselves and sue them if they allow us to put a hitch on the poor
little baby.
We pull a Coleman Taos popup camper with our 3, have put over 18,000
miles on the pair in the last three years, including runs through the
Rockies with mountain passes over 10000 feet. No probs, but you can't
be afraid to shift and let the engine stay in it's power zone. Trailer
weighs about 1300 pounds when we pull it.
If you want to check our hitch prices, try www.etrailer.com
Sorry I can't tell you if your warranty would be at risk.
Glenn
infearandfaith
Member
I have a trailer hitch on my 3 that i use for my bike rack. Installed super easily. Just enlarge some holes that are already there on the frame and bolt it on. Shouldn't void the warranty, but don't quote me on that. All I know is my hitch and rack setup is amazing and i love having it!
djltoronto
Member
- :
- Mazda 3 Sport
I doubt merely having a trailer hitch installed would void the warranty.
If they caught you towing a house, and then claiming your clutch prematurely wore out.... that's different. (enguard)
What do you plan on hauling?
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4830355&postcount=200
If they caught you towing a house, and then claiming your clutch prematurely wore out.... that's different. (enguard)
What do you plan on hauling?
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4830355&postcount=200
spinnergist
Member
I'm having difficulty finding a hitch to fit on my 2010 speed 3. The Curt 11383 fits a 3 but says it DOES NOT fit the speed 3. Anybody know anything about this. I just want the hitch to carry my bike rack. Thanks.
I am just planning on using a bike rack with it, but if I towed anything else it would be a single rail motorcycle trailer for a sub 550lb bike, and could load the back of the trailer abit to keep the tongue light if I had to.
Nice bikes, I need to get around to riding the Dragon. I've got a `00 Kawi ZRX1100, umm mildly modded
Would only trailer to meets out of state so I can take my wife and our labrador with me.
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RUMBLEFISH
Member
I use to tow a small 16ft fiberglass boat with my 97 jetta without a problem. Of coarse if anyone pulled out in front of me then it would have been game over. I had it installed at a uhaul center at the time.
