Towing issues

yewtrees

Member
Since Mazda5 is considered a "minivan", does anyone know or come across with any info about its towing capacity? I couldn't find anything about it. I was wondering if it is able to tow compared to other minivans or SUVs due to its four-cyclider engine with 157HP. Thanks for your valuable inputs!!!
 
That's easy. In North America, the MAxda 5's official towing cpacity is:

ZERO.

the manual states that you should not tow with your 5. though I do remember reading somewhere thatit's about 1000 lbs in Europe
 
Look at it this way NO,,,,,

If you are alone and nothing in the 5 and ur using a dinky trailer to transport some dirt well ok....but dont over load the trailer eh. The cars tranny and brakes are rated for GROSS WEIGHT and it is a rating which you don't want to play with.

Remember its the brakes which stop your car and when they heat up they don't work,,,,, so when you tow at first it may seem fine then you find out the hard way the brakes don't work.

Like 98 said JUST DON'T

Thanks for playin
 
ouch...

Anyways I've once seen a Ford Focus hauling a UHaul trailer. Is it optimal or according to the manufaturers specs, almost certainly not, but is it possible... sure. That being said, if you're going to tow frequently, then this probably isn't the car for you... look into something a little beefier. IMO small loads are okay if you drive gently (don't slam on the gas or brakes).

And BTW, Mazda actually rates the 5 as a passenger car, not a minivan. This is why tint isn't included. ;)
 
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Too many Lawyers...

This has been covered pretty well on this forum... but to repeat because it's worth repeating...

Yes, at least two manufacturers make a bolt on hitch for the Mazda5
Yes, the car, from an engineering perspective, is more than capable of towing a small load, at least 1,000 lbs with no trouble, but I can see where it might have trouble with the full 2,500 lb capacity of a standard US Class 1 rated hitch.

But, Yes, you will void your warranty if you put hitch on a Mazda5.

It's a case of too many lawyers and Insurance companies wanting to limit their liabilty, and the US truck makers controlling the hitch class ratings so that you have to buy a truck if you want to tow anything.

I plan to get a hitch on my 5... but only once the warranty expires.
 
Well.. I did get a custom hitch put on the veh, and as I mentioned to Zoom5Zoom, I have a 4x8 trailer in which I put 4 bikes and 2-3 coolers in it.
I will be getting a tranny cooler put on. The way I see it, my focus could pull it with no truoble , front disc and rear drums...
However, that being said.. I did clear it with the dealer.
 
That trailer better have racing strips...

Let us know how it works out...ps my trailer is only 4x4 FYI
 
Over here, in the Netherlands I am allowed to tow 1300 lbs if the trailer does not have its own brakes, or even 2800 lbs if the trailer does have brakes.
And that is with the 1800 cc MT :-) It must be either those wonderfull lawyers, or the AT.
 
Yes, a "bicycle carrier mount" is what I installed on my 5, though it looks exactly like, and was marketed as, a 1.25 receiver Class I trailer hitch. ;-)

It'll get wired after my warranty expires (through 72,000 miles...should be close to 58,000 when it celebrates its 2nd anniversary with us in Feb 2012). I have no doubt reasonable weekend home-center runs can be managed with it.

That will let my long-suffering Miata stop being tagged as the family's trailer-puller. Oh the indignities it's suffered, pulling 4x8 Uhauls so many times!

But yes, it's correct that US market 5's are rated for nothing at all.
 
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