towing with the CX-5

[SteveAltman]

Hi

I have a 2013 CX-5, manual transmission, 4 cylinder engine, which has been working just fine. I really like the car. And I have a question about towing. Perhaps someone here can give me some advice...

Next month I plan to rent a Uhaul trailer to move some items about an hour away and back. The smallest Uhaul trailer I can schedule is a 5x8, which weighs 900 lbs. The weight of the items I will be moving is no more than 400-450 lbs. I know that the CX-5 is rated to be able to tow 2000 lbs. (at least, that's what the salesman told me) but I'm wondering if this is a reality, as opposed to hype. The hitch, which is a Mazda part, was installed by Uhaul and they say I should have no problem.

So my question is this: Am I taking a chance is damaging the engine or transmission in the car? Are there any suggestions you can make? Obviously, I have little experience with towing.

Thanks very much for any replies.

Steve Altman
www.myworkshop.com

 

[Nodnerb]

Ive always thought the 2000lb towing capacity rating seemed optimistic but i havent tried any towing yet.

 

[RDZSTER]

Just keep revs at a reasonable level and let the engine get into its powerband and you should be fine. Be aware that wind and aerodynamic drag on the trailer will slow you down and drive accordingly without going too fast or lugging the engine at too low RPM.

 

[Lando]

I towed a similar size trailer about 900 miles with my sport manual with no problem. I towed from Auburn CA to Bend OR and back which included going through the southern Cascade mountains up to an elevation of over 5000 ft. Just keep the engine in the power band by downshifting as necessary. The best part was that I averaged a little over 29 mpg driving between 55 and 60 mph. If this is an enclosed trailer, you may encounter wind resistance. My trailer is a flatbed with 2 foot tall sides that I tarp and the wind was not an issue. Make sure you load with about 60% of the weight in the front, and the tongue weight around 150 lbs. Loading too much weight behind the trailer axle will make the handling very squirrely.

 

[Canadian-ES-GT]

Shift at higher rpm, accelerate slowly, and keep more distance to break. Your car should have no problem towing that amount. In Australia, I read it can tow up to 4000 pounds with a braked trailer.

 

[SteveAltman]

Hi,

Thanks, everybody, for your replies. I appreciate the encouragement. It looks like this will work out well.

Steve

 

[Barnstaple boy]

My CX-5 2.2D manual is rated to tow 2000kg according to the UK handbook. But this figure does not mean that it is safe to do so, only that the CX-5 can pull that weight. I've been towing caravans for 35 years all over the UK and Europe and the accepted formula then and now is that a braked caravan or trailer should not exceed 80% of the towing vehicles unladen weight. This gives a nice safety margin and will help to prevent the tail wagging the dog! In many European and Scandinavian countries this is law, not just a recommendation as it is, I'm sad to say, in the UK.

 

[rcs914]

In many European and Scandinavian countries this is law, not just a recommendation as it is, I'm sad to say, in the UK.

As shown multiple times on Top Gear ;-)