can a P5 tow?

[chinkysuavo]

I own a motorcycle and I go up to San Jose pretty often, I was thinking about getting a trailer so I could tow my bike up there, I just dont know if my P5 has got what it takes to get up there...has anyone attempted to tow anything with their's?

 

[Sir Nuke]

I own a motorcycle and I go up to San Jose pretty often, I was thinking about getting a trailer so I could tow my bike up there, I just dont know if my P5 has got what it takes to get up there...has anyone attempted to tow anything with their's?

it is not RECOMMENDED that you tow anything with the P-5.....

what kind of motorcycle are you talking about? a bit road cruiser like a harley? or a little 125cc dirt bike? the load is quite different, as you would certainly know.

 

[chinkysuavo]

yeah i have 98 kawasaki zx6r (crotch rocket) its about 380 lbs. but i know the trailer has some weight to it too....

 

[zamfield]

I wouldn't risk towing anything - it's a great way to quickly shorten the life of the drive train!

 

[Captain KRM P5]

I have to beg to differ this time - My father tows a light duty trailer with load all the time on his 96 Dodge Neon, did so with a 85 VW Sciroco and 82 Toyota Celica. The car went 130,000 miles before it needed any major work. For a Neon on its own thats pretty impressive.

That said, going by the specs in the Neon owner's book states (the P5 and Neon have similar size, weight, HP and torque numbers) I would not recommend towing anything over 800 pounds. I've been toying with the idea of getting a hitch for my own car. Don't drive like a complete Formula 1 maniac and you should be fine.

 

[FuNwaGoN]

Maybe the guy I saw while at Nopi will chime in on this one. He had a white P5 with a trailer that had matching Racing Hart wheels and paint and was towing a Honda CBR 900 RR. He said all loaded up with his family (4 passengers) and the bike and trailer that it had no problems. I have also seen someone tow a Jetski with their P5. Just my .02

 

[Rotus]

Hi,

I tow a motorcycle all the time. About 400 lbs. (Ducati 748) and the trailer weighs about 100-150. The hitch I have is custome made for the car and fits around a Mazdaspeed rear section easily. The hitch itself is a class II, but I wouldn't tow more than class I with it.

I'll try to get pics up here soon, but my g/f took my car today. I guess I'll be slumming in the Lotus...

 

[Sir Nuke]

as noted....one you will have to have a hitch made for your car....IF my memory serves me correctly the manual says NOT to tow anything with the car.....HOWEVER.....

with a small bike like that....if you have a bare bones bike trailer that weighs very little and is only for the bike....you shold be okay....

Question....would you hesitate to load up THREE, 200 pound buddies in the P-5 and head out somewhere? with about 8 cases of beer in the back? that would be a pretty hefty load....and not out of the question from a capacity stand point......

so if you have a trailer/bike combo that is fairly light (600 pounds or less) and you drive at NORMAL speeds.....you should be fine....

if you drive an AUTO...you may want to consider NOT using overdrive while doing so.

I know that when I put my harley on my trailer...and pull it behind my little Nissian P/U....its a REAL LOAD. of course just my bike weighs in at 700 pounds.

 

[Rotus]

I know that when I put my harley on my trailer...and pull it behind my little Nissian P/U....its a REAL LOAD. of course just my bike weighs in at 700 pounds.

I might consider towing that. You might not get your bike back from me tho...

 

[Sir Nuke]

I might consider towing that. You might not get your bike back from me tho...

LOL.....I don't allow ANYONE to even ride it.....much less tow it!

 

[20ESGUY]

I tow a motorcycle all the time. About 400 lbs. (Ducati 748)

MMMM...Ducati 748. One heck of a bike, Ducati's are some excellent machines. I just recently got rid of my 750 Monster at the begining of the summer...i'm stuck with an 85 virago 1000 now and really missing the flickablity of the duck.

 

[zamfield]

Question....would you hesitate to load up THREE, 200 pound buddies in the P-5 and head out somewhere? with about 8 cases of beer in the back? that would be a pretty hefty load....and not out of the question from a capacity stand point......

Well! Ya sold me!! - I didn't think of it like that, but you are absolutely right, the weight ratio is probably the same as a full load of people and shopping, and we all do that once or twice.

 

[Rotus]

MMMM...Ducati 748. One heck of a bike, Ducati's are some excellent machines. I just recently got rid of my 750 Monster at the begining of the summer...i'm stuck with an 85 virago 1000 now and really missing the flickablity of the duck.

Well,

If you're really missing the Duck, mine is for sale...

 

[20ESGUY]

Well,

If you're really missing the Duck, mine is for sale...

LOL...god i wish, the only reason i've got what i do now is cause it was free. Truthfully i can't really ride that style of bike much anyways between my back killing me and my right arm and wrist going numb after about 20 mins of riding its just not all that much fun...although the sligning it around on the backroads at 80+ is a little consolation.

 

[trobbins]

How about on a MP3???

Also, is it possible to get a hidden hitch that is invisiable when not towing?

I would like the use of a utility trainer but I don't want to ugly up the car.

Tim

 

[Sir Nuke]

How about on a MP3???

Also, is it possible to get a hidden hitch that is invisiable when not towing?

I would like the use of a utility trainer but I don't want to ugly up the car.

Tim

the same thing would apply to the sedan....

but since mazda does NOT recommend towing ANYTHING with the Protege....you will most likely NOT find a hitch made by anyone...you will have to have one custom made for the car.

As for actually towing anything....I certainly wouldn't recommend doing it with anything over a few hundred pounds...weight of trailer and all....if you do....you are probably asking for trouble.

 

[trobbins]

I found this..
http://www.hitchesonline.com/mazda_cl1_protege_99-00.htm

Do you think the MP3's rear skirt would affect it?


BTW, I just would like to use it for carrying small amount of lumber and stuff. I already put a 10ft piece of pipe through my windshield (dooh!)

Tim

 

[Sir Nuke]

I found this..
http://www.hitchesonline.com/mazda_cl1_protege_99-00.htm

Do you think the MP3's rear skirt would affect it?


BTW, I just would like to use it for carrying small amount of lumber and stuff. I already put a 10ft piece of pipe through my windshield (dooh!)

Tim

hmmm they have one for the P-5 specifically too....but as to your question? it most likely would...as I would bet that its designed to BARELY show...and thus since the MP3/MSP bumper goes down lower....it would probably cover it up. MAYBE.

 

[Rotus]

See my pics on Yahoo. The link is on my post about my pics. I'm so lazy...

The hitch is mostly hidden and they had to cut the bumper. These guys are the gods of hitch. They can do anything. They also specialize in custom fitting hitches to cars for bike rack use only. When they do that, they hide everything and the receiver is actually somewhat vertical behind the bumper. Very trick.

 

[Reitrof]

Hidden Hitch and Drawtite make hitches especially for the P5. I just put a hidden hitch on mine last weekend. Very easy hides nicely under the bumper, bolt on, no drilling, took me 30 mins. Class 1 hitch.