I now have the FM hitch and still loving this little trailer. I will continue using it for local events when I get the van/tow rig.

 

I can now contribute to this thread. This is the northern tools version. I replaced the grease in the hubs with synthetic high-temp bearing grease. The decking is the Trex synthetic deck material from Lowes Home Race Trailer Depot. The box is bolted down through the decking. The tires are simply held in place with a couple of stacked pressure-treated 2x4s in front and back, with an angle cut onto the top 2x4.

After initial assembly and squaring-up and test drive, I was dissatisfied with how flimsy the bare trailer frame seemed to be, and didn't want it to vibrate itself out of alignment. So, I welded everything together.

I removed the second helper leaf spring, since the trailer won't ever have more than 200-300lbs on it, and it's over-sprung for that low a weight.

I'm using the FM hitch. I like it and would go the same route if I were to equip another miata for towing.

For wiring, the m.net garage article is completely valid and accurate for an NB.

Assembly notes for anyone doing this - build the whole thing upside down. 4 jackstands will make your life easier. The instructions have you start right-side up, then flip it over, which is retarded, since you have to access most of the bolts from underneath anyway.

Possible future upgrade is a basket in front across the tongue area to hold fuel jugs.

 

lol @ Brain's little *** tires:


Has anyone ever seen a "kickstand" like what Mobius has?

 

My kickstand and spare tire holder came from DEI Equipment - www.deiequipment.com. The spare is currently under the deck on the tongue. I need to shift it forward a bit for more tongue weight.


Item Name/Code
Qty
Description
Options
Rate
Amount
TS-67 1 Spare Tire Holder For 4.80 Trailer Tires, Item Code: TS-67, Color: Black $12.60 $12.60
TS-68E 1 Front Stand For 832t Trailer, Item Code: TS-68E, Color: Black $21.00 $21.00

Also, they have some nice trailers of the same approximate size but look to be of higher quality. Nice things like triangulated braces to the tongue. And black powdercoat instead of red. Bling.

Edit: I had to drill a couple of extra holes for the kickstand. We are all bauses here, hole drilling doesn't scare us.

Edit2: I have the swing-down wheel from harbor freight to use instead of the kickstand as well; I bought it before I found the kickstand. Depending on how Jed Clampett I get with gear in the box, I may put it on so I can just wheel the trailer around instead of having to lug it. Decisions ...

 

Please measure the width of the kickstand before I buy since its not on their site. I'm so pumped about not using a cinderblock or jackstand anymore. I'm giving serious thought to taking my trailer to a welder and getting a rack/door for the jack and fabbing-up a mount for a scuba-tank so I can have air at the track, under my trailer. Maybe I'll do that for the rest of the summer while my car is down. hmmmm

Edit:
Everything about DEI Equipment is awesome. I'm about to order a kickstand for my trailer, spanish glass tumblers, and Cambro food containers.

 

For about the same price as the kickstand, you can get a swivel down jack with a wheel on it. Makes moving the trailer around easier when off-car.

 

This was right after I bought the trailer from a friend and installed the new decking and put the box on. Wheels/Tires from a Miata & S2000 to make sure they both fit. I LOVE the swivel-down jack with the wheel on it; very useful.

 

The tongue on my trailer is 2.5" steel channel. If your trailer is the same dimensions you're golden.

 

it's worse that I was afraid to daily those...

 

Never waste a good heat-cycle.

 

Old school Azenis.

 

Forgot one other thing I did to the trailer, to combat the "whups I unloaded in the wrong order and now my trailer's pointing at the sky"

Square aluminum tubing inside slightly larger steel tubing welded to a piece of steel bar stock. Drill some holes and use a cotter pin.

 

Here's mine


The new tires don't fit the MSM very well

 

too bad they went hard with still like 50% tread left since I babied them like crazy and was still at like 70rwhp.

 

Nice idea! I think I'm gonna steal this one.

 

Hot damn! I've always wondered about this. Sold my quad a few years ago and after a ride on the beach my girlfriend asked me why.

Y'all have me thinking, I have a decent place outside to store one too. And I'm constantly aware of how many spares and tools I bring compared to anyone else. I'm surprised my welder hasn't made it to the track yet.

 

I bought that trailer from Brain, and Miata tires look extra skinny on it because it's a full 5 feet wide between the fenders, not 4 feet like the current HF ones.

 

those were also 195s on 6" wheels.

 

I decided to build my own and buy the little harbor freight one with 12 inch tires $175 this week (with coupon). I bought a 12" spare for $40 (with coupon), a tool box for $45 (Walmart), LED oval taillights for $15/ea (Harbor Freight), taillight mount brackets for $5/ea (Northern Tool), 3/4" plywood, a couple cans of spray in bedliner (Harbor Freight), spare tire carrier for under the tongue for $5.99 (Northern Tool) and some tie down hooks. I bought some 1 1/4" angle iron to reinforce the tongue. Now I'm working on building it and will probably weld some reinforcements around. I bought a used Da'Lan hitch.

What did you all use for posts to hold your tires? I cant find anything inexpensive.

 

1" iron pipe or square tubing with some 1.5" pvc slipped over it. It will be easier to build vertical legs and run the pipe horizontally through the hub centers than it will be to figure out how to get vertical posts mounted to the trailer deck.

Here's a pic of the concept from my old tire trailer.

[IMG] IMG_0121[1] by clkearns, on Flickr[/IMG]