Tow vehicle
97-99 xj with a 200 dollar rear disc brake conversion. You can pull the guts out of them and they keep coming back for more. Like the Miata, the biggest issue with them is keeping them cool when its 100+ degrees out.
I went and looked at a white 01 Sequoia Limited the other night that looked just like yours; 148k miles, $7k. I intended to buy it, but when I got there the paint was really dull - looked worse than in the pictures so I passed.
Have you been happy with the towing performance of yours? How much does your trailer weigh loaded?
Have you been happy with the towing performance of yours? How much does your trailer weigh loaded?
I went and looked at a white 01 Sequoia Limited the other night that looked just like yours; 148k miles, $7k. I intended to buy it, but when I got there the paint was really dull - looked worse than in the pictures so I passed.
Have you been happy with the towing performance of yours? How much does your trailer weigh loaded?
Have you been happy with the towing performance of yours? How much does your trailer weigh loaded?
I tow with a 2006 GMC sierra, 5.3 crew cab. I love the truck and all that it provides. And if well taken care of it will last forever, but the gas mileage sucks with it being 4x4. Any wind and towing my dual axle trailor, miata, and all my gear, and im only getting 11 or 12 miles to the gallon. Also they can be expensive up front because everyone in Texas thinks they need 4x4.
I tow with a 2006 GMC sierra, 5.3 crew cab. I love the truck and all that it provides. And if well taken care of it will last forever, but the gas mileage sucks with it being 4x4. Any wind and towing my dual axle trailor, miata, and all my gear, and im only getting 11 or 12 miles to the gallon. Also they can be expensive up front because everyone in Texas thinks they need 4x4.
Maybe I need to sell mine in TX! KBB says worth about 15k - have 144k on the odo.
I used my parents' 5.3 Suburban to tow my Miata on an open trailer a few times and it didn't have any trouble with it.
My Duramax doesn't have any trouble with it either, though
My Duramax doesn't have any trouble with it either, though
That's the extact same ride as I have now - which WON'T cut it for hauling the 24' enclosed hauler. It struggles with hills towing the miata on my open tandem - total about 4500lbs. I'm looking to upgrade/downgrade to either an 06 GMC 2500 with the duramax, or an older Excursion with the 7.3 - either way I'll be stuck paying for diesel, but at least I'll have the torque to move the thing.
Maybe I need to sell mine in TX! KBB says worth about 15k - have 144k on the odo.
Maybe I need to sell mine in TX! KBB says worth about 15k - have 144k on the odo.
Pussies!




I wonder how much heavier a Volvo 940 is than a Miata? It looks like you only need something as big as another Volvo to tow it. Therefore, even a lowly Volvo will tow a Miata, right?




I wonder how much heavier a Volvo 940 is than a Miata? It looks like you only need something as big as another Volvo to tow it. Therefore, even a lowly Volvo will tow a Miata, right?
Last edited by sixshooter; Jan 28, 2012 at 10:39 AM.
This is what I use and I tow it with a 98 Dodge Grand caravan with a 3.8L motor, not the smaller 3.3's and 3.6's. I live in Wash. and tow down to Thunderhill and Laguna Seca alot and have to go over the Siskiyou's and have no issues, don't hardly even know its back there. The reason behind it was the price of gas is going to just get worse. All the V-8's well kill you on gas towing a trailer, somewhere around 9 mpg, even the GM and Ford v-6's won't do much better towing as they get around 18 hiway and 14 in town normally with no trailer. My van gets 22 to 24 hiway and 19 around town and if I keep it around 60 to 65 when towing it gets around 16.5 to 17 mpg. I had a double axle dovetail car trailer and sold it shortly after buying it as the gas milage was expensive towing that far alot.
Whats cool about this car dolly is it uses Rino Ramps to load with. You can't use a normal dolly with the built in ramps as they won't clear a miata's undercarriage that is lower then stock as they hang out to far. This also has surge disc brakes so you don't need a controller under the dash, same thing U-Haul and Penske uses on their car trailers, plus the disc. brakes over elect. drum brakes. After trailering for 40 years, I well never go back unless gas gets cheap again, which ain't go'na happen. John
http://cartowdolly.com/
Whats cool about this car dolly is it uses Rino Ramps to load with. You can't use a normal dolly with the built in ramps as they won't clear a miata's undercarriage that is lower then stock as they hang out to far. This also has surge disc brakes so you don't need a controller under the dash, same thing U-Haul and Penske uses on their car trailers, plus the disc. brakes over elect. drum brakes. After trailering for 40 years, I well never go back unless gas gets cheap again, which ain't go'na happen. John
http://cartowdolly.com/
Surge brakes are not a positive IMO. They are rough and jerky around town, and I had a sticky set on a 12,000lb forklift trailer try to push my 3/4 ton truck clear through an intersection once. Electric brakes are significantly smoother and far easier to maintain.
No kidding. Electric brakes work so much more predictably, can be adjusted in cab, and can be applied in cab without applying tow vehicle brakes (to stop sway).
Rental trailers have surge brakes because usually those renting them typically do not have brake controllers in their tow vehicle. Some will not allow the trailer to be pushed in reverse unless disabled. Pain.
Rental trailers have surge brakes because usually those renting them typically do not have brake controllers in their tow vehicle. Some will not allow the trailer to be pushed in reverse unless disabled. Pain.
Have never had any of those issues you guys seem to have had. I've had both types and been towing race veh. of one kind or the other for 40 plus years. Maybe the disc. brakes work better then drum as far as staying adjusted and applying even and consistent braking. As for backing up there is a pin that hangs by the slot where the tonque slides and you stick it in and keeps the brakes from being applied when you want to back up, takes a few seconds.
















