Race Prep Miata race-only chat.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What do YOU use to tow your track car?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-24-2011, 03:52 PM
  #101  
Elite Member
 
jacob300zx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,201
Total Cats: 145
Default

Originally Posted by scottyd
the easiest way to setup the trailer brakes is to get the truck up to about 25mph, lift off the gas and try to lock up the brakes on the trailer with the controller. Then back it off a tad.
+1
jacob300zx is offline  
Old 06-26-2011, 08:30 PM
  #102  
Senior Member
 
timk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 1,278
Total Cats: 37
Default

Here's my setup, tows like a champ, you hardly know it is there:



In Australia these cars are rated for 1,800kg (~4,000lbs).
timk is offline  
Old 06-26-2011, 09:38 PM
  #103  
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
dgmorr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,446
Total Cats: 6
Default

2.5L? Never knew it was capable. You've got me thinking now...

Is that an aluminum trailer?
dgmorr is offline  
Old 06-26-2011, 10:46 PM
  #104  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

Originally Posted by saboteur
Here's my setup, tows like a champ, you hardly know it is there:



In Australia these cars are rated for 1,800kg (~4,000lbs).
This won't fly in America. Here we believe you need a Peterbilt to pull a utility trailer. Police stop my frequently because they think my car is overloaded with the tire trailer.
hustler is offline  
Old 06-27-2011, 12:03 AM
  #105  
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
 
falcon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,499
Total Cats: 16
Default

Truth to that. Only used my trailer 2 times and was pulled over both times with it. Asking if I know what my tow limit is, and if I weight the trailer. Of course "yes sir, it's XXXX" and I was on my way. PIA though...
falcon is offline  
Old 06-27-2011, 01:51 AM
  #106  
Elite Member
 
Laur3ns's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Enschede, NL
Posts: 2,053
Total Cats: 12
Default

Originally Posted by hustler
This won't fly in America. Here we believe you need a Peterbilt to pull a utility trailer. Police stop my frequently because they think my car is overloaded with the tire trailer.
THIS

Europe:
Name:  steyr-05-2003eriba.jpg
Views: 962
Size:  48.4 KB

USA:


And if I have to sleep in it, I prefer the latter but for towing a Miata it's just bull ****. A f** brake controller? Yes, if your tow vehicle uses CD-ROMs as part of it's disk brake setup.
Laur3ns is offline  
Old 06-27-2011, 08:38 PM
  #107  
Junior Member
 
FatKao's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 491
Total Cats: 32
Default

Are you saying you shouldn't have a brake controller while towing 3k+ lbs?

I just started pulling my Miata on a 16' open deck steel trailer with a `98 F150 4.6L. A bit rough going up hills but other than that you have no idea you're towing. A few semis blew past me on 2 lane roads w/ >100mpg closing speeds and I didn't even notice.

Euro towing.mov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLnLwFcSBc
FatKao is offline  
Old 06-27-2011, 08:53 PM
  #108  
Ben
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (33)
 
Ben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: atlanta-ish
Posts: 12,659
Total Cats: 134
Default

Only the 3rd time showing that clip in this thread, LOL.

Towing with my "new" Super Duty this weekend was fantastic. Truck was big, stable, comfortable, and quiet. It's little 5.4 gas V8 would ****** the trailer around without problem, even at 75 mph on the highway.
__________________
Chief of Floor Sweeping, DIYAutoTune.com & AMP EFI
Crew Chief, Car Owner & Least Valuable Driver, HongNorrthRacing

91 Turbo | 10AE Turbo | 01 Track Rat | #323 Mazda Champcar

Originally Posted by concealer404
Buy an MSPNP Pro, you'll feel better.
Ben is offline  
Old 06-27-2011, 09:56 PM
  #109  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

Van van van must buy a van van van.
hustler is offline  
Old 06-28-2011, 03:14 PM
  #110  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Oscar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bolton, UK
Posts: 3,022
Total Cats: 120
Default

Originally Posted by Ben
It's little 5.4 gas V8
I lol'd at this part
Oscar is offline  
Old 07-05-2011, 12:33 PM
  #111  
Newb
 
Terrh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 42
Total Cats: 0
Default

Anyone looking for an awesome tow rig should try and find a '94-03 or so diesel econoline.
It's a good thing they never break, because they're impossible to work on, but aside from that they're great trucks. 7.3's are good on gas, ridiculously powerful, and with a van you can store all your tools/tires/other bullshit and still have room to sleep if you wanna go camping for the weekend. Or buy a pickup if you don't care about enclosed cargo space and like helping people move all the time.

I have a '99 F250 superduty with 350,000 miles. It's never let me down once and even with my 24' enclosed trailer w/ car, camping gear, toolbox, etc in it it's faster than my miata is downhill at full throttle. I get about 15MPG pulling my giant trailer, about 19-20 mpg pulling a normal/small car trailer with a normal car on it, and 22-23 mpg empty. Oh, and my trailer brakes didn't work at all on that trailer until last month, and I had no idea. F250 brakes kick ***.


here's a picture of the whole setup:


It's mostly for my skyline but the miata is going to find it's way in there now and then I'm sure. Don't buy an enclosed trailer if you mainly plan on using it for not going to the track, because they're really shitty at doing some things that open trailers are good at. But, on a race weekend when it's raining sideways and you are inside the trailer working on the car/watching TV/whatever it's pretty nice.


If you don't need/want/whatever a serious truck, you can tow 3000lbs with just about anything in the flat lands. Most full/mid size cars will tow things well, same goes with SUV's, and even minivans. Important for anything with an auto is a good transmission cooler. Decent brake pads (ie ceramics or upgraded ones) and working trailer brakes are nice to have too.
Terrh is offline  
Old 07-05-2011, 12:38 PM
  #112  
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
bellwilliam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 384
Total Cats: 12
Default

Originally Posted by saboteur
Here's my setup, tows like a champ, you hardly know it is there:



In Australia these cars are rated for 1,800kg (~4,000lbs).
is that a diesel ?
bellwilliam is offline  
Old 07-05-2011, 12:40 PM
  #113  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
MartinezA92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 1,784
Total Cats: 42
Default

Originally Posted by saboteur
Here's my setup, tows like a champ, you hardly know it is there:



In Australia these cars are rated for 1,800kg (~4,000lbs).
That's badass. I can't begin to describe how badly I don't want a ******* truck.
MartinezA92 is offline  
Old 07-05-2011, 05:28 PM
  #114  
Elite Member
iTrader: (41)
 
rharris19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Seabrook, TX
Posts: 2,417
Total Cats: 20
Default

I think I NEED a 40' gooseneck enclosed, that way I feel like I am using my truck for what it is designed for lol. Right now my 24' open hauls two miatas just fine. I love my 6.7L powerstroke so much more than the 6.4L it replaced. That thing was a damned terd.

I have known a couple people to tow aluminum trailers with forrester type cars and have never had an issue. You have to pay attention a little more, but they work well.
rharris19 is offline  
Old 07-06-2011, 02:24 AM
  #115  
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
 
Savington's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
Default

Originally Posted by Terrh
I get about 15MPG pulling my giant trailer, about 19-20 mpg pulling a normal/small car trailer with a normal car on it, and 22-23 mpg empty.
Hand-calculated? How fast do you normally drive?
Savington is offline  
Old 07-06-2011, 02:36 AM
  #116  
Senior Member
 
timk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 1,278
Total Cats: 37
Default

Originally Posted by bellwilliam
is that a diesel ?
Nah just the 2.5L turbo petrol, auto transmission with an extra cooler fitted and the Tekonsha Prodigy P3.

Originally Posted by MartinezA92
That's badass. I can't begin to describe how badly I don't want a ******* truck.
Yeah this saves us from having to buy a dedicated tow rig. It's my wife's daily so it just takes a break from carting her and the kids around.
timk is offline  
Old 07-06-2011, 02:53 AM
  #117  
Elite Member
 
jacob300zx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,201
Total Cats: 145
Default

Originally Posted by hustler
Van van van must buy a van van van.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...Van-4X4-custom!
jacob300zx is offline  
Old 07-06-2011, 08:24 AM
  #118  
Ben
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (33)
 
Ben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: atlanta-ish
Posts: 12,659
Total Cats: 134
Default

Awesome. A couple ice cream van stickers and we're in business.
__________________
Chief of Floor Sweeping, DIYAutoTune.com & AMP EFI
Crew Chief, Car Owner & Least Valuable Driver, HongNorrthRacing

91 Turbo | 10AE Turbo | 01 Track Rat | #323 Mazda Champcar

Originally Posted by concealer404
Buy an MSPNP Pro, you'll feel better.
Ben is offline  
Old 07-06-2011, 01:11 PM
  #119  
Newb
 
Terrh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 42
Total Cats: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Savington
Hand-calculated? How fast do you normally drive?
usually 60-65. I do the math after every fill up, it's just habit.

my "23 mpg empty" means not towing just to clarify.
Terrh is offline  
Old 07-06-2011, 01:14 PM
  #120  
Senior Member
 
scottyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 498
Total Cats: 0
Default

That sounds crazy high.
scottyd is offline  


Quick Reply: What do YOU use to tow your track car?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:48 AM.