Hi there can anyone tell me if the MX 5 mk3 can be flat towed. I am looking to purchase one to tow behind a motor home.
i have been getting conflicting information about this. Have been told mk1 & mk2 are ok but there is possibly a problem with flat towing the mk3, due to the lubication of the dif & gear box. Our local Mazda dealers mechanics do not seam to think there is a problem and advised me to ask you guys who would know more.
Please advise
Chees
Daz
It says in the Mk2 manual not to flat tow the car.
I will have a look in the manual for the mk3.
Isn`t it the case that cars with a LSD should be only be towed with their rear wheels off the ground. ( If they are RWD, of course )
This is the answers I have been getting but even on eBay now there is a 2010 mk3 for sale with the a frame conversion fitted that the saller says that he has towed with his RV for the last 2 years with no problems. Confused.
Is the Mk3 a two litre or 1800 ? Don`t think the 1800s had LSD.
The one on eBay is the 1.8. So is the LSD the potential problem with flat towing. As I don’t know much about the spec of the mx5 I don’t know which models have what. Just like the look of the car plus it’s light, excellent reviews and can’t think of anything better to be going around the Alps in.
It would be over a ton of unbraked weight. Is that within the capability of the motorhome?
A braked trailer would be the safest choice.
The A frame is a braked system which will be connected to the cars brakes. There is a few systems out there that use cables attached to the brake pedal of the car or electronic systems which do the same thing ,opperate the cars brakes when the towing veichle brakes. The ideal of doing it this way is that you don’t have a trailer ect to store once you have got to your destination. These system effectively turn the tow car into a trailer.
Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy regarding the towing of a car on an A frame. The official DfT view is that an A frame or a dolly, can only be used to recover a vehicle and there are conflicting views as to whether a car on an A frame is classed as a trailer. There have not been any prosecutions in the UK regarding the use of A frames for towing, so the law is unclear. However, on the continent, A frames are illegal, in particular, France and Spain. Again (to the best of my knowledge), there have been no prosecutions for using A frames, but there have been many cases where the authorities have insisted that the vehicle be removed from the A frame and both vehicles driven independently.
The only safe way to comply with the laws of towing a vehicle with another vehicle, in the UK and in Europe, is to use a braked trailer.
It may be worth doing some research on the places you intend to visit regarding, the use of A frames, before you commit yourself to the expense of a conversion.
Thanks for your reply Creayzy.