Hi All, A while ago I fitted a Towbar imported from America made by Curt, easy to fit, the MK3 is a great tow car, I understand the approvals but in America they tow boats etc with no issue. Towbars are also now made in the UK for the MK3!
Cheers
Derek
Some pics;
Towbar
Cycle rack, - I use a lighting board
Towball
You say that you understand about approvals of tow bar, therefore I assume that in fitting a non-type approved tow bar you know that you can be prosecuted.
More importantly this is a modification to the car and as such should be notified to your insurers. However as the Mk3 is not approved for the fitting of a tow bar, irrespective as to whether it is actually used for towing, then an insurer will not insure you and if you take the risk and do not advise your insurer then your insurance can be declared invalid and they may not pay out on any claim.
Hi PR-Yorkshire, a very unhelpful and condescending reply. I had already outlined I understand the requirements, The car has recently passed the MOT, and the insurer is aware the towbar is fitted. I use this for carrying cycles which is not towing, and like to have a towbar to protect the back of the car. I have towed off the public highway and can assure you the MX5 is a very capable tow car.
My comments were not meant to be unhelpful or condescending at all.
Whilst you may well be aware of the legal position in fitting a towing bracket others who read your post may not be.
Lets make no bones about what you have done. It is illegal to fit a towing bracket to a Mk3 in the UK. The car was never Type Approved with a towing bracket and as such there are no Type Approved towing brackets as is legally required in the UK under the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations.
However, whilst not sure of the legal position, if you remove the tow ball and modify the bracket so that it can only be used for carrying cycles you could argue that it is not a towing bracket at all but an attachment that can only be used to carry cycles.
As an engineer I would however have concerns about the structural integrity of the body where the towing bracket is attached. The whole point of the EU Type Approval test is that the manufacturer underwrites that providing a Type Approved bracket is fitted then the car structure is strong enough to take the plated towing bracket loads.
Agree with PR Yorkshire.
He was pointing out factual information it is not condescending to point out the uncomfortable truth.
Hi All, it is interesting to understand why the MK3 was not approved. Perhaps a cost saving in testing?
From a technical standpoint and as an Engineer the structure looks good and bolts onto the chassis rails, there is little overhang. The nose weight appears good and not spongy, maybe helped by the blitsen suspension. Also the additional weight of the PRHT would help whilst towing.
I did note whilst fitting, that the towbar further ties in the two chassis rails, similar but much stronger than chassis braces.
It is a shame that it was not approved just to tow a small trailer!
I am a fan of the square fitting mounts of American towbars especially for the cycle mount, rather than the UK ball mounted version which looks over engineered and a compromise.
Interestingly enough I can legally fit a mount which straps itself to the boot to hold bikes!
So the next question, with the 1 1/4 receiver baskets are available;
https://www.curtmfg.com/part/18152
Well this is not towing, just like having a boot bag without the restricted view…
I will await further education!
Cheers
Derek
I got very excited at the thought of fitting a tow bar to my mark 3.
I’ve got a small baggage trailer which I used on my mark 1, invaluable for taking garden rubbish to the dump.
I think the best advice is not to.
Boo hoo!!
P.S. Just reflecting, when my kids were learning to drive I had a succession of Fiat cinque and the 600 one, and these all took a towbar, and these models are not noted for their strong chassis.
Derek
Agreed it is a better way of mounting a bracket to carry cycles than strapping to the boot lid. You just can’t legally fit a tow ball because then it becomes a towing bracket!
Were the mounting holes already there? On of the points of the EU Type Approval of towing brackets was that it made car manufacturers specify where towing brackets could be attached. This then resulted in the attachment points actually being designed into new cars. It would be interesting to know if the Mk3 actually had towing bracket mounting designed in and Mazda just didn’t bother applying for Type Approval in the UK.
Not forgetting a tow bar engineered into the rear of the chassis frame is bound to compromise the designed crush-ability of the vehicle.
That could be interesting in the event of “the other side’s” insurance evaluator taking a different view.
However, if the OP’s insurer is happy as is the MOT station and the OP is well boned up on the facts, I take leave to assume he is aware of the safety issues of cancelling out rear crumple zones as well.
Life’s about choices & risk analysis is it not?