Looking for a lightweight trailer

[t walgamuth]

about 600# with two axles to haul my miata with my benz diesel. Needs brakes. used preferred but might consider new.

[kerry]

What kind of hitch do you have on the Benz?

[t walgamuth]

I currently have an air hitch....


But if I get the trailer I want I will install an actual hitch which attaches to the frame in appropriate manner even if I have to build it.

[kerry]

How much will the Miata and trailer weigh? I'm pretty sure MB's maximum tow rating for the 123 is 2500lbs. I'm not sure any of the hitches available for the 123's in the US are rated that high. Since there is no frame to mount the hitch, I'd be a little leary about regularly towing that much weight.

[t walgamuth]

I believe the rating is 3000 if the trailer has brakes. I am planning on building the hitch if necessary. I would balance the Miata over the axles so that tongue weight is minimal and make sure the tongue on the trailer is long enough to make it tow well.

In the end it might not work too well but I am interested in trying it if I can do it without burning too much cash.

[KarTek]

Featherlite makes a nice all aluminum trailer that might work for you. I think they're pretty pricy though.

As far as tongue weight, you won't be able to "balance" the load over the axles. A trailer requires a MINIMUM of 10% of the total weight on the tongue for stability.

A trailer/tow vehicle combination has a "critical speed" that it can reach safely for a given balance. Above this speed, the whole rig will literally go crazy VERY quickly. The lower the tongue weight, the lower this speed will be.

For example, with 0 tongue weight, you might be able to pull safely up to about 20 MPH. 5% may be good for 40 MPH and so on. It all has to do with harmonics and waves of motion.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by KarTek

Featherlite makes a nice all aluminum trailer that might work for you. I think they're pretty pricy though.

As far as tongue weight, you won't be able to "balance" the load over the axles. A trailer requires a MINIMUM of 10% of the total weight on the tongue for stability.

A trailer/tow vehicle combination has a "critical speed" that it can reach safely for a given balance. Above this speed, the whole rig will literally go crazy VERY quickly. The lower the tongue weight, the lower this speed will be.

For example, with 0 tongue weight, you might be able to pull safely up to about 20 MPH. 5% may be good for 40 MPH and so on. It all has to do with harmonics and waves of motion.

Thanks for the tips.....I believe in 40+ years of towing I have experienced about all of those phenomina at one time or another!

Balance is a relative term. Some tongue weight will be clearly required.

[KarTek]

Didn't want to come across to you as if you knew nothing but as you've experienced the phenomenon, it's obviously dangerous... I'd rather er on the side of caution.

[WVOtoGO]

Originally Posted by kerry

How much will the Miata and trailer weigh? I'm pretty sure MB's maximum tow rating for the 123 is 2500lbs. I'm not sure any of the hitches available for the 123's in the US are rated that high. Since there is no frame to mount the hitch, I'd be a little leary about regularly towing that much weight.

I’ll agree with this 100%

I have an aftermarket hitch (not the “donkey d—k” that MB put on them) on my 123.

It bolts to both the bumper and the spare tire/trunk well. I got it to pull my wooden skiffs around on light weight small boat trailers. That’s about the limit that I’d go with on a 123.

I have pulled my 19’ Newport sailboat with it, but steep ramps can be a bit spooky. And, I’d sure hate to have to swerve in a hurry.

I can’t see hauling anything like a twin axle trailer with another car (even a Miata) on it with a 123. I can just see you having the brakes set a smidge too high, hitting the brakes and watching that hitch rip out of your well. The shock mount bumper sure isn’t going to hold it from pulling on the well.
Then there’s the: “What’s going to happen in an emergency maneuver situation” ??
I don’t even want to think about that one.

Might be another story if you custom build something bolted to much more solid structure. Not sure what that might be in a 123 though. Even then, there’s still all the other factors.

[t walgamuth]

I would never bolt any hitch to the bumper.

[WVOtoGO]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I would never bolt any hitch to the bumper.

Just telling you how they attach.
Not my preference either, but they seem to do just fine with light load hauling.

I don’t think I’ve ever exceeded ~1000 lbs total on mine for any distance.

[t walgamuth]

On a 123 the only benefit to bolting a hitch to it is to provide additional support for the bumper!

[WVOtoGO]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

On a 123 the only benefit to bolting a hitch to it is to provide additional support for the bumper!

LOL

I hear ya.
It will certainly do that.

I had to chuckle when I mounted it. The first thing that I thought of was: “There goes the shock absorption of the bumper.”
If I took a light hit in the rear before, the bumper would handle it.
Now, if I take a light hit. The bumper may absorb it while bending and tearing two holes out of my spare tire well.

[t walgamuth]

I bought a tow dolly.

[Mike D]

What? It only took you eleven years to decide? Don'cha think you were a bit hasty?