Towing my car with a trailer

Interesting.
I would prefer metal to wood which eventually would have to be replaced. I will have to look into the Polaris UTV trailer as I have a dealer not far from me here.
I did look at the UTV trailer online and it's only 510# but the loaded weight is at maximum with the Miata loaded. It's also only a single axle of course.
I might be better off with something like the
E-POCH8x16-A FULL DECK, 8' x 16' Open Economy Car Hauler
(Full Aluminum Deck)

KeninAZ wrote:
I want to take my little Miata roadster with me traveling.
It only weighs in at some 2400# so it's pretty light.
I see most trailers support 7000# with the tandem axles.
My rig hitch is rated for 500# of tongue weight and some 5000# of total weight so I should be able to tow without a problem. I see most of the trailers are under 2000#.
I assume that you determine your own tongue weight by balancing the car?
If you were going to do it would you have a solid deck either of wood of steel?

Are you talking about double towing? Or just towing a car trailer with your car on it?

Your Miata would fit an an all-Aluminum UTV trailer. Polaris sells a nice one, as do many local trailer builders.

I've had all three materials for the decks. I like AL the best because it doesn't rust. I'd pick steel 2nd. I don't like wood because the point loading on the deck causes those spots to soften first, and eventually a wheel will break through. Plus wet wood has the worst traction, and the paint just doesn't last long.

For balancing, you could a 4x4 spanning between a block and a bathroom scale, with the tongue at the mid point. Then double the scale reading .

The Miata is a well balanced car, so loading it just barely forward of center (mid point of car vs axle center) should pretty much be perfect. You can go as low as 8% tongue weight with a car trailer, since the moment of inertia is less than a TT. Kinda like boats.