What to tow 4 wheels down

grimmrlg wrote:
I tow a manual transmission 2001 Honda Insight with a 2001 23' Tioga motorhome with a 5.4L Ford V8. Honda Insights from 1999-2006 were built with all aluminum chassis and engine and are hybrid drive but only 2 passenger. The car weighs under 1800 lbs. Blue Ox makes a baseplate for this rare car and it tows beautifully in addition to getting 60+ mpg on its own. Towing at 60mph, I get 10-11 mpg.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ppg/16010212706/

Great little car. Had a chance to buy a friends but already have three 2 seater smart cars. :) Our friends are getting closer to the rated 47 mpg with their insight but that could be driving style etc. It has been a very reliable little car for them. I think the battery is coming due but from what I gather very reasonable to replace. I even like the body style with the funky rear fenders. I think they have decided to keep it. Literally still looks like a new car. For many the two seaters are a great way to go for a toad. Light weight and short. Not too many available though. Smart cars, Miatas, Insight. Not sure if a miata can be towed four down.

I hope you don't mind that I reposted your link to your combo. Nice

John & Angela wrote:

grimmrlg wrote:
I tow a manual transmission 2001 Honda Insight with a 2001 23' Tioga motorhome with a 5.4L Ford V8. Honda Insights from 1999-2006 were built with all aluminum chassis and engine and are hybrid drive but only 2 passenger. The car weighs under 1800 lbs. Blue Ox makes a baseplate for this rare car and it tows beautifully in addition to getting 60+ mpg on its own. Towing at 60mph, I get 10-11 mpg.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ppg/16010212706/

Great little car. Had a chance to buy a friends but already have three 2 seater smart cars. :) Our friends are getting closer to the rated 47 mpg with their insight but that could be driving style etc. It has been a very reliable little car for them. I think the battery is coming due but from what I gather very reasonable to replace. I even like the body style with the funky rear fenders. I think they have decided to keep it. Literally still looks like a new car. For many the two seaters are a great way to go for a toad. Light weight and short. Not too many available though. Smart cars, Miatas, Insight. Not sure if a miata can be towed four down.

I hope you don't mind that I reposted your link to your combo. Nice

Thanks for posting the photo, I wasn't having much luck adding the photo link, kept getting a small X instead of the photo.

grimmrlg wrote:
Not sure if a miata can be towed four down.

MANUAL transmission Miatas can be towed 4 down.

I tow one.

Tim

Healeyman wrote:

grimmrlg wrote:
Not sure if a miata can be towed four down.

MANUAL transmission Miatas can be towed 4 down.

I tow one.

Tim

Very cool. Gotta lover convertibles. Heres our wee little "diesel pusher"

Not sure how this happened, but I never posted the quote "Not sure if a miata can be towed four down." That is very bizarre it shows with my userid. Must be a software bug. I actually considered a Miata for a toad....

Rick

grimmrlg wrote:
Not sure how this happened, but I never posted the quote "Not sure if a miata can be towed four down." That is very bizarre it shows with my userid. Must be a software bug. I actually considered a Miata for a toad....

Rick

Yah thats kinda weird. (I'M the guy who said it originally) I think it was because it was a quote within a quote. Funky.

John & Angela wrote:

grimmrlg wrote:
Not sure how this happened, but I never posted the quote "Not sure if a miata can be towed four down." That is very bizarre it shows with my userid. Must be a software bug. I actually considered a Miata for a toad....

Rick

Yah thats kinda weird. (I'M the guy who said it originally) I think it was because it was a quote within a quote. Funky.

It happened when people started quoting and started removing other wording that was in quotes and ending up with the quotes in the wrong places. It has happened to me before also, no software bug just some folks getting the quotes messed up. :B

If you return and see this please reply. Are you still successfully towing your Honda Insight with no problems. I had an 01 CVT it was totaled the other day and I am looking to pick up an 00-01 or 02 manual trans to tow. I found the base plate with Blue OX.

Yes, I have towed the Insight for over 7000 miles now, it tows beautifully!! I am willing to provide any guidance on baseplate installation and how I wired it anyone is interested.

Thank you so much for responding. My email address is garyk9156@hotmail.com. My Insight with cvt was bought new in 01, had 206k but it was totaled. I have several located with manual trans. What I have found only two base plates from Blue Ox, one with removable connectors. My tow bar is a Ready Brute Elite with a surge brake build in. Brake cable goes through the front and then through the fire wall to attach to the brake pedal. Insight owners manual says tow with ignition in I and battery disconnected, trans in neutral of course. It then says tow no more than 50miles not over 35mph. So what are you doing?

Next, have you had to replace the clutch yet, if yes or no, at what mileage. Next are you aware of the Grid Charger to extend battery life of the IMA? I replaced the battery pack, once at about 70k under warranty, second with a rebuilt unit that had a 3yr warranty and they rebuilt it 4 times. Note one guy is selling a 00 model with the IMA light on and says he charges with the Grid charger once a week and IMA works. Haven't talked to him lately, only found out about the IMA grid charger a few weeks about reading ads for Insights for sale.