Need help... can I 4 down tow a Mazda Miata???

[Desert_Captain]

I have an opportunity to purchase a nice little 2013 Miata and if I can make the 4 down towing equation work without having to reinvent the wheel and would like to go forward. I have seen lots of folks towing them 4 down but Blue Ox, Roadmaster and Trailer all have said no go. I spoke to a tech at the Mazda dealership and he said no problem with the 6 speech manual trans, just make sure you are in neutral and you're good to go?

If you or anyone you know tows a Miata please enlighten me as to what set up you/they have. Any tips pro or con would be appreciated. I have gone 6.5 years with no toad for 24' Nexus C but for a number of reason I am now open to pursuing this option. TIA.

:C

[Cummins12V98]

fj12ryder wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Personally I would PASS on that "nice little" car as they are a DEATH TRAP!!!

More protection than a motorcycle. 🙂

I know you are trying to make a point and be funny.

I think anyone in their right mind knows there is a risk riding a motorcycle. Take A look at the Miatas dismal ability to protect in an accident.

Reason for bringing this up is I personally know a young Lady that is F-Dup to this date. She had no idea how little protection her cute car would give her.

[goducks10]

fj12ryder wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Personally I would PASS on that "nice little" car as they are a DEATH TRAP!!!

More protection than a motorcycle. 🙂

x2

[fj12ryder]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Personally I would PASS on that "nice little" car as they are a DEATH TRAP!!!

More protection than a motorcycle. 🙂

[fj12ryder]

That sounds very familiar.

[magicbus]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
I once checked on the Miata for towing, and IIRC, the six speed gearbox uses pressurized oil in the gearbox, so I'd do some serious checking before I towed it.

Where does the pressure come from ? Not the engine.

I recall that if the output shaft (that will be turned by the wheels) relies on oil circulated by the turning of the input shaft (turned by the running engine), the car can't be towed 4-down because the output shaft will not be lubricated.

Dave

[2oldman]

Why is this still in General?

[Cummins12V98]

Personally I would PASS on that "nice little" car as they are a DEATH TRAP!!!

[bgum]

Remco states it must be towed on a trailer. That is for both the 5 speed manual and 6 speed auto.

[Corkey05]

Go here - Remco Towing

Plug in your vehicle info and you'll be told if you can tow, or what modifications are required to make it tow-able.

[Matt_Colie]

Well Captain, If you Really want to tow it and not worry, find a mechanic that knows the cars and tell him that you want to add a DC lube pump. This is how Whosit makes autotrans cars towable 4-down. I am pretty sure it could be done to a Miata as well.

Then there is the report on one of the forums that I read of a sighting of a small rear drive with the rear wheels on the dolly and the front on the ground....

Speaking of which and as a refugee from the Detroit engineering labs, there are more than a few manual trans cars that cannot be towed (long, fast, hard) with the drive wheels on the ground. This is simply because the gearbox has a lube path that passes lube up the geartrain. It is all run by the rotation of the prop shaft. If you talk to the people that designed these things, you would know it was an art.

Matt

[fj12ryder]

I dunno, it was what recalled, no guarantee as to the correctness, that's why I said IIRC. Because I could absolutely wrong. It's been some time back, that is why I hedged.

It seemed like there was a pressure fed supply to the higher gears, and it was driven off the input from the engine. No engine drive meant no spinning pump.

But like I said several years back and not positive about this. Could be a faulty memory, it's happened before.

[theoldwizard1]

fj12ryder wrote:
I once checked on the Miata for towing, and IIRC, the six speed gearbox uses pressurized oil in the gearbox, so I'd do some serious checking before I towed it.

Where does the pressure come from ? Not the engine.

[Desert_Captain]

Thanks for the timely replies. I know a lot of folks tow them but as noted above the towability is probably contingent upon the model year and trans. When I called Mazda they said their owners manual was a one size fits all publication. The prohibition therein on towing was referring to the models with an auto trans though it did not so state.

Guess I will give up on this one... too bad it was a fun little car to drive and would tow like a dream being so sleek, low and light.

Thanks again.

:C

[bgum]

Owners manual says no. Miata forum says yes from several people with direct experience. It differs with 5 or 6 speed and year of manufacturing. Some suggest putting it in or on trailer.