Towing an Mx-3 w/U-Haul Dolly (Pics)

[Nd4SpdSe]

Well I've gotten the Xterra a few months ago, and one of the reasons was to tow the Mx-3. I wanted a manual, but with that comes a lesser towing capacity of 3500lbs rather than 5000lbs. ""In the case of Xterra we rate all M/T's at 3,500 lb [...] as this is the heat load the driveline can handle on a sustained basis and, therefore, we will permit this under the terms of our warranty." I wouldn't be surprised that it could handle more with someone who knows how to a manual transmission and that number is just to be safe to avoid excessive warranty repairs and sue-happy people, but I was to use that as a guideline anyway. I've been looking around a bit for flat bed trailers, I can't find much locally. One guy who builds them estimates his trailer weighs 1800lbs! It's a pretty big trailer designed for stock cars. I've seen aluminum trailers with 1300lbs weight, but they're not cheap. I could of sworn i saw regular steel trailers that weigh around 1000lbs, I don't need something huge.

I've been curious about tow bars and tow dollies. Since the Mx-3 is manual, it should be no problem with tow bars, but I think there's issue where the vehicle needs to be able to brake since it weighs more than 40% of my truck's weight. I have no idea if I need to worry about brakes. There's also the tow dolly option. It seems Mooneggs has used one. I was wondering if there's an issue with dollies and lowered cars. By no means is mine slammed, but it is lowered.

If anyone has any insight on towing an Mx-3 with wheels down it would be greatly appreciated.

[mitmaks]

id just get tow dolly for front axle... you should be able to haul it that way. My buddy towed few ~4000lb cars like that with his Jimmy.

[fowljesse]

All I know is: You're right about being able to tow more than stated, and towing 4 down is the best, lightest way to go. You can go to an RV shop, and buy a kit that activates the MX-3 brakes, with yours. I have it on my RV, but don't need it. Unless you're going over grades, I would go for it, but I almost drowned myself jumping over a waterfall.....
You should be able to fit a tow bar under it, if it's not super low.

[Mooneggs]

I have used a tow dolly from UHAUL (stock 94 GS height and it was fine behind the uhaul truck) and most recently a full trailer from UHAUL (which I do NOT recommend for a lowered mx-3)... not sure about brakes and such...

[Nd4SpdSe]

Well I rented a U-Haul dolly to see if it'll work for the Mx-3 and if my truck can handle it ok.

I had to put planks of wood to raise the ramps and we put some thick cardboard to raise the divet where the wheels sit just in case, but it worked no problem. That's with H&R springs, 205/40/17 tires and the MazdaSpeed bumper

Sorry for the grainy pics, i forgot to put the ISO back to auto from using it on the weekend.














Stopped by home and got some larger pieces of wood. We had just used some scrap at my grandmothers garage. Worked really well but the bumper just brushed the ramps. Next time we'll cut them in half and stagger them, than should be perfect.

[Daninski]

I've towed two MX-3's with my friends dolly and it was a piece of cake. His dolly was home made so the front wheels didn't pivot. Turning was a little dicey in that if I tried to turn too sharp the torque would try to kick the as* end of my MPV around. I bought those magnetic tow lights, about $35 bucks. Worked great. I did run into a bit of trouble once off loading it. MX-3, no brakes + BBQ + shed = dented MX-3. I think I'll put that story in the Knob Post.