dont want to give up my miata - RV-Dreams Community Forum

MaryW · RV-Dreams Community Member

dont want to give up my miata

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Maybe some useful info:

www.everything-about-rving.com/how-to-make-mazda-miata-flat-towable.html

Not many vehicles that can't be toad, just a matter of $$ to make needed modifications.

MaryW · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you for the info, looks like my Miata can only be towed with a full trailer. Now I need to know how much of a pain is it to have a trailer when you stop places.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Practicality is an important consideration. You don't mention the alternative. You don't say how you plan to full time RV. You can't go very far off the beaten path with a Miata, that may not matter if that is not your chosen style of RVing.

MaryW · RV-Dreams Community Member

In terms of practicality, my husband is thinking about groceries and everyday stuff. This Miata is my every day vehicle and I do all kinds of stuff with it :) Our life style is not one of "off the beaten path" so I don't think that is one of his issues but he does feel that the trailer could be a problem as well as the car itself.

I thought I read on one of these posts about a trailer that folds up against the back of the MH when not in use but I can't find it now, lol. I will keep looking.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Even with some RV parks, it can be an issue if one has a car on a trailer, especially if the RV is relatively long. We worked in an RV park in Utah and even some RV's without trailers behind would have an issue with parking.

As was mentioned above, going out and about, especially if you happened to have guests, a two-seater would be impractical, forcing one to rent a larger vehicle for those occasions. Also, one might find themselves needing to "haul" something back to the RV that might not fit in a small car.

Terry

PrairieRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

How about driving the Miata when you relocate? I've heard of several couples who do that.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think that realistically you probably need to consider something else. While I would love a Miata…my buddy and I drove around a lot in old TR-4s back in the day…anyplace we've ever lived a convertible is only good to have the top down for relatively small number of days per year…most of the time it's either way too hot or way too cold for a convertible. Now that we're full timers…we are in convertible weather more often than when fixed in the S&B…but still not enough days to overcome theater problems with a 2 seat convertible…storage space, not good for getting down the dirt road to the hike, etc.

Unfortunately for me though…my wife wouldn't have a convertible…she says it blows her long hair around and tangles it and the wind causes ear problems for her…so no convertible for us.

We do have a sun/moon roof on our CX-5 that's going on 2 years old…I think we've had the roof open twice or maybe three times…again she complains about the wind.

We do travel driving both vehicles though…me with the truck/5ver and her in the Mazda.

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

"Now I need to know how much of a pain is it to have a trailer when you stop places."

That depends on where you camp. Some pull-thru sites will be long enough, some won't. Most government camps won't have pull-thru sites. Some camps will say you have three vehicles...RV, Miata and trailer...and charge extra. Don't forget gas stations will be more challenging also.

arcaguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've been through the thought process on a trailer vs. flat towing and came down on the side of flat towing. The problem with a trailer is it complicates your life. You have another vehicle, two more axles, four more tires and another license plate. You also have the issue of where to do you store it when you can't keep it at your camp site. Another thing is the hookup. With a towed vehicle you pull up behind your motor home, unfold the tow bar, hook it to the motor home and drive away. With a trailer they are harder to hook up (no collapsing tow bar arms), securing the car to the trailer entails crawling under the car every time you load the car, even in the rain. Just what I my thought process is. That said, I am not in a motor home yet but I won't be buying a trailer, I'll be flat towing my F150 with my motorcycle in the back. You might also want to check with Remco and Superior drive line about towing your vehicle, I'm sure it can be done but see what equipment you need, transmission pump, drive line disconnect etc. Good luck.

MaryW · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you all for your input. I will mull over all of this and maybe get a bigger towable convertible :)

Saltty · RV-Dreams Community Member

Mary I feel your pain...we had a 1977 MG midget which we towed in an enclosed trailer....That became a big issue with most places is what to do with the darn trailer.

We finally gave up and now flat tow a pickup.

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Miata won’t get you very many places off road. A toad should be able to take you everywhere 4 tires can go.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have seen vehicles towed with the rear wheels on the dolly. You can rent a UHaul dolly and find a big parking lot to test how the car tracks with the steering wheel unlocked on the Miata. Same rules as 4-flat towing, no backing up when attached. But even a dolly can be a headache at your destination. Not insurmountable, just be sure to ask the RV park if the site is long enough for the MH, car and dolly...some rv parks will also have storage area's for your dolly (or trailer).

And as I mentioned in my 1st post...there are alternatives if you want to flat tow. If the reason the Miata can't be flat towed is lubrication of the rear end or transmission, chances are you could find someone who sells lube pumps that could be added.