Miata tire trailers

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678) 08/14/2017 at 15:07 • Filed to: None

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I am planning a cross country move and one of my options for transporting some stuff is to just build a tire trailer to tow behind my Miata. Of course the even easier option is to just sell my extra wheels/tires but I really like the set I have. So if I end up keeping them, the cost of shipping is about equivalent to buying a trailer. Since I planned on getting one eventually anyways, its kind of like its free versus wasted money on shipping.

So then I would just need a tow hitch:

https://www.flyinmiata.com/fm-lightweight-trailer-hitch-nb-ball-mount.html

And a trailer base to start with:

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Those add up to about $500 and then I could probably spend another $100 on wood or aluminum to frame the trailer and a box for storage at the front. For the trip, I would just fill the box with all of my tools so that should equal enough tongue weight. This would free up my trunk space for camping supplies and my luggage rack for a suitcase.

The only other things to add would be proper wiring for the lights, registration for the trailer, and a spare 12inch tire or two. No idea how these would effect me for tolls or border crossing depending on my route. Plus backing up is probably hard and twisty roads wont be nearly as fun. But the cost savings and the fact that I will be driving in touring mode anyways rather than corner carving every chance I get make it sound like a good idea.

Anyone else have experience with these harbor freight trailers or tire/small trailers in general?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 15:09

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Interested on the results of this. I’ve long wanted a trailer for my NB.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/14/2017 at 15:12

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It’s something I’m 100% gonna do once I get out to California anyways since I will have some space to store it. Although dealing with the mandatory 55mph speed limits while towing might change my mind...

But the tow hitch is useful either way since I definitely would just mount stuff from there anyways to skirt those rules. Actually, that might be the best solution anyways and just skip the trailer lol.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 15:20

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You’ll get hit for an extra axel for tolls. I made sure to park where I never had to back up when I had mine.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 15:25

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I’ve used a Harbor Freight trailer for autocrossing my MR2 for a few years now . No real complaints other than the shit paint and stock lights. HF sells an LED upgrade which works well.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 08/14/2017 at 15:26

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Yeah backing up with such a short tailer is SUPER hard. It just jacknifes with the slightest turn.

Pixel > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 15:37

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I have one of the little HF trailers, and have used it to haul a truly ridiculous amount of stuff . Some suggestions:

You *NEED* to repack the bearings with proper bearing grease before you use it, the lightweight grease in the bearings is only to keep them from rusting and is not intended for long-term use.

The incandescent lights they come with are crap, consider buying a set of their LED trailer lights at the same time and just assemble it with those.

Locktite everything, they bounce around enough there is a non-zero chance of rattling bolts loose.

Mine at least attracts morons when empty. TWICE I have been rear-ended by people behind me at a light who stopped fine, then when the light turned green forgot about the trailer they had stopped behind and rammed it. Trailer has a slight bend in the rear bracket, both cars destroyed the lower half of their front bumper covers.

I will say that for the money they are great little trailers though. Mine hasn’t gotten any use for a few years now since I have a pickup, but it was a trooper and did everything I asked of it without any problems aside from a slow leak in one tire(and me smashing the license bracket & tail lights by being stupid).

TrickJos > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 15:37

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I tow that trailer behind my Saturn. Backing up is a non-starter because it’s so small I can’t see it! I just do my best to always have a way to drive forward. But the trailer follows along nicely and can handle more load than I’m willing to tow with a 23 year old Saturn. It has paid for itself many times over in just a year of ownership. I just used it again on Sunday when I needed to rent a drain cleaner.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 08/14/2017 at 15:38

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Kinda hard to avoid never backing up lol. But yeah, its also easy to detatch the trailer and spin it around by hand I imagine.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig 08/14/2017 at 15:40

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I think my biggest concern is just the speed limit restrictions. There are many highways through the middle of nowhere where going 55 would be outright dangerously slow. I mean I guess it might not be strictly enforced since ive been passed by trucks going 80+ but it just seems quite inconvenient.

TrickJos > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig 08/14/2017 at 15:42

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The paint is awful on these. Planning to repaint mine and match it to the color of my new/used car, whenever that happens.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Pixel 08/14/2017 at 15:46

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Getting rear ended with one was a big concern of mine that I had. I was worried it would bend my frame or something. But yeah that sounds crazy how dumb people could be to do that. Everything else certainly makes sense, thanks for the advice.

TrickJos > Pixel 08/14/2017 at 15:46

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Oh geez, I’ve been worried about somebody hitting mine when it’s not loaded. Now I’m extra worried.

Transit > Pixel 08/14/2017 at 15:50

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I have the slightly larger “fold in half” version. I’ll second everything you said, and add that using some heat shrink electrical connectors everywhere you connect the harness is a good idea.

Glad to know I’m not the only one with morons ramming me at stoplights! Happened on the very first time I took it out of the driveway!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TrickJos 08/14/2017 at 15:51

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I still bet it has better paint than my Miata anyways, so it cant be that bad.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TrickJos 08/14/2017 at 15:51

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I still bet it has better paint than my Miata anyways, so it cant be that bad.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TrickJos 08/14/2017 at 15:52

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haha trailerception

TrickJos > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 16:01

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The paint on the Saturn is faded and peeling. So, the car and trailer match quite well. It only takes about a month or two of sun to seriously fade the paint on these trailers.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 16:04

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You might consider something like this as well:

https://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/trb/d/leonard-5-8-light-duty/6226429038.html

A bit more money, but more useful, especially with the ramp. The sides are already setup. Though it will add some weight.

One thing to note: If the tongue to axle distance is shorter than the wheelbase, backing up is a pain. If it’s longer, it’s a cinch.

I learned this because the vehicles I learned to drive were a Jeep Cherokee and long bed pickup. My first towing experiences were using a wood splitter that I basically couldn’t see, once I got used to that, the first time I tried to back up a two horse trailer with the Cherokee it was so freaking easy!

If you get that framed one, get a pair of PVC pipe lengths to put at the back corners, high enough that you can see from the back window.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TrickJos 08/14/2017 at 16:18

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Perfect, then it wont take long to catch up to my Mazda paint

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 08/14/2017 at 16:21

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I wonder what something like that weighs. The HF one is only 150 pounds which is like the weight of a passenger. I dont want to ever be towing more than 300-400 pounds or so total (probably way less since my wheels are light). Also, my goal is to fit the trailer sideways behind my car in a parking space or in a small storage unit. So smaller is better.

Pixel > TrickJos 08/14/2017 at 16:43

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Put sides on it, or a cargo box so it is visible over their hood when stopped behind you and you should be fine. I think the problem is they pull close enough at the light they can’t see it anymore and forget it is there.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 16:49

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Here’s a 4x6 with no ramp and a mesh floor that would likely be on par with the HF one once you put on a wood platform:

https://www.trailersplus.com/Virginia/Warrenton/4-Wide-Utility-Trailers/trailer/4YMBU0611HV055145

Empty weight on that is 250LBs, can carry 2000. The first one seems to be 500LBs empty.

jonny11quest > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/14/2017 at 16:53

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The guy with the MR2 picture up there used a couple orange whips/aerials/rods... whatever you want to call them. I would guess cheap driveway markers would work perfect.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 08/14/2017 at 16:59

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Hmm, doesnt seem half bad. Would be a good alternative to the chinese freight one.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > jonny11quest 08/14/2017 at 17:03

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I feel like those would be useful even on just the Miata without the trailer. Although my car would also end up looking like an RC car or something.

TrickJos > Pixel 08/14/2017 at 17:59

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That would definitely help.

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/15/2017 at 12:31

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I bought one of these trailers this year. Just used it for a 700+ mile round trip journey behind the Miata with success. A few notes:

I think the older versions came with incandescent bulbs, but mine came with LEDs. Essentially they just include in the box the same LED lighting kit they also sell separately. Use care running the wiring and you should be all set... I recommend adding heat shrink, grommets, and wire loom to keep exposed areas protected.

Splurge on the 12" wheel version, instead of the slightly cheaper 8" size. Bigger wheels mean less heat at highway speeds, and replacement 12" wheels are easier to find than the 8".

Get a spare tire/wheel and make sure you have a the tools to change it on the side of the road. Better safe than sorry.

Pack the bearings with a quality bearing grease on assembly. Don’t over tighten the bearings like I tried to do.

Despite the “max speed 55 mph” warnings, I found mine towed just fine at 75. It was actually smoother at 70 mph than 60 mph. Load the trailer for positive tongue weight.

Yes, it is a total bitch to back up, especially loaded. But it is so small the times you need to do this are almost non-existent. The trailer + Miata will almost fit in a full size parking space. If you do need to back up at your destination, it can be easier to unload and unhook the trailer and then push it into position by hand.

Don’t forget to get a trailer wire converter (< $20). The Miata has separate turn signals, brake lights, and running lights, and this has to get converted to a 4-wire system (unless you outfit the trailer with a different setup).

The Flyin’ Miata hitch is pretty great, though not cheap. I went for the horizontal receiver version, and bought a separate Hard Dog draw-bar. This way, I can use a bike rack or cargo tray in the future.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ateamfan42 08/15/2017 at 13:33

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That sounds totally doable. The big question will just be do I keep the wheels or not. I generally have an easy time selling Miata stuff so that should be the easiest way to go about it. I think I would get two spares just to be safe seeing as I am planning like 4000 plus miles lol. And I would be bringing ALL of my tools anyways so I would certainly be prepared for anything. I’ve also seen people that use trailer stands with a little wheel on it, I think I would do one of those if its easy enough. I also gotta figure out if its gonna cost a bunch more in tolls to deal with. I dont wanna get charged like $100 to cross into Canada just because of a trailer!

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 08/15/2017 at 13:37

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I think I would get two spares just to be safe seeing as I am planning like 4000 plus miles lol.

Not a bad idea if you have the space. The nice thing about the 12" wheels is just about any RV place or auto parts store will have replacements. (Tractor Supply, Home Depot, even Walmart can be good options too.)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ateamfan42 08/15/2017 at 13:50

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Ahh true, that makes sense. I think just one is fine then to save space. Its unlikely both would go flat at the same exact time. And really absolute worst case scenario I could drop off the trailer and head to the store and come back with the new tire.