*Angrily shakes fist at Mazda*

"The Ghost of Oppo" (gohstoklasa) 06/19/2020 at 12:11 • Filed to: None

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I am in the market for a canoe and since I don’t plan on keeping my Mazda 3 for much longer I do not want to inves t in a roof rack. Luckily I have discovered these !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that allow you to strap a canoe down without a rack. The catch is you need tie downs to keep it secure. That s hould be no problem right? WRONG!

For some reason Mazda in their infinite wisdom thinks it’s a good idea to squeeze an extra $30 out of their buyers for a tow hook/tie down by not including one with the standard tool kit . There is a space for it in the tool tray and it is shown in the owner’s manual * . Yep, a big fat asterisk citing “Some models”. Apparently the Touring S(second highest trim for 2015) was not worthy of a tie down, but I did get the Flat tire belt, which according to the owner’s manual is for securing a flat tire in the trunk(eye roll).

I called my dad who has a 2016 CX-5 but he doesn’t have one either, and his is a higher trim level as well.

So with Mazda being so stingy about providing you a eyelet welded to a screw, you’d think “surely you must be able to pick one up at your local dealer, right? ”. Again you’d be wrong. I called the parts department and not only do they not stock them, the guy said he can see the inventory for the other three local dealers and none of them stock them either. GTFO Mazda.

But back to the canoe, I may try and pick it up anyways. It’s a short solo canoe, about 11'9", and none of the roads on my route have a speed limit above 45, so I am hoping two tie downs around the roof and one to my tow hitch will be enough. We shall see.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > The Ghost of Oppo 06/19/2020 at 12:17

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Is this just one of those eye things you screw in? If so I get the impression they’re fairly universal so a local parts shop might have one. If not that, maybe a local junk yard?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > The Ghost of Oppo 06/19/2020 at 12:18

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My 2006 mazda has the screw in tow hook in the trunk. It’s in the molded compartment and yes, I do use it to tie down the front of the canoe. My car is a 2.0 touring sedan.

The Ghost of Oppo > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 06/19/2020 at 12:20

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They aren’t that universal because my wife’s Tuscon has one, but it’s a larger diameter screw and neither O’Reilly’s or Advanced carry any brand specific tie downs, just generic ones you’d bolt on a pickup bed. Also the length is important. There is a good 5+ inches of space between the hole in the frame and the front of the bumper.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > The Ghost of Oppo 06/19/2020 at 12:21

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Suck!

The Ghost of Oppo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 06/19/2020 at 12:23

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I actually searched “canoe” on here last night and found a post of yours from a few years back.  

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > The Ghost of Oppo 06/19/2020 at 12:25

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Time to get the boat down and start to do some boating now. I have one paddle board, would like to get another so the kids aren’t fighting over it. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > The Ghost of Oppo 06/19/2020 at 12:27

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A set of EZ loops should fix you right up.

Get the ones with the “handle” to close into the hood or hatch, or get the ones with eyelets to screw into place with a body bolt.

punkgoose17 > The Ghost of Oppo 06/19/2020 at 12:30

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It sounds like something to order for future use. Also, yes they should be standard.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/19/2020 at 12:32

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Nice!

The Ghost of Oppo > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/19/2020 at 12:34

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Oh those are perfect. Cheaper than the tow hook and that will allow for even pressure when tied down as apposed to a single tie down to the  side  

shop-teacher > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/19/2020 at 12:46

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Nifty!

jminer > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/19/2020 at 13:13

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Those look amazing. I’ve always gone up to the frame under the front bumper but those look sweet. Thanks for sharing as I will order a pair.