Towing with your MS3?
 

Anyone here have a hitch on their car and tried it? Just bought a powered hang glider and need a way to regularly lug it around (probably btw 1000-2000 lbs with trailer). I know the car is more than capable, but would it put excessive wear on the engine and brakes?

Yes more wear on brakes and clutch and valvetrain.

The owners manual says not to tow with the car.
If you do it anyway, I'd put drag bags inside the rear springs.
The stock suspension is not going to take it well.

@jeopardy98; towed his motorcycle to the Dragon with his.

I towed my motorcycle on a Uhaul trailer from FL to Chicago when I moved back up here in 2010.

It does put a bit more stress on the rear dampers (as well as the drive/powertrains, as previsously noted), but it isn't going to destroy the car or anything if you tow a light load occasionally and use common sense with regard to towing things (don't lug the engine in high gear, don't go WOT all the time getting up to speed, etc.)...

Thanks for the feedback guys, yea it would be to tow either my motorcycle or powered hang glider. I think I researched one of those motorcycle racks that go on the back once, but I don't think the few hitches they make for a MS3 could handle the tongue weight so it would have to be a small trailer for occasional use. Hmm maybe just getting an old beater Jeep would be a better idea.

Nliitend what kind of hitch did you use?

I have a Curt Manufacturing Class 1 setup on my car.

Good stuff I'll look it up, thanks

Thing is, the US manual says not to tow with it, but the Australian Speed3 (I'm assuming it's the same farking car), well, you can buy a tow hitch from the dealer. I think Mazda covered their ass from legal liability in the US because we Americans have no idea how to drive a car properly, much less with a trailer stuck to the ass.

Here you go, a "tow bar kit" for a Mazda 3 in Australia. This is for a new 3, but the same applies to all previous 3s in Australia. I did a bit of research when I first bought my 2010 Speed 3 back in late 2009.

Yeah my gen 2 mps the factory fitted tow bar and ive never used it thw owner manuel said nothing more the 900kg so i didnt want to try it