Thinking of making a trailer

[Noisy]

I bought another MX5 for its turbo and a few of the other parts, was going to put it back to standard and sell but it was too much effort, so I've stripped it and selling off the parts, but left with a body shell, thinking of chopping the rear off and making a trailer out of it.

Anyone done a similar project?

I don't want to use the existing rear subframe as would like to make the boot section much deeper to make it more usable.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I know it's been done before - I've seen one at an OC rally. A bit of Googling might dig something up...

[jagracer]

Apparently it's illegal although I can't be arsed to check this out and I don't know who would prosecute or what you would be done for if it is illegal. Just do a bit of homework first.

[Mazdamender]

jagracer said:

Apparently it's illegal although I can't be arsed to check this out and I don't know who would prosecute or what you would be done for if it is illegal. Just do a bit of homework first.

Illegal to build a trailer and use it? or use an Mx/roadster to tow a trailer?
you've got my interest in this one for the right answer.

[Noisy]

I read that the mk2 doesn't have a towing weight from Mazda so shouldn't tow, think the Mk1 is ok though.

[Mazdamender]

Noisy said:

I read that the mk2 doesn't have a towing weight from Mazda so shouldn't tow, think the Mk1 is ok though.

You are correct sir
http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/17997.aspx?P...

[jagracer]

Mazdamender said:

jagracer said:

Apparently it's illegal although I can't be arsed to check this out and I don't know who would prosecute or what you would be done for if it is illegal. Just do a bit of homework first.

Illegal to build a trailer and use it? or use an Mx/roadster to tow a trailer?
you've got my interest in this one for the right answer.

Sorry, I meant illegal to cut a car down and convert to a trailer is what I read. However it's not illegal to make our own trailer so I don't see much difference tbh.

[Noisy]

jagracer said:

Mazdamender said:

jagracer said:

Apparently it's illegal although I can't be arsed to check this out and I don't know who would prosecute or what you would be done for if it is illegal. Just do a bit of homework first.

Illegal to build a trailer and use it? or use an Mx/roadster to tow a trailer?
you've got my interest in this one for the right answer.

Sorry, I meant illegal to cut a car down and convert to a trailer is what I read. However it's not illegal to make our own trailer so I don't see much difference tbh.

surely if a trailer complies with relevant rules and regs it shouldn't matter what its made of? would be interested to hear why it's not allowed. Will be speaking to the local trailer company to find out if there is anything special I should know. I believe in soon any trailer produced needs to have a test to check its roadworthy.

[Mazdamender]

jagracer said:

Mazdamender said:

jagracer said:

Apparently it's illegal although I can't be arsed to check this out and I don't know who would prosecute or what you would be done for if it is illegal. Just do a bit of homework first.

Illegal to build a trailer and use it? or use an Mx/roadster to tow a trailer?
you've got my interest in this one for the right answer.

Sorry, I meant illegal to cut a car down and convert to a trailer is what I read. However it's not illegal to make our own trailer so I don't see much difference tbh.

Totally agree ,I can not see a problem with it either,and lets face the law always kicks itself up the arse and very contradictive in itself.

[Mazdamender]

Noisy said:

jagracer said:

Mazdamender said:

jagracer said:

Apparently it's illegal although I can't be arsed to check this out and I don't know who would prosecute or what you would be done for if it is illegal. Just do a bit of homework first.

Illegal to build a trailer and use it? or use an Mx/roadster to tow a trailer?
you've got my interest in this one for the right answer.

Sorry, I meant illegal to cut a car down and convert to a trailer is what I read. However it's not illegal to make our own trailer so I don't see much difference tbh.

surely if a trailer complies with relevant rules and regs it shouldn't matter what its made of? would be interested to hear why it's not allowed. Will be speaking to the local trailer company to find out if there is anything special I should know. I believe in soon any trailer produced needs to have a test to check its roadworthy.

So more money out of your pocket,after someone sat around a table and thought of it to justify their highly paid job yet again, my god.

[Evangelion]

Here's one ...

[DavesBRG5]

Here`s another

[maser_spyder]

The Mini guys have been doing this for years with no issues, can't see it being a major problem.

You've got a perfectly good axle/base/structure, much better than a lot of standard trailers.

Shouldn't be too much of a major project either.

[vx220]

maser_spyder said:

The Mini guys have been doing this for years with no issues, can't see it being a major problem.

You've got a perfectly good axle/base/structure, much better than a lot of standard trailers.

Shouldn't be too much of a major project either.

ironically, it's the mini guys that have the trouble with the towing rules, as austin rover/british leyland/whoever stopped quoting a towing weight, despite previously quoting it! so technically illegal to tow using a mini after a certain year (although i'm too tired to check which year it was)

[maser_spyder]

vx220 said:

maser_spyder said:

The Mini guys have been doing this for years with no issues, can't see it being a major problem.

You've got a perfectly good axle/base/structure, much better than a lot of standard trailers.

Shouldn't be too much of a major project either.

ironically, it's the mini guys that have the trouble with the towing rules, as austin rover/british leyland/whoever stopped quoting a towing weight, despite previously quoting it! so technically illegal to tow using a mini after a certain year (although i'm too tired to check which year it was)

Didn't know that!

I'm more in to old minis anyway, so wouldn't affect me, but it does sound quite typical of Leyland/Rover/whoever. No wonder it all went down the pan.

As far as the actual trailer goes, if it's not rusty, road legal tyres, and no sharp edges, etc. I can't see that you'd have any issues with the BiB.

[MX-5 Lazza]

You can't pull a trailer with any UK MX5 of any age. They have never been given a towing weight.
Imports are different though, not sure what the rules are for them.

[maser_spyder]

MX-5 Lazza said:

You can't pull a trailer with any UK MX5 of any age. They have never been given a towing weight.
Imports are different though, not sure what the rules are for them.

I'm not sure if the OP actually wanted to use an MX5 to tow though.

He asked about building a trailer from the arse end of a scrapped '5.

To tow with what, we don't know, but can safely assume it's with another vehicle.

[maser_spyder]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

maser_spyder said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

You can't pull a trailer with any UK MX5 of any age. They have never been given a towing weight.
Imports are different though, not sure what the rules are for them.

I'm not sure if the OP actually wanted to use an MX5 to tow though.

He asked about building a trailer from the arse end of a scrapped '5.

To tow with what, we don't know, but can safely assume it's with another vehicle.

I passed a Mariner Blue MX5 MK1 today on the M1 northbound today towing a trailer of ste.

Must have been a farmer?

[Mazdamender]

MX-5 Lazza said:

You can't pull a trailer with any UK MX5 of any age. They have never been given a towing weight.
Imports are different though, not sure what the rules are for them.

I think that you will find that you can,a towing weight was issued for the Mk 1(check the hand book) only and not the Mk 2 and so on,there is a gray area with imports,in that,by law it needs to be put onto the V5 form to do so.
I have looked into this, has i use mine to tow every now and then a trailer to the shows with goodies.
But you must let the insurance Co know that you have a tow bar/hitch bar fitted.
http://www.mx5ocforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=58926&...

Edited by Mazdamender on Thursday 4th November 07:28

Edited by Mazdamender on Thursday 4th November 07:33