Towing a go cart on a trailer behind a Miata

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I enjoy autocrossing and have a grandson who is 11. He has been greatly influenced by me, and is unusual in that he is a young man strongly interested in cars. I am pretty sure I can pick up a cart on the cheap, which hopefully would not turn out to be expensive. I think I have seen it done with little trailers for tires, but how would it be towing a cart? Would all be flatland California, not thinking about going to Stead with it.

LWJ · 02-03-2018, 07:12 AM

I read a post of a Miata that trailered track tires and gear. More weight than you are contemplating.

He had a detachable trailer hitch. I believe it unbolted from rear frame pieces.

Nutshell: it's doable.

scottmandue · 02-03-2018, 07:18 AM

I agree with LWJ, I didn't have a hitch on my Miata but a bunch of guys do haul a trailer to the track.

I presume you are not considering going over the El Cahon pass?

tevake · 02-03-2018, 07:39 AM

Sounds like s great thing to share with your grandson. Be careful, you may end up wanting a cart for yourself too.

Cheers Richard

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Dude, I am not even thinking about going to Reno. Everywhere I would go is not really over any big hills. Willows, Stockton, Patterson, Fresno, even Sonoma.

My daily is enough of a cart for me

scottmandue · 02-03-2018, 08:04 AM

Do you have a larger vehicle? A small trailer could hold a Miata and a cart.

LakeCleElum · 02-03-2018, 08:14 AM

In college, I towed my motocross bike to the races behind my MG Midget.....Very doable....

petrolhead611 · 02-03-2018, 09:08 AM

I regularly used to put a 100cc kart in the back of my GT6, rear wheels off, front end hanging out the tailgate: I was competing nearly every weekend.

ckelly78z · 02-03-2018, 10:00 AM

If you kept the whole outfit under 1000#, I don't see why any car couldn't handle towing it. The hitch should be removeable, and a nice little 4'x6' trailer would only weight about 250#....so 600-700# of cart, gear, parts, and tools wouldn't be a problem.

RKDinOKC · RKDinOKC's Garage

So...you gonna tow a Miata with another Miata?

DanielDudley · 02-03-2018, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKDinOKC

So...you gonna tow a Miata with another Miata?

If you ever have driven one, then you know a MazdaSpeed Miata is like an adolescent 928.

quicksix · quicksix's Garage

You probably know this, there is a cart track out at the SVRA at Prairie City.
Might be worth checking out.

Jim Richards · 02-03-2018, 11:01 AM

There are Class 1 hitches (tow up to 2000#) made for the Miata.

I saw this on the Internet

Bill Douglas · 02-03-2018, 12:08 PM

Manufactures (usually) state how much weight their cars can tow. I'm sure the car can tow a trailer with a cart and bits on it, but the brakes probably aren't up to it. The problem is if you are in an accident the other guys lawyer will sue you to hell and back.

masraum · 02-03-2018, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Manufactures (usually) state how much weight their cars can tow. I'm sure the car can tow a trailer with a cart and bits on it, but the brakes probably aren't up to it. The problem is if you are in an accident the other guys lawyer will sue you to hell and back.

The brakes on his car should be fine. It's a turbo-charged miata that you can drive on the track. It's got good brakes.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

What kind or cart are you thinking? One of the light weight street carts shouldn't be any problem nor should pulling some of the off road buggies. I used to pull two smaller four wheelers behind my Subaru impreza. If you look you can probably find the towing capacity of a Miata.

scottmandue · 02-03-2018, 01:33 PM

I know YOU wouldn't do this but when I was on miata.net some guy posted a picture of a gocart strapped to the trunk lid.

Nickshu · Nickshu's Garage

Lots of these at my local track. Wouldn't take much to modify for a go kart.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I used to tow a 15’ power boat behind my Dodge Daytona. As long as you attach to something solid / structural you’ll be fine. Pickup trucks are for the uninspired.

Bill Douglas · 02-03-2018, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Manufactures (usually) state how much weight their cars can tow. I'm sure the car can tow a trailer with a cart and bits on it, but the brakes probably aren't up to it. The problem is if you are in an accident the other guys lawyer will sue you to hell and back.

The manual says you can't tow more than 900lbs that's 400KG. Anything over that and you are breaking the law and will be in big trouble if you are in an accident.