Hey

Saw this funky trailer..........Though I might be able to tow this with my 85 gsl-se..........Paint it to match.....
With matching SE rims.......

Would it work? Can you buy a hitch for it?

http://www.desertteardrops.com/window.html

What do you think..........?

 

I wouldn't try to pull ANYTHING with my SA, let alone a camper trailer. Look at it this way, the 1st gen is rated for a load of 400 pounds or thereabouts.

So basically, two passengers. Certainly not a trailer.

 

I'm building a trailer to carry my autoX tires. It will be light, granted, but it's still a trailer.

 

Not only do our rotaries lack torque required for towing, but as Matt pointed out total capacity is between 400-450 lbs depending on model. YOu could hitch up a trailer, but between you, the wife, and the trailer you're putting a lot of stress on a low torque engine in a light monocoque chassis.

 

Anyone know how much a REPU can tow?

Talked to several guys who tow their GT-3 Rx-3 racecars with REPU. One REPU was even bone stock! 4.62 gearing helps alot there and much stronger ladder frame.

I would not tow a camper with 1st gen. Get a truck so you won't have to worry about it. U-Haul rents full size trucks that can tow at very good prices.

 

Bed payload capacity is 1400LBS, but I'm not sure about towing capacity. I know it's close to what a V6 powered truck can do. Much better than a 4 cyl model.

 

From U-Hauls web page:

Step 1: Find the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
re-commended Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). This is found on a label
inside the driver door.
Answer _____ pounds
Step 2: Subtract the curb weight of your tow
vehicle from the answer in Step 1.
Contact your U-Haul Representative for
help in finding the curb weight of your tow
vehicle.
Answer _____ pounds
Step 3: Subtract 250 pounds from the answer in
Step 2 if your trailer has 2 tires. Subtract
400 pounds from the answer in Step 2 if
your trailer has 4 tires.
Answer _____ pounds


It even says if your trailer has brakes, you can tow up to 80% of the tow vehicles curb weight.

While the frame on a 7 isn't all that sturdy for towing, the SE motor pulls pretty well, has good brakes, etc.

It also depends if you plan on towing through the alps, or through the iowa... I cant't see that teardrop weighing all that much...

 

Seriously dude, PLEASE don't deface these wonderful rotary beasts by hauling a trailer with it.

 

Hey

Trailer weights about 580 lbs.........Just me and my son........After I park it I have my 7 free to play with........

I was thinking of having the trailer look like my seven.......If I had a set of gsl-se rims on it I could use my spare if the trailer got a flat.....I have a V6 Ranger but that little trailer would not look right behind it.........

I promise not to deface my 7.........

 

Well Blake Qualley(www.rotaryengineillustrated.com) made a trailer out of the rear half of an FB for his GRM 2003 racer. He towed across country and back with no torubles as I recall reading.

 

You could tow a trailer with a FB and be allright for about a few miles, but that much weight is gonna make the engine heat up, plus the breaks and the clutch will take a lot of abuse as well. If you really need that trailer get a cheap pickup or something.

 

Don't listen to these guys (except Rx7carl). FBs can make very capable tow rigs, as I proved by driving my GRM Challenge Car from Portland, Oregon to Gainesville, Florida and back, pulling an overloaded back-half of an RX-7 trailer. And this was a peripheral port 13B-powered 83 GS with a puck clutch! Towed great and I even got 15-17 mpg, even with that big FB hood (the front of the trailer) sitting upright behind the car -- without it, I got 19.5 mpg. This was with a 4.88 rear end gear, which helps a lot in the towing department.

The site is not updated, but you can see some of the build-up photos at: RX-Sevenandahalf.com

Here is a more current picture:


--
Blake Qualley

 

Great

What is the weight of your trailer?
Where did you get the hitch?
Does the trailer have its own breaks?

Thanks

Jim

 

I pulled this homemade trailer from Fort Worth, TX to Los Angeles, CA and back to Abilene, TX. Didn't even know it was behind me. Just cruised right on down the road...


Your problem may be in finding a suitable hitch. Mine was installed by U-Haul many, many moons ago - and it was special order even then.

I looked at the link for your teardrop trailer and my concerns are mostly with height and wind drag. I put a cartop carrier on the roof of my '82 (don't ever do that) and not only did it dent my roof - it really slowed me down on the highway. Too much wind drag.

Hope I was of some help...

 

love that red, zookeeper

 

I've towed Jet Skis on a dual Ski trailer for years with my old FB's. I could barely tell it was there.

You'll be fine.

 

Empty, it's pretty light, but I had probably 500 lbs of crap in there, including a big floor jack, jackstands, spare tire, two drag slicks on steel rims, four road racing tires on heavy '79 wheels, 3 five gallon fuel container, a heavy rolling tool box, electrical kit, diff pumpkin, spare drive shaft, etc. Plus the trailer's fuel tank was full -- I had a dry break refueling system to transfer fuel to the race car's fuel cell, for 30 gallons of total fuel capacity (plus the extra 15 in the containers, inside). The trailer sat about three inches lower when loaded than when empty, and I blew out the shocks (bouncy, bouncy!). The trailer has brakes -- the stock drums -- but they were not used. I had contemplated using a "surge brake" tongue to actuate the stock hydraulics, but that proved unnecessary. Even fully loaded, it's not that hard to stop. The only time on the trip where I felt otherwise was in evening LA traffic, just after getting on I-5 from I-10 (on the return trip), where traffic went from 80 mph to zero with no warning over a distance that would have made me concerned in even a car without a trailer... but I felt that trailer pushing me toward the car in front of me and it made me wonder if I'd stop in time. Fortunately, it did and I trust it more now that it is proven under fire. I will say that it was also a bit "nervous" going down steep hills at high speed when under brakes in the turns, as the trailer wanted to keep going straight. Simply slowing down to the speed limit took care of that problem, though.

Hitch? I made my own. It replaces the stock bumper and the bumper cover simply slips over it and gets strategically rivited in place.
--
Blake Qualley

 

The thing most of you guys didn't get is that weight capacity is for weight put on the suspension. Do you honestly think that if you had a 500lb trailer that it would be putting that weight on the car? The trailor has wheels too, and that's what almost all of it's weight is on, it is only relying on the car to pull it forward and stop it. As long as you have a good clutch and brakes I don't think you'll have any problems.

 

I just saw this the other day and Im seriously considering doing this with my 84 GS parts car, and I was thinking of using the fuel tank on the donor car as well (I didnt know you had, I thought I was being creative ), could you give me some more information as to how you hooked the two together? I noticed you said used a "dry break" coupling, I assume from the name this means if the hitch were to break away, the fuel wouldnt be allowed to flow out of either tube? How does the gas get from one tank to the other? Is there a switch that controls the stock pump on the trailer? I was thinking of just using the stock pump on the trailer to "top off" my tank in my car so that the Carter pump could feed my Weber... Sound good?

~T.J.

EDIT - I plan on using this on camping trips and what not across the state, so it would only be hauling minimal gear, but the space between the gas stations would be great, and with my car only getting 14 MPG even on the highway (theres gotta be something wrong with that...), I need all the extra fuel I can carry .

 

i use mine to tow a large enclosed go-kart trailer (bout 400kg+karts) regulary, gets a few strange looks thats for sure!!
but it has no probs, gets close to the bump stops but if the tralier has its weight balanced well there is no problem.

 

It all comes down to a matter of opinion, and I wouldn't do it. To me, it's not a matter of if the car can do it, but for how long until something breaks. Like anything, exceeding design limits creates more wear on the car. For example, shifting at 8000 rpm will not blow up your motor, but it does shorten its life significantly.

It all depends on what trade-offs you are willing to make, and the risks you're willing to take with your car.

 

Hey Blake, I didnt even know you were a member here! I wanted to go out to GIR but had to work. Maybe next year.

 

I think the problem your having is with your right foot, RMD

Why, thank you sir! I'm kinda partial to it my own self!

 

Hey

Just came back for U-Haul.........They still make RX7 trailer hitches.........They said that I can tow up to 1000 lbs no problem.........

Cost is 201.30 with tax and installation.......including electric hook up....

The part number is #217318

They said it would take about a week to get it.......

Now to look into that trailer some more..........

 

I posted in another thread about towing before:

*whips out his mazda owner's manual*

let's see.. page 4-4. This car is not recommended for towing purposes. (wording might be off, it's from memory, but check it yourselves)

who knows better than mazda? I wouldn't wanna put undue stress on my little Roxy... She's a sportscar, not a light pickup :P

Jon