As I mentioned in another thread, I’m looking to buy a new small car. I was also planning to buy a Sportsrig Microtrailer for it, so I can tow my velomobile.
However it has come to my attention that the cars I’ve been looking at - namely the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit - are both rated for towing capacity of zero; reportedly both manuals specifically “advise” against towing, and the Fit manual specifically says towing can void warranty.
There are companies that sell hitches for these vehicles. And I doubt a 150-lb lightweight trailer with an 80-lb load (a streamlined one at that) can stress the car enough to cause mechanical problems, or cause handling problems.
But what about other consequences? Is the dealer likely to take one look at the hitch and blame a transmission failure on it? And if I were to get into an accident while towing the trailer, would I held liable because I was exceeding the vehicle’s rated towing capacity can get me into a liability?
I don’t have a hitch on my MGB, but people towed those eight-foot ‘teardrop’ trailers with them in the '60s. I would suspect that a Yaris or Fit would have the power to tow such a lightweight trailer as you describe. But the MGB was nearly 13 feet long with a 7-1/2 foot wheelbase. Towing a trailer with a short-wheelbase car could very well cause handling difficulties.
end of discussion. Towing can void warranty. If you tow, you assume the risk.
While it might not, you could also hitch up a 3500 lb trailer to that same hitch which probably would cause problems.
Yes they could refuse warranty work based on the fact that you did not follow the instructions in the owner’s manual.
Could you be found liable? IANAL, but maybe, it would depend on a lot of things we don’t know.
Thanks Rick. I don’t think a hitch alone would cause a problem, as that is often used for a hitch-mounted bike rack - am I right? Though I suppose the presence of a hitch and light harness be enough to make them refuse warranty work…
I drive a '94 Mazda B3000, with a 5-speed. The owner’s manual says that with an automatic transmission, the maximum towing capacity is 4000 pounds but with a stick, it drops to 1500. I’ve driven standard transmissions for over 40 years, so I’m reasonably certain that with the Mazda, I could handle a 4000-pound trailer without burning up the clutch. We used to routinely pull an 1800-pound tent trailer, and I shudder to think of that engine pulling 4000 pounds. This is merely a long-winded way of saying that just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
I seem to recall a CHiPs episode where an MGB was towing TWO stacked Hobie Cats down some super steep hill in Malibu. I was thinking that Ponch actually stopped the car with his motorcycle, but upon googling, I see somehow the two hot chicks managed to stop the car. Ponch, of course, got a date out of it.
So, since it happened on a TV show, clearly you can tow a hell of a lot of weight behind an MGB.
A lot of this discussion is very hypothetical. You are correct that the hitch can be used for a bike rack which should not void any warranty.
I am often the guy that gets to make a warranty/customer pay decision at my dealership. While I know there are people out there that try to find a way not to warrant something, I look to makes sure if I warranty something I can justify it to the car maker. If I can find a way to legitimately warranty something I will.
If I were a Toyota service manager and you came in with extension mirrors strapped on your Yaris, a receiver hitch on the back, an electric trailer brake installed under the dash I would have to say no.
If on the other hand you came in with a bike rack installed in a receiver hitch I would say yes.
FTR the C30 has a towing capacity of 2,000 Lbs. If you decide on getting one, drop me a line, I can probably save you a few bucks.
