Hey there, Seattle geek chick reporting in :)

[jadine]

Hey guys,

After months of intermittent lurking I figured I'd finally join up

Currently still dreaming and looking for a teardrop, will probably get a usable secondhand trailer soon, but eventually want to design one more or less from scratch. I'm working on some ideas for improved aerodynamics, huge polycarbonate windows, and an integrated WiFi antenna.

I expect to use my partner's compact car as a primary tow vehicle, and I'd like to be able to tow with my Miata in a pinch- so weight is a major consideration, trying to keep it under 1000 lb loaded, absolute max around 1200.

I work in IT Ecommerce Operations for the world's largest online travel company, in beautiful Bellevue Washington - though I live across the lake in Seattle proper. A couple years ago I was tent camping every other weekend in season, but these days my job limits my time for that; a trailer will decrease my prep time at home and setup time on site, which will help.

Hope to talk to you all soon!
- Jen

[bobhenry]

ALL RIGHT

WHAT WE NEED AROUND HERE A GOOD LOOKIN REDHEAD WITH HUGE POLYCARBONATE WINDOWS.

"HERE'S LOOKIN AT YOU KID"



Oh yeah welcome !!

[Ivar the Red]

ALL RIGHT

WHAT WE NEED AROUND HERE A GOOD LOOKIN REDHEAD WITH HUGE POLYCARBONATE WINDOWS.

"HERE'S LOOKIN AT YOU KID"
Oh yeah welcome !!

????HELLO
Welcome Jen, have fun!!!

[Dean_A]

Welcome, and good luck with your build/purchase.

I wouldn't worry too much about aerodynamics. Some folks on this board who are a whole lot smarter than me say that the aerodynamics don't matter a bit since it's being towed behind another vehicle. Weight management will probably be where you'll get the most bang for your buck.

[Mary K]

Hi Jen, Sorry about them knuckelheads above...boyz will be boys...

I am not to sure that a Miata could pull 1200lbs..?? Maybe one of the "Good" boys will chime in on this.

Good luck on the design and build. Keep us posted with lots of pictures of your build when you start.


ohhhh, looky what I just found ....

Setup properly, I think a 1000 pound trailer could be done safely

The Miata has plenty of power to pull it . . . . and plenty of brakes to stop it but the realy 'problem' with towing using a Miata is tongue weight - The Miata can't deal with much of it without throwing the handling of the car off badly and that could make stopping and maneuvering unsafe, especially on wet roads

Set up correctly, a 1,000 pound trailer should have about 100 to 120 pounds resting on the hitch ball and that's 'doable' even in a Miata. I have a small commercially made teardrop camper which weighs about 650 pounds as it comes from the factory, so even loaded as I would use it there will be less than 1,000 pounds back there

I didn't buy it specifically for the Miata (my Protege 5 isn't supposed to tow anything either ) though I may use it with the Miata one day - I've seen Honda Goldwings towing these things :rolleyes:

Some information on the trailers is here

As you can see, it's a 660 pound trailer with 60 pounds of tongue weight - No problem for a Miata

Don

Posted here http://forum.miata.net/vb/printthread.php?t=271287


So, just try to keep the tongue weight down, (no battery up front) and you should be okay.


I hope this helps.


Mk

[Gage]

<snip>
I am not to sure that a Miata could pull 1200lbs..?? Maybe one of the "Good" boys will chime in on this.

<snip>
Mk

I guess that leaves me out. But, just the same, I would try and build around 850 lbs max. 1000 is ok but nothing over. Just the way I see it, and welcome to the adult play ground.

[caseydog]

Welcome Jen.

I've owned two Miatas. I also have a TD that weighs in at around 800 pounds -- easily under 1,000 pounds fully loaded with gear.

If your Miata has a manual transmission, as most do, you can tow pretty well with one. There are several members who do, plus a few that pull with Mini Coopers.

On any small car with an automatic, you should have a transmission cooler installed -- they don't cost much, but can save you from trashing a tranny.

Many of us moved from tent camping to Teardrops. I think you'll like it.

CD

[Mary K]

<snip>
I am not to sure that a Miata could pull 1200lbs..?? Maybe one of the "Good" boys will chime in on this.

<snip>
Mk

I guess that leaves me out. But, just the same, I would try and build around 850 lbs max. 1000 is ok but nothing over. Just the way I see it, and welcome to the adult play ground.

BUT, You would never talk about about a ladies huge polycarbonate windows. Your are always a gentleman with the ladies.


Mk

[mikeschn]

Hi Jen,

Welcome to the forum.

Good luck with your polycarbonate... er I mean your build!

Regarding the weight, I would shoot for under 1000 pounds loaded if you want to pull with the Miata. I know it can be done. The Escape hatch was only 800 pounds, empty.

Have fun!

Mike...

[swissarmygirl]

Hello and welcome. Always nice to see more gals around here!

[jadine]

I don't expect to tow it regularly with the Miata, I just want it to be possible if I need to sometime. But I do expect the regular tow vehicle to be a small car with a crappy, I mean fuel-efficient engine, so I think 1000-1200 lbs loaded is a reasonable weight there. Even a Ford Escort is officially rated to tow 1000 lbs.

If I were towing it more with the Miata, I'd want to go ultralight and aim for around 800 lbs loaded. It should be feasible if I used lighter (and more expensive) materials, like even more polycarbonate.


The aerodynamics can actually make a difference on a trailer, just like the shape of the rear of your car makes a big difference in its aerodynamics. If the tow vehicle has a high coefficient of drag and a large frontal area, like most trucks, you may not see a noticeable effect. But if it's a small car, with less drag and a smaller cross section, it can make a difference.

- Jen

[Miriam C.]

to the playground Jen. (and they wonder why I tell folks to keep the bubble oil level.) Not all of us are off bubble but---well maybe most of us. See we just need some to level it out.

Enjoy and questions are jumped on anxiously---sometimes with correct answers.

[green_skinnydipper]

The aerodynamics can actually make a difference on a trailer, just like the shape of the rear of your car makes a big difference in its aerodynamics. If the tow vehicle has a high coefficient of drag and a large frontal area, like most trucks, you may not see a noticeable effect. But if it's a small car, with less drag and a smaller cross section, it can make a difference.

"I used to crash into her just so I could spoke to her."

[PaulC]

Welcome Jen. I'm thinking you should talk to our resident engineer, Andrew, before you put too much concern on the aerodynamics of a trailer that is always travelling in the dirty air behind the tow vehicle.
Having said that, enjoy your time here and don't get hung up on design criteria, it's all been done before. Just enjoy your build and, as Aunti says, Git R Done .
Cheers
Paul

[oklahomajewel]

Welcome Jen.... nice to see another female that will take the plunge and impress everyone with her building skills and her polycarbonate ..... uh,,,,, hahaha

Not only do we have members towing with Miata's (rmcelroy) and Mini's (Catoosagrani and ?) .....

but others tow with smaller 4 cyl vehicles... Like me, I've towed the Jewel Box with my 4 cyl Honda Accord (2001 automatic now 150k miles) but I'm glad I did go ahead and add a cooler like Caseydog suggested because a new tranny would cost more than my Jewel Box !

Keep weight in mind when thinking of A/C, battery, microwave, ... what might you be carrying too ... chairs, ice chest, ez up....

Have fun !!! You will LOVE LOVE LOVE teardrop camping...

Julie