How to Make Mazda Miata Flat Towable

by LEW
(VENICE, FL. USA)

I have a 1999 Mazda Miata with a manual 5 speed transmission that I want to make flat towable behind my Motorhome. The owner’s manual states that I have to have the rear wheels off the pavement. How can I make this vehicle flat towable?

ANSWER: Greetings Lew thanks for submitting your question on our Ask An RV Question Page.

I am afraid that I am not going to be of much help on this. As your Mazda Owner's Manual states towing your year Mazda Miata 4 wheels down will damage its transmission. They advise the only safe way to tow it is by putting the rear wheels on a Tow Dolly.

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I am opening up this question to our visitors to see if any of them have a 99 Miata that they have modified to allow it to be towed 4 wheels down without causing transmission damage.

Sorry I could not be of more help.

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Comments for How to Make Mazda Miata Flat Towable

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Towing a Miata std tranny model.
by: AnIvanonymous

I have been a mechanic specializing on foreign cars since 1960. Before I go any further let me say that if your towed is a simple front wheel drive vehicle you are lucky! Your rear wheel are free wheeling and won't be a problem as long as you don't apply the hand brake! Simply drive the front wheels up onto a tow dolly and strap them to the dolly deck.
Unless they have radically changed the way that std trannies work you should not tow rear wheel drive cars with the rear wheels on the ground.
It is because the majority of standard trannies lube the gear by oil that is splashed around by the spinning cluster gear in the bottom of the gear box. This only occurs when the engine is running! The real danger is that the rear bearing on the output shaft doesn't get lubed when you tow the vehicle unless the engine is running. The rear wheels being on the ground will spin the drive shaft overheating the output shaft bearing. The other gears will be OK because they will not be turning when the engine is off.
I have heard of some people who pull over every couple of hundred miles to start up the towed engine and let it run for a while, this will lube the output shaft and should do the trick, but no guarantee. The only really safe ways are to get the rear wheels off the ground and onto a dolly (car facing backwards); disconnect the driveshaft;
or put the whole car on a trailer.
If you decide to tow the car backwards you must unlock the steering and strap the steering wheel so that it can't turn. My tow truck driving friend uses the seat belt for short journeys, but I plan on fastening "D rings" to the drivers seat anchor bolts and using ratchet straps. I plan on disconnecting the towed car's battery and using magnetic towing lights like the tow trucks do.
There are certain vehicle that can be safely flat towed (you can Google up a list), but I honestly don't think that the Miata is one of them - not sure about an automatic tranny model. I have to believe that mazda should know what they are talking about when they say :No". Hope this helps you. Ivan (2003 NB)

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Mazda miata 1999
by: Anonyluismous

What I do disconect the drive shaft four nuts only. I know is a pain for sure no transmission damage

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Towing 1990 Miata
by: Spectre

We have a 1990 Miata, with a 4 cylinder 5 speed manual transmission. It has a Roadmaster tow bar that attaches to the base plates. To tow it I only have to turn the key on then off and not pull the key out of the ignition but leave it in the office position. This prevents the locking of the ssteering wheel. If you pull the key out of the ignition the steering wheel will lock. I used hard eelectrical conduit ( grey) and ran it under the fframe securing it with tie wraps. I pulled the wiring to a magnetic mount taillight set through the conduit then it connects to a 4 way plug using a 7 pin to 4 way flat adapter on the motorhome plug. I place the magnet mount taillight on the luggage carrier on the trunk of the Miata.

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How to flat tow a Miata A/T
by: Anonymous

Well, sure a mystery why some folks have trouble with their Miata after towing. I have had three Miatas: 2 5sp.,1 Auto. and they truly are a very well build an automobile. I have built two towbar brackets....so easy to do. I used Harbor Freight tow bars which work just fine.

I was considering the use of a 12V pump mounted in the tranny cooler line to keep transmission fluid continuously flowing through the radiator, making sure flow direction is correct. I did not do it since my sweetie moved away with her Little M A/T. Yet I see no reason why that would not do the job. It would necessary to test it for assurance.......for your future run 1000 miles from home.

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No Problem So Far w/4 Down
by: Miata Man

We have towed our 2006 6-speed behind our RV, four wheels down, for years without problem. Battery disconnected, key turned on, in neutral.

When we reach our destination, we drive the car HARD and I have detected NO gearbox issues, noises, or vibration. Perhaps someday something will fail, but for now it continues to be a bullet-proof little car.

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Miata flat tow
by: Jerry

Add a drive shaft disconnect from Remco and you should be good to go.

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Hauling 2005 mx5 /6 speed
by: jdybutler@gmail.com

Why not tow backward with tow dolly.

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Towing Miata mx5 four down
by: Anonymous

So I tried towing my 5 speed Miata, I used synthetic and blew up the tranny after 500 miles. I put an adaptor to overfill the tranny and that used all the power. I did an autopsy on the old tranny and discovered the only- I repeat only way to tow it was with the engine in the Miata idling while it was being towed.
Good thing was a good low mile replacement tranny was $270 at a wrecking yard in Sacramento and a transmission shop charged $300 for the install.
What happens is the syncro gears (1st and rev) destroyed with no lube that high in the transmission. With the engine idling the gears low and midway up the transmission also lube the top gears which turn the output shaft.

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towing an mx 5 miata
by: Anonymous

I have a 32 foot RV with a towing dolly. I see here that most have had no issues flat towing (all 4 wheels down) their Miata. Why then would Miata say not to do it? Just curious.... thanks!

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Just info
by: Anonymous

I know someone who has towed his 1991 Miata approximately 50,000 miles & still going no issues. He over filled the standard trans with a Lucas oil type additive, he starts the car every time they fuel up the motor home to circulate the oil.

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Flat Towing my 2000 Miata
by: Gary_K

I just return from a 10,000 mile trip through the NorthWest and towed my 2000 Miata with no problems what so ever. It has a 5 speed manual transmission. I simply put it in neutral with the key in the ignition. I also have an RVi2 brake setup in the Miata. No problems and no milage logged on the towed. I've owned this car for 15 yrs... and this is my second year of towing it behind my motorhome. I can't see any negative results and she still runs like a new car. I hope this helps someone else who's considering towing a Miata.

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Mazda Miata flat tow
by: Popparod

Since rennenmetal is closing down and no longer selling parts for this tow package, I may have an alternative.

Remove the 3 bolts that attach the baby teeth to the frame and use the baby teeth as a pattern to fabricate a bracket of 1/2 " thick steel with an extension and bolt them back on in place of the baby teeth. Attach a crossbar to both baby teeth replacement brackets and you have a complete tow package. That is all the package consisted of when I purchased mine from rennenmetal.

To clarify, my Miata that I towed all over the country with nary a problem was a stick shift 5 speed . I would not recommend towing an automatic 4 wheels down without removing or disconnecting the driveshaft.

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towing miata
by: donnie

arod,
what can you tell me about the piece I need to connect to my Miata to tow it?
can you do it in neutral?
do you tow it from the front?
what keeps the front wheels from turning?

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Miata Towing
by: Anonymous

I've been towing my 90 V8 Miata for years to tracks all over the north east. I've also been towing my 93 Spec Miata track car all over the north east. Both cars are on a dolly front wheels up. Have had zero problems with either car. The v8 actually has a Ford drive train(engine, trans, rear). No prep other then making sure the car is secured on the dolly.

But, I recently bought a 99 automatic Miata as a project car for my wife. I towed this 99 same as my other Miata's with rear wheels down & in neutral. Tow was appox: 125 miles. When I got it home I had no reverse. I tried a few simple things but still no reverse. After the New Year I'll delve a little deeper and if I'm lucky it will be a simple fix. If not, I guess I'm looking at a trans replacement.

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Mazda Miata flat tow
by: Rod Powers

I have towed a 1996 Mazda miata all across the USA several times with all 4 on the ground with no problems whatsoever. I am towing with a 1999 Holiday Rambler 36 foot diesel pusher. I was told by the dealer and Mazda directly that it could not be done but I am living proof that it can be done.

The only real concern I had was to check the rear view camera Evey once in a while to see if it was still back there. Preparations to tow only included setting the ignition in accessory to release the steering wheel lock and putting the transmission in neutral. I did however change the transmission and rear end fluids to full synthetic. Even though I have since upgraded my toad to a jeep wrangler I still believe the Mazda Miata is the perfect tow vehicle.

I still have the towing apparatus that bolts directly to the front baby teeth. I can be reached at wvarod@Gmail.com for more information.

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miata towing
by: Anonymous

we have towed a 96 Miata for 7 years using a tow dolly for the front tires with the transmission in neutral. I never figured how to disconnect the speedometer so I have about 50,000 miles on it that weren't driven. but I have never had any problems with the transmission.

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automatic transmission
by: Anonymous

Has snyone successfully towed an automatic transmission? Saw the comment that toad put in synthetic transmission fluid, but did not state if he had a stardard or automatic.

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Flat Towing an MX5
by: Vince

I have been researching this subject and have been unable to get a good answer. I have a 2007 MX5 with auto trans that I want to tow, Mazda says No to flat towing but no real answers why. What makes the MX5 different than any other vehicle for towing?

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Perfect tow vehicle
by: Toad

I have towed my 1996 Miata all over the country. 4 wheels down and never a problem. The only precautions I have taken is to replace the trans and rear end grease at regular intervals with a synthetic. I can't count the number of times I have been approached by people and told. "Hey buddy, you can't do that it will ruin the transmission". I guess they know more than I do cause it sure has not ruined mine and I plan on towing it a whole lot more. I have to keep an eye on the rear camera to be sure it's still back there. It is the perfect tow vehicle by far.

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Successful Miata Towing
by: Anonymous

I've been towing a 2000 Miata flat for 12 years and over 50,000 miles with no problem. It has a 6 speed manual transmission. Unlock the steering wheel, turn the key off, but leave the key in so the steering will remain unlocked. Make sure the transmission is in neutral and the parking brake is off.

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Flat towing a Mazda Miata
by: Jim

Over the past 3 years I have flat towed my 2003 Miata nearly 30,000 miles. I use a RENNENMETAL tow bracket and a Roadmaster tow bar. The Miata has a 5 speed standard transmission. I put it in neutral, turn the key off, and leave the key in the ignition switch. That prevents the steering wheel fron locking. That's all their is to it. Sometmes I stop every couple hours to start the engine, release the clutch and spin the gears a moment. Sometimes I don't. It doesn't seem to matter. The only problem I've experienced is that it occasionally gets awfully dirty. When that happens, I wash it.

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