OK, finding it hard to find a relevant existing topic that was not locked...

Very well, I see a few S2000 owners are towing. We normally use the spousemobile for that. But, I have a new trailer ordered, 4x8 all-aluminum utility, 320lb., and wondered if in some circumstances I might want to use the S2000 (once I get a hitch). Has anyone measured their tongue weight and if so, what values and what impact on driving/control?

I'm figuring on only using it (a) ferrying the empty trailer (b) maybe some minor Home Depot-ing 2.5 miles back to the house (c) taking the trailer with 21.5' kayak on top, 77lb load weight, once I transfer the boat adapter from the old trailer, probably local trips only.

 

The manual says no towing ..... but I've towed cross country with no more tongue weight then I could lift ......

 

Get in contact with this guy: https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/user/6446-gomarlins3/

If memory serves, I seem to recall him posting that he has towed stuff using his S2000 (how else ya gonna get extra wheels/tires to a track day, right?) and has significant amounts of knowledge on the topic.

 

Send a PM to Conedodger as well. I know he has towed wheels and tires using a small tire trailer. He should be able to help.

 

You rang?

A2 is correct. I towed a tire trailer for 7 years behind my S to autocrosses from Massachusetts to Maryland to Indiana. My trailer, fully loaded, weighed 550 lbs. Proper tongue weight is approximately 10% of the loaded weight, in my case 55 lbs. I could barely tell that the trailer was there. You could easily put a 150 lb. load, evenly distributed, on your trailer and be fine.

 

click the picture/link to see my tire trailer in action. AP1 Chase race hitch.

Trailer weight unloaded is 240LBS. tires are about 140 lbs total. jack and accessories another 100 lbs. TOTAL loaded weight is just under 500lbs. I've towed it many miles with no issues. Its a snow bear canadian made trailer with swing arm suspension and tows like a dream. Tongue weight is 30 lbs.



hope this helps.

darcy

 

Great feedback! Thanks! Once the trailer arrives it's time to get out the bathroom scale (not that I'm using it for anything else ) & check the tongue weight. This occurs to me that unlike the old 1988 Nu-Way (think upgraded HF trailer), the axle is not at the midpoint of the trailer body, but somewhat further back... the distributor says this is by design. This got me thinking so I thought I'd better ask.

This will be occasional use only but a hitch means I'm not tied to one car only for towing - for instance the kayak. Plus our hitch-socket bike rack would then work on both cars.

 

This is good design. It forces some tongue weight even with an empty trailer.

 

I thought the car had a max load of 400lbs?

How does a play into this load factor?

 

That's what the distributor said. Anyway, if it gets a bit much, depending on what the load is, I can set the load further forward/back in the trailer to get the desired results.

Rob-2 points out the 400lb "limit", for that I'd equate tongue weight (not total trailer/load weight) with on-board payload in the car... so it needs to be a non-negative value but not squashing the rear of the car down.