Talking to the dealer and others everyone is saying something different. Like 4 cylinder cars are not supposed to TOW things. But then I bring up what is the difference in carrying 500lbs and no one can answer

Any difference? Thinking about getting a smaller tire trailer to lug my autocross stuff instead of messing up my interior.

 

[Center of Momentum] and your total [Inertial Frame] are completely different in the two scenarios. Towing leaves 500 pounds behind you, farthest away from the drivewheels and supporting chassis and suspension. Carrying 500 pounds, on the other hand, while probably dangerous, puts the load over your suspension and allows your car to react much more like it would normally.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that more surface area on the ground necessitates more torque to move the entire kit-and-kaboodle either.

 

I tow my Sea-Doo with my 00 Si every once in a while. I haven't had any problems yet.
Also, a guy in my local autocross has a trailer with his tools and tires that he tows behind his 99 Si.

The hitch attaches to the frame of the car so the only thing I see it messing up would be the transmission and it may wear out the rear shocks faster but 500 pounds really isn't very much. Most cars(even 4 cylinder) can supposedly tow 1000 pounds without any problem.

 

RTFM? Towing should be covered in there. (Or sometimes on the door frame on the drivers side.)

--kC

 

I'm not sure if a Civic is rated to tow at all (I seem to recall my 92 CX was not).

But, you can probably buy a hitch for it. I don't imagine a tire trailer will hurt anything. But I wouldn't plan on ever towing anything more than that.

With a tire trailer, the tongue weight is next to nothing, so your suspension shouldn't be an issue - the problems are the frame/unibody (will it stretch/twist) and the drivetrain (can your clutch handle the extra weight - probably it can).

 

I had a friend who towed a pair of jetskis behind his '92ish Civic Si. Worked fine for him. I think it's unlikely you'd have a problem with a small tiretrailer. Just don't expect the car to pull well if you stack lead on the trailer.

 

I've towed a tyre trailer (still towing actually) on my 96 GSR for a total of 4 years w/o issue. The trailer, with the box I built on it, tyres, drink cooler, jack, jack stands, few small parts, tent, chair weights approximately 600 lbs.

Both cars have no problem on the flats, only slight slowdown on the hills. The trailer is stable at 70-75mph, as I balance the load (very important). One recommendation is to get the larger 12" wheels for trailer. Mine are smaller and probably not ment to go that fast.

While the hitch is rated 2000 lbs, I think the car is rated for 1000 lbs towing.

 

ive seen people towing seadoos and small bnoats with crx's. so im sure ull be ok. i packed 1000lb of cement and sand (dont ask) into my 91 hatch and it was 'ok'. so im sure you will be fine. just be carefull with that stock b16 clutch.

-spenc

 

In the early 90's I used to tow my 2 cbr600f2s on a trailer together with spares and tools from Montreal to Loudon on a regular basis...behind my CRX si 1988.
I had stock coils and Koni revalves on it and the trailer had about 175lbs tongue weight. Never a problem, but an inexperienced driver can jack-knife the whole mess going down steep grades if he doesn't pay attention.
As for the attachments, it was a custom fitted hitch the was welded to the subframe and I added 1/4 inch plating around it. Made the car stiff for Auto-x.

Unrelated, but equally interesting....while on one of my many trips to NHIS (as it previously known as Bryar Motorsport park), I hit a fox on the highway and it scrapped my rad. I had to unload a bike in, full roadrace trim, to try to find a tow truck at 4 in the morning.....in the middle of nowhere .
Finally, a flatbed towed my CRX along with the trailer still pinned with one bike still on it, into town....what an ordeal!!!!!

BBQman

 

I would tow a tire trailer behind my 00 Si if that helps you any.

 

i plan on towing my civic with a civic......i don't see why not when my engine is over 200 hps!

 

Ask Asspenny over in the Hype R forum. He's towed a ridiculous amount of stuff with his car.

Seen many a tire trailer behind Me-otters as well.

 

Harbor Frieght often has small 3'x4' trailers in stock, some with metal sides and some simple flatbeds. They weigh around 100-200 pounds and cost like $250. Add $100 for a hitch and some wiring and they seem like a great setup for pulling some wheels and tools to events. A friend uses one with his GTI to tow two motorcycles to the local tracks and hasn't had any problems. And I concur with the Miata comment... I've seen plenty of those little guys pulling sizable loads to autocrosses. They seem to do well.
-Adam

 

Thanks guys for your input. As you know I was thinking about getting the HF trailer to carry my gear. My interior is getting all scratched up from my EZ-Up tent, chairs, air tank and such.