Towing possible?

[hybridracer]

I have a very small kart trailer (racing go karts) that I want to tow. Since my Insight is my only car right now, and this is a trailer small enough to pick up by hand and pull around (fully loaded), I figure it would be fine to tow it behind. The whole thing can't even weigh 500 lbs tops. Its about twice the size od those tiny little camper trialers I have seen towed behind motorcycles, but its an open trailer.

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Any recomendations?

All are appraciated.

Also...what the heck is MIMA? And what is the big deal about it?

Thanks all

[rangeman]

somewhere on this website is a insight with a trailer. but honda says no.

[Insightful Trekker]

Originally Posted by hybridracer

I have a very small kart trailer (racing go karts) that I want to tow.

<snip>

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Any recomendations?

Should be OK, but not recommended. Do so at your own risk. And it will require a custom hitch be fabricated.

See:


Insight's " InsightPack"
(mini Trailer)
http://yves.fungiart.com/pages/trailer.htm


Hitch adapter
http://yves.fungiart.com/pages/hitch.htm

Originally Posted by hybridracer

Also...what the heck is MIMA? And what is the big deal about it?

See:

http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=5237

And follow the links shoud you wish to further discuss MIMA.
(its off-topic for these forums )

HTH!

[b1shmu63]

There are several problems.

1. If the hitch is made of steel there will be galvanic action occuring due to the dissimilar metals. This may cause corrosion.

2. The back suspension is soft and a small additional weight on the trailer ball will bottom out the suspension and potentially dammage the rear trailing arms. See Mike's recent posts about this issue due to the weight of batteries. Changing the rear springs would help. See various posts.

3. The metal in the area you would normally attach a hitch is thin guage. Extensive reinforcement mods are required. See John's links to Yves site.

4. The Insight is light and the OEM tires have less traction than softer tires. braking on a curve could toss the rear of the car around making for a really bad day.

5. Many small cars including the Insight state that towing trailers will void the warranty.

Other than that .......it is possible and has been done.

[hybridracer]

Thanks for all the input guys. It sounds like it won't really be a problem, as my warranty is long since expired, and it won't be a regular occasion that I will be doing this. I just dont want to have to buy a second car just to get the kart to the racetrack. I would rather put the money into the kart and win races!!

Thanks again!