Towing

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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Alacrity
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Re: Towing

Post by Alacrity » Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:19 pm

I think there is on this trans Kirsty, I know the Nissan variant has one but it is a different animal in some respects. You know the story, same but different. The Nissan has it in the internal wiring loom, my guess is the Bongo is the same. Trouble is, we so rarely see a Bongo & even when we do it's for something like a TPS or similar. I will take a look next time I do an oil change & see if I can find it, of course if it is above the valvebody then it won't be visible unless same is removed.
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Re: Towing

Post by Rhinoman » Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:15 pm

There is a temperature sensor shown on the wiring diagram, the output of which is fed to the ECU. Would it be possible to fit a thermostatically controlled transmission cooler?
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Re: Towing

Post by Rhinoman » Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:17 pm

technophobe wrote:Maximum weight for a trailer without brakes is 50% of the kerb weight of the towing vehicle. Should not be difficult to calculate. Details in February Camping and Caravan Mag.

Unless the law has been changed recently then the maximum weight for an unbraked trailer is 750kg. The 50% rule may also apply.


Edit indeed it does, from the Department of Transport web site:
Braking requirements are prescribed in Regulations 15 and 16 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 as amended and essentially require a trailer with a maximum design laden weight of more 750 kg to be braked and allow an inertia (overrun) type braking system to be used up to a maximum permissible laden weight of 3500kg. In use it is not permitted to use an unbraked trailer the laden weight of which exceeds 50% of the kerbside weight of the towing vehicle.
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Re: Towing

Post by Alacrity » Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:02 pm

Would it be possible to fit a thermostatically controlled transmission cooler?
Anything is possible, just depends how much anyone would want to pay! I sell a cooler with a built in fan that is thermostatically contolled by a 'stat in the cooler line. It can of course be mounted aywhere as it makes its own airflow.

Way way back in the dark ages I did once see a Volvo 260 with a cooler with very complicated plumbing & a thermostat body in the line. Possibly OE I don't know. Never seen one or anything like it since.
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Re: Towing

Post by Holly » Sat Mar 27, 2010 5:29 pm

I am soon to take up this towing malarky having found a lovely little two berth. The last thing I towed was a trailer tent behind a Micra, so do I need to have those towing mirrors that I have seen on cars and what tyre pressures would be best (currently they are 32 front, 34 back).

Any advice gratefully received.
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Re: Towing

Post by mikexgough » Sat Mar 27, 2010 6:06 pm

Holly wrote:I am soon to take up this towing malarky having found a lovely little two berth. The last thing I towed was a trailer tent behind a Micra, so do I need to have those towing mirrors that I have seen on cars and what tyre pressures would be best (currently they are 32 front, 34 back).

Any advice gratefully received.
Mirrors..... Yes.... Tyre Pressures..... Many different ones on here.... I think the majority seem to go for 38/40 F/R
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Alacrity
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Re: Towing

Post by Alacrity » Sun Mar 28, 2010 1:04 pm

My 'new' Bongo (July '09) always had an alarming cornereing habit where it felt it was going to 'swap ends' if you went a little quick around a bend - worse when towing (which it does a lot of) or loaded with folk. Upped the tyre pressures by 5+ psi & it is a different car, drives normally. A lot of folk here suggest running the tyre pressures up on what the book says. I'd say + 5psi for normal work then add a bit if loaded or towing anything heavy.

My ten penneth.

PS fitted new std shocks on the rear to try & fix this :oops: but made not one iota of difference. So I have a decent used pair of rear shocks here if anyone needs them.
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Re: Towing

Post by missfixit70 » Sun Mar 28, 2010 3:25 pm

Get some air assistors in the rear springs :wink:
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