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I'm a total towing noob who wants to buy a travel trailer for a trip from Montreal to Alaska. So naturally I looked up the owner manual for my 2014 CX5 AWD 2.5L. And I am more confused now about what I can actually buy and use than I was before looking it up. So I'm hoping someone with more knowledge than me on this can help me make sense of Mazda's requirements.
MAX TTW: 2000 lb
MAX GCWR: 6056 lb
VW: 3,622 lb
GCWR - VW: 2434 lb
Seemed straight-forward, then I read the description for the TTW: The total trailer weight (TTW) is the sum of the weights of the trailer load (trailerweight plus cargo), trailer hitch, 2 passengers, and vehicle load (baggage, food, camp gear, etc.).
I am not sure I fully understand this definition. I though TTW was what I could tow. Doesn't seem like it. Am I to understand that the weight of 2000 lb already accounts for 2 passengers, therefore they do not need to be counted against the capacity? Seems rather imprecise (small women, big man?). But the cargo in the car needs to be? In other words, for a trip involving a trailer of 1800 lb and 2 passengers, we would only have a total of 200 lb of cargo split between the trailer and car? If so, I'm very disapointed by that definition and its net number.
The other interesting nugget of info found in the OM is this: If the total trailer weight exceeds 450 kg (1,000 lb), trailer brakes are required.
This does not make any sense to me and did not for the person I spoke to at the car dealership either. How many sub-2000 lb trailers have brakes? Not only that but the car dealership said to me they do not allow for the installing of brake circuitery on the CX5 as it is not meant to be used for this purpose. How is this compatible with this requirement to have a braked trailer if over 1000 lb? What am I missing here? Am I to understand that all CX5 owners with a travel trailer weighting more than 1000 lb have had 3rd party trailer brakes and controllers installed on their CX5 and trailer?
Wow i see what you mean????
So the way I read it is.....and I may be incorrect here ......would really like to see the actual MAZDA documentation and not website posted info....
Your trailer must not exceed 2434lbs
Your Mazda loaded must not exceed 3622lbs
Your total capacity combine must not exceed 6056 lbs
Don't know about the legal requirements or regulations for trailer brakes in different states or countries and would have to research that myself?
So here is the thing with all this....MAZDA claims without giving how they achieved it your weight at 3532????? LOL
This is weird then you must do your math and calculate the loaded capacity of your MAZDA "WET" and that number subtracted from your total capacity to see what the max trailer weight can be?????????
Soooooo to be absolutely safe you would need to fill your tank full and get a certified weighing to be safe!!
I doubt you can find a travel trailer that will be within the towing limits.
The lightest one I know of is 1600lbs empty most are over 2500lbs and up (Excluding motorcycle travel trailers).
When I towed my various boats, I always stayed at least 500lbs below the towing capacity and never had any issues and never had any trailer brakes.
I go by the 2000lb limit on my CX-5 and my boat (which I sold last year) weighed under1500lbs fully loaded with gear.
I never had any issues, and I did not have trailer brakes.
Just saying but EVERY vehicle that had automatic transmission not matter the year make and model that towed for say over 20k miles ALL showed via oil test analysis having materiel consistent with clutch wear and other less than the best results.
And most owners all said "I never had any issues". Naturally the next owner may not have been able to claim the same phrase? This is when I learned that the number ONE item you install is a large transmission cooler and temperature gauge and by-pass the factory fluid temperature balance cooler for the transmission. This is just a recommendation for all that are contemplating towing with their vehicle.
And don't forget that the Payload (people and cargo in the vehicle) also includes the trailer tongue weight (which should be between 10% and 20% of the total trailer weight. As for the brakes, if your trailer is over 1000lbs, you either need an aftermarket electronic trailer brake controller and electric brakes on the trailer, or the trailer needs to have hydraulic surge brakes. The CX-5 does not have "additional" braking capacity to safely stop with 2000lbs of added weight behind it.
If your Mazda is located in the U.S. it has a limit of 2,000 pounds. You cannot exceed this limit or liability will ensue! This excludes virtually all camper trailers, certainly any you would actually want to use.
However, if your CX-5 is located in Europe, and has a SMALLER engine, it can magically therefore tow up to 4,409 pounds of a braked trailer (2,000 kilograms) with no problem.
Just saying but EVERY vehicle that had automatic transmission not matter the year make and model that towed for say over 20k miles ALL showed via oil test analysis having materiel consistent with clutch wear and other less than the best results.
And most owners all said "I never had any issues". Naturally the next owner may not have been able to claim the same phrase? This is when I learned that the number ONE item you install is a large transmission cooler and temperature gauge and by-pass the factory fluid temperature balance cooler for the transmission. This is just a recommendation for all that are contemplating towing with their vehicle.
ASE
I agree with Callisto . IMHO after many years of seeing what towing does to light duty vehicle transmissions ,your Mazda CX was not designed or properly equipped to tow . The trans will be strained ,your brakes, will prematurely wear out, your differentials will be over stressed, your cooling system may suffer from over heating . A big trans cooler and temp gauge may help some ,but unless your going to tow very light loads on level ground ,your looking at accelerated trans wear and damage leading to premature trans failure and the need for expensive repair or replacement. If I were going to tow with a CX5, I would get a big trans cooler, and tow very light, take it real easy and change the trans fluid and filter more often . A proper full trans rebuild will cost in excess of $3000.00.
Confused about towing capacity and requirements
Naturally the next owner may not have been able to claim the same phrase? 
This is when I learned that the number ONE item you install is a large transmission cooler and temperature gauge and by-pass the factory fluid temperature balance cooler for the transmission. 
Towing and trans life
