We are probably a few weeks away from owning our first Mazda. We have decided on the Mazda 5 GT with leather package...5sp, of course...just arguing about colour...silver, grey, black or white!

My family and I do quite a bit of camping (tent). Our Mercury Villager gave us a lot of room for people and cargo...even the family Lab. Retreiver, Stuart. I am a bit concerned about cargo capacity in the "5" with 2 adults, 3 kids and a dog...basically no cargo.

I have been pricing out car top cargo carriers $$$1,200+CDN for a decent sized carrier and assorted paraphernalia from Yakima. Anyone here buy a cargo box and racks from Mazda? Can you compare them to Yakima or Thule?

I was quite surprised to read that Mazda recommends the "5" not be used to tow a trailer at all. Anyone out there disregard that recommendation? I was thinking (before I read about the no trailer clause), of getting a small, light utility trailer for camping gear...any thoughts?

Shalom

 

I have a Thule cargo box (Model 665, I think). It is a hitch mounted type. The tongue weight of the hitch is 200 lbs. The cargo box has 150 lb capacity. It's easier to access than a roof mounted box, and tilts away from the back of the vehicle.

Here it is on my Saab.

 

hi
Uk have an excellent tow bar, which is detachable so keeps clean lines and a swing down electrics socket, and a bumper alteration to move the centre fog light to one side and a dummy on the other side to match. Therefore you can see 5s with tow systems as they have 2 under bumper fog lights showing.
Have towed 14ft sailing boat ( wanderer) with no issues.
have a Thule clamp system for roof bars - the generic clamp for all roof rails and works well inc a Kamei German box - was recomended by a company as more rubust than Thule and has been no problem on the 5

Roof Box website
Kamei makes the best quality boxes on the market. Don't just take our word for it! They're a specialist box manufacturer, Quality Assured to ISO 9001, represented in over 40 countries, with numerous Best Buy awards over the years, including the Auto Express 2006 "Best Buy" award for the Delphin 375, a shorter and wider version of this box. With their innovative and intelligent designs, top quality materials and engineering, and outstanding build quality, it's no surprise that they are Original Equipment box suppliers to several major manufacturers, including Audi, Mercedes-Benz and VW. And Kamei boxes have the longest guarantee of any manufacturer in the car rack systems sector - 6 years!