Do You Go by the Trailer Hitch Capacity or Owners Manual Capacity for a 2013 Mazda CX-5

Question:

Hello etrailer, the vehicles manual says the maximum towing capacity is 2000 lbs, and for the hitch its rated for 3500 lbs. Which one should I follow?

asked by: Yousef

Helpful Expert Reply:

Always follow the vehicle owners manual if it states the towing capacity is rated lower than the hitch. In some cases, a vehicle may have a higher capacity than the hitch and in those cases you would go by the lower hitch capacity. The rule is that you always go by the lowest rated component in the system so for your Mazda CX-5 that would be the vehicle itself.

If you plan on doing some towing then I also recommend the etrailer ball mount kit # EBMK4. It comes with a ball mount, interchangeable ball set, a hitch pin with clip, and a storage bag. For trailer wiring use # 118563. I have linked instructions for the wiring as well.

expert reply by: Michael H