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Subject Topic: Towing advice please!! Post Reply Post New Topic
Personjacquelinehl
15/3/2017 at 8:42am
 Location: Telford
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My parents have just ordered a Motorhome (never had one before). It's pretty big and they want to tow a smart car. I'm after any advice please on what's the best way of doing this. Whatever is the easiest as they're 78 and not done it before (although he's used to towing trailers and caravans). Thankyou


PersonOpensauce
15/3/2017 at 9:53am
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If he is going to be driving in Europe then he will need to tow the car on a trailer. One can buy trailers specifically for carrying Smart cars. If he is driving UK only then he should be ok with A frame towing.


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Persondaveyjp
15/3/2017 at 11:44am
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No mention of which generation of smart car, it is important. If it's an automatic the general advice is not to tow.

I do not know about the current model, but previous models were designed so they had to be in reverse before you could take the key out. There is a faff of a way round this where the car can be left in neutral, but they need to remember to do it before they tow:

Forget to do this and you end up towing a car locked in reverse. This isn't good for it!

A trailer is probably a better option.


PersonNightrider
15/3/2017 at 3:28pm
 Location: Wirral
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Quote: Originally posted by daveyjp on 15/3/2017
No mention of which generation of smart car, it is important. If it's an automatic the general advice is not to tow.

I do not know about the current model, but previous models were designed so they had to be in reverse before you could take the key out. There is a faff of a way round this where the car can be left in neutral, but they need to remember to do it before they tow:

Forget to do this and you end up towing a car locked in reverse. This isn't good for it!

A trailer is probably a better option.


My 07 Smart does not have to be in reverse to remove the key. Also the Auto is not like normal Autos it is basically an Electronically operated Manual box and can be towed no problem.


Personwineciccio
15/3/2017 at 8:46pm
 Location: Liverpool
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Do they need such a big camper ?? and tow a car?? i'm not being a party pooper, but at 78 years old, the licence has to be renewed every year I think, if the van is over 3500 kilos, i have just turned 69 and after a life of having largish motorhomes, I have down sized to a Fiat ducato just 6 metres long ie, an IH TIO we find it very comfortable easy peasy to drive and park anywhere and we still enjoy our travels to Spain and the rest of Europe, Croatia in June. Ok we at times find it a bit small, but I definitely would give it 8 out ten for an all rounder, I have been doing this since 1974 and I do not intend to stop yet.

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wineciccio


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Persondaveyjp
15/3/2017 at 9:00pm
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I've had two smarts and got my hands dirty fixing them.

Get it wrong in setting up to run in neutral and you will wreck the gearbox.


Personninjabob
16/3/2017 at 12:45pm
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For the UK an A Frame is bar far the easiest to use and other than the very latest Shape Automatic Smart Car models can be pulled without issue as long as a few simple steps to prepare the Smart for towing are carried out in the correct sequence. For Europe a trailer is a better option because A frames a frowned upon (mad because they are used all over America without issue) and are the subject of heavy fines in Spain. Specialist Smart Trailers are designed specifically for use with Smarts only i.e. the Smart has all the weight at the back (engine) and the trailer axle needs to be in the correct position for the correct nose weight. Storage and handling of the trailer may or may not be an issue for you. A trailer may affect your payload because of the downforce on the tow hitch - not a problem dragging with an A Frame. Check also that your parents have the correct license requirements (has not let the C1 +E part lapse)to tow a trailer and for the Motorhome if over 3500kg. Secondhand trailers pop up on Ebay, Classified Ads on a regular basis. I would be inclined to look for a Smart Car that has already been converted if going down the A Frame route as conversion can be expensive - £1000 for crude cable break activation to £2450 for a full electronic power assisted brake version.



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