Old RVer buys new SMART

[Skunkfarm]

Have Smart, will tow.
Interested in information on towing.
Looks like there is plenty info on this site.

[Turbo42]

welcome another smart in our area

[forestacademy]

Lots of info on towing smarts here
Smart Car Towing - Smart Car of America Forums


Enjoy

[fpage77]

Welcome to the forum!

[chieftmc]

want to look at one of these:Smart Trailer USA-Home

[Kermit]

double post! Delete!

[Kermit]

I just did a 1,000 miles with this cheapo setup. OK, not THAT cheap since no where in the entire trailer is duct tape used. Still a cheap setup. Before I hit the road I tied the car down.

Haven't gotten around to processing the tiedown pics yet as I know there will be plenty of controversy as to what is the perfect and correct way to do it. Saving myself the heartache by taking my time since I've only spent the last 20 years getting paid to teach people how to tie down vehicles. Wow, that seemed negative...don't take it that way .

Lots of awesome towing options at the site. Browse around and see what is the perfect setup for you. Flat tow with a few base plate options. A couple options for trailers too. Plenty of positive and negative points about each so in the end it will come down to personal preference. If your rig is already 35 feet long, flat tow may be it. (no room in a lot of parks for trailers) Then again, with a trailer you can back up. See what I mean? So many positive and negative points......

[jetfuel]

...is that the lawn mower trailer?...looks cool as hell

jetfuel

[padi176715]

Welcome aboard. Let the fun begin.

[kannonvaggon]

We have carried our Cabrio all over the country the last year or so, inside it's garage in our class-A coach. This has worked very well and is a pleasure to travel with.

We are currently considering a change to a 'normal' diesel pusher tag axle coach and will change to towing 4 down. So far I haven't found a towed I would rather have than the Smart. We looked at Jeeps and pickups but I think we just may stick with the Smart and tow it behind a motorcycle lift. I need to carry a bike as well as the car, hence a look at just using a pickup as a towed vehicle. Our new coach will be right at 45 feet so total length is an issue along with having parking space at the sites we visit, etc.

This winter the Smart put on about 3500 miles on a road trip while the coach put on another 6000 miles. We do wish we had a rear seat now and then but not very often. Probably just keep it for now.

The baseplate systems for the Smart are fairly normal, but a LOT of work is required to install them apparently. Ya have to remove the entire front end body work including back to the rocker panels... and then ya have to drill into the main fram boxes and remove the bumper core and drill and trim it along with trimming out the radiator shroud and cutting the grill cover, etc.... Then ya get to do the electrics for the rear lights with either a diode kit or a seperate bulb system, your choice.
A supplemental braking system is obviously not a primary concern if towed behind a 25 TON coach, but it don't hurt. You need at least a break-away brake system if over 1500lb in some states... to be legal ... I haven't spoken with anyone who actually installed a brake system though.

I have never actually towed a smart but have heard it's a no hassle deal compared with some other vehicles. We'll find out one day soon I'm thinkin, but for now the Cabrio can still ride in comfort under the bedroom. He likes to watch the cartoons on the TV back there I think....

;-)