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Old 05-20-2008, 11:59 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
Location: San Jose, Ca, USA
Drive: 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C50
Blue Ox Tow Bar Impressions

Just thought I'd document some thoughts about our new Blue Ox towing system. We had it installed in Santa Clara, Ca at Eyers Hitch - they've been our preferred hitch shop for almost 40 years now, and did a great job.

Last weekend we got the opportunity to try it out. Hooking up is a breeze - I moved smartie into position behind our 37 foot Bounder and shifted into neutral, then turned the key off. Out front I released the latches on the Aventa LX arms and grabbed the brackets on the front of the car, pulling it easily into reach of the arms. After placing the pins in the holes I pushed the car back to lock the arms in place. Then connected the safety cables and lights and had my wife verify that all lights were working. Then we hit the road for a short 40 mile drive to the campground.

If you think that smarties on the road are attention-getting, imagine a smartie pushing a 37 foot motorhome! Everybody who passed us had to slow down a bit and check us out. Pulling into the campground was fun - we actually had people follow behind us all the way to our site so they could ask questions.

Unhooking the smartie was as easy as hooking up - simply disconnect the lights, unhook the safety cables, pull the pins on the arms and fold the arms up against the back of the motorhome. Then stand around and answer questions before getting back in to the motorhome to back it into the site.

On Saturday we drove smartie into San Juan Bautista to wander around town - we parked on the main street, between two motorcycles (it was a great day for riding, although a bit hot) and wandered around. Then we decided to stop and get some ice cream - we sat in front of the ice cream shop and watched people for a while - smartie was across the street and about 100 feet down the street. We saw one family stop, walk completely around the car, and then snap photos of the car! Another family put their nose-prints all over the glass - then came over to the ice cream shop - the kids wanted ice cream! As they approached I mentioned that I usually charge $1.00 if people leave their nose prints on the car - they asked about 100 questions about the car while the kids ate their ice cream.

There were several other note-worthy cars parked along the street - including a 1937 Chevy Coupe with a beautiful candy-apple red paint job, and a cool-looking Zimmer - guess who's car had the largest crowd around it at any given time?

Anyway, back to the tow bar - it's easy to hook up and unhook, and the motorhome hardly even knows the car is back there. It tracks perfectly behind the RV and looks great!
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Old 05-20-2008, 07:21 PM   #2 (permalink)
 
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Location: West Central Florida - Seminole
Drive: Hybrid Escape, Ford GT,DB9
Thanks for the insight.. oh yes, get used to the nose prints...
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Old 06-03-2008, 12:00 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Location: Lake Wylie, SC
Drive: Highlander Hybrid, BMW Z3
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Just leave in neutral with the key off?

Alan,

We are having the Blue Ox baseplate and a towbar installed next Monday, and will be towing our Smart back from the dealer behind our new 2009 Holiday Rambler Scepter motorhome. I understand from your post that you tow the car in neutral with the key off? Does any mileage register on the odometer during the tow? For a car that is touted as flat-towable, we are having a little challenge finding out exactly the manufacturer's recommended procedure and don't want to damage our great little car!

Thank you for your expertise.
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Old 06-04-2008, 11:58 AM   #4 (permalink)
 
Location: San Jose, Ca, USA
Drive: 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C50
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Originally Posted by RVDodd View Post
Alan,

We are having the Blue Ox baseplate and a towbar installed next Monday, and will be towing our Smart back from the dealer behind our new 2009 Holiday Rambler Scepter motorhome. I understand from your post that you tow the car in neutral with the key off? Does any mileage register on the odometer during the tow? For a car that is touted as flat-towable, we are having a little challenge finding out exactly the manufacturer's recommended procedure and don't want to damage our great little car!

Thank you for your expertise.
Once I get the car in position behind the Bounder I put the gear shift in N and turn the key off - it'll only go to the middle position, you can't remove the key with the shifter in N. Then I get out and position the tow bar arms and pull the car towards me to line up the arms with the anchors. Once everything is connected I push the car backwards to lock the tow bar arms and we're ready to go. So far I haven't seen any mileage added while we're towing so I can safely say that I'm pretty sure the odometer doesn't count up unless the car is moving under its own power.

My wife keeps her second key in her purse - we've heard rumors of the car locking itself so we don't want to be locked out - and we don't know what the parameters are that cause the "self-lock" if it even exists, but why take chances.
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Old 06-12-2008, 05:16 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Location: Lake Wylie, SC
Drive: Highlander Hybrid, BMW Z3
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Just Got Back with my Blue Ox installed

We towed the little guy from Unidilla, Georgia back to Lake Wylie and it is a PERFECT little "Toad"!! By the way, I drove the car from Charlotte to the dealer in GA for the installation on I-85 and I-75 at speeds up to 70MPH and it is just a great little road car, too!! Of course, I had lots of looks, waving, horns, and a few passengers with cameras - that is part of the SMART experience. Thanks for your suggestion about the spare set of keys. The doors did not auto-lock, but it was still nice to have the ability to remote lock it at night in the campgrounds or at WalMarts when it was in neutral with the key inside!! Seemed like anyone able to disconnect the car from the towbar would have easy access to our little SMART unless we kept the door locked.
The steering wheel remains unlocked and the front wheels turn to follow the motorhome wherever it goes - just a great car for "four-down!
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Old 06-13-2008, 09:05 AM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Location: Boise, Idaho
Drive: 08 Blue Cabrio!
Those of you that have had the Blue Ox towplate installed on your smart cars:
How much was the installation and how much was the actual tow plate.
(I already have a motorhome-mounted tow bar with moveable arms.)

Thanks,
Hamp
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Old 07-23-2008, 06:26 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
Location: Lancaster
Smart Car Tow Bar

Quote:
Originally Posted by hampyoung View Post
Those of you that have had the Blue Ox towplate installed on your smart cars:
How much was the installation and how much was the actual tow plate.
(I already have a motorhome-mounted tow bar with moveable arms.)

Thanks,
Hamp

did you find out how much the tow bar is and where to get it??

Adam Q
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Old 07-25-2008, 03:15 PM   #8 (permalink)
 
Location: Home
Do any of you know of anyone using a Roadmaster Tow Bar?
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Old 07-25-2008, 03:23 PM   #9 (permalink)
 
Location: tampa
towing 4 wheels down vs. trailering

what trailer options are available other than babtan and smart trailer usa?? i am trying to decide which way is best as well as what's best for the smart car over time regarding wear and tear, etc.

thanks,

craig
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