Sprinter Flat Tow?

[Fenwick]

As a new member I am trying to find the up-to-date FACTS about Flat Towing a Smart for Two behind a Dodge Sprinter 2500 with the 3.0 V6 DL. Has the Mgf developed its own tow bar, allowed for the front panel adjustments, and fixed the steering wheel lock problem VS the "Key On" issue.

In fact, what has the Mgf said about Flat Towing. Can anyone point me to the ans to any of these questions?

[Dunerunner]

Not bad for your first post! Welcome to the forum!! I see It's been almost 3 hours since you posted your question.

Well, since it seems you haven't found it yourself, here is a link to the Smart Car Towing - Smart Car of America Forums

[BRM42]

I think you will find that the answer to all your questions is NO. You should price out the flat tow equipment price versus the cost of a trailer. I just got back from the 'Tail of the Dragon' event towing my smart behind my Airstream Interstate (built on the earlier Sprinter) with no problems and no wear on the smart. My trailer was custom built to my specs. They will build one for you for a price that is competitive with the flat tow package.

[hampyoung]

I disagree that one should tow on a trailer vs flat tow for any other reason than personal preference. There are benefits and negatives to both methods but one is not more correct than the other.

H

[bcope01]

Just my opinion... Flat tow, don't bother with a bothersome trailer.

[fortow]

There's no reason to have to tow on a trailer, unless that's your personal preference for some reason. It isn't mine. I don't like to have to deal with an additional vehicle (the trailer). The car tows 4 down fine. Flat towing is approved by the manufacturer for 2008 and later.
There are tow bars available that work with any car including the smart.
You don't leave the "key on" when towing.

I assume that what you mean by the "steering wheel lock problem" is the tendency for the steering to wobble when initiating a tow - but that's actually a rare occurrence and the solution has been presented a number of times. Once you kinow when it will do it and how to prevent it there is no problem.

[kannonvaggon]

We have found the Smart to be one of the nicest toads to be found. Easy and smooth to tow and small enough to fit into tight RV sites along with even a rather large rollin condo. I don't like the hassle of trailers myself.
Our Cabrio does have a bit of a head shake and needs just a hint of a bungee to make it happy. One wrap of a light bungee and all is perfect. Without it this car will shake it's head even straight ahead. MOST do not. It's still a mystery. It's also just not that big of a deal.

NO shaft disconnects. No special procedures. No transmission lube pumps and wiring.
Put the thing in neutral and turn the key off. As toads go, it don't get much easier....

JMHO

[ranchmink]

I would like to tow my car behind my motorhome. In the photos above can you tell me where you got the tow bar and can it be installed by anyone or needs something special. I just opened this and can someone tell me about why I need a bungy and for what. I have a cabrio also and need to know what to expect. What causes the shimmy issue noted and when does it happen and how is it resolved.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by ranchmink

I would like to tow my car behind my motorhome. In the photos above can you tell me where you got the tow bar and can it be installed by anyone or needs something special. I just opened this and can someone tell me about why I need a bungy and for what. I have a cabrio also and need to know what to expect. What causes the shimmy issue noted and when does it happen and how is it resolved.

This has all been discussed in these threads before a number of times.
You really will learn all you need to know by searching.

Having said that the short form is;
- tow bars are made by several companies - Blue Ox and Roadmaster are popular

- It's not the tow bar that is the issue about installing, you need to do that each time you tow the car - rather it's the baseplate that the tow bar attaches to on your car that need special installation consideration. Some of us have installed our own but it is not an easy task. It takes even an experienced installer at least a half days work or more.

- the bungee is to prevent the steering from oscillating back and forth on startup which can happen on occasion under certain specific conditions. I don't use a bungee and have towed over 10,000 miles, and it has only happened to me twice - not a serious matter at all. You need to do the search to find out more since I've already been discussions about that several times already.

[bcope01]

ranchmink, what fortow said is true. Here is the link to all of the threads on this forum wrt towing a smart: Smart Car Towing - Smart Car of America Forums