Towing & Aux Braking - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

GaryRomans · 10-26-2009, 07:35 PM

Just got our new Passion last Saturday. We live near Portland, OR.

Found out that to tow our 1800 pound smartcar into California we need an auxiliary braking system. California law requires one for anything over 1500 pounds.

Needed or not - we want to get one.

Has anybody recently had an aux braking system installed in their smartcar?
Which one and why?

fortow · 10-26-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryRomans

Just got our new Passion last Saturday. We live near Portland, OR.

Found out that to tow our 1800 pound smartcar into California we need an auxiliary braking system. California law requires one for anything over 1500 pounds.

Needed or not - we want to get one.

Has anybody recently had an aux braking system installed in their smartcar?
Which one and why?

There are several - I use a Brake Buddy - others use a RoadMaster product, and there are many other options as well.
A particularly valid reason to get one whether they are required for the weight of this car or not is to have a breakaway brake on the toad. That is critical for safety.

You can do a search over the internet. Just use the phrasing you used to post the question here - specifically - "auxiliary braking systems"
There are other words or phrases that will get more information as well.

Have fun.

Smart Enuf · 10-26-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fortow

A particularly valid reason to get one whether they are required for the weight of this car or not is to have a breakaway brake on the toad. That is critical for safety.

Yeah, I hate those breakaway toads. Why can't they just sit still and let us eat their legs in peace?

Dunerunner · 10-26-2009, 11:31 PM

That's frogs Enuf!!

b2fortwo · 10-27-2009, 05:25 AM

Although not a SmartCar, just yesterday traveling south on I-25 in Colorado Springs a toad became disconnected from a motorhome and luckily it had break away brake activation. It happened on a left hand curve with the motorhome in the right-hand lane so the toad while braking itself continued straight ahead and due to the curve ran into the right hand guard rail. It stopped by itself without hitting anything else.

So those brakes definitely paid for themselves in this case.

kannonvaggon · 10-27-2009, 03:04 PM

I have a "breakaway system" on my rollin condo.... it's called two hefty safety cables. Pullin the Smart is like pullin nuthin back there. Absolutely no need for supplemental brakes on a reasonably sized motor coach. Maybe if you were towing with a small class C or sumthin it might make a bit of a difference in stopping distances and downhill use of the service brakes.

I wouldn't MIND having a break-away system on a Smart, but so far I haven't felt compelled to spend the time and money. It's possible the Cabrio will tear the 20,000lb receiver off my coach and try to make an escape.... but I think I'll take my chances on that. On some larger vehicles the safety cables or chains are not really strong enough handle the jerk of one side on the towbar coming off from what I've heard.
Two big cables will be MORE than enough to handle a Smart.... it's the rear of the COACH that gonna get the snot beat out of it when IT stops the Smart ....

just a thunk on a rainy day after a long trip homeward towing the Cabrio like a filthy sack of potatoes behind the behemoth ...

The REAL question is: WHY does it ALWAYS rain on me when I have to unhitch that ridiculous little car ?? Bad karma?

fortow · 10-27-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannonvaggon

I have a "breakaway system" on my rollin condo.... it's called two hefty safety cables. Pullin the Smart is like pullin nuthin back there. Absolutely no need for supplemental brakes on a reasonably sized motor coach. ...

Well, you're right that there really is no need for suplemental brakes when towing the smart - but- there are places that require it unfortunately - and breakaway systems are also required. The chains may not be sufficient. If your car does breakaway, and it's possible, then you will be responsible for whatever carnage it produces. A runnaway, driverless car is a nightmare.