Towing four wheels down

[MENSA42]

Originally Posted by dandg96h

I am also interested in towing behind RV four wheels down. Any info on tow bar availability and cost would be helpful.

i would guess that would be much easier on the car than four wheels UP?

[TerryA]

I have been reading about towing the fortwo and problems with front wheel locking side to side in turns, and use of bungie cords....after towing a chevy chevette for many years...it also had the same problem with the wheels locking to the side in tight turns.....the bungie cord it attached to the bottom of the steering wheel just loose enough for the wheel to turn a half a turn.....if the cord is too tight you are just sliding the front tires and of course wearing out the tires. I am waiting now for the base plate to be delivered then will install for next week end.....my question is any one know a cheaper key replacement for the car?

[kleverd1]

I am currently installing the Blue Ox baseplate. I am having trouble getting a good alignment of the rear brackets that attach to the frame. The side brackets do not want to lay properly to the plastic vertcal support member on the Smart. I am also concerned about drilling the holes and getting too close to the bottom of the frame chanel that will make it difficult to install the nut. Any advice is appreciated.

Kleverd1

[LWJack]

You are right, there is a problem with the mounting plates. I wrote Blue Ox but I don't think they care as long as they sell plates. You really need to measure twice and drill once. I needed a spacer about 3/16" so that the plates would agree with the bar after mounting. I got different grade eight nuts and bolts than ones supplied. I had to elongate the holes to move the cross bar forward to clear the radiator shroud. 5/8" Caution more will hit at the front.

LWJack

[lschmitt]

Originally Posted by RVDodd

I notice that your towbar is parallel to the ground because you have an angled connector between your receiver and the towbar. Our Blue Ox towbar connects at an upward angle, and I would like to know what your connector device is.
THX

I use a Blue Ox Drop to get the right angle. According to Blue Ox you can be level or only 4" lower then then level. And you can never be above level. To get it right you have to use drops to get it right. I visited Blue Ox last summer, had a great time. You can check out some pictures @ Favorites

[Moysey]

Hi Larry
I spoke to you in July or August about towing a Smart Car. We got ours 2 weeks ago here in Florida and I want to get going!!
I know about the Blue Ox and Roadmaster brackets but it seems to me to be a lot of parts and expense and labor to install. Before I started looking into this I saw the "towing holes" for the eye bolt. Expected a simple package to screw into the towing holes Smart provided. Deadler gave me a sheet provided by Smart to add driver side hole on front. The sheet mentions CBS, which I haven't been able to find out what it means. Dealer says go to any RV dealer and they know what to do! Howver I think this means Blue Ox or Roadmaster. I have tried to read the forums but haven't found the answwer to using a simpler(and less expensive) solution.I found a towing bolt eye from Dongparts which I could change to match my Falcon towbar on the motor home. Any comments or direction you can give would be appreciated. I have your home phone but didn't want to distrub.
Central Florida Smarties
Jim

[bcope01]

Moysey, my Smart dealer also showed me a tow bar system hooked up to the "towing holes" on his computer. But the website he told me I could see that system on when I returned home was incorrect. Is there anything on that sheet you mention that gives the manufacturer or website or phone number so I can look into it further? Thanks!

[Dunerunner]

Last I checked my smart, there was only one access for a tow hook up front. If you are thinking that you can use that mount, essentially a single bolt on each side; to hold the 1800+ pounds of a smart car at freeway speeds, with all the torque applied while turning; I think you are asking for trouble. If you find a company that manufacturers something like that, post it. I'd like to see it!
My brackets are Roadmaster. Engineered and designed specifically for the smart fortwo 451. I trust they will hold the car without failure in the switchbacks in the mountains, on the highway at 55-65 mph and I know that if it fails, the safety chains and emergency breakaway braking system will hopefully keep my runaway from crossing the center divider and killing someone.
Get it done right guys. Blue Ox and Roadmaster are the best. JMHO

[bcope01]

I know that both BlueOx and Roadmaster make reliable tow components, but they are rather complicated to install and expensive. Would be nice if there is something simpler and cheaper that also works well.

Actually this system shown to me by the local Smart dealer on his computer showed the front fascia on the left front of the car being drilled out to expose the towing eye-hook receptacle hidden behind. Has anyone had the front bumper off to see if there is, in fact, a threaded receptacle behind it? I'll call the dealer today and see if I can get the correct information.

[bcope01]

Here are the slides from the PowerPoint file shown to me by my local dealer that I mentioned above.