Towing four wheels down

[Dunerunner]

Originally Posted by bcope01

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

Great...doesn't really show the brackets installed though. I would still like to know who makes this system. If the dealership is making this information available, have they stated that they endorse it? Thanks

[bcope01]

The slides, although with the smart logo, are dated April 2007. Did the effort get shelved, or is it still being worked on? Don't know. So I have my smartcenter director looking into this. BTW, my smart looks just like yours.

[Dunerunner]

Originally Posted by bcope01

The slides, although with the smart logo, are dated April 2007. Did the effort get shelved, or is it still being worked on? Don't know. So I have my smartcenter director looking into this.

That's great!! I appreciate it as the alternatives are $750 just for the Roadmaster brackets installled. The rear light wiring is another $199 and easily (haven't priced these in a while) $450 for the tow bar. Can't wait to see what your smart rep comes up with!!

[Moysey]

Originally Posted by 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!

Can you try the dealer again. I have only a sheet which shows where to add the hole on the drivers side which I see is also posted on this forum. No other information on the sheet the dealer gave. Or perhaps give me the dealers name and I will contact them directly.
Thanks
Jim

[bcope01]

I've asked the dealer to look into it. I'll check back with him after the holiday and see where he is on this.

[bcope01]

Ok, here is the deal with regard to a "Smart USA tow bar solution" for towing a fortwo behind a motorhome according to my local smart center director. Since there are third party solutions already available (e.g., Blue Ox and Roadmaster), Smart USA is no longer working on their own. He directed me to the local Camping World for purchase and installation information.

[Dunerunner]

Smart has probably made a 'smart' decision in this case. Thanks bcope01 for doing all the leg work!!

[ahartgra]

I just returned from my maiden voyage towing the Smart after having the Roadmaster base plate installed by Camping World a few weeks ago. Before this trip I had only towed the car a couple of blocks after the installation and had no problems. However, after we got hooked up and ready to pull out for a 200 mile trip to the coast, I used the extra key to lock the car (as I had always done with my previous toad -- a Land Rover Discovery). Immediately when I started out of the parking lot, the wheels went crazy wildly flying back and forth. Also, the alarm system started sounding. I tried again with the same results, so I pulled over and called the SmartUSA road service number. The person on the other end was very sympathetic but did not have a clue. Together we read the manual which states that the key should be left in position "O" when flat towing; however, I could not get the key to go to that position with the gear shift in neutral. He decided to call the service rep at my dealer in Charleston, and he too could not get the key in any of his cars to go to position "O" with the shift in neutral. We concluded that the manual was incorrect.

While waiting for the service rep to call me back after doing research on the problem, I found in the manual that the car's security system has a tow-prevention feature, and that this feature has to be deactivated when flat towing. After I deactivated the system, the car towed just fine.
When I got ready for my return trip I tried again to tow without deactivitating the tow-prevention feature and again had problems with the wheels tracking, but after deactivating that feature I had no problems.

Other posts suggest that the tracking problem is inherent in the Smart car design. Maybe it was just coincidental that the car towed just fine with the tow-prevention system deactivated, and otherwise would not track correctly.

I am now eager to find out how it works the next time out. Of course, I will always deactivate the tow-prevention feature and will not attempt to lock the car when towing it.

[bcope01]

OK, so how do you deactivate the tow-prevention feature? Unlock the car?

[fortow]

ahartgra, you are talking of two different issues - locking the car, and putting the gear shift in the correct position for towing.

Don't lock the car.

Put the key in the ignition lock, turn it to position 1 and put the shift lever in neutral, then turn the key to the left as far as it will go - you will not be in the position that permits key removal, and the key will not be able to be removed but the ignition will be turned off. Make certain the shift lever is in neutral.

The car will tow just fine. Make certain the smart's steering is in the straight ahead position and drive straight ahead when starting off. The only time the steering will go lock to lock when set up properly is when the wheels are turned while starting off off from a stopped position.