Towtruck technique???

[Darci]

After getting my 2 front tires slashed I called Smart Central and they sent a towtruck to tow poor Smartie to the local repair center.
The towtruck driver hoisted up the front wheels with the transmission in neutral and towed Smartie off with its rear tires rolling.
Now I just read the manual that says do NOT tow it this way.........it might cause serious damage to the braking system?!
(The slashing occurred on week 2 of owning the car and I had not memorized the manual yet.........plus I was upset and did not think of towing techniques that day)
I have been driving Smartie around since this tow and he works fine.
Should I worry?
Too late, I am already worrying..........how much should I worry?

[jimvw57]

I'd say if it is working OK, don't worry about it. I doubt that a short distance would damage much or it would have made a lot of noise when they towed it. The best way is to use a flatbed truck. When they towed mine, the guy wouldn't use the front tow hook threaded into the bumper. He said they have been known to pull out. He used the tie down points under the car on the front suspension.

Make sure that the towing company is reputable and pay the extra for one that knows what they are doing. I went with the roadside assistance number just so they'd get someone who is familiar with Smart cars.

Do they have a roadside assistance number in Canada like in the US??

[chieftmc]

Since the NA 451 can be towed "4 wheels down", no need to worry. Your owner's manual should state that. The gear shift should be in N and the key in 0 position.

[Old smart]

This thread encouraged me to review the OpMan. I see an inconsistency in that in one place it says to not tie the car down with the towing eye (something I tend to agree with – its purpose and thread design is for a straight pull) and in another place to secure using the eye (the one towing eye provided). It also mentions raising the front “axle” a couple of times! One wonders if some of the information was pinched as-is from other M-B documents not written for the smart (like in other parts of the OpMan).

Anyway, I copied the germane parts of the OpMan to be added to my pack of on-board “Casualty Control” cards** so that a tow truck operator can be properly instructed.

** Laminated, 3.5” x 8.5” cards in bold Arial text that can be read under low-light conditions:
“ESP® Warning Light (Exclamation Point in Triangle) On – Transmission does not shift in automated Mode.”
“Shifter locked in Park (Preliminary Procedure).”
“Shifter locked in Park (Follow-on Procedure).”
“Shifter Button Stuck.”
“Sluggish Transmission – Teach-in.”
and now, “Towing Instructions.”

[kdfcogwheel]

I had my Brabus cabrio flat towed after the right front tire blew out upon impact with a pothole. He used the tow hook to get all four wheels on the deck. Then he raised and leveled the deck and used heavy duty cargo straps through the wheels (all four) and latched to the tow truck deck perimeter. We were towed 20 miles to the repair facility. No problems there with the tow.

[jimvw57]

They were unable to strap my PURE down through the wheels as it has the steel wheels and there are not the holes like the Passion spoked rims.

[Darci]

So the manual says you can tow my Smart with 4 wheels down in neutral........but it also says do not tow the Smart with the front wheels hoisted.
Is there really a difference?
Is not hoisting the front wheels not like towing 4 wheels down going uphill?

[jimvw57]

Lifting the front end puts a little more weight on he back. but most of the weight is transferred to the towing vehicle. Make sure they don't tie onto brake lines or stuff. The lift mechanism can do damage underneath if they don't know how to pull a Smart. A flatbed is the best way to go.

[Alan_Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Darci

So the manual says you can tow my Smart with 4 wheels down in neutral........but it also says do not tow the Smart with the front wheels hoisted.
Is there really a difference?
Is not hoisting the front wheels not like towing 4 wheels down going uphill?

It's more like towing 4 wheels down going uphill, with the rear wheels spinning at, say, 40 mph while the front wheels are stopped. If the car is powered up in any way what happens in that condition with the various features, anti-skid, ABS, traction control, etc.?