Smart Car towing

[jibcl500]

All

My parents want to buy a smallish motor home and want to tow a small car behind it, they are keen on the smart car.

One supplier said the smart can only be towed for 300 miles at a time, another said you cant and would need to be trailered.

I dont think it would be a good idea because the auto box but I dont know that much about the smarts and dont want to either to be honest.

any advice welcome please.

jib

 

[Aussie Nick]

The best way to tow a car is on a trailer with brakes. I have often seen this done here. You can also put a small tinny on the roof of the mobile van.

 

[jberks]

It's right in so far as you couldn't tow with a solid bar hitched to the tow point. As you say, the auto box probably wouldn't like it very much.
But, they should be ok with one of those small trailers that just take a single set of wheels. The smart is rear engine, rear wheel drive. So, you simply put the rear wheels on the jockey trailer rather than the front ones. and the front wheels should then simply castor as you go.

 

[type49]

So, you simply put the rear wheels on the jockey trailer rather than the front ones. and the front wheels should then simply castor as you go.

Providing the steering lock holds the column perfectly straight or else it will crab like a cut n shut Mini

 

[jibcl500]

it will crab like a cut n


sorry I had to read that again.

jib

 

[type49]

it will crab like a cut n


sorry I had to read that again.

jib

This is a respectable forum:lol:

 

[maddog]

I think you'll find legally in this country you cant tow a small car behind a motorhome unless its wheels are all off the ground.

I know lots of people do but any trailer over 750kgs needs its own braking system.

 

[type49]

Stick some roller skates underneath :twisted:

 

[rf065]

A frames are available which use the cars braking system. The one drawback being, if you try to reverse your motorhome with the car still attached, the cars brakes will go on as it will not have auto releasing brakes like a trailer would have. Most automatics cannot be towed more than a few miles, so a trailer would be required or buy a small secondhand micro car & A Frame.
If you can get a copy of Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly, August 2007, there is a piece on this very subject. Lots of things to consider as well as gross vehicle weights, towing capacities etc etc, a small motorhome may not be able to tow anything to big anyway.


Contacts, Pro Tow Frames - 01202 632456
www.protowframes.co.uk

Towtal - 01782 333422
www.towtal.co.uk

National Trailer & Towing Association
www.ntta.co.uk

"Which A-frame to go for is a bit of a grey area under the law which stipulates that any trailer under 750kg does not need to have a braking system, however, it also says that any trailer, no matter what the weight, if it has brakes, they should work.

An A-frame is interpreted as a trailer when connected to a towing vehicle" Taken from one of the sites.


Russ