Best A frame for a Smart ForTwo

[Ninjabob]

I wonder if it is possible to get a SMART front towing eye modified with some kind of lowball just to push the trailer into a suitable position on site. I did this with my old TD5 Discovery in my Caravan Days. There would be little strain on the front member pushing a lightweight trailer.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Quite a few a-frame specialists sell one for Smart 453.
Ive seen the new shapes being towed.
http://www.armitagetrailers.com/Aframes.htm

Dont get me wrong, i want to KNOW for sure, just questioning

Why don't you ask Armitages if they will guarantee, in writing, to take on all warranty responsibility for a Smart Car towed by one of their devices? I think we both know what the answer would be.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

So @NickNic do you have definative info to the contrary that you could share with me?

 

[Deleted member 29692]

So @NickNic do you have definative info to the contrary that you could share with me?

I take it you don't fancy asking them then? Didn't think so.

How about Mercedes saying that no Smart car should be flat towed and doing so will void the warranty as detailed earlier in this thread?

Or would you rather take the word of someone trying to sell you a product over the manufacturers of the vehicle?

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Sorry to be confused Nick, but have you actually READ the links in post #12
The later dated one links to Mercedes smart USA with a pdf release with their instructions how to flat tow
Im not taking the word of any merchant, but if you read the links before hav8ng a go at a poor confused codger, you might end up as confused as me
Poster #12 posted a link saying you can with the comment that you definately cant
Im going back to my padded cell now

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[The Dotties]

I will try and find the e mails from Mercedes and the American sites over the weekend for you. I'm at the bring and buy at the moment.
I bought the 453 auto new for towing, but I didn't research it properly and it cost a lot of money for the mistake.
Trust me, I've tried all I can to try and go the American route whereby a 453 auto can be towed, approved by Mercedes America, but merc Europe won't allow it.
When the warranty is out in a year's time I may try and use the American version, but I don't want to risk it before.
The manual cannot be flat towed. Ever.
By all means try it and let us know how you get on.
I had a fitter, we'll known company, that assured me a manual 453 could be towed, no problem, took the car to them, yes dead easy.
Even our trans Atlantic cousins say it cannot be done. I was that close to a major mistake.
And yes, I have both the 453 auto and 453 manual, brand new.
Talk about stoopid
Not long after a couple of funsters advertised tow ready Smarties for sale.

The link in post 12 are the approved American instructions. Auto not manual Not in Europe

 

[Dare_Devil_Dennis]

Ours IS a 453. Today from the selling dealer (Inchcape Mercedes, Derby) in response to my enquiry about flat towing...


"Hello Sir,
I apologise for the delay but there was some investigation needed to find out the information. Apparently the car can be towed for up to 30 miles at 30 miles an hour. That’s the jist.
Kind Regards,"

Enough for me.

Dennis

 

[olley]

Some of the yanks fit an electric oil pump to their autobox so it can be flat towed, maybe an idea?

 

[Basildog]

Some of the yanks fit an electric oil pump to their autobox so it can be flat towed, maybe an idea?

Most Brits that like to tow crap about buy a caravan

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Sorry to be confused Nick, but have you actually READ the links in post #12
The later dated one links to Mercedes smart USA with a pdf release with their instructions how to flat tow
Im not taking the word of any merchant, but if you read the links before hav8ng a go at a poor confused codger, you might end up as confused as me
Poster #12 posted a link saying you can with the comment that you definately cant
Im going back to my padded cell now

@Cheshirecat57 in my post #12 the link said you can tow the automatic but not the manual 453. Hence my comment that says you can’t. I’ve also found a link in U tube that shows you how to tow the automatic 453, but that looks very complicated, involving putting the car into 6th gear and then disconnecting the battery. ( if anyone wants me to I will search this out again and post a link). The earlier 451 (2006 to 2014) with robotic automatic gearbox can be towed. I had one with an Armitage’s towbar and towed it without issue, having checked first with Mercedes dealership. As others have said, with this one you just need to check it is in Neutral first.

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[Mr Chrysalis]

I wonder if it is possible to get a SMART front towing eye modified with some kind of lowball just to push the trailer into a suitable position on site. I did this with my old TD5 Discovery in my Caravan Days. There would be little strain on the front member pushing a lightweight trailer.

That sounds like a good idea for any car towed on a trailer. A front towball that screws into the tow eye thread would certainly make manoeuvring a trailer easy. I would check first with the manufacturer, but a trailer will be considerably lighter than the car and the tow eye socket will have been designed to take the weight of the car.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

@Cheshirecat57 in my post #12 the link said you can tow the automatic but not the manual 453. Hence my comment that says you can’t. I’ve also found a link in U tube that shows you how to tow the automatic 453, but that looks very complicated, involving putting the car into 6th gear and then disconnecting the battery. ( if anyone wants me to I will search this out again and post a link). The earlier 451 (2006 to 2014) with robotic automatic gearbox can be towed. I had one with an Armitage’s towbar and towed it without issue, having checked first with Mercedes dealership. As others have said, with this one you just need to check it is in Neutral first.

Thank you

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Why don't you ask Armitages if they will guarantee, in writing, to take on all warranty responsibility for a Smart Car towed by one of their devices? I think we both know what the answer would be.

When I had my 451 fitted at Armitage’s they went to great pains to check that it was a 451, as at the time they could not do a 453. I see from this post that they do one now but it costs a lot more. I wonder if they have found a way to add lubrication to the gearbox?

 

[Deleted member 29692]

When I had my 451 fitted at Armitage’s they went to great pains to check that it was a 451, as at the time they could not do a 453. I see from this post that they do one now but it costs a lot more. I wonder if they have found a way to add lubrication to the gearbox?

Did they guarantee any remaining warranty on your car?

If they have found a way that works without harming the car and they're in any way a serious or reputable company why haven't they obtained approval from Mercedes? They could claim exclusivity - the ONLY Mercedes officially approved A frame for Smart Cars. That would be good for another few hundred quid on their selling price.

Could it be that they're not that sure of their product? Or maybe they have tried and Mercedes have found it to be not quite as good as they claim?

Someone basically saying Mercedes are wrong and we're right without publishing any evidence (not sales and marketing material) to back it up should ring alarm bells straight away.

 

[Ninjabob]

Most Brits that like to tow crap about buy a caravan

Constructive comment - thanks for your input.

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[Mr Chrysalis]

Did they guarantee any remaining warranty on your car?

If they have found a way that works without harming the car and they're in any way a serious or reputable company why haven't they obtained approval from Mercedes? They could claim exclusivity - the ONLY Mercedes officially approved A frame for Smart Cars. That would be good for another few hundred quid on their selling price.

Could it be that they're not that sure of their product? Or maybe they have tried and Mercedes have found it to be not quite as good as they claim?

Someone basically saying Mercedes are wrong and we're right without publishing any evidence (not sales and marketing material) to back it up should ring alarm bells straight away.

@NickNic i think you misread my post. Mine was a 451.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

@NickNic i think you misread my post. Mine was a 451.

Based on the information in post #19 I don't think I've misread anything.

Even if I have most of the post still applies. If they are so sure about their product why haven't that obtained official approval from Mercedes?