Talk To Me About Smart Cars And Trailers!

[Minxy]

View attachment 730268 View attachment 730269 View attachment 730270

Don't suppose you have the reg no on retention do you?

 

[TonyEmm]

We have Smart for Two, an inheritance from my dad, super little car surprisingly large boot, easily swallows a weeks shopping and no road tax. We tow on a twin axle trailer which I lightly modified to also take our two electric mountain bikes, it’s a great combination, we also pack our 4m inflatable Kaboat plus electric outboard and floatation aids etc etc into the Smart.
View attachment 730313
This is prior to our last trip to Spain last year.

That’s the way to do it!

 

[Ninjabob]

We have a 2012 Smart For Two Diesel Cabrio with electronic A Frame. We have towed it over 10000 miles without issue. It is very easy (less than 10 minutes) to couple and decouple. It will do 70mpg on rural roads. The 800cc Diesel is the only engine that was made by Mercedes and once run in (10000mls) is nice and torquey and fun to drive. The Diesel never had MHD (not sure where someone got that idea) and flat towing does not stress the vehicle in any detrimental way. Cabrio is great fun when the sun comes out and the ease of parking a 2.5mtr car is one of life's remaining joys. £0 road tax is a bonus.

I also have a 2018 For Two 0.9 turbo Petrol DSG Auto which is a totally different car altogether. Much more comfortable, fantastic turning circle (will make you smile), 45-50 mpg, terrific to drive in town and capable of 80mph cruising without suffering from crosswinds which could be an issue on the old model. Great fun but automatic cannot be flat towed (A Frame) and has to be trailered. The manual can be flat towed.

Why have I still got the old one - because it can be A Framed and on holiday it is great fun.

A trailer, which I am still contemplating for the later SMART would be a giant pain in the ar£e both manoeuvring at home and on site. It will also be another thing to maintain. The purchase cost would be irrelevant as they hold their value extremely well.

 

[gus-lopez]

Janie loved her little car, I hated it and only drove it once in 4 years, I found the ride very hard probably best described as driving a go cart ....

Yes my mate bought one that is exactly like you describe + a gear change that is indescribable. he sold a suzuki wagon owned from new with only 60k on it to buy this as road tax was far cheaper but his wife refuses to drive it as it has no power steering

and flat towing does not stress the vehicle in any detrimental way.

apart from pulling on the chassis rails & bulkhead which they were never homologated to be used for.

 

[A S R]

We bought a Suzuki Ignis which runs on fumes, turns on a sixpence and tows nicely behind the van. Also, probably the only small car that can take a towbar, so we take the trailer home when the van is in storage. Worth a look!

Yep, good shout.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TonyEmm]

. The Diesel never had MHD (not sure where someone got that idea) and flat towing does not stress the vehicle in any detrimental way.

You may well be right about diesel and MHD, it was a long time ago, but our’s was definitely MHD, maybe the fact my missus stuck diesel in it once confused me!
Doesn’t alter the fact about the belts and Mercedes’ claimed fuel consumption…. I wouldn’t touch another MHD with a barge pole…

 

[dominic C]

Hi all , I've just bought a knuas skywave 700meg, I'm about to stick a towbar on it and drag my yaris ( gr) on a trailer round Europe and into Spain, how much aggravation is it having a trailer?

Newbie mh, but had caravans in the past, no issues licenses wise as I have a class 1

Just after real world help

 

[flyboyprowler]

It's no real problem towing a trailer with a car. Just make sure that the car is lashed down properly and that you are within the towing weight allowance for both trailer and motorhome combined. Sites here in Spain appear to take trailers, but may need to park them outside the site while stored, so security for the trailer is also a good idea.

 

[Ninjabob]

You may well be right about diesel and MHD, it was a long time ago, but our’s was definitely MHD, maybe the fact my missus stuck diesel in it once confused me!
Doesn’t alter the fact about the belts and Mercedes’ claimed fuel consumption…. I wouldn’t touch another MHD with a barge pole…

The MHD was only on the Mitsubishi Petrol Engines. The Diesel CDI (Mercedes) does not have a cam belt.

The 453 petrols are timing chain - no cam belt.

apart from pulling on the chassis rails & bulkhead which they were never homologated to be used for.

Pulling on the chassis - very marginal as normally make use of the existing manufacturers towing eye point with an identical towing eye created on a modified exchanged beam thus splitting the strain evenly across the front. From my own experience 95% of the towing done behind is with the towcar freewheeling. The real strain on the components comes with the other 5% of the time under braking. My manufacturer recommends inspection intervals based on mileage of the towing eyes. Badly maintained trailers are a regular feature in Motorway Breakdowns as they tend to get neglected by their owners. Most people at least do some servicing to their cars.

 

[TonyEmm]

We have a 2012 Smart For Two Diesel Cabrio with electronic A Frame. .. .. flat towing does not stress the vehicle in any detrimental way.

I totally disagree with you on this!
There are lateral stresses imposed by having fixed arms on the a-frame, when changing direction, one arm is under compression while the other is under tension.
There can also be rotational stresses imposed by accelerating and braking.

Add to that the fact that the towed car is being dragged around corners, causing stress on wheels/tyres, steering geometry, wheel bearings and so on….
Then of course, there’s reversing!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ninjabob]

Then of course, there’s reversing!!

Reversing is a no no agreed

Reversing a short trailer isn't the easiest of things to do either

 

[Platelet]

WOW! That’s a mess! Tough little cars though…. Hope you’re all well!

A Smart car is one of the few vehicles the Fire Service has trouble with using the shears.

 

[mustangmike]

We tow a fiat Abarth 595 on 4 wheel trailer all through Europe. No problem on most site. Just needs a little research before rocking up.
Then you got a proper fun car to enjoy.
Normally keep the trailer on the pitch next to the van, acts as a sun lounger

 

[dominic C]

Cheers Mike appreciate that how long do you normally stay on sites for ?

 

[dominic C]

We tow a fiat Abarth 595 on 4 wheel trailer all through Europe. No problem on most site. Just needs a little research before rocking up.
Then you got a proper fun car to enjoy.
Normally keep the trailer on the pitch next to the van, acts as a sun lounger

do you have to pay for a extra pitch ?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Speve]

do you have to pay for a extra pitch ?

I’ve been towing a twin wheeled trailer with a car on for over eight years without hassle and certainly not paid extra pitch fees in the EU

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

View attachment 730268 View attachment 730269 View attachment 730270

Looks like it will buff out ok

 

[Carpmart]

Hi all , I've just bought a knuas skywave 700meg, I'm about to stick a towbar on it and drag my yaris ( gr) on a trailer round Europe and into Spain, how much aggravation is it having a trailer?

Newbie mh, but had caravans in the past, no issues licenses wise as I have a class 1

Just after real world help

Nice car… would love a Gazoo Yaris!

I’ve not towed a trailer in Spain, but it will be more agro pulling up at aires and stowing the trailer that without.

But worth it, some of the mountain roads I enjoy in Spain on the Motorbike would be next level hooning in a GR Yaris.

 

[Minxy]

Normally keep the trailer on the pitch next to the van, acts as a sun lounger

do you have to pay for a extra pitch ?

It's how you read it, I had to double check when I first read it too as I thought he meant he'd put it on an adjacent pitch however as he said on 'the' pitch next to the van and using it as a sun lounger I assume it is on 'his' pitch, so no extra pitch required.

 

[dominic C]

A 595

It's how you read it, I had to double check when I first read it too as I thought he meant he'd put it on an adjacent pitch however as he said on 'the' pitch next to the van and using it as a sun lounger I assume it is on 'his' pitch, so no extra pitch required.

ARRRRRRR i see what you mean, " leaning "

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[dominic C]

I’ve been towing a twin wheeled trailer with a car on for over eight years without hassle and certainly not paid extra pitch fees in the EU

cheers , trying to figure out if it will be worth the aggro, and even though ive no issue pulling it , its all new to me this motorhome malarky

 

[TonyEmm]

I’ve been towing a twin wheeled trailer with a car on for over eight years without hassle and certainly not paid extra pitch fees in the EU

Whilst I haven’t done it recently, I regularly towed a twin axle trailer in the U.K. and have never paid extra. The odd occasion in France too!

 

[Speve]

cheers , trying to figure out if it will be worth the aggro, and even though ive no issue pulling it , its all new to me this motorhome malarky

Well IMHO if you need the car to something you enjoy then its well worth it and as far as I’m concerned it’s no aggro at all

 

[mustangmike]

Sad I know but I enjoy towing the trailer makes me feel like an HGV driver
nearly alway goes on the same pitch,if unsure phone ahead. seldom been charged extra.
Great having a fun car for discovering areas. Mainly used for longer stays in Spain Or remote area in the UK etc.

 

[Spawn_e_git]

Sad I know but I enjoy towing the trailer makes me feel like an HGV driver
nearly alway goes on the same pitch,if unsure phone ahead. seldom been charged extra.
Great having a fun car for discovering areas. Mainly used for longer stays in Spain Or remote area in the UK etc.

What size trailer do you use?

Have 595 myself, brought a MTA with plan to A-frame it but cannot bring myself to send it off to be butchered for the cross member. Also £3K for the fitting is a nice trailer that can be used for other things or a lot of hire cars.

There are a few trailers around on market place but my main concern is getting the correct one that can take the trailer without damaging the front splitter.

Any pics, details would be greatly appreciated.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mustangmike]

What size trailer do you use?

Have 595 myself, brought a MTA with plan to A-frame it but cannot bring myself to send it off to be butchered for the cross member. Also £3K for the fitting is a nice trailer that can be used for other things or a lot of hire cars.

There are a few trailers around on market place but my main concern is getting the correct one that can take the trailer without damaging the front splitter.

Any pics, details would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mustangmike]

Woodford trailer roughly 3k. Travels well. Can recommend

 

[mustangmike]

A frame is not total legal in Europe.
Some folk get away with it.
Others stoped, fined? Told to decouple & drive separately.
Pays your money takes your chance.
As you see from the pics the trailer is very stable.
Hope this helps your choice

 

[Stumbleweed]

We took a different approach - got a bigger trailer and tow the daily driver currently a BMW 3 series. Saves buying a second car and all its associated costs. Ours is a Woodford WBT131 £3.5k new in 2019. It's been useful for moving other vehicles too. Never had to pay for trailer parking here or Europe.

 

[lochness]

I’m seriously thinking about getting a Smart car and definitely a trailer ( not A frame ) to tow behind my Burstner Elegance. I know absolutely nothing about Smart cars and have never even been in one! It won’t be my main car and I’m always on my own. Is there plenty of room for a big rucksack and camping gear because I’ll be using it only for hiking trips once parked up on a site somewhere? I don’t need anything new either, just reliable. What common faults do they have and what engine is best? Petrol or diesel? Road tax, insurance etc…

I have an MHD. 2009 no ved and economical. Bryan James s Smart Trailer with motor mover, same as on a Caravan. Makes everything so easy.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}