Talk To Me About Smart Cars And Trailers!

[mustangmike]

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.

Like the idea of the motor mover.
Any pictures & make please.
We push & pull with straps. Doable
Mike

 

[TonyEmm]

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.

We had an MHD. I wouldn’t recommend one to anyone! See my post #29. Shame,. it was like a Tardis….

p.s. It was petrol, not diesel as stated.

 

[mustangmike]

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

Stay from 3nights to a month.
If you use a stop over where you can keep hooked up one nights are fine. Done this on Many small Uk sites.

 

[TonyEmm]

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.

Definitely the cost effective way to go!

I’ve always used a twin axle transporter trailer. Once you have the balance correct for the car, just fit chocks to the deck, noseweight right every time!

A decent trailer costs around the same as an electronic braked a-frame but, the a-frame will need renewing every time you change the vehicle!

Storage might be the issue for some but that apart, it’s a no brainer IMHO.

I’ve no doubt there’ll be flack coming my way from a group of unfunny ‘funsters’…

 

[Spawn_e_git]

Woodford trailer roughly 3k. Travels well. Can recommend

Do you have the model number?
Woodford Website shows Abarth on one in the blurb but not the model number.

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

 

[TonyEmm]

Do you have the model number?
Woodford Website shows Abarth on one in the blurb but not the model number.

The full spec of Woodford Lightweight Trailers is at https://woodfordtrailers.com/the-lightweight-trailer/#LightweightTrailerSpecification

 

[Spawn_e_git]

The full spec of Woodford Lightweight Trailers is at https://woodfordtrailers.com/the-lightweight-trailer/#LightweightTrailerSpecification

Sure, seen this but I was asking what model @mustangmike has as there are several models and a price difference of ~£700.

 

[lochness]

Like the idea of the motor mover.
Any pictures & make please.
We push & pull with straps. Doable
Mike

Sorry Mike. Not at home so no pics but battery at front of trailer and switches at back. I charge battery with a portable solar panel.

 

[lochness]

Sorry Mike. Not at home so no pics but battery at front of trailer and switches at back. I charge battery with a portable solar panel.

Found pics.

 

[mustangmike]

Sure, seen this but I was asking what model @mustangmike has as there are several models and a price difference of ~£700.

Will look later today

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

 

[TonyEmm]

Sorry Mike. Not at home so no pics but battery at front of trailer and switches at back. I charge battery with a portable solar panel.

Does a solar panel alone charge the battery sufficiently to run the mover? They draw a lot of current!

 

[lochness]

Will look later today

2009 petrol 1000cc mnd

 

[BigPaul]

Ok, anyone selling one with a trailer?

 

[BigPaul]

Yup. For sale. Brian James smart car trailer and convertible smarty 451. Pm me for details or call me 07885 705706.

 

[Philip - Argos]

Hi there, I have a Burstner Argos tag axle motorhome and at the back end of last year, I bought a 2015 Smart Car 453 Series. It us the 899cc turbo engine and the smallest car I have ever owned. My is zero road tax and most of the time I get 50+ mpg. I bought the car to pull behind my MH and I had an A-Frame fiited last December by Armitage Trailers. They did do a good neat job and where good to deal with. The 453 series smart car is wider than previous models and this allows a more stable ride. I haven't dragged it around very much, but when I have it has been fine. Yes it's manual, and I would describe it as a fun car. Only 2 decent seats and the small dog we have is happy in the rear of the car were he can look out of the window. My only reservation about this, it that the MH is already 30ft long and I have now added another 10ft. Hopefully it will prove successful as we start to use it.

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

 

[TonyEmm]

Hi there, I have a Burstner Argos tag axle motorhome and at the back end of last year, I bought a 2015 Smart Car 453 Series. It us the 899cc turbo engine and the smallest car I have ever owned. My is zero road tax and most of the time I get 50+ mpg. I bought the car to pull behind my MH and I had an A-Frame fiited last December by Armitage Trailers. They did do a good neat job and where good to deal with. The 453 series smart car is wider than previous models and this allows a more stable ride. I haven't dragged it around very much, but when I have it has been fine. Yes it's manual, and I would describe it as a fun car. Only 2 decent seats and the small dog we have is happy in the rear of the car were he can look out of the window. My only reservation about this, it that the MH is already 30ft long and I have now added another 10ft. Hopefully it will prove successful as we start to use it.

My thoughts for what it’s worth, is that if you’re comfortable driving a 30ft MoHo, adding a 10ft ‘trailer’ won’t phase you. The weight is unlikely to be an issue and in the scheme of things, it’s relatively small….
Just don’t reverse it! Long Vehicles and short trailers are not a good mix in reverse, though fine going forwards!

 

[dunnah01]

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.

2.6t is ambitious for most moho towbars

 

[mustangmike]

Sure, seen this but I was asking what model @mustangmike has as there are several models and a price difference of ~£700.

Woodford WBT-050 with Central Deck Option Is Mustang Mikes trailer

 

[mustangmike]

My thoughts for what it’s worth, is that if you’re comfortable driving a 30ft MoHo, adding a 10ft ‘trailer’ won’t phase you. The weight is unlikely to be an issue and in the scheme of things, it’s relatively small….
Just don’t reverse it! Long Vehicles and short trailers are not a good mix in reverse, though fine going forwards!

You do get use to reversing them but without an audience

 

[Old and wise 1]

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 been towing a Smart car on an A-frame in the UK for 6 years and on a trailer (made for a Smart car) in France. It's been fantastic. No negatives to report. Great idea. Due to my age and health, I won't be touring abroad anymore, consequently, I'm going to sell the trailer, if you're interested?

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

 

[Spawn_e_git]

Hi there, I have a Burstner Argos tag axle motorhome and at the back end of last year, I bought a 2015 Smart Car 453 Series. It us the 899cc turbo engine and the smallest car I have ever owned. My is zero road tax and most of the time I get 50+ mpg. I bought the car to pull behind my MH and I had an A-Frame fiited last December by Armitage Trailers. They did do a good neat job and where good to deal with. The 453 series smart car is wider than previous models and this allows a more stable ride. I haven't dragged it around very much, but when I have it has been fine. Yes it's manual, and I would describe it as a fun car. Only 2 decent seats and the small dog we have is happy in the rear of the car were he can look out of the window. My only reservation about this, it that the MH is already 30ft long and I have now added another 10ft. Hopefully it will prove successful as we start to use it.

How much does the Smart and A-frame weigh?

I have the same model (well 748 but its the same) and I only have a 1000kg towing allowance to the 1085KG Abarth and 400KG trailer combination is not possible on this MH.

I know there is a small allowance so I would have to get the lightest A-frame I could and hope I fit within the tolerance and take the risk of the £100 fine.

 

[Philip - Argos]

Mine is a Argo 748 so it has a lounge area rather a dinette. I have air suspension on the rear so my (hope I get this right) gross vehicle train weight has gone from 6000 kg to 6500 kg. My Smart car is under 900 kg and the a-frame I would guess it arround 40 kg. The one I have suits cars upto 1200 kg and there is a heavier duty one for cars above that. I do believe some places won't convert Smart Cars as the engine is at the back, they are obviously lighter at the front. As long as you don't drive like a bull in a China shop and carry out all your safety checks, there shouldn't be any issues. Just my thoughts

 

[Stumbleweed]

2.6t is ambitious for most moho towbars

Had it assessed first, it's a fairly beefy Iveco 65C17 chassis with a sturdy factory-fitted chassis extension and Westfalia 23.5kN/150kg towbar

 

[Spawn_e_git]

Mine is a Argo 748 so it has a lounge area rather a dinette. I have air suspension on the rear so my (hope I get this right) gross vehicle train weight has gone from 6000 kg to 6500 kg. My Smart car is under 900 kg and the a-frame I would guess it arround 40 kg. The one I have suits cars upto 1200 kg and there is a heavier duty one for cars above that. I do believe some places won't convert Smart Cars as the engine is at the back, they are obviously lighter at the front. As long as you don't drive like a bull in ⁿa China shop and carry out all your safety checks, there shouldn't be any issues. Just my thoughts

Yeah 748 is much better, one I removed that massive cumbersome table out of the way.
We had ours uprated by SV-Tech 5t to 5.3t and the GWT went from 6 to 6.3 but the towing capacity remains at 1t.
SV did talk about Air suspension but it would not increase the towing allowance.
With the Smart and A-Frame coming in under the 1tin you'll be fine.