Toad question.

[gus-lopez]

& people wonder why they aren't legal elsewhere in the EU

 

[gus-lopez]

There is a sticker on my Caratow frame which actually states the Ball Height must not exceed 16"?

Which is just under the max legal height.

The EC Directive 94/20/EC (The standard that all towbars are designed to) states that the tow ball height should be between 350 and 420mm from the ground with the vehicle in a 'laden' state.

 

[tonyidle]

The bungee is actually from the seat frame to the bottom of the steering wheel. On the smart car up to 2014 If the steering wheel is a triple as is on mine

The bungee strap goes between the lower section back to the seat. As regards a full turn left or right..it is physically prevented from allowing the steering wheel to turn through 180 degrees. This in itself prevents the steering from chattering or 'wobbling' because of t preventing movement beyond a point to cause it.

The bungee can or could break i am sure but to be honest...how long is a piece of string? It will give to the point of return and then reset. We have been around islands and tight turns of varying types. It has not failed us yet . That does not mean it will not of course.
Then ...I would buy a new bungee!
If there is a fault...then it comes down to the scuffing of the tyres on the front. Why?.......Because the steering wheel is prevented from going past a point to allow a full turn . With the strap /bungee attached...it prevents to the point of allowing a turn but not a full lock turn.
Hopefully my opinion will not come across as if 'I am God' on Smart cars and tow frames! Trust me ...I am not. I just feel comfortable with what we have and Therefore we are more than happy with how it performs

Kind regards Kev

I wasn't sure whether a bungee would be enough to stop it going past a 1/4 turn - obviously it is. Tyre scrub shouldn't be an issue anyway given the limited number of times a very sharp turn is made. Here's proper tyre scrub .

 

[PeteH]

Reversing an "A" frame is not something recommended. The stresses imposed on the frame, chassis (both vehicles), and tow bar, will be outside design parameters. Like most who use one, yes, I too have done it!, but I would definitely caution against it as regular practice. Normally the time it takes to UN-hitch and turn both vehicles separately is not that great. I have actually reversed one several yards on a winding lane, but we did it by putting a driver in the toad who kept the wheels in line with the kerb, after disconnecting the braking cable, and I could watch the whole thing in the rear camera, we did it basically because the (French) road was too narrow to turn the R-V anyway. (Sat Nav gave us wrong turn, into a dead end, you learn the hard way about that too!).

 

[PeteH]

& people wonder why they aren't legal elsewhere in the EU

That is purely because the EU is so far out of step with the UK and other Civilised country`s. And Who`s legal systems are based around the warped thinking of a little dictator, who got a good hiding at Waterloo.

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[The Dotties]

Can I just point out, That the Smart shown likely has a Manual Gearbox?. Virtually ALL manual cars can be "flat towed". It (the manual option) became available Circa 2014. I KNOW it was available in the American Market.

If the manual Smartie has a conventional gearbox (not robotic) it cannot be towed under any circumstances as the gearbox will have no oil circulating. The gearbox is fed by the engine.
Modern dual clutch Smarties can, allegedly be towed. There is a chapter on how in the official MB handbook for the American market. I have gone as far as proving the neutral gearing is easy to achieve, but MB Europe won’t officially approve it as it is illegal in the German market. However, when the warranty is over....
..

The edit will take you to the 453 smartie American page

 

[PeteH]

it cannot be towed under any circumstances as the gearbox will have no oil circulating

That I did not know, but would effectively apply to nearly ALL manual cars with Front wheel drive. Most get sufficient "Splash" to prevent seizure. Exceptions might be if it had a "Dry Sump" lubrication system. It would be interesting to look at the latest gearbox as I think It is the same as the Renault Box, as Fitted to the Twingo?. I do not know of any manufacturer who will warrant the long distance flat towing of their vehicles manual or not. But as we are all too aware 99% of manual cars are capable of being so travelled, as indeed thousands of Americans cars do and few if any suffer gearbox damage directly attributable to said practice. As For dual clutch systems, My understanding is that one or the other are always engaged?. But I see no reason why if there is a "Real" neutral. they could not be towed? I suspect technically they have more in common with the old "preselect" boxes?. Which if memory serves, relied on brake bands to engage the various gear sets?. My only issue was with my early Smart, (02) It had a "brain" glitch which gave FALSE neutrals at circa 35k mile, and led to the demise of the box and engine!. But that IMV is an exception.

 

[The Dotties]

Pete,
My knowledge of the smartie gearbox is limited. Severely.
All I can relate to is reading I’ve done trying to get around buying a new smartie (auto) which I couldn't tow. I got a tip off from @Chrysalis with regard to the American site. The American drivers handbook has been altered to include the method. I did get several e mails from customer support at MB Europe outlining the legal angle, but they wouldn’t commit to the fact that they could be towed. They did confirm it was the same basic car for the American market as the European one.
I’ve got a year left on the warranty and then I will review.
The 453 is a big leap forward in driving pleasure from the 451.
@PeteH

 

[tonyidle]

That I did not know, but would effectively apply to nearly ALL manual cars with Front wheel drive.

Most, if not all, manual FWD vehicles still use 'splash' lubrication. Most front engine RWD cars use splash lubrication but a few have a pump mainly to ensure rear (prop sleeve) bearing lubrication. All Fortwo Smarts are rear engine RWD - I'm not familiar with Forfour Smarts.

 

[tonyidle]

The 453 is a big leap forward in driving pleasure from the 451

I have the auto 453 and it certainly has a brilliant twin-clutch gearbox - probable the best, auto or manual, I've driven. I tow it on a trailer.

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[The Dotties]

That's what I'm doing at present, but storage is becoming a problem.

 

[gus-lopez]

That is purely because the EU is so far out of step with the UK and other Civilised country`s. And Who`s legal systems are based around the warped thinking of a little dictator, who got a good hiding at Waterloo.

Reversing an "A" frame is not something recommended. The stresses imposed on the frame, chassis (both vehicles), and tow bar,

& you are on the side of the road trying to convince the Guardia that it is a "trailer"

 

[PeteH]

& you are on the side of the road trying to convince the Guardia that it is a "trailer"

No, The Guardia, watching me take all the stuff out of the car, and on realising I was going to Abandon it on their motorway, Told me to "go". THAT`s why I never towed anything that owed me more than a few quid! in Spain.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

I wasn't sure whether a bungee would be enough to stop it going past a 1/4 turn - obviously it is. Tyre scrub shouldn't be an issue anyway given the limited number of times a very sharp turn is made. Here's proper tyre scrub .

Wow they actually show it happeniong in that clip at 0.45 you can hear it slapping away and see the steering wheel thrashing around not a lot of lock to lock but a definite oscillation, AND that is their promotion film!!!!!!!!!!!!!