Towing a Smart Car

[DavidofHook]

Has anyone any experience of towing a Smart car? We currently take bikes and hardly use the van once it is on the pitch. Having a car may be our next step.
Although it seems logical to use the van for trips etc actually doing so can involve a fair bit of hassle before you go. Also, if you park in an out of way place to go, say, walking then it is at risk of thieves and, particularly in a foreign country, it holds everything you own including iPads , computers, tickets, money etc.

 

[choplee]

I think that's more for the motorhome guys giving you more space luxury and independence when on- site .
Not sure the insurance company would like it ,as its not like a caravan that is purpose to be towed ...
Doable ,but never known a Vw campervan to do it other than towing a broken down car home ..

 

[GrannyJen]

Not something that I would contemplate.

I would prefer to be more proficient and practiced at packing up and just going, which is another thing that I get quite anal about, seeing how quick I can do it.

Going off topic, Some rather grim people in a big house down the road have a smart car. Every time I see it I can't help but burst into laughter as it is the only thing in that place that can possibly be labelled smart.

 

[Freeley]

Has anyone any experience of towing a Smart car? We currently take bikes and hardly use the van once it is on the pitch. Having a car may be our next step.
Although it seems logical to use the van for trips etc actually doing so can involve a fair bit of hassle before you go. Also, if you park in an out of way place to go, say, walking then it is at risk of thieves and, particularly in a foreign country, it holds everything you own including iPads , computers, tickets, money etc.

I've been wondering about this myself lately we also like to leave the cali set up once on site. It's a right pain having to remove roof cover (if using it), remove bedding, lower roof, turn seats around, pack away, remove chocks, then have to do it all in reverse when you get back later in the day.
We don't have bikes so it limits your range a bit when exploring.
My mother in law recently bought a vw up and I quite fancy the idea of towing it the next time we go abroad.
Not looked into insurance etc yet though

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[Meoncoast]

For me the Cali was the ideal camper and daily drive (only car) Camping setting up and breaking from site is so quick - have used tents and trailer tents in the past also we tend to tour in the van so only one or two days per site think if we felt the need to leave the Cali on site and have a small car feel we would never had bought camper would have bought a caravan

tow car + caravan or Cali + towed car (to me it is a car+ a caravan with a engine)

 

[SimplyDubs]

For me the Cali was the ideal camper and daily drive (only car) Camping setting up and breaking from site is so quick - have used tents and trailer tents in the past also we tend to tour in the van so only one or two days per site think if we felt the need to leave the Cali on site and have a small car feel we would never had bought camper would have bought a caravan

tow car + caravan or Cali + towed car (to me it is a car+ a caravan with a engine)

Tend to agree here... From my perspective, this is the difference between a Camper and a Caravan+Car....

If I was towing... I'd get something that was designed to be towed. Small Car plus Cali price... Get's you a decent car plus a very good caravan.

Caravanning isn't for me... but I can see why people do it. No need to setup and breakdown when you want to move about, all the space you could want plus all the internal facilities.

Towing car defeats a lot of the advantages of a campervan over a motorhome... small enough to park in Tesco's/Multistories. etc

But each to their own... I've know quite a few die hard Cali fans who after a few years have traded in for a Big motorhome as it started to suit them a little better.

Never really understood the motorhome + towed car piece... always seemed that they really were looking for the caravan experience.

Rgds

M

 

[Paul1]

Before owning the Cali I towed a Smart car behind my A class motorhome. No trouble at all when on the road but don't forget you have to store the trailer on site ( some charge for this) you strap the four wheels, and when you get lost down a narrow road and want to do a U turn things can get a bit frustrating. Paul.

 

[johnv]

but a little moped/scooter type thing might be useful

 

[Californiaman]

e-bikes.. I can heartily recommend Kalkhoff. You still have to pedal but they make light work of big roads and traffic filled junctions etc.

 

[Andy]

I have been thinking about buying a Smart 4 2 as a local runaround. I get awful mpg here in Milton Keynes in the Cali.
Then I got thinking about towing it behind the Cali, primarily for use when we do linear walks.

Reading up on the legal side it appears that the law is about to change. This will mean that any towed vehicle has to have brakes that have a 50% function of vehicle brakes. This means added cost of buying the braking system as well as the towing frame.
Alternative way to do it is on a trailer, but as has been said you then have to store this at home & on campsites.

Never really understood the motorhome + towed car piece... always seemed that they really were looking for the caravan experience.

You've missed the point, a motorhome can not get into small places & is expensive on fuel so they tow a small car to use as a runaround to get where motorhome can not go.

 

[jamesC]

While I might agree with some of the stuff on this thread, I think if you want to tow a small car.... why not!!

Their have been many occasions when I have thought a tiny tow car would be an awesome and useful accessory!!

 

[Retiredron]

Our Cali and small runabout, don't think I would want to tow it though :crazy

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[James]

 

[DavidofHook]

James, that is what I have been after and then I could tow the Cali!

 

[calikev]

Try this one

 

[gamort]

James, that looks like a hearse for horses.

 

[James]

James, that looks like a hearse for horses.

LOL can you imagine the tiny engine hauling this

 

[SimplyDubs]

Never really understood the motorhome + towed car piece... always seemed that they really were looking for the caravan experience.

You've missed the point, a motorhome can not get into small places & is expensive on fuel so they tow a small car to use as a runaround to get where motorhome can not go.

Not really missed the point... even easier with a car and caravan. Most of the same benefits... and not having to pull the weight of two engines and running gear around. (My opinion and certainly not backed up by any real facts or experience... never driven a motorhome, never towed a caravan)

But it's only my opinion and I'm flawed in oh so many ways.

Reality is if you want to do... do it... If you want other peoples opinions ask them...

I do agree when it's also your main vehicle, not purely recreation... then the decision drivers are a little different.

On the other hand... there's a lot of people who create T5 camping trailers to tow behind their T5...

The world is full of variety and all the better for it.

As a associated diversion...I always wondered, if I towed my bay window behind the Cali... would I have to take two pitches? (I have seriously considered this for some of the shows since we can't drive all 4 of the VW's between the two of us)

Personally still don't get the motorhome towing a car thing...

 

[SimplyDubs]

Love this...

 

[SimplyDubs]

There's always an option of a demountable...



or



But I think I may be getting away from the point of the O.P.

 

[DavidofHook]

Ok ok Simplydubs, let me explain.
We camp for long periods in Spain and France 4 weeks or more. Under those circumstances a car and caravan is better, one reason being that you can drive around site- seeing without having to take your camp apart And Vans and Motorhomes parked outside, say, Lidl's in parts of Spain are subject to the risk of break in and also you have the same risks parking up in the mountains for walking. I could lose my iPad!

But I do not like towing a caravan and love the Cali. Towing a small car is not ideal but it does mean that once in Spain we can leave the Cali on site and whizz around in the Smart. Hence my post. And, rather than sitting outside guarding the Cali I could walk around Lidl's with Mrs Davidofhook and restrain any excessive expenditure she might be thinking of!
But thank you everybody for the comments , I had not thought of parking a trailer, even worse having to pay for it although no one seems to think that it would be a problem to actually do the towing.
,

 

[SimplyDubs]

But I do not like towing a caravan and love the Cali.
,

And that indeed is the thing that really matters... and something I can relate to.

Rgds

Mark

 

[DavidofHook]

Thanks for the witty(?) posts Mark.

A meeting of minds has been achieved!

David

 

[Andy]

But I do not like towing a caravan and love the Cali.
,

And that indeed is the thing that really matters... and something I can relate to.

Rgds

Mark

Me too

 

[choplee]

Before owning the Cali I towed a Smart car behind my A class motorhome. No trouble at all when on the road but don't forget you have to store the trailer on site ( some charge for this) you strap the four wheels, and when you get lost down a narrow road and want to do a U turn things can get a bit frustrating. Paul.

good call paul1 .....they will charge you for the trailer and extra car at alot of campsites ....