Towing a Smart Car

[gatvol]

Nay, nay and thrice nay.

Would make more sense to flog the Cali, buy a similar aged motorhome, tow Smart with motorhome, donate surplus cash to charity

 

[jts46]

Why not hire a small car or motor scooter, have just come back from Italy and plenty of car hire firms to choose from and quite cheap.

 

[MarkW]

Hi David,

I'd suggest re-wording your question "Is it technically possible to tow a smart car?"

Unfortunately everyone has their personal view on Cali ownership and lifestyle choices...

 

[Retiredron]

Why not hire a small car or motor scooter, have just come back from Italy and plenty of car hire firms to choose from and quite cheap.

Good idea what with the cost of Smart car, towing frame or trailer,extra ferry cost, extra fuel cost, restricted speed, can go on and on !

 

[Meoncoast]

http://www.t1trailers.com/

how about this :lol:

 

[Andy]

http://www.t1trailers.com/

how about this :lol:

That does not answer the OPs questions !!!

 

[MrSheen]

We have just purchased a Smart Car and have bought a second hand A frame trailor off Ebay.

Will be great to leave the Cali behind with our Vango Kela attached and drive off in the car for the day

 

[SimonB]

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.

You'll like this Smart car that I saw up near me recently then. Always thought some of the owners were a little smug. This one has a sense of humour too.

 

[Andy]

Yes it is very possible to tow smart car behind the cali.
I bought an 09 smart for two at the beginning of the year in the cold weather. My cali was not getting up to temperature when I got to work (6 miles) in the very cold weather. I had to continue passed work for another two miles. Decided it was not doing cali engine any good. Cheaper & easier to replace the engine in the smart.
I purchased an A frame to tow the Smart, although this has it's own problems it works well for me.
The smart is a hoot to drive & sticks to the road like glue. It is 84 bhp variable valve timing turbo 700cc. Not the most comfortable ride, but hey ho.
Like the cali there is a lot of smart forums which have a lot of info just like here.

 

[Californiaman]

Andy, that is just begging for a GSXR lump being shoe horned in...

 

[Borris]

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.
,

Using a bit of lateral thinking, how about one of these instead of a smart car?
Advantage: less wear and tear on the Cali. Just unload it when you get to your holiday destination and off you go in the flat bed!

 

[sidepod]

Yes it is very possible to tow smart car behind the cali.
I bought an 09 smart for two at the beginning of the year in the cold weather. My cali was not getting up to temperature when I got to work (6 miles) in the very cold weather. I had to continue passed work for another two miles. Decided it was not doing cali engine any good. Cheaper & easier to replace the engine in the smart.
I purchased an A frame to tow the Smart, although this has it's own problems it works well for me.
The smart is a hoot to drive & sticks to the road like glue. It is 84 bhp variable valve timing turbo 700cc. Not the most comfortable ride, but hey ho.
Like the cali there is a lot of smart forums which have a lot of info just like here.


View attachment 15986

Out of interest, how do these rigs behave when reversing in a tight spot?

 

[Raggedroy]

An interesting article on towing.
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=18

 

[sidepod]

I'd imagine the vast majority of units towing stuff are illegal.

 

[Andy]

I'd imagine the vast majority of units towing stuff are illegal.

Sweeping statement, care to expand & give us your reasons behind this ????

BTW mine is TOTALLY legal.

 

[Andy]

Out of interest, how do these rigs behave when reversing in a tight spot?

Smarts are not good going backwards, especially the ones with power steering like mine. In short I can reverse foe a couple of metres then the smarts front wheels develop a mind of their own, going from one lock to the other. I believe this is due to lack of weight over the front.
I am going to try tieing steering wheel with a bungee cord

 

[Andy]

Andy, that is just begging for a GSXR lump being shoe horned in...

Check out some of the vids on youtube. Hyabusa engines in them & they go like stink !!