henry Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hi folks where should we look for smart car with a frame and should i not be on this site moderators!??? many thanks mavis :$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Oh Boy, here we go again. Stand by for a flood of postings telling you why you shouldn't use an A frame, shouldn't tow a Smart on its wheels, might not even want a Smart if you'd ever driven one etc. Where to find one with an A frame? I'd try advertising it in the wanted section of this site for a start, Ebay might yield a couple of Smarts but I doubt if you'll find one on there with an A frame. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Dave Newell - 2007-02-21 6:22 PM Oh Boy, here we go again. Stand by for a flood of postings telling you why you shouldn't use an A frame, shouldn't tow a Smart on its wheels, might not even want a Smart if you'd ever driven one etc. Where to find one with an A frame? I'd try advertising it in the wanted section of this site for a start, Ebay might yield a couple of Smarts but I doubt if you'll find one on there with an A frame. D. Dave - smart car = city car! Ab fab in cities - there is nowt better in that environment - you should try one on larger wheels than standard and with a remap - beautifully steady even at 105mph! You will find a-frames on Ebay - -there's a company in Chester I think that makes them and sells them on Ebay. As long as the car is in neutral - Getrag, who make the gearboxes, say you can tow them. Indeed, I know people who have towed smarts for tens of thousands of miles with no issues. Now, a friend of mine asked them the question and they confirmed towing was not an issue. Personally, I'd find a Brian James trailer and buy that - secondhand about £700-900. That is about as cheap as converting the car and is much safer - you'll always be able to resell the trailer for what you paid for it - I doubt you could do that with an A frame. Campbell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empress Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Henry, My brother in law has towed his Smart behind his American motorhome for the last four to five years with, touchwood, no problems, both in this country and France. Best wishes, Empress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixters other half Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 We tow Bridget ( Smart passion) on a Brian James trailer no problems. I would be reluctant to go the A frame route, a) reversing issues and b) its not legal although is tolerated -but for how long? With my luck it would be banned the day after I bought one! Very economical to run and you can get a surprising amount of stuff in the back. Dont try and insure it with Saga - they wont accept it on the grounds its too easy to write off. How they establish that fact is beyond me or is it more to do with the client base? My only gripe is I cant park it neatly - nothing to line it up with I suppose. VoH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 I find its a personal choice thing and with the Smart its either love it or hate it. Personally I hate them, I know they might well be a fantastic city car but having driven one I found it to be jerky and like driving an over ambitious roller skate. I'm not saying don't have one, if you've driven one and like it then great, go for it. I just don't like them and as for doing 105MPH in one, well that's never going to happen with me on board! D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Ord Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 There is an issue with the Smart Car when being towed according to Mercedes, it's to do with the transmission and limits speed and distance when being towed on an A frame. However it doesn't seem to be a problem in "real life" but it would be advisable to contact MB to check as to the limitations. Bill Ord Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeontour Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Hi We've had a Smart for 3 years. A fantastic fun car. OK, it's not suitable for long distance daily commuting, (although I have done journeys of over 200 miles in it), but it's a hoot to drive and easy to park in places a 'normal' car can't get. Our family is fortunate to have a choice of cars, and guess which one is always taken first! I have towed it all over UK and EU on a Towtal A-frame with no hassle at all. The laws of physics say that it's nigh on impossible to reverse a short trailer pushed by a long wheelbase RV. It's much easier to sort out reversing problems with an a-frame than a trailer as the car can drive away from the problem. Anyone like to push a one tonne plus trailer? I bought mine from Smart/Merc. They confirmed that as long as the car was in neutral and the handbrake brake off (common sense surely), there was no problem towing wheels down. That's because the Getrag gearbox is an electronically shifted manual box, nothing like a standard auto box. Indeed I have seen them towing cars in that way themselves! If you want to buy a Smart it is important that it has been regularly serviced. Stick to the 'classic' Coupe or ForTwo as it is variously called and try to buy from a specialist dealer who should give a good warranty. Enjoy! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 What frigthtens me about theses A frames is I am on the road when people are using them ... Why do we spend so much money time & effort on M/H to put A frames behind them . Is this not a cheap dangerous way. Still what do I know ? The only thing I do know is if I ever wish to tow a car it would certainly not be on an A frame.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 The biggest irony is that a car on an A frame is illegal because it doesn't meet certain criteria of trailer legislation but a car on an A frame is actually a much more stable trailer for forward direction towing than a normal single or even a twin axled trailer. The alleged problem of towing Smarts with wheels down isn't actually anything to do with it being auto or ASM (Auto Shifted Manual). The real (potential) problem lies in the fact that the gearbox lubrication system uses an input shaft driven pump which is only operational with the engine running. The upshot of this is that if the engine is not running then gearbox lubrication is minimal while many of its components are turning. the reality is that many people have towed Smarts on their wheels for thousands of miles without incident. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Dave . i agree and for us if we ever feel the need it's definately a proper trailer not an A frame I have seen them swinging in the wind ....so to speak. all go's tits up when it swings past the M/H. Not for me. Frineds came off on the way back from corwall we had to dump in a ditch thank god they all survived and we were not going fast 55ish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicwo Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Hi folks---My first Smart was bought in 1999. I dont call it a car more a dry motorbike. Its the spare motor for the Tesco run. Had that one 6 years without a single problem. Bought a scratch black cabrio 2 years ago. Get down the Rhone with the roof back and sun shining and you have it all. I use a Woodford Smart car trailer, just as good and cheaper than Brian James. Would not entertain an a-frame because the Smart cost me my pennies so it needs TLC. Why wear it out when you can put it on a trailer? The trailer is never a problem on site its not that long and my cat uses it as a climbing frame. Dont knock Smarts if you have never tried one for a week or two. Had mine re-mapped and it goes like the wind. Dave Newell you fancy a blast? Take care all. Vic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Smarts are fine not knocking .. It's the A frame I dont like?.IMO dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Thanks for the offer but I'll pass if its all the same to you. I fitted a cruise control to one once in Essex and was appalled by the jerkiness of the ride while road testing it. I'm not knocking them for those that like 'em but by the same token please don't try to convert me to liking them, I don't and won't! I'm the same about the old beetles, I beleive there should be one, non running, example in every motor museum and the rest should be bull dozed into a big pile and recycled int osomething useful, like beer cans! >:-) D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry1956 Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Hi, Dave I think you need to see the cars for what they are, and knocking the good old VW, how can you ???. It was a run about for the people, and in that role did its job 100%. The fact that so many are still running shows have easy they are to work on and own, You can,t say that about a porsche 911 can you. As to the smart took one out for a shopping run once and it did the job great, It was not made for long runs, just a fun car, maybe you took out a bad one. Smarts a VW,s are great fun, mine you so is the 911 until its time to service the thing, and in 10 years the smart and VW will still be on the road, the 911 will be in the garage with a elec fault, or blown turbo. cars are like people, all the same yet not so. terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicwo Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Beer cans Dave? -- Now we are talking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Right, to get serious for a change and actually try to answer Mavis's original question. Where to look for a Smart and A frame depends to a large extent on your budget. If you can afford a new one then obviously a Smart dealer would be the palce to go. For pre loved try Auto Trader or Ebay (or any one of the other magazines/websites that advertise cars for sale. To find one with an A frame you're probably close to the best place but I'd suggest you puut an advert in the classified "wanted" section of this site. If you find a Smart without an A frame then obviously you need to buy the A frame separate and there are a few firms doing them. Try doing a google search for "A Frames" for a start. Now for the legalities, first of all read the relevant pieces in the frequently asked questions thread at the top of this forum page. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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