Smart Car for Towing Behind Motorhome

[Deleted member 967]

Does anyone tow a Smart car behind their motorhome?

I am looking at doing so but need to know more about the Law abroard!!

I understand from snippets that there are problems in Spain.

How does the fixed bar operate the car brakes? I know I can buy a trailer but it's another bit of junk on a campsite to fit into the pitch.

 

[merlin wanderer]

car towing

Does anyone tow a Smart car behind their motorhome?

I am looking at doing so but need to know more about the Law abroard!!

I understand from snippets that there are problems in Spain.

How does the fixed bar operate the car brakes? I know I can buy a trailer but it's another bit of junk on a campsite to fit into the pitch.

I believe in france bar/frame towing is not permitted
cars have to be on a braked trailer

 

[walkers]

I believe in france bar/frame towing is not permitted
cars have to be on a braked trailer

spain too they do apparentl prosecute, it is also a dodgy area in the uk check direct.gov.uk as i think you can only tow using an a frame ' to move a broken down vehicle to a place of safety' i may be wrong on my interpretation of this

 

[walkers]

towitall website

There are strict regulations on braked trailers and, whilst a braked ‘A’ frame attached to a towed car constitutes a braked trailer, it is not legal for transportation as it cannot comply with EC71/320. With car dollies, the situation is somewhat different. Under regulation 83 of the Road Vehicles (construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI.1986/1078) Amending Regulations, a car dolly, with a car in place, will be considered as two trailers. This is legal for recovery but, under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 (Schedule 6) the combination is limited to 40 mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 20 mph elsewhere http://www.towitall.co.uk/trailer_law/law.htm

 

[Admin]

Smart Cars are one of my specialist subjects! (I also run www.smartmania.co.uk)

They make special transporter trailers for smart cars and they are the best way of transporting them. Because Smart cars are rear engined the axle on the trailer has to be moved backwards so that you have the correct tow point weight, try http://www.bantamtrailers.co.uk/. Smart cars have tiptronic gearboxes and there are guidlines about how far and at what speed you can tow them without damage.

 

[Deleted member 967]

There are strict regulations on braked trailers and, whilst a braked ‘A’ frame attached to a towed car constitutes a braked trailer, it is not legal for transportation as it cannot comply with EC71/320. With car dollies, the situation is somewhat different. Under regulation 83 of the Road Vehicles (construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI.1986/1078) Amending Regulations, a car dolly, with a car in place, will be considered as two trailers. This is legal for recovery but, under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 (Schedule 6) the combination is limited to 40 mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 20 mph elsewhere http://www.towitall.co.uk/trailer_law/law.htm

Thank you for your help. It has cleared the situation up for me. I wondered if a braked frame would be legal, as I have seen them advertised on ebaY and on the road in the UK. I understand that they are legal abroard for 4 wheel Autocycles ie very small light cars which can be driven on a motorcycle licence

 

[Deleted member 967]

Smart Cars are one of my specialist subjects! (I also run www.smartmania.co.uk)

They make special transporter trailers for smart cars and they are the best way of transporting them. Because Smart cars are rear engined the axle on the trailer has to be moved backwards so that you have the correct tow point weight, try http://www.bantamtrailers.co.uk/. Smart cars have tiptronic gearboxes and there are guidlines about how far and at what speed you can tow them without damage.

Thank you for your help. It has cleared the situation up for me. I wondered if a braked frame would be legal, as I have seen them advertised on ebaY and on the road in the UK. I understand that they are legal abroard for 4 wheel Autocycles ie very small light cars which can be driven on a motorcycle licence.

I have seen Smarts on trailers and just needed to sort things out in my mind before deciding which way to go.

I transport a Classic Bike (1961 Norton Jubilee) at present on the motorhome but I am now getting a bit old for serious biking

 

[walkers]

Thank you for your help. It has cleared the situation up for me. I wondered if a braked frame would be legal, as I have seen them advertised on ebaY and on the road in the UK. I understand that they are legal abroard for 4 wheel Autocycles ie very small light cars which can be driven on a motorcycle licence

you are welcome i wouldn't have wanted you to find out the hard way good luck with getting a trailer and enjoy europe

 

[voxol51]

As Admin stated above, Smarts (and some other cars) can be seriously damaged by speed/distance towing.
Whatever the 'greyness' of A framing, if you settle for a Smart, you should definately trailer it. Mechanical damage caused by towing is not covered under warranty.

Voxy

 

[walkers]

Does anyone tow a Smart car behind their motorhome?

I am looking at doing so but need to know more about the Law abroard!!

I understand from snippets that there are problems in Spain.

How does the fixed bar operate the car brakes? I know I can buy a trailer but it's another bit of junk on a campsite to fit into the pitch.

perhaps not for the smart car as it could damage the transmission but maybe other cars within your towing capacity maybe this would be of interest http://www.towingframes.com/index.htm

 

[Nosha]

Trailers

John,
If it's of use to you I work next to Brian James Trailers of Daventry a couple of days a week, and they often have motorhomes in collecting allsorts of trailers inc' a couple of small trailers with Smart cars on.

 

[Nosha]

I must admit if you need to tow a car and trailer and spare wheels and be limited to 56MPH you may as become a caravaner! Or am I missing something??

We used to carry a scooter on the Winne' and now carry a tandem on the M/H, and don't really miss the scooter; afterall if you can't get to the pub, papershop or supermarket in 10mins on a bike... you've parked in the wrong place!!

 

[Guest]

Spot on

I must admit if you need to tow a car and trailer and spare wheels and be limited to 56MPH you may as become a caravaner! Or am I missing something??

We used to carry a scooter on the Winne' and now carry a tandem on the M/H, and don't really miss the scooter; afterall if you can't get to the pub, papershop or supermarket in 10mins on a bike... you've parked in the wrong place!!

Nosha, Exactly my sentiments, could not agree more!

 

[Guest]

Sometimes

I must admit, that sometimes I do get tempted to buy a Honda Scooter (big wheels & 125cc) but for every good reason, I can usually find 2 bad reasons.
Extra tax, insurance and when older MOT.
I might one day but a lot of money for the very few times I would use it.
I also keep on about buying a Sat Nav, but the only reason I want one is for finding French Aires as this year I will be going to France in very high season & will probably struggle to find suitable Municipal campsites & aires with spaces. The Sat Nav would just give more Aires as I can pre load them.
Never need d one before and quite happy with maps for getting from A to B.
Just have to wait and see, still pondering!

 

[pappajohn]

There are strict regulations on braked trailers and, whilst a braked ‘A’ frame attached to a towed car constitutes a braked trailer, it is not legal for transportation as it cannot comply with EC71/320. With car dollies, the situation is somewhat different. Under regulation 83 of the Road Vehicles (construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI.1986/1078) Amending Regulations, a car dolly, with a car in place, will be considered as two trailers. This is legal for recovery but, under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 (Schedule 6) the combination is limited to 40 mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 20 mph elsewhere http://www.towitall.co.uk/trailer_law/law.htm

just found this thread.
for the purposes of the road traffic act this would be classed as a locomotive and as stated would be speed restricted. john.

 

[Guest]

Wash my mouth out

I must admit if you need to tow a car and trailer and spare wheels and be limited to 56MPH you may as become a caravaner! Or am I missing something??

We used to carry a scooter on the Winne' and now carry a tandem on the M/H, and don't really miss the scooter; afterall if you can't get to the pub, papershop or supermarket in 10mins on a bike... you've parked in the wrong place!!

As Nosha said.
You might as well buy a (wash my mouth out & do 500 lines) a caravan!

 

[walkers]

As Nosha said.
You might as well buy a (wash my mouth out & do 500 lines) a caravan!

i think either here or somewhere else towing a car on a trailer or otherwise has been referred to as caravaning in reverse actually i just remembered where mmm magazine i suppose it is really but i tow a trailer when away for more than a couople of days to keep the van less cluttered

 

[Guest]

Trailer

i think either here or somewhere else towing a car on a trailer or otherwise has been referred to as caravaning in reverse actually i just remembered where mmm magazine i suppose it is really but i tow a trailer when away for more than a couople of days to keep the van less cluttered

Good idea to tow a trailer to de-clutter the M/H. But in my opinion and it is only an opinion, if I were going to tow a CAR on a regular basis, I would think it would be better & cheaper to have a car & tow a caravan. (wash my mouth out & 500 lines) More comfortable car for everyday use & bigger living quarters!.(unless the user has a very big A class)
However I can understand having a M/H and towing a car if a person normally goes away with a solo m/h and wants a car with them for a specific journey or journeys. (occasionally,If you get my drift)
This then opens the A frame or Trailer debate.
My preference would be for a trailer to put the car onto. This avoids any legal arguments and keeps mileage and wear & tear off the car. Also a damn sight easier to reverse!
Just an opinion!
Graham
Edit.
Didn't admin post something recently about towing Smart Cars.
Milage limit & warranty implications or something like that.

 

[walkers]

Good idea to tow a trailer to de-clutter the M/H. But in my opinion and it is only an opinion, if I were going to tow a CAR on a regular basis, I would think it would be better & cheaper to have a car & tow a caravan. (wash my mouth out & 500 lines) More comfortable car for everyday use & bigger living quarters!.(unless the user has a very big A class)
However I can understand having a M/H and towing a car if a person normally goes away with a solo m/h and wants a car with them for a specific journey or journeys. (occasionally,If you get my drift)
This then opens the A frame or Trailer debate.
My preference would be for a trailer to put the car onto. This avoids any legal arguments and keeps mileage and wear & tear off the car. Also a damn sight easier to reverse!
Just an opinion!
Graham
Edit.
Didn't admin post something recently about towing Smart Cars.
Milage limit & warranty implications or something like that.

admin posted on this very thread and pinted out that towing unless on a trailer may cause serious damage to transmission

 

[Guest]

Admin post 5

admin posted on this very thread and pinted out that towing unless on a trailer may cause serious damage to transmission

Hi Walkers, thanks, just noticed it.
It is post 5