Smart cars - using them, towing them

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I wondered if anyone could give me some pointers on what to look out for? ie what model, obviously full service history if possible etc.

It's more the practical problems that one comes up against like is there a particular model to avoid.

If you talk to the Smart dealers they would have you believe there are no problems at all

I want a Smart to tow behind our Motorhome. I will be towing it on a Caratow A frame
 
If you check the finer detail of the UK law its not legal to use an A frame for this purpose.
Just some of the many points
1 Brakes must operate at the designed efficiency, The A frame will operate the brakes but not as required
2 A Frames are permitted for recovering vehicles from a dangerous place to a place of safety, it actually gives an example of on a blind bend to the nearest layby or other place of safety.
People will sell them to you and loads have got away with it including me, but you are much better off with a trailer
 
If you are thinking of coming to Spain, I wouldn't advise an A-frame because the police recently have been very keen to enforce the fact that they are illegal. They have been making people unhitch them and drive the towing vehicle (usually a motorhome) and the smart car separately - a bit of a problem if there's only one driver in the motorhome!
 
Smarts do have an advantage in that they do not have a steering lock. They have a gear lever lock which can be locked in neutral. However you must make sure it has shifted to neutral before turning of the ignition as it is an electronic gearbox.
 
This bit concerns me for starters
"When an A frame is attached to a vehicle (e.g. a motor car) and towed by a motor vehicle (e.g. a motorhome) we believe the A frame and car become a single unit and as such are classified in legislation as a trailer "
"We Believe" is just not good enough
You have to read this and see if they have missed anything, I did wonder about there interpritation of the Servo assistance bit and how they did there tests?
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/info-dollies.pdf
Then consider could you defend your actions in a court of law if somthing did go wrong

Now the offroaders me included have been A Framing for years, I never got pulled and have dragged them all over the country, but the police are getting smarter and more aware of less common stuff, I am told they pic a target and go looking, a few years ago the stopped aframes in Devon and made them all un hitch
Off roaders ranting about A frames again
Difflock :: View topic - Motorhome and a Smart Car
 
John H said:
If you are thinking of coming to Spain, I wouldn't advise an A-frame because the police recently have been very keen to enforce the fact that they are illegal. They have been making people unhitch them and drive the towing vehicle (usually a motorhome) and the smart car separately - a bit of a problem if there's only one driver in the motorhome!
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If you are stopped and fined in Spain keep all the paperwork.
When you get back to the UK, see your MEP and they will take it up on your behalf. They will probably be keen to do this as there is precedent for the appeal to be successful and it doesn't involve them in too much work
 
baloothebear said:
If you are stopped and fined in Spain keep all the paperwork.
When you get back to the UK, see your MEP and they will take it up on your behalf. They will probably be keen to do this as there is precedent for the appeal to be successful and it doesn't involve them in too much work
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Don't see how this could help. If you break the law you can't complain after getting caught.
 
John H said:
Don't see how this could help. If you break the law you can't complain after getting caught.
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Not quite right; this has been thrashed over so many times that I certainly don't know what to believe. - SEE HERE
The legality of towing abroad seems to hinge (no pun intended) on the fact that it is legal in the country of origin HERE

I have passed your comments onto Caratow regarding the Spanish making people drive the car separately: As soon as I have a reply I will post it on here.
 
baloothebear said:
Not quite right; this has been thrashed over so many times that I certainly don't know what to believe. - SEE HERE
The legality of towing abroad seems to hinge (no pun intended) on the fact that it is legal in the country of origin HERE


I have passed your comments onto Caratow regarding the Spanish making people drive the car separately: As soon as I have a reply I will post it on here.
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I would be very wary of getting your legal information from the people who manufacture the A-frames! Winchman is right about the law; if you have been lucky so far with the police turning a blind eye that doesn't mean this will continue. As I said, the Spanish police are currently enforcing the law.
 
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The argument regarding the legality of A frames has been thrashed about for ages on many forums. However the one thing that would clinch the use of a trailer for me is the fact that you cannot reverse an A frame either with any accuracy or without applying the brakes of the towed vehicle (without some special provision) as the car brakes are not the same as modern trailer brakes.

For me there are no downsides to having a trailer. Easy to load, easy to tow, easy to reverse and there is no doubt about their legailty. The A frames seem to be the opposite of all those. I have seen the towed car have it's front wheels turn the wrong way on a tight corner side scrubbing the tyres terribly.

I would add that having the towed car equipped to tow it's own trailer might be an advantage in some circumstances.
 
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Good point John H about sources of information and I full agree with you

I did speak to the people at Caratow today and their response was that they had heard of a person being stopped but that it did not involve one of their units

It's all a bit of a B****r: Either £1700 for a trailer or £600 for the "A" frame (fitted).
I suppose that I shall just have to write off Spain
 
baloothebear said:
Good point John H about sources of information and I full agree with you

I did speak to the people at Caratow today and their response was that they had heard of a person being stopped but that it did not involve one of their units

It's all a bit of a B****r: Either £1700 for a trailer or £600 for the "A" frame (fitted).
I suppose that I shall just have to write off Spain
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There is an alternative - look on e-bay for a second hand trailer that is more in line with your budget. Pete has suggested one - I am sure there will be others.The last thing I want to do is put people off enjoying travelling around Europe.
 
With a trailer you must make sure it is made for the correct smart car. My car is wider and longer than the older models. Also the trailer must be setup for a rear engined Smart car.
 
The downside with a trailer is its just another thing to store and maintain.

I tow a Smart with an A frame and have never been stopped and I guess I won't worry one iota until I am. Its by far the easier method.

I have been motorhoming since 1969 and have yet to meet anyone who has been stopped and fined for towing with an A frame.
 
smart car

The earlier ones were shorter and just under the maximum width that you can hang on a heavy motorhome, overhang is an other matter
Bryn
 
John H said:
Don't see how this could help. If you break the law you can't complain after getting caught.
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And if you win it will take you up to 3 years to get your money back. Just now they are looking to get every penny they can here now. Now for me getting a motor bike rack its costing over 1800euros because of all the papers and stamp you now have to have and show if your stop.
 
garwatts said:
The downside with a trailer is its just another thing to store and maintain.

I tow a Smart with an A frame and have never been stopped and I guess I won't worry one iota until I am. Its by far the easier method.

I have been motorhoming since 1969 and have yet to meet anyone who has been stopped and fined for towing with an A frame.
Click to expand...

Well sir today is your lucky day i was fined in 2009 100 euros for towing on a Spanish road with an A frame.
 
AA or RAC

I was looking at towing via A frame or trailer a few years ago. From memory the AA or RAC used to do a multi-language document in all European languages explaining that it was legal for a UK registered vehicle to tow with an A frame in Europe. Hope that helps.
 
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