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01-03-2016, 04:56 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 136
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Smart.car as a toad
Looking at the possibility of purchasing a Smart car as a toad. However, I'm getting conflicting reports as to whether or not they can be towed four-wheels-down. Motor Homes annual dingy report list the 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015 as being towable, but not the 2012 and 2013. Yet other forums (not AS) suggest (a) no Smart cars are towable, and, (b) all Smart cars are towable, including the '12 and '13. Interested in experiences, comments, wisdoms on this. Thanks,
Mike
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01-03-2016, 05:49 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
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Check out the Gone with the Wynns. They tow a Smart on all four wheels. Maybe you can contact them
How To and How Not To Tow a Car Behind an RV
Kelvin
__________________
2008 Classic 25fb "Silver Mistress"
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins. Crew Cab, 4x4, Silver
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01-03-2016, 06:17 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master 
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Smart cars can be towed. They have a manual transmission and a dry plate friction clutch. The problem is the trans and clutch are operated by electric motors controlled by the computer. Tricking the computer into allowing the car to be in neutral without the key on and the engine running is where the fun comes in. It's not really difficult but you do have to follow the procedure and Mercedes is not the least bit interested in helping. Some dealers try to help, others like Mercedes want no part of it.
I have two smarts and when I take a toad it is a smart 4 wheels down. Feel free to drop me a PM if you would like to chat more about smarts.
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
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01-03-2016, 06:29 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Don't thank I have seen any being towed. I have seen a couple roll out of the back of toy haulers. They certainly don't take up a lot of room.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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01-03-2016, 06:43 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Hey Michael just check out my avatar, it's a picture of my smart pushing my Airstream. 
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
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01-03-2016, 07:09 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
I'm In
, Kentucky
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,251
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Two Smart Cars here in this state park. One is sitting behind a class A MH, don't see any hitch. The other is sitting on a two wheel tow dolly behind another class A MH.
__________________
-Rich
Rich & Yvonne
2006 Safari SE -Dora-
2004 4Runner SE 4.7L V8
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01-03-2016, 07:20 PM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smartstream
Smart cars can be towed. They have a manual transmission and a dry plate friction clutch. The problem is the trans and clutch are operated by electric motors controlled by the computer. Tricking the computer into allowing the car to be in neutral without the key on and the engine running is where the fun comes in. It's not really difficult but you do have to follow the procedure and Mercedes is not the least bit interested in helping. Some dealers try to help, others like Mercedes want no part of it.
I have two smarts and when I take a toad it is a smart 4 wheels down. Feel free to drop me a PM if you would like to chat more about smarts.
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Hi Dan,
Port Angeles - - neat town!
Not sure how to do a PM ☹️
Mike
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01-03-2016, 07:35 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Just got back from a walk around Fort Pickens. Spotted a Smart Car parked by a small SOB. Got talking to the owner. He tows all four wheel down, over 15000 miles in the last two years so far. No problems and tows great.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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01-03-2016, 07:41 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richw46
Two Smart Cars here in this state park. One is sitting behind a class A MH, don't see any hitch. The other is sitting on a two wheel tow dolly behind another class A MH.
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I always find the idea of a smart on a dolly as interesting. They are rear wheel drive so a dolly doesn't do much.
By the way smart is spelled with a lower case "s" and it stands for Swatch Mercedes ART. It was conceived by Nicolas Hayek, the co-founder of Swatch and built as a joint venture with Mercedes. Also saying smart car is kind of like saying Ford Car or Chevy Car. 
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
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01-03-2016, 07:51 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by comprose
Hi Dan,
Port Angeles - - neat town!
Not sure how to do a PM ☹️
Mike
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We like PA, retired here 17 years ago. There is a Welcome salutation in the upper right of your screen. Just click on the "Private Messages" in the third line.
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
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01-04-2016, 07:18 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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This is the Smart Car I would buy, unfortunetly is not imported to North America. There are rumors in the automotive press that they are developing an all electric model.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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01-04-2016, 10:32 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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There is an all electric smart on the American market. The lady across the street has had one for a year. 68 mile range on a full charge.
We have been seeing them as rentals in the San Diego area for over a year.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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01-04-2016, 11:31 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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68 miles, barely get across town and back on that
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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01-04-2016, 12:41 PM
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#14
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New Member
Wilmington
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3
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Towing a smartcar
I have a 08 Passion. Manual says it needs to have all four wheels up.
We are planning on towing ours that way.
I have seen several photos of a TravelLeisure B or B+ towing one also.
I recently saw a Canadian class a towing one with all four down. Not sure if it makes a difference which year or not.
Love my smart.
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01-04-2016, 03:28 PM
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#15
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1 Rivet Member 
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Brewster
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 12
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We leased a gas powered smart last spring and have towed all 4 on the ground using a falcon 2 tow bar on several trips this past summer and fall behind our 82' airstream 28' ft. Coach. It towed great. I am told that you can't tow the electric smart because it will distroy the electrical system.
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01-04-2016, 05:12 PM
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#16
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Rivet Slave
1995 36' Classic 36
Crossfield
, Alberta
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 20
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Great Success with Samrt car as a Toad
I have pulled a 2009 smart car with all four wheels down since 2010 and have experienced no problems. Only thing we do is tie the steering wheel down with two bungee cords as the wheels would turn and stay in direction of the turn occasionally.
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01-04-2016, 06:15 PM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member 
2013 27' FB International
mamaroneck
, New York
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 35
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We towed a 2011 smart. 4 wheels down for two years. Make sure you use two bungee s to keep steering wheel straight!
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01-04-2016, 07:05 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWCHIEF
This is the Smart Car I would buy, unfortunetly is not imported to North America. There are rumors in the automotive press that they are developing an all electric model.
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I've been trying to figure out how to get a smart roadster coupe like that over here for years. I actually know a guy who has one here and I have driven it but I must say his neck is pretty far out if the wrong guy with a badge notices it.
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
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01-04-2016, 10:19 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BoomersRock
I have a 08 Passion. Manual says it needs to have all four wheels up.
We are planning on towing ours that way.
I have seen several photos of a TravelLeisure B or B+ towing one also.
I recently saw a Canadian class a towing one with all four down. Not sure if it makes a difference which year or not.
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We just purchased a 2013 smart passion cabriolet here in Seattle. In researching we got conflicting reports about four wheeels down, so called smartusa.com, spoke directly to their customer folk, who checked this out and assured us that the '13 could safely be towed four wheels down. You might want to check this out yourself. From what they said I would be very surprised if you can't so tow.
Good luck,
Mike
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01-04-2016, 11:30 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWCHIEF
68 miles, barely get across town and back on that
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Would be of no interest to me.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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