gazznsam
Free Member
Years ago i towed a beach buggy on an A-frame all over england, so i know how they work and how usefull they are.
we recently bought a new smart diesel, we also have a motorbike, scooter and the motorhome, and now we are back out in the van want to be on the road more,
so i'm thinking of selling the bike, and using some of the money to buy an a-frame for the smart, then we can take the smart with us, or the scoot if the weather is gonna be good.
i like the idea of the A-frame at the newbury show, that uses a lightweight frame and a vacuum braking system in the car, provides vacuum to the servo, and uses a vacuum cylinder to pull on the pedal, uses the brake light signal and inertia to apply the brakes, which allows for auto reverse braking.... something the overrun braked frames cant do, so this system is a little more legal than the others, and i know they are still not 100% legal.
Anyone use one of these systems? i know they are new, but someone must own one by now,
i know the smart has no problems being towed, the american ones are even sold with an option of an A-frame tow package,
the gearbox is a manual box which is electronicaly controlled (electric servo for the clutch and 2 motors to change gears) no oil pump in there or owt, so no dammage whilst being towed... most people think it's a slush box, and they cant be towed.
The thing that worries me the most is peoples descriptions of how they use it... leave the key in position 1, doors unlocked, handbrake off and gear stick in neuteral.
the last 2 are 'well duh' points, but the first 2... why the key in position 1?? there's no steering lock on a smart to unlock, the lock is on the gear lever... which gets locked in neuteral or reverse, depending on where you put the stick, so put it in N, and lock it again???
and why leave the doors unlocked.... other than to be able to get your key out again,
i can just see us towing through some dodgy area, someone at traffic lights seeing the key in the ignition, and jumping in, either nicking the key or trying to reverse the car off.
The imobiliser is on the engine, so stops it being started if the key is not near the ignition barrel to pick up the rfid signal, maybe the optional alarm is why the doors must be left unlocked, but surely putting it in garage/valet mode would de-activate it whilst towing??
we recently bought a new smart diesel, we also have a motorbike, scooter and the motorhome, and now we are back out in the van want to be on the road more,
so i'm thinking of selling the bike, and using some of the money to buy an a-frame for the smart, then we can take the smart with us, or the scoot if the weather is gonna be good.
i like the idea of the A-frame at the newbury show, that uses a lightweight frame and a vacuum braking system in the car, provides vacuum to the servo, and uses a vacuum cylinder to pull on the pedal, uses the brake light signal and inertia to apply the brakes, which allows for auto reverse braking.... something the overrun braked frames cant do, so this system is a little more legal than the others, and i know they are still not 100% legal.
Anyone use one of these systems? i know they are new, but someone must own one by now,
i know the smart has no problems being towed, the american ones are even sold with an option of an A-frame tow package,
the gearbox is a manual box which is electronicaly controlled (electric servo for the clutch and 2 motors to change gears) no oil pump in there or owt, so no dammage whilst being towed... most people think it's a slush box, and they cant be towed.
The thing that worries me the most is peoples descriptions of how they use it... leave the key in position 1, doors unlocked, handbrake off and gear stick in neuteral.
the last 2 are 'well duh' points, but the first 2... why the key in position 1?? there's no steering lock on a smart to unlock, the lock is on the gear lever... which gets locked in neuteral or reverse, depending on where you put the stick, so put it in N, and lock it again???
and why leave the doors unlocked.... other than to be able to get your key out again,
i can just see us towing through some dodgy area, someone at traffic lights seeing the key in the ignition, and jumping in, either nicking the key or trying to reverse the car off.
The imobiliser is on the engine, so stops it being started if the key is not near the ignition barrel to pick up the rfid signal, maybe the optional alarm is why the doors must be left unlocked, but surely putting it in garage/valet mode would de-activate it whilst towing??