Renault Twizy

[Largejj]

Hello I have a swift Kontiki and pull a fiat 500 on an a frame mainly in UK.

I am thinking of purchasing a 2012 Renault twizy (owned batteries) to use as a run around rather than the fiat 500 to use with motorhome. I do have an Indespension dual axle box trailer (needs new brakes, wheels and lights) that have just measured will just fit the twizy in. This would give me a secure box trailer I could keep the twizy, bikes and other stuff in to keep some load out of the garage. Has anyone ever done something similar ? The trailer is already painted silver so matches the motorhome so think it will look fine on the road.

I know charging the twizy would be interesting when off grid but not impossible with the right setup. I could think about solar and electric system on the trailer as my roof is full now (500w solar)

My wife would prefer the fiat 500 but think I can persuade her

 

[pappajohn]

have just measured will fit the twizy in fine.

It may fit but is the trailers gross weight enough with it on.
I have a twin axle box trailer which, at a push, would take a smart car but its gross weight is just 750kg.

 

[Littlewheels]

I know you may find this a little odd but have you considered fitting a Solar Panel on the roof of the Trailer? Its an easy solution to trickle charge the batteries of the Twizy, l‘ve done similar to keep the battery on my Trailer charged and it worked perfectly.

 

[Largejj]

It may fit but is the trailers gross weight enough with it on.
I have a twin axle box trailer which, at a push, would take a smart car but its gross weight is just 750kg.

I think the box trailer is plated at about 2600kg its 4 wheel with brakes and roller rear door. Was used by my old workplace to move stage equipment around. I only have about 1280kg towing capacity on motorhome so would not want to exceed this. The twizy is very light 450kg. Will double check the weights of trailer empty and load capacity etc.

 

[Largejj]

I know you may find this a little odd but have you considered fitting a Solar Panel on the roof of the Trailer? Its an easy solution to trickle charge the batteries of the Twizy, l‘ve done similar to keep the battery on my Trailer charged and it worked perfectly.

Yes I am definitely thinking of this.

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[Littlewheels]

Yes I am definitely thinking of this.

I can recommend the Flexible Solars that you Sikaflex down they work a treat.

 

[dpsuk999]

I have an electric smart car which I charge via my solar/lithium whilst it’s in the garage of the mh and also when pitched up. Was funny last week when I was on a Caravan Club site and the warden said that they have been told by head office to charge extra if people want to charge an electric car, I told him I’m charging it via solar and not connected to the campsite electric and he was happy with that

 

[Guigsy]

It takes 4 hours to charge the Twizy at 3kW. And that gives you about 50 miles realistic range (they claim 62).

Making some guesses... if you had 500w of solar, you're probably only going to get something like 15 miles of charge per day on a sunny summer day???

 

[two]

Why take a Twizy? If it's to save pennies, I'd think again. A Fiat 500 would be much more practical.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Why take a Twizy? If it's to save pennies, I'd think again. A Fiat 500 would be much more practical.

Rubbish payload, very limited range, tiny boot, .... list goes on. 500 like you say

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[Richard n Ann]

It takes 4 hours to charge the Twizy at 3kW. And that gives you about 50 miles realistic range (they claim 62).

Making some guesses... if you had 500w of solar, you're probably only going to get something like 15 miles of charge per day on a sunny summer day???

Plenty then

 

[Largejj]

Rubbish payload, very limited range, tiny boot, .... list goes on. 500 like you say

Yes I know a fiat 500 is much more practical. Its not to save money - will still keep the fiat as its used as wife's car anyway. But the twizy has the potential to be fun and the thought of upgrading an old box trailer to carry, twizy (or motorbike) and free up some space in motorhome garage is appealing. Its also somewhere for more solar panels

 

[Largejj]

It takes 4 hours to charge the Twizy at 3kW. And that gives you about 50 miles realistic range (they claim 62).

Making some guesses... if you had 500w of solar, you're probably only going to get something like 15 miles of charge per day on a sunny summer day???

It all depends how much solar and battery storage you have. I currently am installing 400AH of lithium and have 500w solar, b2b etc and could possible put another 750w solar on the roof of the box trailer if needed.

 

[Guigsy]

It all depends how much solar and battery storage you have. I currently am installing 400AH of lithium and have 500w solar, b2b etc and could possible put another 750w solar on the roof of the box trailer if needed.

That is true. But presumably you need at least some of that solar for other things too? 400AH x 12volts = 4.8kWh. The Twizy's battery is 6kWh.

Even the dinky little Twizy takes quite a lot of electrical energy. You're going to get fairly modest extra miles per day, even in the height of a sunny summer (whatever that is).

 

[donkey]

I have an electric smart car which I charge via my solar/lithium whilst it’s in the garage of the mh and also when pitched up. Was funny last week when I was on a Caravan Club site and the warden said that they have been told by head office to charge extra if people want to charge an electric car, I told him I’m charging it via solar and not connected to the campsite electric and he was happy with that
View attachment 500605

Just out of interest, how do you get into the car to drive it out of garage. I had a Smart for a while and the doors are massive. I am sure there is not enough room for me to squeeze into your car.

Geoff

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[David and Sally]

I think the box trailer is plated at about 2600kg its 4 wheel with brakes and roller rear door. Was used by my old workplace to move stage equipment around. I only have about 1280kg towing capacity on motorhome so would not want to exceed this. The twizy is very light 450kg. Will double check the weights of trailer empty and load capacity etc.

Don't quote me on this but I understood that if the trailer is plated at 2600kg you still have to take that weight as your towed weight regardless of exactly how full it is. Therefore, over your van's plated towing capacity. I had one of that size and it's unladen was 1300kg, towing capacity of the towing vehicle 2000kg so even empty the trailer was too much for that car.

Might be wrong.

 

[dpsuk999]

Just out of interest, how do you get into the car to drive it out of garage. I had a Smart for a while and the doors are massive. I am sure there is not enough room for me to squeeze into your car.

Geoff

It’s winched in

 

[donkey]

It’s winched in

I thought it would be a bit of a tight squeeze

 

[gus-lopez]

Don't quote me on this but I understood that if the trailer is plated at 2600kg you still have to take that weight as your towed weight regardless of exactly how full it is. Therefore, over your van's plated towing capacity. I had one of that size and it's unladen was 1300kg, towing capacity of the towing vehicle 2000kg so even empty the trailer was too much for that car.

Might be wrong.

You're right we won't As much as the dvsa & police will state it it isn't.it is the actual weight when used on the road. Not what someone says it is POSSIBLE to carry but what it weighs actually.

 

[jongood]

You're right we won't As much as the dvsa & police will state it it isn't.it is the actual weight when used on the road. Not what someone says it is POSSIBLE to carry but what it weighs actually.

Thats my understanding, Afaik the max permissable weight only comes in for licencing ,so somebody with a C1 couldnt drive an unladen 12 tonner

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[David and Sally]

You're right we won't As much as the dvsa & police will state it it isn't.it is the actual weight when used on the road. Not what someone says it is POSSIBLE to carry but what it weighs actually.

I hear what you say. But it is the police or DVSA who would prosecute so their opinions must be respected.

 

[Gaston aires]

I have an electric smart car which I charge via my solar/lithium whilst it’s in the garage of the mh and also when pitched up. Was funny last week when I was on a Caravan Club site and the warden said that they have been told by head office to charge extra if people want to charge an electric car, I told him I’m charging it via solar and not connected to the campsite electric and he was happy with that
View attachment 500605

I’ll bet that takes some manoeuvres to get it in that door.
Phil

 

[Minxy]

Don't quote me on this but I understood that if the trailer is plated at 2600kg you still have to take that weight as your towed weight regardless of exactly how full it is. Therefore, over your van's plated towing capacity. I had one of that size and it's unladen was 1300kg, towing capacity of the towing vehicle 2000kg so even empty the trailer was too much for that car.

Might be wrong.

You're right we won't As much as the dvsa & police will state it it isn't.it is the actual weight when used on the road. Not what someone says it is POSSIBLE to carry but what it weighs actually.

Is that correct Gus? If it was the surely the same would apply to vehicles so someone with a MH plated at 3850kg but with a licence for 3500kg, if they kept its weight under 3500kg could claim it was still legal?

If I was going to go down this route before I did anything else I'd get it in writing from the DVSA, DVLA, Police etc as to exactly what was permissible.

 

[jongood]

Is that correct Gus? If it was the surely the same would apply to vehicles so someone with a MH plated at 3850kg but with a licence for 3500kg, if they kept its weight under 3500kg could claim it was still legal?

If I was going to go down this route before I did anything else I'd get it in writing from the DVSA, DVLA, Police etc as to exactly what was permissible.

Not the same question. The 3500kgs for a motorhome is a licencing issue.

Its a bit of a minefield but basically if you passed class B pre 97 you can tow any trailer as long as the mass of the combination doesnt exceed 8250.

Category B - if you passed your test before 1 January 1997​

You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.

 

[Guigsy]

Random consideration...

The Citroen Ami is similar to the Twizy in that it's a town only run-about with a similar battery size and range. But it's also completely enclosed.

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[David and Sally]

So on that thinking, the max mass of the trailer is 2600kg, the remaining allowance the OP is just under 1300kg so adding the plated weights of the trailer and van would be over his van’s train weight. Regardless of actual weights.

So, if he was stopped with an empty trailer and they added the plated weights he would be overweight against his plated train weight.

 

[Minxy]

Not the same question. The 3500kgs for a motorhome is a licencing issue.

Its a bit of a minefield but basically if you passed class B pre 97 you can tow any trailer as long as the mass of the combination doesnt exceed 8250.

Category B - if you passed your test before 1 January 1997​

You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.

After 70 years of age?

 

[Minxy]

So on that thinking, the max mass of the trailer is 2600kg, the remaining allowance the OP is just under 1300kg so adding the plated weights of the trailer and van would be over his van’s train weight. Regardless of actual weights.

So, if he was stopped with an empty trailer and they added the plated weights he would be overweight against his plated train weight.

That's pretty much my thoughts although I didn't express it very well earlier ... I blame being 'attacked' by a vicious little monster at the time!

 

[David and Sally]

This interesting. I withdraw my case M’lud.

Safe and Legal Towing | Lider Trailers

www.lidertrailers.co.uk

 

[jongood]

After 70 years of age?

I really thinking you're confusing two different questions here.