Tow car or not to tow car

RollingRog

RollingRog

Joined
Apr 23, 2008
Posts
224
Likes collected
102
Location
chelmsford Essex
Funster No
2,257
MH
Swift BESSACAR 597
Exp
22
The missus keeps on about getting a small car to tow so we can go sightseeing more easily when abroad.
Was wondering what car and whether it’s best to put it on a trailer or not?

Any suggestions guys and gals (careful the missus is watching)

Tia
Ps I have a BESSACAR
e495MH
 
There's been some previous posts. Here's one:

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Towbars and trailers

we have recently purchased a Hymer motorhome and are thinking about getting a towbar fitted and buying a trailer to tow a Smart car. Has anyone done this and if so can you offer any advice. Many thanks.
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk
 
And another

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

A Frame towing

For specific reasons I’ve decided to go down the A-Frame towing route with a Smart Car and only for use in the UK. Can anyone recommend an installer in the North West / North Wales area ? Thanks all.
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk
 
Traditionally, Smart cars have been very popular for towing, but didn't work for me as there was no where to put the dog in his cage. I ended up with a Kia Picanto and quite happy with the result. But there are other small cars quite appropriate for towing.
As to a flat tow, or a trailer, this is up to you. I don't have room to store a trailer so ended up choosing a flat tow solution.
 
Don’t fancy a smart car will have a look at the picantos

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We tow a Fiat Panda 4x4 on a trailer as we go out birding whilst in Spain and Portugal over winter. It’s nice little car with room for our two dogs and any kit we need to take or two passengers and it will cope with rough tracks mud and all.?
 
I am “going through this” at moment
A Frames are more involved than I imagined some are more complicated than others and weight can range fro 8kg to 30kg?
Towbar electrics differ depending on car being towed
Towbar electrics differ dependant on A frame chosen
Car electrics differ on an a frame ( keyless cars for example)
Ive done a lot of ground work if you need any input
 
RollingRog said:
The missus keeps on about getting a small car to tow so we can go sightseeing more easily when abroad.
Was wondering what car and whether it’s best to put it on a trailer or not?

Any suggestions guys and gals (careful the missus is watching)

Tia
Ps I have a BESSACAR
e495MH
Click to expand...

Just hire one when you want to go sightseeing.
Cost of Small car = £.....s
Cost of trailor £....s
Cost of Tow bar £....s

Cheaper to hire and not have the hassle of towing, storage, insurance, tax, Servicing etc etc.

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Cheshirecat57 said:
I am “going through this” at moment
A Frames are more involved than I imagined some are more complicated than others and weight can range fro 8kg to 30kg?
Towbar electrics differ depending on car being towed
Towbar electrics differ dependant on A frame chosen
Car electrics differ on an a frame ( keyless cars for example)
Ive done a lot of ground work if you need any input
Click to expand...
I decided on a Smart-Tow system. No hassles. The installer sorted everything out including towing points and electrics. Works a treat. Plug 'n play :)
 
I am going through this exercise too.

I have a towbar so that bit is done. The A frame for me is easiest but should we decide to go to France or Spain I would have to borrow/hire/buy a trailer.

That means going to Germany via Holland or Belgium and that would suit me.

As for weight we carry an awning and a spare wheel which could go in the toad and more than makes up for the A frame weight.

Only 130 bhp so thinking more of a Smart than a bigger car. If we had more power (chip) I could maybe tow our Fiesta and have a better car to drive around. But, A frame would get £1k +

I'm watching this thread with anticipation of the answer jumping out at me!!(y)
 
Hi. It`s a case of "each to his own". I have no chance at this time of getting SWMBO medical cover. So we use an "A" frame, as Continental use is unlikely.

Below is my reply to an earlier post:-

"Having recently returned to the use of a Motor-home, after a 3 year break during which we had a Caravan, that which we discarded largely because neither myself nor my (disabled) wife could sit comfortably in the Seating, whereas now we have a "Captains" chair each with a leg-rest (side bench). I tow an old Punto on "A" frame. AND IT WORKS FOR US!. "

At this point in time I am actually, commuting daily from the `van to the Basingstoke Hospital. Mrs Pete smashed her femur in a fall nearly 2 weeks ago, whilst we where down to attend the Grandson`s wedding (which we missed). The "toad" is a "godsend", as I am camped 10 miles away near Hook.

10 days hire would have been crippling at this time of year.
 
We had a caravan for 30 years and it was great whilst we had kids and then grankids in tow (forgive the pun) however we have had a motorhome for the last 11 years and its much easier to tow a car then a caravan. We have an Aframe courtesy of Armartidge and even with our last van (Elddis 185) on 130 bhp it was a doddle to tow, you just had to use gears a bit more. We are in the same camp as previous replys ,if we need a car abroad its simpler to hire one. The problem with abroad campsites especially Spain is having the room to stow a trailer. The longer you hire the cheaper it is.
 
I have a fiat 500 with tow frame to sel,l I will get some pics on tomorrow and details its a 2008 car 6 speed and I spent over a grand on last service with new shockers, brakes etc it drives brill. it tows lovely.
 
Oh looking at the scooter proposition I would love one being an ex mod Lambretta owner in my younger days (yes I was young once) however I have no problem but my wife would not be able to get on as a passenger as she has had two hip replacements and is not as flexible as she once was as well as being petite. When I look at the price TV175,s are fetching now it brings tears to my eyes, I had to sell mine for £75 as I had just got married and we were trying to get the deposit together for our 1st house. The scooter is a distant memory but we are still together 50 years later, all for the same price as a dog licence 7/6pence in them days. Lifers do less.

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SteveRallye said:
We had a caravan for 30 years and it was great whilst we had kids and then grankids in tow (forgive the pun) however we have had a motorhome for the last 11 years and its much easier to tow a car then a caravan. We have an Aframe courtesy of Armartidge and even with our last van (Elddis 185) on 130 bhp it was a doddle to tow, you just had to use gears a bit more. We are in the same camp as previous replys ,if we need a car abroad its simpler to hire one. The problem with abroad campsites especially Spain is having the room to stow a trailer. The longer you hire the cheaper it is.
Click to expand...
Never had a problem with trailer parking in Spain or Portugal, I suppose it depends on where you go we tend to use the quieter sites however if you go over to Benidorm area sites are a bit crammed.?
 
We have hired a car when here and abroad before and I think we will probably carry on doing that, seems the simplest thing reading all the replies.
Thanks for all the info much appreciated ?
 
Cheshirecat57 said:
With a Smart car?
Click to expand...
No - my choice was a Kia Picanto, but Smart-Tow claim they can add the required bits and pieces to a Smart car - list of cars here:-

Vehicle List | Tow A Frame

www.towaframe.com www.towaframe.com
I understand Mercedes have advised that towing a Smart car at over 30mph is not advised - link below, but I've no experience of this myself. I have seen Smart cars being flat-towed at higher speeds so perhaps other Funsters can help here.
 
We need to tow a trailer anyway for the second mobility scooter and also have dogs. Therefore it was a simple decision to have Brenda's car, a Daihatsu Sirion, fitted with an A frame. We tried with a trailer first, but it was huge to store, near impossible to manoeuvre off the vehicle and cost extra to maintain. So much more simple with the carAtow frame. Takes seconds to fit and hook up to the van. Gives us back full independence when touring. Plus cost less than the trailer and very little extra to maintain

I would say choose a good small 4 door car

obviously we don't tow in Spain
 
SteveRallye said:
We had a caravan for 30 years and it was great whilst we had kids and then grankids in tow (forgive the pun) however we have had a motorhome for the last 11 years and its much easier to tow a car then a caravan. We have an Aframe courtesy of Armartidge and even with our last van (Elddis 185) on 130 bhp it was a doddle to tow, you just had to use gears a bit more. We are in the same camp as previous replys ,if we need a car abroad its simpler to hire one. The problem with abroad campsites especially Spain is having the room to stow a trailer. The longer you hire the cheaper it is.
Click to expand...
I agree, Steve. 130bhp more than adequate I find and towing a car much easier than a caravan. Towing a car with 4-wheel braking (power-assisted with the Smart-Tow system) is very effective and safe. Only hassle is trying to reverse but I've only ever had that experience twice in 5 years (once when I met an oncoming lorry on a single track road and the other when I took a wrong turning) and ended up unhooking the tow car and re-connecting when problem sorted. Don't know about you but I find mpg drops from about 31 to 27 when towing.

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