Towing a Smart car using an A Frame

[Bertie2]

Just bought a 2008 Fortwo Passion Convertible Smart car and am looking to tow it using an A Frame (from Armitage trailers) rather than on an actual trailer. Does anyone tow one of these Smart cars using an A Frame and if so do you have any problems? Thanks for your help

 

[davejen]

I'm surprised you've not had a reply before now, but my experience is that it will be fine, just be very careful that when you put it in neutral you PRESS THE FOOTBRAKE to as this completes the neutral . If you don't, the car will still be in 1st gear and will either blow the engine or gearbox very quickly!
I know this from personal experience, not secondhand.......Also if it is a cable /brake system , keep the cable lubricated otherwise it can sieze up.
Enjoy your Smart!!
Cheers, Dave

 

[Bertie2]

Thank you Dave that is really good to hear (not the bit about the blown engine / gearbox) Regards Bob

 

[peterc10]

Are you just using it in the UK or planning to go to Europe?

 

[Bertie2]

Only in the UK

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[peterc10]

Dam.......... . I will have to cancel the popcorn

 

[Pausim]

I towed a Smart car and as @davejen said watch out for the false neutral, the position of the gear lever can be deceptive. Just occasionally some Smarts have suffered from wheel judder whilst on an A frame however there are solutions, no point going through details now you probably won’t need them. If you do contact me.

 

[Bertie2]

Thank you for that. I pick the car up on Thursday and then probably a couple of weeks before they can fit me in to fit the A frame so will be a little while before I can give it a run but I will certainly watch out for it and get back to you if there is a problem. Thanks Bob

 

[Mikeco]

Dam.......... . I will have to cancel the popcorn

And I was going to suggest using the Madrid branch of Armitage, back to the football then.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

If it starts to steering shake after a sharp turn stop and restart or it will wag the dog as well as the tail. the length of your overhang is the thing that does it. swings it one way and then the other starting a resonance going. Mine did it once in the first mile so I cottoned on what was happening and fine ever since. I does however make the van a lot more steady on the move, when the trucks pass it does not shake the van as happens when it is solo.

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[simsy56]

I have had 2 Smart cars and in the handbook it states that, 'Towing should not exceed 30mph, for a maximum of 30 miles' I personally wouldn't tow a Smartie wheels down.

Craig

 

[Pausim]

I towed my Smart many miles at normal speeds without any damage but you do have to be very careful about the false neutral. I now tow a manual VW Up which is more straightforward, behaves better and has more seats. The Smart was fun but probably not the most practical toad.

 

[Gaston aires]

We very occasionally tow the smart (same as yours) car and have had no problems except once after an extremely tight turn when steering shake as described by gwaygway started. Stopped briefly and all was normal.
Phil

 

[Top Hat]

I towed a smart for many years with no problems.
The only advice I would give is to be able to have your rear camera on permanently when towing or your wife will get sick of you asking every 10 minutes if it's still there

 

[wiljoy]

I have had 2 Smart cars and in the handbook it states that, 'Towing should not exceed 30mph, for a maximum of 30 miles' I personally wouldn't tow a Smartie wheels down.

Craig

Totally agree. If the manufacturer says no then it is for a reason.

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[Pausim]

Totally agree. If the manufacturer says no then it is for a reason.

I believe they gave different advice in the USA.

 

[wiljoy]

One of my customer's has a recovery company with 24 vehicles operating for the AA and green flag.
They aren't allowed to use the A frame system which used to be popular many years ago. He has retrieved several cars where the A frame has pulled the front crossmember out completely.

 

[sueandjohn]

Dam.......... . I will have to cancel the popcorn

Drat! I was just going to get comfortable with a coffee to see how this panned out

 

[Geo]

Those that Can, Do
Those That can't, Say You Can't Either

 

[eddie]

I bought a Daihatsu Terios brand new because it is a big seller in the States as a TOAD and tells you exactly what to do in the handbook

That was before it became illegal over here, So we never tow it any more

People tried to convince us that it "turns" into a trailer when you clip a A frame on, tell that to plod who want to book you for no MOT Tax or Insurance on the "trailer"

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[Pausim]

One of my customer's has a recovery company with 24 vehicles operating for the AA and green flag.
They aren't allowed to use the A frame system which used to be popular many years ago. He has retrieved several cars where the A frame has pulled the front crossmember out completely.

Whatever you tow on an A frame it will need a proper crossmember. On my Smart they removed the original one and put in something stronger. On the Up I think it is a separate additional crossmember.

 

[Pausim]

I bought a Daihatsu Terios brand new because it is a big seller in the States as a TOAD and tells you exactly what to do in the handbook

That was before it became illegal over here, So we never tow it any more

People tried to convince us that it "turns" into a trailer when you clip a A frame on, tell that to plod who want to book you for no MOT Tax or Insurance on the "trailer"

I doubt Mr Plod (UK) would want to make an issue of that whilst the current Department of Transport advice/opinion is that it becomes a trailer. However, I would not wish to risk it outside the UK.

 

[gus-lopez]

Whatever you tow on an A frame it will need a proper crossmember. On my Smart they removed the original one and put in something stronger. On the Up I think it is a separate additional crossmember.

So having "modified" the original cross member how does the vehicle now comply with its original Certificate of Conformity?
Where doe sit get its new CoC ?
It also contravenes the anti -tuning directive
How does it get mot'd when due ? It is no different to removing/modifying a catalyst or bypassing/modifying the egr or regeneration system.

 

[eddie]

I doubt Mr Plod (UK) would want to make an issue of that whilst the current Department of Transport advice/opinion is that it becomes a trailer. However, I would not wish to risk it outside the UK.

It won't be a problem until there is a serious accident!

 

[Pausim]

You make some interesting points @gus-lopez but if so why do the DoT continue to say it is ok. Their latest advice was issued less than a year ago.

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[Geo]

Cos it is and ive yet to see an A frame make any differences to a vehicles emmissions
Gus is getting his Spanish regs mixed up with regs we aint got

 

[Geo]

And it w

It won't be a problem until there is a serious accident!

and it wont be a problem then either Eddie

 

[eddie]

And it wont be a problem then either Eddie

I know, but I love A Frame threads.

We May Bank Holiday last year we closed the Westbound of the A303 on the Bank Holiday Friday with a front wheel blow out on a single lane section. We were mentioned by Sally Traffic on the radio, and the Police were there in numbers coning off the road and generally being bloody brilliant.

At one point we were there with about half a dozen coppers enjoying the tea we had been making, leaning on the tow car, using the A Frame as a biscuit table, admiring out ten ton motorhome as ATS Commercial weaved their way through the traffic mayhem to bring a new tyre and fit it for us

No one even thought to ask anything about anything, just if it was OK to have a "biccy please?" But I still always insist that they are illegal lol to save being sued!

 

[gus-lopez]

You make some interesting points @gus-lopez but if so why do the DoT continue to say it is ok. Their latest advice was issued less than a year ago.

I assume they can't be bothered until a situation arises.

Cos it is and ive yet to see an A frame make any differences to a vehicles emmissions
Gus is getting his Spanish regs mixed up with regs we aint got

I think you are on a
No he isn't .Modifying the front cross member breaches the original CoC rendering the vehicle illegal in most countries apart from the UK.
You cannot modify a catalyst or remove it so why do you consider that modifying a main structural member is OK ? Especially for an mot tester?
Why is there no modified CoC to homologate the modified cross member?
This is why all vehicle testing should be done like in Germany, France & here .In stand alone test centres where the first thing checked is that all & every item homologated & listed on the vehicles paperwork is still there,is not missing, has not been modified & nor has anything been added which requires homologation. That's before any testing of the vehicle begins.

 

[Northernraider]

How much is the a frame costing ?

For long evity and the ability to use abroad should you later wish to and also for residual selling value I'd buy a trailer.

Easier to reverse too


I'd only ever buy a car and a frame if it came as a package already fitted.

I bought a Renault Clio with a frame for £650 back in 2014 but didn't like towing it so sold it 3 months later.

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