towing a Smart Car

ferndaleflyer wrote:
Ok folks. I have a 2014 Smart and have towed it probably 15,000mi around the eastern US. I use a dolly. It takes 5min to load it and put it out of gear and hit the road. No unhooked battery, bungy on the steering wheel, etc. Just strap it down leave the key on and transmission out of gear. Its pretty simple. By the way good luck finding someone, even a Mercedes dealer, to work on it. Seems to scare them. But it is a good car to travel with as it is so light, about 1800lbs, and small and easy to park where others can't. Make it simple. Hope this helps.

IF it's 1800 lbs no mickey mousing around to get the brakes to work just need turn signals and lights.

The moderators have just expressed an opinion different than your opinion, flyer. That is NOT a takeover.

Looks like the moderators have taken over this thread. I guess my 7 years and 15,000 mi towing the Smart don't matter. The car has right at 40,000mi on it and only work done on it other than regular maintenance was just put new brakes and tires on it.

The ultimate authority is the actual Owners Manual that came with the vehicle. In most cases you can do a Google Search with the year make and model to find one online. But you will want to verify with the actual owners manual of that vehicle to be sure since sometimes the online ones might differ from the actual. Generally speaking you want to look for the section on "Recreational Towing" in the owners manual.

There are users that find out that they can tow four down just fine, going against what the manufacture states. If you go this route you’re on your own if there are any damages, this is why many won’t risk violating the warranty by towing against the owners manual recommendation.

Be sure to check out this thread to - Towing or packing a Smart Car on the back of a Class A

Moved to Dinghy Towing forum from Towing.

Don’t follow anything but the manufacturer’s mandates. Yes, you may need a dolly.

Ok folks. I have a 2014 Smart and have towed it probably 15,000mi around the eastern US. I use a dolly. It takes 5min to load it and put it out of gear and hit the road. No unhooked battery, bungy on the steering wheel, etc. Just strap it down leave the key on and transmission out of gear. Its pretty simple. By the way good luck finding someone, even a Mercedes dealer, to work on it. Seems to scare them. But it is a good car to travel with as it is so light, about 1800lbs, and small and easy to park where others can't. Make it simple. Hope this helps.

FWIW, I have seen some towed four down, but no idea of the year.

thread should be moved to Dinghy Towing section

I have a 2013 and it tows well. Once hooked up put transmission in neutral while engine is running. Turn ignition off and wait until instrument panel goes dark (this is crucial) then disconnect battery. I installed a disconnect switch. There is no steering lock to contend with. The key must remain in the switch. You also need to attach a bungee cord to the steering wheel. Without the bungee steering may go lock to lock after making a sharp turn like around a street corner and you have to come to a complete stop to make it quit.

When you reconnect the battery and turn the ignition on the transmission goes through some kind of calibration sequence and you can not start the car until it finishes.