I GOT AN APARTMENT!!! I also have a really bad idea... :D

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 02/16/2016 at 14:38 • Filed to: smart car towing

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After a several month’s long battle for both improved employment and trying to get housing, I got my first victory!

A super cute apartment that I can actually afford with the job I have now, and will allow me to save handfuls of cash when I do get more gainful employment (hopefully that happens on Wednesday).

There is one weird problem though, I have four or five big things that will not fit in my smart.

I’ve been weighing my options. It would cost me $70 for a U-Haul Ford Transit, and that’s just assuming 40 miles total trip (nothing better go wrong). OR, I can rent a 4x7 trailer from U-Haul for $14. I already have the towing hardware installed on the smart (a gift to myself back in 2014) and would just need to hitch it up.

European and American smart owners advise against towing more than 950lb with a smart as well. And seeing as the U-Haul is 650lb dry, they gives me 300lb to play with (also perfect). Tongue weight should not exceed 200lb (ironically, the factory says this, not smart owners).

The only downside to this being my car’s clutch actuator needs a cleaning. I finally figured out that my car’s transmission issues are caused by a part that actuates the transmission. Thankfully, this thing will either work or not work, independent of whatever load the car is carrying. When it warms up outside, I have to clean it...or just outright replace it.

Have some smarts towing things for your time.

ETA: I also forgot to add where I get my numbers from!

Mercedes-Benz makes a cargo carrier that hangs off the back of the car. It’s good for 200lb of weight (specced by Mercedes-Benz). Hence, the 200lb tongue weight.

CB > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 14:42

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Or pay a local Opponaut with a truck in boozeahol.

Towing stuff with Smarts seems so absurd to me. It’s kind of fantastic.

Pixel > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 14:43

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Check if the Home Depot near you has the Load & Go trucks for rent. They are a full-sized pickup with a flatbed on the back and rent for $19 for the first 90 minutes($5 per 15 min after) with no mileage, you just have to return it with a full tank.

http://www.homedepot.com/c/truck_rental…

crowmolly > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 14:43

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Can you rent a truck/van from Home Depot or Lowe’s?

I think HD is $20 for 75 minutes with a flatbed truck.

Master Cylinder > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 14:43

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I’m not 100% sure, but I would guess that U-Haul probably won’t rent you a trailer if you’re going to be pulling it with a Smart. You should be able to check on their website by putting in your car’s info, though.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 14:44

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U-Haul has a database in their computer that determines what vehicle will pull what trailer or, more to the point, what trailer they’ll rent to you based upon that trailer. I’d love to learn whether your Smart car even shows up in their database.

Mercedes Streeter > Master Cylinder 02/16/2016 at 14:45

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They do lol. The U-Haul place that installed my hitch had an old 2008 that they used to move trailers around.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 14:46

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The trailer is the way to go. No mileage charges for those either.

Mercedes Streeter > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/16/2016 at 14:47

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According to their database, they would rent all but the largest trailers to a smart...which is strange, their enclosed trailers be heavy as heck.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher 02/16/2016 at 14:47

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Plus, it’ll look absolutely absurd!

Mercedes Streeter > crowmolly 02/16/2016 at 14:48

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I can! However, I expect my endeavour to take at least 5 hours. :(

Master Cylinder > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 14:50

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Ha that’s great. They have given me static before so just wanted to make sure you’re aware they reserve the right to not give you one of their trailers if they don’t like your tow vehicle. They tend to be pretty conservative about it, too. But if they’re ok with it, then I see no reason not to.

Mercedes Streeter > Pixel 02/16/2016 at 14:52

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Ironically, it would cost as much as the U-Haul. I intend to be needing the equipment for 5 hours. It’s going to take a LOT of work to get my furniture out of that tiny basement. Then the 17 mile drive to the new place will take roughly 45 minutes (woo hoo, low speed roads and many lights!)

Mercedes Streeter > Master Cylinder 02/16/2016 at 14:54

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Oh yeah, I know about that! I love how they won’t rent trailers to people with convertible SUVs...so no Wranglers and no CrossCabs?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 14:54

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I would love to see a smart towing things in real life.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:00

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I towed an entire other car with my Twingo once so I think you'll be fine.

Mercedes Streeter > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 02/16/2016 at 15:04

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Woah woah, there’s gotta be a story behind this!!! :D

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:08

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My friends 16 year old Micra broke down and we didnt have access to any other cars or money for a tow. So I sorted a tow rope and dragged it a mile home. It was slow progress but she managed.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:11

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Yes! Be sure to post pictures :)

I still have my trailer, which you could borrow. But it’s wet and soggy, and the lights don’t work anymore. Renting one is probably $14 well spent.

Ssfancyfresh > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:16

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I do have a weird fetish for getting more utility out of a car than its advertised purpose, so this intrigues me.

I will say from experience that those U-Haul trailers are very heavy and generally terrible. This is one situation where I might err on the side of caution and just rent the Transit.

Plus those new transit vans are dope and you could give us an Oppo review of your experience!

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:17

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If you want a less-bad idea, I have a truck and my friends in Chicago have been wanting me to come visit... Just let me know!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:19

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Sounds like you’re in business. I’d recommend driving with great caution, however, particularly with regard to braking.

jariten1781 > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:33

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I'd be worried about tongue weight on a single axle trailer. Eurospecs don't directly translate to US trailers since Euro trailers have a more centralized axle and more equal loading vs rearward axle and front-bias loading in the US.

Master Cylinder > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:37

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Yeah it’s definitely a flawed system. They once rented my a car dolly for the Suzuki Sidekick I used to have, even after I told them that I would be towing another Sidekick with it that weighed exactly the same.

blacktruck18 > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:39

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This is in no way helping you decide, but.... I want to meet the person who owns a smart and a scooter with Dale Earnhardt sticker. I think that person could be pretty interesting.

Cé hé sin > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 15:59

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Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher 02/16/2016 at 15:59

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You had me at “wet and soggy” but disappointed me with the lights. Cops never pull over trailers without lights...but my car would stick out like a sore thumb. Nope! lol

CalzoneGolem > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:05

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I’d spring for the Transit to save the wear an tear on Tucker.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:06

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Be warned- some Uhaul dealers WILL NOT rent trailers of any kind to certain vehicles. Some of them will type it into the computer and the computer says no, then they won’t rent it to you.

Just saying.

Please get pictures of the smart towing if you pull it off. I would recommend getting the uhaul transit or a uhaul pickup, because I wouldn’t want to strain the Smart that hard.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:06

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Yeah, you’d be an absolute cop magnet with that thing!

Mercedes Streeter > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 02/16/2016 at 16:11

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So far the computer has told me yes. For whatever reason, they will even rent me an enclosed trailer (eww) that weighs more than half the weight of my car. xD Oh U-Haul...

Mercedes Streeter > Ssfancyfresh 02/16/2016 at 16:16

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Miss Tesla has been really loving commercial vans lately, so that IS a selling point to trying a Transit.

My only problem is that I’d totally just end up taking it for a joyride. xD

Mercedes Streeter > jariten1781 02/16/2016 at 16:18

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Correct! It’s generally accepted that these cars can take up to 200lb for tongue weight. Mercedes-Benz lists that cargo on top of the engine lid does not surpass 100lb. However, they do sell a OEM cargo attachment that holds up to 200lb...hence where the tongue weight comes from.

Ron Mexico > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:24

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Finding employment is easier when you don’t lop off your manhood.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:25

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umm

wow

OPPOsaurus WRX > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:31

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from what i’ve heard they still wont rent a trailer to an Explorer.

if you have the extra cash i’d go for the bigger rental. I alsways end up having to do a second run cuz on paper evrything fits but theres always some leg or knob that prevents things from packing tightly and I need a second run.

TheHondaBro > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:34

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Now all you need is some Bernie Sanders swag.

http://www.zazzle.com/bernie_sanders…

kanadanmajava1 > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:48

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Congratulation on your new home.

In Finland the 1st gen Smarts are rated for 0 kg of towing mass. And if manufacturer states this kind of thing then absolutely no towing is allowed.

Khalbali > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 16:53

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Have you looked at Home Depot at all? Depending how far your moving and how many trips you need to make and whatnot it may be worth it, me and my wife are moving next week and Home Depot rents vans and flatbed trucks for $20 for 75 min and $5 for every 15 min after.

1111111111111111111111 > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 17:04

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I used a harbor freight trailer for some time. It was cheap and weighed about 150. I towed it with my Kia.

Mercedes Streeter > Khalbali 02/16/2016 at 17:30

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I have! I will need the vehicle for roughly 5 hours...which makes a U-Haul and a hardware store truck roughly equal. :(

Mercedes Streeter > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 02/16/2016 at 17:31

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Hmmmm...the new home is near Wisconsin. And you’d have to meet my awful parents and resist the urge to drive your truck through their house. :D

Mercedes Streeter > kanadanmajava1 02/16/2016 at 17:33

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They aren’t rated for towing anywhere. But you know, some enterprising individuals (well, the Europeans since they thought of it first) did enough research to conclude that the cars can tow something.

Mercedes-Benz would rather not you tow something with your car. 99% sure that would void the warranty. Heh, only my car now has 101k, what warranty? :D

Big Bubba Ray > Mercedes Streeter 02/16/2016 at 20:49

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As awesome as it would be to tow with your Smart, I’d definitely suggest just getting something from UHaul! Rent a Transit or a GMC Sierra 1500 and get everything done with ease. That way you won’t have to worry about damaging your car.