Towbar madness

"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer) 03/28/2016 at 14:21 • Filed to: None

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Why buy a F150 with towing package? Just use this immensely sturdy Smart Twingo.

Never figured a tow bar on a new Twingo would look this ridiculous, mind you this is an original Renault accessory. It’s weirdly high, and I suppose it cannot really tow any trailer, but can just be used for bicycle carrier. Why not design a bicycle carrier to fit directly into those mounts Renault? Or is this a Smart thing?

Stumbled upon this while google image searching Twingos to kill time and get some ideas for mods. I would kinda dig those wheels on my Twingo, too bad they are wider in the rear, which would be useless on my FWD Twingo.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 03/28/2016 at 14:26

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Pretty sure you can fit two of them in the bed of a standard ‘Murica truck.

HammerheadFistpunch > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/28/2016 at 14:30

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Which is primarily used for carrying a few bikes around

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > HammerheadFistpunch 03/28/2016 at 14:32

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Nope. For hauling one Ameircan around. They totally need the extra GVWR of a truck.

Cé hé sin > HammerheadFistpunch 03/28/2016 at 14:55

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Or even more often, air.

Cé hé sin > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 03/28/2016 at 14:56

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If nothing else, it’ll discourage people parking too close.

I know of people who get towbars fitted for this specific purpose.

Leon711 > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 03/28/2016 at 15:03

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Idea is 7/10, execution is 1/10.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Leon711 03/28/2016 at 15:16

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They would have got a 5/10 if it were one piece of bent iron, instead of a lot of pieces which look like they are bolted together.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 03/28/2016 at 15:28

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The wider rears would look kinda neat with the forwards rake the Twingo has (much higher ride height in the rear) it’d be a pretend RWD car. Or maybe I just have odd taste.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/28/2016 at 15:56

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Haha, well indeed the rake is already there, so it would look kinda cool, although the difference in width is only 10 mm IIRC, so not that dramatic.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 03/28/2016 at 16:35

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Aye true. BTW I put Clio 182 seats in my twingo. I’d highly highly reccomend it. Bit of a faff to work out initially since you need to fit them to the twingo seat bases but they’re so much more supportive and comfortable.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/28/2016 at 16:46

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Sounds nice, I also hate the seats, especcialy the lack of support and how easy the fabric stains, even opening the door in the rain will leave a stain.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 03/28/2016 at 17:02

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That’s exactly why I changed them. My drive to work is twisty 60mph roads, I felt like I was falling out of the car. Plus the big round blotches from rainwater.

ranwhenparked > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/28/2016 at 22:13

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The Twingo IS RWD.

ranwhenparked > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 03/28/2016 at 22:14

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Tow rating in France (estimate): 1500lbs.

Tow rating in US (if it ever came here): -1000lbs.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > ranwhenparked 03/29/2016 at 02:56

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The old 2007-2014 one, which Car Guy and I both have, is based on the Clio and thus does have FWD.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > ranwhenparked 03/29/2016 at 03:51

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Me and bvdv have the old mk2 Twingo which is FWD but yeah the new one is RWD.

Mercedes Streeter > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 03/29/2016 at 13:59

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It’s a smart thing. On the W451, EU based dealerships had a catalogue of fun things to screw into your tow bolts, including a towbar. So, I’m not surprised to see it continue for the new Twingo/C453/W453.

For the W451 in the USA? We got this shelf thing that bolts into the same place:

Of course, leave it up to the Americans to make a better solution, though. The problem with putting a towbar on the tow bolts is that over time, the tow bolts can bend or get stressed...which is not good if you ever need to get the car recovered. Some people have had their bolts sheared off from towing with the tow bolts.

And as such, Curt Manufacturing saves the day! I have one of these on my smart. It bolts into the frame, so no funny business with trusting the tow bolts.