From the Desk of Miss Mercedes

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 09/18/2018 at 18:33 • Filed to: gambler 500

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I’ve been brainstorming how to get my little Chuckus to the Gambler 500 without having to rent a U-Haul trailer. While I have already solved the problem (putting the scoot in the bed of another Gambler is the cheapest, renting a U-Haul trailer comes a close second) here were my obstacles, including the insane idea I ended up with before finally giving up.

Buying a cheap trailer

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are full of < $200 Harbor Freight trailers converted into motorcycle haulers. I probably wouldn’t trust one to get my bikes across the country, but acquiring a new purchase would be easier and more on demand.

Unfortunately for me, I have nowhere to store a trailer (even a folding one). I could store an enclosed trailer at my condo, however enclosed trailers tend to demand much much more cash over flatbeds. Once again, I wish I could just...keep a U-Haul 5x8 trailer. lol

A hitch hauler

Also a great option and I can even get one fit for a scooter for under $100. However, my smart’s hitch receiver only likes tongue weights of no greater than 200 pounds. The scooter weighs 280 alone and a hitch hauler will definitely put it over 300.

Riding it there

Also a very fun, pretty viable option. It would be an awesome maiden voyage for the Gambler Chuckus. But it’s also 300 miles there and I’d be trusting it to a Chinese scooter that hasn’t run in a year. Eh...

Screw it, let’s just go crazy

So...smarts. They have tailgates...

But they can only hold 220 pounds.

Well...let’s say I have a device laying around (I do) that could easily be padded and would hold the weight of something that would need to sit on the tailgate. Then couple it to a ramp...

The Chuckus would actually have some room to spare inside my smart. The tailgate would be open a bit, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to do something like that..

Unfortunately, while this would work and probably work well if I spent my time on it, I have nowhere in the car to store the “device” and thus the Chuckus would be stuck once it got in the car. Of course, a luggage rack would solve this issue, however now that’s getting into spending way more cash than transporting via U-Haul trailer.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Mercedes Streeter 09/18/2018 at 18:44

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remove the front passenger seat in wichever smart your driving

tie chuckus to passenger seatbelt mount

assuming you’re driving alone the smart can easily handle that

(also its surprisingly easy to lift a chuckus into a car.. the fronts light... as long as thats in its just a case of pushing)

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Mercedes Streeter 09/18/2018 at 18:49

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Take non running smart car, a sawzall and welder and make a custom smart enclosed motorcycle trailer. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 09/18/2018 at 18:50

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I agree this is best scenario .

TheRealBicycleBuck > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 09/18/2018 at 18:53

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Tow bar + Smart with front seats removed = motorcycle trailer?

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/18/2018 at 18:55

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it would help to have a friend hold the handle bars straight....

pushing a 2 wheeler always falls flat on that point by your tod

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/18/2018 at 18:55

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damnit kinja... once is enough

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 09/18/2018 at 19:00

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Mercedes Streeter > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 09/19/2018 at 10:33

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Good idea, but it would have very bad consequences. :/ Disconnecting an element of the airbag system (the seat counts as it has an airbag) then starting the car bricks the airbag system. You maaaaay be able to reset the system using a MB Star machine, but if it bricks hard enough only a dealership can fix it ($$$).

Mercedes Streeter > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/19/2018 at 10:35

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This would actually work. Removing the seats triggers a fault in the airbag system and bricks it. My MB Star machine may not even be able to reset it either. However, simply making a smart into a trailer - even temporarily - would work provided I kill power to it before removing the seats. lol

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Mercedes Streeter 09/19/2018 at 11:26

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damnit.... modern technology ruins everything!!

i had not considered that.... that kinda stuff never happens with my old crap cans :/

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 09/19/2018 at 12:24

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You can play “Fs Roulette”

Fs means factor of safety, it’s an engineering term for exactly how much a part is over designed. Let’s say your tailgate is rated for 220lbs... But if it has a FS of 1.5, that becomes 330. If you listen for bad noises and watch weak points you should be able to tell when you are getting to the real capacity. 

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 09/19/2018 at 13:17

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I actually have momentarily placed maybe 500 pounds on the tailgate without breaking anything, but that was when the car was still fresh and new. A common point of failure in the earlier cars (2008-2010) are the tailgate pins and it’s not yet known if the part was redesigned in the newer cars.

Side note: I adore my Chuckus! I got it to run last night...sorta. It starts on starting fluid and keep running if you rev it. I even got it up to 30 last night while testing it! But as soon as you stop and let go of the throttle, it dies. Low throttle is also a huge leech. It only really runs when you give it like half or more throttle. I bet the idle jet in the carb is clogged. But no problem, I got a new one coming in tonight (yay, Chinesium). The handling is a bit chaotic because the bars are loose and the wheels are narrow as hell.

The plan is to paint it pink, get it a cafe racer seat, cafe bars, bar end mirrors, paint the wheels, tank, front fender white, add a light bar, digital speedo, cafe style brake light, RGB, then add a 5gal jerry can and knobby tyres.

Got a head start with some roadside stripping. The tank isn’t even screwed in! lol

Before

After

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 09/19/2018 at 13:25

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Good god! At least tighten up the steering!! A floaty front end is a real easy way to end up on the ground

Did you say this one was a 50? or a 150?

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 09/19/2018 at 13:29

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I’m getting new handlebars entirely. They (and the cheap tyres) appear to be what’s causing the floaty steering.

It’s a 150! There’s a bad bearing somewhere in the rear that I need to take care of as well.

Decay buys too many beaters > Mercedes Streeter 09/19/2018 at 13:32

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Oh sweet! Should be good for 55-60 all said and done! You could pretty easily ride that out to the event if you get it reliable. 

Mercedes Streeter > Decay buys too many beaters 09/19/2018 at 13:49

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I’ll actually trailer it out lol. If it survives the Gambler that’s when I’ll go all in with the cafe racering . :D