U-Haulopnik - Testing Out The Newer AV Trailer Designs

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 05/08/2018 at 11:25 • Filed to: U-haul

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They tow just about the same, however they have a lower loading floor, slightly wider interiors, barn doors, and they look slightly bigger behind the smart than the previous generation did. Though, perhaps most importantly, all the lights work.

The design is supposedly more aerodynamic, though the smart didn’t seem to notice. Large gusts did their thing and slowed us down.

The more level floor did lend even more stability over the previous gen...and that’s saying something...the previous gen was already super stable.

It seems a bit bigger, even though it shouldn’t be. I think the squarer, yet rounder shape is doing that.

Monitoring the vitals. I got about 36 mpg towing a fully loaded trailer.

Comparison to old generation:
Old

New

Old

New

I’m deeply disappointed that U-Haul scraps these things at the end of their lives, they seem really well built to me.

I also used Tucker to transport furniture way larger than I could handle. Nothing opening the tailgate and getting some bungees couldn’t fix.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 11:37

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I don’t know when I’ll next be involved in a moving, but considering I used to work at a place that was a U-Haul dealer... I’m also interested in keeping up with the sedan-towable lines. I once had the misfortune of towing an AV back to school at the same time as I’d gotten some bad diesel, and clogged a filter in my already puny Benz to the point I barely got it off the highway.

The Galaxie has a lot more power, but has such a long overhang that lots of tongue weight is a no-no. I could probably tow an RV, but shouldn’t.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 11:43

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How long are you from tip to tail with the trailer? I’m curious if your Smart and a trailer are still shorter than my truck.

Censored > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 11:45

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This is so dangerous to you and everyone else on the road. If you are ever in an accident, you are going to be in a seriously huge mess. There are reasons that smart states in the manual of the car that it is not rated to tow. Sorry to say it, but I’d feel bad if I didn’t.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 11:46

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Looks like most of the changes are to the corners of the box. There’s a lot more rounding going on with the edges of the box, and it seems like more of the structural support in general has been “shifted around” so that the big U-shaped metal piece on the back isn’t as necessary. The fenders seem to be hold-overs.

Cé hé sin > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 11:58

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How do you find the OBD trip computer? (thinking of getting pone for the Roadster?

Cé hé sin > Censored 05/08/2018 at 12:00

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Not if you keep the speed down and only tow something small. You can after all buy tow bars (not official of course) for each generation of Smart.

The internet will warn you about the clutch which isn’t designed for anything more than the GVW of the car.

Mercedes Streeter > Censored 05/08/2018 at 12:00

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This is so dangerous to you and everyone else on the road.

Please explain. I’ve clocked 6,000 miles doing this and can pretty confidently say it’s not nearly as dangerous as you say it is.

There are reasons that smart states in the manual of the car that it is not rated to tow.

Actually, just one true reason.

The previous generation (with a weaker frame/engine/transmission, narrower track, and shorter wheelbase) is rated to tow. The only reason the second generation isn’t is because nobody bothered to petition certification authorities to do it, not because the car can’t tow.

Mercedes Streeter > Cé hé sin 05/08/2018 at 12:07

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Mine is an UltraGauge 1.0. I’m not sure I’d recommend it for an older smart as it caused CELs in my 450s. For a 450/452 I’d probably recommend a ScanGauge (same general product, different company).

https://www.scangauge.com/

Mercedes Streeter > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 05/08/2018 at 12:23

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Total length is something like 20 feet. :)

Mercedes Streeter > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 05/08/2018 at 12:24

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Mmmmm....That analysis makes me feel tingly. :)

Dark chocolate > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 12:30

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yup 20 feet is nothing. lol. My Navigator L is right here.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 12:41

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Haha...My truck is longer. 21 ft according to the interwebs (K3500 CC long bed)

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 13:29

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That is a shame that they scrap their trailers.

Censored > Cé hé sin 05/08/2018 at 13:36

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Those receivers that you buy are meant for a bike rack and will say that they are not suitable for towing.

Censored > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 13:47

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I don’t want to nor did I intend to start an argument. Tow ratings are dictated by a multitude of factors, braking, turning, gvwr, etc..... Have you ever had to perform an panic stop, emergency lane change etc... with a trailer. This is where towing with a car that isn’t built to tow becomes dangerous. I’ll use the jeep wrangler as an example. The jeep TJ has a tow rating of 2k lbs, and that has nothing to do with brakes or power, its the fact that it has a 93" wheel base and that isn’t sufficient to keep a trailer in check under heavy braking. This is a vehicle that weighs 4500lbs. A smart weights less than half of that and has a significantly shorter wheel base. Most cars can pull anything just fine 97% of the time, it’s that other 3% that dictates tow ratings. Again, I’m not trying to be the judge and jury, I just don’t want to see someone get hurt when they didn’t know any better. I’d tell you at this point to look into what goes into coming up with a tow rating and then look at the penalties of not adhering to what your car is able to tow if you are in an accident. Frankly, I can’t believe that uhaul would rent to you, they are supposed to check your hitch for rating and vehicle for rating.

Mercedes Streeter > Censored 05/08/2018 at 14:24

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I don’t want to nor did I intend to start an argument. Tow ratings are dictated by a multitude of factors, braking, turning, gvwr, etc..... Have you ever had to perform an panic stop, emergency lane change etc... with a trailer.

...

I’d tell you at this point to look into what goes into coming up with a tow rating and then look at the penalties of not adhering to what your car is able to tow if you are in an accident.

I do apologize if it appeared that I was snapping at you, that was not the intent.

This project is one that’s years in the making. It started in 2014 when I got the hitch installed (by U-Haul) and started really taking off in 2016 when I became the primary driver for all towing vehicles in the family. My elderly parents have me lug their 7,000lb trailer all over the country (with their Expedition EL, of course), so I had to learn all I could about towing.

I’ve thoroughly researched all the towing factors that a normal person could test during my 5,000 miles of testing. I tackled everything from panic stopping, swaying, emergency lane changes, you name it. The car does exceeding well. I could only get any sway worth nothing driving in conditions with 40-50 mph crosswinds.

Frankly, I can’t believe that uhaul would rent to you, they are supposed to check your hitch for rating and vehicle for rating. 

They’re the ones that installed the hitch. It’s from Curt Manufacturing and is rated for 200 pounds tongue and 2,000 pounds trailer. Perhaps surprisingly, U-Haul does allow towing with vehicles that don’t have tow ratings. Their system instead quotes the tow rating as the dry weight of the towing vehicle. A smart could never tow 1,800 pounds more than around a track infield (a lot of smarts are used for track tugs) so that’s kind of interesting.

Mercedes Streeter > Censored 05/08/2018 at 14:30

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That’s not necessarily true. While some Euro tow bars are only for accessories, there are plenty of tow bars (hitch) that are many that are rated for towing. In fact, smarts towing things in Europe and Canada are much much more commonplace than in the US. The first generation smarts were certified to tow 775 pounds. The second and third generations are not certified to tow, leaving private organizations and owners to figure it out themselves.

Censored > Mercedes Streeter 05/08/2018 at 15:42

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I’m blown away that Curt would produce a class 1 hitch and stamp it for a vehicle that doesn’t meet/exceed the requirements for class 1. This is likely a legal loophole that would keep you from trouble in the event of an accident, but IMO that doesn’t make it right.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200601170_200601170

Cé hé sin > Censored 05/08/2018 at 16:40

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Not sure what you mean by a “receiver” in this context but here’s a Smart 451 with a tow bar and also showing how they fitted it. The company involved are careful to cover themselves by saying it’s not for highway use.

Censored > Cé hé sin 05/08/2018 at 20:58

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That is what I would expect from a company selling a hitch for a car that the manufacturer states isn’t capable of towing. However, Curt, a manufacturer of towing equipment, sells a class 1 hitch/receiver for the smart.

A receiver is the square opening that is capable of ”receiving” a hitch, or bike mount or storage platform. I believe reese was the origionator or at least the company that made the idea mainstream in the late 80's-ish. It may be USA only terminology.