Smart For Two on a lift

[rtdavew]

Has anyone heard of a hitch mounted lift that can handle a Smart for two? We are thinking about upgrading from our Sprinter to a tag axle A and was wondering if instead of towing we could just put the Smarty on a motorcycle type lift.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

Don't know able a lift but take a look at Idaho Tote. They can be attached to the rear of the RV and a 2" receiver added to that for towing. We used a Idaho tTote for several years fultiming and carried a Smart Car on it he last two years.

Idaho Tote

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[Route 66]

At close to 2000 lbs, I believe it's far too heavy for any lift.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by rtdavew

Has anyone heard of a hitch mounted lift that can handle a Smart for two? We are thinking about upgrading from our Sprinter to a tag axle A and was wondering if instead of towing we could just put the Smarty on a motorcycle type lift.

rtdavew,
The "Hydralift" is by far, the ranking motorcycle lift/carrier out on the market. It's the most stable, least amount of moving parts and is very well designed and put together. However, as nice as it is, it's capacity is only a thousand pounds. The last I checked, the Smarty hovers around 1900 or so, if I'm not mistaken. But, someone who actually has one and, HAS ACTUALLY WEIGHED IT, (and not taken the word of Dinghy towing guides that have been proven wrong way more than a few times) maybe will chime in here with actual figures.

But, in any case, I'm pretty dead certain that a lift, of the list of factory ones, will not fit the bill here for you. Now, that does not mean that a custom one cannot be fabricated that, could do what you'd like. All be it that would run you quite a few bucks more then even the Hydralift, which, hovers around $4,500.00, before taxes, shipping and installation.

There is a couple on another RV forum that tows two different Smart cars, both of them diesel units. They've got the system down pretty good. They tow one at a time and, it's on a tiny, form fitted, motorcycle trailer, a seriously heavy duty motorcycle trailer at that. When they get to their site, the Smarty is driven off the trailer, then, the trailer is hooked up to the Smarty and towed to a storage area. Way cool huh? That way they don't have to drive the big bus around with a tiny trailer and, try to back it up into a storage lot. The Smarty does it for them.

Now, this of course, is assuming that you'd not mind towing your Smart on a trailer. Yep, Smarts can be flat towed but, they choose that method due to wear and tear on the Smart(ies) while being flat towed.

So, this is a bit of info for your, to ponder over.
Scott

[rtdavew]

I think the weight is actually around 1600. And we do currently flat tow our Smarty behind a LTV Unity with no problem. Was just thinking that it might be possible to lift it. Just would make life a little easier without having to be concerned about backing up or unhitching. I figured maybe a rig with a 15k tow capability.

[BFlinn181]

The Idaho Tote is $7,100 for an 8', no info on weight capacity, but they only show it with motorcycles or 4 wheelers, golf carts, no cars. I also don't know of an RV that allows that much weight on the rear bumper. I'm also not sure of Class A's with a 15,000 lb. tow capacity. 10,000 yes, but not 15k.

[krivanj]

There are pictures of this arrangement on various RV websites with a smart car on a lift. Our Revolution LE has a 15000 tow limit. It is on a Spartan Liberty chassis.

[rtdavew]

Yes I thought that was the capacity of some Spartan chassis'. ANy clue what websites. I have done several searches and can not find any examples.

[chiefneon]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

The Idaho Tote is $7,100 for an 8', no info on weight capacity, but they only show it with motorcycles or 4 wheelers, golf carts, no cars. I also don't know of an RV that allows that much weight on the rear bumper. I'm also not sure of Class A's with a 15,000 lb. tow capacity. 10,000 yes, but not 15k.

Howdy!

As stated I carried our Smart Car on a Idaho Tote. Its a 8' by 6' platform. Loaded it side to side. Drove it on to the tote and could drive it off the other side. The weight of the Samrt Car was balanced over the axle of the Idaho Tote.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[rtdavew]

Yes I am looking to not have to tow anything. Have towed our Smarty across the country and back. With the ReadyBrute set up towing four down is no problem. I would just like to avoid having to unhook when we arrive late somewhere and only have a back in. And was thinking someone must make a lift that can handle 1600 lbs.

[Easyrider]

The positive thing about the Idaho Tote (it goes where the backend is pointed) is also a negative thing. Because it's not attached with a hinge like a normally hitched trailer the Idaho Tote essentially extends the back end of your motorhome or trailer that much further which means you have much more extending out to either side of you as you turn. I didn't see any examples on the video of maneuvering in tight situations or around sharp corners. I'd be worried especially in city traffic, 4 lanes at a stoplight, and having to make sharp right turns with traffic in the lane next to me. I think the tote would end up in the same lane other vehicles already occupied.

[vapor3000]

Originally Posted by rtdavew

Has anyone heard of a hitch mounted lift that can handle a Smart for two? We are thinking about upgrading from our Sprinter to a tag axle A and was wondering if instead of towing we could just put the Smarty on a motorcycle type lift.

We tow our Smart ForTwo on an aluminum tilt bed trailer with a 12' bed. Our Smart weighs around 1800 lbs with a half tank of gas. The trailer weighs 650 lbs with less than 50 lbs of tongue weight. We have a hitch on our Smart and move the aluminum where ever we want after unloading. We pick up fire wood as well.

We think its better to get the car off the ground because we have much road rash damage plus we can use the trailer for our RZR and Harley Trike.

Of course, the Alumna trailer costs a fraction of a Idaho Tote.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by rtdavew

I think the weight is actually around 1600. And we do currently flat tow our Smarty behind a LTV Unity with no problem. Was just thinking that it might be possible to lift it. Just would make life a little easier without having to be concerned about backing up or unhitching. I figured maybe a rig with a 15k tow capability.

Our Tour has a 15,000 tow limit but only 1,500 on the hitch. I asked WBO if they could increase the limit as the trailer we were considering was a bit heavier. They said the limit was the chassis and they would have nothing to do with altering the limits.

IMO rebuilding the back end of your coach to carry a Smart Car would be impractical. If you actually have the coach it is too late but if you are yet to purchase the coach a Class A toyhauler or a Super C toyhauler would be the best solution.

[docj]

In order to understand if this is doable on any particular MH you have to consider a lot more than just the towing limit or the allowable load on the hitch. The entire weight of the car plus the hitch will add to the existing load on the rear axle and will, accordingly, increase the total vehicle weight. So the first thing to determine is if your MH has an additional ~2,000 lb (car + hitch) capacity on both the rear axle and relative to the GVWR. In addition, since the load is cantilevered behind the rear axle it will produce a torque moment around the axle which will reduce the load on the front axle, potentially to the point affecting handling. Any weight taken off the front axle will be additional load on the rear one. All too often in threads such as this people focus on "I saw someone else do it" rather than asking whether it is safe to do.