Hymer plans for North America market...

[gregmchugh]

Originally Posted by booster

That's interesting, as the last commuter I had before I retired very plainly called out that it had no tow rating because they weren't approved for towing (1997 Mercury Tracer sedan). Can't say about "current" stuff.

Somehow, I can't see a Smart car pulling much trailer.

Interesting that the UK Smart Car towing capacity is listed at about 1600 lb.

Not sure how much lower the number would be for a US Smart Car based on the info above about the significant differences for Europe vs US...

[markopolo]

My '09 2.5L Ford Escape is rated to tow 1,500 lbs (680kg) in NA. A UK Smart Car can tow more? !!!

Re: Smart Car - figured someone would have a Youtube video up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecKXuBkrE-A

[Davydd]

Some comments about that Smart Car towing a tear drop. When I was in England I was aghast at the number of small cars pulling large trailers. They looked scary to me. That looked like a typical RV park in England (at least the ones I saw). Not much in amenities, just a large field. No wonder toilet cassettes are the norm. Also, most all those RVs were small Class C and B at least in that field of view. In truth, you couldn't drive anything larger than that in Wales and there is a good reason their cab Chassis builds are not much wider than vans unlike our 8"+ projections. The roads are not wide enough. Most of Wales is no wider than 16 feet with no shoulders and stone walls right tight at the pavement.

[markopolo]

The technical requirements and know how and the inherent frugality of using a car to tow all have some appeal to me. I might change my mind on a long climb though.

This Eriba manual is well done: http://www.automotiveleisure.co.uk/files/Eriba.pdf

This info:

When parked, do not allow the engine of the towing vehicle to run more than necessary. When running idle, a cold engine releases more contaminants than usual. The running temperature of the engine is achieved more quickly whilst the vehicle is in motion.

was interesting to note.

I think speed and loading come into play more than with the units we have here.

The caravans are designed by HYMER AG for a technically permissible maximum speed of 100 km/h (60 mph). Therefore never drive faster than 100 km/h (60 mph).

Many countries in Europe have a 50mph limit in place when towing on motorways so you wouldn't do 60mph anyway.

That manual contains lots of good information. It's very thorough and well written. I'm very impressed.

[eric1514]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZm7krg1vBE

[markopolo]

And that vacation is over .............

[mlts22]

Maybe it is a North American thing, but the Europeans I know who move to the US don't hesitate on putting a tow hitch on their compact cars. Maybe it is part of the advertising done to sell pickups that one has to have a one-ton dually in order to tow anything sizable. Of course, one can't pull a fifth wheel with a Corolla, but you can get something along the lines of a T@B or an A-liner without issue.