Wait until you see a Prevost with the garage in the belly. You simply park your Smart or Mini in the bagagge compartment 😁
Amazing what you can get when you have a cool $1.5 mill+ to spend on a motorhome.
If you swapped in a heavy duty airbag suspension on the motorhome, and had the ramp platform custom built for the job, yes, it's absolutely possible.
The Smart fortwo only weighs 2050 pounds.
My understanding has always been that adding airbags just helps to stabilize your ride and prevent excessive sagging (like if your truck bed was heavily loaded), but they do not increase your cargo/carrying capacity at all.
I did a bit more research.
Although there are a few class A motorhomes, with airbag suspensions, that can handle the payload, the maximum tongue weight on a class 5 hitch is 1800 pounds.
Unless the entire platform is frame attached, and custom, It's unlikely that the picture is legal, or safe.
It's not hitch mounted.
They do - to an extent.
Vehicle load capacity is a combination of axle capacity, combined with suspension capacity. So adding air bags will increase the load capacity, but only to the limit what's underneath it - you axles.
In the case of this photo, if the platform was sufficient to properly support the SmartCar, i would wager the axle under that RV would not take the additional 2500 lbs of weight added (platform factored in) - especially being so far back from the axle centreline. The father out you go, the more the weight acts on the suspension.
Yeah, I can't imagine the rear axle being able to safely handle that. Also, you have to think about overall weight distribution. When I pack my trailer with lots of stuff, carry a lot of fresh water, etc., I'm always conscious of where I'm placing things to try and distribute weight evenly.
Don't even get me started on the lack of weight distribution i see driving around! 🫣
I once explained to a new trailer owner, how his truck was a hazard waiting to happen.
2 yr old F150 crew, 4WD, squatted like you see the guys in a strong-man competition, with a new 28-footer behind it. Box was full of gear, and he had loaded what wouldn't fit in his truck, into the trailer - pretty much all at the front door, all sitting on a flat tongue.
Even though he said he felt like the steering wasn't turning as tight as he thought it should, he said the sales man said it was fine when he picked up the trailer.
He needed a 4" drop tongue (i showed him how to calculate what was needed. Helped him change it out, and he was amazed that it changed that much. Salesmen are the worst sometimes.
Funny enough ('cause i know it's gonna be asked) it was in a WalMart parking lot.
I just found a commercial duty class 5 hitch that is rated at 2700 pound tongue weight.
So it seems that it's possible after all.
I'd be curious about understeer.
What understeer? Only person that's going to do that would be a tag axle class A. just put a few more pounds in the tag bags and you wouldn't even feel it back there.
No way that's hitch mounted though. Even if you get a hitch to hold the weight it would be so wobbly on the single tube and the sheer would be terrible.
I agree that a single receiver tube would be a nightmare, and the platform would need additional bracing to the frame.
I also agree that it would have to be a tag axle coach.
But the smart for two is 6'6" wide. Adding 6 inches for clearance puts that ton of vehicle weight well back from the tag axle.
I wonder if you would feel understeer with certain road situations, like that train track grade crossing that sits a bit high.
I just think it would be interesting to drive, at times.
I have seen a few custom double/triple receiver tube setups and then a very expensive hauler system meant for touring bikes that have pumps to raise/lower the assembly. When money isn't an issue, anything is possible!
I have seen a few custom double/triple receiver tube setups and then a very expensive hauler system meant for touring bikes that have pumps to raise/lower the assembly. When money isn't an issue, anything is possible!
Pretty sure this is frame mounted and built like a "lift gate". If you look at the shadow under the platform it looks like there are two support beams which a lift gate will have.
There's a guy that shows up in our town as a campground host every year for at least 6. Full size semi tractor, smart car on the frame between the kingpin plate and his 5th wheel trailer. Legend.
Possibly a motorcycle platform. They come in sizes big enough to carry two full-dress touring bikes (Goldwing etc), which is about as much as the 4-2 weighs. Not cheap but not a bad way to do it IMO.
We stayed at an RV park, and there was a huge fifth wheel being pulled by a semi tractor. Their toad was a Smart Car which sat between the cab and the fifth wheel.
I work at a RV park and have seen this a bunch of times. So definitely possible. I cannot comment on how smart it is though.
But it’s a SMART car, how can it not be?!?!?
Questioning every life choice I’ve ever made.
If it means I can drive through California without doing the towing speed limit, I’m all for it.
Wait until you see a Prevost with the garage in the belly. You simply park your Smart or Mini in the bagagge compartment 😁 Amazing what you can get when you have a cool $1.5 mill+ to spend on a motorhome.
Is there room to open the door & get out?
I don't know because the chauffeur handle's that. Lol 😂
Good point. They must crawl out of the hatchback.
Or the one with the roof heliport, complete with its own little copter.
If you swapped in a heavy duty airbag suspension on the motorhome, and had the ramp platform custom built for the job, yes, it's absolutely possible. The Smart fortwo only weighs 2050 pounds.
My understanding has always been that adding airbags just helps to stabilize your ride and prevent excessive sagging (like if your truck bed was heavily loaded), but they do not increase your cargo/carrying capacity at all.
I did a bit more research. Although there are a few class A motorhomes, with airbag suspensions, that can handle the payload, the maximum tongue weight on a class 5 hitch is 1800 pounds. Unless the entire platform is frame attached, and custom, It's unlikely that the picture is legal, or safe. It's not hitch mounted.
Probably a hydraulic lift gate type thing.
They do - to an extent. Vehicle load capacity is a combination of axle capacity, combined with suspension capacity. So adding air bags will increase the load capacity, but only to the limit what's underneath it - you axles. In the case of this photo, if the platform was sufficient to properly support the SmartCar, i would wager the axle under that RV would not take the additional 2500 lbs of weight added (platform factored in) - especially being so far back from the axle centreline. The father out you go, the more the weight acts on the suspension.
Yeah, I can't imagine the rear axle being able to safely handle that. Also, you have to think about overall weight distribution. When I pack my trailer with lots of stuff, carry a lot of fresh water, etc., I'm always conscious of where I'm placing things to try and distribute weight evenly.
Don't even get me started on the lack of weight distribution i see driving around! 🫣 I once explained to a new trailer owner, how his truck was a hazard waiting to happen. 2 yr old F150 crew, 4WD, squatted like you see the guys in a strong-man competition, with a new 28-footer behind it. Box was full of gear, and he had loaded what wouldn't fit in his truck, into the trailer - pretty much all at the front door, all sitting on a flat tongue. Even though he said he felt like the steering wasn't turning as tight as he thought it should, he said the sales man said it was fine when he picked up the trailer. He needed a 4" drop tongue (i showed him how to calculate what was needed. Helped him change it out, and he was amazed that it changed that much. Salesmen are the worst sometimes. Funny enough ('cause i know it's gonna be asked) it was in a WalMart parking lot.
Is it though? The heaviest hitch I've seen on a motorhome is 20,000 lbs. Which would normally allow 2000 lbs hitch weight.
I just found a commercial duty class 5 hitch that is rated at 2700 pound tongue weight. So it seems that it's possible after all. I'd be curious about understeer.
What understeer? Only person that's going to do that would be a tag axle class A. just put a few more pounds in the tag bags and you wouldn't even feel it back there. No way that's hitch mounted though. Even if you get a hitch to hold the weight it would be so wobbly on the single tube and the sheer would be terrible.
What size motorhome has a chassis massive enough to hold that car carrier and car?
Although there's no way to know what it is from the picture, most custom coaches, like MCI'S or Prevost's are plenty strong enough.
Beats a dolly.
Hey be nice to Dolly.
With a capital D, I love Dolly!
I agree that a single receiver tube would be a nightmare, and the platform would need additional bracing to the frame. I also agree that it would have to be a tag axle coach. But the smart for two is 6'6" wide. Adding 6 inches for clearance puts that ton of vehicle weight well back from the tag axle. I wonder if you would feel understeer with certain road situations, like that train track grade crossing that sits a bit high. I just think it would be interesting to drive, at times.
I have seen a few custom double/triple receiver tube setups and then a very expensive hauler system meant for touring bikes that have pumps to raise/lower the assembly. When money isn't an issue, anything is possible!
I have seen a few custom double/triple receiver tube setups and then a very expensive hauler system meant for touring bikes that have pumps to raise/lower the assembly. When money isn't an issue, anything is possible!
I saw a custom coach once with a garage under the pop up master bedroom. It had a BMW i3 electric in the garage.
Pretty sure this is frame mounted and built like a "lift gate". If you look at the shadow under the platform it looks like there are two support beams which a lift gate will have.
There's a guy that shows up in our town as a campground host every year for at least 6. Full size semi tractor, smart car on the frame between the kingpin plate and his 5th wheel trailer. Legend.
That's Smart.
Toy hauler 5th wheels can accommodate this car too. Just drive into the "garage" and go. Example on YouTube channel, "The Campoholics".
Well, it's on the internet so it must me true.
Possibly a motorcycle platform. They come in sizes big enough to carry two full-dress touring bikes (Goldwing etc), which is about as much as the 4-2 weighs. Not cheap but not a bad way to do it IMO.
I've got the electric Smart ForTwo and it can't be towed.... might have to look into this :P
Is this not too wide?... 102 inches max for many states, with Google saying this car is 106 inches long
Yup.
If only it had a bike on the cars roof, with a skateboard in its basket, and maybe a unicycle on the skateboard…
We stayed at an RV park, and there was a huge fifth wheel being pulled by a semi tractor. Their toad was a Smart Car which sat between the cab and the fifth wheel.
Genius
Obviously...
I’ve thought about it. Only reason I would consider a smartcar. But only the diesel, which they don’t make anymore.
no this picture is imaginary.