bmzero Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I'm working on a project you guys might be interested in. It's a rear storage rack for the Smart cars. This is an evolution of my first proof of concept design. The video should explain it pretty well. The only thing not shown is the rear bumper bolt connection. Things I'm considering that I would like your feedback on: Provide brake/running lights on bottom of rack for driving when rack is stowed in up position Provide see-through window so license plate will be visible when stowed in up position This setup would add about 6" of length to the Smart, so I doubt we would be able to leave the rack on the car when being transported on the deck of our trucks. It will be all aluminum and very easy to remove (one hitch pin and two bolts). Here was my proof of concept design that I still use quite a bit with the bikes: View High Resolution Photo View High Resolution Photo View High Resolution Photo "Willy Mammoth" - Volvo 730, Sold Heartland Cyclone 4000 Toy HaulerT-Minus 26 years and counting to being a full timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker56 Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 If you put a scooter on the rack. Would you be able to do wheelies? Full Time since Oct. 199999 Discovery 34Q DP | ISBDatastorm | VMSpc | Co-Pilot Live | Pressure Pro2014 MKS Twin Turbo V6 365 HP Toad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 That looks like a rack with potential for other vehicles as well. Here is the 2inch receiver anti-floppage device our Versa Haul bike carrier uses to hold it solid to the vehicle: http://www.versahaul.com/antitilt.php It looks like a patented design... "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I really like it. Only problem, for us, is that with DW and I in the vehicle, we're already overloaded. KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio1@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim & Wilma Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Nice design . . . should be rock solid. Jim & Wilma 2006 Travel Supreme 36RLQSO 2009 Volvo VNL730, D13, I-shift, ET, Herrin Hauler bed, "Ruby" 2017 Smart Class of 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcrzr Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I'm liking it. Not meaning to hijack your thread, just hoping that someone interested in one of these might help me out. I have a 2016 Smart & I can't find anyone that can provide a receiver hitch for it. Any ideas? Ideally, looking to carry 2 bikes. Dreaming about carrying 2 kayaks as ridiculous as that might sound. PM me if you don't want to change the direction of the original thread. Todd “…nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people.” – Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 U Haul can install a receiver hitch on a smart. Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member Living on the road since 2000PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail 2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it) 2022 New Horizons 43' 5er 2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units 2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck -------------------------------------------------------------------------See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar powerwww.jackdanmayer.com Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 New body style? I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Dreamer Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Here are my comments to your questions: Provide brake/running lights on bottom of rack for driving when rack is stowed in up position Good idea, plus install some at the rear when in the down position in case what you put on the platform blocks the tail light / turn signals. Provide see-through window so license plate will be visible when stowed in up position You are correct you need something to display the license plate but a window may be difficult because Smart License plate in the middle and so is your sliding support. If you can get it to work great, but same thing as lights above license plate should not be blocked by something on the carrier. How about a license plate mount that is on the rear of the platform, that hinges so that it is visible in either up or down position. You would have to move the license plate when attaching/removing the carrier so two more screws. Need license plate light too. When carrier is in up position, is it wider that the smart and if so then your panels may cause a drag due to lack of openings. Narrower might be better but then it may not be wide enough to mount the items you want to put on it. can you add more perforations at the outside edges? Dave 2005 Freightliner Century S/T, Singled, Air ride ET Jr. hitch 2019 46'+ Dune Sport Man Cave custom 5th wheel toy hauler Owner of the 1978 Custom Van "Star Dreamer" which might be seen at a local car show near you! Check out http://www.hhrvresource.com/ for much more info on HDT's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Gell Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Jack, is U-haul installing hitches on the wider 2016 Smarts? 2001 Volvo 770, Detroit 60 Series, Gen 2 Autoshift Passenger assist elevator to enter cab - for when we need it, or sell it? '05 Travel Supreme Select 40 RLQSO 5th wheel 2016 smart car We started full timing on December 1st 2014 Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness - Mark Twain Not all that wander are lost - J. R. R. Tolkien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis M Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I'm liking it. Not meaning to hijack your thread, just hoping that someone interested in one of these might help me out. I have a 2016 Smart & I can't find anyone that can provide a receiver hitch for it. Any ideas? Ideally, looking to carry 2 bikes. Dreaming about carrying 2 kayaks as ridiculous as that might sound. PM me if you don't want to change the direction of the original thread. Todd Curt makes a receiver hitch for earlier models. Installed one on my 2011. Fairly easy 1 man install. I use it to carry a bike rack. Dennis & NancyTucson, AZ in winter, on the road in summer.1999 Volvo 610 "Bud" 425 HP Volvo, Super 10 spd.2005 Mountain Aire 35 BLKS2013 smart fortwo CityFlame riding on Bud(Replaced '05 smart first loaded in '06 and '11 smart that gave it's life to save me!)Our Travel Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Receiver hitch and an anti-floppage device might eliminate the need for added bolting to the vehicle. "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Jack, is U-haul installing hitches on the wider 2016 Smarts? I doubt they are yet, Jim. Since the hitches were not available last I checked. But they may be now.....time marches on. Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member Living on the road since 2000PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail 2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it) 2022 New Horizons 43' 5er 2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units 2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck -------------------------------------------------------------------------See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar powerwww.jackdanmayer.com Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmzero Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Here are my comments to your questions: Provide brake/running lights on bottom of rack for driving when rack is stowed in up position Good idea, plus install some at the rear when in the down position in case what you put on the platform blocks the tail light / turn signals. Provide see-through window so license plate will be visible when stowed in up position You are correct you need something to display the license plate but a window may be difficult because Smart License plate in the middle and so is your sliding support. If you can get it to work great, but same thing as lights above license plate should not be blocked by something on the carrier. How about a license plate mount that is on the rear of the platform, that hinges so that it is visible in either up or down position. You would have to move the license plate when attaching/removing the carrier so two more screws. Need license plate light too. When carrier is in up position, is it wider that the smart and if so then your panels may cause a drag due to lack of openings. Narrower might be better but then it may not be wide enough to mount the items you want to put on it. can you add more perforations at the outside edges? Dave Thanks, Dave. My first thought was to provide a place to attach the license plate when in the up position, but that makes the process take longer. Still working through that one. Could build some type of fixture for the license plate that quickly removes from the Smart and attaches to the bottom of the rack. Lots of options. Not many good ones. Yes, this design would be slightly wider than the Smart, but it needs to be to carry my road and mountain bikes. A smaller one might work better for the masses, no wider than the Smart. If you put a scooter on the rack. Would you be able to do wheelies? Ha. Maybe I should add some wheelie bar wheels to the back. ;-) Thanks for the feedback everyone. "Willy Mammoth" - Volvo 730, Sold Heartland Cyclone 4000 Toy HaulerT-Minus 26 years and counting to being a full timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmzero Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Receiver hitch and an anti-floppage device might eliminate the need for added bolting to the vehicle. I'm pretty set on this triangulated design. It's 100% secure and I can literally jump up and down on the back side of the rack. I wouldn't try that on most 2" receiver tube racks. The POC design sold me on the triangulation. The anti-tilt device is great. I have been using that concept (welding nuts to the outside of receiver tube and drilling/threading in bolts to take up slack) for a while. The biggest problem with that design is it requires you to use tools to remove. In this case, since the rack design already uses bolts to secure the hinge to the Smart, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to take out a few more bolts, though. Also, I don't see one listed for the 1.25" receiver tubes. "Willy Mammoth" - Volvo 730, Sold Heartland Cyclone 4000 Toy HaulerT-Minus 26 years and counting to being a full timer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 I'm pretty set on this triangulated design. It's 100% secure and I can literally jump up and down on the back side of the rack. I wouldn't try that on most 2" receiver tube racks. The POC design sold me on the triangulation. The anti-tilt device is great. I have been using that concept (welding nuts to the outside of receiver tube and drilling/threading in bolts to take up slack) for a while. The biggest problem with that design is it requires you to use tools to remove. In this case, since the rack design already uses bolts to secure the hinge to the Smart, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to take out a few more bolts, though. Also, I don't see one listed for the 1.25" receiver tubes. Ya I don't see anything but 2" receiver size... Maybe it's ok if the thieving swines need some tools? "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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