trimster Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 With the Smart car Gen II (2009 - ??) Being longer, across the bed of our truck than technically legal without wide load permit, anyone getting pulled over/cited? Or is it like "don't worry about it...except in Calif where everything causes cancer. " Quote Robert & Lisa '14 Keystone Fuzion 315 38' 5er 2015 Volvo VNL 670, D13, iShift 'The Tartis' (ours) 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion 'K-9' 2011 CanAm Spyder RT Limited (Ours) We are both USAF vets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 There were perhaps 50 of us at Hutchinson hauling smarts, if that tells you anything. So far, I've only heard of one instance where someone was told to unload. Perhaps there's more. Quote 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...
Nigel Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 The one I heard being told to unload was because the cop that saw it had been reading our forum and had seen threads discussing the car being too long. As far as I know nobody has been measured. But as Rick said there are hundreds of us doing thousands of miles each year so don’t be too concerned. Nigel Quote 2006 Volvo VNL 430, 2006 smart cabrio cdi, 2000 Triple E Topaz 30' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimster Posted October 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 That's what I assumed. With that, my bed build continues. I'm getting ready to order the steel for the cross members. Welding on, dude! Quote Robert & Lisa '14 Keystone Fuzion 315 38' 5er 2015 Volvo VNL 670, D13, iShift 'The Tartis' (ours) 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion 'K-9' 2011 CanAm Spyder RT Limited (Ours) We are both USAF vets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrformance Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) Crazy thought, build a ramp that mirrors the angle of the load ramps on the deck. This would shorten the width, provide storage under the car, and alleviate the breakover angle issue when Smart goes from ramp to deck. Similar to the ramps on Wkrnrvr Jeep hauler, only sideways. Edited October 30, 2020 by Parrformance correction Quote 2006 Volvo VNL 780, " Arvey" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2010 Forest River Coachman Freedom Express 280RLS Jackalopee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimster Posted October 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) When purchasing a Smart..any year/model to stay away from? Electric is out for us due to the limited range. Found a 2005 with 35k miles. That's a gen I. Edited October 30, 2020 by trimster Quote Robert & Lisa '14 Keystone Fuzion 315 38' 5er 2015 Volvo VNL 670, D13, iShift 'The Tartis' (ours) 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion 'K-9' 2011 CanAm Spyder RT Limited (Ours) We are both USAF vets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad & Jacolyn Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 I have talked to LEO'S in a few states (never mentioned the length of the smart) and all of them have told me that unless you are doing something blatantly stupid they have enough to do without messing with us. I even parked on a street in a little town once and went to eat. The car was still loaded. When we came out I could see 2 people looking at the truck and they wore uniforms. So I walked down to see them and one had seen the truck and called his buddy over from another part of town to see it. I gave a tour and one even climbed up on the back and sat in the car. They had never seen that done before and were quite impressed. Quote Brad and Jacolyn Tucker the Wonder dog and Brynn the Norfolk Terrier 2009 Smart "Joy" 2004 VNL630 "Vonda the Volvo" 2008 Hitch Hiker 35 CK Champagne Edition VED12 465 HP, Freedomline, 3.73 ratio, WB 218" Fulltiming and loving it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad & Jacolyn Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 I have been told that gen II have a better clutch. But then I drive the smart onto the bed. Quote Brad and Jacolyn Tucker the Wonder dog and Brynn the Norfolk Terrier 2009 Smart "Joy" 2004 VNL630 "Vonda the Volvo" 2008 Hitch Hiker 35 CK Champagne Edition VED12 465 HP, Freedomline, 3.73 ratio, WB 218" Fulltiming and loving it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) I have driven on all my Smarts. Never hooked up winch. It includes the the 451 model also. The 453 model is wider. There was a 450 model also. So newest is actually model 3. Edited October 30, 2020 by GlennWest Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 The car is well inside the width of the mirrors so it doesn't look that obvious. It seems the trick to loading on angles with the new DCT is to use the hand brake and (not the foot brake) and accelerator petal at the same time. Quote Rick & Carey,Excel W41GKE Wild Cargo Toyhauler Volvo 730, D13, I-shift, 500/1850Brabus Smart Car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big5er Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 (edited) And with the trailer behind ya, its impossible to see both ends of the smart to judge the width anyway. A Volvos lower fairings and the behind the cab ones are not 102". 97"or 98" comes to mind. So my bed is narrow, that accounts for that "little" bit of overhang....the bed is not 102". Now, if you built your bed a full 102" I dont know how you'll explain the overhang. But I'm with Brad, "usually" unless you are doing something stupid...... But there are except to that rule. Edited October 30, 2020 by Big5er Quote MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~ 2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 2014 smart Fortwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 6 hours ago, trimster said: Found a 2005 with 35k miles. That's a gen I. That's a 450. It's 98" bumper to bumper. There's no "Generation" designation, only "Series". Quote 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...
RickS Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 Here is a picture of our 2006 turbo diesel 450. Here is the 453 2017 turbo gas SC Quote Rick & Carey,Excel W41GKE Wild Cargo Toyhauler Volvo 730, D13, I-shift, 500/1850Brabus Smart Car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geodog1 Posted October 30, 2020 Report Share Posted October 30, 2020 When I had my bed built I made sure there was no overlap of the excess length of the SMART on the drivers side. I figure a LEO coming up behind could not see that the car was slightly over 102" . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted October 31, 2020 Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 We never intended to haul a smart, until we drove Jeff and Cindy Brett's (bandbuds). We realized that car wasn't all that bad, and was actually fun. Bought a '13 and it served us well. But then Jeff and Cindy visited with us again, and had a later version for us to sample. Hmmm..... A few weeks later we got our '16. Of course, both are the same amount over the legal width, but I just wanted to point out, the '16-'17 is a much nicer car. Enough so that my bride drives it and leaves the "real car" in the garage. Something about the smart taking less time to wash........... yeah, right. Quote 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...
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