Hap Hazard
Mammoth Lakes
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Joined: 12/10/2006
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I load my 75 MG Midget in my WW without issue. It's alot more fun and gets alot more attention than a smart car and only cost $2500-$3500. Mileage is 30 MPG+ The one thing about small cars and trailers, make sure you can open the doors to get out once you've parked inside. The MG is a rag top and I just step out.
My other car is a 65 Sunbeam Tiger, alot MORE fun but not much of a mileage car. Again, it gets alot of attention, especially now with the Get Smart movie out.
Hap
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 03/19/2005
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A Miata would be pretty fun in the summer with the top down.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
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PegLeg2000
Michigan
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Joined: 10/12/2007
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VintageRacer wrote:I just traded my SUV at a pretty good loss and bought a new econo car, over five years I'll save about $8K.
Brian
Would love to see those economics... 
2008 KZ New Vision Sportster 40P
2008 F-450 King Ranch 4X4
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juzplanekrazy
Huntington Beach Ca.
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Joined: 02/18/2006
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We are looking at a Smart Car to carry in our TH. We've been kind of looking for a car for over a year that will fit inside our 10' garage. And a Smart Car seem to be the perfect unit @ a hair under 9' and a weight less the 2000Lbs.
A friend of ours ordered one and should have his in a few weeks and will see how we like it and how it fits.
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broccoli2
Valencia CA
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Joined: 03/14/2007
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The smart take at least 18 months to get once you order it.
2007 F350 4X4 Smoker
2007 WW FSC3200
2008 Yamaha Rhino Sports Edition
2008 Yamaha WR450f
2005 TRX650GSA 4X4 Rincon
1946 CJ2a Frame off
2008 Yamaha Raptor 250
2006 Yamaha TTR125L
2007 Yamaha Wolverine 450 4X4
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Oldbrat1960
Sacramento, CA
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Joined: 12/30/2004
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Garage models have their length limitations. Open models allow you to adjust the weight for better balance. Ragtops definitely make access easier. The open models are getting better interior amenities so they don't look so utilitarian when empty.Most economy cars weigh under #3000. You could have additional ramp and garage support installed on your rig of choice. Happy hunting.
Pleasure in Playin'
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nayther
Burbank, CA
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Hap Hazard wrote:I load my 75 MG Midget in my WW without issue. It's alot more fun and gets alot more attention than a smart car and only cost $2500-$3500. Mileage is 30 MPG+ The one thing about small cars and trailers, make sure you can open the doors to get out once you've parked inside. The MG is a rag top and I just step out.
My other car is a 65 Sunbeam Tiger, alot MORE fun but not much of a mileage car. Again, it gets alot of attention, especially now with the Get Smart movie out.
Hap
I like your style! Not much on the MG but the Tiger, FUNNNNN! A friend in High School had one but I didn't know what it was, until he took me for a ride WOW!
My partner just sold his Ltd. anniversary MG, hardly drove it, said it was under powered and unreliable (Dr. Lucas, the prince of darkness!!)
DIRT BIKES RULE
'05 Duramax CC short bed
'06 3005 Rage'n Falcon
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kannonvaggon
Shorewood, Illinois
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Joined: 03/31/2007
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We just completed our first month-long road trip with a Smart Cabrio loaded in the garage of our Damon Outlaw, Workhorse chassis. The little bugger rode in there real nicely and is a hoot to drive.
Even a Smart is pushing the capacity/ load limits of most " toyhauler " type coaches. You need to have about 2500lb of floor capacity and 2000lb of ramp capacity and a bit over 1000lb per axle ramp capacity. A 10.5' garage is about the smallest you can go with and still be able to get around the vehicle with it inside the garage and tied down. The Workhorse version of the Damon just barely meets these numbers... and in fact the loading and carrying of the Smart works very well.
I do back the car into the garage to keep a bit more weight as far forward as possible, but to tell the truth I've tried driving the coach with the car loaded both ways and can't really tell any difference in handling characteristics. I just figure a slightly more forward load on the rear overhang can't hurt any.
The Smart Cabrio is the heaviest model , of course, and comes in at just under 1800 lbs curb weight.
I can tie down the car and still walk through the back door of the coach and go back to get into the rear cabinets or check the tiedowns and such. The car doors have room to open just fine for exit/entry but the car needs to be centered in the garage to make it easier to get to the tie-downs.
I've put on 12,000 miles in the first year on the Outlaw carrying a motorcycle sidecar rig. Now we just put on another 3,000 miles with the Smart . We went to the east coast and of course got into the hot spell going on there. It was nice to have a little car with A/C when in heavy traffic around the Washington beltway for instance, rather than be frying in the sun on the sidecar rig. The drop-top is nice for the evenings...
One thing I do now is to just leave the Smart outside at night in the campground, rather than load up every night like I do with the sidecar. The Smart doesn't take up much room in front of the coach that's for sure...
We LIKE the Smart and it works perfectly for us in the garage coach. Would I prefer having a garage coach with a little car in back rather than a tow and a large full bedroom? Nope.... but since we like to haul our other "toys" and need the garage, then the Smart does indeed work out nicely in our coach. Our beagle does like to play in the garage when we're out doin tourist stuff sometimes....
You can tow a Smart four-down without issue if that's what ya want.
Yes.... We waited 18 months for the Smart to be delivered. Now, the wait is more like 22 months. The car has been trouble free for the first 2000 miles anyway. The actual fuel mileage is about 42 MPG daily in the burbs and a max of about 50 MPG on the slab. It uses ZERO fuel whilst in the coach.... and no I haven't noted any change in fuel "economy" on the coach compared to hauling the sidecar rig. There is only about 500lbs difference between our sidecar rig and the Smart Cabrio. I guess one would have some chassis / tire wear stuff on a towed car versus one being hauled around in the garage... but ya probably have more tire wear on the coach to balance it out? I dunno.
I just know we DO carry a Smart. We LIKE it. The coach works FINE hauling it.
Heading out again in a couple weeks for the great white north. Time to cool off in Egg Harbor and get some fresh sweet cherries and do some fishin. We are debating on choosing the Sidecar or the Smart car for this trip. It's GOOD to have choices sometimes!
latertaters
Jay and Joyce
'07 Damon Outlaw Garage-Coach /WH
Real-deal-steel-2WD-military-sidecar-rig: The dreaded Frog-of-War
AND
Smart Cabrio for when goggles and rain gear are beneath our dignity.
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HavaRaptor
Lake Havasu City
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Joined: 01/21/2006
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I can put a Geo tracker in the garage of my Raptor. Have towed it to Nor Cal a couple of times. It just fits!! Oh yea, i was towing with my Kenworth at the time.
2006 Raptor 3612 DS
2008 Ford F250 4X4 Diesel
2006 Yamaha Rhino SE
2007 Polaris SP 800 EFI
2006 Suzuki 500 Vinson
2001 Road Glide 95in motor
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BShivers
North Texas
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Joined: 11/15/2006
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Read these
2008 WW FS3000 triple axle, 16" wheels, Aluminum siding.
2006 Ford F350 SRW CC/LB 6.0PSD/Auto 4x4 18" wheels/tires
11,500 GVWR
23,000 GCWR
2000 Jeep TJ 4.0/5-Spd 5.5" RE LA lift, 35" Tires 4,440lbs
www.lonestarjeepclub.org
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