Does anyone tow with a Sprinter ?

 

Just wondering if anyone who has a 2350/2400 on the Dodge Sprinter tows a car or trailer, and what type ?

We are considering it for future long trips when we will stay in one place for awhile.  Haven't had to yet, but I would like to know if anyone does ...

 

Thanks,

Blake

Blake,

You might want to ask that question on a larger RV forum such as RV.net where you can pick the brains of a much larger pool Sprinter chassis motor home owners.

I am curious as to the various comments/experiences you receive.

We have a smart car and a Smart trailer for it. The car and trailer weigh about 2,400 lbs so you don't even know it's back there.

EXACTLY what I am looking into ! 

I have been considering the pros & cons of towing a Smart  (or any car) 4 down.  Lots of info scattered about.  What brand is your trailer ? Where did you get it ?  Possibly here ...

http://www.smarttrailerusa.com/

What year is the Smart car ?  Just wondering if the older european pre-2008 models are lighter.  There is a 2003 on Craigs-list for $7000 and a 2008 for $8000 in my area.  So I am just trying to gather more info from current owners.

Thanks !

Can Smart cars be towed 4-wheel-down?  If so, maybe just the stick shift version.  Going with a Smart for a Sprinter, is very smart.  They weigh around 1800 pounds without the trailer......right?

I towed 4-wheel-down, a little red Toyota MR2 Spyder, the one on the PC opening page.  I think it weighed 300 pounds more than a Smart, coming in at 2100 pounds.  I did not have secondary braking and considered that marginal.  I would think it would make a nice alternative to a Smart.  Very fun to sight-see in with the top down too.  We got 31mpg around town. Unknown for open roads, but assumed it's better.

Plenty of folks are towing them 4 down.  Blue Ox has a base plate.  There is a company in the UK that sells a tow bar and supplemental vacuum brake system.

I don't exactly know the hows/whys ... but the auto can be towed 4 down, because it is not a "true" auto.  It is a manual without a clutch, and no torque converter ... ???   Some design that I am still trying to figure out the details. 

The Smart is just over 1800lbs.     I towed a Suzuki Samurai with our other Class B on a 2004 E350.  I used a United Gear supplemental braking system even though the Sami weighed about 2000lbs.  I don't like "marginal" braking scenarios.

I'd get another Suzuki if I could find the right one.  Although riding around in a 1980's Samurai is only slightly better than a golf cart !  The Smart would have a/c, easily maintain highway speeds and modern safety restraints.  An MR2 would doo all of that also, but would it have a place behind the seats for my dog ?  She goes everywhere with us !  Which is another reason I am seriously considering a Smart car as a dinghy.

Definitely NO place for a dog behind the seats.  There is storage behind the seats, but is hatched with locks to secure personal belongings.

The smart for two Passion 2010 weighs 1806 lbs and the trailer from Smart Trailers USA weighs about 600 lbs with electric brakes, spare, etc. We have taken our Lakeland (22 lbs) on short trips with him riding in the back in his bed. Else he's up front in the front seat or passenger's lap.

One can tow a smart car flat. A dealer can give you a procedure to do so. We went the trailer route after comparing the cost of a trailer and brake controller in the Sprinter versus the cost of the Blue Ox equipment on the car, its installation, the tow bar, and the brake controller in the smart car.

For those that see the smart as small, I'm 6 ft 4 in and 210 lbs. I'm most comfortable in it and have no qualms about driving at highway speeds in heavy traffic. It will do 90 mph and handles like a sports car.

Thanks for the additional info.  Our dog is the same size.  I figured a Smart would be fine for short trips around town.  If we're going far, its in the motor home anyway.

I agree with you on the trailer vs tow bar.  The costs of all the pieces required for safe 4 down towing certainly do add up.

Thanks again for your perspective.

And you can back a trailer..........not so with 4-down.

And you get to use a pull through space to have somewhere to park the trailer, like where to park the dolly/caddy dilemma, been there done that, 4-down for me.