Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2008 Smart fortwo

Question:

Will the Excalibar tow bar DM9511008 work with the DM9518256 base plate I had installed on my 2008 Smart Car? I understand this is a heavy duty tow bar and will be a bit of overkill as to capacity, but I can get a used one at a good price. Thank you for your reply.

asked by: Chris H

Expert Reply:

Yes, the Demco base plate kit, part # DM9518256 that you have is compatible with the Dominator Tow Bar part # DM9511008. There's nothing wrong with having more capacity than you need so this tow bar should work well for you.

There are several other components need to complete a flat towing setup. The Aventa comes with safety cables, you will need a lighting option though.

For lighting you can use the diode kit, # RM-15267, and not have to worry about cutting into the taillight housing. This will splice into your taillight wiring to allow your tow vehicle to control the taillight assemblies of the towed vehicle. This comes with a round 6-way connector that you will install on the front of your towed vehicle and enough coiled wire to go from there to the RV.

Most states now require supplemental braking in the vehicle being flat towed. The easiest system to set up and use is the Blue Ox Patriot # BRK2012, that applies the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the two vehicle is braking. This is the safest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.

I have included a couple of helpful links to our articles on flat towing for you. Be sure to consult the vehicle owners manual for more specific information on flat towing your vehicle.