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**Country Campers** · 04-25-2024, 06:21 PM

I have not heard of one in a 320G but do know owners that have put them in the bigger Momentums, they have since put it on the back of their newer tow truck, similar to yours. I would check with GD on the specs for weight in the "toy box" not sure if 1900# would over weight the back of the RV, seems like it would.

Brian

**howson** · 04-25-2024, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by TribForce View Post

I was surprised when I ran a search for "smart car" and nothing came up. This weekend I will be attempting to put my little car in the garage of my 320G. The car weighs about 1900# and the ramp is rated at 3000#. Eventually the car will be going on the back of the truck but the smart car bed is not installed yet. I have seen plenty of videos on this subject but was wondering if anyone here has any experience doing this.

The 320G's GVWR is 16,800. GD's website claims the empty weight is 12,400 but we all know that's always lower than reality. Have you weighed the camper -- loaded ready to camp sans anything in the garage -- to determine how much payload is actually available?

Forgive my cautious approach (I tend to be very conservative with stuff like this): Before actually towing with the car in the garage, consider loading it into the garage first at a truck stop with a CAT scale. That will allow determining the combined weight of the TV and trailer, the trailer alone, and then the pin weight (and percentage) before actually trying to tow with the configuration. The numbers, if within specs, should give a reasonable assurance that what's being attempted will be OK. If the numbers are alarming, best to reconsider.

**Wileykid** · 04-26-2024, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by howson View Post

The 320G's GVWR is 16,800. GD's website claims the empty weight is 12,400 but we all know that's always lower than reality. Have you weighed the camper -- loaded ready to camp sans anything in the garage -- to determine how much payload is actually available?

Forgive my cautious approach (I tend to be very conservative with stuff like this): Before actually towing with the car in the garage, consider loading it into the garage first at a truck stop with a CAT scale. That will allow determining the combined weight of the TV and trailer, the trailer alone, and then the pin weight (and percentage) before actually trying to tow with the configuration. The numbers, if within specs, should give a reasonable assurance that what's being attempted will be OK. If the numbers are alarming, best to reconsider.

My 320G from the factory was 13,600 (don't recall the exact number), I have never weighed it myself empty. If the trailer has the 8K axles, it should have a 18,000 lb GVWR. I am curious on what GD says about the car, and what the pin weight will be, the 320G's are very pin light for a toy hauler.

**howson** · 04-26-2024, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by Wileykid View Post

My 320G from the factory was 13,600 (don't recall the exact number), I have never weighed it myself empty. If the trailer has the 8K axles, it should have a 18,000 lb GVWR. I am curious on what GD says about the car, and what the pin weight will be, the 320G's are very pin light for a toy hauler.

What is the GVWR on your camper's sticker? Maybe the GD website doesn't reflect different configurations?

**TribForce** · 04-26-2024, 12:40 PM

I like the idea of placing the car in the camper at the scale location. I'm not sure what the weight sticker says. I'll take a look at that when I get to the storage facility. Thanks for all the replies.

**TribForce** · 04-26-2024, 04:46 PM

Another thought: I am already putting two 850# motorcycles in the garage. If the smart car only adds another 200# I can offset that by packing the rest of the "luggage" into the front bedroom. Some of you may recall I already thought I was having light pin weight issues with just the Harleys. Admittedly this little car won't help, but I can pack the rest of the gear to the front and get it weighed to see where I am at. I will let you all know.

**Wileykid** · 04-27-2024, 08:21 AM

Originally posted by howson View Post

What is the GVWR on your camper's sticker? Maybe the GD website doesn't reflect different configurations?

My sticker is 18,000 GVWR. It is part of the 8K axle upgrade at the factory. Of course it is only approved if done during the build at the factory, otherwise the GVWR is 16,8000 no matter what axle you have.

For some reason, GD does not advertise it on the website.

**Wileykid** · 04-27-2024, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by TribForce View Post

Another thought: I am already putting two 850# motorcycles in the garage. If the smart car only adds another 200# I can offset that by packing the rest of the "luggage" into the front bedroom. Some of you may recall I already thought I was having light pin weight issues with just the Harleys. Admittedly this little car won't help, but I can pack the rest of the gear to the front and get it weighed to see where I am at. I will let you all know.

Because of the light pin, I have a Sidewinder pinbox (I have a short bed), which adds about 160 lbs over the standard box to the pin. I also have the generator, a case of water under the bed, and put 16 gallons of (fresh) water in the grey tank. I carry a 500 lb motorcycle, and this gives me a 18% pin weight. Unless I am dry camping, I carry 5 gallons of water in the fresh tank, and usually about 10 gallons of gas in the tank. Problem is the fresh water tank is behind the axle.

**TribForce** · 04-29-2024, 11:37 AM

Well, here is an update on the Smart Car in the 320G. It does fit but I did not have the ability to strap it down. I would need some sort of tire bonnets and maybe some additional d-rings. The car has absolutely no places to hook to underneath.

I have decided not to attempt this again. I could smell the clutch in the car after I drove it up the ramp. These little cars are not very durable and I do not want to have to put a clutch in it. It's got the ASMT (automatically shifted manual transmission) with a dual input clutch assembly and probably quite costly to replace. I will just wait for the Smart Car bed to be installed at the end of the year. The bed will have ramps and a winch to pull it up.

The cargo capacity of the camper is 3646#. (see attached photo) I think with the proper ballasting weights up front as Wileykid suggests, and a way to tie it down, this is definitely doable. If I was going to do this as a permanent solution, I would also attach a winch to the floor just under the washer dryer hook-ups to pull the car up the ramp.

**Wileykid** · 04-30-2024, 06:28 AM

Originally posted by TribForce View Post

Well, here is an update on the Smart Car in the 320G. It does fit but I did not have the ability to strap it down. I would need some sort of tire bonnets and maybe some additional d-rings. The car has absolutely no places to hook to underneath.

I have decided not to attempt this again. I could smell the clutch in the car after I drove it up the ramp. These little cars are not very durable and I do not want to have to put a clutch in it. It's got the ASMT (automatically shifted manual transmission) with a dual input clutch assembly and probably quite costly to replace. I will just wait for the Smart Car bed to be installed at the end of the year. The bed will have ramps and a winch to pull it up.

The cargo capacity of the camper is 3646#. (see attached photo) I think with the proper ballasting weights up front as Wileykid suggests, and a way to tie it down, this is definitely doable. If I was going to do this as a permanent solution, I would also attach a winch to the floor just under the washer dryer hook-ups to pull the car up the ramp.

Thanks for this. I drove a Smart car once about 8 years ago, and remember the tranny being "interesting".

Did you change the rear stairs? They are not the same as the ones I have.

**TribForce** · 04-30-2024, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by Wileykid View Post

Thanks for this. I drove a Smart car once about 8 years ago, and remember the tranny being "interesting".

Did you change the rear stairs? They are not the same as the ones I have.

I did not change the rear stairs. Maybe the previous owner did. What kind of stairs do you have?

**Wileykid** · 05-01-2024, 06:10 AM

Originally posted by TribForce View Post

I did not change the rear stairs. Maybe the previous owner did. What kind of stairs do you have?

It looks the same, but I have aluminum steps, do you have a cover on them. Just curious, we have the same year.

**TribForce** · 05-01-2024, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by Wileykid View Post

It looks the same, but I have aluminum steps, do you have a cover on them. Just curious, we have the same year.

I think they are aluminum. The previous owner may have wrapped them with carpet. There are tension springs underneath keeping the carpet tight. I'm not sure I like the carpet. It gets dirty and attracts dead weeds and grass and stuff like that.

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Smart Car in the toy hauler garage

Smart Car in the toy hauler garage

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