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.
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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.
BrianBrian & Michelle
2018 Reflection 29RS
2022 Chevy 3500HD
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Originally posted by TribForce View PostI 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.
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.
Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.
Howard & Francine
2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus
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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.2021 GD Momentum 320G 8K Axle
2023 Chevy 3500HD LTZ SB CC 4x4 Dmax
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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.Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.
Howard & Francine
2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus
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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.Trib
2019 Freightliner Cascadia 126
2021 Momentum 320G
2021 Road Glide Limited
See you down the road!!
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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.Trib
2019 Freightliner Cascadia 126
2021 Momentum 320G
2021 Road Glide Limited
See you down the road!!
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Originally posted by howson View Post
What is the GVWR on your camper's sticker? Maybe the GD website doesn't reflect different configurations?
For some reason, GD does not advertise it on the website.2021 GD Momentum 320G 8K Axle
2023 Chevy 3500HD LTZ SB CC 4x4 Dmax
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Originally posted by TribForce View PostAnother 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.2021 GD Momentum 320G 8K Axle
2023 Chevy 3500HD LTZ SB CC 4x4 Dmax
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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.3 PhotosTrib
2019 Freightliner Cascadia 126
2021 Momentum 320G
2021 Road Glide Limited
See you down the road!!
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Originally posted by TribForce View PostWell, 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.
Did you change the rear stairs? They are not the same as the ones I have.2021 GD Momentum 320G 8K Axle
2023 Chevy 3500HD LTZ SB CC 4x4 Dmax
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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.Trib
2019 Freightliner Cascadia 126
2021 Momentum 320G
2021 Road Glide Limited
See you down the road!!
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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?2021 GD Momentum 320G 8K Axle
2023 Chevy 3500HD LTZ SB CC 4x4 Dmax
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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.Trib
2019 Freightliner Cascadia 126
2021 Momentum 320G
2021 Road Glide Limited
See you down the road!!
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It's probably a moot point at this time, however putting the smart car in the back and offsetting weight to the front to correct for a light pin can amplify the stress in the frame.
My biggest concern with toy haulers is the lack of loading information provided by MFG. Just because the cargo capacity of the unit may be 3,000 lbs, putting 2,000 lbs in the garage and then 300 lbs or so as close to the front does not mean the frame will not be highly stressed.
It would be nice to see a "loading suggestion" for frames. Essentially it would give ranges of load placed in various parts of the unit to help keep the frame happy. Too much load on each end is like putting 3 full size adults on each end of a 8" wide wooden see saw on the playground. Something has to give (board flexes a lot).Joseph
Tow Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
South of Houston Texas
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