Towing The Elio / Towing With The Elio

[Sidecar Bob]

I plan on having tow clevises on the front for flat towing and a small receiver hitch on the back for towing a Small trailer behind.

I have flat towed air-cooled VWs with a verity of cars. The tow-bar is a “Y” shaped frame. Each arm at the top of the Y has a U-shaped plate that is pinned around the lower front spring tube of the VW. It will pivot up and down. The other end has a trailer hitch ball socket that goes to the trailer hitch on the tow car.

Put the transmission in neutral, unlock the steering (turn the key 1 notch), make sure the E-brake is off, mount the tow lights and check them and away you go.

The VWs tow well going forward but can be a problem backing up. Going forward the VW front wheels will follow the direction the tow car is going.

When you start backing up the VW front wheels will tend to turn all the way to the right or left.

The only weight on the tow car is the weight of the tow-bar.

You still have the pulling and stopping forces to deal with.

I think the ELIO will tow about the same.
Bob

 

[AriLea]

Don't laugh at my curious and mechanically ignorant question: Would it be feasible to connect the Elio's more solid, narrow rear end to a self centering tow bar behind the RV essentially flat towing the Elio backwards. Keep in mind I have little mechanical knowledge with no plans to ever flat tow the Elio. O.K. go ahead and laugh!

Yes, it's been suggested. (I suggested it a while back). Have to out fit it right and lock the front steering. But if you hitch it too high, the nose can touch down sometimes.
For all that touble it's likely better to get a front tow dolly.
I do admit, it's impossible to backup with a front-end dolly. The rear tow setup can be backed up.

 

[BigWarpGuy]

Perhaps if the Can Am Spyder could tow it, the Elio could tow it too? Pop Up Explorer. Bunk House Queen Model.

 

[outsydthebox]

Member 8138

This trailer might be a better and less expensive option for the Elio. A single wheel is less drag. Will Elio have a place to mount a hitch?

http://www.eaglematetrailers.com

Let me be the first to welcome you! Lots of discussion about trailers here. The "short answer" is,...a "factory hitch won't be available in the first production year. But, aftermarket will probably be available fairly soon after production starts.

 

[Craig]

You can always take off the back hatch and bolt in a fifth wheel plate, or in this case a forth wheel.

 

[ElioDigger]

according what I have read nothing from the factory. however they did say it would be in the user option. if no user option, I am sure a third party will be making one

 

[Oldfarmer]

I was thinking it might be cool if someone made a trailer like they do for motorcylces so you could actually take the Elio on trips. What do you all think?

This was one of the first questions I emailed to Elio. They say a "tow package" may be standard equipment if they can add it and still meet their price target (6800). If not, it will be available as an option. I see no reason why standard motorcycle trailers wouldn't work. You might also look into the very small teardrop camper trailers. They're pretty cool! (search 'tiny' teardrop campers).

 

[AriLea]

I hope they consider the needs of different types of owners. . . .I will be putting together my old R&D buddies for prototype items.. . . I'll keep you posted.

How do I get to be one of those buddies?

 

[Craig]

There will be a tow option, but not the first year. Time does not allow for R&D.

 

[Mike W]

I understand the concept of trailering a vehicle, to save wear and tear on it. Like the scooters we owned, it won't be a pampered toy, it will get the living @$!$!#@%@#% driven out of it. For us it will be a practical vehicle, and if we need to get it across this big facinating country we call home, its wheels and motor will be pushing it there! It's too cool to be towed! It needs to be out in front, not pulled along behind! Unless you put $10-15K in mods on it, that's a whole other ball of wax there.