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Looks like we're likely to change our car for a Fiat 500 - its does everything we need, we like the looks and the twin air engine is great fun, plus with British Cycling you get a chunk towards the cost of the car 🙂
The only thing I'm not 100% on is getting bikes on the car. Can't get a roof rack as it has a glass roof so I'm looking at getting a removable tow bar and electrics fitted and a tow bar mounted platform bike rack (with lights/electrics etc).
Has anyone done this on a Fiat 500 or similar car? I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work, but I've never had a car with a tow bar before, so no idea if I've missed something obvious.
I need to carry a 29er hardtail and a ladies 29er full sus.
Cheers!
one thing you will have to watch out for is what nose weight the towbar would be able to take legally,when mointed to your car. I own a c3 an legally it can only carry something like 35kg, so with the bike rack weighing in at around 15kg it struggles to hold 2 xc bikes legally, it supposedly can make the steering light altho ive not noticed this ....maybe because when I have 3 bikes on the back ive also got 3 people in the car weighing the front down for me :)... ive also never been stopped altho I presume the dvla can check this road side?
We've got a fiat 500 with a glass roof and it has attachments for roof bars - a hole in the door frame for the bar to attach. Are you sure you can't get roof bars for it?
Anyway even if you can, its a small roof so the bars will be quite close together so might not be ideal for bikes.
You can also get something that looks like a roof rack that attaches to the back of the car so you mught be able to get attachments to hang a couple of bikes off the back.
Here go...
tow bar mounted....
Tailgate rack (not sure if you can get bike attachments for it)....
photo of a glass roofed car with roof bars...
Cheers. I think its 60kg for the 500 so that should be fine. I've got a feeling the bikes will be wider than the car - the rear carrier will have lights and a license plate so I think I'll be legal!
Thought the C3 would have a higher nose weight as its a bigger car than the 500.
We looked at a DS3 (same show room) but the BC membership discount makes the choice a no brainer 🙂
Edit: You guys are fast! Thanks for the links wobbliscott - really helpful 🙂 . Looking at those pics I'm not sure I'd want a bike on the roof with the bars so close together. I don't think Fiat make a bike rack for those carriers that go over the back - I think its just for skies/snowboards.
Good to see a f500 with tow bar and bike carrier. Can't do the crossbar carrier though due to the full sus, but its good to know its possible!
I own a thule ride on 3 bike rack an its ace, feels secure and I trust it, its the next best option for me other than carrying it in side the vehicle which isnt always possible, i was also supprised at the c3s nose weight seems ok with it tho
Pah! Wouldn't have had this problem on a Cinquecento.
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Didn't see that option on the 500 configurator - will have another look to see if I missed it midlifecrashes 😉
@jono84 This the one you got? http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_172555_langId_-1_categoryId_165477 That's not a bad price.
Didn't know if it was worth spending a bit extra and going for one like this? http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_772957_langId_-1_categoryId_165477#tab1
http://www.fiatforum.com/500/128795-tow-bar.html
http://www.fiatforum.com/500/195666-bike-rack.html
Try the Fiatforum, plenty of good advice in there.
I used to have a 500 and would transport 2 bikes on a boot mounted rack - just one of the strap on ones. The bikes were wider than the car and I never felt entirely happy with it there (more a rack issue than a car one though) but it did many trips (including France) with no real issues.
Cheers for the info guys. Looks like we'll be fine doing this. 🙂
Just got to order the car now...