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….
http://rackattackvancouver.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/cimg1626.jpg

Tailgate rack (not sure if you can get bike attachments for it)….
http://moparonlineparts.com/images/82212746.jpg

photo of a glass roofed car with roof bars…

http://www.abarthforum.co.uk/500-abarth/roof-rack-for-a-convertible/?action=dlattach;attach=18501;image

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.

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…