Fiat 500 Roof Rack/Box

[Raz316]

Hi all,

we're looking for a roof box for our Fiat 500. We rang a local Fiat dealer and they said they couldn't recommend one for safety reasons. This makes sense to me, as I assume smaller cars are not made to have high up weight. However I am hopeful it's just a guideline and I can find something else that's suitable.

The problem is... I've looked around and I really can't find anything I am confident in. (that is, I've seen some "will fit any car" ones, but what I really want to see is an image of a box on top of an actual fiat 500)

So I'm wondering, can anyone recommend anything, or should I assume I won't find a roof box for the fiat 500.

Ta!

[herulach]

Thule sell them, you can grab them from their site. I'd advise against having too much weight up there though. And probably get the smallest one they do for maximum opportunity to be able to open the boot.

[peterb]

You have four potential problems:

Increased drag - which might make a difference with a small enigined car like the Fiat 500

Increased susceptibility to sidewinds, which may affect stability and control

Raised centre of gravity - the Fiat 500 is quite light, and increased top weight may make it more susceptible being blown over, as well as leading to instability when cornering

If FIAT don't recommend it, you could risk invalidating your insurance if you had an accident while it was fitted - whether or not it was a contributory factor.

[kudos1uk]

We Fiats own website says:

Fiat 500L Roof Bars

A set of New Fiat 500L Roof Bars. Perfect for roof racks, roof boxes and maximising your storage space.

These New Fiat Panda Roof Bars are simple to fit and come complete with a fitting guide and all of the necessary fixings and fittings.

I think they would be hard pushed invalidating a guarantee with that on their website.

[peterb]

We rang a local Fiat dealer and they said they couldn't recommend one for safety reasons. This makes sense to me, as I assume smaller cars are not made to have high up weight. However I am hopeful it's just a guideline and I can find something else that's suitable.

We Fiats own website says:



I think they would be hard pushed invalidating a guarantee with that on their website.

I was going by the OP's comment. It isn't a case of invalidating a guarantee, its a case of invalidating the mandatory road traffic insurance.

However, a google search showed lots of images of Fiat 500 with roof bars, to which you could fit a top box (subject to the caveats I mentioned in my first post0 and the Fiat spares website does indeed include roof bars - but NOT a top box, although the site does state a top box could be fitted. These are for the 500L - there is nothing shown for the 500.

http://www.fiat-accessories.com/fiat-500l-roof-bars

[Butuz]

Is it a glass roof? That's usually the reason for saying no to roof bar's/boxes.

Butuz

[herulach]

We Fiats own website says:



I think they would be hard pushed invalidating a guarantee with that on their website.

A 500L isn't the same car as a 500. Its a hideous huge monstrosity of a mini clubmanalike, rather than a hideous tiny monstrosity

[GoodZE]

Dont worry about the roof rack, these modifications will sort you out ;-)

[Raz316]

Thanks all, yes it's a Fiat 500 not a 500L. It's a standard roof.

The official Fiat Accessories site has no roof storage solutions for the 500.

Thule is the name that's come up again and again. So when/if we go with something, it will probably be that!

[herulach]

Just be sure to notify your insurer. And the potential effects on handling aren't insignificant even on mutch larger cars. My dad's passat estate is a pig with even an empty roof box on in strong winds, it'll be like a sail on something as small and high as a 500.

[DanceswithUnix]

Any reason why it has to be a roof box and not a towbar and small trailer?

If you are moving stuff a long way, renting a van might be cheaper.

[HalloweenJack]

was it top gear that showed a roof box uses far far more fuel than a small trailer?

[Butuz]

Maybe he hasn't got a trailer licence - like me!

Butuz

[HalloweenJack]

forgot about that lol - I have a `grandad` licence with everything , don't get that now!

[Rave]

Even a post-1997 crap licence allows trailers up to 750kg AFAIK (as someone who could have passed in 1996 but didn't bother ). Google for peace of mind obv.

[peterb]

Even a post-1997 crap licence allows trailers up to 750kg AFAIK (as someone who could have passed in 1996 but didn't bother ). Google for peace of mind obv.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories