General Fiat 500 Lounge Roofbars/Box

itimjim · May 25, 2011

Just found this on my searches for load specifications. Might be useful to folk.

Particularly page 58 and 186 in regards to roof bar attachment, weights and loads.

FIAT 500 Owner Handbook

loveshandbags · May 25, 2011

itimjim said:
Just found this on my searches for load specifications. Might be useful to folk.

Particularly page 58 and 186 in regards to roof bar attachment, weights and loads.

What's your interpretation itimjim of the weight / load thresholds in the handbook?

itimjim · May 25, 2011

loveshandbags said:
What's your interpretation itimjim of the weight / load thresholds in the handbook?

From what I can gather, these are the guidelines and specifications

FIAT don't set a maximum roof weight, just maximum payload. So you have to refer to your manufacturers guidelines (in my case, 60kg for roof bars, 50kg for soft roof box, so 50kg).

Maximum payload for the vehicle is 440kg, which includes driver, passengers, luggage...everything that isn't part of the unladen car (865kg for a 1.2 lounge).

Embarrassingly I'm a chunky duck weighing in at 110kg, wife at 63kg, baby at about 9kg and roof bars plus soft box are about 14kg. So that's 196kg, leaving us with 242kg to play with, 50kg (max) of it on the roof. It's also good sense to think about the loads on the axle, but again, I think standard holiday luggage will be fine. I'd expect 2/3 of the weight of the roof box to be on the rear axle based on it's position, but passengers in the front even the boot and that up quite well.

I think we'd struggle to have that much in the car that would get us close to 242kg, and I feel pretty safe that unless I'm carrying 20kg bags of pea shingle from B&Q, it'll be fine. That is unless we were carrying two extra big lads like me in the back

The only other guideline that FIAT offer, is that don't be a dingbat when arranging your stuff, i.e. make sure it's evenly balanced. That bit just requires a bit of common sense, although judging by some sights on the motorway isn't always adhered to.

Here's a picture of my dearest in her new Britax 0+1 car seat.

218774_10150169426387449_641277448_6791148_7189195_o.jpg

306maxi · May 25, 2011

for putting her in the back where she should go!

loveshandbags · May 25, 2011

itimjim said:
FIAT don't set a maximum roof weight, just maximum payload. So you have to refer to your manufacturers guidelines (in my case, 60kg for roof bars, 50kg for soft roof box, so 50kg). It's also good sense to think about the loads on the axle, but again, I think standard holiday luggage will be fine. I'd expect 2/3 of the weight of the roof box to be on the rear axle based on it's position, but passengers in the front even the boot and that up quite well.

When I had a look in the manual on the loads for the roof I couldn't find it as well.
Re the limit on weights I carried to the limit on a Estate with a slightly knackered rear suspension - it will come down to using as you put it - common sense.

There is a tow eye at the front of the 500. Would it worthwhile tie'ing a strap from the front bar of the roof rack to this to give extra security particularily if you were 'forced' to exceed the speed limit mentioned on the instructions e.g. an overtaking manoeuvre ?

Re the distribution of weight on the La PreAlpina roof rack it's positioned further forward acording to the advertisement than the 'instructions' given on the 500 manual. The suggested 'anchor' positions for both front and back are around the door area if the advertisement serves me correctly ? But checking your instruction sheet it does show that the back bar is set 23cm back from the door. So I take it that the spread would be 42 + 23 = 65cm. Is that your understanding of it ?

itimjim said:
I was a bit confused about how they were going to mount, and I've managed to figure out the front bar, as there's a welded bolt hole in the under sill at the top of the door on the Lounge (not sure about Pop), which the fixing arms curl around and mounts upwards. The arms are coated in rubber, to aid grip and damaging paintwork I assume.

The rear I'm not too sure about, as having looked, it's showing insertion into the rubber seal at the top of the rear quarter. Inspecting the rubber, it doesn't look that easy to shift, but I've only spent a minute, so it might be obvious. I live on a road with no parking to front and rear, hence why it's not just a pop out and try them on kind of thing.

Looking at the welded bolt hole it is slap bang in the middle of the door but the instructions show that the rack is mounted up near the windscreen. Is the welded bolt hole used by the rack ? Instructions show the front rack being mounted near the windscreen.

I would agree with you that the instruction sheets are 'wanting'.

One of the scanned images is blurred - but I do kinda make out on the last diagram as to why you've put the front bar in the middle of the door and you're looking for that anchor point middle of the side window.

Did you notice that on the top of the main instruction sheet kit: L1169 it states that this roof rack also fits the 500c as well.

itimjim · Jun 6, 2011

Right, I'm back!

Apologies it's taken so long. Weather has been awesome, but my list of priorities dictated that roof bars were way down the list if there was great weather. And then it crapped it down today, so it seemed appropriate between showers to have a go. I'm quite pleased.

Loads of photos for you to make your own minds up either way.

Hope it's not too overkill.

I'm very pleased with the results. It's a bit early to claim "job's a good 'un", but I think this is as good as it gets for the lounge, and I'd be quite happy to carry 50kg of stuff in the roof pack I have. Of course it's not an aerodynamic roof box that lets an m5 tourer cruise at 130mph on the autobahns, but I feel safe enough tickling 60-70 down to Suffolk next July for a festival with my 10 month old, wife and a dinky car full of gear.

Hope this thread has been of use to somebody at least. Any questions about the whole lot, please feel free to ask.

Tim

loveshandbags · Jun 6, 2011

itimjim said:
Loads of photos for you to make your own minds up either way. Hope it's not too overkill.
No. It's great to see all the pics.
I'm very pleased with the results. It's a bit early to claim "job's a good 'un", but I think this is as good as it gets for the lounge, and I'd be quite happy to carry 50kg of stuff in the roof pack I have. Of course it's not an aerodynamic roof box that lets an m5 tourer cruise at 130mph on the autobahns, but I feel safe enough tickling 60-70 down to Suffolk next July for a festival with my 10 month old, wife and a dinky car full of gear.

Hope this thread has been of use to somebody at least. Any questions about the whole lot, please feel free to ask.

Tim

Thanks Tim for posting all the pics. Noticed that there's a screw used on the first bar with the anchor point at the 'middle' of the door opening.

I had a little think about the 56mpg speed restriction and tried to work out why that speed

. It seems that's the Lorry speed limit restriction so if you on a motorway and you're going as 'fast' as the Lorries - there's less likelyhood of getting 'run off' the motorway.

I would imagine that roof 'bag' will create a lot of drag - would you not splash out and get a decent roof box ?

itimjim · Jun 6, 2011

Hi

Yeh, I think the anchor point is to provide a little extra torque resistance, as the front sits quite high. Both bars are very sturdy when I give them a good yank.

Reason for the Sherpak, is I live in a small terraced house with my wife, a new born, 2 Labradors and a cat. Loft access is very narrow, and outside storage is almost none existent also. Also, I live on a main road with double yellows, and no parking to the rear, so my car is always about 20-30 sec walk away - it's a bit like living in a flat.

That all adds up to needing everything to be compact, and hence the Sherpack. It rolls up when not in use and is a bit bigger than a folding camping chair you see everywhere. But, it'll still hold my Vango Calisto 500 5 man steel pole tent, big coolbox a couple of fold up chairs and a table.

I've got a feeling that the speed restriction for after market roof bars might be an Italian thing. Either way, I won't be going very fast with a full load and a measly 1.2 engine

ScubaChris · Jun 7, 2011

This has all been very useful. My 500 ByDiesel also has the fixed glass roof and I've been on the lookout for a suitable set of roof bars for ages. I need to be able to transport my Sinclair C5 (don't laugh!) around and it definitely won't fit in the car!

C.

itimjim · Jun 7, 2011

I never realised the C5 only weighed 30kg. Width wise it should be OK, but I'd be a bit worried at it being 1.7m long though. The roof bar spacing is probably 70cm at best.

ScubaChris · Jun 7, 2011

itimjim said:
I never realised the C5 only weighed 30kg. Width wise it should be OK, but I'd be a bit worried at it being 1.7m long though. The roof bar spacing is probably 70cm at best.

Well the heaviest single part is probably the battery which can be transported inside the car. Other than that, plenty of rope to strap it down and unscrew the Fiat's aerial if it gets in the way and the job's a good 'un!

I can imagine the strange looks on the motorway...

C.

306maxi · Jun 8, 2011

ScubaChris said:
This has all been very useful. My 500 ByDiesel also has the fixed glass roof and I've been on the lookout for a suitable set of roof bars for ages. I need to be able to transport my Sinclair C5 (don't laugh!) around and it definitely won't fit in the car!

C.

That is epicly cool!

RUI · Jun 8, 2011

ScubaChris said:
This has all been very useful. My 500 ByDiesel also has the fixed glass roof and I've been on the lookout for a suitable set of roof bars for ages. I need to be able to transport my Sinclair C5 (don't laugh!) around and it definitely won't fit in the car!

C.

i am looking for a solution to transport my By Diesel on the top of my C5

loveshandbags · Jun 8, 2011

RUI said:
i am looking for a solution to transport my By Diesel on the top of my C5

Is there any room in there for the kayek ?

itimjim · Jun 17, 2011

Hi all

A report back after last weekend's camping trip; what this set up was bought for.

Roof bars were simple to affix after doing it once already, 5 minutes max. The soft roof box is a little more tricky as it's quite a manual job turning the plastic thumb tighteners and lining it all up evenly, probably about 10 minutes.

On the roof I fit a 17kg steel frame tent (Vango Calisto 500), a 36l coolbox weighing about 20kg. Then a few lighter things, roll up alu table, camping chair, picnic blanket, folding water carrier, and a bag for life for of camping gear. Total weight about 43kg.

In the car we packed a W60xH30

36 plastic tub with all the cooking/eating gear and dry foods. Another folding chair, double airbed, small folding table, big bag of clothes for us, and a few odds and sods in the little bits of space left. The lid just about shut

Baby girl in the back, buggy (3-way fold Quicksmart Easy Stroller) behind mummy's front seat, collapsible Samsonite bubble cot bed, sleeping bags, blankets duvets and tent carpets all stuffed down next to baby Summer, plus a big bag of her provisions and clothes, and our day bags.

It all just fit perfectly

. Driving was kept to 65-70, for 2 1/2 - 3 hours
on the M56, A55 and a load of windy roads to Tudweiliog. The driving experience was very stable, but obviously I wasn't putting it through corners as normal (I have a heavy right foot), the whole setup didn't budge a centimetre. Only thing that was noticeably different was braking and acceleration up hills. As if the 1.2 wasn't a lurcher as it was, so it needed driving quite hard to get up to speed or ascending hills.

As I was too bust trying to get going, and putting the tent up, I forgot to take my usual salvo of pictures, but my wife did manage one while setting up that shows just how freaking cool the 500 is, and ironically the 500 tent that should have no business being partnered with it

.

So here we are setting up (dogs and cool box in background not mine).

Setup and enjoying a booze (note all the kit that we took with us!)

Baby Summer loving her new home for a few nights

So, massive success and we're all ready for a longer trip to Latitude Festival in Suffolk next month.

Tim

loveshandbags · Jun 17, 2011

itimjim said:
Hi all

A report back after last weekend's camping trip; what this set up was bought for.
....
So, massive success and we're all ready for a longer trip to Latitude Festival in Suffolk next month.

Tim

Tim - when I saw the you had just posted on thread - I thought - christ - I hope the roofrack hadn't come off

. But I'm delighted baby and all arrived safely

I was the sceptical multispoke earlier in the thread that thought the roof rack would never work. Fair duce to you for proceeding - I take it that you kept within the speed limits the rack was designed for

.

Michael.

306maxi · Jun 17, 2011

loveshandbags said:
Tim - when I saw the you had just posted on thread - I thought - christ - I hope the roofrack hadn't come off . But I'm delighted baby and all arrived safely
I was the sceptical multispoke earlier in the thread that though the roof rack would never work. Fair duce to you for proceeding - I take it that you kept within the speed limits the rack was designed for .

Michael.

I hope you understand why i disagreed with you previously

loveshandbags · Jun 17, 2011

306maxi said:
I hope you understand why i disagreed with you previously

Although its worked for our OP I still wouldn't be putting one my funk baby.

Spotted this the other day when I was relying on the Bus service in Dublin and got impatient and walked to the next stop. Looks like the owner of this car got over confident and kept loading the car up.

Deako · Sep 29, 2011

loveshandbags said:
Although its worked for our OP I still wouldn't be putting one my funk baby.
Spotted this the other day when I was relying on the Bus service in Dublin and got impatient and walked to the next stop. Looks like the owner of this car got over confident and kept loading the car up.

Im pretty sure that would have been caused by someone ratchetting the tension on the feet too tight, so they pulled together. The clamping forces are something like a max of 5nm when tightening the roof bars. Bet they had a 1/4" ratchet handle on them.

Paul Wilder · Sep 30, 2011

Now I hope I don't raise any new arguments with this(!) but I've already got THULE bars and feet etc from my old car so aren't keen on forking out for a completely new set to put on my ByDiesel 500 with glass roof.

Now I know they already do a THULE 500 shortened roof addition to put on a 500 but it specifically states it's not for glass roof versions.

So my question is:- has anyone tried it anyway? Is it likely to damage the car or is it just THULE not wanting people to put heavy loads on a glass roof..?

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