Procedures and Equipment for Flat Towing 2016 Fiat 500 Manual Transmission

Question:

my question is what do u have to do with the steering wheel. does it have to be in the on position or do I have to disconnect the battery or pull fuses?

asked by: Barry T

Expert Reply:

When flat towing your 2016 Fiat 500 Easy, you'd leave the steering wheel unlocked to avoid tire scrub. I've checked the owner's manual, as well as the industry resources at my disposal and have found that it's not necessary to pull any fuses or disconnect the battery.

To flat tow a vehicle, you'll need base plates, a tow bar, safety cables, a wiring solution so the vehicle taillights work along with those of the tow vehicle, a supplemental braking system and possibly a high/lo adapter.

For base plates, I'd recommend the Roadmaster # 522013-1A. Roadmaster's base plates set the industry standard for a secure and reliable fit.

The Roadmaster Falcon 2 towbar, part # RM-525 would be an excellent choice, the self centering arms make for a smooth ride and an easy hook up and disconnect. For safety cables, the coiled design of the # RM-643 will keep the cables from dragging and becoming prematurely worn.

When it comes to wiring the vehicle for flat towing, a diode kit like # RM-15267 is quick and easy to use once its been installed. The connectors for the vehicle and the tow vehicle are included, along with the umbilical used to connect both vehicles.

For supplemental braking, Roadmaster recommends the Invisibrake, part # RM-8700, along with a stop light switch kit # RM-751455 and a 12-volt outlet kit, # RM-9332. Just as the name implies, the Invisibrake works seamlessly after it's been installed. Nothing to set up or worry about.

When the base plates are installed, they'll sit about 16-1/2 inches above the ground. For the sake of safety, the tow bar needs to be plus or minus 3 inches from level. So, if the receiver height on the tow vehicle is higher above the ground than 19-1/2 inches or lower than 13-1/2 inches, you'll want to use a hi/lo adapter to get the tow bar closer to level.

I'll link you to some help articles about flat towing, as well as to a page showing our hi/lo adapter offerings.