Recommended Flat Towing Components For A 2013 Fiat 500 Sport

Question:

I have a 2013 Fiat 500 Sport being towed behind a Winnebago Vista NPF. Looking to install a Blue Ox tow bar and base plate, a wiring kit and a hidden permanent brake system. Also if needed a battery trickle charger from the RV power if the brake system drains the battery. I have been reading that it is difficult on the Fiat to get through the fire wall. Do you have a solution that will work?

asked by: Mark

Expert Reply:

To flat tow your 2013 Fiat 500 Sport it will need to have a manual transmission and you'll need the following components:

Baseplate: Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX2800.

Tow Bar: Blue Ox Alpha 2 Non-Binding Tow Bar # BX7380. This tow bar also includes safety cables so you won't have to purchase them separately.

Tow Bar Wiring Kit: Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267. This diode kit will splice into your tail light wiring to display your motorhome's traffic signals through the tail lights of the Fiat.

Braking System: Assuming your Winnebago Vista NPF has hydraulic brakes you would need the Demco SBS Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System # SM99251. This system is a permanent fit so that once the initial installation is complete you won't have to do any setup and can have one less thing to check off the list when you're getting ready to tow.

The indicator light for this system will need to tap into the brake light switch wire in your Fiat, which isn't always useable, but this is case by case. If you can't get the signal or would just rather not waste time trying to find which wire is for the brake light switch then you can install the RM-751455 and connect the light to it for the signal.

A charge line kit isn't listed as a requirement, but I always recommend it since it's such a small expense for the peace of mind that your Fiat will be ready to go once you reach your destination and you won't end up having to try and get a jump. For the Fiat you'll need part # RM-156-25. If your motorhome doesn't already have a charge line ran to the 7-way then you'll also need part # RM-156-75.

As for passing wires through the firewall, there really isn't a simple trick and it's typically going to be harder since there's such limited space in a Fiat. I typically look for a rubber grommet in the firewall to pass all the wiring through. If you can't find one or there's not a big enough one then you can drill a hole in the firewall and get a rubber grommet from your local hardware store to pass the wire through and prevent any water from leaking in.