Tow a Motorcycle?

[joelittel]

I’m wondering what you all think about this idea...

I’d like to tow my motorcycle to the track (rather than riding it there) and I’m wondering if the FIAT could handle the load.

I’d use a motorcycle specific trailer that is as light as possible and carry all my tools and gear in the car. The bike itself weighs just over 400 lbs.

Does this sound like something worth looking into or is it not even a possibility? Meaning that if the towing capacity of the FIAT is only 500 lbs or less this might be a mute point.

What do you guys think, possible or pipe dream?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I think it should be possible, although I wouldn't try it over significant hills / mountains, or over hundreds of miles, or while driving like a crazy man. Make sure your cooling system is up to par.

The main question would be how to affix a tow bar to the rear of the car. Secure it to the bumper?

-Bryan

[joelittel]

If I do this it will be important to me that the hitch is hidden when not in use.

The perfect scenario would be a hitch I could bolt on when needed and remove when not.

I don’t like the idea of connecting anything to the bumpers though. I’ve retrofitted the blade bumpers to my ‘80 and they are purely cosmetic.

Bryan you mentioned a two bar. I’m not familiar with these but will look it up.

Years ago I saw a post where someone pulled a small trailer behind their FIAT on extended road trips. Might be time to dig that conversation up.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

For what it's worth, one of my neighbors tows a teardrop trailer around behind his BMW, wherever he goes, and the trailer is taller than the car. I'm not sure of the model number of the BMW, but it's a 2-seater convertible about the size of a Fiat. Z3 convertible?

I'm by no means an expert in towing, and my advice would be to stop by a trailer store in your area and talk to them about options.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

In Europe (especially Germany) towing capacities are much higher. My 1994 VW Polo (45hp and 5 speed) was able to and allowed to tow 500kg unbraked and 750kg with trailer brakes. I did have 500 Kilos behind it many, many times (see pic, even in the snow!). Worked great, but couldn't really go faster than 65mph or accelerate in overdrive.

These means that either a) the laws of physics are different in that part of the world or b) the American mantra of "can't tow without a v8" is wrong.

Take your pick.

I would have no qualms with towing up to 1500 lbs with a 124. Attach the tow bar to the frame rails, just like on any other vehicle.

[joelittel]

Thanks guys.

[LarryC]

Back in the day, I had a '68 124 Spider (1438cc) and for about 4 years in the mid-70s I towed a small sailboat on a trailer. About 550 pounds altogether. Never dragged it up in the Sierras, but drove it around LA freeways and over some of the lower passes and never had a problem so long as i did not try to set any speed records. The tow bar bolted into the frame forward of the rear bumper and was a readily available part from the tow hitch vendors (at that time!). I usually left it on, but would have been a 15 minute job to remove/re-install. It was a simple bent piece of steel that went across between frame rails and had a cross-piece welded that extended beyond the license plate and held the tow ball. I imagine that any tow hitch shop could likely fabricate from parts in stock. I would not trust the bumpers.

I don't think it seriously hurt the drivetrain as I kept the car for another 17 years. I wonder if it is still around.

With my current '69 850 Spider I might try towing a Red Ryder wagon.

Larry

[DieselSpider]

I kept the tube bumper and used a step plate receiver as the foundation to weld up a hitch for mine to tow a 550 lb boat on a 200 lb trailer. I mounted it to the frame and using 4 U-bolts to both bumper tubes and a 3/4 ton utility trailer (lightly loaded). Its not that noticeable when I remove the ball mount from the 2 inch receiver since the receiver is mounted tight up against the bottom of the bumper.

The 1.8L Turbo Diesel pulls just fine and the brakes have not been a problem.

[sleggarg20]

I Have towed a trailer with my 78' spider hauled a 25 gal air compressor on a 4x5 trailer from eastern Idaho to Washington state I was impressed how well the car actually towed the trailer I dont have the trailer any more but i still have my hitch I can post pictures of it soon

[joelittel]

Sleggsrg20 what is your best guess as to the amount of weight, trailer included, that you were pulling?

[DieselSpider]

Myself I pull a 3/4 ton stake bed trailer with mine and a sailboat listed at 525 lbs displacement so about 550 actual plus the weight of its trailer.

The bigger issue will be stopping not pulling and tongue weight. With only about 130 lbs of luggage capacity you would want to be careful to load the trailer so that you stay under that 130 lbs on the tongue of the hitch while still maintaining 15% of the load of the trailer on the hitch which brings the max to 866 lbs gross for trailer and cargo as far as tongue weight is concerned. Please note though that you have to be reasonable on the hitch since every pound the actual hitch including the receiver weights takes away from the 130 lbs available trunk capacity so if your hitch weighs 100 lbs then you are only left with 30 lbs on the tongue which would be around 200 lbs gross for the trailer and cargo.

Pulling the boat I have noted no drastic issues with braking or handling however I still allow much greater stopping distances when towing.

Do bring and use wheel chocks though to ensure the extra weight of the trailer does not overwhelm the hand brake while parked. I use chock blocks especially when at a boat ramp. The rubber ones from Harbor Freight are economical and work very well.

Another issue will be electrical. You will need a Hoppy/Hopkins converter to run US DOT trailer lights from the 124 plus you may find that the wiring in the 124 is not up to powering both the cars tail lights and the trailers lights so you will often have to power the cars tail lights and the trailer lights via relays wired to their own dedicated fused 12 volt feed directly from the battery. On my 1978 with the battery in the trunk that was very simple to do. With the relays though the cars tail lights are the brightest they have ever been now.

Fused Wiring Adapter:
http://www.hopkinstowingsolutions.com/p ... 46255.html

Short Proof (Self Resetting Breaker) Wiring Adapter:
http://www.hopkinstowingsolutions.com/p ... 46365.html