2017 FIAT DUCATO BASE CAMPER Owner handbook (in English)

TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT NOTES
The vehicle must be provided with a
type-approved tow hook and adequate
electrical system to tow caravans or
trailers. Installation should be carried
out by specialised personnel who
will issue the required papers for
travelling on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional
door mirrors as specified by the
Highway Code.
Remember that when towing a trailer,
steep hills are harder to climb, the
braking spaces increase and overtaking
takes longer depending on the overall
weight.
Engage a low gear when driving
downhill, rather than constantly using
the brake.
The weight of the trailer on the vehicle
tow hook will reduce the loading
capacity of the vehicle by the same
amount. Consider the weight of the
trailer fully laden, including accessories
and luggage, to make sure you do
not exceed the maximum towable
weight (shown on the vehicle
registration document).Do not exceed the speed limits specific
to each country you are driving in, in
the case of vehicles towing trailers.
In any case, the top speed must not
exceed 100 km/h.
You are advised to fit a suitable
stabiliser to the trailer drawbar.
In the vehicles equipped with parking
sensors, after fitting the tow hook
malfunctioning warnings may be
displayed, as some parts (tow bar, ball
tow hook) may be within the sensor
detection range. In this case the
detection range must be adjusted or
the parking assistance function must be
deactivated.
In vehicles equipped with "Comfort-
matic" transmission, make sure that the
gearbox is in neutral (N) (checking that
the vehicle moves when pushed) and
proceed in the same way as for towing
a normal vehicle with manual
transmission. If the gearbox cannot be
put in neutral, do not tow the vehicle
and contact a Fiat Dealership.
136) 137)
INSTALLING THE TOW
HOOK
The towing device should be fastened
to the body by specialised technicians
according to any additional and/or
integrative information supplied by the
Manufacturer of the device.
The towing device must meet current
regulations with reference to Directive
94/20/EC and subsequent
amendments.
For any version the towing device used
must match the towable weight of the
vehicle on which it is to be installed.
For the electric connection a standard
connector should be used which is
generally placed on a special bracket
normally fastened to the towing device,
and a special ECU for external trailer
light control must be installed on the
vehicle. For the electrical connection, 7
or 13 pin 12 V DC connections are to
be used (CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN
Standards). Follow the instructions
provided by the vehicle manufacturer
and/or the tow hitch manufacturer.
Any electric brake (or electric winch,
etc.) should be supplied directly by the
battery through a cable with a section
of at least 2.5 mm
2.
IMPORTANT Electric brakes or other
devices must be used with engine
running.
135

In addition to the electrical branches,
the vehicle's electric system can only
be connected to the supply cable for an
electric brake and to the cable for an
internal light, though not above 15
W. For connections use the preset
control unit with battery cable no less
than 2.5 mm
2.
IMPORTANT The trailer tow hook
contributes to the length of the vehicle.
When installing on long wheelbase
versions, it is only possible to install
removable tow hooks because the total
vehicle length limit of 6 metres is
exceeded.
If no trailer is fitted, the hook must be
removed from the attachment base and
it must not exceed the vehicle's
original length.
IMPORTANT If you wish to leave the
tow hook fitted without towing a trailer,
it is advisable to contact a Fiat
Dealership for the relevant system
update operations because the tow
hook could be detected as an obstacle
by the central sensors.Installation diagram for Van
versions fig. 121
The tow hook structure must be
fastened in the points shown by the
symbol Ø using a total of 6 M10x1.25
screws and 4 M12 screws.
The internal back plates must be at
least 5 mm thick. MAX LOAD ON
BALL: 100/120 kg depending on the
payload (see the “Weights” table in the
“Technical Data” chapter).
138)
To install a tow hook, the bumpers
must be trimmed as described in the
supplier's installation kit.
Installation diagram for Truck and
Chassis Cab versions fig. 122
Another tow hook specific to Truck and
Chassis Cab versions is shown in fig.
122.
The structure Ø must be fixed in the
points indicated using a total of 6
M10x1.25 screws and 4 M12 screws.MAX LOAD ON BALL: 100/120 kg
depending on the payload (see the
“Weights” table in the “Technical Data”
chapter).
WARNING
136)The ABS with which the vehicle may
be equipped will not control the braking
system of the trailer. Particular caution
is required on slippery roads.
137)Never modify the braking system of
the vehicle to control the trailer brake. The
trailer braking system must be fully
independent from the hydraulic system of
the vehicle.
138)After fitting, screw holes must be
sealed to prevent a exhaust gas inlet.
.
136
STARTING AND DRIVING

.

M12
121F1A0164
137

122F1A0165
138
STARTING AND DRIVING

INSTRUCTIONS FOR
USING THE REMOVABLE
BALL HEAD TOW BAR
40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45)Before setting off, check the correct
locking of the removable ball head tow
bar, as follows:
The green mark of the flywheel must
coincide with the green mark on the
tow bar.
The flywheel is in the stop position
on the tow bar (without slot).
Locked lock and key removed. The
flywheel cannot be removed.
Ball head bar firmly secured to the
housing pipe. Check by shaking with a
hand.
The fitting procedure must be repeated
if any of the 4 checked requirements
is not met.
If even only one of the requirements is
not met the tow hook must not be
used, as in this case there is risk of
accidents. Contact the joint
manufacturer.
The ball head tow bar can be fitted and
removed manually, without needing
any tool.
Never use working tools or means, as
the mechanism could be damaged.
Never unlock in the case of trailer
attached to the vehicle or fitted rack.When driving without trailer or rack the
ball head tow bar must be removed
and the closing plug must always
be inserted in the housing pipe. This
applies particularly if the visibility of the
number plate characters or of the
lighting system is reduced.
Removable ball head tow bar fig.
123 - fig. 124 - fig. 125
1. Mounting pipe - 2. Ball head tow bar
- 3. Locking ball - 4. Release lever -
5. Handwheel - 6. Cap - 7. Wrench - 8.
Red mark (handwheel) - 9. Green
mark (handwheel) - 10. Green mark
(tow bar) - 11. Symbol (release control)
- 12. Closing plug - 13. Coupling pin
- 14. No gaps between 2 and5-15.
Gap of about 5 mm
Installing the ball head tow bar
1. Remove the plug from the mounting
pipe.
The ball head tow bar is usually in the
released position when taken out from
the boot. This can be observed by
the flywheel spaced from the tow bar,
corresponding to a slot of approx. 5
mm (see figure) and by the red mark on
the flywheel directed to the green
mark on the tow bar.
123F1A0380
124 - Locked position, drivingF1A0381
125 - Released position, removedF1A0382
139

Please note that the tow bar can be
installed only when in these conditions.
If the locking mechanism of the tow
bar is disengaged before the
installation, or at any other time, and is
in the locked position, it must be
pre-loaded. The locked position can be
identified by the green mark of the
flywheel coinciding with the green mark
of the tow bar and by the flywheel in
the stop position on the tow bar,
namely without slot (see figure).
The locking mechanism is pre-loaded
as follows: with the key inserted and
the lock open, extract the flywheel
following the direction of the arrow and,
to pre-load, rotate according to the
direction of the arrow b until the stop.
The release lever is engaged and the
locking mechanism remains in the
pre-loading position even when the
flywheel is released. The tow bar must
be inserted in the housing pipe with the
coupling pin for the installation. Insert
from the bottom and push upwards.
The mechanism then locks
automatically. Keep your hands far from
the flywheel, as it rotates during the
locking procedure.2. The tow bar must be inserted in the
housing pipe with the coupling pin
for the installation. Insert from the
bottom and push upwards. The
mechanism then locks automatically.
Keep your hands far from the flywheel,
as it rotates during the locking
procedure.
3. Close the lock and always remove
the key. The key cannot be removed
when the lock is released. Apply the
protection cap on the lock.
Removing the tow bar
1. Remove the protection cap from the
lock and press it on the key grip. Open
the lock with the key.
2. Hold the tow bar firmly, remove the
flywheel following the direction of the
arrow and rotate according to the
direction of the arrow b until stopping,
so as to remove till the extracted
position. Then remove the tow bar from
the housing pipe. The flywheel can
then be released; it autonomously
stops in the released position.
3. Arrange the tow bar in the luggage
compartment so that it cannot be
dirtied or damaged by other
transported objects.
4. Insert the suitable plug in the
mounting pipe.
WARNING
40)The removable ball head bar must be
repaired and taken apart by the
manufacturer only.
41)The accompanying plate must be in a
highly visible point of the vehicle, near
the mounting pipe or inside the luggage
compartment.
42)To ensure correct operation of the
system, periodically remove all dirt deposits
from the ball head bar and from the
mounting pipe. The mechanical
components must be serviced at the
specified intervals. The lock must only be
treated with graphite.
43)Periodically lubricate the joints, the
sliding surfaces and the balls with grease
without resin or oil. Lubrication is also a
further corrosion protection.
44)If the vehicle is washed with high-
pressure jets, the ball head bar must be
removed and the dedicated cap fitted. The
ball head bar must never be treated with
steam jets.
45)Two keys are supplied together with
the removable ball tow bar. Note down the
key number on the pawl for any following
order and keep it.
140
STARTING AND DRIVING

PROLONGED
VEHICLE INACTIVITY
If the vehicle needs to be off the road
for longer than one month, the following
precautions must be taken:
park the vehicle indoors in a dry
and, if possible, well-ventilated place;
engage a gear;
check that the handbrake is not
engaged;
disconnect the negative battery
terminal; if the vehicle is equipped with
a battery disconnection function
(disconnector), see the description of
the procedure in the "Controls"
paragraph in the "Dashboard and
controls" section;
clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax;
clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds
available commercially;
sprinkle talcum powder on the
windscreen and rear window wiper
rubber blades and lift them off the
glass;
slightly open the windows;
cover the vehicle with a piece of
fabric or perforated plastic sheet. Do
not use compact plastic tarpaulins,
which prevent humidity from
evaporating from the surface of the
vehicle;
inflate tyres to +0.5 bar above the
standard specified pressure and check
it at intervals;
do not drain the engine cooling
system.
IMPORTANT If the vehicle is equipped
with an alarm system, switch off the
vehicle alarm with the remote control.
IMPORTANT After turning the ignition
key to STOP and having closed the
driver side door, wait at least one
minute before disconnecting the
electrical supply from the battery. When
reconnecting the electrical supply to
the battery, make sure that the ignition
key is in the STOP position and the
driver side door is closed.
141

IN AN EMERGENCY
A punctured tyre or a burnt-out bulb?
At times, a problem may interfere
with our journey.
The pages on emergencies can help
you to deal with critical situations
independently and with calm.
In an emergency we recommend that
you call the freephone number found in
the Warranty Booklet.
It is also possible to call the 00 800
3428 0000 freephone number to
search the nearest Fiat Dealership.REPLACING A BULB ......................143
REPLACING AN EXTERIOR BULB ..146
REPLACING INTERIOR BULBS ......151
REPLACING FUSES........................151
GATEWAY FMS MODULE ...............165
CHANGING A WHEEL ....................170
FIX & GO AUTOMATIC QUICK
TYRE REPAIR KIT ...........................174
JUMP STARTING ............................177
RECHARGING THE BATTERY ........178
FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH ................179
TOWING THE VEHICLE ..................180
142
IN AN EMERGENCY