Technical Spare wheel winch

[dgg]

I have a Ducato L3 H2 first registered June 2009, with 15" wheels. It is an Adria Twin campervan but because it is a panel van conversion, as opposed to having a motorhome body on a chassis, I think the chassis is standard Fiat. The spare wheel winch has failed. I took the winch apart and it is mangled inside - so no chance of repairing this.


There was a recall in 2011 as the spare wheel carrier was unsafe. I did not get the recall notice and when I spoke to Fiat recently and gave them the VIN number they said mine was not included in the recall.


From internet research it appears that there are different versions - mine is accessed through a hole when the rear doors of the van are, open using a six sided bar - see photos 1 and 2. The other type is accesed via the wheel arch and uses a five sided bar, like this one on ebay 'Fiat Ducato Motorhome 2015 Spare Wheel Hanger Lift Winch Kit Genuine 71807355'.


Looking at my van there is a 10mm hole through the chassis into the wheel arch, on both near and off sides - see photo. Is this where the tool to operate the winch goes through? Looking at the ebay photos and the van I can't see how the winch attaches to the chassis - do new holes have to be drilled? See photo 3.


I would be grateful is someone could shed some light on what I need to get the spare wheel back under the van where it belongs.

 

[Philblack]

Hi, I have the almost identical Peugeot Boxer 2009, which suffered the same problem, totally seized wheel carrier. I checked my VIN number on the VOSA website and it confirmed that the recall did affect my van although the main dealer said otherwise. It took quite a persistent approach to get them to agree to replace involving many emails to the main HQ. The replacement is a straight bolt onto existing holes but does require rivnuts to be installed, this was obviously beyond the main dealer as they just used long through bolts instead, partially crushing the box sections when tightening up. They also managed to shear off 3 bolts in the chassis requiring three separate visits to the dealer for what should have been a couple of hour job at most. If you do the job yourself remember to also order the 5 sided tool and that 15 and 16 inch versions are different.

Good luck with Fiat

Just to confirm the new winch mounts on existing but different hole to the original and the lowering winch is accessed from just behind the rear wheel directly, ie not through a chassis hole. No security other than the need for the 5 sided tool although there are some small holes you could possibly put a padlock through.

 

[dgg]

Thank you - confirms what I thought after my online research. I will buy the assembly kit and fit it myself. From previous experience life is too short to battle with Fiat.