aston Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Hi all, It's been a while, I am off to look at a 1987 Fiat 2.4 Diesel Hobby Motorhome soon, Does anybody have any info on these vans? As such an old vehicle and being a Fiat, What should I be looking at, any common problems (How are the gearbox's etc) Also what MPG should I expect from this large vehicle? Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 aston - 2013-01-22 9:57 PM Hi all, It's been a while, I am off to look at a 1987 Fiat 2.4 Diesel Hobby Motorhome soon, Does anybody have any info on these vans? As such an old vehicle and being a Fiat, What should I be looking at, any common problems (How are the gearbox's etc) Also what MPG should I expect from this large vehicle? Thank you I would think spares could be a major problem, seem to recall someone found it impossible to locate a clutch cable for example, plus tin worm, check carefully, have not got a clue about MPG though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 That is interesting, the thread by Christena is about a 1987 Hobby. Brian B. ps Not the same one is it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Some Ducato motor-related details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Ducato There appear to have been three nominally 2.4 litre diesel motors fitted - two normally aspirated and one turbocharged. Performance-wise one might anticipate a largish coachbuilt motorhome (like a Hobby) with either of the normally aspirated engines to be pretty lethargic, but at least there's no turbocharger to fail and damage your bank-balance. Realistically, I'd expect average mpg to be in the low to mid-20s. The "Christena 1987 Hobby" thread is this one: http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/New-Chassis-and-Cab-or-Scrap-/20456/ Is the vehicle you'll be looking at right- or left-hand drive? As has been suggested, obtaining certain spares may prove challenging and, for a critical spare (eg. a steering rack), finding one in LHD format in the UK may be even trickier. For information on known problems, spares availability, etc. try Mike Chubb of No. 1 Gear. Contact details here: http://www.no1gear.com/sitemap.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 thebishbus - 2013-01-23 8:41 AM That is interesting, the thread by Christena is about a 1987 Hobby. Brian B. ps Not the same one is it ? Could be...welcome to a world of pain!lol :D I can understand keeping an old car or v dub going, but not this......my advice buy a tent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Check that it HAS power steering, the diesels usually did (but not ALL) you'll need arms like Popeye otherwise, IF it is RHD the gear linkeage, with the stick on the floor, can get VERY floppy, until it gets almost impossible to change gear.If LHD, change on the coloumn, should be OK. Make sur you 'test drive' it, The chassis usually stayed rust free, but checked the rear suspension mounts, these rotted badly, Is it an 'A' class?, If it still has the Fiat Cab, there are other places to look for Rust, Let us Know ? plus all the normal stuff. Good luck, Ray Fiat Ducatos of this age are exactly the same as the Talbot Express/Peugeot J5/ Citroen C25, with MOST spare parts interchangeable (but not ALL). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 To the best of my knowledge Hobby has never marketed an A-class motorhome. The first low-profile Hobby (that was quite avant-garde in appearance) was produced in the mid-1980s and the 600 model proved very popular. There's a video-clip of a 1985 LHD Hobby 600 here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 If it's not an 'A-Class' as Derek says, then you will need to check (for Rust/Rot): Both wings, front valance (around and below the grille), bottom of both cab doors, the sills, Inner front wings (look under bonnet), AND the most serious of all, the front panel directly under the windscreen. The last two, if they are bad, I would say 'walk away'. The repair is too involved, IF you can source the replacement panels. I rebuilt the cab on a 1988 Talbot Express Autosleeper, about 7 or 8 years ago, and the panels were begining to get hard to source then. But good luck anyway, let us know how you get on. This is a good forum for 'Oldies' : http://community.preloved.co.uk/forums/category/1/camper-vans.html And this one for 'Inspiration/ideas/parts : http://www.jktowers.fsnet.co.uk/motorhome/ Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 A potential source for replacement body panels: http://www.crashrepairparts.com/mark/128/fiat/ducato?_ts=2240 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.