2014 fiat ducato roller team autoroller 685

[niggle]

Can anyone help we have recently purchased the above motorhome its 6 months old and our first motorhome we purchased it from davan in Weston super mare and they have been very helpful with any problems that have arisen so far .But we have a few other problems the vehicle is fitted with a 60litre diesel tank and when touring in France recently the range being only around 250 miles all we seemed to do was look for filling stations the hand book states the tank should be 90 litres having raised the issue with fiat they have now referred me to roller team the other problem is that old chestnut of tyre pressures .On a recent visit to the nec show I asked Roller team who sent me to fiat who have now told me to go to my local fiat dealer I just seem to get pushed around but no answers. The next problem is the radio it is a clarion radio /cd player which is available from amazon for £62 not exactly top of the range!! the radio aeriel is stuck on the passenger side of the windscreen and radio reception is very poor to say the least. Although we have enjoyed our few nights we have spent away no one seems to be able to answer my questions .

 

regards

niggle

[Keithl]

Hi niggle and welcome to the forum.

 

First your fuel consumption, how are you measuring the fuel used, from what the tank is meant to hold or actual fill ups? If you are really using 60 litres for 250 miles then this is below 18 mpg! If so how are you driving it? Remember it is a large heavy vehicle and if you try to drive it like a car you will pay the price! You may get better economy if you stick below 60 mph.

 

As for the actual fuel tank capacity are you relying on the gauge or do you have a range remaining on the dash display? And what has your local Fiat dealer said, or have you not got there yet?

 

Next the tyre pressures, what make and size of tyre do you have and what pressures have been suggested so far? Let us know and we'll try and help BUT you will benefit from knowing ACTUAL axle weights at normal touring weight to calculate meaningful figures.

 

Finally the radio, there has been a lot of talk about MH radios on here, try a search using the 'Search our Forums' button above.

 

Keith.

[Derek Uzzell]

Apparently Ducato “Combi” models have a 60 litre fuel tank as standard, but the standard tank for all other recent Ducatos seems to be 90 litres. If the Roller Team brochure for the motorhome states that its tank should be 90 litres and it is not, then Roller Team should be handling this discrepancy liaising with Fiat.

 

(The only instance I can recall regarding an important specification anomaly relating to a motorhome resulted in, literally, years of protracted legal argument.)

 

Regarding tyre inflation pressures, these are clearly listed in the Ducato Owner Handbook. If the pressures advised aren’t liked (perhaps they result in an uncomfortable ride), then - as Keith says - before diverging from the Handbook figures actual weighbridge-measured axle-weights should be obtained and advice sought from the tyres’ manufacturer.

[Steve928]

I believe that the smaller 60l fuel tank is standard across the Roller Team Fiat-based range.

Certainly it was when we briefly considered a T-Line a year or so back because this was one thing that ruled the van out for us.

 

Looking at the RT brochures I can't see fuel tank capacity listed in the specification details but in the weight section there is this in the certified weight calculation;

"fuel tank fully filled (60lt.)"

 

[Robinhood]

...whilst it doesn't seem to appear in UK pricelists, the 60-litre option (4DZ) widely features in continental markets across many of the Ducato base versions.

 

I would suspect RT selected it for their bases for conversion as a weight-saving option.

 

 

 

 

[manwiththepsychoGPS]

Hi Niggle,

I have a 2013 Roller Team T-Line 700 family on a fiat Ducato Euro V 2.3 130 bhp plated to 3650kg. The tank holds at least 80 litres, I think it takes 90, bit I never empty it, obviously. I'm not the fastest driver on the raoad but neither am I the slowest. I average about 30 to the gallon.

A 60 litre tank seems inadequate and if you get 250 to 60 litres, I make that about 19 to the gallon. 19 to the gallon does seem very poor. Could you perhaps get an independent engineer to check it out? If he comes up with something, you will have something to take back to the dealer. He sold it to you, he should sort it out.

Good luck,

Colin

[Guest Peter James]

My (Citroen badged) X2/50 brochure lists a 90 litre fuel tank as standard, with 60 litre or 120 litre as optional. So I guess the 60 litre option is an easy way for the converter to save weight, and possibly cost.

[niggle]

Thanks to all for your replies further info on my fuel tank/consumption before filling the tank the low fuel level lamp was illuminated showing approx. 10 litres of fuel in the tank( according to the handbook) to fill the tank to the brim took just over 49 litres I must also say I was towing a trailer at the time total weight 1.5 tonnes over the next drive the average consumption on the dashboard was showing 24.8 mpg 250miles later low fuel lamp on again .The tyre problem I think I have sorted they are continental 215/70/15cp camping tyres front 5 bar rear 5.5 bar but the ride is not good especially on uk roads. The radio is pathetic it looks like I will have to bite the bullet and buy a better unit and upgrade the aeriel I have already wired the radio to permanent live so that we can use it when parked up other issues are low geared 1st and 2nd gears, horrible plastic steering wheel and gear knob I have never been a fiat fan but not much choice as I need to be able to tow up to 2 tonnes,

 

once again many thanks for all your replies

kind regards

niggle

 

ps. would like to hear from other roller team owners about fuel tank size I have e-mailed RT waiting in anticipation watch this space!!!

[Keithl]

Looking at the Continental tyres leaflet which you can download here... Link I think you are running your tyres at at near their Max pressures and most probably far higher than you need.

 

Load your MH to its normal Max weight and get both Front and Rear individual axle weights. Then look at pages 22 and 23 (you need to read across the double page) to find the most suitable pressures for your axle weights.

 

HTH,

Keith.

 

Edit. And 250 miles on 49 litres is just over 23 mpg, so add the usual manufacturers 'fiddle factor' of 10% and you get very near your displayed figure.

[Steve928]

Regarding your tyres, I have 3 times now bought new motorhomes fitted with either Conti or Michelin camper tyres and each time I have replaced them in short order, at my cost, with standard commercial/van tyres due to the appalling ride qualities of the camper tyres.

 

The supposed benefits of camper tyres, if indeed they exist, are of no consequence to me if I can't enjoy driving my van. The difference is like chalk and cheese.

[Guest Peter James]

niggle - 2015-03-20 7:41 PM

other issues are low geared 1st and 2nd gears, horrible plastic steering wheel and gear knob I have never been a fiat fan but not much choice as I need to be able to tow up to 2 tonnes,

 

I'm surprised you are complaining about low first and second gears when you are towing 2 tonnes.

The steering wheel and gear knob are Fiat Standard the same as most other motorhomes since the Fiat you are not a fan of is by far the most popular base vehicle..

Frankly its beginning to sound like you are expecting too much from a budget priced van.

[Derek Uzzell]

Steve928 - 2015-03-20 9:20 AM

 

I believe that the smaller 60l fuel tank is standard across the Roller Team Fiat-based range.

Certainly it was when we briefly considered a T-Line a year or so back because this was one thing that ruled the van out for us.

 

Looking at the RT brochures I can't see fuel tank capacity listed in the specification details but in the weight section there is this in the certified weight calculation;

"fuel tank fully filled (60lt.)"

 

The 2014 Roller Team brochure is here

 

http://www.rollerteammotorhomes.co.uk/media/downloads/2014-brochure.pdf

 

The capacity of each model’s fuel tank is not explicity stated (it often isn’t in motorhome brochures) but - as Steve says - a capacity of 60 litres is implied in the “Notes” section.

 

"(b) Certified vehicle weight comprises: driver, fuel tank fully filled (60 lt.), fresh water tank filled to 50 lt. (use of special drain valve) and aluminium gas bottles (max. 15 kg.) filled at 90% of their capacity, and certified tolerance (+/- 5%) (2001/116/CE). Warning: optional items installed are not included in the determination of the load less weight in running order of the vehicle.”

 

As Roller Team does not say that a 90-litre tank is provided and (if one looks really really closely at the brochure’s fine print) there is an indication that the tank used is 60-litres capacity, I can’t see any profit in pursuing that issue with Fiat or Roller Team.

 

It would appear from Fiat’s advertising that ‘commercial’ Ducato manual-transmission ratios differ from those fitted to ‘camping-car’ Ducatos, with ‘light chassis’ motorhomes having a lower reverse ratio and the final-drive ratio used with a commercial Maxi chassis. This would explain the low 1st and 2nd gearing, though I would consider that a plus for any motorhome, never mind (as Peter observes) one that would be used for towing.

[niggle]

Who said that I am towing 2 tonnes and I don't think 40grand plus is a budget price vehicle just sold a ford transit leather steering wheel and gear knob and I don't live in Buckingham palace well not yet anyway with regard to not liking Fiat people I have contact with in the motor trade just seem to Quote Fix It Again Tomorrow.

regards

[niggle]

Who said that I am towing 2 tonnes and I don't think 40grand plus is a budget price vehicle just sold a ford transit leather steering wheel and gear knob and I don't live in Buckingham palace well not yet anyway with regard to not liking Fiat people I have contact with in the motor trade just seem to Quote Fix It Again Tomorrow.

regards

[Brian Kirby]

niggle - 2015-03-21 11:02 AM Who said that I am towing 2 tonnes ..............regards

Ahem! :-)

 

niggle - 2015-03-20 7:41 PM..................but not much choice as I need to be able to tow up to 2 tonnes,

[mgnbuk]

All the brochures I have seen for Roller Team vans from 2011 onwards say that the fuel tank fitted is 60 litres " with a view to increasing payload while still guaranteeing high running autonomy"

 

When we were considering purchasing our T-Line 670, I was expecting a 60 litre tank as per the brochures - not too happy about going down to 60 litres after having had an 80 litre tank in our Carioca 22 (X244 2.0 JTD), but I was anticipating a bit better consumption from the 130 hp 2.3 litre low profile T-Line than from the 84 hp 2 litre overcab Carioca.

 

I was very suprised to put 92 litres in the tank on the way home from the dealer ! He had said it was very low, but I was seriously considering contacting Trading Standards about the filling staition until I found the Fiat build sheet in the documentation pack that said the chassis was built with a 90 litre tank. So it would appear that not all Roller Team vans have a 60 litre tank - RT must have specified the bigger tank at the time they placed the order on Fiat, but why I don't know. I have to say that I am glad that they did ! The T-Line 670 does not have any payload issues - packed up for a 2-3 week tour, full water, gas (11kg Gaslow) & diesel + the two of us and either 2 bicycles on the rack or 2 motorcycles on the trailer we have 200-250 kg to spare

 

Consumption on our van is in the range of 28-31 mpg, travelling at a GPS indicated 60 mph on motorways & dual carriageways and at (or around) posted limits on A roads. Towing a 750kg rated motorcycle trailer loaded to around 650kg drops the consumption 1-2 mpg - headwinds make more of a difference than the trailer, but the lowest we have seen over 12000 miles/2 years has been 26 mpg.

 

Our consumption meter indication has been very close to calculated values - generally less than 0.25 mpg difference, though it appears to get closer if I run the tank very close to empty from full as opposed to topping up at half tank.

 

I don't generally start looking for fuel until I have covered 450 miles - best to date has been 550 miles to a tank (I estmated I had around 8 litres remaining when I filled up). This was enough to get me from near Leeds to Luxembourg city via Dioer-Dunkirk on 1 tank full (no trailer than trip).

 

Does your van have the high "commercial" chassis ? Mine has the low profile "camper" chassis & has a 1200kg towing limit - less than the 2 tonnes on the "commercial" chassied Carioca 22.

 

You could enquire of a Fiat Commercial dealership the cost of fitting the 90 litre (or 120 litre - the other option) tank . Fitting the bigger tank may require the ECU reprogramming to "know" the increased tank capacity. Buying a used tank from a breaker may be a cheaper option - as far as I know, the tanks are plastic, so should not be in poor condition from a used vehicle.

 

I run the OE Vanco Camper tyres at 5 bar front, 5.5 bar rear, as per the sticker in the door reveal.

 

I can't recall the make of the radio CD player fitted, maybe be Clarion & it also has a stick on (apparently "active" or amplified) aerial on the driver's side of the windscreen. This only works when the ignition is on, so can't be used when parked up. Sound quality is not great & radio reception is poor. I think it may have been used 3 times in 2 years, but I don't often bother with music on the go & can't get Radio 4 abroad, so it just fills a gap in the dashboard. One thing I noticed about the Sony fitted to our previous van was the high current draw when stationary - playing 2 CDs was enough to have very noticably depeleted the cab battery (dual output solar charger fitted, which showed battery voltages). I now use a small portable CD player via a Sony soundbar with rechargeable batteries when on site - sound good & does not run the risk of over discharging the starter battery. This doesn't help if you want music or radio on the move, though.

 

HTH

[Brian Kirby]

niggle - 2015-03-21 11:02 AM

 

Who said that I am towing 2 tonnes and I don't think 40grand plus is a budget price vehicle just sold a ford transit leather steering wheel and gear knob and I don't live in Buckingham palace well not yet anyway with regard to not liking Fiat people I have contact with in the motor trade just seem to Quote Fix It Again Tomorrow.

regards

Did you not look at, and test drive, this vehicle before you bought it? I accept that the smaller than standard tank will have come as a surprise although, as Derek says, it is implied in the fine print of the brochure.

 

The low gearing is, actually, advantageous. There were a number of problems arising in 2006/7 because earlier versions of this base vehicle had excessively high first and reverse gears that led to extreme vibration on drive away, and also accellerated clutch wear. You may not like it, but it is definitely the better option of the two.

 

Gear levers and steering wheels should have been obvious when buying. Other vans have higher specifications for these minor items, but also higher prices. Roller Team specialise in entry level vans, and are specced and priced accordingly. I'm afraid what you have is aimed at being functionally adequate and not at "luxury" travel. Your pre-purchase researches should have indicated that this is the case.

 

If you do as advised above, and fully load your van as it would be for holiday use, and take it to your nearest weighbridge and get not just the laden weight but also the loads on its individual axles, you will be able to find out tyre pressures suitable for the axle loads as you use the van. You can contact the technical department of the manufacturer of the tyres and they should advise what pressures are appropriate. However, they may want to see the weighbridge ticket before advising lower pressures. Alternatively, follow this link: http://tinyurl.com/l3rdme2 and download the "Motorhome Tyres and Your Safety" booklet, which will give you appropriate pressures for your axle loads and tyre size/type. Do make sure you correctly identify the tyres fitted to your van, as running tyres underinflated for their type/load actually risks blow-outs, whereas running over inflated merely knocks your fillings out! :-)

 

As for the radio, entry level van = entry level radio, I'm afraid. However, not that costly, though annoying, to remedy. I'm actually surprised the van had one pre-fitted; many are supplied with no radio fitted because buyers prefer to choose their own. Well done for fixing the wiring to get around the 20 minutes cut off - it annoys a lot of people! :-D

[Guest Peter James]

niggle - 2015-03-21 11:02 AM

I don't think 40grand plus is a budget price vehicle

Depends on the vehicle. For a car its isn't. For a motorhome it is. I would have chosen a Swift (same price range), but Roller Team is OK.

(Incidentally my house is a small 3 bedroom. Its just my Council Tax, like that on many other small homes, thats higher than Buckingham Palace. So I feel entitled to use council facilities (wild camping) without being called a free loader, thats why its my signature :-D )

[Guest Peter James]

.... double post..........

[mgnbuk]

I would have chosen a Swift, but Roller Team is OK.

 

Why ? Swift construction techniques inferior to Roller Team, bathrooms inferior to Roller Team and (in Swift the vans I have inspected) build quality far inferior to Roller Team. The 9 year old CI Carioca 22 I p/xed for the T-Line was better built than a new Swift Escape I looked at at Lowdhams.

 

The only area Swift appear to have an advantage over RT is the size of the dealer network, so it will always be easier to get to see a Swift. And if ypu want the "caravan layout" U-shaped rear lounge and the faff of assembling beds from cushions, I suppose.

 

But to each their own !

[Guest Peter James]

mgnbuk - 2015-03-21 2:30 PM

 

I would have chosen a Swift, but Roller Team is OK.

 

Why ? Swift construction techniques inferior to Roller Team, bathrooms inferior to Roller Team and (in Swift the vans I have inspected) build quality far inferior to Roller Team. The 9 year old CI Carioca 22 I p/xed for the T-Line was better built than a new Swift Escape I looked at at Lowdhams.

 

The only area Swift appear to have an advantage over RT is the size of the dealer network, so it will always be easier to get to see a Swift. And if ypu want the "caravan layout" U-shaped rear lounge and the faff of assembling beds from cushions, I suppose.

 

But to each their own !

 

I thought Roller Team were still wood framed?

In any case there are plenty of Swift Layouts with fixed beds and without U shaped lounges.

[niggle]

Rollerteam motorhomes are now all plastic body construction and a ten year warranty to boot we chose our rollerteam for the layout and also having taken inside information from the repair specialists with regard to the horror stories associated with some home built m/homes . maybe the very reason of most manufacturers getting on board with new build systems and warranties .

 

thanks again

niggle

[Guest Peter James]

niggle - 2015-03-21 10:33 PM

 

Rollerteam motorhomes are now all plastic body construction and a ten year warranty to boot

 

 

niggle

 

Same as Swift then, Thanks for the update. I don't know which has got the best construction techniques now. But I would still chose Swift to support the home economy, and also out of self interest because I imagine it easier to take it back to Yorkshire (Swift) than Italy (Roller Team) for a warranty repair?

[mgnbuk]

Same as Swift then

 

Very difficult to say, as Swift are decidedly coy about what exactly their "new" construction method is.

OTOH, Roller Team use a detailed description of their technique as a sales aid - dealers have a section of the wall to show exactly how their method looks & feels. And as RT appear to have started their EXPS construction method in 2011, they have a bit of a head start on Swift.

 

As far as I can recall, Swift don't use a floor constructed of 75mm polystyrene sandwiched between two plywood boards, with the road facing side covered with GRP. The hot air heating ducts run within the expanded poly layer (no heating pipes outside), resulting in the air coming out of the vents furthest from the Combi 4 is a as warm as from those closest to it - I don't think Swift do that, the models I have looked at still have the old free-standing heater arrangement.

 

Return to Italy for warranty work - what on earth for ? Roller Team are part of the Trigano Group & has a UK importer. Should warranty work be required, it would surely be handled in the UK. Unfortunately, from the number of build-quality gripes on the various UK forums, it would appear that a UK built van is more likely to have to return to the factory during warranty than a recent Roller Team van !

 

While Swift do appear to be moving slowly towards Continental standards of construction & are slowly improving areas such as bathrooms to get away from the daft "shower between sink & toilet" arrangement, the nearest layout Bolero to my T-Line 760 is longer, is over 3.5 tonnes, has less payload & appears to cost £20k more than I paid for my T-Line 2 years ago.

 

I would like to support British workers - but they have to produce a modern product to similar (or better) standards to the Continentals at a similar (or better) price. Non of the UK coachbuilt manufactureres have adequately demonstated to me that they can do so, sadly.

[Greenman14]

I have a Roller Team TL590 and it has a 60l fuel tank, which I believe is standard, at least on the 2014 range. I find the speedometer over reads by 10% and I assume the mileage meter is similarly inaccurate; according to the on board computer I'm averaging about 29mpg but that is presumably based on the inaccurate vehicle instruments.

 

I agree a 90l tank would be useful and since its standard on the van, as opposed to motorhome, chassis it might be a relatively easy upgrade. Me, I don't want to spend too much time on the road and 250 miles is plenty, but then I'm used to bikes with anything from 100 to 200 miles practical tank range.