Rambojilly Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 I have an Adria Twin 500s which is based on the Short wheel based Fiat Ducato 2015. I would like to have a hatch put in over the kitchen area but need to know the location of the roof strengthening bars. Can anybody help please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 Welcome to the Out&AboutLive forums, Jill. I’m guessing from your posting that (probably wisely) you do not intend to DIY this task. You could look for similar age Ducato SWB ‘white vans’ for sale near you (Brighton area?) as these are likely to have the underside of the roof still exposed. (I’m assuming that any SWB Ducato’s roof will have its strengthening bars in the same position irrespective of the roof’s height.) Alternatively, you could try contacting firms experienced in converting Ducato vans into motorhomes and see ifthey can (or are willing to) tell you where the strengthening bars are. These links from the Magnum Motorhomes website https://magnummotorhomes.co.uk/stage-3-framing-the-roof/ https://magnummotorhomes.co.uk/stage-12-fitting-the-rooflights/ show what’s involved roof-related in a panel-van conversion and in fitting a rooflight, and it should be evident that there’s plenty that could go wrong. Rather than trying to find out the position of the roof strengtheners, you may be better asking for recommendations on firms near(ish) to where you live who might carry out this task for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikefitz Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 Although the Magnum descriptions are useful, the example is perhaps not the easiest method and of course the roof profile is completely different to the Ducato. The roof beams are not at regular distances and also vary as you would expect with different wheel bases. I have no experience of the short wheelbase at the rear where your kitchen/shower is positioned but you may find there is no room between the existing beams. There is definitely a beam in line with the C pillar. To fit most motor home roof lights you need a timber framework between the roof metal and the lining. The roof light is in two parts and clamps between the lining, inside, and the metal roof outside. If the roof light were fitted to the rear, with the configuration of the shower room it would seem the internal part of the roof light would compromise the action of the movable shower panels. (there may be variants of the model, I have only seen the version with the extending shower 'walls').. Fitting a roof light further forward may be more practical, but even then it seems a difficult modification. Cutting holes in the van and fitting windows and roof lights is one of the first actions in the build. Using a magnet to find the beams or the gadget used to find cables in a wall. This video demonstrates what is involves and shows the roof beam layout. It may be a easier to fit a vent/s in the roof or in the rear doors above the windows with suitable external cowls Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 It would be useful if Jill said what the ‘hatch’ is for - whether it would be to extract kitchen fumes/odours, or to provide extra daylight, or to do both. (The image attached below shows the back of an Adria Twin 500s with the rear doors open.) Fiamma markets the Fiamma Vent 28 F Turbo that combines rooflight and extractor (example advert here) https://tinyurl.com/eac7r56d and Dometic offers the Micro-Heki rooflight in several versions and with an adapter plate to fit on a Ducato’s roof. https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/ventilation/camper-van-conversion/dometic-micro-heki-rooflights There’s also an inexpensive MPK product https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/ventilation/caravan-roof-vent/mpk-290-rooflight-280-x-280mm All of these are 280mm x 280mm, which is as small as one is likely to find. This link shows the installation of a Heki Midi roofllight (700mm x 500mm) towards the rear of a Ducato panel-van’s roof. https://ducatodreams.com/2019/05/30/installing-a-heki-midi-rooflight-in-the-back-of-our-fiat-ducatos-roof/ Obviously, when the task was carried out, the van’s rear compartment was still unconverted and a photo shows that (unsurprisingly) a section of one of the roof strenthening bars needed to be cut away to permit the large rooflight to fitted. As Mike has said, if it’s not possible to obtain reliable information regarding the exact position of the rearmost strengthening bar with respect to the rear of the roof, holding a powerful magent against the motorhome’s ceiling should be able to detect the bar. If just an extractor of some sort is wanted, there are varrious quite compact solar-powered units designed for marine of leisure-vehicle uses. (examples here) https://www.compass24.com/deck/ventilation/ventilators/92404/solar-fan?number=147161_8 https://www.compass24.com/deck/ventilation/ventilators/92404/solar-fan?number=147162_8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 Hi Rambojilly & welcome to the forum. Depending on your requirements, but if only for cooking smell extraction a 12v cooker hood vent could be suitable & would remove the where to cut the roof problem for a full vent. Fittingt a roof vent over the cooking area is usually avoided due to the possibility of heat distortion. A cooker hood vent only requires a small hole in the roof or side wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 Just a thought. A similar question on a camper ‘self-build’ website may produce an answer. Most self-builders will have started with a van whose interior was completely bare. They would have to know where the strengthening bars were to facilitate their work. Cattwg :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 See this thread on the Fiat Forum. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialsrider Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 You may struggle to find the definitive answer in the UK as the L1H2 panel van on ducato, relay or boxer x250 or x290 is virtually unobtainable in the I've never seen one but perhaps others have. I know as I tried to buy one. You can only get L1h1 in the UK. I don't know why this is the case as they would be a converters dream compared to the tiny over priced vw t6. I had the relay L1 h1 and I can't see why the roof on this (except the overall height) would be any different to the L1H2. By percussing the roof you should be able to tell from the resonance how frequent the supports are. I would go down to your local fiat commercial dealer and take a tape measure to measure the internals of a L1h1 ducato. Out of interest how do you find the Adria twin 500? I think it could be our next van as it only seems to me me and my son who go away in our van. The Mrs has had enough of vans. The non transverse bed is a big plus for me being a tall guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambojilly Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 Thanks to all of you who have replied with helpful suggestions. We have purchased a Fiamma extractor fan to fit to our existing roof light and will see if that does the job (cooling the van down) for the time being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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