tow bar FIAT DUCATO BASE CAMPER 2015 Owner handbook (in English)

TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
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.
135) 136)
INSTALLING THE TOW
HOOK
The towing device should be
fastened to the body by specialised
personnel 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.
187

INSTRUCTIONS FOR
USING THE
REMOVABLE BALL
HEAD TOW BAR
37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42)
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 barfig. 175 - fig. 176 - fig.
177
1. Housing pipe - 2. Ball head tow
bar - 3. Locking balls - 4. Release
lever - 5. Flywheel - 6. Cap - 7. Key
- 8. Red mark (flywheel) - 9. Green
mark (flywheel) - 10. Green mark
(tow bar) - 11. Symbol (control
release) - 12. Closing plug - 13.
Coupling pin - 14. No slot between
2 and 5 - 15. Slot of approx. 5
mm
175F1A0380
176 - Locked position, drivingF1A0381
177 - Released position, removedF1A0382
192
STARTING AND DRIVING

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 luggage compartment.
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.
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.
193

IMPORTANT
37) The removable ball head bar can
be repaired and disassembled by
the manufacturer only.
38) The supplied plate must be
applied in a visible point on the
vehicle, close to the mounting
pipe or inside the luggage
compartment.
39) Regularly remove all dirt
deposits from the ball head bar
and from the mounting pipe to
ensure a correct system
operation. The mechanical
components must be serviced at
the specified intervals. The lock
must be treated with graphite
only.
40) Periodically lubricate the joints,
the sliding surfaces and the balls
with grease without resin or oil.
Lubrication is also a further
corrosion protection.41) When the vehicle is cleaned with
high-pressure jets, previously
remove the ball head bar and
insert the suitable plug. The ball
head plug must never be treated
with high-pressure jets.
42) 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.
194
STARTING AND DRIVING