Ducato Driving Position

[2cv]

I just read THIS report and was surprised to see so many having problems. Certainly never seen any complaints on the forums.

 

[Wully]

The bulkhead in these vans dose not allow for the seats to adjust properly we found similar problems with the old transits.

 

[Iandsm]

Unless you are well over 6 for there shouldn't be a problem, this seems rather inflated to me.

 

[mistericeman]

As someone that has driven fiat ducatos/citroens daily for the last 5 years, or so averaging 300 miles a day 5 days a week...
I can hand on heart say the driving position isn't great...

The seats aren't bad BUT it's nigh on impossible to get comfortable due to the position of the bulkhead...
And your legs are restricted by the lower dashboard/pedals... So nigh in impossible to alter your initial position.

Our 2003 ducato motorhome is fine as its much less restricted lower dash/bulkhead wise.

And I'm only 5'8 tall

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'm 5'10'' but it's an 07 van and no issues except the screen could be higher.

 

[SimonM]

My 2011 X250 and I’m 6’1” And the swivel seat means the screen height is rather low. Ideally I’d like to be sat 2”-3” lower but it would mean major upheaval to lower the seat without losing the swivel. I’ve had it nigh on 10 years now and accustomed to it.

 

[wildebus]

The only significant position issue I have with my 07 Ducato is it is impossible to adjust the driver's doors mirror as I need it. I have to always lean forwards to check it and you really need to be able to give it frequent glances.
Part of this is down to the Reimo side blind but the mirror arm should still be able to lock into place as needed.

Long arms means I have the seat tilted quite far back - which would be very tricky if there was a bulkhead in place!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The only significant position issue I have with my 07 Ducato is it is impossible to adjust the driver's doors mirror as I need it. I have to always lean forwards to check it and you really need to be able to give it frequent glances.
Part of this is down to the Reimo side blind but the mirror arm should still be able to lock into place as needed.

Long arms means I have the seat tilted quite far back - which would be very tricky if there was a bulkhead in place!

I had this problem too as we have the remis cab blinds, have you tried adjusting the glass manually? worked find after that.

 

[GeoffL]

FWIW, I have problems with most motorhomes based on the Ducato/Boxer/Relay platform. This is one reason why we still have a '01 motorhome. Even with the old style cab, I can't have a swivelling driver's seat and need the washroom to be almost anywhere except behind the driver. That said, I've had issues with lots of other vehicles -- e.g. where the top of the windscreen is too low and/or the rear view mirror restricts my view. Also, the A pillars in many vehicles create unacceptably dangerous blind spots. One company I worked for insisted everyone had to use hire cars -- and I lost count of the cars I had to reject because they were unsafe for me to drive (and the resulting missed meetings). It must have cost them a small fortune, but they wouldn't budge and let me drive my own vehicle even though I had business insurance cover!

 

[marchie]

I'm 5'10'' but it's an 07 van and no issues except the screen could be higher.

I'm 5'10.5", Kev, and this is one occasion where 1/2 inch DOES make a difference ... . Before I mounted the Garmin SatNav on the (redundant) rear view mirror, so that I can read the speed from the satnav screen, I found peering down at the speedo uncomfortable and probably dangerous, because it needed more than a quick glance at the instrument
panel

Steve

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'm 5'10.5", Kev, and this is one occasion where 1/2 inch DOES make a difference ... . Before I mounted the Garmin SatNav on the (redundant) rear view mirror, so that I can read the speed from the satnav screen, I found peering down at the speedo uncomfortable and probably dangerous, because it needed more than a quick glance at the instrument
panel

Steve

Is yours one of the later vans Steve with a different binnacle, I'm fine with ours, although I have my Sat nav either as a phone in landscape in the binnacle or on the 3m Velcro above it if I use my old TomTom.

 

[wildebus]

I had this problem too as we have the remis cab blinds, have you tried adjusting the glass manually? worked find after that.

I think I tried that but will have another try shortly (just sitting in van having a coffee at the Mighty DubFest in Alnwick)

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I had to mess around before I got it right, tiny movements mak a difference.

 

[marchie]

Is yours one of the later vans Steve with a different binnacle, I'm fine with ours, although I have my Sat nav either as a phone in landscape in the binnacle or on the 3m Velcro above it if I use my old TomTom.

Ours is a 2016 Ducato, Kev. The driver sits well above the recessed binnacle, so reading the speedo is a fraught exercise! Rev counter is easier to read unless trying to red line it ...

Either all Italians could audition for Snow White, or Fiat didn't bother with ergonomics ... Answers on a postcard

Steve

 

[wildebus]

I had this problem too as we have the remis cab blinds, have you tried adjusting the glass manually? worked find after that.

I have no more movement of the glass possible. I had tried rotating the whole arm further out and was perfect but it wouldn't lock in that position and just went back when driving.
I need to have the seat nearer the dash but then can't drive it.
The worst van I have driven was the Mercedes Vito. Arranged to borrow a brand new one in 2012 for a weekend test and needed to do about 400 miles ... After around 30 miles my 'clutch' knee was hurting and by the time returned it was soooo painful pedal position was just wrong. My Renault Master (10 plate) was the best ever driven I think.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I do have left knee issues sometimes if we drive a long time, I try to move my leg into the centre of the van if not in traffic and stretch it out.

 

[debs]

Now some of you know me, I'm 6ft tall, I have a relay. I have a booster seat... I've always liked to be higher, and I find my camper so comfortable. I put my own insulated bulkhead in, but before I did I put the seat in the right position, then built the bulkhead, so that probably makes a difference.

 

[Caz]

Glad I'm short then, no problems in the 53 & 04 plate Ducatos I've owned, or in the 16 plate bus I drive quite often.

 

[oppy]

I'm a likkle fat bloke with short arms and legs ( sat down though my body is quite long ) and I found that the seating position was awful in our 25 year old 'van, but everything else was great, so I just had to learn to live with it, still crap though

 

[CriftinsCampers]

This was discussed recently in the Ambulance converters forum, originally I thought these new vans were brought in to provide a fuel efficient euro 6 under 3500kg alternative to the popular 5000kg modular bodied Sprinters like my own van.

This was the reply I got from someone that regularly drives one:

“these particular vehicles Keith are still C1 category and over 4T, I drive them for EEAST. It’s the seat adjustment and general driving position, including the pedal position that makes it difficult for the “tall” drivers in particular rather than “large” drivers. It’s a really odd seat adjustment compared to the mercs. They actually have a larger cab this model with the bulkhead being further back than on other models.”