Iveco Vs Ducato?

Delboyarapaho

Delboyarapaho

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Hi Guys. Interested in your views as to the pros and cons of each base vehicle? I am considering changing and one of my options is on a modern Iveco but I worry that its a lorry really and wonder how they handle and how the suspension compares? The alternative would be the 2.3 Ducato. Is the 160 adequately powered for a 5 ton van?
Also any reliability/maintenance concerns with either?

Many thanks
 
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We had a 9m euramobil on a fiat and it was great, only thing is when we first got it brand new the auto box has a bit of a lag from standing still.
The iveco is noisier but a better gearbox and fabulous on grass but it's more truck than van.
Still I think I prefer the iveco but nothing in it really as I would have a fiat again.
Sorry its not definite, maybe just let the motorhome layout be the factor not the base model.
 
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Delboyarapaho said:
Hi Guys. Interested in your views as to the pros and cons of each base vehicle? I am considering changing and one of my options is on a modern Iveco but I worry that its a lorry really and wonder how they handle and how the suspension compares? The alternative would be the 2.3 Ducato. Is the 160 adequately powered for a 5 ton van?
Also any reliability/maintenance concerns with either?

Many thanks
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I would think if you are talking about sub 5.5t you would be better with fiat/merc as you have the option of low centre of gravity bespoke motorhome chassis ie alko/ fiat / Merc low line etc which give you a much better driving experience and especially the tag axle.

Once over this sort of weight you are very limited in choice chassis wise and no motorhome bespoke chassis ie truck chassis which are higher centre of gravity so more movement body wise.
 
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We have only ever had the IVECO but I have talked with quite a few people who have moved from the Fiat tandem axle chassis to the IVECO twin rear wheel chassis and the main comment seems to be that the Fiat is more planted and stable on the road and is easier to rack up the miles in, of course there are compromises when the Fiat gets onto grass or even wet tarmac and together with steep inclines the FWD is soon struggling for grip.

You say "modern IVECO" Delboyarapaho so I assume you are looking at new or nearly new, the IVECO daily with its 3 litre engine and optional ZF 8 speed automatic is now virtually the standard chassis for larger vans as it can be plated right up to 7490kg and can be specced with and has the weight capacity for a lot of fantastic options for a motorhome i.e Telma retarder full air or active air suspension etc etc.

Depending what van you are looking at depends how the chassis is modified but a little bit of homework will reveal that the converters don't just take a standard IVECO daily chassis and stick a body on top, on our MORELO for example the whole front of the van so that is dashboard, steering column and pedal is raised up by 10" or more and moved forward over the engine to give more room inside and a driving position that is much closer to the front of the vehicle than on a Fiat, the seats are also placed closer to the outside of the A class bodywork. All this gives more room inside the vehicle and usually gives more height in the underfloor for storage and big tanks.

When you get to looking at IVECO based vans you will notice that there are different chassis options so 50C is essentially the 5t chassis and gets plated up to 5.6t or 5.8t the 65C is nominal 6.5t and then the 72C which can be plated up to 7.49t or even up to 8t but that is whole new area;)

I am going to stop now as I seem to be turning into some sort of chassis anorak.

Oh to answer your question NO they don't drive like a lorry that would be a Eurocargo, and the suspension with VB full air and active damping is as good as it gets.

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As what funflair said but from experience I would not choose a 50c chassis again but the 65c is much more capable and a better drive,
Had Fiat kept the 3.0ltr for 5t tags I would still be driving a Fiat but do love driving the Iveco
 
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jezport said:
The Ducato being FWD allows for a lower habitation area, and in a Tag axle it handles amazingly.
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Lower habitation area equates to less storage of course, big tanks, batteries, boiler and full width storage all under our floor, all comes down to personal choice at the end of the day.
 
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Echoing what Steve and Denise and funflair have said really, my RS is 65C Iveco chassis based, paper exercise to up plate to 7.2T but IMHO, it doesn’t drive like a van based vehicle. it’s much more the lorry end of the van spectrum, but I think if I had the loverly 8 speed box, it would be a very much more pleasurable drive.

One final point, the Iveco part of the vehicle gives me the impression that it could chug around for 100’s and 100’s of thousands of miles! Time will tell!
 
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EuroTrotters said:
IVECO

RWD
Great auto box

Or Mercedes Sprinter?
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The Sprinter is a bit of a lightweight when it comes big vans and nobody has made the investment in modifications for the Motorhome market consequently they have been left behind by IVECO and specialist chassis firms like Meier in Germany.
 
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funflair said:
The Sprinter is a bit of a lightweight when it comes big vans and nobody has made the investment in modifications for the Motorhome market consequently they have been left behind by IVECO and specialist chassis firms like Meier in Germany.
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Yes, it’s a shame as if I had the money, I wouldn’t mind trying a Mercedes Sprinter with rear tag/drag axle
 
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I put over 300,000 miles on a daily with the 3.0 engine , manual box, and a lot of that was towing a 3.5t trailer it never broke down once , 10k oil changes ,
Other than maintenance and tyres the only expense was 2 diffs , still on the original clutch and alternator when I sold it at 6 years old.

Compare that to my 2008 Ducato with 37k on , just had an alternator and now it needs a clutch

They don't like not being used , if you're going over 3.5t I'd 100% go iveco

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The ride of Iveco can be improved considerably by changing the shock absorbers for Not to much.
 
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Wack said:
I put over 300,000 miles on a daily with the 3.0 engine , manual box, and a lot of that was towing a 3.5t trailer it never broke down once , 10k oil changes ,
Other than maintenance and tyres the only expense was 2 diffs , still on the original clutch and alternator when I sold it at 6 years old.

Compare that to my 2008 Ducato with 37k on , just had an alternator and now it needs a clutch

They don't like not being used , if you're going over 3.5t I'd 100% go iveco
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thats very impressive
 
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Zen said:
thats very impressive
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I’ve never been put off by mileage on a car as long as it’s been serviced regularly , a component has a design life , that life is usually calculated at a set temperature , when you drive 300 miles a day everything runs at design temp so it lasts

I know a few people that barely use their cars and they’ve all had engine problems through running them cold day after day , 2-3 mile trips so they never really get hot
 
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Have the Iveco and love driving it, since I’ve had it remapped it’s like a different van smoother and pulls a lot better.
Have put sound deadening stuff under the dash and a sound blanket on top the engine and she now purrs along😁😁
 
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