Carthago missing engine tray?

[MajorClanger]

Hi all!

I'm after some very specific advice about a 2014 Carthago C-CompactLine I 143 that we are in the process of buying. It's a standard Fiat Ducato engine on a Al-Ko Light chassis. We had an inspection done (long story!), which threw up some "issues", one of which was (and I quote) "The engine front central under-tray assembly is missing".

Talking with the dealer, they had a look on other Carthagos that they had lying around, and said it's the same on all of them!

So, is this normal? I would have thought there would be some sort of cover to keep stones/rubbish/etc out of the engine, and also reduce the amount of noise coming out.

 

[Pausim]

Picture to go with my previous post.

Sorry a bit difficult to read, I downsized the image because I am currently on a C&MC wifi which as normal is throttled to less than 1Mbps.

 

[Pausim]

Hopefully a bit better.

 

[MajorClanger]

Have you got a weighbridge certificate? If not I suggest you get the dealer to do one to ensure you have some payload left especially on the rear axle - we were tight on our new 138 (light chassis) and had to have semi-air fitted to the rear at a cost of £2,000 to increase the axle capacity so it's not a cheap option.

Already negotiated a weigh bridge certificate as part of the sale . The dealer knows exactly what we are planning on doing as we gave them the spec (dimensions+mass) of the off-road trike and they're the ones fitting the winch. I wasn't expecting to use the garage for anything much else, but it is going to be "interesting" to see how much spare payload there will be at the rear.

 

[jwells]

I fitted the center pan for protection after having my starter motor solenoid cable cut by a couple of Serbian con men while parked overnight in a car park in Bulgaria!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

Already negotiated a weigh bridge certificate as part of the sale . The dealer knows exactly what we are planning on doing as we gave them the spec (dimensions+mass) of the off-road trike and they're the ones fitting the winch. I wasn't expecting to use the garage for anything much else, but it is going to be "interesting" to see how much spare payload there will be at the rear.

What's the weight of the trike?

 

[MajorClanger]

What's the weight of the trike?

160kg + 10kg for the winch (and probably another 10 .. 20kg for the ramps, although these don't have to go in the garage).

 

[Minxy]

160kg + 10kg for the winch (and probably another 10 .. 20kg for the ramps, although these don't have to go in the garage).

Hmmmm ... I suspect you might have an issue with too much weight on the rear - once you put fresh water in the tank you're gonna struggle and that's without much else in the rear including in the wardrobe and the lockers above the bed. The fulcrum effect of your longer 143 will make this even worse than our shorter 138.

The rear axle figure is what you REALLY do need to know before you go any further with the purchase otherwise it could easily cost you another £2,300+ to make it usable (uprating fee and semi-air).

 

[Minxy]

Just found a post from when we went to the weighbridge AFTER we'd had the 138 uprated to a higher rear axle capacity of 2240kg:

Hymer quoting payloads now with Full tank and sat system.

Interesting to see they are now including full water and sat dish etc. Extensive payload at under 3.5 tons! Whether it’s electric bikes, BBQ equipment or garden furniture – with the Hymermobil Exsis-i, there’s nothing you’ll have to do without, even on your travels. Despite a wide range of...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[joka250]

Fiat had issues from about 2014 with the mounting of the undertray. They did say in 2016 that modified mounting clips would become available. Never saw any but made our own.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[2GB Racing]

My Autocruise Alto ( 2015 Boxer ) has only the right hand side Belt protection unit fitted so have ordered the e-bay full set, Left side is full access to water spray heading up towards electrics From under wheel arch, Centre section must improve airflow under the vehicle = better mpg ( very very marginal improvement if any I would assume, Centre section can be removed fairly easily if in a very very warm environment, I do my own filter change so not a problem to remove to do this, But as stated all the low areas may benefit by drilling a water drain hole In them.

 

[the1andonly]

My rapido ( 2017 ducato ) has only the right hand side Belt protection unit. No rivnuts fitted elswhere, not been there since new. Is it worth fitting the other side?

 

[Deneb]

My rapido ( 2017 ducato ) has only the right hand side Belt protection unit. No rivnuts fitted elswhere, not been there since new. Is it worth fitting the other side?

It's up to you really. My sump had taken quite a hammering from road chippings and debris at a fairly low mileage, so I decided to fit them for protection having first derusted and repainted the sump. But they can hold water, and it is a pain in the neck to remove and refit the centre section for servicing, especially if you don't have access to a lift and rely on jacks and stands.

On balance, I decided to live with the inconvenience for the sake of protecting the sump, but I have drilled extra holes in the panels in suitable positions to drain water where it collects on the slight incline that the van is parked on at home.

 

[the1andonly]

Without the panel changing oil filter was a dream. Would it be feasible to cut the centre in half to make a hatch for the front half. Thanks for the coments.

 

[2GB Racing]

Anything is possible, thinking of a strip of ally pop riveted to leading edge of rear section so front section sits on to it with a few fasteners along the front lip etc, the advice to cut drainage holes is very sound.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Deneb]

Without the panel changing oil filter was a dream. Would it be feasible to cut the centre in half to make a hatch for the front half. Thanks for the coments.

I think you'd lose the structural integrity of the panels, unless you could make up some sort of reinforcement along the join. But then you've probably got near the same number of fixings to remove, just in a different place. You'd have to watch where you placed the join also, not only due to the two NACA style air ducts in the panel, but any fixings protruding inside need to be carefully located so that they aren't likely to puncture anything like your sump or a hose if an object deflects the panel.

 

[the1andonly]

Deneb Thanks for thinking about it morethan i did. I expected to use a brace, seen simular on an old passat , the slots could be fun. Until i see gravel rash i may put £80 towards semi air suspension.

 

[Rapidoman 2011]

Its a Carthago, everything is an extra, they have loads in stock at the factory no doubt.

 

[Pausim]

Its a Carthago, everything is an extra,

That is one of the reasons we bought one. We could choose what we wanted and leave out things we did not want. Why carry around heavy and expensive items like an awning if you are not going to use it.

 

[BILL 875]

My 2016 A class Rapido has all the undertrays fitted. Bill

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

Its a Carthago, everything is an extra, they have loads in stock at the factory no doubt.

I thought Hymer had the top award for that ...

 

[JonP]

My 2018 Carthago only has one cover on the belt side, the other side has ventilation ducting exiting so would problematic. Regarding adding stickers for weight you also need the weight changed on your registration document as will be required to verify your weight for go-box in Austria or if stopped for weight check which is rare.

 

[two]

Mumma Clanger has just got off the phone with the dealer. They're going to fit a centre panel; partly because we've asked, and partly because we've found some paperwork that said there was a replacement one fitted in 2018, at a cost of £298.80 + labour.

This does mean that the chances of us picking the van up on Saturday (1st Aug) are slim as they have to order the part from Carthago.

I wouldn't worry about it.
Ask the dealer to offer a discount instead and say you'll get one later.

 

[MajorClanger]

two too late for that now, but it's a nice thought.
The dealer is actually ordering a number of components from Carthago for us, so having this done won't shorten the overall duration.

 

[Minxy]

My 2019 Carthago Compactline only has the side protectors, nothing in the middle.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[C33JAY]

My 2020 Swift / Fiat Ducato has only the side ones and all those ive taken a look at are the same.

 

[Minxy]

My 2019 Carthago Compactline only has the side protectors, nothing in the middle.

Actually just to add to this, whilst we don't have the middle bit under the whole of the centre under the engine we do have a deflector of sorts under the front bumper ... you can just see it in this photo which I've 'washed out' to make it clearer:

 

[philb 1]

It is a optional extra that you can have fitted ,It was not fitted to my 2014 peugeot bailey 745 when i bought it ,When i asked about there being no engine undertray i was told they do not fit them any more as standard ,I Bought one off ebay and fitted it myself ,phil