THE VAN RACKING SPECIALISTS
Fiat Doblò with Syncro racking for agricultural machinery
DOBLÒ: THE SMALL MULTISPACE VAN FROM FIAT
The Fiat Doblò multispace van entered production in 2000 and was completely renewed in 2009. It features a spacious, practical cab and a reasonably large load compartment given its compact external dimensions. The Doblò is also produced in crew cab and chassis only versions. The van version comes in two heights and two wheelbases. This modern, simple van is extremely practical as a platform for carrying goods and for conversion into a mobile workshop.
A DOBLÒ CONVERTED INTO A WORKSHOP ON WHEELS FOR SERVICING AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY
The customer who commissioned Syncro to fit out this long wheelbase Doblò sells and services agricultural machinery. Modern farmers use a wide range of machines, not only tractors but combine harvesters, seeders, sprayers and weeders, irrigation systems, mowers, harrows and more besides. Like all machines, farm machinery needs regular servicing to keep it fully functional and to maximise farm productivity, plus rapid, expert repairs in the event of a breakdown. Syncro technicians converted the load compartment of this Fiat Doblò into an efficient mobile workshop to meet the needs of the user. Having such a manoeuvrable workshop at your disposal makes it far easier to get to your customers and provide the fast, reliable servicing they need.
But let’s look at the racking in greater detail. The Doblò, like all vans, comes with no effective internal bodywork protection, leaving it exposed to damage by cargo moving and falling during normal use. The first thing to do in any racking installation is therefore to provide adequate protection for the side walls and floor. The Syncro team installed a floor liner in 12 mm thick resin-coated birch plywood, complete with recessed cups for the original floor anchors and steel edging at the doors. This floor liner serves three purposes: it protects the original floor, provides rigid anchorage for the racking and creates a perfectly level floor surface. The Doblò’s walls were then protected with laser-cut liner panels in galvanised and painted steel sheet. Even the bulkhead between the cab and the load compartment was lined with resin-coated plywood.
Moving on to the racking as such, on the left side we can see, at the bottom, a wheel arch cabinet with a fully opening lift-and-rotate door, ideal for storing all kinds of material. Further up is a series of metal cabinets with transparent drawers. This clever solution lets you carry large amounts of material in perfect order and always see exactly where everything is. The PMMA material from which these drawers are made is extremely tough and long-lasting: the same material is used to make aircraft and submarine windows! The drawers also incorporate an automatic locking button and internal space dividers. They are also easy to remove if you want to take them to your stores or to the work site.
The right side racking starts with another wheel arch cabinet with a lift-and-rotate door. Above this is a large metal drawer on ball-bearing runners, complete with handle and automatic closing device, a non-slip mat and internal space dividers. Further up again are two shelves, one open and one full length at the top, again with mats and dividers. The racking covers the entire right wall, including the side door, where a small open cabinet has been fitted with a total of six metal drawers on top, all with telescopic runners. The racking at the side door faces the opposite way to the rest of the racking, making it immediately accessible from outside the vehicle.
The Doblò has also been equipped with a powerful air compressor with accumulator tank. This can be powered from outside via a dedicated power plug and also features an air intake connected to the outside of the van by a hose. The installation includes numerous useful accessories too, all selected from the vast Syncro catalogue. The load compartment is illuminated by powerful but compact LED ceiling lights, and a water canister with tap and a 270 mm paper roll holder is provided for cleaning purposes. A cable holder has been fitted to carry cabling, sensors and extension leads, and a series of rails have been fitted to the floor and bulkhead to anchor cargo lashing straps. The two rails on the floor are recessed in grooves in the floor liner and therefore lie flush with the floor surface.
Yet another mission completed by the Syncro team! This great little workshop on wheels makes servicing farm machinery faster and more efficient than ever!