FIAT Dangel does.

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/29/2017 at 15:57 • Filed to: Vanlife, FIAT, Ducato

#VanLife is so hot right now and sprinter 4x4's are being sold faster than they are being built. FIAT wants in. Its solution is called the Ducato DANGEL4, which sounds like a either a rare genetic defect or a very specific niche website. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is actually a French 3rd party engineering company started in the 70's with the ambition of converting regular cars to more capable machines. Their big claim to fame was the incredible awesome 504 Dangel 4x4.

including wagon

and pickup form which actually took 2nd in DAKAR in 1982.

Think of them like a French !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which together sounds, again, like something you shouldn’t google at work.

For the FIAT underbite Ducato they developed a very unique system in the 4WD world thats kind of a blend between a Dead axle, and independent suspension.

It’s controlled by what is either a viscous coupled PTO or electronically controlled PTO (specifics unclear) and is single speed. Though there does it does appear a limited slip rear differential is standard and a true locker is optional

The also offer, at least on some models, a lower 1st “crawler” gear to help get you moving, which is good because it only comes with the 150 hp turbo diesel engine. Still FIAT is very interesting in taking this foul weather tradesman idea and moving it upmarket to VanLyfe as evidenced by their “Fiat Ducato Expedition 4x4" series. A collection of shorts showing off a custom made campervan with 4x4 and all the hardcore instagram shots it will allow you to take.

Truthfully it looks like a well thought out interior package and the option of 4x4 and a little extra ground clearance should definitely appeal to the #WorkingConstantlyOnMyBrandSoICanAffordToLiveWithoutA9to5 types.

Its no sportsmobile, or even a sprinter 4x4, which offers both a true low range (which the Dangel does not) as well as more clearance.

Even still, I would love to Dangel around Europe for a while, as thats clearly where this is staying...for now.

DISCUSSION (31)

Mercedes Streeter > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 16:01

There is something I find so hot about 4x4 vans and offroader city cars. I like the look of that Dangel...but am disappointed at that ground clearance. With a wheelbase that long it’s bound to get beached somewhere.

deprecated account > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 16:01

DAT 504 PICKUP THO HOLY SHIT

HammerheadFistpunch > Mercedes Streeter
06/29/2017 at 16:02

You don’t want to beach your Dangel thats for sure.

HammerheadFistpunch > deprecated account
06/29/2017 at 16:02

pretty amazing right?!

deprecated account > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 16:04

Any idea how many of them were made/how expensive one would be?

HammerheadFistpunch > deprecated account
06/29/2017 at 16:05

No clue. Would you really want a french car modified by another french company that also happens to be rare? oof.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > deprecated account
06/29/2017 at 16:06

They were also used as Rally Cars.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 16:07

Kinja'd!!!

deprecated account > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 16:07

Well, in this case yes. 504s are legendarily reliable though, right?

HammerheadFistpunch > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/29/2017 at 16:09

This is...shockingly accurate.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 16:15

I can’t decide if I like the pickup or the wagon better

HammerheadFistpunch > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
06/29/2017 at 16:16

Its genuinely a tough choice.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > deprecated account
06/29/2017 at 16:18

Yes, the 504 is known as Africa’s workhorse for a reason.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 16:20

Dangel vans are awesome, though I like the smaller ones more, and the 504's even more.

Also Dangeling around Europe sounds very weird.

HammerheadFistpunch > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
06/29/2017 at 16:21

Yes to all.

AuthiCooper1300 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/29/2017 at 16:28

Regular Peugeot 504 (either saloons or coupés or even... pick-ups) yes.

But I have never heard of any Dangel conversions used in rallying.

Maybe for raids (Paris-Dakar etc), but I think Sinpar (the French company which did the same but for Renault) had better results, at least in the Paris-Dakar (there was a famous 4WD Renault 4 driven by the Marreau brothers).

AuthiCooper1300 > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 16:40

Dangel has always worked for Peugeot...

I imagine this Fiat Ducato is actually a rebadged Peugeot van (there are also Citroën versions, and back in the day even an Alfa Romeo one), as Ducatos, Talentos, Scudos and other Fiat commercial vehicles have been for decades now.

The Dangel 504s have impressive ground clearance, but the 4x4 vans look to me more like what the French call “tout chemin” (for slippery conditions: snow, loose surfaces) rather than “tout terrain” (properly “offroad”). Many European 4WD/AWD small vans, station wagons, crossovers and so on are decidedly “tout chemin” vehicles, even if they may have higher suspension and a few reinforcements underneath.

Dangel has also produced Citroën Berlingos/Peugeot Partners with limited slip differentials for the same uses (as light duty military vehicles, for example). Maybe it was too difficult/expensive to add AWD/4WD to the Berlingo/Partner.

HammerheadFistpunch > AuthiCooper1300
06/29/2017 at 16:42

Correct on all fronts.

Probenja > deprecated account
06/29/2017 at 16:59

The 504 pick up’s were plentiful in South America, I still see some rolling around, the Dangel versions are much harder to find though. And most likely they were France only.

benjrblant > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 17:11

Unrelated to the article but pertinent to the Sprinter 4x4, if you’re in the backwoods and run out of diesel weewee, what happens?

HammerheadFistpunch > benjrblant
06/29/2017 at 17:13

You get warned a lot before hand, then you get locked out from starting after so many restarts on empty. To be honest, you’d have to be pretty careless to be low enough to be in danger running out in the backwoods.

Cé hé sin > AuthiCooper1300
06/29/2017 at 17:25

It’s not so much as a rebadged Peugeot as a joint venture between PSA and Fiat.

It’s made in Italy as well.

AuthiCooper1300 > Cé hé sin
06/29/2017 at 17:31

Indeed. I should have phrased it better.

What I was aiming at is that Dangel enters the equation not so much with Fiat but through Peugeot, and that is how we can talk about a “Fiat Dangel” (it still feels weird just typing it).

AuthiCooper1300 > Mercedes Streeter
06/29/2017 at 17:35

See above. The idea is not so much to be able to drive across difficult terrain as along slippery and/or not terribly good roads.

A converted old Unimog or military Volvo truck, on the other hand...

nermal > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 17:52

Another possibility is puncturing the DEF tank. Depends on the vehicle how exposed they are. I’m thinking specifically of GM pickups that have the DEF tank in a very precarious position.

HammerheadFistpunch > nermal
06/29/2017 at 18:11

oh man the GM DEF tank is the most half-ass, tacked on effort I’ve ever seen. Way to phone in in GM.

nermal > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 18:26

I’m sure that would make an interesting field repair. If the tank gets punctured and all of your DEF leaks out, the truck won’t start. Could you then just put the sensor that measures the level into a water bottle or something to “trick” it into thinking there is DEF in the tank?

HammerheadFistpunch > nermal
06/29/2017 at 18:31

depends on the sensor I suppose, I would guess its not a simple float sensor, but more likely something that expects a specific resistance, or current to determine level. It also makes me wonder what the computer would do when it asks for diesel wee and the downstream sensor readings aren’t responding the way they expect.

nermal > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 18:36

I’m sure there’s an error code for that. What level of error code is the question - Will it not let the engine run at all, put it in limp mode, or let it run full power with a CEL. I have no interest in experimenting with my own truck, but would be curious to see somebody else try it.

HammerheadFistpunch > nermal
06/29/2017 at 18:39

I just have to imagine that they would make it intentionally difficult to bypass the DEF tank for obvious reasons. Still, there should be a low power limp mode for self rescue in situations like this. at least one would hope.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2017 at 21:39

Name sounds like if Ducati made a car. Ducato