Roof rack
Roof loads raise the centre of mass of the vehicle and lead to a high dynamic axle-load shift and tilting of the vehicle on bumpy lanes and in bends. The road behaviour is considerably impaired. For this reason, roof loads should be avoided, if possible.

Depending on load distribution, at least 2 base carriers are required which are to be mounted in the pillar area, if possible.

Roof loads (only for standard vehicles):

Vehicles with high-space roof 100 kg

Vehicles with standard roof 100 kg

Double cab 75 kg

Driver’s cab 50 kg

Pop-up top 50 kg

Rear luggage carriers/rear ladders
The rear luggage carrier or the rear ladder must be executed in such a way, that, after having been mounted, no vertical static or dynamic loads are working on the tailboard or rear double-wing doors. In combination with the currently available hatchback lid hinges, rear luggage carriers (for max. 4 bicycles, equivalent to a weight of 75 kg) must not be propped up on the rear bumpers. Since the beginning of the great product upgrading (January 1996), rear luggage carriers may no longer be propped up on the rear bumpers.

Load of tailboards/rear double-wing doors
Since the beginning of series production of the T4 (1990), the tailboard is provided with the shown hatchback lid hinge (figure 1).

If rear luggage carriers for bicycles (max. 4 bicycles, equivalent to 75 kg) are mounted, it is required to relieve the tailboard. This is achieved by propping up the rear luggage carrier on the rear bumper. Afterwards, the hatchback lid hinges need only to carry the horizontal force component, thus preventing that the rear luggage carrier is tilting to the back. Since the currently available hatchback lid hinges (figure 2) are being used, it is no longer necessary to relieve the tailboard by propping it up on the rear bumper. However, this option is still possible. Since the great product upgrading (January 1996), new bumpers are in use which may no longer be used for supporting the rear luggage carriers, due to their construction, but which is, however, no longer necessary. A fatigue loading of the rear bumpers may lead to permanent bumper distortions!

Note: With the introduction of the currently available hatchback lid-hinge version, the air gap between roof and opened tailboard was considerably reduced. To prevent the top holding clamps of the rear luggage carrier from pressing onto the roof if the tailboard is being opened, it is required that they can be mounted directly next to the hatchback lid hinges!

Depending on the equipment scope of the tailboards (i. e. weight), appropriately strong gas springs are used. Within the scope of a subsequent retrofitting, the tailboard weight may increase, so that the tailboards then no longer can be opened up to the top limit-stop. The following table will help you to select appropriate gas springs.

As before, rear double-wing doors may carry no additional loads!

250° hinges for the rear double-wing doors
Since calendar week 2/99, it is possible to supply the rear double-wing doors of box-type delivery vans and station wagons with both wheel bases, as well as with standard roof or standard high roof, with the above mentioned hinges ex works (PR-No. 5V4). The double-wing doors can first be opened up to 90° (as is the case with the 180° standard type). After taking the catch brackets off their hinges, it is possible to open the rear double-wing doors still further (up to approx. 250°). Each of them will then be held by a magnet buffer at the external side walls of the vehicle.

Boundary conditions:

• Short wheel base generally not in combination with a sliding door and/ or seats in the passenger compartment. In this case, the sliding-door opening of the right sliding door is only 680 mm, instead of 1020 mm.
• Long wheel base generally not in combination with seats in the 3rd row of seats.
• Both wheel bases generally not in combination with the swivel-mounted spare-wheel holding device outside at the rear (only concerns the syncro).
• Rear double-wing doors with 180° hinges cannot be retrofitted.

Flatbed with tarpaulin and bow(ex factory)
Apart from the tarpaulin, the bows must not be loaded with supplementary weights, such as ladders, etc...