AST – Automatic motorised system for closing sliding tailgates on vans and minibuses – SC1.1 R/L/H

A locking system for the sliding tailgates of vans and panel vans, allowing them to be closed easily and, above all, quietly.

This version is specifically designed for fitting on the Fiat Ducato III, Citroën Jumper II, Peugeot Boxer II and Ram ProMaster (from April 2006) models, as well as the Fiat Ducato Series 8 and 9. The device can be fitted to the sliding door, on either the right-hand or left-hand side.

THIS SYSTEM ALLOWS YOU TOCLOSE THE BOOT LID WITHOUT SLAMMING IT. THE OPENING REMAINS THE SAME.

All fans of campervans and camper vans know full well that the access hatch to the living area of their vehicle can be a great asset but also a source of problems.

The generously sized opening certainly makes it easier to get on board, even when carrying bulky items, but closing it can be quite noisy. If you don’t judge the momentum needed to push it forward properly, you almost always end up banging it.

Now that vans and minibuses are particularly common, in very crowded parking areas there is a risk, during quiet hours, of disturbing more than just a few neighbours. There is also another aspect that we might describe as physiotherapeutic. To close the tailgate from the inside, one is often forced to make a movement that can be uncomfortable, if not actually painful.

The solution
High-end or top-of-the-range vehicles are sometimes fitted with semi-automatic or fully automatic electric locking systems. But what about all the others? The German company AST-technikmodellbau – a small but dynamic firm based in Baden-Württemberg – has come up with a solution: it has developed an efficient locking system for the sliding tailgates of vans and panel vans.

The AST requires no modifications, or only minimal modifications, to the vehicle on which it is fitted.

You only need to drill four holes to secure the mechanism and cut one slot in the kitchen unit. Incidentally, the AST does not interfere in any way with the vehicle’s standard locking system.which continues to operate in the same way as it did before the AST system was installed.

Even in the event of a malfunction or a power cut, the tailgate can still be closed and locked as normal. The AST consists of just two parts: a plate attached to the original hinge, which simply needs adjusting, and the module containing the motor and locking mechanism, which is fitted on the inside. It weighs less than one and a half kilos and has a maximum power consumption of 60 watts, with a maximum current draw of approximately 4A.

Fail-safe system:

Even in the event of a malfunction or power cut, it is still possible to close and lock the door manually.

The removable bracket attaches easily to the original hinge without the need for any additional drilling.

The engine mounting bracket is fitted using just four new holes.

The protective cover prevents insects and dirt from getting in.

AST SC1.1 R/L/H door locking system
Motor: DC brushed motor with planetary gearbox
Power consumption: max. 60 W
Supply voltage: 9 V – 15 V / max. 4 A (closing functions active above 12 V)
Standby current: < 0.4 mA
Permitted duty cycle: continuous
Permissible ambient temperature: from -25 °C to 85 °C
Weight: 1.235 kg