Back Heavy and Poor Traction

I would update the rear with t32 Spring so the van runs more level so helping the front and stop the rear bouncing. If you do this you must still stay within 3000 kg total weight. I have a t32 Kombi and find the rear very hard as I only run with up to 300 kg of tools in the rear so when I get time I am going to swop them for t28 s . You can get them on eBay cheap and you are looking for 3 silver colour marks on them .
I build and modify cars for track days so have played around looking for the correct set up and running the rear low is only good on a mark one escort on gravel. I am not sure if the t32 has a thicker rollbar but if it does it would help keep the rear stable. I haven't towed are caravan with mine as I haven't fitted a towbar yet but tow it with a four wheel drive and that's the way to go as it has self levelling rear shocks.
 
Dave Harris said:
Thanks for that - whilst not changing the weight going through each axle, and assuming when I do the weight checks I am still within the limits for the rear axle, would uprated suspension and the resultant more level van, improve traction?
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If you up rated/graded the rear suspension: The van would look more legal; handle better; brake better; be more comfortable; be safer; park up better.
There is a fractional improvement in weight distribution (its so small it's not worth considering it comes from 3m reducing slightly as the van pitches, the perpendicular distance to gravity i.e horizontal, reduces as the 3m becomes the sloping side of a triangle, the shortest side being the difference in height between the axels etc etc) we are talking the redistribute part of load altering by less than 1%), so forget it.
The way traction would improve is the bounce would be reduced when the front axel starts to skip as traction is lost (on some terrain conditions). If you can picture the bounce when the front axel lifts, would be checked if the rear axel refuses to compress as easily, even more so if the shockers dampen things down really efficiently.
So yes yes yes defiantly install air booster bags or new HD springs, better shockers etc etc etc.
 
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Keeff said:
I would update the rear with t32 Spring so the van runs more level so helping the front and stop the rear bouncing. If you do this you must still stay within 3000 kg total weight. I have a t32 Kombi and find the rear very hard as I only run with up to 300 kg of tools in the rear so when I get time I am going to swop them for t28 s . You can get them on eBay cheap and you are looking for 3 silver colour marks on them .
I build and modify cars for track days so have played around looking for the correct set up and running the rear low is only good on a mark one escort on gravel. I am not sure if the t32 has a thicker rollbar but if it does it would help keep the rear stable. I haven't towed are caravan with mine as I haven't fitted a towbar yet but tow it with a four wheel drive and that's the way to go as it has self levelling rear shocks.
Click to expand...
you beat me by 30secs with the bouncing theory:p
 
Thanks @Keeff and @chriscroft - I'll update this thread once I've got the weights, played with moving weight around where I can, etc, and let you know if I go for the upgrade.
 
A pain of a problem to have with a new van though but as discussed, you want your weight between the axles.

4motion is an extra 140kgs but I'm guessing most of that is directly over the rear axle.

Perhaps that 30+40 kgs is enough to cause issues but generally Transporters are considered good tow vehicles and most I see have a bike rack.
 
Polzeylad said:
A pain of a problem to have with a new van though but as discussed, you want your weight between the axles.

4motion is an extra 140kgs but I'm guessing most of that is directly over the rear axle.

Perhaps that 30+40 kgs is enough to cause issues but generally Transporters are considered good tow vehicles and most I see have a bike rack.
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Yep, bit of a pain but advice on here is helping me to work out what is going on and how to fix. In reality, I probably won't be towing the boat and having the bikes on at the same time much before next March/April, so quite a while to consider and fix, either via mechanical upgrades or trying to get weight forward somehow.

Just found this which suggests the problem could be fairly common with conversions:-
Pedders Suspension VW T5 & T6 Transporter Rear Suspension Kit | Pedders Suspension

My suspicion is that there are a lot of overweight camper vans out there but, because people have lowered on stiffer suspension and/or run on bigger wheels the effects are not so immediately noticeable??
 
Dave Harris said:
Yep, bit of a pain but advice on here is helping me to work out what is going on and how to fix. In reality, I probably won't be towing the boat and having the bikes on at the same time much before next March/April, so quite a while to consider and fix, either via mechanical upgrades or trying to get weight forward somehow.

Just found this which suggests the problem could be fairly common with conversions:-
Pedders Suspension VW T5 & T6 Transporter Rear Suspension Kit | Pedders Suspension

My suspicion is that there are a lot of overweight camper vans out there but, because people have lowered on stiffer suspension and/or run on bigger wheels the effects are not so immediately noticeable??
Click to expand...
My brother has Pedders suspension on his Nissan Navara, really good stuff, and proven in Australia where off road driving is taken to a whole different level.
 
I've just reviewed some photos from last week and am now wondering it the problem is as bad as I thought - what do you guys think?

The first picture is when we picked the van up so nothing but the conversion weight included and the rest are fully loaded as described in this thread but minus the driver (me taking photos) - guessing when I get in the van would also level out a bit more as well.

IMG_1487.jpg IMG_1516.jpg IMG_1517.jpg IMG_1518.jpg
 
MAD Air Helper

Personally I wouldn't choose to travel like that regularly, but plenty do, and if the axel/tyres aren't overloaded its up to you.

Wonder if the Mad Air Helpers would offer a cheap. adjustable solution. Never used them myself.
 
Actually, given that you are always running with a higher load (conversion), i wonder if straight t30 -t32 springs are the best bet. Other products probably better when loads vary from very light to heavy.
 
chriscroft said:
Actually, given that you are always running with a higher load (conversion), i wonder if straight t30 -t32 springs are the best bet. Other products probably better when loads vary from very light to heavy.
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Yep, that is the way I'm thinking as its permanently loaded with a bias towards the back. I'm going up to see the convertors next week to get a solar panel fitted (only 4.2kg before any comments on more weight lol) so will talk it through with them. Fortunately, the times I will drive in this configuration will be limited to 3 or 4 a year as not all of our camping trips will revolve around sailing and/or require us to take bikes so, ultimately, one option (so long as more more detailed weight checks don't show I have an overloading problem) will be to do nothing.

I've just been out playing with the trailer and rebalancing the load where I can. The overall weight is about 310kg and the best I can get it to is 43Kg at the nose which is slightly higher than I though it was. Its a relatively long boat (5.6m) for its weight (90kg) with most of the length and weight over/forward of the wheels which limits the options for moving weight about. The portion of the boat behind the wheels is unsupported so I don't want to move weight over there.
 
Dave Harris said:
Yep, that is the way I'm thinking as its permanently loaded with a bias towards the back. I'm going up to see the convertors next week to get a solar panel fitted (only 4.2kg before any comments on more weight lol) so will talk it through with them. Fortunately, the times I will drive in this configuration will be limited to 3 or 4 a year as not all of our camping trips will revolve around sailing and/or require us to take bikes so, ultimately, one option (so long as more more detailed weight checks don't show I have an overloading problem) will be to do nothing.

I've just been out playing with the trailer and rebalancing the load where I can. The overall weight is about 310kg and the best I can get it to is 43Kg at the nose which is slightly higher than I though it was. Its a relatively long boat (5.6m) for its weight (90kg) with most of the length and weight over/forward of the wheels which limits the options for moving weight about. The portion of the boat behind the wheels is unsupported so I don't want to move weight over there.
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Have thought about tyres?, are yours 16" wheels ?, I have some brand new (100 miles) grippy all weather/all season mud/snow/ Goodyears but they are 17", I could do you a very good deal on.
 
I deliberately want to keep my van as close to factory spec as possible to make insurance easier (hence my deliberations over getting the suspension changed). The conversion I've had done is a standard offering recognised by a number of insurance companies so you don't have to itemise everything included with the conversion, i.e all I had to do was tell them what the base van was, that it was a Hillside Birchover conversion and the extras beyond this such as wind out awning, tow bar, bike rack, etc.
 
Looks okay to me but a side shot would be good.
Easy to worry about little things when a car/van is new.

Unless you have traction issues, don't worry.

Looks very smart to me.
 
Polzeylad said:
Looks okay to me but a side shot would be good.
Easy to worry about little things when a car/van is new.

Unless you have traction issues, don't worry.

Looks very smart to me.
Click to expand...
Thanks. The only real traction issues were getting a bit bogged down on a very wet field when the campsite road ran out and again a couple of times when pulling away from a standstill on a steepish slope, i.e. bit of wheel spin. I could get around the campsite issues by unhitching/unloading before trying to drive on any grass. I think because I am used to being able to take my Defender camping and not having to worry about it I may just have to think about things a bit more.

I do have a tendency to worry about and dwell on the little things!! :)
 
We did Defender to Cali (our last one); think of the efficiency, refinement, mpg, lack of breakdowns, etc!

Standard FWD traction is never brilliant in a van; just need to plan ahead a bit.

Now go any enjoy that lovely camper!
 
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