Lift options

[dave_b]

My T6.1 Startline is fully converted and is sagging slightly at the rear (think it started life as a T28.)

I want to lift the van (I’m going swamper)

Will the spring lift kits sort out the sagging rear?

Or, Should I go for a full damper/spring upgrade?

Or, are there other options for me, such as t32 springs at the rear and some other form of lift option? (I’ve seen some spacer option on eBay)

 

[Simon Audi]

Cheapest Option to try is the T32 rear springs - plenty sets on ebay - nearly new. (£30 to £60)

Or I Believe @CRS Performance can help you with springs - he said he he has some specifically made for this issue.

Mine has 3 Grey Squares - (T 30 with uprated rear springs from factory as it has a Tow Bar) - so maybe worth starting there - I am told they are the T32 Springs.

 

[dave_b]

Yep, but I also want to lift the van (swamper), hence my questions about the other options….

(Edited my original post so it’s a better phrased question)

 

[dave_b]

I did some browsing today.

I think I’m going to go for the adjustable Eibach t32 lift springs front and rear.

 

[Green Giant]

I did some browsing today.

I think I’m going to go for the adjustable Eibach t32 lift springs front and rear.

If your not going to go off road apart from dirt tracks and muddy camping fields, you could fit spaces and use T32 springs, maybe spend the money on the decent shocks, I’ve got 25mm lift spacers, your wheels/tyres could add a bit of lift too if required

 

[dave_b]

Where did you get your spacers from?

 

[Green Giant]

Where did you get your spacers from?

CRS, they might have the springs available there too.
We had the koni shocks fitted and they made the most difference to our van, it was very crashy over the crappy roads before we changed the shocks, we kept the original T32 springs as they are actually good strong springs, just added 25 mm spacers, wheels are 235 65 17 , van is super stable and drives nice round the bends, van is a heavy camper.
I would have a chat with Steve at CRS for some advice

 

[dave_b]

Thanks.
Im happy with the standard shocks. (I had Koni Special Actives on my previous t6 which was also a swamper setup).
I’d be happy to go t32 rear springs and spacers. I’ll message him.

 

[The Bear78]

@dave_b , a bit off topic but have you weighed the van since the conversion? You mention being a T28 and some conversions can get close to the 2800 kg limit.

 

[dave_b]

I have not. I will try to do it.

 

[Sasquatch]

T28 and some conversions can get close to the 2800 kg limit.

Cripes alive! They must be using lead rather than plywood!

My full conversion (cabinets, RIB bed, pop top, Webasto, all the trimmings) gives over half a tonne change from 2800 kg with a full tank of water and near-full tank of diesel.

 

[Kind of Blue]

Suggest changing dampers with springs. The original fit dampers degrade quickly over time. Preferred choice KONI adjustable. Front adjust with a koni key from the top. The rears are a bit of faf admittable they need at least removing from one end, collapsing and then turning to adjust manufacture suggests full removal. Its easy but a little bit of a nuisance. I usually end up on most vehicle with one complete turn 360 deg. Though on one vehicle I had McPherson struts front and rear which made changing damping rates all round frequently a dream. Last for a very long time if not for ever change rates for ware and tear and feel ride ect. So far as spring rates I would tend to discuss requirements and use with a suspension specialist. It would be a shame to upset a good ride and good handling with less than ideal choice.

 

[dave_b]

I’ve only done 8000 miles so I’m not changing the dampers. I like the ride quality. I’ll replace with OEM when needed.

 

[The Bear78]

Cripes alive! They must be using lead rather than plywood!

My full conversion (cabinets, RIB bed, pop top, Webasto, all the trimmings) gives over half a tonne change from 2800 kg with a full tank of water and near-full tank of diesel.

There are plenty of heavier conversions around even if not all of them have particularly heavy passengers...
Personally, I think a check weigh would be a wise move, even just to ensure individual axle loads aren't exceeded. There may be an obvious reason why the rear end sags and, at the very least, it would be nice to know where to avoid adding more weight when packing.

 

[Sasquatch]

Yeah ie had mine weighed. The local recycling centre were happy to oblige once I'd explained what I was after and it chimed in well under 2300 with 126kg me behind the wheel (it wasnt going to drive itself on), full water tank and 12 miles short of a full tank of diesel.

But while I was joshing, it does inadvertently raise a valid question - who's conversion weighs significantly more than anyone else's full conversion, and how on earth could one full conversion weigh getting on for double someone else's?

Mine has all the trimmings, RIB bed, Webasto, kitchen, gas, grill, sink, hob, water, cuboards, pop top, Fiamma, dirty great and weighty oversize Swamper rims with lardy AT tyees, etc, and I'd genuinely like to know how any other conversion could weigh best part of double the weight of mine? I'm not aware of anyone making super dense furniture, or depleted uranium night heaters.

 

[T6ChrisO]

I'd genuinely like to know how any other conversion could weigh best part of double the weight of mine? I'm not aware of anyone making super dense furniture, or depleted uranium night heaters.

www.depleteduraniumnightheaters.co.uk/sales

 

[Kind of Blue]

www.depleteduraniumnightheaters.co.uk/sales

The military use depleted Uranium to make sure that combatants stay dead including there own side

 

[TallPaul_S]

Yeah ie had mine weighed. The local recycling centre were happy to oblige once I'd explained what I was after and it chimed in well under 2300 with 126kg me behind the wheel (it wasnt going to drive itself on), full water tank and 12 miles short of a full tank of diesel.

But while I was joshing, it does inadvertently raise a valid question - who's conversion weighs significantly more than anyone else's full conversion, and how on earth could one full conversion weigh getting on for double someone else's?

Mine has all the trimmings, RIB bed, Webasto, kitchen, gas, grill, sink, hob, water, cuboards, pop top, Fiamma, dirty great and weighty oversize Swamper rims with lardy AT tyees, etc, and I'd genuinely like to know how any other conversion could weigh best part of double the weight of mine? I'm not aware of anyone making super dense furniture, or depleted uranium night heaters.

Yours is a startline panel van, manual correct? Starting weight of about 1900kg so you've got around 200kg of added conversion weight, which I'd think is correct.

*Lardy boy sticks his hand up...

My Caravelle starting weight is 2389kg according to the VW brochure. He's a bit 'big boned'

100kg of that is the rear bench which I've removed. But then I've added back in (at a guess) around 200kg of kitchen, bike drawer, roof rack, wheels... So I think I'm probably around 2500kg, plus 85(ish...)kg for me and a tank of diesel puts me at around 2650kg or so. Loaded up with a bike and 16l of water, plus luggage, I could see that being over 2700kg, easily.

I need to find a local weighbridge really.

 

[Sasquatch]

The military use depleted Uranium to make sure that combatants stay dead including there own side

I'm still alive. Cough.

 

[Sasquatch]

Yours is a startline panel van, manual correct? Starting weight of about 1900kg so you've got around 200kg of added conversion weight, which I'd think is correct.

*Lardy boy sticks his hand up...

My Caravelle starting weight is 2389kg according to the VW brochure. He's a bit 'big boned'

100kg of that is the rear bench which I've removed. But then I've added back in (at a guess) around 200kg of kitchen, bike drawer, roof rack, wheels... So I think I'm probably around 2500kg, plus 85(ish...)kg for me and a tank of diesel puts me at around 2650kg or so. Loaded up with a bike and 16l of water, plus luggage, I could see that being over 2700kg, easily.

I need to find a local weighbridge really.

2288kg as weighed at the recycljng centre. I think 1906 for the naked van with full fluids.

As I say, I've got pretty much everything on board that the typical well equipped camper has and don't get within half a tonne of the limit. When I bought it I was considering doing the updating exercise but shan't bother now.

My on,y slight concern...the recycling boys use theirs to calculate the weight of scrap by subtracting the empty weight on the way out from the laden weight on the way in, and I don't know how accurate their machine is. It's unlikely ro be diligently maintained and calibrated like a DVSA weighbridge so it might pay to go up to Daventry and get weighed there.