Yet another T6.1 Suspension question!

[Fishinbrine]

Evening all, I'm very aware this has been asked loads of times but hey here I am!
I'm a time served mechanic but feel that suspension technologies have advanced from the days of cutting a coil off my XR2 springs!
I have a T6.1 LWB T32 full camper conversion that I use as my daily drive.
Suspension is completely standard running 275/40R20's
The quality ride in my opinion is ok considering it's essentially a van that I run medium/lightly loaded ready for weekend getaways, yeah it's a bit crashy over potholes but not really that bad. The body roll on roundabouts without driving fast however is not great - but hey it's a van.
I would like to make the arch gaps better mainly and potentially will be doing the work myself.
Current ride heights:-
Front 783mm
Rear 768mm
Front To tyre 90mm
Rear To tyre 70mm

Any advice be fantastic, I don't want to make it unpractical, when we do go away it's loaded with the Mrs, 2 kids and dog
Big air awning in middle of van with the rest of our kit, sometimes a towbar mounted bike carrier with 3 bikes (2 kids bikes)

Thanks in advance everyone

 

[Kind of Blue]

Set of 4 Koni Adjustable and Springs. Someone on the forum not a million miles from you can advise what set up fit and sell or just buy and fit your self. Improved handling and ride what ever the height o not need to chop but even then has the kit to suit.

 

[Fishinbrine]

Yeah I have seen his comments on many threads here, just thought it would be a bit cheeky asking advice then doing the job myself!
Also worth mentioning my front tyres will need to be changed before the summer trip to France so am also considering changing all 4 to 245/45R20 if it will benefit the van long term. Any tyre recommendations in my current size or alternatives also very welcome. Will gripe me changing the rears as the vans only done 14000 miles in total!

 

[Kind of Blue]

I would advise anyone to have a set of All Season 3PM&S if they only have one set of wheels. Go anywhere what ever the weather even the Alps or Pyrenees legally. Travel safely all weather any where in the UK.

 

[Bigsidavies]

Yeah I have seen his comments on many threads here, just thought it would be a bit cheeky asking advice then doing the job myself!
Also worth mentioning my front tyres will need to be changed before the summer trip to France so am also considering changing all 4 to 245/45R20 if it will benefit the van long term. Any tyre recommendations in my current size or alternatives also very welcome. Will gripe me changing the rears as the vans only done 14000 miles in total!

Keep the rears at 275/40/20 and swap the front to 245/45/20. That’s a pretty standard combination. Then oif the fronts aren’t too worn you’ve got a spare pair for the rears when they need replacing.

 

[Fishinbrine]

Keep the rears at 275/40/20 and swap the front to 245/45/20. That’s a pretty standard combination. Then oif the fronts aren’t too worn you’ve got a spare pair for the rears when they need replacing.

Hmmm, I've never been too sure about these kind of setups, and as common as I'm lead to believe it is, I have never come across it on a campervan yet. Maybe it is the way to go but I think I will need some convincing on the real benefits of this setup.

 

[Kind of Blue]

Hmmm, I've never been too sure about these kind of setups, and as common as I'm lead to believe it is, I have never come across it on a campervan yet. Maybe it is the way to go but I think I will need some convincing on the real benefits of this setup.

The smaller diameter of wheel the taller the tyre for the same rolling circumference the more comfortable and less jittery the ride. 17 or 18 inch rims are a good compromise. It is up to you what you want to do and spend. If you bought new or used you could recoup some cash from the sale of your original wheel /tyre. Steel wheels are usually even cheaper Some are more interested in appearance, looks, stance or what ever, others might be more interested in other things, ride, handling, practicality tyre availability.

 

[Drive Wayne]

Evening all, I'm very aware this has been asked loads of times but hey here I am!
I'm a time served mechanic but feel that suspension technologies have advanced from the days of cutting a coil off my XR2 springs!
I have a T6.1 LWB T32 full camper conversion that I use as my daily drive.
Suspension is completely standard running 275/40R20's
The quality ride in my opinion is ok considering it's essentially a van that I run medium/lightly loaded ready for weekend getaways, yeah it's a bit crashy over potholes but not really that bad. The body roll on roundabouts without driving fast however is not great - but hey it's a van.
I would like to make the arch gaps better mainly and potentially will be doing the work myself.
Current ride heights:-
Front 783mm
Rear 768mm
Front To tyre 90mm
Rear To tyre 70mm

Any advice be fantastic, I don't want to make it unpractical, when we do go away it's loaded with the Mrs, 2 kids and dog
Big air awning in middle of van with the rest of our kit, sometimes a towbar mounted bike carrier with 3 bikes (2 kids bikes)

Thanks in advance everyone

Talk to your very local Steve @CRS Performance . He will be more than happy to sell you what is required. Do you know what size wheels you have? Are they staggered? 8.5's all round? 275/40 is really too large for an 8.5. Mine are staggered 8.5 on front and 10's on the rear, works well with the sizes @Bigsidavies has quoted. Steves suspension and good tyres will make a huge difference.

 

[Fishinbrine]

I would really like a decent drop on the van and as long as the ride quality is no worse than it is on the currently standard suspension I think I would be happy.
I am open to changing tyre sizes especially if it helps accomplish a better drop on the van.
Also, being tight lol, I would prefer the tyre size to be a long term 'cheaper' mid brand alternative to the rather poor Landsail tyres currently fitted- that a frankly terrible pulling away from junctions in the wet with a DSG gearbox!

 

[Drive Wayne]

I would really like a decent drop on the van and as long as the ride quality is no worse than it is on the currently standard suspension I think I would be happy.
I am open to changing tyre sizes especially if it helps accomplish a better drop on the van.
Also, being tight lol, I would prefer the tyre size to be a long term 'cheaper' mid brand alternative to the rather poor Landsail tyres currently fitted- that a frankly terrible pulling away from junctions in the wet with a DSG gearbox!

Talk to Steve, the man is a suspension god!

 

[Bigsidavies]

I’ve had 245/45 front and 275/40 rear for about 4 years now. Lowered 50mm. Van is a 4 Mo and the circumference of that setup is the same front to rear.
As @Drive Wayne says though 275 is too wide for an 8.5j wide rim. I have staggered with 10” at the rear.
The 245 is much easier on the steering. The van pulls away more easily and drives better. Also there is no rubbing of the inner arch plastics.

 

[The Bear78]

The body roll on roundabouts without driving fast however is not great - but hey it's a van.

H&R anti-roll bars. Job done.

 

[Sasquatch]

H&R anti-roll bars. Job done.

That's not without consequence, depending on your driving style and where the needle sits on your personal scale of handling preference. There's no free lunch, only improving one characteristic at the expense of another.

 

[The Bear78]

That's not without consequence, depending on your driving style and where the needle sits on your personal scale of handling preference. There's no free lunch, only improving one characteristic at the expense of another.

True enough.
The OP's concerns were arch gap, body roll and that any changes must leave the ride no worse than standard.
In my opinion, uprated/additional ARB's would have consequences but, in combination with a change in dampers and springs would give improvements across the board.

 

[Sasquatch]

In my opinion, uprated/additional ARB's would have consequences but, in combination with a change in dampers and springs would give improvements across the board.

That's the ideal scenario. Heavier ARB's increase the tendency to under/oversteer, and I'd want that well tamed in a vehicle of this size and weight with insufficent power to control the chassis on the throttle if it lets go. Springs and dampers, and paying attention to how level the van is sitting to keep the steering geometry optimum, would be on my shopping list if I were ARB buying.

 

[CRS Performance]

True enough.
The OP's concerns were arch gap, body roll and that any changes must leave the ride no worse than standard.
In my opinion, uprated/additional ARB's would have consequences but, in combination with a change in dampers and springs would give improvements across the board.

Spot on , Used with good dampers there is no down side to these bars at all. If the budget is there just do them . Just dont do them first before decent dampers ha ha

 

[Fishinbrine]

Spot on , Used with good dampers there is no down side to these bars at all. If the budget is there just do them . Just dont do them first before decent dampers ha ha

I had no real plans to touch the ARB's really, just a nice drop without ruining the ride. As mentioned I'm happy to change tyres to help everything along too.
I have measured current ride heights from centre of wheels to arch-
Front 440
Rear 430

Really low can I go without ruining the ride and general practically fory daily driver and what tyre size is preferable?

Thanks again everyone so far, these forums are quality I'm learning so much about all things campervan!

 

[doncarlyon]

Interested in seeing what you end up with. Especially tyres as I'm looking all the time and to get 20s with load rated tyres seems to be a ditch finder solution.

Another thing to note is that so many people, including MOT testers say you don't need to have load rated tyres as a camper doesn't need a class 7 MOT.

 

[Fishinbrine]

Afternoon all, I have decided that I agree a tyre size change is needed but am torn with what to do.
My current setup of 275/40R20's
Front tyres are on 3mm so need a change so considering either 265/40R20 or 245/45R20 on the front keeping the rears as they are.
Also considering I would like to lower the van hopefully 50-70mm any advice to what's best would be very helpful. I'm unsure what width wheels I currently have (new van haven't checked) I will be removing the wheels soon to check this and the offset.

Thanks in advance!