NEW HEAVIER SUSPENSION FOR 18' VANS..

[Bushtracker]

This Posting is to openly advise people of a new intermediate sized suspension we invented a little while back. (2003-04) We call it a "Heavy 18". We start putting on a 50% larger suspension, that is nearly unbreakable with 4 tonne stubs and bearings, and 50% larger suspension a-frames, really required from 20' and up---- We normally put it on at 19' as well with spring packs to suit.

Now we have the same suspension with a custom lighter spring pack, available for people with a "Heavy 18"� as in major gear, that takes the loaded ATM up to 3500kg instead of 3000 kg. We are now recommending it for people that are going to live in their vans, long term travel, with any increase on the basic 3 + 3 + 3, that is three 125 watt Solar Panels, 3 100 AH batteries, 3 water tanks.

Application? Now Friends, if any of you are too heavy with your 18' with 4,5,or 6 water tanks, don't fill them all until you hit your last Outpost of civilization, that is why they have valves in a manifold in the cargo hold for easy access to select which ones to fill. Fill them at the last outpost, as who cares what you weigh in the proper bush. If you have a brick BBQ on board, unload it., (just joking). Or, if you find you do want to travel heavy, consider an upgrade on your suspension. For those in planning, note: We offer more gear in options than anyone else in Australia. If you take a lot of gear it can add up to 300 or 400 kg weight. But we do weigh them with all that gear on board. The last two 18' vans we weighed this week (written 2006) , one was 2260 Tare a bit lighter on gear, and one was 2420 that was really loaded up. Now that still leaves a considerable margin, for those that travel with normal loads, particularly those in part time travel. But for those that might be considering full time travel as a lifestyle, there is a tendency to keep on collecting "things" and the weight can crawl up over time.. If you want to carry more, fix the problem with the larger suspension.

Those in Planning for an 18', if you want to live in your van and take a lot of gear; yes you should consider the suspension upgrade. From new it is easy for a heavy 18' with a lot of gear that might run heavy Tare of 2400 or 2500 where the normal Tare for an 18' would be around 2300kg, and from new the cost is only $650 difference in the price of the two suspensions.

Those who already have an 18', if you are overweight, take one of the three choices, unload and or travel with only some tanks full until you get to the last outpost, or upgrade your suspension accordingly. This is in the spirit of a Friend trying to look after you, and would suggest you consider taking it that way. The danger is if you travel too hard too heavy, you could shear off an axle stub, and that can ruin your whole day.... No joke, it could be serious even cause an accident. You do not want to overload your van beyond the ATM...And if you do this upgrade we can make you a now VIN Plate and raise your ATM... IT IS FIXABLE, DO IT BEFORE YOU BREAK IT!!.

Now why did we not put larger suspension in on these peoples vans years ago? Well it was not available until we invented it. AND, if you put too heavy a suspension under something like an 18', as in the case of the next size up that used to be the larger suspension, if they don't really load it up it will shake the van to pieces. Now don't think this has not happened. In trying to do the right thing by people we have done this and had it backfire.. NOTE: For instance, did this for one person that said he was going to fill all 19 lockers in his van and did not. His van rode too hard, breaking things, and we actually had to lighten the suspension back down again! It can go both ways. The truth is that we can only guess how much people are going to take. If we allow for too much cargo capacity, and the people do not load up the van, that is a problem in itself.. We do the best we can. If you need more help, let us know.

The retro fit cost? Depends on what we can re-use of the old suspension. New brakes, new hubs, new bearings, all new? It can cost $4500. Weigh your older 18' van fully loaded up, and see where you are.. Full water tanks and all!!! ... Over 3000 kg and then you need the upgrade, or unload the van for safety...

Using the old brakes, old backing plates, old bearings, it can cost less. Depends on the age and condition, we could do it for less but we have to see it.

Best Regards, from the Ranger....

[Bushtracker]

Two are in here this month, for this upgrade...

One is running heavy, and knows it, and is doing the upgrade that was not available when their van was built in 2003 as a smart preemptive measure. Good move I would say...

The other, a pre-loved van, as had a suspension failure on the rough track side where you run off the road. It has sheared of the mounting brackets for the a-frame and sheared the pivot bolt. He is here for brakes and bearings and a fairly large suspension repair job, maybe $2500 in work... For $2000 more he has elected to go the whole larger suspension and new bearings, brakes, the lot... Wise move I would say.

Best regards to all.........

[Jar's on tour]

hi steve

our van is 18ft with 5 tanks, 4 solar panels and 3 batteries,we normaly travel with 3 tanks full, we put it over the weigh bridge and with all gear in and 3 tanks full it came in at 2,840kg. on the axels and 3100kg with the jockey wheel down,allowing 50kg for food and clothing and a further 50kg for fuel that would be our normal travel weight. the vans atm is 3000kg. even with the other 2 tanks full (very rare) are we, in your opinion, ok with current suspension

Jar

[Bushtracker]

Hello Jar..
What can I tell you... You are putting me on the spot to give you reassureance that I cannot do..

You are over. It is not by a significant amount, and of course there is built in redundancy in the strength.. But you are over, and technically illegal. I cannot tell you that you are OK, when in fact you are over the load rating..

Now in addition to that, you do not have the reserves, if you are run off the road and go into a ditch. That situation is far more likely to break something, than if you had the larger suspension that has a 3500kg spring pack, but 4.4 tonne axle stubs and suspension arms. That is what you are up against.

In all fairness, you are illegal and over the rating, and by Law there is no way I can tell you that it is OK. On an Engineering stand, you are very marginal and traveling over the SWL (safe working load) of the components. I cannot tell you it is going to be OK or if you are going to get a way with it longterm.. You hammer this suspension on the corrugation and pound it in ruts and pot holes, and it weakens the axle stubs. There have been more than a half dozen that had them seem to crystalize the metal work hardening it and have had it snap even on the highway.. In fact most seem to break on the highway or on a sharp pivot, but the damage was done over time on rutted out road pounding away at it on the upper limits. Two vans have gotten out of control snapping off an axle stub and digging in, and rolled... One totalled, one we rebuilt. I am not sure I would tempt things...

Me? I would change it out rather than court disaster. At the very least I cannot give you the reassurance you seem to be asking for. Over the limit..... Is over the limit.. Sorry, but I cannot tell you it is alright...

Regards, stg

[nelsonthomas]

great info i like it