D1 rear spring helpers for towing

Having noticed the difference between various D1s when towing the same caravan I got to wondering about different means to an end,viz : making the rear suspension more stable.

I am aware that there are many different springs available,as there are shocks.In the past on other vehicles I have had Monroe load levellers with an air compressor that you could operate from the dash (brilliant! And fun too!) that were costly and a fair bit of work to fit, various tow orientated shock absorbers and cheapest of all - rubber spring helpers that fit in between the middle coils of the spring.

These last were a help in most cases but had a bad name for causing spring failure immediately above and below where they fitted. I never had that problem myself but didnt keep the vehicles that long for it to show.

Now, I would like to know what experience people have had on this front...

....is it OK to go with these low cost rubbers? Or better to go for a high end or specific shock absorber? Or an uprated spring set ?

What are the pros and cons, and what about the relative costs ?

No one changed springs or shocks to aid in tow stability? I dont know what the differences are,certainly none visible,but my 98 is much more stable towing than the 97 jap.The 97 is a much nicer drive all round other than that,so I would like to make it more tow friendly.

ive allways fitted the yellow h/d springs and gas shockers on all 4 corners to improve towing but it wont be popular on here but i take as i find myself rather than following like sheep ,but first job is to probably change all bushes

JM....all bushes ? Or just ones local to suspension ? And what to? When working at a small independent LR place,years ago, I had cause to fit a few sets of poly bushes . They had not been around and the hobby-ists all wanted them, instanta. There were only one grade that I saw , yellow/orange I think, and they were an absolute SOD to fit, even with a press.

I have no experience of doing them on a D1 or of the types available now. I do have a 12 tonne press though. Any comments/advice ?

Why would you be unpopular re the yellow springs ? Are they a Britpart product ? I have had bad experiences with their moving parts but the other stuff seems OK,on the whole......

Oh, I see that MM have the "police spec" springs for a good price, £30 ish a pair.....any good ?

police spec springs are taller for travel not necessarily better for weight if were talking the red/white rr ones i stopped fitting them when 300 springs came out,std poly bushes or split ones are easy to fit the cotton reel shaped ones are **** to fit worse than std,but ive fitted most and use alot of yellow ones only need a hammer and lubricant to fit ,i usually change all bushes including A frame ,certainly panhard rod ,i do a few 110 flat backs which carry a train weight of over 6 tonnes daily they are all fitted with the h/d springs and shocks with full bush kit ,and all ball joints including A frame looked at reg to keep vehicle tight and handling well , i did my own years ago and has allways drove well at high motorway speeds towing or not ,i think fronts need uprating as well as back to keep vehicle stable

Excellent post JM , thank you for the advice , much valued.

Yes,it was the RRC police springs that I had looked at. So, a set of yellow poly bushes,the split type sounds a lot easier than the ones that I did years ago. What maker should I look for ? Or are they a standard thing now , the same all round ?

The A frame ! Should have thought of that ! Very often overlooked but essential for stability. The panhard....well,I learned that one the hard way years ago when the back end on a vehicle suddenly became independent rear steer.

Might it be that the jap exports got softer springs to give a US style road ride ? I know none of my other D1s have had this soft road feel to them.

Anyone else got any tow-specific experience or ideas? Anyone used the rubber inserts or air helpers? Or the monroe ride level air pump system ?

i only use the yellow britpart ones as easy to fit like original ones cheap and come in complete kit ,but anyy of the non cotton reel type and soft options would be okay

No one else done any tow upgrades then ?