Do I need to change suspensions?

Hi,

I have a 2003 LRD2 with 63000 miles and recently changed OEM airsuspensions.
I do loads of motorway cruising 80 to 90 mph and very little off road. However I have a large family and I take long distance trips with a fully loaded car including a 130 kg motorbike on a rack?

I would like to keep my car quite firm and steady while cruising and cornering. Would anyone advice to replace the original shocks and spring system with a medium load 2" higher full set such as the Terrafirma one?

Please advice.:scratching_chin:

Many thanks

Nic

Dr LC8 said:

Hi,

I have a 2003 LRD2 with 63000 miles and recently changed OEM airsuspensions.
I do loads of motorway cruising 80 to 90 mph and very little off road. However I have a large family and I take long distance trips with a fully loaded car including a 130 kg motorbike on a rack?

I would like to keep my car quite firm and steady while cruising and cornering. Would anyone advice to replace the original shocks and spring system with a medium load 2" higher full set such as the Terrafirma one?

Please advice.:scratching_chin:

Many thanks

Nic

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Hi Nic, before I go any further could you please confirm if you still have air suspension on the back or steel coil springs?

Dave

thebiglad said:

Hi Nic, before I go any further could you please confirm if you still have air suspension on the back or steel coil springs?

Dave

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I have air suspensions. I have the whole original setting. When I bought it recently, the previous owner replaced the old one with some new OEM Land Rover.

Ciao

Nic

Get spacers for the air springs

MJI said:

Get spacers for the air springs

Click to expand...

Thanks,

Can you give me more details???

Cheers and ciao

Nic

Leave it alone, the air suspension effectively firms up under load and maintains a constant height, new shocks only if the old ones are knackered.
You would only want to raise it if you are off roading, raising it for road use will effectively raise the C of G making the vehicle less stable cornering or an avoidance manouver at speed.

Dr LC8 said:

I have air suspensions. I have the whole original setting. When I bought it recently, the previous owner replaced the old one with some new OEM Land Rover.

Ciao

Nic

Click to expand...

OK Nic, the Disco with air is set-up as std to carry about 650kgs (including driver) within the vehicle.

So if you bike weighs 130kgs you've got 520kgs left for you, your passengers and their luggage.

That will take you up to the homologated maximum weight for the vehicle 2750kgs, so even if you were to fit heavier duty coil springs you wouldn't be able to carry any more weight legally.

The Self Levelling Suspension (SLS) will take care of the full weight allowed and still maintain a level vehicle so I can see no need or advantage in changing any suspension components, but if you need to carry more kit, why not do it in a light trailer - something like mine which weighs 180kgs empty but will carry 570kgs of load. They are so light and low there's no aerodynamic drag and no tail-happy feeling, it's just great.

Good luck

Dave

PS You DEFINITELY don't want to raise the height of the body by longer spring or blocks. It will raise the centre of gravity of the vehicle and could make it unstable when fully loaded (with your family on board) in avoidance situations.

thebiglad said:

OK Nic, the Disco with air is set-up as std to carry about 650kgs (including driver) within the vehicle.

So if you bike weighs 130kgs you've got 520kgs left for you, your passengers and their luggage.

That will take you up to the homologated maximum weight for the vehicle 2750kgs, so even if you were to fit heavier duty coil springs you wouldn't be able to carry any more weight legally.

The Self Levelling Suspension (SLS) will take care of the full weight allowed and still maintain a level vehicle so I can see no need or advantage in changing any suspension components, but if you need to carry more kit, why not do it in a light trailer - something like mine which weighs 180kgs empty but will carry 570kgs of load. They are so light and low there's no aerodynamic drag and no tail-happy feeling, it's just great.

Good luck

Dave

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I have a twin axle 750Kg trailer, tows happily at 90mph in Europe

I missed the bit about road use only. Just leave it, it will cope.

Only need spacers and adjusted level sensors for off road modifications when keeping air bags.

Standard height is fine for road and seems OK off road

I have a 2001 td5 on air suspension and I tow a twin wheel van 1800kg with a Inflatable boat in the back 80kg and outboard engine 65kg along with everything that go's with it never had any problems stick with the air suspension

I agree with all above . I to tow a 1900kg 26ft caravan plus a full boot of all the stuff you never need and all the family . And the air suspension has always kept it nice and level cruising up and down the motorways

Hi Guys,

Many thanks for these advices.

I am not planning on advance off road and I thought indeed about the centre of gravity issue.

I do have a trailar. with my old Range Rover 2.9 TDV6 I used to cruise 90-100 with loaded car and trailer back and forth to Italy. However if you have one bike only trailer it is expensive and anyway you have to pay more attention to speed limits.

I am just worry that weight on a rack is too much...

We will see..

Nic

My motorbike rack can take up to 150kg on my flanged towbar I have had my yamaha wr400 on it and had no prob

Vanmancan said:

I agree with all above . I to tow a 1900kg 26ft caravan plus a full boot of all the stuff you never need and all the family . And the air suspension has always kept it nice and level cruising up and down the motorways

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I have a P38 on air suspension, it copes happily with a mini digger on the trailer coming in at close to 3 tonnes or the caravan plus all the gear, air suspension is great.

Vanmancan said:

My motorbike rack can take up to 150kg on my flanged towbar I have had my yamaha wr400 on it and had no prob

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That is great to know as I am planning to put my KTM EXC400 on. If that works fine I will upgrade with a better rack that is suppose to take my KTM 990 Adventure...

Dr LC8 said:

That is great to know as I am planning to put my KTM EXC400 on. If that works fine I will upgrade with a better rack that is suppose to take my KTM 990 Adventure...

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A ktm990 they are about 207kg dry . And are that bit bigger That's going to be a squeeze on the back you well have to post a pic when you get it would like to see it on there . What tow bar you got on ya D2

Vanmancan said:

A ktm990 they are about 207kg dry . And are that bit bigger That's going to be a squeeze on the back you well have to post a pic when you get it would like to see it on there . What tow bar you got on ya D2

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Well...I will have to buy a different rack: Easy-Lifter Non-Lift system - Tel: 01509 268400 - £450.00 Inc VAT

My one it is also a bit lighter. I use it only off road and a reduced the weight substantially. For a long trip a would take the tanks off anyway.

On that rack it looks like I can carry mu Ducati Multistrada as well

Nic

Dr LC8 said:

Well...I will have to buy a different rack: Easy-Lifter Non-Lift system - Tel: 01509 268400 - £450.00 Inc VAT

My one it is also a bit lighter. I use it only off road and a reduced the weight substantially. For a long trip a would take the tanks off anyway.

On that rack it looks like I can carry mu Ducati Multistrada as well

Nic

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Hi Nic, personally I wouldn't want to put anything heavier than a bicycle on the tow hitch of any of my cars, and I'll explain why.

1. The maximum download for the tow hitch on a D2 is 150kgs.

2. Imagine the lever effect from the centre of the rear wheel to the centre of the tow hitch? Now imagine going over any undulations or pot holes in the road. That lever effect will multiply the energy of the downforce on the tow hitch significantly.

3. Any company that claims you can put 200kgs onto your tow hitch, without any codicils about vehicle types is not to be trusted. The average tow hitch load for a family car is 75kgs ffs !

In my opinion a trailer will work far better and be safer and more balanced for the work you want to do. If you haven't already got one, get yourself a sided, flat-bed trailer (about 2mtrs long and 1.3mtrs wide) with a gross weight of 750kgs (ie 500+kgs of load) which will take your motorbike and all the family luggage easily. This size of trailer often goes free on the ferries as well !

So much better solution, imo.

Dave