should I upgrade suspension?

johnson gary · Nov 30, 2010

Hello,

I have a defender TD5 110.
For my job I use a 680kg trailer most of the week.
Have noticed more tyre wear on the rear and not sure if suspension is holding the weight. seems low at the rear when un hitched. Are there tell tale signs I should see to tell me to change the suspension.
should I upgrade to heavy duty? change the shocks? etc. etc.

aaron1980 · Nov 30, 2010

i was just thinking the same about mine. it sits a little low at the rear and with the trailer on its very low ( mind you it is a 880kg ifor williams tilt bed) and then a car

i was thinking about hd rear springs but i dont want to lift it at all so i will be watching to see what answers you get

wiltshire landyman · Nov 30, 2010

get a smaller trailer

diver · Nov 30, 2010

Considering a 110 can tow 3500kg then a 680kg trailer is hardly an issue. What is the trailer nose weight? If that was too high, then that might explain the tyre wear but it would have to be pretty bad. Our 110 spends more time towing than not and we haven't changed the springs in 130000 miles. Tyre wear isn't too bad either.
Bear in mind though, if you have a twin axle trailer, you have to measure the nose weight with the hitch level with the towball. If its sitting level on its axles and the weight seems OK and then you have to lift it 6" to get it on the ball then the weight is going to be much higher. Might need a drop plate on the towball.

johnson gary · Dec 1, 2010

Thanks for the info. It is a twin axle trailer, at 680kg empty its no problem. max load I have had was 550kg. combined 1230kg. I Know what the vehicle can pull on paper, but you would'ent pull that every day, surely the engine would pop out of it's bay.
I will check and calculate the trailer height and weight.
How can I tell if the suspension is already nackered?

diver · Dec 1, 2010

I think you can measure the free length of the springs (removed from the vehicle) and I think there are specs for the actual ride height somewhere. If the suspension is knackered I would have thought it might start hitting the bump stops over rough ground.
Unless its had a seriously hard life or very high mileage I can't think the springs are shot but a good set of uprated shocks might help the ride.

Turboman · Dec 2, 2010

johnson gary said:
Hello,

I have a defender TD5 110.
For my job I use a 680kg trailer most of the week.
Have noticed more tyre wear on the rear and not sure if suspension is holding the weight. seems low at the rear when un hitched. Are there tell tale signs I should see to tell me to change the suspension.
should I upgrade to heavy duty? change the shocks? etc. etc.

I often tow 2800 kg cattle float and sometimes 3500 kg flatbed.I just have standard springs and shocks and run normal tyre pressures.Doesnt seem to have had any bad effect on my 20 y.o. 90.

As said before it might be to do with noseweight.Check the weight,you probably want 20-45 kg on the towball with that trailer!

As far as I know no LR vehicle should show ill effects from towing if properly set up

johnson gary · Dec 2, 2010

Great, thanks all for your help, no doubt I shall be back with another question. Its our first Landy, only had her three years, enjoying working on the vehicle as parts and labour expensive here in France. already found out the hard way for replacing the fuel pump (and connectors). Should I just throw the Haynes manual in the bin and get something else?

should I upgrade suspension?

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