Adria coral 600 composite spring sagging on one side

[suffolk man]

We have a new (to us) 2019 adria coral 600sl axess with 8,000 miles on the clock. On our first trip out I noticed that even when lightly loaded and with no water on board on level ground the gap between the composite leaf spring and the bump stops is considerably smaller on the offside that the nearside. Coincidentally the water tank is not central to the vehicle and I suspect that is the cause of the issue. Does anyone else have experience of this? Is it a known problem with composite springs or is it a problem with the van layout?

My thoughts are: replace composite springs with steel springs(Jones springs do them)
Fit air assist which we had on our previous van
I do know we can't uprate the van weight with composite springs even if we fit air assist

I have told the dealers of the problem of the problem but I would like to have my ducks in a row before we take the van back to them to discuss solutions. Advice would be appreciated

 

[Guigsy]

If the tank is empty, does it level up?

 

[suffolk man]

I didn't make it clear. The saggy spring is on the same side as the water tank

 

[IRHP]

No help with your problem but are you sure it's composite springs on a 2019 fiat?

 

[andyman]

We have a new (to us) 2019 adria coral 600sl axess with 8,000 miles on the clock. On our first trip out I noticed that even when lightly loaded and with no water on board on level ground the gap between the composite leaf spring and the bump stops is considerably smaller on the offside that the nearside. Coincidentally the water tank is not central to the vehicle and I suspect that is the cause of the issue. Does anyone else have experience of this? Is it a known problem with composite springs or is it a problem with the van layout?

My thoughts are: replace composite springs with steel springs(Jones springs do them)
Fit air assist which we had on our previous van
I do know we can't uprate the van weight with composite springs even if we fit air assist

I have told the dealers of the problem of the problem but I would like to have my ducks in a row before we take the van back to them to discuss solutions. Advice would be appreciated

Did you ever resolve the issue. I've noticed my 2022 Pilote is the same. I think it's a leaf spring issue.

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[suffolk man]

Hi, yes we did. I had air suspension fitted with twin lines left and right and seperate pressure guages. I run the side with the water tank (right side in my case) at half a bar higher than the left side. It levels the van up nicely. I run at 2bar on the left and 2.5bsr on the right and this seems fine even when heavily loaded
(I also uprated the van to 3850kg at the same time). Hope this helps, regards Andrew

 

[suffolk man]

Ps updating is not a problem with composite springs

 

[TinaLes]

I have never heard of the term "composite springs", but I have heard off steel leaf springs, Fiat Ducato vans usually have leaf springs, they can sag and hit bump stops, but fitting rear air assist normally helps if sagging is the problem which is what the OP seems to have done to resolve the problem.
It always surprises me that some MH manufacturers feel they have to fit all the heavy items like kitchen, fridge freezers, gas bottles, water tanks on one side, making that side much heavier than the other, to try and get the best layout. Water tanks are heavy and most cases are fitted in the middle underside of the van to help with the balance issue, but others cannot do this for some reason.
LES

 

[suffolk man]

The spring is are glass fibre reinforced plastic. They are lighter than steel springs hence their use on motorhomes to save weight

 

[TinaLes]

Well every day is indeed a school day as they say.
I have never heard or ever seen a composite rear cart van springs before, I bet not many others have either.
The adverts for GRP Springs state that each one weighs in at 16Kgs, with a max loading of 3500Kgs. The may well be a bit lighter than the steel springs, but they say max weight is 3500Kgs which may define the limit the weight upgrade even with semi air suspension to a max of 3850 but no more that that I guess.
PS; they are twice the price of steel springs also, but I cannot find out how much the equivalent steel springs weigh in comparison.
LES

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[suffolk man]

I didn't have a choice, they came with the van!

 

[Guigsy]

It always surprises me that some MH manufacturers feel they have to fit all the heavy items like kitchen, fridge freezers, gas bottles, water tanks on one side, making that side much heavier than the other, to try and get the best layout. Water tanks are heavy and most cases are fitted in the middle underside of the van to help with the balance issue, but others cannot do this for some reason.

Most furniture and fixtures are on a particular side due to the layout. Which is all determined by which side the door goes on.

Another off-centre mass that has a similar effect to the water tank is the average middle-aged motorhome owner sitting in the driver's seat.