Auto-Trail Tail Scraping

[raysalaugh]

It would hep us to help you if you told us whether you have rear springs or an Alko tortion bar/beam suspension.
Tortion bar unit is prone to sag over time especially if not greased annually.

Unfortunately the OP has run out of posts so can only read replies.

 

[The general]

He did mine!

Seriously, it's a 2006 vehicle, probably used extensively and the original fit springs were not really designed to carry maximum weight all the time. Result is you are suffering from spring tiredness. Although you must pay more attention to whatever weight you are carrying (to stay legal), it's inevitable that you get a sag, especially with the long rear overhang - scraping the rear is the symptom.

So your options. Replace the rear springs, a relatively straightforward job but probably best done by a garage with proper lifting and safety gear - you could fit upgraded springs if you wanted.

Fit rear air-assist suspension. This is a DIY job if you've got some spanners and can get underneath safely. It consists of airbags that replace the "bump stops" on the axle which when inflated lift the body off the springs - air assist, simple. They can be inflated by a standard airline through a pressure gauge fitted somewhere convenient or you could go posh and have a compressor kit which would allow you to vary the pressures and thus the ride height.

Or better still, both. But everybody I know who has fitted air-assist has commented on how much better the ride is and how the vans handling is transformed, no more roll or swaying in cross winds. New springs won't achieve that.

Just an afterthought -an obviously sagging van could attract the attention of the authorities with a suspicion of overloading. Points and penalties!

Ref overloading , it might have changed but I think you just get a fine ? No points on license ? I stand corrected.

 

[Nasher]

We had the same problem with our Kontiki 649 bottoming out on ramps, even after having air suspension fitted and with the arse-end lifted up on the bags. The problem was solved by fitting ''bumper wheels'' (see photo). Mick Leightley at SAP in Doncaster did it for us. They work a treat............

View attachment 455427

The only thing wrong with your post is that you called them "bumper wheels"

Your street cred would have soared, if only you had refered to them as "Wheelie Bars"

 

[Jev88]

Not sure if this question is for me, or the original OP? Anyway, in my case, we have the Alko torsion bar system. Cheers.

Apologies, was meant for OP Ray's Scout

 

[Raymond Bonello]

Depends how you do it.
I fitted air assist to the back of my 7.2m Moho and it raises the back by 50mm at 2.5bar, and 100mm if I pump them up to their max pressure. It has also made the van much more stable, so less likely to be blown over. And all for about £300.

I have the same method and have the bellows pumped up to three bar. As you say it gives it more stability especially during going round bends. Is three bar too much? Between 2.5 and 3Bar the motorhome rised about 1 inch.

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[Landy Andy]

I have the same method and have the bellows pumped up to three bar. As you say it gives it more stability especially during going round bends. Is three bar too much? Between 2.5 and 3Bar the motorhome rised about 1 inch.

No three bar is ok. i run that on motorways, and fast roads. Drop to 1bar in Belgium as the roads are that rough

At one time I had to stick mine up to 6bar to get room under my bum.

 

[ashley 1340]

It would hep us to help you if you told us whether you have rear springs or an Alko tortion bar/beam suspension.
Tortion bar unit is prone to sag over time especially if not greased annually.

I have the AlKo torsion bar suspension, and although I live in the south of France I sent the whole axle to Fraser Engineering in scotland, who turned it around in a week and were happy to re weld the axle casings with an extra 2 inch lift , and their own version of the bearings with extra surface area and extra greasing points. Really great service and very pleasant to deal with, they even sent progress photos taken during the work.

 

[Willbo]

I have legs that come down when parked, very hand in the windy days/nights, I was going down hill on bends in Cornwall last week and took my electric step out. I would love to raise the van up by 4 inches not sure what it would do to the van, Would it give more chance of blowing over in high winds or effect the vehicle in any way ?

 

[BuilderBob]

I had a similar problem on my Bessacarr, I fitted 'Ferry Rollers' cheap, easy and effective
As it's front wheel drive, two rollers fitted to the rear two bar allowed the back end to roll when faced with a steep road or ferry ramp.
I used white nylon rollers from a pallet 'pump truck' (ex Ebay) and made some steel plates to support a large bolt (axle)

I'm sure if you google 'ferry rollers' you may find an example, I thought mine was an original idea, but there are lots fitted in the US.

 

[BuilderBob]

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