Is it possible to increase your clearance?

Oinkoink · Dec 29, 2023

We have a 2019 Pilot 7.4m on a Fiat Ducato, the tow bar often grates on the ground, can you replace 15” with 16” rims?
What issues are there?
It came out of the factory on 15” so is there an issue with the gearing? (comformatic)
Milometer speedometer will be slightly out, I use a speed app so not an issue
Are the stud spacings the same on the different rims
Obviously don’t want to lower the profile of the tyres to balance things out as it defeats the object
Are there other ways of increasing clearance, springing, suspension…..??
Would appreciate wisdom from others!!

herald_400rl · Dec 29, 2023

I'm currently in Iceland and there are Sprinters here that have a good 2ft of clearance so yes.
No idea how though, looks like a fairly comprehensive suspension swap out and some massive wheels/tyres.

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DJIT · Dec 29, 2023

Yes you can replace 15” with 16” and the 16” fiats have 225/75 r16 tyres so you can compare the size differences using https://www.willtheyfit.com/.
I’m guessing you will need 5x118 fitment, but check the PCD of your 15” wheels.

The Coops · Dec 29, 2023

You need to measure the PCD ( stud spacing,) 15 inch wheels are usually 118 some 16 inch are 130 but yes you can replace 225/75 16 on suitable rims

Lenny HB · Dec 29, 2023

As said you can replace the wheels with 16" it will make the speedo more accurate as Fiat are always on top tolerance.
You could also fit air assist or full air to the rear or even better full 4C air then you could raise the ride height to clear ramps etc.

two · Dec 29, 2023

If you got full air, you could escape from extreme situations by dropping the front whilst raising the rear.

Dorwyn · Dec 29, 2023

Rear air is probably cheaper than replacing all wheels and tyres and can be raised and lowered as required. It also could reduce that horrible crashing noise from the rear bungs. It obviously depends on how much lift you need. Just a thought.

Landy Andy · Dec 29, 2023

I’ve gone up from 215 to 225 on my 15” rims. Fitted air assist at the rear, and uprated front springs. Van now rides 100mm / 4” higher at rear, and 50mm / 2” at the front.

Howard B · Dec 29, 2023

On my previous van i swapped the 15” wheels for 16” ones with 225/75/16 tyres. Mine were 118pcd. The 16” wheels with tyres were a few inches taller. Also added air assist which gave me a few extra inches height.
Speedo was reading exactly same as GPS and phone app GPS after swapping wheels/ tyres.

Oinkoink · Dec 31, 2023

Howard B said:
On my previous van i swapped the 15” wheels for 16” ones with 225/75/16 tyres. Mine were 118pcd. The 16” wheels with tyres were a few inches taller. Also added air assist which gave me a few extra inches height.
Speedo was reading exactly same as GPS and phone app GPS after swapping wheels/ tyres.

Thanks for your replies, now looking into air assist. I assume there’s no issue with gearing on hill starts etc with the comformatic.
It would be good to stop scraping it’s tail!!

Howard B · Dec 31, 2023

Oinkoink said:
Thanks for your replies, now looking into air assist. I assume there’s no issue with gearing on hill starts etc with the comformatic.
It would be good to stop scraping it’s tail!!

Mine was manual so don't know about gearing. Doubt it would make any noticeable difference. Just fitted semi air to my current MH.

Guigsy · Dec 31, 2023

Oinkoink said:
Thanks for your replies, now looking into air assist. I assume there’s no issue with gearing on hill starts etc with the comformatic.
It would be good to stop scraping it’s tail!!

The 16" wheels commonly fitted to motorhomes are 9% larger rolling radius than the standard van 15". So it does make the gearing longer. Doesn't matter much at hill starts as there's still plenty of torque, but you will be hitting 5th on the motorway a lot more.

Howard B · Dec 31, 2023

Guigsy said:
The 16" wheels commonly fitted to motorhomes are 9% larger rolling radius than the standard van 15". So it does make the gearing longer. Doesn't matter much at hill starts as there's still plenty of torque, but you will be hitting 5th on the motorway a lot more.

Do Fiat fit different gearboxes to the base vehicles dependent on 15” or 16” wheels?

Guigsy · Dec 31, 2023

Howard B said:
Do Fiat fit different gearboxes to the base vehicles dependent on 15” or 16” wheels?

No.

h8ten · Dec 31, 2023

Remember, increasing ground clearance will reduce headroom at height barriers. It might be worth looking into air suspension on the rear so you can raise and lower as required.

Guigsy · Dec 31, 2023

h8ten said:
Remember, increasing ground clearance will reduce headroom at height barriers. It might be worth looking into air suspension on the rear so you can raise and lower as required.

I've got full air. It's great, but it only squats about 10cm in parking mode. Pretty much every height barrier is either under 2.1m or HGV height, so I've never found that it made a difference.

cyberyacht · Dec 31, 2023

No-one has mentioned overhang. Even utilising the methods enumerated, any van with a substantial overhang will have a tendency to "drag its arse" in certain situations.

Guigsy · Dec 31, 2023

cyberyacht said:
No-one has mentioned overhang. Even utilising the methods enumerated, any van with a substantial overhang will have a tendency to "drag its arse" in certain situations.

Full air or semi air suspension can be set to lift the arse quite a lot. A few cm of lift at the rear axle can make a big difference at the tail.

Bessy765 · Dec 31, 2023

We had a 2012 Aspire 255 we found the same problem with the towbar touching on ferry ramps. It came with 215/70/R15 so swopped to 225/70/R15 and fitted semi air to the rear. Uprated to 3850 kg with 2240 kg over the rear axle. Emptied the van measured the height from the rear jacking points loaded for extended trip pumped the rear air up to the same height as when empty.. towbar never touch again in over 20,000 miles. Better ride less sway from passing lorries.

Minxy · Dec 31, 2023

I suppose the first question is do you need the tow bar? If it was removed it would take weight off the rear and also allow more clearance - would that be sufficient to stop it bum scuffing?

Oinkoink · Dec 31, 2023

Minxy said:
I suppose the first question is do you need the tow bar? If it was removed it would take weight off the rear and also allow more clearance - would that be sufficient to stop it bum scuffing?

I rely on the tow bar to protect the rear skirt!!
We also have a toad

IRHP · Dec 31, 2023

cyberyacht said:
No-one has mentioned overhang. Even utilising the methods enumerated, any van with a substantial overhang will have a tendency to "drag its arse" in certain situations.

On the other hand the more overhang you have the more lift you will get at the back with semi air assist on the back axle

IRHP · Dec 31, 2023

An extra inch on tyres will give very little noticeable difference. As you are raising the front and rear you might get 1/2 inch lift. Semi air on the rear will give you more as you are only raising the rear so the lift at the end of the overhang will be exaggerated. I can get 50-60cm more clearance if fully inflated.

Minxy · Dec 31, 2023

We had a Rimor and had semi-air fitted to that mainly because of the wallowing and side blasting from trucks making it uncomfortable to drive and ride in, it had a big overhang:

this is the difference it made:

Brains · Dec 31, 2023

Have a word with LNB Towbars of Bristol.

They fit air suspension witch should give you a bit of a bum lift.
That will be easier and cheaper than 5 new wheels and tyres.

They also fit small skid wheels to the corners of the tow bar, which at least will reduce the scrapes

Minxy · Dec 31, 2023

Brains said:
Have a word with LNB Towbars of Bristol.

They fit air suspension witch should give you a bit of a bum lift.
That will be easier and cheaper than 5 new wheels and tyres.

They also fit small skid wheels to the corners of the tow bar, which at least will reduce the scrapes

That's just reminded me, on one long MH abroad we saw mini skis on the rear instead of wheels!

Brains · Dec 31, 2023

Minxy said:
That's just reminded me, on one long MH abroad we saw mini skis on the rear instead of wheels!

That must be the LNB winter model !

BouncyBoatFolk · Dec 31, 2023

Brains said:
Have a word with LNB Towbars of Bristol.

They fit air suspension witch should give you a bit of a bum lift.
That will be easier and cheaper than 5 new wheels and tyres.

They also fit small skid wheels to the corners of the tow bar, which at least will reduce the scrapes

Personally, I'd be very cautious about potentially lifting the back of the van's chassis rails that far back, I not sure the chassis extension rails are designed for that amount of force and could end up being bent??
Mike.

Guigsy · Dec 31, 2023

BouncyBoatFolk said:
Personally, I'd be very cautious about potentially lifting the back of the van's chassis rails that far back, I not sure the chassis extension rails are designed for that amount of force and could end up being bent??
Mike.

Semi air uses the same point as the suspension. As far as the chassis is concerned, it's the same as having the rear wheels on a brick.

1967bowesj · Dec 31, 2023

You don’t say what chassis you have, being a Pilote it might be alko?

Is it possible to increase your clearance?

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