" Tescos Value" or equivalent suspension upgrades

S

SheikhLala

Joined
Jan 9, 2022
Posts
254
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606
Location
Colchester, UK
Funster No
86,183
MH
Pilote G732
Exp
Total Newbie
We recently returned from our maiden Euro trip but unfortunately not all plain sailing on the way home. A long story short, the wife smacked her head and felt her neck crick, the initial pain was replaced by pins and needles in her left hand, numbness in her left arm, severe pain in the neck and shoulder. This all occurred on the start of our return journey and the symptoms gradually worsened but I was TOLD we would not be seeking medical advice abroad or returning sooner, rather than later.
The difference in between continental roads and the excuse for ours, is noticeable at the best of times but when you are unable to sit upright because of the pressure it puts on your neck and shoulder, the condition of our roads became too much for her to bear. The only respite was to lay on the bed and remove the pressure, maybe not politically correct but at the time the only thing that helped. I pulled up outside A+E, in the motorhome, helped her in and she didn't come home for a week.
There's no breaks,fractures or ruptures but she has caused severe damage to her Brachial Plexus. This could take days,weeks,months to repair itself and though on copious amounts of oramorph, it doesn't cut it.
Sorry for the War and Peace monologue but I'll now get to the point.....
MH is a 2009 Pilote G730 on a Al-Ko chassis, I'm not sure that I can stretch to full VB air or similar but it would be fair to say that the existing suspension needs attention. I want to try and make the ride as smooth and compliant as possible for her.
Can this be achieved for a more reasonable cost?
Will replacing standard front shocks and upgraded / helper springs be either effective or a false economy?
The rear suspension is an Al-Ko arrangement but if I fit semi air and new shocks, will this again be either effective or a false economy?
Any and all suggestions, experiences or opinions welcomed.
Thank you
 
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Air assist for rear suspension on an Alko chassis is around 2K (I've just had a couple of quotes). You could get the front springs uprated which would provide more lift but may still be quite stiff.
 
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first no charge partial solution is to slightly lower the tyre pressures so they are not rock hard
 
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Hi, can't advise re suspension sorry, but sending best wishes to your Wife in her recovery👍
 
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I don't think it will be that effective in what you want to achieve. We have Full Air although the ride is a lot better it's still a hard ride it now thumps over bumps rather than crashing
Although now I would never have a van without full air but that is mainly due to the driving stability.

If you have CP tyres I would change them first for van tyres, I have fitted Toyo Observe Van and I reckon the improvement in ride comfort is similar to the improvement the full air gave.

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First upgrade is to dump camper tyres if you have them. They have stiff sidewalls and have to be run at high pressure. Standard van tyres (of the correct load rating) produce a pretty good jump in comfort.

Semi air suspension helps with the large potholes if you're bouncing off the bump stops (spring assistors) all the time. But most road lumps it doesn't do much.

I've got full air suspension on my current van. £8k is not a small amount of money! It produced a similar improvement again to changing the tyres. Big hits are still noisy, but not as violent. Lots of minor imperfections are now unnoticeable. But it's still not a magic carpet ride. Probably as good as a 15 year old car. I don't think you'll ever get a vehicle based on a van with a plastic box on top to get a smooth ride.
 
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Maybe you could fit a suspension seat in the front as they tend to absorb the bumps better than the suspension does. These may be able to help;

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Our range of van seats is second to none, ergonomically designed for hardworking environments. For more info, call us on 01905 795955.
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stevewagner said:
Maybe you could fit a suspension seat in the front as they tend to absorb the bumps better than the suspension does. These may be able to help;

Replacement Van Seats for Sale | Comfy Seating, UK

Our range of van seats is second to none, ergonomically designed for hardworking environments. For more info, call us on 01905 795955.
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Good idea but probably would have to lose the swivel and I don't think there can be anything under where the seat mounts.
 
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dia414600pixels.jpg

They look like they are on normal runners so may be ok on a swivel. I'm sure the company or another specialist could advise.
 
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The problem with sprung seats, is they are taller than the normal seats from the runners up. so you would need to fit a lowered seat base and have nothing below it

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TheBig1 said:
first no charge partial solution is to slightly lower the tyre pressures so they are not rock hard
Click to expand...
I did drop the pressures when I fitted the new tyres, not Contis, but could certainly explore some lower pressures. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
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Lenny HB said:
I don't think it will be that effective in what you want to achieve. We have Full Air although the ride is a lot better it's still a hard ride it now thumps over bumps rather than crashing
Although now I would never have a van without full air but that is mainly due to the driving stability.

If you have CP tyres I would change them first for van tyres, I have fitted Toyo Observe Van and I reckon the improvement in ride comfort is similar to the improvement the full air gave.
Click to expand...
I have already got rid of said tyres and fitted Falken Euroall Season Van 11, an enormous improvment.
 
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You were posting while I was typing, so you have already found out how much better van tyres are.

What are your axle weights and what pressure are you running at.
 
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Guigsy said:
First upgrade is to dump camper tyres if you have them. They have stiff sidewalls and have to be run at high pressure. Standard van tyres (of the correct load rating) produce a pretty good jump in comfort.

Semi air suspension helps with the large potholes if you're bouncing off the bump stops (spring assistors) all the time. But most road lumps it doesn't do much.

I've got full air suspension on my current van. £8k is not a small amount of money! It produced a similar improvement again to changing the tyres. Big hits are still noisy, but not as violent. Lots of minor imperfections are now unnoticeable. But it's still not a magic carpet ride. Probably as good as a 15 year old car. I don't think you'll ever get a vehicle based on a van with a plastic box on top to get a smooth ride.
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I think the problem we're facing is the unknown length of time that this will take to repair itself.
In the meantime I'm trying to mitigate as much as I can. You drive along, see a road imperfection and subconsciously brace yourself because she's tensed herself up, the impact seems to be worse and the resultant pain is off the chart.
If I had money to chuck at this, then I'd already have the van booked in but I need to try and be sensible and achieve the best result possible for her. If i can get to the point where a majority of it disappears, then its the result that I would like.

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SheikhLala said:
I think the problem we're facing is the unknown length of time that this will take to repair itself.
In the meantime I'm trying to mitigate as much as I can. You drive along, see a road imperfection and subconsciously brace yourself because she's tensed herself up, the impact seems to be worse and the resultant pain is off the chart.
If I had money to chuck at this, then I'd already have the van booked in but I need to try and be sensible and achieve the best result possible for her. If i can get to the point where a majority of it disappears, then its the result that I would like.
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Can I suggest that you do consider the best options for your wife’s comfort, you cannot be sure that her neck will be 100% and if she is tensing every time you travel, you trips will reduce in length and frequency. Try and forget the cost but do your research. Sumo spring assistors May be a cheap option.
 
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Otter Spotter said:
Can I suggest that you do consider the best options for your wife’s comfort, you cannot be sure that her neck will be 100% and if she is tensing every time you travel, you trips will reduce in length and frequency. Try and forget the cost but do your research. Sumo spring assistors May be a cheap option.
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Its an Al-Ko chassis.
 
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SheikhLala said:
Hi Lenny
2100kg @ 3.75 and 2400kg @ 4.5.
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Those look like your max weights it's actual weights you need to set the tyre pressures.
I run my Toyo at;
Front 1930kg 56 psi
Rear 2300kg 69 psi

Gave Toyo my axle weights to get the settings.

Yours are 54 & 65 psi I wouldn't go any lower unless your loading is a lot lower than mine.
 
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stevewagner said:
Maybe you could fit a suspension seat in the front as they tend to absorb the bumps better than the suspension does. These may be able to help;

Replacement Van Seats for Sale | Comfy Seating, UK

Our range of van seats is second to none, ergonomically designed for hardworking environments. For more info, call us on 01905 795955.
www.comfyseating.com www.comfyseating.com
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Glad to see that, it's what I was going to suggest as I've heard other people singing the praises of having air suspension in the seat - which must be less expensive than doing it for the whole vehicle.

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Lenny HB said:
but probably would have to lose the swivel
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I wouldn't assume that without checking. The seats that supplier use are made by KAB & fitted to a suspension base. I own an office desk chair that's a KAB seat fitted to a standard five spoke base. There's plenty of scope for fixing the seat to the turntable & the turntable to the suspension base, just like in your present seat.
I'm even inspired to look into this for myself...
 
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Also, I suppose you've considered whether an
inflatable air cushion on the seat would be any use? I'm just thinking they may offer a little extra shock absorption. .

And, have you asked your GP to arrage for an occupational therapist to do an assessment of needs? Those people have astonishing expertise & knowledge of devices to make almost anything more do-able / less painful...
 
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stuartholmes said:
Glad to see that, it's what I was going to suggest as I've heard other people singing the praises of having air suspension in the seat - which must be less expensive than doing it for the whole vehicle.
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The problem with air suspended seats is the actual movement of the seat as it absorbs the road. I have had them in all my Sprinters and they were absolutely fantastic but what I'm trying to negate, as much as possible, is shocks, bangs, bumps and unnecessary movement. If on a decent, smooth and very rare piece of road, she is relatively comfortable and the pain is manageable.
 
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stuartholmes said:
Also, I suppose you've considered whether an
inflatable air cushion on the seat would be any use? I'm just thinking they may offer a little extra shock absorption. .

And, have you asked your GP to arrage for an occupational therapist to do an assessment of needs? Those people have astonishing expertise & knowledge of devices to make almost anything more do-able / less painful...
Click to expand...
Due to the nature of the injury, the unknown length of time that this could take to heal and the full extent of any lasting damage, if any, the doctor is struggling to give her more oramorph, let alone any other help!
I will show her this and suggest its worth getting the ball rolling, thank you for the suggestion.
 
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SheikhLala said:
Due to the nature of the injury, the unknown length of time that this could take to heal and the full extent of any lasting damage, if any, the doctor is struggling to give her more oramorph, let alone any other help!
I will show her this and suggest its worth getting the ball rolling, thank you for the suggestion.
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Can only say good luck - oh and if it is or becomes a long-term impairment to her mobility, ie. her ability to walk 20 meters at a reasonable pace, get an application in for mobility allowance and a blue badge (even if you're driving, as long as she's on the journey with you). In fact you could start those applications now, they might say she's not eligible until doc says it's going to be a long-term impairment but you can start the discussion with him.

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SheikhLala said:
The problem with air suspended seats is the actual movement of the seat as it absorbs the road. I have had them in all my Sprinters and they were absolutely fantastic but what I'm trying to negate, as much as possible, is shocks, bangs, bumps and unnecessary movement. If on a decent, smooth and very rare piece of road, she is relatively comfortable and the pain is manageable.
Click to expand...
Tricky - sounds as if you need adjustable shock absorbers with attached footrest. Which doubtless doesn't exist. Sorry, it must be awful.
 
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Lenny HB said:
I don't think it will be that effective in what you want to achieve. We have Full Air although the ride is a lot better it's still a hard ride it now thumps over bumps rather than crashing
Although now I would never have a van without full air but that is mainly due to the driving stability.

If you have CP tyres I would change them first for van tyres, I have fitted Toyo Observe Van and I reckon the improvement in ride comfort is similar to the improvement the full air gave.
Click to expand...
Van tyres and perhaps all season. Just changed mine from previous van summer tyres and was amazed at the softer, less rattly ride we now have...
 
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Yes, falken van 11 allseason. 109 load rating as we are only 3300kg.... 3 peaks m&s as intending another winter trip. Previous tyres were a summer van tyre, 5 years old so time to change.
 
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