Uprating front coils on Fiat Ducato

[MisterB]

Are the struts any different on the 9 speed auto.
Was just thinking that if the struts and rear shocks were specd for 3500 chassis, then it could be advisable to go to higher duty damping as Mister B needs to be uprated to 4000Kg ?
May have been worth the extra £180 to get uprated gas struts since all the work was being done anyway to fit new coil springs.

didnt really have time to or the inclination to go for uprated gas struts on the front, as i posted previously, at 3850kg i had leeway with the 5% overweight allowance. my uprating had nothing to do with how the vehicle handled.

re whether on a maxi chassis,yes i do have 130mm stud pitch wheels i have no idea. i sent all my details to SV tech and just followed what they said (i did mention my wheel details)

anyway, its all done now, so i will see how it goes. I just need new tyres now and the comfortmatic gearbox oil and recallibration (last done just under two years ago - fluids all clear at the time!)

 

[Lenny HB]

Are the struts any different on the 9 speed auto.
Was just thinking that if the struts and rear shocks were specd for 3500 chassis, then it could be advisable to go to higher duty damping as Mister B needs to be uprated to 4000Kg ?
May have been worth the extra £180 to get uprated gas struts since all the work was being done anyway to fit new coil springs.

Not sure as mine has VB struts & springs and front axle is rated at 1960kg, my mate has the same van but standard struts and his rated at 1960 also so mabe they are uprated.
If on the plate the front axle is 1850kg they are probably standard.

 

[daimlermg]

I don't know about 2018 vans but with 9 speed auto on the light chassis you get the Maxi running gear, brakes, hubs & wheels. Our van is 2024 with 180hp with 9 speed and that's what we have.
Order the auto on the Maxi heavy chassis it's 15kg extra weight on the light chassis it's 55kg.

If I understand this correctly having an auto on the maxi heavy chassis the motorhome will be 40 Kg lighter than having the standard 3500 Kg chassis. If so, what is the disadvantage of having the heavy chassis?.
The heavy chassis being 4250 Kg will save all the upgrading work and also will be easier to downgrade back to 3500kg if required in the future.

 

[Lenny HB]

If I understand this correctly having an auto on the maxi heavy chassis the motorhome will be 40 Kg lighter than having the standard 3500 Kg chassis. If so, what is the disadvantage of having the heavy chassis?.
The heavy chassis being 4250 Kg will save all the upgrading work and also will be easier to downgrade back to 3500kg if required in the future.

The maxi chassis weighs 40 kg more than the light so they are both 55kg heavier than a light chassis with a manual box.
Interestingly on the smaller Carthagos the light chassis has 15" wheels as standard but they will only sell you one with 16" wheels which you have to pay extra for. so on their paperwork the heavy chassis is lighter as 16" wheels are standard.

The heavy chassis has the advantage of a rear axle rated at 2500kg compared to 2000kg for the light, this is on Al-Ko chassis.

 

[MisterB]

How do i know/find out which chassis i actually have then and what difference will it make to me as i have already gone through the uprating process with all paperwork submitted?

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[Lenny HB]

How do i know/find out which chassis i actually have then and what difference will it make to me as i have already gone through the uprating process with all paperwork submitted?

SV Tech will be able to tell you but you should be able to tell from the Certificate of Conformity.

 

[daimlermg]

Out of interest as you were upgrading your suspension, why didn’t you go for the heavy chassis in the first place.
I can see why somebody would go for the light chassis if they had the manual gearbox to save weight.
It’s all a bit of a minefield, it must’ve taken you Some time to get your head around the it when you ordered yours.

 

[Happy Jack]

Out of interest as you were upgrading your suspension, why didn’t you go for the heavy chassis in the first place.
I can see why somebody would go for the light chassis if they had the manual gearbox to save weight.
It’s all a bit of a minefield, it must’ve taken you Some time to get your head around the it when you ordered yours.

It's not a new van that Mister B has, it's a 2018 model and I think it was already converted.

 

[MisterB]

Does anyone want my original front coil springs for free? You would need to collect or pay postage. 2018 Fiat Ducato, 20,004 miles, only changed due to uprating ..