beefing up the suspension

[ashh]

its never been overloaded, just a constant heavy load which with worn suspension is causing (imo) excessive tyre wear and terrible handling.
I think Ill do a bit more research on the bits and pieces....

Which 4wd site would be good to go and do some research on ???

[oldboot]

never been overloaded.......hmmm.........have you ever weighed it loaded??
remember a tonne is only 100 x 10 KG items

and on the 4wd cab chasis you only have about 1200KG between kerb weight and GVM.....and that 1200KG has to include the weight of tray, racks, front bull bar, about 60KG of fuel and passengers...

A couple of respectably size builder boys and their lunch in the front and there is 250 KG alone.

4wd action would be a place to start.

all the suspension suppliers have web sites

there is also a variety of stock spring packs fitted to various hiluxes too.....start taking notice in car parks.

upgraded rear springs are more common than upgraded tortion bars for the front.

OH...if it is a usedy.....you might be wise to make sure what you have under it now......and make sure the front stabaliser bar has not been disconnected.....some people do that to improve articulation....not a good idea.

another thaught .......do what you can to lower your centre of gravity.

is there any heavy stuff you can pack lower or toward the center of the vehicle.....you don't have to move much weight arround to completly change how these small vehicels behave when they are near capacity.

sometimes withe the multi fit trays, they fit them higher than they could be......the tray on my 2wd could be dropped 25mm, just by dropping down 1 hole in all the brackets....like....12 bolts is all it takes.......
it might only be an inch.....but it might be worth having.

if you are chewing tyres... I'd be looking at tyre preasures too...if you don't off road it....you might be wise to fit some standard wheels and run light truck road tyres.


OK... just to get you started.....an iron man suspension package, 2 rear leaves, 2 front tortion bars and shocks all round will cost you about $1300 add a few extra bushes and rubbers and stuff you should get away with it under $1500 if you do it your self and you don't need to replace anything serious in the steering department.

Iron man have an office near Strathpine and most independent 4wd shops will sell you theur stuff.

cheers

[ashh]

never been overloaded.......hmmm.........have you ever weighed it loaded??
cheers

yes, as I said it weighs in 2.7t fully loaded

another thaught .......do what you can to lower your centre of gravity.

allready done

is there any heavy stuff you can pack lower or toward the center of the vehicle

The planks are only 80mm above cab height inc rack (40mm gal)
the 8 x 6m planks are stacked 4 each side and I have moved/slid them forward and back untill I found the sweet spot for evenly distributing the weight...
trestles, hangers ladders and 6ft toolbox are fitted and positioned to balance the weight evenly as possible.
The planks are to the extreme right and left sides of the racks, I have experimented with having them stacked straight down the middle and there was no difference in regards to body roll, The weight is still there no matter where its positioned.
I was thinking of getting a dual axle trailer, but its not as convenient trying to drag 7m of trailer everywhere you go compared to it being stacked on the truck..

[oldboot]

you would probaly find the hilux 2wd would be better than the 4wd.....the whole thing would be 6 inches lower and the rear springs are stiffer... that alone would be a major change.
AND you dont have to lift everything that extra 6 inches....thats why I have a 2wd as a work truck.

cheers

[ashh]

nah I wouldn't go back,
I like the extra height seeing over vehicles in front of me, the extra ground clearance for driving around on worksites, and I dont ever get bogged now

[oldboot]

hey... have a look at this
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Hilux-suspens...item45ef7ad11d
was at $799.

cheers

[GBC]

I'll buy some square line, you get the suspension, bring the whole show to my joint and while you're replacing my gutters I'll fit the suspension and take it down the road for an alignment! Merry christmasses all round.

[ashh]

Id take you up on the offer but as it stands it looks like xmas and new years day are the only days I'm not working, and when Im not at work, the home renos continue...and I have also just found out I have about a 9 month time limit to get it all done !
yeah, very merry christmasses all round lol

[GBC]

You sound like you're on a similar time line for renos as me - why do ya think I tried to draft you into doing some of mine?

Good luck with the ute.

[flybloke]

Ashh, Congrats on the baby is in order??

[ashh]

yep and its our first

please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy

[finding_time]

yep and its our first

please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy, please be a boy

Ashh

what you should be saying is please be healthy, please be healty, please be healthy!

Trust me when it comes it wont matter a stuff if it's a boy or girl I'm very lucky to have one of each!

Ian

Ps. Little girls give the best hugs

[Mossy247]

mate, pedders will do a full suspension set up for 1200 new shocks n springs etc. worth a look fitted and balanced.

[White Pointer]

G'day,

Don't spend a whole lot of money on suspension mods. The '03 truck isn't worth it. Get it weighed over a weigh bridge and if you are at 80% or more of maximum load on an axle or overall GVM you need something bigger. Suspension mods are not a cure all because they just transfer shock loads to the chassis. It's better to break a spring than a chassis rail.

Start here and come back to us if the weights are OK.

Regards,

White Pointer

[Mad-One]

Also if you fit air shocks or air bag assistors put them on seperate lines or when you corner they will just add to body roll buy transfering the air from one side to the other

Cheers Mad