[Slash]

I've just bought a new bipper van and got it fitted with a 350 system from K Systems which are great,however when tank is full the back of the van looks very low but the payload is 650,I've been to my mechanic and he says to get some spring assistors to put between the spring coil,does anyone on here use them and how good are they.

[Jonny 87]

I've never heard of assisitors?

I do know guys with vw transporters that tend to just upgrade their springs to stronger and more rigid ones.

Standard transporters look like there dragging there back end around when it's full with 650 litres.

Could you not look into upgrading your springs/coils?

[Slash]

I did but Peugeot said they only do standard ones for a bipper.

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

wrong place to ask , I would try a caravan fourm  they will know the ins and out of these , I can remember my dad having these on a old maxi back in the day big blocks of rubber you use to fit inbertween the coils

[Scrimble]

on  my vauxhall combo a local garage replaced the rear springs because one of them had snapped when I took it to get mot'd they replaced the springs with some cheap pattern springs and the van sat on the deck with a full tank of water, the van looked overweight,  I replaced the rear springs with genuine vauxhall springs and the van sits correctly now,

[dd]

Might be worth checking it on a weighbridge. It is possible you are within the payload but could be overloading one of the axles. Especially if tank is against the bulkhead, the front axle could be overloaded.

[Spruce]

I've just bought a new bipper van and got it fitted with a 350 system from K Systems which are great,however when tank is full the back of the van looks very low but the payload is 650,I've been to my mechanic and he says to get some spring assistors to put between the spring coil,does anyone on here use them and how good are they.

I would hesitate to use spring assistors TBH.   As the body settles down the the spring compresses. The assistor restricts the coil from closing.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/351118529502?adgroupid=13585920426&hlpht=true&hlpv=2&rlsatarget=pla-131843278866&adtype=pla&ff3=1&lpid=122&poi=&ul_noapp=true&limghlpsr=true&ff19=0&googleloc=1006921&device=c&chn=ps&campaignid=207297426&crdt=0&ff12=67&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff14=122&viphx=1&ops=true&ff13=80

This leaves the remaining coils of the spring to take the stress of the load during driving. Springs are then stressed at the point of the end of the assistor and this will cause a premature failure.

Try to find a spring manufacturer that makes coil springs for the automotive industry. They will be able to manufacture  heavy duty  springs to your requirements.

I fitted H/D leaf springs to my Citroen Relay from Jone's Springs but they only do leaf springs. Mine was off the shelf as they make them for vehicles used in the motor home industry.  After 4 years the back of the van is still slightly higher  than the front even with a full tank of water on its back.

In a by gone era, we used to fill the inside of the coil springs of our 1962 Chevrolet with tennis balls to stiffen up the suspension when towing. It was quite a popular short term solution. We later got internal air cushions which were inflated with air but they didn't last long.

You could also try a motor factors such as Andrew page for a heavy duty set. They might just have a listing.

I have subsequently found this company
http://www.lesjofors-automotive.com/springs-distributor/united-kingdom.asp

[nathankaye]

Yep I use them mate. I use a fiat scudo, payload exceess 800. Im a one man n his van. 500 litre tank in back. Plenty of weight ratio spare, but playing havic with acceleration.  I purchased mine from the ebay. I'll post a link in a mo, and its helped tremendously

[CleanClear]

I've just bought a new bipper van and got it fitted with a 350 system from K Systems which are great,however when tank is full the back of the van looks very low but the payload is 650,I've been to my mechanic and he says to get some spring assistors to put between the spring coil,does anyone on here use them and how good are they.

I'll be suprised if a Bipper has rear coil springs . I thought it was a torsion bar axle. Give it to your mechanic to fit some for you, see how much he charges 

[nathankaye]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-26-38mm-Gap-Coil-Spring-Assistors-Spacers-Rubber-Towing-Caravan-Heavy-Loads-/231410124692?nav=SEARCH

[P @ F]

Hey Slash , can we get a pic of your system please , I have not long got the fiat version , would be nice to see how k systems did the install , x line did one too which looks good , just want to see how my diy measures up to them !

Cheers Rich

[Slash]

They done it similar to X lines,I took the bulkhead out so the tank could go a bit forward but not much,he wired it to the van battery,it won't let me upload them

[P @ F]

Ah, thats a pity , i even looked on the ksystems site on the off chance it was featured but sadly not .

Here are the ones i got anyway

[Slash]

Yeah,looks good,do you find the bipper is bottoming out when  tank is full,I'll try again tomorrow or I'll text them to your number if you want .

[P @ F]

I wouldn't say its bottoming out but it is lower than i would have liked , i have tried to lighten up as much as poss , took the floor ply out to fit the tank frame so it stayed out , changed the di to a 10" housing , i only carry one pole now, the boiler and gas bottle are soon to come out as its only used in winter , the next step is to place the battery behind the passenger seat and move the spare wheel from underneath and put it beside the tank behind the driver , it will be less of a pain to get to if i get a flat in that position anyway .
The problem is with such a dinky van that all the gear sits near the rear axle , its just a case of placing it a bit better, here is mine fully loaded before i started the lightening up
If you want to send me them pics my number is 07976 229120  Rich

 

[dazmond]

IMO them vans are ridiculously small for WFP.even for a one man band.much better and easier if you buy a bigger van with a better payload.you dont have to buy a transit size van either.ive got a connect t230(900kg payload)and theres plenty of room for 500l tank,gas bottle,heater,pole holders etc and its not overweight.pulls well and doesnt bottom out with  a full tank in the morning.

[Slash]

They are small but I have all what I need in it 

[slap bash]

350 liter tank in a Bipper is madness. That poor van will not last long with that load.  You are putting the vans systems under strain, brakes, clutch and suspension is telling you that already.AS the van get older all will get weaker and will pack up. I would never use more than 2/3 of the load available. It might be  able to carry it but it will not be safe on the road. Its your van and your life so go for it. My Connect has a 350 tank and has a payload of 850 kg and at time feel the weight if I apply the brakes quickly. So on a Bipper it must feel great. Getting pulled over by the cops is not joke it`s a reality.

[Slash]

The payload is 660 so if companies such as x line and k systems fit them into bippers I don't see an issue,I did originally want a 250 litre but was advised on a bigger tank at the same price.I'm looking into upgrading my rear spring coils and maybe just fill it with 250 litres

[dd]

350 liter tank in a Bipper is madness. That poor van will not last long with that load.  You are putting the vans systems under strain, brakes, clutch and suspension is telling you that already.AS the van get older all will get weaker and will pack up. I would never use more than 2/3 of the load available. It might be  able to carry it but it will not be safe on the road. Its your van and your life so go for it. My Connect has a 350 tank and has a payload of 850 kg and at time feel the weight if I apply the brakes quickly. So on a Bipper it must feel great. Getting pulled over by the cops is not joke it`s a reality.

I got a 600lcustom made tank in a dispatch with a 900kg payload. I have had the van 10 years from new and absolutely no problems. Great van. Also had it on a weighbridge and been pulled over by police once. (All OK).

I take your point about the bipper though. Van seems too small IMO to carry that load, despite the official payload spec.