Thread: Large Caravans and the D4

My basic understanding is that load sharing suspension comes into its own when towing off road where as non load sharing dual axle independant suspension can have potential issues over undulating terrain.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong...

cheers,
Terry

Originally Posted by mowog

The simple choice and cheaper would have been to use 3.5T Simplicity suspension. You never hear anything bad about simplicity suspension its reliable and tough and gets the job done.

I was talking to a chap today whose van has Simplicity Suspension. He says he's had a problem with tyres scrubbing out and, recently, one spring broke just past the eye (the one under the A-arm pivot) and the other end which has the shackle, folded up under the chassis. He's also lost a pivot bolt from the A-arm.

Originally Posted by TerryO

My basic understanding is that load sharing suspension comes into its own when towing off road where as non load sharing dual axle independant suspension can have potential issues over undulating terrain.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong...

cheers,
Terry

Nothing like resurecting a dead thread hey Ron,,

so Terry--
what problems can I expect with a non-load sharing 4 wheel independent set up?

You should have no problems Pedro.

In reality non load sharing suspension is potentially only an issue if you intend to load the van up to max weight and do some serious off roading where you are towing on a quite severe undulating track.

Then you could end up in a potential situation with all the weight of the van on first the front wheels with hardly any on the rears and then the opposite with all the weight on the rear tyres.

Load sharing suspension does what it's name infers, so it's near impossible to put all the load on only two tyres with a tandem axle off road van.

You have to be doing some pretty extreme stuff with your van to face any potential issues with overloading of tyres.


Cheers,
Terry

That makes sense,,
Thanks Terry,,


Hope it all went well last weekend

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Nothing like resurecting a dead thread hey Ron,,

After speaking with the owner of the Disco, I thought I'd Google it — and what comes up but Mowog's thread.

If you check out dual axle Simplicity suspension it is quite the opposite of single axle Simplicity. The leaf springs are mounted upside down and connected to the chasis in the middle of the spring pack with the axles mounted to the ends of the springs.

Many people, often those that claim an engineering background, will tell you it doesn't work and is rubbish, but personally I have found it to be way better then conventional leaf spring suspension. Sure there is better suspension out there but many van manufacturers don't offer the more expensive options.

I'm more then happy with the Simplicity on our van.

Cheers,
Terry

I'm with you Terry. The 'Military' load sharing suspension that Simplicity make, and is the only one used by Bushtracker, has proved its self over, and over again, and as you describe it, is nothing like the photo of another model shown in the recent post.
I was travelling through some very deep, and dried up mud ruts, and was watched by my travelling companion. He stated that the four corners of my Cruiser were going in all directions, while the Van remained level, and steady, with the suspension doing its thing.
I have also found very smooth towing habits on the bitumen.
Regards,
Don.