Thread: Too tight on GVM

Originally Posted by Briar

Hey Tombie

Thanks for that. Went to Rimmer Bros. About $1600 for each corner. Still might be worth it for GVM if you only need the 4 air bags/ shocks and not other bits. However, for the Rear ones it says they are a "restricted item" and can't be sent overseas. Not a problem for front ones it seems. If the "restriction" can be overcome it might be enough to only upgrade the rear ones as it's the rear axle loading that will get you every time. Can you run standard air bags front and Ballistic rear?

Have you done some further enquiries about this? Thanks.

Would it be best to get a UK friend to take possession and send on or a secondary sender like you do with US Amazon?? I'm following your post. With a kaymar rear bar, long ranger tank and front Opposite Lock bar with winch. I'm sailing close to the wind as well. 4000kg GVM would be just piece of mind.

Even if you get them here, I doubt you'll find anyone to certify such a bespoke GVM upgrade. Police and Insurance are not going to recognise it nor accept "but I have ballistic airbags!" so you're still going to run into legal and insurance problems.

I imagine - in addition to the heavier duty bags and everything else Toombie mentioned, you'll also have to upgrade the compressor? and/or a large number of the EAS components to deal with the constant higher pressures. The issue I ran into doing Cape York near over GVM was the compressor couldn't keep up. It has to run high pressure to offset the weight and I had a day where it would overheat and cut out after a few hours of tough track leaving me cresting a hill, the nose touching the ground and having to have a coffee break while it cools down enough to re-inflate the front bags.

Even if it were possible to get all the parts I recon you'd be looking at well over $10,000. lot of money to sink into a car that may blow it's crank at any moment

While I love the car to bits, it has taken me all over Australia, everywhere the 79 in our convoy has gone but in comfort and style... I would argue if your setup and payload are frequently putting you over GVM then perhaps a D4 is not the most appropriate vehicle for your application. or consider other ways to carry your payload like a small offroad trailer/camper.

Nope, just the bags, bushes and knuckles for the upgrade.
A qualified and recognised engineer can then sign it off and you can get your mod plate.

I have all the parts listed down - no need to upgrade mine just yet.

I would be having a very close look at your rear axle loading once you have the camper attached.

David

Originally Posted by Tombie

Nope, just the bags, bushes and knuckles for the upgrade.
A qualified and recognised engineer can then sign it off and you can get your mod plate.

I have all the parts listed down - no need to upgrade mine just yet.

What did you do to overcome Rimmers' policy that they will not sent the Rear ballistic suspension to any overseas location? Can you post the parts list please?

I agree with you that an appropriate engineer should be able to issue a mod plate to give an upgraded GVM. This is something I will check on with an engineer I have spoken to at Orange in NSW to confirm that if I got the B6 (Ballistic suspension), he would consider that as an appropriate suspension upgrade.

My concern initially is: How are you going to get it to Australia if Rimmers won't send it? Is this a potential "group buy" arrangement that could be made? Thanks.

Originally Posted by Briar

What did you do to overcome Rimmers' policy that they will not sent the Rear ballistic suspension to any overseas location? Can you post the parts list please?

A freight forwarder may be able to help?

Originally Posted by veebs

A freight forwarder may be able to help?

Quite possibly. I was curious as to what Tombie was considering doing. I think there are a few who would consider this kind of upgrade (esp anyone towing), so maybe Tombie has contacts at Rimmers (or elsewhere) and a group buy might be the go? I'd be in I think.