Rear shocks - D4 - 3 tonne van

[JamesAdelaide]

Hi Guys,

I am having some rear suspension dampening issues.

Vehicle is Disco 4 2016 with 50,000km. Compomotive 18’s with newish BFG KO2. 3^rd row rear seats removed to save weight, cargo barrier, OL bulbar, rhino platform tray added. Using standard LR towbar.

Have just bought a second hand bushtracker van, 3 tonne loaded with water, but none of our gear (being confirmed this week on weigh bridge).

Ball weight 280kg measured on a set of SCA cheapie scales.
This is only going to get higher as we load the front generator box (genny + 2 jerrys)
Bushtracker are big on heavy nose weight, they are very against rear spare wheels, jerrys...

It was towing a bit too nose down, we’ve adjust hitch on van to level it up, yet to test.
So far have towed it from dubbo back home to Adelaide.

I’ve towed our camper trailer (1.4 tonne) and our 2 tonne boat heaps, no issues.

With the van however, the rear shocks just don't seem to be dampening well at all.
Hit a bit of undulation and there is a lot of ‘bounce’ in the arse.
On the smoother stuff it tows like a dream.

Tows really well other than that, van is not shunting, just a big dead weight and very stable.
The d4 engine and trans is a dream for the weight, trans in particular really shines using 6^th and 7^th well (wehere a 200 series would be revving its head off in 4^th no doubt!).

Has anyone had similar issues, surely after 50,000 km my shocks are nit stuffed??
Anyone got pricing on shock changeover?

I am talking it for a test drive with Triumph rover sprees this week.

[DieselLSE]

Just a thought and slightly off topic, but have you considered getting a Mitch Hitch? It sits about 50mm higher than the OEM D4 hitch. I suspect this would help by transferring the load point to level with the mid point of the chassis, as opposed to being lower than it.

[JamesAdelaide]

Yeah I have looked at it, but apart fro ground clearance, but of a waste of $$, and it puts the towball point further out.
Van is sitting perfect with the do35 hitch under the drawbar mount.

Anyone got any comments at all on d4 shocks?

James

[Geedublya]

It's possible that your shocks have lost their dampening due to either the oil going off or some mechanical problem and need replacement. 50K seems a little soon though, I just replaced mine at 200K due to a high speed patter but the low speed dampening still seemed OK. I didn't have any of the problems you describe even when towing my 3 tonne van which has a ball weight of just over 250kg on country back roads with undulations.

[JamesAdelaide]

It's possible that your shocks have lost their dampening due to either the oil going off or some mechanical problem and need replacement. 50K seems a little soon though, I just replaced mine at 200K due to a high speed patter but the low speed dampening still seemed OK. I didn't have any of the problems you describe even when towing my 3 tonne van which has a ball weight of just over 250kg on country back roads with undulations.

Thanks mate, good to know, sounds like similar van weights.
Could be a warranty claim... I'll see what my mechanic thinks on wed.
How much were yours to replace and did you just go factory ones?

[TrustyRusty]

Hi James,

Ive got a D4 TD6 2015 with 50,000kms and towed a 2.8t caravan (with water tank filled only). The tow ball on my D4 is also a bit low causing the nose of the van to slightly dip but still no issues like you describe from the rear shocks.

Ive just bought a new offroad 2.8t tare caravan so will probably be 3250Kg when fully loaded --- do you think this would be pushing the tow limit or asking for trouble for a lap around aus....Im just a bit worried im too close to the towing limit???

Regards

[101RRS]

Pitching is not uncommon - there is a long long thread on this about 6 months ago.

Garry

[Tombie]

There will be some pitching, aftermarket shocks aren’t successful at dealing with this either - most are worse!

The sensation is something that can be balanced by loading

[DiscoMick]

The rule of thumb is apparently the towball weight should be about 10% of the van weight. Sounds like yours is close to that.
I assume your D4 has air suspension. Have you got the air suspension adjusted so your D4 is level and not down at the back?

[Chops]

With mine there seems to be minimal pitching at any speed when fully loaded at just over 3.2t.
There will always be a little pitching if the roads a bit vague. I’ve had more weight than that on the back with a loaded car trailer, and it still behaved very well,,, even with no trailer brakes and a rather quick stop.
Two other things I’d be checking, is make sure your vans sitting level to start with, and if it’s an “off road” van, maybe have the suspension on that checked. If it’s on leaf springs, I’d think it wouldn’t be as critical. The last is how your brake controllers etc are set up,, making sure they’re compatible,,, not sure if that’s something to look out for, but I’d be checking to make sure.
With full air suspension, make sure you don’t use those hitch leveling units.