Towing my caravan with my D2 is very ordinary

I finally got around to doing my van springs. I did an undersling and its lifted it considerably and with the coils on the vehicle allowed me to level it totally. I came across some little probs that need attending to like worn spring shackle bushes which would have contibuted to the swaying. I have to say with the van lift its not quite right but a hell of a lot better, and although not one,looks like an offroad van now:D. It tows heaps better but just needs some tweeking so to speak.

Pics before undersling
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...12/11/1087.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...12/11/1088.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/01/687.jpg

Some pics of the van now
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...12/11/1089.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...12/11/1090.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...12/11/1091.jpg

The last two look like it is after the mod! Looks high.

Yeah SB they are the after pics. It is higher than I antisapated but tows so much better behind the D2. It is perfectly level now and I wont have the issues I had changing a wheel on it now. It's obviously not an offroader but gives me heaps more clearance to get it more places. Before I did the undersling I turned it around in the paddock next to it in the 3rd pic which has a very minor step up onto it and the bum dragged on the road getting up there. Wont happen now:D. I took it for aound 10k run and seems a lot better so I'm thinking there was just too much more weight on the rear axle compared to the front one. I will get a pic of it all set up on the disco when I can.


Steve

I am glad for you that the towing stability has improved, just sorry you had to do away with the airbags.

Thanks SB, I know they are good in a lot of cases and I will miss being able to lift it up at the push of a button. But to be honest much happier with whats in there now. I put the SLS gear on ebay yesterday, Compressor,airbags and the box it mounts in. There was someone who was interested on here but bugger I can't remember who it was and can't find the post it was in. If they read this "Sorry" :(

I would like to think the improvements more to do with the fixed shackles than raising the van 4 inches or replacing the SLS

what was the real problem?
I doubt you'll ever know now Sharkee;)

all you have to do now is post some holiday snaps:p

Thanks Pedro, Yeah I may not ever know but at a guess I reckon too much of the weight was distributed on the rear axle instead of being more evenly spread but who knows!. Could have been a combination of all the things I've changed maybe?. Will definately get some happier snaps;):D

Cheers Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robbotd5

Gee I don't know, it maybe that I have not towed my van with anything else but I feel my D2a does a preaty good job concidering it's got 2300kg and 23ft of van hanging off the back of it. We just did a 4500km tour of Victoria and experienced all road conditions, stiff headwinds and some gnarly hills. I was able at most times to sit on 90-95km/h and did not hold up traffic. All the while she returned 13.5 l/100km. Sure, on the steep hills, I got back to second gear (mainly to keep the lid on the EGT's) but she just kept on plugging forward. All the trucks that passed me on the flat were despatched with on the hills. I did get some trailer sway but it was always caused by either cross winds or passing semi's. So for now I'm a preaty happy camper.
Regards
Robbo.

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Hi robbotd5 i think you might of answered one of my problem before i have 2002 td5 auto but have a problem when towing our van which ways only 1150 kgs it starts of ok but you have to slow stop for intersection i struggle to get to 80k,s again gearbox rebuilt at easter and replaced wastegate modulator it has a straight through exhaust apart from a small muffler at the back seems to make plenty of boost by the gauge have you or anyone got any ideas of what it could be.