Research can be confusing ?? I Have a 2004 BA Ford one tonne Falcon Tray Back, I carry a Freeway Slide on Camper which is about 30 yrs old, Am not sure of weight yet ?? but my springs are flat when she is on the ute, Am looking at a couple of options through the many many points of view from talking to other nomads, Have looked at Helper springs but a person told me that they can snap the front part of the leaf spring ?? Have looked at air bags but another told me that they are a hassle and ware to quick ??? Can anybody help with some hard facts would be much much appreciated .. yt65 ..also a good website for the access af autogas when venturing outback my car is factory gas no petrol been stuck once and cost me $410 on a tilt tray to go 60 km then $90 to fill up God lov them ... Happy travels
Please don't get upset , I had a BF2 ute with a tradies box bought brand new and it was a piece of rubbish( being polite) ? The company I worked for spent in excess of $20,000 keeping it on the road for 3 years mainly because the stupid boss did not realize that there are two different suspensions available from Ford . I eventually swapped utes with my supervisor who financed his own car and I grabbed his because it was a BF and had the heavier suspension and larger diff and wheel bearings . I carried approx. 600 KGs of equipment and the box probably weighed in at 400ish and I could not believe the difference in utes . I am in the same situation as you in that we mainly run on gas but with petrol backup , my BF2 ute use to get around 480/500 kms on a tank of gas which I am told will be enough to do the big loop but maybe look at another tank if it is only for safety sake.
bill12 said
10:38 AM Sep 18, 2014
My old freeway slide on weighs 840kgs , loaded, on a weighbridge. So the are heavy.I,m buildind a new one that looks like weighing 1/3 to half of that.I have Ironman loadplus helpers on my rear springs, and at $120., They are great.Off to The Cape in two weeks , so that will give them a work out.I can sendyou some pics if you want. Bill
YT65 said
11:23 AM Sep 18, 2014
Thanks for your reply, My Car has not give me any trouble it has been a great car for me, sounds like you had the opposite experience, Getting some work done at the moment ready for my adventure for just peace of mind i guess, again thanks for responce
YT65 said
11:29 AM Sep 18, 2014
Will look into weight of mine at next stop Coffs Harbor, Yes am thinking that will get the Helper spring option fitted before i leave Taree, Pics would be great will post some of my journey when get out of Taree.. Enjoy the the cape, Am making my way slowly to Townsville, who knows after that ???
patrolst said
11:58 AM Sep 18, 2014
Try a suspension company for the installation of progressive leaf springs.
These should handle the load and still give the normal ride when the camper is not on the tray.
YT65 said
12:37 PM Sep 18, 2014
The proggesive leaf springs are the Iron man helper spring option i am looking at..?? Yes
hako said
01:08 PM Sep 18, 2014
Re running out of autogas - there is available a hose which allows you to transfer the contents from a 9KG cylinder into your ute. Not sure if they are 'legal' but I know I'd carry one if on autogas solely.
Re weight - you may also need to upgrade your tyres to a higher rating.
Good Luck.
PJK said
01:16 PM Sep 18, 2014
Before you spend anything on suspension, I would be checking the weight.
Check all up weight, plus check rear wheels only.
Any weigh bridge can do that for you for a few dollars.
That looks like a lot of the load is behind the rear axle, so might be overloading the rear axle even if not fully overloading the ute.
Once you know the weight then you can deal with the suspension, or trade one or the other to get what you need.
Regards
Peter
PJK
scooner said
07:12 AM Sep 19, 2014
hi i have a ba falcon dedicated gas ,had it for 9yrs never ran out of gas,klm display on dash plus beeps when getting low ,
i have heavy duty springs fitted, its been a really good vehicle
did see a chap with a 120klg bottle laying down in his wagon with a home made fitting filling it at a service station very dodgy and illegal,
attendent unaware of it,
but nowadays plenty of lpg about
JackoFJR said
08:01 AM Sep 19, 2014
You need more than just a spring upgrade a vehicle upgrade would make more sence
SnowT said
12:52 PM Sep 19, 2014
I had an old XB which had a saggy rear end I did 2 thing's..
Found a set of Heavy Duty Leaf's.. the 7leef spring's and had them rebuilt[Re-tensioned] I then installed a Full set of nolathane Bushes, made the ride a Little bit hard and also installed a Set of Pump up shock's..
for you I would up the Leaf's and get them reset and maybe think of a air suspension for the rear end..
Juergen..
Psst I'm think'n of putting Air Bag's lifters in the back of my coaster..
j
hako said
02:40 PM Sep 19, 2014
In the NT and WA LPG is not always available - we just came back from a trip over there and many roadhouses in remote areas display a "out of service" sign on the LPG pump.
exa41 said
04:13 PM Sep 19, 2014
I once saw airbags installed on a vehicle that was grossly overloaded along with the cracks in the chassis between the spring hangers , but not sure of the weight carried .
YT65 said
05:43 PM Sep 19, 2014
Thanks to everyone for the extra info has been all good to look into - the car upgrade would be good i will give you my acc details for the deposit ive been looking at trucks around $15 to $20,000 thanks.... Sorry this car is it for now and will do what i have to ... i know i will get there... am getting Air bags fitted and nolathane bushes work my way in from there ... next find out weight a ford guy is getting back to me next week... there is a way and i will find out
YT65 said
05:45 PM Sep 19, 2014
PSS.. had my tyres checked and i can get no better i already have the best... the tire guy said
Research can be confusing ?? I Have a 2004 BA Ford one tonne Falcon Tray Back, I carry a Freeway Slide on Camper which is about 30 yrs old, Am not sure of weight yet ??
but my springs are flat when she is on the ute, Am looking at a couple of options through the many many points of view from talking to other nomads, Have looked at Helper springs but a person told me that they can snap the front part of the leaf spring ?? Have looked at air bags but another told me that they are a hassle and ware to quick ??? Can anybody help with some hard facts would be much much appreciated .. yt65 ..also a good website for the access af autogas when venturing outback my car is factory gas no petrol been stuck once and cost me $410 on a tilt tray to go 60 km then $90 to fill up God lov them ... Happy travels
Thanks for your reply, My Car has not give me any trouble it has been a great car for me, sounds like you had the opposite experience, Getting some work done at the moment ready for my adventure for just peace of mind i guess, again thanks for responce
Will look into weight of mine at next stop Coffs Harbor, Yes am thinking that will get the Helper spring option fitted before i leave Taree, Pics would be great will post some of my journey when get out of Taree.. Enjoy the the cape, Am making my way slowly to Townsville, who knows after that ???
Try a suspension company for the installation of progressive leaf springs.
These should handle the load and still give the normal ride when the camper is not on the tray.
Re weight - you may also need to upgrade your tyres to a higher rating.
Good Luck.
Check all up weight, plus check rear wheels only.
Any weigh bridge can do that for you for a few dollars.
That looks like a lot of the load is behind the rear axle, so might be overloading the rear axle even if not fully overloading the ute.
Once you know the weight then you can deal with the suspension, or trade one or the other to get what you need.
Regards
Peter
PJK
i have heavy duty springs fitted, its been a really good vehicle
did see a chap with a 120klg bottle laying down in his wagon with a home made fitting filling it at a service station very dodgy and illegal,
attendent unaware of it,
but nowadays plenty of lpg about
Found a set of Heavy Duty Leaf's.. the 7leef spring's and had them rebuilt[Re-tensioned] I then installed a Full set of nolathane Bushes, made the ride a Little bit hard and also installed a Set of Pump up shock's..
for you I would up the Leaf's and get them reset and maybe think of a air suspension for the rear end..
Juergen..
Psst I'm think'n of putting Air Bag's lifters in the back of my coaster..
j