Hi Guys, I'm a newby great to be here,

I thought that someone out there might like to hear of my adventures with Mazda.

 Last year I bought a new BT50 ute and a used traytek slide on camper. After using it a few times I became aware that the springs just didn't handle the load of 600kgs. The springs flattened out and the headlights shone in the trees. I did some weight checks and found that I was still under the GVM by 300 kgs, so well within the advertised limits.

When buying the vehicle I was very specific with the sales person that I was buying the ute for the purpose of carrying a camper and was told that the payload on the Ute would handle anything I could throw at it. I began approaching Mazda and the local dealer referred me to the head office in Melbourne where I lodged an official complaint.

Initially Mazda wanted to do their own tests on my suspension and they found that when loaded my springs were still within their limits. I found that the only test they did was to measure the distance between the bumper rubber and the springs, nothing else was relevant to them.

During this time I did a web search and found the Grey Nomad website and while I found different comments regarding this issue I couldn't find anyone who had taken on Mazda regarding this. I decided to give it a shot with nothing really to lose. After being given the run around and being told they wouldn't pay a dime I took it to Fair Trading.

This had a more polite response from head office and they requested that I resubmit my details with weights both loaded and unloaded etc. I complied with this and was once again approached and told that they would not pay towards a new rear suspension. The excuses used were absurd including: The camper is not an approved Mazda accessory. It is not fitted correctly to the ute, and the overhang at the back of the tray is excessive. I checked all of these issues and found that it was all perfectly within legal limits. I had also tried to reason with the Mazda rep with no result, except him talking over the top of me. I suggested that instead of a camper I should put 600kgs of rocks in the back since it was the load that was the issue. This also had no result so I told him that I would take it further.

The next step was the tribunal so I payed $48 to lodge a complaint with the tribunal and sent it off. A couple of weeks later I received an offer from Mazda to pay for $1200 for the springs alone, since according to them it is a spring issue alone...all the advice I have been given is that the shocks need to be changed as well otherwise the ride will be rougher than it needs to be, and the shocks may be too short due to the extra lift in the springs.

To cut a long story a little shorter I told Mazda that I would hold out for the full amount of $1695 for Pedders to do a complete job. (I went to pedders because they were recommended by Mazda) So I'm currently waiting for a final resolution, we have a hearing with the tribunal booked in first week of August.

So here's hoping. Like someone else has said "its the principal of the thing" these companies are selling a product that does not do what they say it will. I should add that in lodging my complaint I focused on the headlights being made illegal at night by the load.

Thanks to all the advice on this site regarding suspension it has been a huge help for me to decide which option to go with. I'll let you know how it goes when I have a result.

Has your bull bar fallen off yet, lots of peoples has on rough roads?

Apparently the mounts for the bar can't stand the weight & vibration on unmade roads.

Lots of Bt50s seen carrying their bull bars on the roof rack on the Gibb River Road.  

Tore, did you measure the rear axle on its own? How did that figure compare with maximum allowable rear axle weight. I feel you may be a little overweight in that area.

Slide-on units that overhang the rear tend to be chassis breakers. You will need to slow right down on rough stuff and cattle grids. Bent chassis are not confined to twin cabs.

iana wrote:

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 As for a bulbar, the wife wants one fitted, but I want to put the rig over the weigh-bridge first to see where we are at weight wise first.

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 If weight is a problem then consider a Smartbar. They are lighter and are considered to be better than a steel one.

If you're serious about doing OFF Main roads and tracks (Corrugations ) etc.

Get in b4 it happens IT DOES... Chassis bends,cracks.

Get on net and check with forums.

Calculate "where" on the chassis rails it tends to crack\bend.
and get it reinforced.
They ALl have weak spots.

Most of us tend to Tow with them, not carry
so it doesn't bother the majority of (old fart) owners.
Plus.

If that model has Coil rear springs.
Look at King, they do "Progressive Rate" coils.
With EFS XTR, Shocks to match.

I used them on my last 4 veh's, Towing large vans round Aust.
VERY impressed and comfortable.

Just Tell them the "constant" load carried. Single\dual cab.
and the coils will be set to carry that load at req'd height. with the top coils being progressive.
IE. SOFTER ride first part. Full load ride the remainder.

EFS "XTR" shocks 2in lift. There r several models. Elite fine for this.
and you'll have a good riding vehicle everywhere.

IF you lift car 2 inches?. ALWAYS buy shocks with 2 in lift MORE than
the actual lift. to stop them opening up to stops.

Just don't take the camper off and go bush.
Those coils will flip you sideways.
They designed for carrying. NOT OFF-road work.

Those Progressive coils are better for 99% of Heavy duty vehicles.
Give a much softer ride till load added. with NO susp SAGGING when you do.

Tends to negate 70%ish of the "hard" ride you get
with full strength susp set for 1 ton'ish..

PS. I've tried others over the yrs. Pedder are good car springs as are Dobinson.
Buk King have better ride rep with the 4wd's.
as do EFS. A lot of serious Rally drivers use their top model.

Having a load of rocks is really no comparison As all the weight is very much above the spring mounts where as a Slideon creates a lot of leverage action to the load supported area and on uneven or corrugated roads the actual load being transferred to the suspension would be considerably greater than the measured static load when stationary. The risks of a cracked chassis as stated by others is very real. Having operated a Tow bar and all accessories related to towing for a number of years, I have seen it all. One common occurrence which used to happen to family sedans doing a lot of Horse float towing, the floor pan would stretch until the rear doors would not close and latch. To solve that issue the standard type tow bar had to incorporate bracing forward to the area under the rear seat so that the load and strain was transferred forward of the axle centre. In my opinion your situation is quite similar albeit different. I hope that you get a good outcome and no further problems. God luck.

Cheers Allen