Pathfinder suspension

Meridith,
get onto Dobinson springs in Rocky, Qld. Tell them what you will be carrying in the back and your ball weight is, the will advise you on what you require. They are a well regarded spring manufacturer.

As for airbags. I am not a fan of them at all unless the vehicle is designed for them.

Had the same issue went to king springs they looked up their listings for the spring diameter and and coil size and picked a spring off the list they had, it was out of a some other vehicle can't remember what though, it was 40mm longer and good for an extra
200 kg ? plus longer heavier shocks, worked out well
Kev

Hi Meridith. I don't care what the other posters say. If you want your vehicle to ride the same as it does now UNLOADED, but is able to carry a few hundred kilo in the rear then Airbags are the only way to acheive this. I have over 50 customers that we have fitted airbags to their vehicles over the last five years and not one has had a failure. There are two 200 series vehicles, both on their tow limit which equals 350kg towball weight and one has done over 80000km TOWING full time. He has 120000km on the clock. Pressures run between 5lb unloaded and 30lb loaded and as I said, they are fitted correctly and not one failure.
My own vehicle, a 2012 has done around 8000k towing. I only need 10lb loaded and my towball weight is 250kg. You should be able to get them fitted for under $500. Google the Australian retailer, Airbag Man, and ask him to recommend a fitter in your area. I'm sure you will not be disappointed.
If you don't mind a harder ride when unloaded,then go the spring/shock way. Cheers,Bob

Hi Meridith D,

I'll give you my 20 cents worth for air bags.

Airbags are another form of bump stop, the pressure inside them are raised to compensate for extra load carried, they are not designed for suspension travel, they may have some travel, but not to the degree of correct springs.
Any bumps or rough roads will be transmitted directly to the one point in the chassis just like a bump stop.

The problem is amplified if there is a weight on the towbar.
Springs are designed to carry weight and give suspension travel.

There has been quite a lot of feedback on the perils of vehicles towing with airbags resulting in bent chassis and cracked spring towers on this forum.

No doubt there are many users of airbags that have not had problems, especially if not towing.

It's all relative to how much you will be to maximum load capacity, speed, and known road conditions.

regards Alpero

Friends of mine have just added a Hayman Reese weight distribution hitch (WDH.) They are both towing large Future Systems vans with around 250 -270 kg ball loads. Their rigs tow perfectly well without any suspension mods.

Don't waste you money on suspension mods. A well set up WDH will beat suspension mods every time.

Meridith,

Have you checked the GVM of the Pathfinder fully loaded, full of fuel, passengers, luggage etc without the van, Tare weight is around 2200kg and GVM is around 2880kg giving a carrying capacity of around 680kg which really isn't much (but typical of the newer 4WD's)

Then take off your ball weight of 150kg leaving a carry capacity of just 550kg.

It might be a simple fact that you are overloaded.

Not a simple answer as to what to do. Get a GVM engineered upgrade? Fit a suspension upgrade and still be overloaded, buy a smaller van or bigger tow.

Meridith

If you really want the best answers then go to Ultimate Suspension
at Ingleburn.
Have only ever heard good things about them, I'm sure you'll be satisfied.

Isn't there a Pathfinder forum? I'd ask there where it is likely someone has already been throgh this before you.

Air Bags +1... when you dont need them, leave them at 5lb, when you have that heavy load then go up to 30lb. I have excellent aftermarket suspension that lets me travel unladen for 95% of the time, the airbags help that last 5+ of the time... Had it for 3+ years, never the slightest problem.....

I have a 2008 pathfinder and tow a jayco expanda. We fitted poly air airbags before going on the big lap last year. Also had a hayman reece tow bar fitted to replace the Nissan tow bar and used a wdh. Had no suspension troubles at all in 20,000km and had a nice level ride.