ironman Load Plus Helper Springs

Peter,

having been through suspension upgrades on my Navara (Ironman), Patrol (tried various) and the Tuck-truck (EFS/Toughdog) could I recommend you have a look at a comprehensive system rather than an add-on. I'm presuming you are looking at the Iron Man "Load-plus" system. Bear in mind this is an aid to handling while at the rated load limit. It's not something designed for extreme conditions as can be expected on many of our outback roads these days.

If you are likely to exceed your GVM (and that's pretty easy to do these days), or even come close to it, it would be a good idea to figure out exactly what weight you'll be carrying and look at beefing the entire system. It can be done fairly cheaply these days with ready to fit kits from companies like Ironman, EFS and others. I say this because travelling at or near GVM on the bitumen is a lot different to travelling at the same weight on outback roads where the conditions are a lot different and so are the strains and stresses placed on your vehicles suspension.

From my personal experience across three vehicles, steer clear of OME shocks. They do not rate and you will find many members on this site moving away from them. Konig 90mm Raid shocks are possibly one of the best on the market but come at a price. Personally I recommend the Toughdog Big Bore adjustable Shocks. This will give you a lot more flexibility in dealing with varying conditions.

Air bags can be a good thing. A set of convoluted bellows type bags on your vehicle would be a real asset for load and handling. Something like the Firestone Load-rite bags would be ideal. (I use a rolling sleeve type bag as it accommodates for a 4" lift). The problems come when people use these as the suspension rather than a leveling aid to a rated suspension system.

Food for thought. Hope it's been of some help.

Enjoy the trip

Mick

Thanks Mick.

Peter, is the GVM for your BT50 3019kg ?
That's what my 2010 PK Ranger is, and with full desert load (inc 205lt diesel, 80lt water, and all the usual camping kit), I come in at 2700kg.
Be careful with air bags, though not as bad with a single cab vs dual cab, with the wrong circumstances you can still risk chassis damage if pumped up too high.
If your GVM is as good as the PK, then I think the helper springs should be ok, as long as the OEM suspension isn't shot itself.

Hi Peter,


I would use Ironman constant load springs rather than helpers... I have them (constant load) and I am loaded to my limit ....Have done the GRR, CSR, Tanami and the Savannah Way with no problem.....Would stay away from air bags I did have a set and only put 15 to 20psi but it was starting to show a small bend in the chassis, nothing that caused a problem but enough to take them off....I now run the constant load springs and they are great....

Peter
I have the same vechicle only a Ranger, I carry a slide on camper and when fully loaded for a trip I go just under GVM. I still run standard suspension except for the shocks that I have upgraded. The ute has done 4 trips in cenral Aust, Cape York last year, great central road and a few others. We drive to the road conditions when on dirt and drop the tyre pressures with 80 km the max speed.
So far I've had no problems with any suspension parts or any other mechanical but can see why people suggest to upgrade.
I did use the helper springs on my Bravo extra cab due to rear sag with the camper on but had to crank them right up. They did the job but were really only a patch up.

Murray

Thank you. I'm thinking, after the feedback, that I will replace the shockies, which have now done 100,000klm and leave the rest as standard. It coped well with the load and the trip to the tip, and if we drive to the conditions and watch the weight we should be right.
Thanks everyone for the contribution.

The safest place for air bags is leave them in the shop. Do not touch them.

I have a 2012 BT50. I had the rear springs retempered and an extra spring fitted. It is under the top spring and is the full length as the top one, they are cupped under the shackle eyes at front and back.

They lift the rear approx. 100mm.
When I connect the van [ ball weight 260 Kg] the rear only drop about 35mm.

The ride is firm but not rough.

I had the job done in South Grafton. These guys are masters at their work.