Simplicity Suspension on New Van

Hi. I searched on google and came up with the following.Regards,Bob.

Try a set of Koni adjustable shockers to Simplicity suspension and I'm
sure you'll have a much better riding van. In my opinion wide Leaf
springs still need shockers and the $600 odd $$$ would be well spent
and reduce van stress. We have Konis set for soft ride fitted
to our coil sprung van worked a treat even on severe corrugations.
The one spring set up in Simplicity tandem suspension makes it a true
load sharing suspension. 90mm to the bump stop is reasonalbe up
movement most vehicles dont have any more than that when loaded. If
the suspension is hitting the bump stop a lot I'd recommend slowing
down.
cya
Graham

Reply 12 of 15 posted 12 Oct 2003 at 22:14 -
collyn replied to the question

Re Simplicity suspension, BTs, semi trailers etc and the need or otherwise for shock absobers.

One could write a number of books on this. Years back I almost did but turned into a series of articles (in Modern Motor) instead.

Start by considering what happens when a wheel travels over a bump on a vehicle with leaf springs and no shock absorbers.

Wheel is thrust upward as it encounters bump compressing the spring. The kinetic energy of that rapidly rising wheel and part of the axle assembly is now held within that compressed spring (just like a bow that has been pulled taught by an archer).

Once the wheel is over the bump it is now hurled down again by the energy held within that compressed spring (i.e as if the archer has released the arrow).

The downward thrusting wheel impacts the road surface with one hell of a thump. This shock load is transmitted back through the vehicle structure where it does the damage that one reads about on sites like this.

The impact of the wheel onto the road compresses the tyre to the extent that the wheel rebound and thrust the wheel back up. The cycle repeats at a lower level of energy - and if you see a car with coild spring suspension and a broken or crook shock absorber the wheel literally bounces up and down like a demented yo yo.

What's needed therefore is a way of dissipating the energy imparted to the springs. This can readily by done by converting it into heat. That's what a shock absorber does and how it works. It's just a heat pump.

With leaf springs there is some resistance as one leaf slides over another but this occurs mainly on the upward cycle, little on rebound. It is fairly effective on multi-leaf springs, but as the stresses on such springs are huge, they must either be very short or have limited travel.

For a soft ride however, the requirement is for the opposite, supple springs with substantial movement. This can only be achieved by using adequate damping via the somewhat miscalled shock absorbers.

Simplicity suspension is a special case. It has very little spring travel, relying instead of the walking beam action to allow a wheel to rise over a bump, with the imparted intertia partially counteracted by the inertia of the other wheel of the pair.

Whilst this action does reduce the workload on a damper, l am far from convinced that it would not work a great deal better with adequate damping - but off-raod it's a lot better than most that's around.

Most semi-trailer suspension is of a similar walking beam nature - but that on the 6 X 6 ACCO for example has massive shock absorbers as well. The move to air suspension on trucks has made shock absorbers absolutely vital, as of course they are also with coil springs (as they have virtually zero effective damping).

Curiously, and with rare exceptions, caravan builders believe that none of the above applies to them.
Collyn Rivers

No shocks.

You will find that you may have to play with tyre presures a lot more than before.

A second for no shocks,,,,,,

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We have a Roadstar Voyager 4000 that has this and its still going Ok 6 years on.

Doesnt have shocks fitted. I run 50lb in the tyres and they seem to stay at that and generally run at about 7-8 deg above ambient.

Use a set of tyre senders to keep a track of them and it works cos picked up a big nail in one and alarm went off when tyre dropped 25% of pressure.
A worthwhile investment on a tandem van as hard to notice if you get a puncture in a tandem.

Tows like a dream and weighs 2.8 tonne

Cheers.

We have travelled full time for 4 years on some very rough tracks -riding on Simplicity suspension - no shocks - no problems.

Shocks are not standard equipment and I do not think you will add any value by installing them them

B-T

I doubt that Hauffe would have told anyone that you need shocls as they are not normally fitted.

I have a 3 Ton Simplicity and I cannot speak highly enough on the ride it gives.

With a normal suspension the axle sits mid spring and needs dampening for vertical chatter.

The simpliciity load share has the axles at the ends of the spring and as the front wheel rises the back wheel cushions the action and as the back wheel rises the front wheel cushions the action.

This action in itself softens the ride and eliminates the need for shocks.

Shocks would be a cost with little result under the circumstances.
Ian