suspension for a hilux carring a slide

Submitted: Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 13:40

ThreadID: 94868 Views:2147 Replies:7 FollowUps:1

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Suspension

There is an unfortunate but realistic fact about purchasing a new 4WD - it won't come fitted with a suspension system designed to carry the kind of load you'll pack for a serious outback trip.

zippy lou

Hi everyone, I am a newby to 4wdriving and would really appreciate some advice on what suspension we should be looking for. We have just purchased a new hilux SR which we will have our slideon on about 50% of the time. It would weigh approx 900kg fully loaded. We have this unit on a falcon ute at present which has airbags. As we want to get into some serious 4wdriving we need the best suspension I feel, but am a little confused as to which is the best. We are hoping to do the big trip in the next 5yrs or so!!! Also could anyone recommend a 4wd course on the gold coast. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

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Reply By: Member - Lisa M (NSW) - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 13:49

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 13:49

Hi zippy lou

You might get some hilux-specific help on newhilux.net there is a lot of info available and its free to join. good luck!

Lisa

AnswerID: 482994

Reply By: member - mazcan - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 14:39

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 14:39

hi zippy
you may like to read this thread there is some imfo thats worth noting in respect to suspensions and having a slide-on in respect to several different vehicle brands
thread 93028
cheers

AnswerID: 482998

Reply By: racinrob - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 14:46

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 14:46

zippy lou. In my opinion don't look any further than airbags, I carried a one tonne slide-on on my LandCruiser for many years, went from an extra leaf in my rear springs to red PolyAir bags then the black PolyAir bellows type bags which were the absolute best,wish I'd gone there first ! I did some serious off-road with out drama with them.
rr

AnswerID: 483000

Follow Up By: GT Campers - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 15:04

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 15:04

airbags will very quickly destroy a Hiliux chassis trying to carry 900kg+ as they apply a point load into the chassis. Airbags also delete the bumpstops which over-arches the springs. My opinion: 900kg is waaay too much to carry off-bitumen. Sorry.

FollowupID: 758207

Reply By: Member - wicket - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 15:13

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 15:13

If the slide on weighs about 900kg fully loaded then you will be over gvm once on the road. Consider 2 people, fuel, recovery gear etc etc. The gvm for a 150 series is about 2800kg , might need to weigh it before you go.
Our hilux is right on gvm with slide on and have standard suspension but with the polyair black bellows, on our second set the first ones lasted about 5 years.

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AnswerID: 483003

Reply By: Ozhumvee - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 17:57

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 17:57

As has been said to carry that sort of weight especially off bitumen you need a larger/heavier vehicle like a Landcruiser or Patrol.
A Hilux will not carry that sort of load in 4wd conditions.
The airbags also place the load at a point in the chassis which is not designed to carry that weight which will also lead to failure.

AnswerID: 483016