Hello from a newish owner
Posted: September 4th, 2022, 5:41 pm
Hello from a slightly damp South Midlands. I’ve dipped in and out of the forum for a couple of years looking at various models and trying to get some insight into what might suit us but only registered today as I hope I might be able to pick the collective brain!
Our 2012 Mitsubishi L200 was fitted with Old Man Emu front and rear springs plus Koni Raid dampers about 6 years and 50,000 plus miles ago.
The rear springs were specified for a constant 400-500kg load as the pickup was used for quite heavily laden on and off-road touring in Europe and North Africa.
Unladen the ride was, as I has been warned, very stiff but loaded to almost maximum front axle and 200kg under maximum rear axle weight everything worked well, the truck sat level and ride was firm but supple.
However, we recently took a step into the unknown and bought a second-hand Karosser EC6 Eco as we wanted a little more comfort and somewhere to sleep in the dry and warm.
The problem I’ve come across is that while the demountable probably weighs a little less than our previous setup (canopy, steel drawers, roof tent, tools and spares etc., etc.) and the rear of the truck is by no means compressed down on to the bump stops, there is still a healthy gap between top of rear tyres and wheel arches.
It doesn’t wallow on corners or “submarine” on braking but there is a definite “nose-up” look to the vehicle.
We’ve no plans to take the truck and demountable on some of the routes travelled in the past but a safe, level and predictable ride is essential and I would be grateful for any thoughts and experience to help us work out the next step.
Would it be reasonable to assume that 50,000 miles of use - much of it off-road - has simply worn out the Old Man Emu rear springs?
I’m tempted by Milner Off-Road's replacement springs: one of their offerings is for a constant 500kg load that is warranted to 1000kgs with the addition of air bags but they also offer a 1000kg “working vehicle” set of replacement springs and dampers.
Does anyone have experience of aftermarket springs they would care to share? I’m not after a rock-hard setup for the sake of it, just want to be sure the demountable and truck are properly sprung when touring and prepared for a stiff ride when unloaded.
Thanks in anticipation.
Tony
Our 2012 Mitsubishi L200 was fitted with Old Man Emu front and rear springs plus Koni Raid dampers about 6 years and 50,000 plus miles ago.
The rear springs were specified for a constant 400-500kg load as the pickup was used for quite heavily laden on and off-road touring in Europe and North Africa.
Unladen the ride was, as I has been warned, very stiff but loaded to almost maximum front axle and 200kg under maximum rear axle weight everything worked well, the truck sat level and ride was firm but supple.
However, we recently took a step into the unknown and bought a second-hand Karosser EC6 Eco as we wanted a little more comfort and somewhere to sleep in the dry and warm.
The problem I’ve come across is that while the demountable probably weighs a little less than our previous setup (canopy, steel drawers, roof tent, tools and spares etc., etc.) and the rear of the truck is by no means compressed down on to the bump stops, there is still a healthy gap between top of rear tyres and wheel arches.
It doesn’t wallow on corners or “submarine” on braking but there is a definite “nose-up” look to the vehicle.
We’ve no plans to take the truck and demountable on some of the routes travelled in the past but a safe, level and predictable ride is essential and I would be grateful for any thoughts and experience to help us work out the next step.
Would it be reasonable to assume that 50,000 miles of use - much of it off-road - has simply worn out the Old Man Emu rear springs?
I’m tempted by Milner Off-Road's replacement springs: one of their offerings is for a constant 500kg load that is warranted to 1000kgs with the addition of air bags but they also offer a 1000kg “working vehicle” set of replacement springs and dampers.
Does anyone have experience of aftermarket springs they would care to share? I’m not after a rock-hard setup for the sake of it, just want to be sure the demountable and truck are properly sprung when touring and prepared for a stiff ride when unloaded.
Thanks in anticipation.
Tony