"lifestyle" Suspension

[Peter_5129011]

Weird title, but I shall explain.

I'm looking at smaller towcars for my relatively light Adria, and I've been drawn by the Berlingo and Roomster.

Now checking the online stuff, both are suitable for the van, but both are available in a "lifestyle" type trim, with faux 4x4 looks and slghtly raised suspension, is the increase grond clearance an advantage or disadvantage for towing? Or is it as I suspect swings and roundabouts?

(My thought is it's an advantage purely from an experence at a site where the plastic under tray of my unladen A4 Estate was torn off by a speed bump, and I dread to think of the damage it would have done to a loaded car with a van on the back).

 

[RogerL]

Raised suspension usually results in softer suspension and more body roll which isn't good for towing. Full size 4x4s have the same "problem" but their weight more than compensates.

Damage to undertrays from speed humps, to normal height vehicles with suspension in good condition, is unusual - it's usually the suspension itself which is damaged by continual passage over them.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Peter,

I echo Rogers words, and would add that certainly road humps that the local authorities put in place are supposed to meet certain design criteria, about height and angle of attack etc. Of course humps on private roads are not requited to meet the same specifications, but, if a hump was so distant from specification it could probably be challenged, because it is a road that the members of the public are invited to travel.

A fully loaded car should traverse a speed hump safely up to the speed limit in force, if the car bottoms on the hump then one must suspect that the car is overloaded. Check your noseload and the luggage capacity of the cars boot.