Yes a great tow car and a relaxed solo drive with acres of space for passengers, dogs and gear.
Air suspension is much better dynamically than steel/rubber suspension BUT there's a higher initial cost and the extra complexity means that any failure will be expensive - in some cases air suspension can be used to increase or decrease the ground clearance, useful when towing on uneven terrain to lift the caravan tail or raise the A-frame.
Self-energising self-levelling rear suspension works well at coping with varying loads but will wear out at higher mileages, like any conventional dampers, which will be an expensive repair on what is then an older car.
Pedders make conversion kits for a number of cars with self-energing self-levelling rear suspension, usually much cheaper than replacing with OE parts when worn.
The Pedders replacement kits don’t give self levelling facility. On my Forester the Pedders springs were good and barely moved when loading the car, and whilst a slightly firmer ride it drove more nicely solo. I used a Pedders lift kit on my Pajero SWB off roader. The OEM Mitsubishi springs with electrical controlled three way dampers were shot.
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We have the facility to increase or decrease ground clearance. It is also self leveling which is a real bonus when towing as makes for a very comfortable tow.
As someone else said earlier in this thread, some people seem to have an obsession with trying to keep their outfit level when towing when the only reason why there would be any need for spring assistance is if one has a genuine problem with the suspension bottoming out or the A-frame hitting the ground under really adverse conditions.
UK speed bumps are prolific in some areas (round our way especially!) so keeping ground clearance as great as possible helps prevent the jockey wheel grounding out. Whichever way we leave the house we have to go over some.
Don’t cars with front spoilers have the same problem then?
What is the legal maximum permissible height of a speed bump in the UK?
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I know that Pedders replacements aren't self-levelling - they're a cost-effective replacement when self-levelling dampers need replacing - when I had my Santa Fe I heard good reports of the Pedders conversion and was ready to get it fitted as my SF self-levelling dampers were starting to leak, replacements were about £1200 each side! - I sold it and bought the Touareg.
I've never had an issue with speed humps even when towing with an ordinary saloon with no levelling - I did fit MAD auxilliary springs as the rear overhang was quite a lot and the car used to pitch up and down under tow, despite new springs/dampers all round under warranty.
Not unless the boy racers have lowered to a silly level - my little Citroen C1 only has about 4" 100mm) ground clearance but is ok on speed humps, at the appropriate speed.
Surely the back end of the car pitched up and down just as much when not towing but with the boot filled to the brim?
Yes, I also run an old American car and have to traverse the bumps diagonally to get over them. From what I understand there isn’t a specific standard for speed bumps. The ones near me actually pass BETWEEN the car wheels, they don’t span the road width.
If you uprate the suspension in any way you must tell your insurer as this is a modification and failure might invalidate the policy. You should make sure they know this is to improve towing rather than performance.
The maximum height is 100 mm but even though the approach and departure angles are specified not all ramps conform. Were we lived most of the ramps were constructed in situ rather than pre fabricated. It’s these that caused grounding on the jockey wheel for a Saab 9000 and Superb estate both with long rear overhangs.
Yes wrt sports cars it wasn’t uncommon to hear one’s front end ground. Locals with sports cars would take an alternative route into town but that wasn’t suitable for caravans.
Speed Bump Regulations | BarrierMart
Speed bumps are proven to be an effective traffic control method, reducing collisions and lowering the severity of accidents when they occur. If a person on
www.barriermart.co.uk
I found this information after my younger brother took out the front spoiler and aux drive belts on his Mercedes B class.
All roads are different, and you may need different speed bump lengths depending on the carriageway, but all speed bumps must be a minimum of 900mm in length according to The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999. The height of speed humps must also be a minimum of 25mm but no more than 100mm at the highest point.8 Nov 2018
Technically and legally you are correct. Though in the case of a claim I doubt it will be mentioned.
I did inform my insurers. Such a pain. I changed from 19 inch low profile to 16 inch OEM wheels and MAD springs. Getting passed the ignorant call handlers who simply thought I had souped the car up, was the hard part, they just kept telling me “the undewritters won't like it”. When I was able to talk to a sensible person they accepted my action were purely safety. So no extra charge.
John
Here is an interesting little Snippet.
The future of speed bumps
Most speed bumps and humps are little more than lumps of tarmac but the latest 'intelligent' speed bump is filled with a non-Newtonian liquid that hardens if you go too fast. The design means slow drivers won't be affected but motorists driving too fast will be met with a bump. These liquid speed bumps are currently only used in parts of Spain – where it was invented – but this could be the future of traffic calming across the world.
The future of speed bumps
Most speed bumps and humps are little more than lumps of tarmac but the latest 'intelligent' speed bump is filled with a non-Newtonian liquid that hardens if you go too fast. The design means slow drivers won't be affected but motorists driving too fast will be met with a bump. These liquid speed bumps are currently only used in parts of Spain – where it was invented – but this could be the future of traffic calming across the world.
My Pedders fir a SJ Forester cost £600 including fitting. The Subaru ones were twice that fitted. But they were not available as a complete pair and since the Orono was a broken osr spring I really wasn’t minded to just put a single new spring in as even two springs were on a longer delivery. I could I guess have just put another make of spring in but as Pedders were designed for the car it was a no brainer.
If you cross that type regularly they can scuff and wear the insides of the tyres. I always go over those with one set of wheels going over the Center and one set on the road. But slowly.
One of my favourite cars was a Ford Fairlane from the late fifties. I also had the Customline which was a cross between the Fairlane and the Galaxy. Both very comfortable cars. Strangely although a great big V8 I think top speed was just over 100mph. Austin Cambridge straight 6 with supercharger was faster as it could do over 120mph!
Nice picture and great looking car. Front is almost identical. My Fairlane had the dark blue lower and white top. A work colleague of mine had a later model Ranchero I think from the seventies or eighties. It was his daily drive.
........I like the French system found in some areas of connecting Panda crossings and similar stand alone traffic lights to traffic speed sensing.
Break the speed limit and the lights turn to red and you receive an on the spot time delay as punishment.
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