Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Spring Assisters Post Reply Post New Topic
06/6/2007 at 2:37pm
 Location: Forest of Dean
 Outfit: Pageant S6 Autucruise Rythpm
View garbold's Profile View Profile   Reply to garbold Reply   Quote garbold Quote  
Joined: 04/4/2004

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   479

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I am thinking of fitting some Spring Assisters to help with the low ride height of my Vauxhall Vectra. With 3 people in the back, the towball rides so low the caravan pitches forward and it looks for all the world as if somebody is pushing down on the A-frame!

Has anyone had experience of these or even using them now? I would be grateful for some advice.

GaryandSue


06/6/2007 at 2:49pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: dirty discovery & scruffy sprite
View dirtydisco's Profile View Profile   Reply to dirtydisco Reply   Quote dirtydisco Quote  
Joined: 24/1/2007

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   713

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

3 people, a boot with a holiday load and the noseweight of a van could actually have you overloaded, gross vehicle, axle or nose could all be over the limit if your cary is that badly pitched. Check your weights before heading the spring assister route.

Remember that nose weight on the hitch also counts towards gross vehicle and rear axle weights.



06/6/2007 at 9:22pm
 Location: Forest of Dean
 Outfit: Pageant S6 Autucruise Rythpm
View garbold's Profile View Profile   Reply to garbold Reply   Quote garbold Quote  
Joined: 04/4/2004

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   479

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Just to elay peoples fear about overloading. I have been towing for a number of years and am always careful about weight distribution, noseweight is always spot on and I cary nothing in the boot and the caravan is loaded with the minimum we need.

To explain further, this is a company car which is due for change soon and the rear suspension is soggy,the lease company will not repair it as its too close to change,hence the spring assisters.We are off to spain in August and whilst I have had the car checked for safety( at a vuaxhall dealer) I still think it needs them. This is the reason I am considering using them.


06/6/2007 at 9:43pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Rumple's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rumple Reply   Quote Rumple Quote  
Joined: 03/4/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2404

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hi Gary, another reason to use spring assisters is if like mine certain cars bottom out when going over potholes, bumps and sleeping policemen.

Another is that on estate cars especially the overhang from the rear axle is longer than on a saloon so as to fit in a boot space.

I paid somewhere in the region of £15 for mine from Towsure's and it's just a matter of jacking up the rear to extend the springs and slotting the assisters into the coil of the spring. Just make sure you measure properly and get the right size for your springs. They made 100% difference whilst towing the van and no difference going solo.


06/6/2007 at 10:16pm
 Location: Forest of Dean
 Outfit: Pageant S6 Autucruise Rythpm
View garbold's Profile View Profile   Reply to garbold Reply   Quote garbold Quote  
Joined: 04/4/2004

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   479

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thans Rumple, you have desribed my exact problem!

GaryandSue


Advertisement



07/6/2007 at 5:02pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Pageant Bordeaux Nissan X-Trail
View Tyreman's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tyreman Reply   Quote Tyreman Quote  
Joined: 11/2/2004

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   618

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hi

There's a variety of things on the market to assist sagging suspension and if you're losing the car in the near future you won't want to overpay so something cheap like spring assisters is ideal.

I will say that that with any car that has a wallowing rear end it's worth every penny to sort out because the effect on towing and stability is tremendous.

Tyreman

 



07/6/2007 at 7:15pm
 Location: Forest of Dean
 Outfit: Pageant S6 Autucruise Rythpm
View garbold's Profile View Profile   Reply to garbold Reply   Quote garbold Quote  
Joined: 04/4/2004

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   479

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thanks tyreman

I have looked at this website www.springassisters.co.uk
and have found possibly what I am looking for.I am not sure when the car will be changed but I cant chance leaving it before we go.

GaryandSue


15/6/2007 at 10:48am
 Location: bradford
 Outfit: abbey aventura 318
View mart405's Profile View Profile   Reply to mart405 Reply   Quote mart405 Quote  
Joined: 11/1/2007

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   11

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Yes i fitted some grayston spring assistors to my volvo which sat low, it has straightned out the ride now hitched up, but they make a daft noise, might put some grease on em to stop it. Cant really feel a difference with em on either. had to take the shocks off to fit them though, other than that very happy.

-------------
simontopdog


15/6/2007 at 5:35pm
 Location: Burnopfield Gods Country
 Outfit: Bailey Senator Oklahoma & Disco
View reedrider's Profile View Profile   Reply to reedrider Reply   Quote reedrider Quote  
Joined: 14/4/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4546

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

The spring assistors you are on about do a very basic job  and do it well

what they do is  block 1 full coil of your spring and stop it working but give that extra ride height and stiffen the suspension system up  

if you are keeping the car for a long time (which your not ) it might be worth considering the other ones on the market

type 1  Is a smaller diameter spring that fits in the centre of the main spring and gives the extra ride height  when fully loaded with your caravan on

type2 is an air bag system that also fits inside the main spring you just feed them in and inflate them till you get the ride you want this is an adjustable system but you have to jack the car up to adjust the system

Mart the daft noise you are getting is the assistors rubbing in the wheel arches you need the check where its rubbing and adjust the assiistors or the wheel arches

there are web sites with these on I will try to find the links



-------------
I might grow old...But!
I'll never grow up!!!
DILLIGAF
Sandra drank it!
Citizan of Boloxnia
My e-mail


15/6/2007 at 10:45pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View SoundsDigital's Profile View Profile   Reply to SoundsDigital Reply   Quote SoundsDigital Quote  
Joined: 02/7/2006

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   925

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I have been thinking about these myself. Having changed the rear springs on my car, it still looks low on the back end and when the caravan is hitched up, it does sometimes rub the ground over sleeping policemen. Even solo, when parked next to another car of the same model it looks low. I do have a gas tank in the boot, but I wouldn't expect it to make this much difference. As I said I have fitted new road springs, expecting they had gone weak, but it made only a marginal improvement. Are these spring assistors legal? I had my doubts as to whether they might cause problems when solo and whether they might cause it to fail an MoT. Do they count as a modification as regards insurance? Lowering the suspension does, so I would think these would too. That would make a big difference to the premium if you tell the insurance company the ride height has been increased as they would be thinking you were going off road with it.


Advertisement



15/6/2007 at 11:01pm
 Location: West Berkshire
 Outfit: Bailey Olympus 534
View Fat Belly's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fat Belly Reply   Quote Fat Belly Quote  
Joined: 29/10/2003

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1138

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I had some full spring assisters on my Picasso and it passed an MOT with them fitted. Removed them just befor I sold it - going to put them on ebay to try and recoup a bit of what I paid for them.



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














8510 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder