25th October, 2012

Hey ARB,

I’m a contract fencer and work in remote parts of western QLD and NT. I have a 79 Series LandCruiser and my everyday travelling is on rough dirt roads, station roads and through creek beds on fence lines. Every day I have heavy loads of post or steel on board. I also pull a bobcat on a goose neck trailer long distances between jobs. These are beginning to pay a heavy price on the old ute.

The springs and shocks are all still factory and are getting to become a bit sad. I was wondering what you thought would be the best suspension solution for my needs. I was thinking air bags under the back and maybe some Nitrocharger shocks all round might be a good option?

Cheers,

Anthony


Hi Anthony

That’s a demanding part of the world to work in, both for yourself and for what is expected from your vehicle.

Our many spring packages are designed around what weight the vehicle constantly carries. For your heavy use I would suggest spring part numbers OME859 & CSO15R. As for shocks, there has been a recent addition to the 79 range, part numbers N181 & N197, which were re-valved specifically to suit conditions similar to those you regularly encounter, giving greater stability and better ride quality.

Air bags can be a good add-on option. There are a few to choose from and they fulfill a purpose in their own right. But be aware they should only be used as a helper and not a substitute to a spring problem. While the 79 Series is built Toyota tough, its chassis is designed to carry the load through its original spring pick up points and not in any other position – extreme loads constantly focused at another point are not good for the life of the chassis. A well designed replacement spring will carry the load as it is designed to, and an air bag could then be used as a helper for the odd occasion if still required. Keep in mind though, that they can compromise the ride quality as well as limit the articulation of the axle.

I would suggest that you need all the wheel travel you can get to negotiate creek beds and the like. Nitrochargers, with their extra length and down travel, together with a good spring package will greatly improve the vehicle’s off road ability. Your best bet is to calculate the weight you typically carry including the tray itself, and armed with this information and the vehicle loaded to a typical day’s work, take it and yourself in to see your local ARB store. Together you can discuss my suggestions and find the spring package that will best suit your needs. I strongly believe that the option of an air bag will not be required and a better result with no compromises will be achieved with our standard package.

Shane Fewster
(OME Suspension Design & Ride Control Engineer)

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