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Hi everybody,
I've hijacked an old thread to save creating a new one and have read others extensively but didn't really find the information I wanted. But I'll be getting a TJM XGS 2 inch suspension lift done within the next few weeks (due to being able to get it fitted cheaper at mate's rates than any other quality suspension brand). I just can't decide on whether to get the heavy duty or medium duty King springs for the rear so I thought I'd ask the opinion of anyone else who'd like to weigh in:
Vehicle particulars that will effect weight (some of which are on the car now and others will be fitted in the near future):
3.4L V6 with alloy bullbar, dual batteries, winch, 60L 12v Fridge and possibly a roof top tent down the track.
I do 30,000km per year on average and my car is unladen most of the time with even the rear seats in the boot removed and most of the time transporting myself or one other person max. I go camping 3 or 4 times a year, go 4wding a dozen times a year at least and will be going to Cape York next year, followed by the Simpson and other places sometime after that. When I go camping the car carries anywhere between 400-500kg of weight including fuel & passengers. My current suspension noticeably sags in the rear end, even with 200kg of extra weight on board. The bloke who will fit my suspension suggested medium duty springs in the front as well as the rear. I've had time to think about it and I agree with the front since I don't have a steel bullbar the HD springs will be too firm even when driving over manhole covers on the street. But with the medium duty rears, I just don't want it to sag too far below the front with the few extra hundred kg spread across the alloy roof tray and in the boot, especially on a long 4wding trip such as the Cape. I'll most likely never get a towball fitted to my vehicle so will never be towing anything. My suspension is already a little bit harsh, but don't really know how harsh and uncomfortable the HD springs will be in the back in an unladen Prado. I could always help to offset it a tiny little bit by keeping the rear seats in the boot and both tanks of fuel fairly full most of the time. I'd also buy genuine Toyota rubber bushes to be fitted to the new shock absorbers by the guy fitting them as I've heard too many stories of the polyurethane bushes restricting suspension travel, increasing harshness of ride and failing prematurely when compared to genuine rubber bushes.
I guess what I'm trying to point out is that I don't want the suspension to drop much below the front when loading the car up for camping/long trips because sometimes it's really slow going with only a couple of inches of travel left in the rear suspension before the bump stops get called into action with where we sometimes go to set up camp. I also don't mind if the ride is a little harsh as I'm used to it... But if it will be rediculously harsh without the constant load on the rear then that'll aid in making my mind up to just get medium duty springs.
This might be a bit like comparing apples with oranges but I've got a friend has a 2005 Patrol wagon with recently fitted heavy duty Koni suspension throughout. At this stage he only has an alloy bullbar and a rear draw system. Soon he's getting a steel bar and winch. But his suspension was a bit harsh for about 4 weeks before it settled a bit and is now quite a comfortable ride.
Any feedback will help me with my decision to go medium duty or heavy duty in the rear. I'm not interested in poly airbags either because I've had them early on and they both developed punctures from rocks a short time within one another and are still sitting within the springs all out of shape, crumpled up and distorted.
I've hijacked an old thread to save creating a new one and have read others extensively but didn't really find the information I wanted. But I'll be getting a TJM XGS 2 inch suspension lift done within the next few weeks (due to being able to get it fitted cheaper at mate's rates than any other quality suspension brand). I just can't decide on whether to get the heavy duty or medium duty King springs for the rear so I thought I'd ask the opinion of anyone else who'd like to weigh in:
Vehicle particulars that will effect weight (some of which are on the car now and others will be fitted in the near future):
3.4L V6 with alloy bullbar, dual batteries, winch, 60L 12v Fridge and possibly a roof top tent down the track.
I do 30,000km per year on average and my car is unladen most of the time with even the rear seats in the boot removed and most of the time transporting myself or one other person max. I go camping 3 or 4 times a year, go 4wding a dozen times a year at least and will be going to Cape York next year, followed by the Simpson and other places sometime after that. When I go camping the car carries anywhere between 400-500kg of weight including fuel & passengers. My current suspension noticeably sags in the rear end, even with 200kg of extra weight on board. The bloke who will fit my suspension suggested medium duty springs in the front as well as the rear. I've had time to think about it and I agree with the front since I don't have a steel bullbar the HD springs will be too firm even when driving over manhole covers on the street. But with the medium duty rears, I just don't want it to sag too far below the front with the few extra hundred kg spread across the alloy roof tray and in the boot, especially on a long 4wding trip such as the Cape. I'll most likely never get a towball fitted to my vehicle so will never be towing anything. My suspension is already a little bit harsh, but don't really know how harsh and uncomfortable the HD springs will be in the back in an unladen Prado. I could always help to offset it a tiny little bit by keeping the rear seats in the boot and both tanks of fuel fairly full most of the time. I'd also buy genuine Toyota rubber bushes to be fitted to the new shock absorbers by the guy fitting them as I've heard too many stories of the polyurethane bushes restricting suspension travel, increasing harshness of ride and failing prematurely when compared to genuine rubber bushes.
I guess what I'm trying to point out is that I don't want the suspension to drop much below the front when loading the car up for camping/long trips because sometimes it's really slow going with only a couple of inches of travel left in the rear suspension before the bump stops get called into action with where we sometimes go to set up camp. I also don't mind if the ride is a little harsh as I'm used to it... But if it will be rediculously harsh without the constant load on the rear then that'll aid in making my mind up to just get medium duty springs.
This might be a bit like comparing apples with oranges but I've got a friend has a 2005 Patrol wagon with recently fitted heavy duty Koni suspension throughout. At this stage he only has an alloy bullbar and a rear draw system. Soon he's getting a steel bar and winch. But his suspension was a bit harsh for about 4 weeks before it settled a bit and is now quite a comfortable ride.
Any feedback will help me with my decision to go medium duty or heavy duty in the rear. I'm not interested in poly airbags either because I've had them early on and they both developed punctures from rocks a short time within one another and are still sitting within the springs all out of shape, crumpled up and distorted.
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