Do I Need to upgrade Suspension

[nacott Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nacott]

Hi
I am currently looking at buying a 2008 D4D Automatic GXL 120 and are trying to budget for total cost including some accessories. I have been looking at Prados without bar work,as I was going to put an ARB deluxe steel bar and a 9500lb Bushranger winch at the front. I have heard conflicting reports from accessory sellers / car dealers on weather or not I needed to do a suspension upgrade because of the weight of the bar and winch. The vehicle will be for touring with a Family of 5 and NOT used for towing anything significant as yet. Do I need to factor in the cost of a suspension upgrade as a priority before adding a snorkel or dual battery system? WIll I still need an upgrade if I just fit the bar? Cheers!

[mudboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mudboy]

Do I Need to upgrade Suspension

Yes u should upgrade suspension

The bar and winch can add 100 kgs to the front end and if u also add duel batteries u should lift

The prado will also handle better after the lift as after market suspension is better than standard

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Do I Need to upgrade Suspension

Yes is the short answer, as others have said u r adding well over 100kg to the front of the car and that will cause the std suspension to sag quite quickly.

[robbo79 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close robbo79]

Re: Do I Need to upgrade Suspension

I just recently upgraded my suspension and the difference is very noticeable. I had a delux bar and winch fitted in March last year. I could always feel the weight hanging over the front of the car when driving and the old suspension just didn't soak up that extra weight over bumps. The funny thing is I got the upgrade for the clearance for a future trip and didn't expect to improve my ride and handling that much. Worth budgeting for in my opinion.

[nacott Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nacott]

Re: Do I Need to upgrade Suspension

Thanks for the advice guys!!

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: Do I Need to upgrade Suspension

Hi Nacott

I approach 4wding from a minimilist perspective in that if it doesnt need to be on the vehicle then it doesnt go on it (come from an off road racing background)

Electric winches - they can only pull you forward (practically - to pull backwards takes a lot of additional gear) which may not suit your recovery situation. A tirfor hand winch on the other hand will pull the vehicle any way you require - backwards, sideways, at an angle - whatever you want. And it ways about 1/4 the weight of the electric winch and if used under water can be serviced by you at home unlike an electric winch. And it costs a damn lot less, and you dont need an additional battery to power it.

Bullbar - do you REALLY need one. Are you travelling in areas where the chance of hitting a roo is high and if the vehicle was disabled would it be catastrophic not just annoying. Will premium roadside assist/insurance do the job better for the limited time that you are travelling in roo country?

There are places in oz where it would be silly to NOT have a roo bar fitted. There a lots of places where lugging a roobar around is probably just as silly - wearing components, increasing the sprung weight of the vehicle and using more fuel.

For me I dont fit them, run premium roadside assist and carry a tirfor. If I ever hit a roo that disables the vehicle then I will just hang loose until its fixed. Has suited me fine.

NB: Just an alternate view, not telling anyone how to live

Oh, and do the suspension anyway - some of those nice bilsteins with king springs - sweeeeet

[nacott Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nacott]

Re: Do I Need to upgrade Suspension

Thanks again for your replies. Will be going to areas with high roo population ( hit a roo in south west 11 years ago on the Muir " Highway" in a nissan Pulsar - not pretty) Now have a Family of five, so want to avoid as much as possible being stuck with a broken vehicle . TJM deluxe bar comparable to the ARB? Also King springs better to go with over Lovells? Thanks also for advice on Purchase of winch. Fitted price comparable to Suspension upgrade so more than happy with the saving. Cheers !!!

[mudboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mudboy]

Do I Need to upgrade Suspension

I prefer the arb bar and went with ome suspension