Transit Recovery leaf spring + Hub upgrade ?

[Savvi]

Just bought a transit recovery truck it's a 1993 twin wheel base, v5 says it's a 120 ?

 

 

Wondering if anyone has or knows where to get some better springs as it's sagging a bit once loaded.

 

 

Fred Transit pm on the way !!!!

 

 

Thanks

[4DOOR-SHERWOOD]

put springs off a 190 on it mate!

[Savvi]

That's what i was thinking, just need to find some at a good price !!

 

Apparently they did 4 ton springs for some of them, they would be good !!!

[mk3cokebottle]

contact Frm mate in northlane , aldershot they will supply the right springs for it without giving the back a high lift and post aswell

 

when you chop n change springs or add springs it effects the ride height which makes it awkward when loading and unloading cars , i have just done my ldv which is the same as a transit and it cost me £120 a side for proper uprated springs that are stamped to 5.5t payload

[Savvi]

So can you legually carry more by doing that Chris ?

 

It's strange cos the plate says 3500 yet the V5 says 2850 ?

 

 

What would i be able to carry with the ones you suggested ?

 

Cheers

[FredTransit]

If the VIN plate says 3500, you should get a copy of it (like a brass rubbing, and a photo) with a weigh ticket and get it re classified on the V5.

[Savvi]

It's the plate on the step with the axles etc.

[mk3cokebottle]

mate the springs dont allow you to carry more weight it just allows you to carry weight more easier nudge nudge and it doesnt show on the truck as long as you got a nice long bed that looks normal with bigger cars/vans on , the other way you can acheive this is buy getting yourself a set of airbags of a rangerover and mounting them on the axle bump stops and using them as your extra umph if you need it when loaded and just have them deflated whilst unladen

 

you need to get it re-classified from a 2850 though because if thats your gross on the v5 your probably only legal to carry the weight of a mini shell at the moment on your truck

as the cab, chassis n body probably weigh 2400-2600kg without a payload it needs to read that your truck is 3500kg not 2850 otherwise the truck isnt worth owning or even putting a car on cos if you get pulled over weighing more than 2850kg they have got you bang to rights for being over weight

[FredTransit]

Yeah, on the passenger step, and if it says 3500 gross, somebody must have re classified it in the past, maybe so they could get a class4 test on it. You can reverse this, but it's a bit of form filling with the DVLA. I would do this, as most cars would take it over the current gross it's registered at, and you could get done for over loading (3 points and a fine). The first re classification wouldn't get a new VIN plate, so it's good it wasn't changed. The VIN plate is proof the truck is good for more than the V5 says it's good for. All the same, the Mk5 is only ever good for 3500KG, ie 3.5 tons.

[Savvi]

I just done a hpi on it and it states as the ad says.

 

MODEL TRANSIT 120 D SWB

DOORPLAN Unspecified Wheelplan 2 Axle Rigid Body

ENGINE No. Gross Vehicle Weight 2820 (KG)

TRANSMISSION 6 Speed Auto Diesel Exported No

 

 

 

I'm 99% sure it says 3500 on the step plate, it came up on the hpi it was originally an auto also states 2 axle rigid body ?

 

Not sure what's best to do now ?

 

 

Fred you have confused me completly, are you saying it's been uprated or downrated ?

 

I got it in for class4 Mot tomorrow as that what i thought it would need ?

[bortaf]

120 SWB ? 6 speed auto ? on a 93 ??

if it was a SWB and the chassis has been extended you could have trouble with VOSA there?

sounds like it's been downrated from 3500

[FredTransit]

Yep bortaf's right, does sound a bit odd, if it was a SWB (I am not really up on models of later vans). If it says 3500 on the VIN, it's been downrated to (currently) 2850. It can be returned to 3500.

 

If it says 3500 on the VIN, you might struggle getting a class4 on it, as they will read the VIN plate before testing, and see 3500. 3500 is class7.

[TILBROOK]

Yep bortaf's right, does sound a bit odd, if it was a SWB (I am not really up on models of later vans). If it says 3500 on the VIN, it's been downrated to (currently) 2850. It can be returned to 3500.

 

If it says 3500 on the VIN, you might struggle getting a class4 on it, as they will read the VIN plate before testing, and see 3500. 3500 is class7.

buy a smashed up or scraper truck that will sort it.

the front hubs fit from a twin wheel to a single wheel on this year .and if its been made longer they may have used the longer type chassis with twin wheels. im sure a twin wheel axle will not fit a single wheel chassis,120 should be the smaller single wheel with 5 stud.the same as 80/100/120 the next ones are 150 190 they are heavy single or twin wheel 6 stud.paddington springS done my springS 6leafs fitted £300 iv had it weighting on the bigde 5.500kg with no problems yet, probley trouble if you get stop buy the wrong person!!

[Savvi]

It's defiantly twin axle and obviously has had the chassis worked on to take the alloy bed, it's all be strengthened and has another peice on top of the original, it's been done as good as i've seen any others in the past, if not better.

 

 

Surely when these are built from new they are registered as recovery etc. wonder if it can be changed ?

 

 

as you say a scrap one would sort it but it's a really clean original looking van with all the proper numbers stamped where it should be etc.

 

 

It's booked in where they can test 3500 vans and higher, not where i usually go with my cars, i'll ask about it before i get them to test it and see what they think, my mate knows them quite well and has said they will be as helpful as they can be.

[Savvi]

Seems today at the Mot station it's classed as a 120 and gross is 2850

 

 

Spoke to the guys at the commerial repair centre and they have said to do above, fit bigger springs and front hubs to match the rears, then book it in for a weight upgrade.

 

 

So if anyone has the parts i need at a good price let me know

 

Also a big thanks to Fred Transit ( you really need to breath when you get into one of your speeches) and also Chris Coke bottle who took the time to ring me and give the same advise and even Chris offering to sort the springs out if i decide to go that way

 

Once again the forum has come through for me and made my mind a little easier as to know what's best to do.