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- - Vehicle Suspension Upgrade = Added Air Shocks = Can Haul more Preps @ SHTF (http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=344805)

ruprick | 02-01-2009 03:31 AM
Vehicle Suspension Upgrade = Added Air Shocks = Can Haul more Preps @ SHTF We have 2 Pontiac Montana minivans.....and we use them like a truck all the time.....just last week I had 1.25 Tons inside my van.......a lot of folks think these are just "soccer mom" cars.....but mini-vans have a serious ability to carry the load......just think 8 seats x 250 Lb men = 2000 lbs. Most have a nearly 1 ton carry capacity....which is more than most pick-ups. The inside can take full 4x8 plywood...and carry a 12 foot item inside on the floor.....everything is out of the weather...and they are easy to load due to big hatchback door and 2 large side doors.....and do it all at 25+ mpg....with a 600 mile range. I have mine seriously loaded all the time....and it sits low and has very little ground clearance and poor ramp over/curb over ability when loaded.....and we also use it to tow a pop-up when we go camping with a lot of gear in the van and a canoe on top.....again it squats when loaded up this heavy..... I wished we had bought one with the trailering package with load leveling...but we did not..... So, today....I added aftermarket Air Shocks.....this is the same technology/system/method that the load leveling system uses....but the factory system is automated (built in compressor, load lever sensing....auto up/down.....lots of crap i do not want/need...) What a deal.....Autozone regular price $62 for the complete kit of 2 air shocks + hoses for remote air charging. That is not much money.... Great shocks: Gabriel "Hi-Jackers".....several others have similar products just as good (Monroe). Took about 2 hours to install....most of the time was spent routing ad dressing in the air supply lines....but I'm a perfectionist.....and ran them inside the frame rails and did a really nice job on locating the air fill/bleed valve inside the vehicle to keep it out of the weather. It can take from 25 PSI to 200 PSI of compressed air......will allow you to add 2000 lbs of cargo and still meet the empty ride height....meaning no squat under load. Most of these vans had factory optional air suspensions....so the shock mounts are super tough and can take the added load. This is useful for us as we often will go to Costco and come home with a 1500 lb load for goods.... I coulkd see this as being useful in SHTF if you wanted to haul a lot of Preps to a remote location. I'm amazed at the added utility for $62......the best money I've ever spent on an automotive item....super value for a very well made kit. I can't say enough good things about the value of this useful upgrade.

woodman | 02-01-2009 08:06 AM
Re: Vehicle Suspension Upgrade = Added Air Shocks = Can Haul more Preps @ SHTF I love my Plymouth Voyager minivan. Great on gas, extremely comfortabe and I've dogged on it for years and it still runs great. It has 210k miles on it. The engine was made by Mitsubishi. I've used it for installing many a gym floor( carrying tools and some supplies). I probably should break down and get a deisel truck though. If work ever picks up I will. The problem with trucks is that in order to carry anything of worth in the back and protect it from rain and theft you need a topper. Ever have to rummage around in the back of a pickup with a topper on it? What a bitch!

ruprick | 02-01-2009 10:04 AM
Re: Vehicle Suspension Upgrade = Added Air Shocks = Can Haul more Preps @ SHTF Quote:
Originally Posted by woodman (Post 1542889) I love my Plymouth Voyager minivan. Great on gas, extremely comfortabe and I've dogged on it for years and it still runs great. It has 210k miles on it. The engine was made by Mitsubishi. I've used it for installing many a gym floor( carrying tools and some supplies). I probably should break down and get a deisel truck though. If work ever picks up I will. The problem with trucks is that in order to carry anything of worth in the back and protect it from rain and theft you need a topper. Ever have to rummage around in the back of a pickup with a topper on it? What a bitch!
Does your van have load leveling? If not...I love these air shocks......and for $62 it is a greeat deal.....and anyone that owns a few wrenches and scokets can get the job done at home... I went out and drove it last night after I finished the job.....put about 500 lbs in the back and pumped it up......it is one stiff puppy.....

woodman | 02-01-2009 02:24 PM
Re: Vehicle Suspension Upgrade = Added Air Shocks = Can Haul more Preps @ SHTF Quote:
Originally Posted by ruprick (Post 1542992) Does your van have load leveling? If not...I love these air shocks......and for $62 it is a greeat deal.....and anyone that owns a few wrenches and scokets can get the job done at home... I went out and drove it last night after I finished the job.....put about 500 lbs in the back and pumped it up......it is one stiff puppy.....
No it doesn't. It is getting pretty beat up and I'd like to get another van. I was considering another Voyager but I guess I just want something dependable. Have the Montanas been pretty trouble free? They are probably a little bigger than mine which would be a bonus. I really don't want a full size, I have one parked out back but the fuel killed me. What kind of mileage do they get?

Maxine | 02-01-2009 03:16 PM
Re: Vehicle Suspension Upgrade = Added Air Shocks = Can Haul more Preps @ SHTF I have quit following Land Rover stuff as I was so beat up over not being allowed to bring my Defender to Canada with me when I moved here I have got where I don't want to read a Landie mag any more. It just hurts it was like losing a pet. But I have heard some real bad stuff about air shocks in Range Rovers and the more recent Discoveries while I still took the mags. Someone on my road got one of those new Disco's and it is from hell. All the stupid dial ups on the dash 'long grass, side slopes etc, etc'. Yeah, right! Keep it simple - less to go wrong. I love my current Jeep, a 98, but it is NOT what my very basic Landie was, and I know it. Not having that Landie is one of the huge flaws in my preps. It was a MUCH better vehicle. Interesting how Land Rover Defenders have been kept out of North America, and are the centre of so many rows in the UK. Cause these babies can do it all, with a few mods. NWO does not like that.

Zusn | 02-01-2009 08:18 PM
Re: Vehicle Suspension Upgrade = Added Air Shocks = Can Haul more Preps @ SHTF Quote:
Originally Posted by ruprick (Post 1542804) It can take from 25 PSI to 200 PSI of compressed air......will allow you to add 2000 lbs of cargo and still meet the empty ride height....meaning no squat under load.
That's important when it comes time to move lots of stuff without attracting attention. Back in the day when people were running shine, cops looked for the cars that were squatting in the back.

ruprick | 02-01-2009 08:25 PM
Re: Vehicle Suspension Upgrade = Added Air Shocks = Can Haul more Preps @ SHTF Later tonight I'm moving 2000 lbs in the van....let you know how it works out. I've hauled 2500 lbs in it in the past and it was very low.

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