Swamper conversion advice

[mattdrink73]

Hey guys,
I've got a 14 plate maxi that I bought with the stance+ coilovers and I'm sick to the back teeth of bottoming it out and all the scrubbing. Looks cool but I;m fancying doing some travelling and camping with it so I need more clearance. Couple of questions for those who've done it:

Are the lift kits worth doing or is stock suspension fine?
Any real downgrade in handling/road noise with AT tyres? 15s or 16s better?
Anyone know of anywhere in the midlands that would be good to get the suspension work done - or even better anyone on here who has the means to swap them out and wants my stance + bits for their stock suspension? Main issue is that I don't know what the previous owner has swapped (or not) and I don't have a ramp or even a driveway to get underneath and figure it out

Ta!

[Scoobysrt]

Matt at dubunit sounds like hes on your doorstep, can't recommend him enough and hes a forum friend.
https://www.dubunit.co.uk/

[robblowen]

I'm running 16" alloys with 215/65R16 Avon AX7 all terrain tyres mate on standard suspension and I've never had a problem with clearance. I take it on green lanes from time to time, I've even had it on 3 wheels! Not bad for an old gas van. I've thought about the lift kits but as most of my mileage is on the road I don't want to risk ruining the ride too much. There is a bit more road noise on A/T tyres compared to road tyres but I fitted mine around the time I finished fitting all my sound deadening and insulation so it didn't make all that much difference. Hope that answers some of your questions mate.

[envycommercial]

It’s probably had the front suspension changed out and the back axle flipped. Both can be put but to stock relatively easy. Standard suspension isn’t expensive, and dependant on how old the coil over set up is it’ll be worth something,

A/T tyres shouldn’t be any more noisy it’s when you start getting to off road tyres that they can become unbearable, that’s just from experience of building a couple of silly off roaders.

the standard suspension will be fine for camp sites / fields etc,

If you’re going to do a little conversion in back just keep an eye on weight.

Iv not ever heard of a lift kit for a caddy, but when you start lifting other vehicles it’s normally new extended brake lines etc….. but it’ll always be front wheel drive and it’ll always be lwb. And it’ll be more then capable of what you want it for with a good set of tyres

[Jonhall]

I’ve got standard suspension and 16” wheels but changed the tyres for 215/60R16 Yokohama Geolandars.

Really impressed with them as we’ve ended up on campsites where lots of other cars and vans got stuck but we were fine. They seem to cope really well with gravel tracks/forest roads and the like. Still get >40 MPG on average as well (Maxi 2.0 TDi 150 DSG).

The rolling radius is within 3% of the standard tyre so no issue with instrumentation etc.

Hope some of that helps


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[mattdrink73]

Just shot dubunit a message, turns out I’m working on site about a mile away from him!

My main concern with the bigger wheels is clearance at the back whilst fully loaded. I do very occasionally have to cram the back full of heavy music gear - it rubs on the arches when I do currently but not sure if a bigger diameter will hit the inner guards or body? Any drastic change in mpg? Currently getting about 45-50 out of my 235/40R18s

[Jonhall]

I found this tool useful

https://tiresize.com/comparison/


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[mattdrink73]

Yeah that’s my main concern - fair difference between the stock 205/55s and 215/65s which is what everyone seems to be using for ATs. A little concerned about clearance when the van is fully loaded!