Do You Need a Suspension Upgrade for your Sprinter Van Conversion?

[@usaroseinc]

Thanks this video made me look at my bump stops - one had become unseated and squewed and was catching on both the stop base and the leaf spring. I have a 2018 Cargo 144 - only one spring on each side. Upgrading that now that I looked and saw that too. Thanks. AND thank you for the DIY Build list you have given to us DIY’er’s Much Appreciated. Thanks

[@thrivans]

Glad it helped!

[@TedPhillips-k8d]

Hey Jeff thanks great video as always - so clear on the details - I want to ask is it wrong to do the upgrade before you do the build out?? I won't mind the stiffness of it etc. before I add my weight to it and I have a pretty good handle on staying under the leaf spring increase amount of 4700 pounds - I hate the ride even when it is empty really floating all over the place. I have always had stiff truck suspensions in the past with or with out the weight -- I have just had some people say no do it afterwards?? thanks

[@caseyvansanten2103]

Nice video! What spring pack on the rip kit? 4700#?

[@thrivans]

Yes.

[@glennloadsman5990]

Do your builds have the batteries placed in the rear of the vans?

[@thrivans]

Yes.

[@brianflynn7148]

Centimeters??

[@trophyfishin]

Hi Jeff great video I liked it! I want to get the agile rip kit. I have 2018 Mercedes van 4x4 170 wb I have 16 inch stock rims and tires. I would like to go bigger but nothing too big. What is the biggest size tires I can go with ? I don’t want to Ct fenders. I was thing 17 black rhinos not sure tire size will fit???

[@thrivans]

We always do 17” wheels with 265/70/17 tires, but you do have to modify the front fenders. Agile make no rub fenders that are easy to install.

[@sheltonjohnson3217]

would love to have this done. Just drove my van from build out location in Arizona to NC and need the upgrade. I have no idea who in my area can do something like this. Can you help me find someone in my area that is qualified to do this

[@thrivans]

I don’t know anyone back there, but you can call Van Compass. They can probably direct you to a local installer.

[@jamestreanor182]

You charge $3000+ in labor (on top of your parts margin) to install to install agile rip that has MSRP of $3415 ?

[@thrivans]

We don’t do it. We have a local shop that is a Van Compass & Agile certified installer do the upgrade. We just pass the cost on to the customer.

[@bigal7713]

why not just build on 3500XD AWD?

[@rachel7550]

Someone told me that adding suspension or van compass means “bells and whistles” will go off in strong winds and that you may need to pull over for a while to let it cool off. Is this true? I usually do from east to west coast trips so can’t imagine having to pull over every time it’s windy 😅

[@jeffschade]

I'm looking to upgrade my suspension on my '22 144WB 4x4. My system has alerts for high winds, but have yet to hear bells or whistles, maybe you get those with the upgrade, not sure. Curious about what would heat up in strong winds. I'm also curious how you do only east to west trips, like how do you get back home? 🙂

[@rachel7550]

@@jeffschade well you know what I mean:) although I did stay in California for over 2 years once since I’m a travel nurse but lately I only go for plain fun trips. Yea if there was a way to silence the alerts and it didn’t hear anything up id be happy. But the one lady said she has to pull over to cool it down but does seem odd…

[@thrivans]

This is not my experience. I have no idea what the bells and whistles would be or what would need to cool off. The Van Compass or Agile suspension kits make your van more stable in the wind, so I think the alerts would go off less often.

[@mikeinmon4997]

I have a 2 wheel drive. Which system would you recommend? No significant build out weight. Probably only added about a 1000lbs total but do haul motorcycles…..

[@totorishop]

Omg 6-7k

[@SPQR-Z]

Can you talk about cheaper alternatives to a full suspension upgrade kit for lighter builds that may not need to go the full suspension upgrade route? We calculated about 1500lbs additional weight added for our buildout. I’ve seen additional leaf spring kits to add to existing leaf packs, Summo bump stop replacements, perhaps heavy duty shocks etc. Can additional suspension capacity be added in a more cost effective manner that would suffice for lighter builds or do you just recommend going with the full upgrade?

[@thrivans]

Beefed up leaf springs are a good place to start. Van Compass makes a spring pack that is adjustable depending on weight of build.