installing Jones 5t twin leaf heavy duty leaf springs | suspension upgrades | the craft blinders

[@ciaranokelly3693]

Nice one Sam 👍 In fact that is the last job I have to do....well, I'm going to farm it out and pay a suspension specialist to do it. My 60 year old back just won't hack it! Thanks again for another great and inspiring video 👍

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I just fitted the air bags last week so that's me done now with all the suspension upgrades but what a difference it makes the 5t torsion bar has made a vast difference to the front end and how the van handle that video is up next The job was hard but my plan is I need to be able to fix any issues that arise myself while we are out on our adventures I'm glad to hear your still enjoying the videos how's your van coming on it would be nice to see we have a Facebook page where you can share your build pictures and post question if you need any advice

[@ciaranokelly3693]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife cheers Sam. I'll have a look for you on fb and put up a few pics of my build. Suffice to say, not a patch on yours..

[@mrrough174]

That was a great job well done! My sprinter truck have same problem, watching you doing this big job, i think re can do it myself too

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

It's not an easy job, but it can be done just go for it 😎👍

[@tanyaroyredcar]

it's a big grunt job Sam! well done.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Several big grunts 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

We should give the tasks a grunt rating 👍

[@michaelohehir3779]

I just replaced one of mine, and discovered when I was putting it in, I should have dropped the axle. It made it so easy to handle.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

good tip

[@johnriordan288]

Well done great video as always. I have a Iveco daily but it’s very close to the ground. I think I must look in to doing that. Thanks for that Sam You have made great vibes love watching them thanks again

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Hi John the suspension upgrades have taken a while with all the supply issues but now there done it's been so worthwhile I just love how the van handles and looks 😊

[@terrapinrc7192]

Hi pal. Fitted the dual springs and shocks today. What a difference. Feels like a different van and now sat around 2.5inch higher. Not the nicest job in the world tho 😂

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Sweet a little more altitude and a lot more attitude😁👍

[@AlexBayes]

Good video mate, nice work!

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Cheers pal

[@Feede.Mountain]

Hi sam, just wondering what make of shocks/dampers did you install on rear of your van..

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I belive the standard shocks are Monroes

[@timhughes6164]

I would check that they are still ok, I bought same double springs from Jones springs, the lower springs have broken off , my van is no way overloaded either, when I rang Jones springs they said you only get a years warranty. They weren't interested that the four pieces that have fell off could have gone through someones windscreen or that they must be faulty.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I checked the van over every few weeks, and everything is OK, but I will pay particular attention to the leaf springs cheers for the heads up

[@jondavey007]

I’m getting mine done (by a garage) this week 😂

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

🤣 that's cheating

[@bulentturgut]

Hi , What is the regular weight of your van before to update . Because I found your video when I try to find how to I fix load 2500 kg on my sprinter 313 in regularly way .

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Hi before we upgrades our rear springs the van was plated at 3500kg now we are plated at 4230kg allowing us a payload of 1730kg the 5t leaf springs a a great improvement

[@dan1981ify]

​@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife What do you mean you are plated at a different weight ? Isnt the 3500 kg the maximum allowed for this kind of vehicle ?

[@dan1981ify]

And thank you for the video beforehand.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

​@dan1981ify we started at 3.500lg and have now up plated to 4230kg This is the maximum weight you can up plate too. Crafter & Sprinter are down plated from 3880kg to 3500kg so anyone with a B1 license can drive

[@aberdeendeltaforce]

Have you considered the Koni shocks, supposed to be good.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I did look at a number of options but as you will see in tonight's video if it ever loads up (6hour so far) we have added air assist and what a combination it has turned out to be 10 out of 10 from me

[@aberdeendeltaforce]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife I appreciate your videos immensely, not much at all about crafter maintenance on KZbin, I have 2014 medium wheel base crafter conversion and am looking at upgrading the suspension but bilstein b6 are on back order until feb/mar 2022 everywhere I have looked so I was considering getting the Koni shocks, they seem to be an alternative to bilstein and are the no1 choice for camper builders like Winnebago and hymer but everyone else goes for bilstein, where did you get your shocks from? Thanks again for the upload, looking forward to the next one. Subbed and shared 👍

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

@@aberdeendeltaforce I bought my shocks from Bilstine suspension store the link is in the description I've actually wait 6 months for tge rear dampers and they just never came so I've given up the air assist and the HD spring are above and beyond what I was expecting👍 I agree koni are a great product if not as good as Bilstine Thank you for subscribering and sharing I appreciate it I've alot of maintenance footage shot I just need to get it edited and out there but there's just not enough hours in the day 🤪 Sam

[@andylitchfield]

The Crafty Blinders. I’ve just removed airbags. They caused the chassis legs on both sides to crack and seperate entirely just behind the rear axle. Repair cost £5.5k. I also found airbags caused rear suspension to feel very hard and bouncy. I only ever inflated them to 30% of their capacity to achieve the lift we we’re looking for. Would never go back to air bag suspension

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

If you for lifting your van to improve the ride hight air bags are not the right choice and will damage your chassis Up rating you springs is the only way to gain height and properly We use our air bags to reduce the body roll and effect of side wind loads the pressure is set at only 1.5bar so far we have had no issues and the combination is very effective What van do you have now?

[@andylitchfield]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife it’s a 2014 LWB Sprinter van.

[@paulstephens3682]

Yet again good job there mate 👍 something to be proud of that. It is definitely one of the hardest jobs to do on a van with all bolts being such heavy duty and tight as f#@k haha. Well done bud 💪

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Did you catch your thank you

[@paulstephens3682]

I did thanks mate, sounded weird hearing my name on youtube haha.

[@aberdeendeltaforce]

Hi, I installed these springs last week on my MWB crafter, gave me a whopping 80mm lift. Anyway I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time and putting the effort in to uploading this video, wouldn’t of had the confidence or know how to do it otherwise. Your right, it’s a nightmare job 😂. Just thought I’d ask you because my spring is slipping to the side just like your one was? Did loosening the U Bolts up and re torquing them back into alignment sort this problem out for you? Also the springs I received were made at the Jones forgery in the UK and had a 2mm thick aluminium spacer between the leafs, I called jones and they were like yeah use the spacer if you want, not critical and weren’t much help regarding what this spacer was for. I asked about the Belgian made ones and they said they have a big locomotive contract that is taking up all the furnace time so they import when they can’t manufacture stuff themselves to keep up with demand, I’ll be honest though, those Belgian ones look better quality with the print and professional finish to them, the ones I got looked very Iron Age, like they were straight out the forgery and and shoved in packaging 😂. Thanks again mate.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Once I lined everything back up and tighten all the bolts we have had no more issues I'm happy that we got the Belgium ones as you say the do look a lot better👍

[@pleb2dev605]

What is the erobile link? I've searched endlessly all over the web since I can't get my springs back in

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Sorry I don't understand the question

[@fcw101able]

Hi. Have you found any issues with the leaf upgrade and the standard length shocks & struts? I'm just about to do they same to my sprinter but worry my new Koni struts & shocks won't be long enough to cope with a potential 3 inch lift (I went with the 2+1 rear leaf's) Thanks.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

No issues other than my leafs moved so I had to reset them once they have beenspot on since Speak to Neil @urbanvanlife he's got the koni fitted

[@andrewward937]

Sounds like he is from west Cumbria

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I am, but I'm no jam eater 😊👍

[@johnfleming3212]

Hi Sam not sure if you're the same Sam I contacted on Facebook last week if so sorry for hassling you. I have fitted air assist bags to the rear of my 2020 sprinter, I now want to upgrade the springs. I saw you fitted a double hd spring to yours. My axle weight is 2400kg ish, please can I ask your axle weight as I might fit the two plus one springs. Thank you, regards John

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Hi yes it's me tge Jones springs I fitted are the 5 tonne ones not sure what the 2 plus helper are rated at to be honest the ones I have are recommended to get the maximum payload They are from Belgium and are a quality product 👌 I know a few guys who have these fitted and have not had any issues

[@neilmarshall977]

Did you see how much extra height the leafs by themselves gave you?

[@neilmarshall977]

Out of interest how many extra mm did you gain?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Hi yes they added 2" the air bags are only there for stability 👍

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

@@neilmarshall977 around 47 mm about 2"

[@neilmarshall977]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife nice. I am based in NZ looking for something similar

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

@@neilmarshall977 I guess you've checked ebay already? Have you had a look at the Merc flat bed pickups I'm sure the run a similar set up