[oleknz]

I would like to raise the suspension on demand for going over obstacles instead of a permanent lift kit.
99+% of the the time I will drive normal stock height, and also would prefer normal (stock) height look of the van.
I don't need to advertise my van as an off-road camper. And it's not that I don't like that look,( those often look really cool and sweet). I just don't need it and prefer an inconspicuous look for my personal van.
There is a lot of permanent fixed-height lifting done on camper vans but even those who are the most hard-core overlanders, I am guessing, drive 99%+ of their total mileage on paved roads and even most of the unpaved roads they travel on don't need that clearance.

I would love to find the simplest, most reasonable solution for that less than 1% of the time and distance, that you make to go over some rough terrain, sometimes just a couple of obstacles, maybe through a puddle that is a bit deep for the stock height - that you most likely go over very slowly as well.

I've read on some other threads about air-struts for the front, air-lift kits for the rear etc. I've had a pair of air-lift bags in the rear of my Honda Odyssey.
Do you have thoughts, ideas?
Has anyone done just what I would like to do?

 

[Michael Ophus]

Big tires are about your only option to keep the rear shock hangers from dragging on the ground, There is a kit where you can shorten the shock hangers but you still do not obtain much more clearance.

 

[Michael Ophus]

Here is a video about installing one of the kits to shorten the transit rear shock hangers. Also there are a number of forum threads about this.

 

[jrice128]

At least for the body, you could get an airlift suspension like you mentioned. Won't do anything about the shocks, axles, etc like @Michael Ophus said. Far Out Ride has a write up on what they used and how they like it: https://faroutride.com/air-lift-springs-installation/

 

[oleknz]

I see a few solutions for the rear as mentioned above, but I also would like to do something in the front.

 

[surly Bill]

A lift will give you an additional zero inches of ground clearance.

 

[Michael Ophus]

Photo's of somebody's rear shock hanger that hit a rock.
Well, Maybe not a rock.

Emergency! Broken rear shock mount.

I just pulled into a trailhead outside Laramie, WY and I pulled too tightly into the lot over a cattle guard. As I pulled across there was huge bang and the back of the van felt like it slipped and hit something. In the dark with the sharp turn I did not realize the cattle guard dropped off the...

www.fordtransitusaforum.com

 

[oleknz]

A lift will give you an additional zero inches of ground clearance.

I understand that the rear axle and shock hangers stay in the same position unless you increase the tire size.
I am interested in shortening the rear shock mount.

The front should be different though. There you should be able to get some extra ground clearance from a lift, isn't that correct?

 

[khan]

I understand that the rear axle and shock hangers stay in the same position unless you increase the tire size.
I am interested in shortening the rear shock mount.

The front should be different though. There you should be able to get some extra ground clearance from a lift, isn't that correct?

I have been looking for the same myself but no luck. Maybe there is no such thing, primarily because of the weight of van on each wheel? Such systems usually are there for lighter car etc.

 

[Dust Rider]

My old 04 Audi All road wagon has airbags and air compressor. It’s actually pretty cool how it will lower at high speeds and then rise whole unit for snow or off road. They discontinued the air lift system after 5 years due to leaking air bags, compressor failing at cold temps and glitches in the system.
The Allroad weighs in at #5000. It always acts up when it’s cold out, below 10F. And that’s when it’s always snowing up here in Montana. So when I need the air suspension most in deep snow, it tends to craps out. That is the main problem with air suspension as it is another item to fail when needed.
My F350 has rear airbags for heavy loads and towing 5th wheel trailers, but that does not raise the vehicle like the Audi. It would be great to have a proven trouble free air lift suspension for clearance when needed, but it would be costly, and custom. There are off roading options for air ride lifts, but I do not know any manufacturers.

 

[khan]

My old 04 Audi All road wagon has airbags and air compressor. It’s actually pretty cool how it will lower at high speeds and then rise whole unit for snow or off road. They discontinued the air lift system after 5 years due to leaking air bags, compressor failing at cold temps and glitches in the system.
The Allroad weighs in at #5000. It always acts up when it’s cold out, below 10F. And that’s when it’s always snowing up here in Montana. So when I need the air suspension most in deep snow, it tends to craps out. That is the main problem with air suspension as it is another item to fail when needed.
My F350 has rear airbags for heavy loads and towing 5th wheel trailers, but that does not raise the vehicle like the Audi. It would be great to have a proven trouble free air lift suspension for clearance when needed, but it would be costly, and custom. There are off roading options for air ride lifts, but I do not know any manufacturers.

Thanks, good to know. 🙏

 

[njvagabond]

 

[Michael Ophus]

Maybe you can do something with hydraulics, There is nothing saying it has to be this extreme.

 

[SnoDrtRider]

View attachment 187658

The green spheres are accumulators... they serve as the springs in a hydraulic suspension system they are charged with high pressure nitrogen which is separated from the hydraulic fluid by a diaphragm. Mercedes, Alfa Romeo and a lot of other european vehicles use them for their load leveling systems.

 

[ArgonautVans]

You can’t shorten the rear shock mounts without doing a 2” lift. Otherwise you’re giving up two inches of travel which is a bad idea. The rear shock relocation brackets are probably the most important off-road mod you can do clearance wise, brings them up slightly above the rear diff height. I like my VC rear diff skid plate too.

airbags help the rear overhang in the rear. I don’t think anyone makes something for the front. But they won’t really help “lift to get over obstacles” because the rear axle, shock mounts, and diff are the problem and the only way to get more clearance is bigger tires

a 2” lift wont really be that noticeable to an observer to be honest if you don’t do a lot of other visible offroad mods. And still drives very well.

Personally I’d say get the 2” VC lift, airbags in the rear, rear shock relocation brackets, maybe the rear diff skid plate, 245/70r16 or 245/75r16 tires, and call it a day. Front VC skid is nice too. No one can see the skid plates so not making you more conspicuous