Have anyone done or seen suspension upgrades on 2011/12 AB? I have a heavy Tintent? we all know that it has a towing weight limit of 3500kg but that is pulling not weight load on the tow ball which is 150kg?
I am looking to get better towing ability when passing or being passed by trucks or high-sided vans?

or looking for a good suspension company? Any input would be much appreciated

In Australia the L322's maximum ball weight is 250kg with exactly the same tow-bar. My 2.5T but tall, narrow semi-off-road 4-wheel independent suspension van with a little over 250kg ball weight travelling at 100 kph is unaffected by passing trucks.

I think the only thing you could do is make sure all the suspension joints are in good nick. If there is any slack the car body will move unnecessarily side ways before the movement is transferred to the car tyres.
If a van is overtaking me, I always move as far left as possible to get out of it's bow wave . If a lorry is overtaking you, you are going to slow!

I have towed a large tin tent, 2000 KG’s for meany years with no issues. Are you loaded correctly with your trailer and do you have your tyre pressures set for towing on the fatty? Also the lower profile tyre you run, the more stable the outfit will be with overtaking ETC.
I used to run 18 INCH on an older FF and had to put them up to 48 PSI when towing to eliminate sway, my current tyres are 275/45/21 and are solid. Your suspension will self level and should not need modifications, unless you have wear of course.

My thinking was the same as many others about the loading? When I collected the caravan (empty) still had sway so much so on a very bad section of the M40 the ATC kicked in? speed was 64mph on a downhill which is not ideal but should have handled it? the unloaded weight of the caravan is 1800kg.
My previous car 2011 SE did not have the same unsteady towing and I had taken that to France and down to Spain?
The AB had an MOT two months ago with no advisories?

The car is fitted with standard new Continental cross contact tyres as the handbook? could that be a problem? pressure on the rear is 38psi could that be the problem?
Could it be worn bushes or control arms?
I checked the tow hitch friction pads they are ok?
any input on what else to check would help?

Cheers

Have you actually checked the nose weight? My new to me twin axle has a stupidly heavy nose weight compared to the single axle it replaced so I would doubt yours would be to light. Could it be it is to heavy at the front?

Hi, Mine is a twin axle I have moved some weight on to over the axles the front only has a 9kg gas and a small gas bottle not much in the lockers upfront so my next step will be to double-check the tire pressures and replace the rear bushes on the car?
Thanks for your input

Make sure you don't have to much weight at the arse end of the van - will waggle like crazy.

Also, too little nose weight is as bad as too much so worth checking it.

Lastly, fit a stabilizer bar - they are spectacularly good.

Apologies if any of this is teaching you to suck eggs! Bish.

2005 110 TD5 CSW
2011 TDV8 Vogue SE (gone)

Too front heavy won't cause swaying whereas too light will, as will the van not being level.

Hi, what I have forgotten to mention is that I have towed the same caravan with a different car and no problem?
I have also forgotten to mention that the car never had a tow bar fitted before my ownership, I have noticed that creeping in traffic I hear a creaking type knock? My thoughts are bushes?

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs but have you cleaned the pads in the caravan tow hitch? Have to clean mine every second trip to stop the incessant creaking! I don't think they would stop a two ton pendulum from swinging side to side though.

Just a small video that shows the dangers with wrong weight distribution on a trailer.

 ----------------
2012 - L322 Westminster
QRV @ LA2VSA / DA1AA

Thanks for your help guys But as said before I have been caravaning for some time I think it could well be the car that is the problem? but always willing to learn new tricks

HI, have you checked that the caravan hitch looks slightly low when the whole outfit is loaded ready to go? Some caravans when loaded sit too low at the back, and you are towing with load only on the rear wheels of a twin wheeler. For example, I once bought an Ifor Williams 16ft twin wheel trailer with a 40ft cherry picker mounted on it. I moved the main body to the front of the trailer, but it still had 10ft hanging out the back. I had it on a Discovery TD5, thirty MPH along the 40 foot river from Ramsey to March, it was bouncing the front wheels of the Disco off of the ground. A bit scary, as the river was full of left hand drive volkswagens at the time. Imagine having knackered dampers on the towing vehicle!

Fixed it? The towing problem was as I thought the rear hub bushes were stuffed? They looked good from the outside but once removed I could feel that they were stuffed.
Towed the Tintent today in crap weather passing Trucks no probs, high sided vans passing me without a problem very solid did not know it was there.
Not too much money to fix just extra cost was new Disc and pads.