Is the optimum everyday static low height ?

[BenT5]

I've spent ages messing around with tyres and suspension until being happy with this, as with lots of things there are compromises. Having a low van is important to me, looks wise mainly but also handling and so is a reasonable amount of practicality. This is on Solow Lows at full height, so front is 360mm wheel centre to arch and rear is 365mm. Tyres are Bridgestone Potenza Sport 255/40/20 101. These tyres seem to be the lowest profile 255/40/20 as they do vary from brand to brand within the same size. These are not far off Nankang 245/40/20 which I didnt really want either.

The van is a camper with U shape layout so not overly heavy and gets used most days as a daily. Yes of course I could put on a budget set of 255/35/20's and wind down the adjusters a lot but I don't want to run budget tyres and need to clear some ramps and inclines here and there and on the other hand I also like to get in under some barriers and carparks. There's something too about proportions of tyre to arch gap that says the lower the tyre profile, the lower that van should be and conversely the higher profile tyre, the higher the van should be.

Below are how she currently sits and I think I'm actually delighted with it now. I've had it higher on 45mm THQ springs while I was converting it and recently lower with the adjusters half way down but neither was working for me.

Let me know what you think ?




Too low


Too high

 

[Badjamin]

Looks sweet as a nut that mate, perfect height and awesome choice of rims . any plans for some side bars? perhaps some shorty rear mudflaps?

 

[JumpShip]

I think if it works for you then .
I like the looks of it too low but has to be functional and my days of dragging my arse down the tarmac are long gone now .

 

[dubber36]

Air

 

[BenT5]

Air

Yes and agree it looks brilliant but to pull it off properly you're back to cheap ultra low profiles, probably non load rated too and a few not so practical mods. I've better things to blow a large wad on.

 

[t0mb0]

Depends on your usage obviously, but if I think of all the absolute best places we've stayed in our camper you likely wouldn't even get to them with a meaningfully lowered van.

 

[JumpShip]

Our van is virtually the same front and rear as your current set up and has been for many years and many miles across france, Spain and the UK .
Never had a problem getting anywhere at that height

 

[Stay Frosty]

What made you think it was too low? Smashing the tops off of speed cushions or the steering being locked straight ahead where the tyre walls were being guided by the inside of the wheel arches?
I find parking on uneven campsites can produce quite jaunty amounts of wheel arch cleavage never mind rolling out of bed, any pictures will automatically be taken from the side being compressed.

 

[BenT5]

What made you think it was too low? Smashing the tops off of speed cushions or the steering being locked straight ahead where the tyre walls were being guided by the inside of the wheel arches?
I find parking on uneven campsites can produce quite jaunty amounts of wheel arch cleavage never mind rolling out of bed, any pictures will automatically be taken from the side being compressed.

Not sure what tone this was written in, is it sarcasm

 

[Voodoo_Pirate]

Height looks bang. Looks good! I think I need to raise mine a tad…. Getting a slight tyre rub front left when going over speed bumps. No rubbing at any other stage however.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Not sure what tone this was written in, is it sarcasm

No mate, even your "too low" picture looked right.
I'm stuck with a useful underslung water tank limiting how low I can go...

 

[BenT5]

No mate, even your "too low" picture looked right.
I'm stuck with a useful underslung water tank limiting how low I can go...
View attachment 307714
View attachment 307715

Yup see what you mean, not sure I’d trade a useful water tank for arch gap My too low stance was definitely too low and I like having the same arch gap front and rear. When the van is moving it sits down a little more and looks good