This is a good discussion folks !

I have a single axle 4 berth van which I used to tow with a 105bhp 1.9tdi my 2 which had a dealer fitted Swan towbar that was way to low ... to the point where it dragged the sockets when going up a bank and bent the bracket golding them. I used to keep the nose weight to about 40kg and put heavy items in the van cross the axle to help with this. 

Now I have the joy of towing with a 150bhp mk3 scout which is a world's away from the old mk2 experience and is great tow car but still stick to the 50kg nose weight.

Cheers

I'm going to order some of the 'S' type springs. I'll possibly be the only person to want to lift a vRS, rather than lower it 😳 Slightly nervous about it's (unloaded) appearance if I'm honest!

 

Thank you again @Carlston and @J.R. for the advice. 

Cut them down if you dont like them!

 

They may settle anyway.

 

The ones I fitted to my MK2 Octavia Estate did raise it but given the overloading it endurered it was not a problem to me, the ride and handling were just fine but I did need to use my drop plate on the towbar for most of my trailers but the towbar was always too high at standard ride height, it came with the car so I dont know the reason.

 

I am not concerned with the cosmetic image of my vehicle, but someone with an already low VRS with big wheels & skinny tyres tucked into the wheelarches might not like the raised ride height on cosmetic grounds.

 

The guy I sold the car too kicked off saying it was too high and had worn out the rear tyres (they had 5mm of tread and had just passed the CT test) and was fishing for some money back but would not come out with it, I just kept repeating "what is it that you want from me?" and he eventually hung up.

 

He bought it for towing his trailer and knew I was using a drop plate, I reckon he could not find one himself.

Edited 7 June, 20232 yr by J.R.

On 05/06/2023 at 23:34, Swirly182 said:

undulations in the road caused suspension bump stop strikes and there wasn't much travel before this happened.

 

I would definitely replace the bump stops with the new springs, you should not feel the bump stop coming into operation, its not a stop but effectiveky an auxiliary buffer spring, I reckon that yours are shot and the shock absorber was compressing to its limit effectively like an axle striking the chassis, the spring rate becomes infinity, the vehicle has solid suspension.

Uprated springs installed this morning. Towing next weekend so will find out if it's problem solved! I need not have worried about the looks, slightly higher but doesn't look like it's on stilts. Photo for comparison:

Many years ago I towed with a Volvo v70, lovely car but it also suffered with a saggy rear end when hitched up. I got over this problem by using the rubber inserts (cant remember the name) on the springs. This cured the problem and we had many years without the problem. Was only a 20 minute job to fit them as well.

On 01/07/2023 at 20:13, Hussar175 said:

Many years ago I towed with a Volvo v70, lovely car but it also suffered with a saggy rear end when hitched up. I got over this problem by using the rubber inserts (cant remember the name) on the springs. This cured the problem and we had many years without the problem. Was only a 20 minute job to fit them as well.

Do you fit and remove as needed or did you leave them in all the time?

Just to close this thread off, changing the standard 'Q' springs to the 'S' springs (see details earlier in the thread) plus rubber spring assisters, I think has improved the towing experience. I should really have done this sooner with the previous caravan and even when loaded up to go on holiday solo, pre-caravan purchase. The recent tow this weekend with the bigger and heavier caravan was completely stable.

 

It seems the early 245 edition from 2017 to 2018 (and possibly the pre-facelift 230) has these slightly shorter rear springs. My dad's later 245 looks a similar height to what mine is now. This is all anecdotal.

 

So this cost me less than £100. Other option would have cost ££££s. Thank you again to everyone that contributed.