Anyone installed the Roadmaster Active Suspension kit?

[Randucci]

Has anyone installed the Roadmaster Active Suspension kit on their NV or another vehicle? If so, just curious what your thoughts on it are, thanks.

 

https://activesuspension.com/products/kits/2011-2016-nissan-nv-2500-vans/

 

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[ASD Dad]

Buddy of mine had it on his Tundra.  It raises the rear of the vehicle up a lot of times due to the extra tension and the ride can be a bit more rough.  They can also get noisy due to movement.  

 

They are better than adding leaf springs from what I am told.  They are more trouble free than an airbag system that can leak and you need a compressor.  I used Timbrens on my Tundra and they worked well for my needs when towing.

 

Keep in mind that they will do absolutely nothing to increase your payload or tow ratings.  All they do is stiffen up the rear so it doesnt sag.  That holds true for any suspension "helper".

[radin2son]

The addition of a leaf spring and bigger tires increases payload capacity for the 3500 vs the 2500?

 

From your previous comments about towing, more cargo means lower towing rating. If you get it right, less sag would be better for towing?

[Mark Rogers]

The addition of a leaf spring and bigger tires increases payload capacity for the 3500 vs the 2500?

 

From your previous comments about towing, more cargo means lower towing rating. If you get it right, less sag would be better for towing?

 

An extra leaf spring and bigger tires could reduce sag, which would be good for towing heavy loads, but it wouldn't increase any of the max weight limits.

[radin2son]

Doesn’t Randucci’s 3500 have a slightly higher payload capacity than my 2500 due the 3500 suspension and tires? 3/4 ton vs 1 ton? If so, then a suspension change could increase the payload capacity of the 2500.

 

I looked on the commercial site, but only found the towing capacity difference between the V6 and V8.

 

ASD Dad’s and your comments about sag are accurate...

 

I love the assumption on the Roadmaster web site that the vehicle will be overloaded.

Edited March 7, 2018 by radin2son

[Mark Rogers]

Doesn’t Randucci’s 3500 have a slightly higher payload capacity than my 2500 due the 3500 suspension and tires? 3/4 ton vs 1 ton? If so, then a suspension change could increase the payload capacity of the 2500.

 

You could theoretically increase the payload capacity.  You'd have to somehow verify that every component of the frame and suspension is okay with the higher payload, and I'm not sure how you'd do that in practice.

[Mark Rogers]

I love the assumption on the Roadmaster web site that the vehicle will be overloaded.

 

Ya gotta love marketers.  Well, I guess you don't actually need to love them, but if you don't, who will?   :-D

Edited March 7, 2018 by Mark Rogers

[Randucci]

I only have a NV 2500, but have the V8.

Edited March 8, 2018 by Randucci

[radin2son]

There you go. We’ll be able to overload our 2500s faster than ASD Dad’s and Mark Rogers’ 3500s.

 

Have you loaded your NV close to payload capacity? Our loaded van probably weighs 8000+#. We started with the known curb weight of the SMB conversion, then added up everything we put in... everything. I believe the payload capacity of the 2500 is 9100#. Looks suspiciously like the V8 towing capacity. Nope, but close. V8 towing capacity is 9400#.

 

At any rate, I’ve never noticed any sag.

Edited March 8, 2018 by radin2son

[TinyStudio]

I replaced our 2009 Ford Expedition EL Limited (with auto leveling rear air suspension) which I enjoyed because it kept everything level with a 2017 NVP 3500 SL. I hope I don't have a sagging issue when I hook up the travel trailer. Otherwise I'm going to look at some options to keep it level. ASD dad, how was the tongue weight on your trailer that you tow? I believe ours is near 800#.

[ASD Dad]

800# isnt bad but it's getting up there.  My old camper was around that and it towed really well, better than my Tundra.  My new camper has a much higher tongue weight due to it being a toyhauler.  They expect you to load something heavy in the rear which will offset the tongue weight.  Throw a couple Harley's, a side by side or even a golf cart and that is a lot of weight.  We just carry kids "toys" - bikes, kayaks, etc back there.  I think unloaded my tongue was around 1100#!!  We shifted a lot of weight around from storage up front to the rear and make sure to pack anything heavy back there now.  I got it down around the mid to upper 800's if I go heavy in back.

[radin2son]

Nissan commercial doesn’t offer as much info as before, but dealerships may for each vehicle on the lot.

 

Jim Click Nissan has a 2018 NVP SL, V8 ($43,315). It may be a 2500; sticker doesn’t indicate what it is. GVWR is 9480# and maximum payload is 2490#.

 

No cargo vans on the lot.

[Mark Rogers]

I just checked Nissan's website.  Looks like the 2500 can handle more payload than the NVP.  I guess the seats, carpet, rear climate control, etc. add a lot of weight.

 

NV Cargo specs: https://www.nissancommercialvehicles.com/nv-cargo/specs?tool=vlp.nvcargo.regional.specs.link

NV Passenger specs: https://www.nissancommercialvehicles.com/nv-passenger/specs?tool=vlp.nvpass.regional.specs.link

[radin2son]

For whatever reason I didn’t scroll over far enough. Also interesting that the V6 has a higher payload capacity.

 

Standard roof 2500 cargo V8 has 2920# payload capacity. 3720# for the 3500.

 

High roof 2500 cargo is 2760#. 3720# for the 3550.

 

Our NV SMB conversion curb weight is about the same as a NVP.

 

Towing capacity is the same, 9400 for both.

[Mark Rogers]

Radin2son,

 

The V6 weighs less than the V8, so you can put that much more payload in the V6 version.

 

If you compare the NVP to the 3500 Cargo, you'll see that all the NVP amenities reduce the payload by about 1000-1200 pounds, depending on the trim line.  So that's how much all the extra features weigh.  I believe the rear seats alone account for about half of that weight.

 

The NVP is heavy enough that it starts to eat into the towing capacity, too.  It's limited to 8700 pounds instead of the 9400 pounds of the cargo version.

[radin2son]

I get it, but it is counterintuitive. Smaller engine, more payload.

 

Nissan probably built in overload capacity (in terms of recommended payload) with minimal sag.

Edited March 9, 2018 by radin2son

[Bamps]

Have you thought about airbags or helwig

[Dastard]

If I have any sag with my travel trailer and WD hitch, I will go with firestone airbags. I had them on my Tundra and just filled them with a little bike pump. Didn't need much, 15 psi unloaded equaled 28ish loaded. It carried so much better

[Dvanderwood]

The firestone airbags have been discontinued and I can’t find them anywhere.