High Top in the wind

[nin73]

Hi Guys, new owner in a hightop. Took it away last week on a trip to Devon and back, everything fine till we got battered by the wind.

Is there anything that can be done suspension/wheel wise to calm the high top down in the windy conditions when driving?

It has standard suspension/wheels and no power steering.

[Ian Hulley]

Front spoiler (yes they work to help stopping spontaneous lane changing on motorways), new Powerflex rack bushes and probably the rest of them as well (make the steering as tight as possible) and get used to driving a slab-sided van.

Ian

[1664]

I rather like the 'random' aspect of the t25 drive. Reminds me of riding a horse that sees a crisp packet rustling in a hedge and instantly cr@ps itself and bolts out into the road in front of moving traffic.
Life on the edge

[jason k]

As Ian says the spoiler helps but having lowered my old westy with -50mm avo and a set of bilstein b6 shocks it was awesome in the wind. I can't recommend doing this enough.

[Plasticman]

learn a bit more of driving it, used to be worse on 2 wheels tooling it in the wind, keeps you on the game
mm

[Ian and Lins]

I rather like the 'random' aspect of the t25 drive. Reminds me of riding a horse that sees a crisp packet rustling in a hedge and instantly cr@ps itself and bolts out into the road in front of moving traffic.
Life on the edge

I liken it to steering a boat; cue Captain Pugwash. The Dartford Tunnel Bridge can be entertaining.

[nin73]

As Ian says the spoiler helps but having lowered my old westy with -50mm avo and a set of bilstein b6 shocks it was awesome in the wind. I can't recommend doing this enough.

I have been driving a t5 gp for the last 3 years and that can get a bit lively in the wind but i wasnt prepared for how bad the T25 was!!

Will look into the shocks and springs, bigger wheels and also power steering me thinks.

Where did you get your bilstein shocks?

[jason k]

All from http://www.brickwerks.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pionte]

lowering and bigger wheels with spacers will help the most imho, coupled with new bushes. I dont think that fitting power steering will help atall . I have just lowered mine with -50 AVO springs and B6 billies ,I have wider Merc wheels and 15/20mm spacers and a front spoiler. as soon as the engine is back in I will hopefully find out if the new suspension has helped as much as I think it will.

[Sleedale]

I rather like the 'random' aspect of the t25 drive. Reminds me of riding a horse that sees a crisp packet rustling in a hedge and instantly cr@ps itself and bolts out into the road in front of moving traffic.
Life on the edge

Perfect description of our Victor in the wind, just have to get used to it

[Ralf85]

Lowered suspension and side planks help I think but a front spoiler helps so much to drive in a straight line in the wind.

[sassy]

Fitting polybushes where possible or replacing with brand new rubber where not to the entire front end helped a lot.
Steering rack bushes, antiroll bar etc.

The difference that and 70mm springs made was just astounding.

A lot more definite it its driving manner!

[pirate-pete]

I had newish -70 AVO's on mine when I got it. Hated them and they also made the van look fully loaded even when empty (ie back lower than front).

Sold them and replaced with AVO -30s which are much more forgiving over speedbumps and typical worn out UK roads. The last journey with the -70s was down the M6 from Cumbria and the wind made it so bad I turned off to go the A6 route via Lancaster.

The -30s did not seem to make too much of a difference to handling in the wind but recently I fitted the powerflex steering rack bushes and they certainly have made a difference. Have not been out in a very windy day yet but can drive down the motorway now on a breezy day with the steering wheel in a steady position now where before I was always correcting the wandering.

[nin73]

Van is booked in with Beetle Magic to have new shocks and 30mm lowering. Will assess the bushes when work is being done.

Also getting a new clutch installed whilst there as i noticed getting into 3rd gear was a little iffy.

[Ian Hulley]

Also getting a new clutch installed whilst there as i noticed getting into 3rd gear was a little iffy.

Surely if the clutch was shot you'd have trouble getting ALL the gears ?

Save money, learn to drive a van.

Ian