Tiguans and Rough Roads.

[Sharkie]

Anyone looked into lift 'options'?

H&R makes a set of lift springs ... lifts the car by about 40mm ..... Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Motion 2.0T > Suspension > Springs > ES#248705 Tiguan Lift Springs - 29037-1

problem is, its not an easy switch between std and lift ... as you say, what you really need is an adjustable air suspension, where you can change between lowered, std and lifted at a touch of a button.

[Arctra]

H&R makes a set of lift springs ... lifts the car by about 40mm ..... Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Motion 2.0T > Suspension > Springs > ES#248705 Tiguan Lift Springs - 29037-1

problem is, its not an easy switch between std and lift ... as you say, what you really need is an adjustable air suspension, where you can change between lowered, std and lifted at a touch of a button.

If you look at the myTiguan forums, there's a guy there (jjj) from South Africa that has done a lot of the groudwork regarding suspension. Take a look at this thread: H&R Lift springs - myTiguan Forum
Summary of H&R Lift srpings is:
- The product advert claims 30/15mm lift front/rear. On jjj's 2.0 Tdi it could only get 21mm in front and 3mm LR and 7mm RR.
- The suspension raise is achieved by increasing the spring rates. i.e., the H&R rear springs are actually 20mm shorter than the original ones but still lifts the car. In other words, the car will have raised sport suspension.


After trying the H&R's he made his own strut spacers which I was very interested in trying. On the advice of my father I did not end up going for them while my Tig is still under warranty though. The prototype spacers he made gave 30mm lift on the front, but he reckons you should not look to do much more than 25mm lift otherwise it affects your camber. I can give you his details if you'd like him to make up a set of spacers for you. He does illustrated instructions and all.

Check out this thread where I've asked the VWWatercooled community for their opinions on other alternatives: http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f39/...ves-43385.html

[clip]

.... the new foresters, with the 4 speed auto and extra weight, they're quite disappointing, almost gutless.

Yes, but you can get a new XT Forester for $40k on the road now. That's good value for that engine and puts the power right up there with remapped Tigs.

for those wondering how Tig goes on the sand read on..

WOW! I'm really impressed Jim. Didn't think it would perform that well. How was your clutch - any signs of burning etc? I took a new Suzuki Grand Vitara up to Double Island and it was next to usless in the soft stuff - nearly ripped the clutch out of it, smelt like burning rubber. Zero power down low in those things.

[NZTiguan]

WOW! I'm really impressed Jim. Didn't think it would perform that well. How was your clutch - any signs of burning etc? I took a new Suzuki Grand Vitara up to Double Island and it was next to usless in the soft stuff - nearly ripped the clutch out of it, smelt like burning rubber. Zero power down low in those things.

Sounds as if you made the mistake of trying to drive "slowly" in sand ? The way to do it is by maintaining a really good forward speed so the vehicle doesn't bog down. There's a very good explanation (with video) of this on myTiguan.com by JJJ in south Africa who is (IMO) the "king of sand".

Cheers

[jimbomort]

WOW! I'm really impressed Jim. Didn't think it would perform that well. How was your clutch - any signs of burning etc? I took a new Suzuki Grand Vitara up to Double Island and it was next to usless in the soft stuff - nearly ripped the clutch out of it, smelt like burning rubber. Zero power down low in those things.

not sure what approach you tried clip, but Derek is right to a degree, I drove a Suzie on Fraser years back and had no trouble with getting bogged, clutch etc, but yeh I had to rev her pretty hard, there is not much down low. On the sand momentum is your friend.

That aside the remapped Tig really just ate the sand and there were a number of times when I was in 2nd gear with only 1500rpm or less on the tacho and it coped extremely well. The extra torqe really helps in it not getting 'bogged down'. How wet the sand is can make a difference though, if its really dry, much looser and harder going. In my case there had been plenty of rain.

Zero problems with the clutch that I am aware of and that was with the high torque loads. If revving hard as required in the suzie, should have less problems.

I just wish there was an easy way of getting an extra 5cm or so of clearance, especially if adjustable, the remapped Tig would be a true all rounder weapon then.

Know many with the remap are thinking of lowering, but IMO, the best car is a rally like weapon, that has the go and reasonably handling, but can handle the tough stuff too. With that extra torque and power, the absence of low range in the Tig, is not an issue.

[clip]

Cheers Derek, I've been driving on Fraser Isl for 20 years, so well aware of problems with sand driving, just that those Grand Vitara's are too heavy, low torque and nothing down low. Nice car on the road, great on dirt tracks etc, just no good for beach work. A little Suzi vitara is another thing altogether to the GV, they're great in the soft stuff.

[T&M]

Anyone looked into lift 'options'?

The only possible way of getting a little more clearance under the Tig is perhaps looking at getting slightly higher springs (opposite of what the guys do with their lowering) and larger tyre diameters.
Apart from what you mentioned, and the fact that the Tigs are very much soft roaders and limited to what they can do, we will look at doing something like the above so the Tig can fill a small gap between road car and the large 4WD we have.

Even tyres alone will help.

[jimbomort]

The only possible way of getting a little more clearance under the Tig is perhaps looking at getting slightly higher springs (opposite of what the guys do with their lowering) and larger tyre diameters.
Apart from what you mentioned, and the fact that the Tigs are very much soft roaders and limited to what they can do, we will look at doing something like the above so the Tig can fill a small gap between road car and the large 4WD we have.

Even tyres alone will help.

thanks, yeh I have started checking out options but not looking very promising, TJM have heaps of stuff for some of the main 4wds, and are checking out for me but not holding much hope.

Hard to get a lot of lift our of bigger tyres and unfortunately a fair bit to sort out with them to make them legal from my initial enquiries. Lot of people do it anyway, but I am not keen on giving insurance companies way outs or VW if I have a warranty issue. I do reckon though that bigger diameter tyres would look good on the Tig and so I am not closed to the idea yet, but sceptical as to whether it can work without great hassle.

beginning to think that Arctra's bash plate may be the best approach. Looking at many 4wds I have noticed that most dont have a lot more clearance than the Tig when you look at their lowest point. Sure some have a fair bit more under most of the body, but most have a diff, exhaust system or other low point down around 200mm clearance.

[jimbomort]

for those wondering how Tig goes on the sand read on

We recently spent a week on Moreton Island (off Brisbane), with the Tig loaded to the hilt, roofbox and a towball mounted backrack on as well (more to come on that in another thread later). So back was down a bit and we lt our tires down to 18PSI for driving on the sand.

We got off the Ferry at high tide and had to drive on the drier sand and use a number of inland tracks. In the end we ended up going all over the island, which by the way is fantastic.

In summary:
- the Tig handled it all extremely well
- an extra 5cm+ clearance would have been handy and more relaxing, we were acting like a grader a more often than I'd like
- Tig romped up Harpers (a longish steep sandy slope up to the lighthouse), wife was a bit freaked but Tig blew it away, probably could have done in 2nd gear
- the extra torque of the APR map was brilliant, despite high loads and grader driving, 2nd gear and even 3rd were fine, except a few occassions when I got down to almost walking speed on some soft sand, which were the only times I really needed first.
- with the remap (and probably without) dont need a low range, Tig is almost unstoppable in 1st, only time might be an issue is literally crawling across very rough terrian, but I'm not even sure that would be a problem
- Tig did well with lots of creek crossings, a little hairy, as had to time with waves and keep a bit more speed thru water than I'd like just in case sand proved softer than expected (I got out and tested it a number of times), but I was conscious of keeping to shallow water only as know fording ability of the Tig is very limited

Gave the car a good wash down straight after the trip and I am getting the wheel alignment and underbody checked this week just to be sure.

Good news is car checked out well, needed a wheel alignment but thats the first we've done since we bought it and may have nothing to do with the trip, though we certainly tested the alignment.

Only issue was a fair bit of sand up in the engine bay, probably flicked off the tyres. Mechanic seemed convinced engine is all pretty sealed, so I somewhat carefully gave the engine bay a high pressure wash, which cleared it all out and car has run well since (must admit I was a bit nervous about that). I noticed during this that the air intake seems quite high (good) but I thought I remember seeing on a thread somewhere here that the fording ability is only 200mm and that because of a low air intake? I was careful not to spray water into the air intake - that could be bad. Next time though I'd seal it right off just to be sure.

[T&M]

thanks, yeh I have started checking out options but not looking very promising, TJM have heaps of stuff for some of the main 4wds, and are checking out for me but not holding much hope. Hard to get a lot of lift our of bigger tyres and unfortunately a fair bit to sort out with them to make them legal from my initial enquiries. Lot of people do it anyway, but I am not keen on giving insurance companies way outs or VW if I have a warranty issue. I do reckon though that bigger diameter tyres would look good on the Tig and so I am not closed to the idea yet, but sceptical as to whether it can work without great hassle.

The tyres alone will only give you a slight increase, even though a little is better than nothing. You're right - TJM, ARB and the mainstream 4WD locations only look after the mass market 4WD scene, not likely to get much from them. The H&R higher spring rate coils look the goods definately! These together with "LT" rated tyres will give you a slight height increase and then it's down to you and wheel placement.

I must admit, I would have never of thought to take the Tig to Moreton/Fraser Is That will be up to our larger 4WD to take us there.

Hard to get a lot of lift our of bigger tyres and unfortunately a fair bit to sort out with them to make them legal from my initial enquiries. Lot of people do it anyway, but I am not keen on giving insurance companies way outs or VW if I have a warranty issue.

Oh I forgot to give you my link to DGA Insurance. You may want to enquire about your mods and driving locations with them and have peace of mind if you go ahead. DGA Insurance Brokers