"It is like night and day!" This was the initial comment made by both of the first two owners after driving their Quigley SportsMobiles, immediately after their Fox Shox Ride Improvement Package was installed. Their next words were, "I wish I had done this a long time ago!"
Over the last several month, I have been developing a ride improvement package, with the help of FOX Shox, for Quigley and QuadVan 4X4 Conversion Vans - it is finally tuned, tested and ready!
After reading so many complaints about the ride and handling of these converted 4X4 Ford E Series Vans, and finally getting to test drive a few of them myself, I realized there was a real need to solve the problem.
I have 20 plus years of off-road racing experience and suspension tuning under my belt and knew that major improvements could be made without major expense and modification. Both the Quigley and QuadVan are sound designs with proven functionality and reliability - they just need a little help.
Quigley and QuadVan front suspensions suffer from limited bump travel, primarily due to the Van's front frame cross member interfering with the front axle differential housing at full bump. The cross member is modified to provide as much clearance as possible, but typically there is only 1.5 inches or less of bump travel before the front suspension "bottoms out" and transfers the impact to the van and occupants.
The solution was to essentially double the bump travel, increase the overall travel, increase the spring height and spring rate, eliminate binding of the swaybar and most importantly installing custom tuned and valved FOX Shox.
The proof is in the ride.
The other part of the equations was controlling the rear suspension with tuning and custom valved FOX Shox for these behemoths to provide ride stability and control body roll and sway.
I spent a lot of time measuring, cycling, timing and tuning the suspension to optimize the existing design of these two 4X4 conversions and I am very pleased with the results - you will be too!
I used FOX Performance Series IFP (Internal Floating Piston) Shox:
They were custom valved based on experience and testing:
Out with the old and in with the new...
The two test SMB's:
Here you can see the 2 inch drop spacer for the swaybar to eliminate binding.
I also installed the NEW FOX Performance Series Adjustable Through Shaft (ATS) steering stabilizer on one of the Vans. The technologically advanced design cancels unwanted steering forces in both directions, taking the place of two conventional opposing stabilizers. It will also respond to your input with 24 clicks of external adjustment to fine tune the feel.
Threaded Mode
