Hi, I'm new to the vw scene and wondered if lowering my recently brought t2 latebay is a large / expensive job? Any help or advice much appreciated
Thanks for starting this topic, I 'm looking to lower my bay soon too, but I'm just wondering what lowering methods the other bay owners have used? I know the splines can be adjusted or drop spindles fitted, but I have also seen a fair few bays online lowered using kits from this chap http://freshkustoms.com/product-category/type-2/ and I would be very interested in these, but there does seem to be a lot of fab work required
The advice most people are going to say is keep stock height, unless you are prepared to spend a lot of your hard earned cash to lower it, mine is lowered and does look good, but the ride is terrible
Stock rocks and is probably as good as a bay gets for handling. Lowered looks cool and there are kits to help on the front. Adjustable beams or dropped spindles for the front and adjustable spring plates for the back. Just go youtube. There are loads of videos that show how and the price can vary a lot. Have a look at the red9 set up.
Thanks Barry, I do like it but weighing up the options. Personally feel they look a little better lowered but have no idea of the implications
Mine was lowered 2 splines (3.5 inches) at the back when I bought it - looks OK and handles well - but I can't compare to a standard one.
One pointer worth noting. What camping are you planning on doing? A lowered bus will not like some of the country lanes or campsites, you will hit issues of suspension bottoming out. Been there, done that. We lowered our westy using Wagens West drop spindles, the handling once set up was superb on motorways and good A roads. We do lots of camping in Derbyshire, Notts, Yorkshire and the north. No good for lowered bays, back to stock and the issues went away.
Yes, it's worse when loaded up with all our camping gear, if I had the money, I definitely would change it all back to stock, VW knew what they were doing when they designed our campers
I agree, mine does look cool, but owning a camper is about driving it, and I think doing the low end (price wise)lowering is dangerous and uncomfortable, stock is best,
I have a Creative engineering stock width adjustable beam with a mild drop With Spax shocks I find it comfortable to drive even fully loaded with the camping gear etc
@monkeyvanwestybike Whats the round about cost for taking it to a garage with that setting up please. if you don't mind me asking.
You can keep stock height and much reduce the blowing about by fitting a HD anti roll bar at the front and one at the rear (no rear ARB as stock). Then you get to keep the nice comfy standard ride and loads of suspension travel.
A well set up bay will drive beautifully, make sure its all set up correctly and you'll be very happy!
I'd drive it as is for a while, go to some camps and shows and befriend someone with a lowered bus and blag a ride before investing too much time and money.
