Suspension upgrade for towing

Hello, Peeps...

With effect from late October I'm going to start towing my new Teardrop trailer with the Jimny (54 JLX Mode).
The trailer is going to be very close to the unbraked limit for the Jimny at 340kgs, then there's all the stuff I'll have crammed in the back of the car, which has no seats and therefore tons of room!!!

Do I need to consider uprating my suspension ? I was thinking stronger ( but not longer ) shocks, and possibly diesel springs.

Would appreciate your comments and recommendations...for all I know my proposals may be unnecessary, but I suspect not

Thanks,

Gus

Don't do anything until you have tried a test run although I can't see a teardrop trailer having much effect on a Jimny.
Don't forget it's designed to carry 2 people in the back so put in your essential stuff and try it.
If it handles ok gradually increase the load in the back.
You are allowed a 70kg nose weight on the trailer.
Don't be tempted to load the car with stuff for a fortnights holiday especially food. Just enough for a day or so as you can easily buy food at your destination.
I guarantee you will take stuff you never use. If people can go camping on bikes then you don't need the kitchen sink lol
My 750kg caravan is no problem although if I put too much in the car I find the standard springs a bit soft and they can bottom out and to this end I have bought some rubber spring assistors to go in the rear springs.
I can't comment on them as I haven't tried them yet.

Great stuff, thank you.
I'm used to towing a 1500kg caravan with my Grand Cherokee, but not having towed anything more than a garden trailer with the Jim, you can maybe understand my concerns
Good advice re. the trial run, glad I thought of that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gus

I presume you can put the bedding and lightweight chairs in the trailer and possibly food??
That would put you somewhere near the unbraked limit.
The next heaviest items will be gas and water. Just take enough water to last the journey and your immediate needs as you can top up on site or at services etc.
Get some small gas cylinders to keep the weight down.
Think minimalist and you should be fine just 2 of everything if you are just 2 people.

Teardrop doesn't have on-board water, get it when we get there.
We use a 5kg BP Gaslite bottle last about a month so no probs there either.

This whole teardrop thing is an experiment, a suck-it-and-see exercise just to do something different, everything you're telling me is leading me to believe that, as far as the question of weight, towball noseweight and extra loading on the springs/shocks are concerned, it's all going to be fine.
I think your comment about being designed to take 2 adults in the back is spot-on....having no back seats, that's something I seem to have lost sight of

Thanks again,

Gus

No problem you could also go on a diet :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: