Journey Better the Magazine // Issue Two

THE MAGAZINE

ISSUE TWO

THE ONLY

4WD

MERCEDESBENZ SPRINTER 2500 WITH AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. ®

FROM THE CEO

It is an honor

to share with you many of the exciting stories in this, our Journey Better Magazine. This issue includes customers real world stories, both here domestically and internationally. It is wonder l to capture these stories and share the customer’s experiences of using SSI suspension products. From recreational vehicles at play in a desert to a commercial electrical vehicle in NYC, these customers all share one thing in common — experiencing better journeys.

This issue will introduce you to our leadership team, who drive our company vision and uphold our core values. These leaders are obsessed with our goal of creating a culture of excellence, both for

FROM THE CCO

Welcome to Issue 2 of the o cial Journey Better Magazine by SuperSprings International. Since our last issue, we’ve seen a lot happen. 2021 was our most success l growth year in our 25+ year company history. All of this is thanks to every one of our employees and customers. You have poured out your support and we’ve been the bene ciaries. From each one of us at SSI, thank you.

The Journey Better magazine was birthed out of a desire to communicate  with and support our customers more dynamically. We consistently get questions, comments, and thoughts about our products and we wanted to build a resource you could use practically whether you’re a distributor, jobber, online retailer, RV manufacturer, dealer, up tter, or otherwise. Our hope is that this magazine covers topics that are relevant and interesting to you and your teams.

As some of you may know, but many may not, we produce all of our marketing content in-house (including this magazine!). This includes

our employees as well as delivering that same excellence to you, our valued customers.

Coming o an incredible 2021, we continue to hold that same momentum and expect another exciting year in 2022. As we continue to engage more with our customers in person at trade shows and on-site visits, we’re grate l to be back to the new normal. As always, hearing from our enthusiasts is what drives us, and we welcome continued feedback.

Thank you to our customers and business partners for your continued trust and support in our company. A great thank you also, to our SuperSprings International team for living our core values and building a special culture. Most of all, thank you for everything that goes into providing thousands of better journeys around the world.

GERRY LAMBERTI Chairman & Chief Executive O cer

our extensive library of video content where you can nd our Learning Series videos. These videos cover topics such as the meaning of our SumoSprings colors, the di erence between SuperSprings and SumoSprings, and SumoSprings versus alternative solutions like air bags or rubber bump stop replacements. You’ll also nd a large and always growing library of installation videos across a wide range of applications.

Lastly, if you don’t follow us on social media, you should. We’re now the most followed suspension brand in our category of helper springs with 100K+ followers on TikTok, 70K+ on Instagram, 23K+ on Facebook, and 3.5K subscribers on YouTube. Our videos get anywhere from 300K-1M views a day! It’s worth following us to see  what’s new and exciting, and to see real world applications and feedback from customers in the eld.

In the magazine you’ll hear stories from employees, customers, and real-world enthusiasts who use our products. We’d love to hear from you on what you’d like to see in our next issue. Thank you for your business!

ADAM WEISNER Chief Commercial O cer

REAL LIFE STORIES FROM THE ROAD TOUGH

RANGE WITH SSI 50 ENTS

TRUCKS & TOUGH SUSPENSION

THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC OPTIMIZING

The story of a company that is preparing for an electric world, & how SSI is there to support them.

CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT’S ‘HEAR’ FOR YOU

by Peter Garcia , Customer Service & Support Manager

In an age of Zoom meetings and virtual gatherings, SuperSprings International (SSI) is a relationship- rst company. Firm handshakes (try not to cringe) and crawling on all fours to inspect the undercarriage of the newest model year vehicle is what SSI was built on. It’s the foundation that Gerry Lamberti, Engineer and CEO of SuperSprings International, has always maintained and continues within the company’s core values today. Every interaction opens a lane for the emergence of a new relationship. Virtually or in person, at a trade show or a training session and even chatting over a phone call or an email. Part of our journey is providing high-quality service and support to assist you in yours.

We’ve all heard the adage about why we have two ears and only one mouth, or some recycled version of it. Well, we too believe that the best way to solve a problem is by listening. Since the early days of SSI, the company has been heavily invested in listening to the issues, concerns and desires of people exhausted by the never-ending maintenance that comes with automotive suspension enhancement. To be frank, it is how the innovative solutions that Gerry and the team have designed to be what they are now. That same sentiment is not only carried out by every team member donning the “S” Badge, but especially by the ones that form the Service and Support team. Working as a consistent and united

front, we take pride in our willingness to listen rst. Our team is as unique and versatile as the products we manufacture. We also understand that the people using our products are just as unique, maximizing the importance of hearing people out. A er all, doctors don’t prescribe before diagnosing, right? So please expect a few questions to help us get to know you better when you call or send a message. And hey, if you want to call just to talk, then we’re all ears!

“Patience is a virtue.” Another saying we’re all familiar with. SuperSprings International is made up of teams that prioritize the research, development and production it takes to provide a world-class solution. However, we don’t stop there. Our ability to respond to and follow up on application questions, installation troubleshooting and more is an aspect we work on daily. With an answer rate nearing 95%, phone calls to our o ces are just as important as the evening dinner bell. We don’t miss many, but when we do, the countdown to call back starts ticking! We reply to emails within 24 business hours and automatic replies are sent when the team is out of o ce. One of our latest channels made available to reach our team is through our website. Primarily used as a wealth of product information, here we o er the ability to chat and receive quick, precise information.

The team operates with eyes acting as ears and really only uses automation to get the conversation started. We know robots can only do so much, so our humans are here to help with all communication channels.

All of this has been to say that here at SSI, the craving for a personalized experience is heard loud and clear. With a product return rate of about 1%, and an even lower warranty rate, our parts are ultimately created with the desired end-results in mind. With over two decades of product knowledge and hands-on experience, our tech support team is always ready to hear about something we haven’t yet. Historically, SuperSprings International has reacted accordingly to requests and proactively generates trusted suspension solutions. Suspension solutions that help ease unwanted symptoms, reducing maintenance and in some cases, preventing repairs. As the economy and events open back up, our customer service and support team has been here through it all. We hope to hear from you!

To contact SuperSprings International Customer Service team, call - 800.898.0705

email - support@supersprings.com or chat - superspringsinternational.com

“Gerrold was very help l and prompt. I’ve never had that fast of a response ever. He did a great job thanks again!”

- Ken Wilkinson, SumoSprings Inquisitor

SSI Grows A Record Breaking 42%

Coming o the heels of a record-breaking 2019 and 2020, SuperSprings International continued the momentum throughout 2021, recording ll year growth of 42%. The company attributes its three-year streak of success to a shi toward end-consumer marketing at the end of 2019, strong partnerships, and a well-de ned strategic vision under the executive leadership of Adam Weisner (CCO) and Gerry Lamberti (CEO).

The plans for 2022 are much of the same – to grow the business at an impressive pace and advance on the company goal of becoming the best-known suspension brand in the world.

Speaking on the marketing strategy, Weisner explains, “back in 2019 when revamping the marketing strategy, we believed that if we built a quality brand and focused on awareness, we could increase sales across all channels. In 2021 we became the most followed suspension brand in our category. On Instagram we have more than 60K followers and had more than 36M impressions in 2021. On TikTok we amassed more than 70K followers, 700K likes, and have videos with more than 13M views. The result of that drive for awareness was growth across all our customer categories and channels.”

2022 will continue to see SSI adding strong partnerships in the RV industry, as it did in 2021 when it added Coachmen Class C and Winnebago Class A motorhomes as standard equipment. There will continue to be a heightened focus on adding a trailer manufacturer as an OEM partner in 2022, with Trailer SumoSprings being the companies fastest growing product for the past two years. In addition, SSI has placed e ort in deepening and growing partnerships with distributors throughout 2022.

Weisner comments, “partnering with the best distributors in the world continues to be a big focus for the company. In 2021, we saw rapid growth in this channel. Our distributor customers grew at a record pace, with our top customers growing more than 100% year over year.”

There will be new application releases throughout 2022, as well as additions to the product lineup that will introduce SSI to brand new market spaces. Lamberti noted that, “innovation is our greatest asset. While leveraging SSI’s expertise with our USA made components, we continually broaden our array of suspension product lines by identi ing, then satis ing, niche market needs. This is born from the great relationships that we foster with all our customers”.

In Q4 2021, SSI implemented a new leadership structure, read the press release on page 33. This change was part of Weisner & Lamberti’s strategy to establish ve business units, each obsessed with being the very best in their respective eld. These business units’ leaders now report to Adam Weisner, Chief Commercial O cer, running the day-to-day business at SSI. Weisner continues to report to Gerry Lamberti, who remains the company Chairman and CEO.

SSI has become well-known for its marketing e orts, making waves at the Florida RV Show in Tampa with its new tradeshow booth featuring a TV wall and touting its wealth of high-quality video content. Throughout 2022, the suspension manufacturer plans to release more video content as it drives the consumer demand for a better journey. See it featured on page 42.

“ 2021 was a record year in the face of many challenges. Our team stepped up to the plate and delivered incredible results. We’ve focused on having the right people in the right seats, and we expect 2022 to be another banner year.” concludes SSI CEO, Lamberti.

“Our aim is to be the best-known suspension brand in the world.”

— Adam Weisner, CCO

“It’s insane to think that less than a year and a half ago, our combined social following for Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube was under 6k followers. Fast forward to 2022, and we’ve amassed over 195k followers across our social media accounts. While, post consistency, engagement, and great products all contributed to our

SUSPENSION SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR F-150.

K-10-011

COMBO KIT INCLUDES:

SSR-143-40-2 (REAR) & CSS-1094 (FRONT)

SSR-146-40

1,000 (lb) CAPACITY AT 50% COMPRESSION

MEET THE TEAM PETER

Peter joined SuperSprings International in October of 2016, a er he answered an ad about an opening at the company, which he admittedly thought was a mattress outlet!

Peter started out his role in Order Entry and taking phone calls. He was also lucky enough to start the same day that our website was launched. Within a few months he was monitoring and managing certain aspects of our website and soon found himself taking over the returns as well. A er a couple of years, he was leading the Sales & Service team, striving to hit sales goals and creating a great experience for our customers. Now Peter is lly engulfed in Customer Service and Technical Support, building this team and department with the help of Adam Weisner, Chief Commercial O cer.

A lot has changed at SuperSprings International since Peter rst got here, he pointed out,

have created new teams, added to existing teams, acquired additional warehouse space and even extended our teams to new states and countries!”

When asked what Peter loves most about SuperSprings International and his role here, he said, “I am part of a team and company that gets to improve not only the suspension of all types of vehicles, but also the way in which the world moves. From ll-time “RVers” to the trucks that provide the power to light up our cities.”

Peter also stated that interdependence was the best career lesson he’s learned so far. He had always thought of himself as a lone wolf before SuperSprings International, but now he understands that it takes a pack and every member of the pack to be able to rely and count on one another. One of Peter’s proudest moments at SSI was receiving the “Call of the Wild” award, which recognizes those who embrace our tribe mentality, one of the ve core values of SSI. Peter o ered some advise to prospective candidates of SSI saying,

Fun Facts About Peter:

Where’s your favorite place in the world?

The Gibbon Conservation Center in Santa Clarita. It’s our Father’s Day tradition.

What’s your favorite food?

Shrimp. Fired, buttered, popcorn, scampi. All the shrimp!

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Elon Musk. I might not be around when we colonize Mars, but my children might be!

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

While Peter is very ambitious at work, he is also family-orientated and enjoys spending as much time as possible with his wife, Berlin, 7 year old daughter, Ivy, and 13 year old son, Deven.

Peter’s mantra “Stop and smell the roses. Life happens way too fast and is way to short to not enjoy the little things.”

Super Speed! And Max E ciency.

What is something not many people know about you? I have 14 tattoos!

“The size of our Super Family has grown, we

“Plan to be here for a long time because we’re going to the moon.”

Designed to remove sway, hop, and vibration from towables, these airless air springs decrease G-force by 68%.

We make two applications: one for trailers with a spring-under axle con guration, and one for a spring-over con guration.

SPRING OVER AXLE APPLICATIONS

TSS-107-40 OR 47

Black [-47] for GAWR of 5,000 - 8,000 lbs.

TRAILER BETTER.

SPRING UNDER AXLE APPLICATIONS

TSS-106-40 OR 47

TRAILER SUMOSPRING CONTACT PLATE

TSS-CTP

Blue [-40] for GAWR 3,000 - 5,000 lbs.

For Travel Trailers with frames that are o -set from the axle requiring a contact plate for Trailer SumoSprings.

SUMOSPRINGS REVIEW FOR THE FORD TRANSIT

by Yuko & Eric of AsoboLife

You’re here because you want to know if upgrading your van’s suspension with SumoSprings is worth it. If that’s the case, check out our complete SumoSprings review below where we discuss our experience with this product a er over 2 years on the road.

We’ll talk about what exactly SumoSprings are, how they help your suspension, and critical things to know before you’re ready to purchase.

So if you’re ready, let’s get to it!

SPOILER ALERT: SumoSprings are 100% worth it. SumoSprings drastically smooth out your ride, reduce sway, and give you more control as you drive on uneven terrain. For the price you pay, they provide fantastic value.

WHAT ARE SUMOSPRINGS?

Simply put, SumoSprings are oversized bump stops that replace your vehicle’s factory bump stops. Shown right is a size comparison between the old bump stop (right) and the SumoSpring replacement (le ). SumoSprings are over twice the size.

But there is more to SumoSprings than simply their size. Where bump stops exist to prevent dangerous impact between a vehicle’s main body and it’s chassis, SumoSprings also improve the vehicle’s overall suspension and ride quality.

TYPES OF SUMOSPRINGS

Rear SumoSprings – Everything that we have discussed so far about SumoSprings replacing factory bump stops is in regards to “rear” SumoSprings. These are the ‘springs’ that get installed in the rear of your vehicle.

Front SumoSprings – Unbeknownst to most, there are also SumoSprings made speci cally to reinforce the front load support system. Depending on the vehicle, these can either be similar in shape to the rear SumoSprings or are coil spring inserts, speci cally designed to be inserted into the front coil that surrounds the struts (for Ford Transits and Promasters).

These Coil SumoSprings support the front strut coil by preventing the spring from over compressing and were highly recommended when we spoke with SuperSprings International sta .

HOW SUMOSPRINGS IMPROVE SUSPENSION

Most vehicles are not originally manufactured with the intention that the driver will load the vehicle up and take it o -road. If you’ve done this before with your camper van or RV, you may have noticed that your ride is lled with rough bumps, jolts, and intense side-to-side sways.

In fact, we dreaded taking our Transit o -road when exploring BLM &

FACTORY BUMP STOP SUMOSPRING

Obligatory Engineering-Speak

SumoSprings are made from a proprietary micro-cellular technology that o ers a progressive absorptive cushion under your camper van’s body to smooth out your o -road adventure.

ARE SUMOSPRINGS WORTH IT?

Absolutely. 100x YES! SumoSprings signi cantly calmed our ride when driving across uneven terrain. Less side-to-side sway, smoother rides, and less jarring jolts. Additional Side Bene t: Our SumoSprings also helped us regain ~ ¾" of clearance that we had lost when building our heavy camper van.

LIFE BEFORE SUMOSPRINGS

We drove our rst 30,000 miles without SumoSprings and still vividly remember the very real hesitations we had when we drove on uneven ground and bad terrain.

The long list of “bad terrain” that hampered our driving included bumpy dirt roads, forest roads, pot holes (hello Oakland, CA!), speed bumps, exiting bumpy driveways & lots, taking 90° turns faster than 15mph, and high wind environments.

When you replace a factory bump stop with a SumoSpring, you’ll immediately notice that there’s much less air space between the vehicle’s body frame (top) and it’s chassis (bottom).

Exact distances will vary, depending on the vehicle type and overall weight. In fact, SumoSprings are engineered to come into contact much sooner than a factory bump stop. This is so that the SumoSpring can begin to absorb the impact from the chassis much sooner than a traditional bump stop.

The result is a vehicle that experiences: less vertical movement, less body roll, muted side-to-side sways, and improved load support.

When we drove on any of the above terrain, the body of our van would experience tremendous movement. From harsh up-and-down movement to intense side-to-side sways it sometimes felt like our van was on a ship in the middle of a hurricane.

And all this movement sometimes caused our clothes and food to get thrown from their cabinets onto our floor. It wasn’t uncommon to have a huge mess in the back when we nally arrived at our destination.

A good analogy? Imagine a bobble head gure. When you shake the body, the oversized head bobbles from side-to-side with exaggerated movements. Imagine sitting inside the bobbling head as it sways back and forth. That's what we felt in our camper before installing our SumoSprings.

"The engineering department reported that Coil SumoSprings provide substantial control in real road environments and o -grid driving."

- Reply from SSI

Comparing factory bump stop (le ) & SumoSpring (right) (Credit: prnewswire2-a.akamaihd.net)

LIFE AFTER SUMOSPRINGS

With added suspension support from our SumoSprings, we are much more con dent when driving on unmaintained roads. Our rides are considerably smoother with less side-to-side sway because the SumoSprings pick up the weight of our camper and dampens it’s overall movement. No longer are we weary of driving our Transit camper van o -road. We drive much more con dently and this has allowed us to get deeper into nature to enjoy a more diverse range of camping opportunities.

And for under $500 (prices vary depending on the vehicle model), SumoSprings are some of the cheapest camper van suspension upgrades you can make that have an immediate and noticeable impact on your driving experience.

No expensive installation required: We installed both the front and rear SumoSprings in less than two hours at a Walmart parking lot. 10/10 we would purchase SumoSprings again for a second camper van build.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE PURCHASING SUMOSPRINGS

Before picking up your pair of SumoSprings, there are TWO VERY IMPORTANT things you need to know.

1. Three Di erent Colors / Densities

Rear SumoSprings come in 3 di erent material densities and each density is identi ed by a di erent color. The heavier your vehicle, the better o you are going with a denser material.

FINAL THOUGHTS: SUMOSPRINGS WON'T DISAPPOINT

Dollar-for-dollar The Best Vehicle Suspension Upgrade You Can Make Right Now. For the most cost-e ective camper van suspension upgrade, we think purchasing a pair of front and rear SumoSprings are the best way to go. In our opinion, SumoSprings are much more worthwhile than investing in a 4×4 camper van. They’re not expensive, easy to self-install, and dramatically change the feel of your ride.

Whether you’re looking to get SumoSprings for your Sprinter, Promaster, or Transit, we say just stop thinking about it and pick them up today. You won’t regret it. These are some of the best camper suspension upgrades you can make right away to improve your ride.

We hope you enjoyed our SumoSprings review. Happy driving - from Yuko & Eric

For Our Camper Van: Our camper van weighs ~8,000lbs and we were recommended to go with the medium density (Black color) springs. If your van is heavier than that, the yellow models may be best for you. Front Coil SumoSprings only have one density: Black

2. SumoSprings Are Vehicle Speci c

SumoSpring products are generally NOT interchangeable between vehicle types. This is because each vehicle’s size and speci cations are a little di erent.

ABOUT YUKO & ERIC WITH ASOBOLIFE

Hello world! We converted our camper van in 2019 and have been on the road ever since. Currently, we're located in Central America, headed south along the Pan-American highway. The ultimate goal is to arrive in Argentina with our cat and camper in 2023 You can follow our journey south on Instagram: @asobolife

Roads throughout Latin America can o entimes be rough and unmaintained. So we've come to love our pair of SumoSprings, which have helped to dampen excessive sways and jolts while driving. It’s a good thing SumoSprings come with a lifetime warranty, because they’re currently being put to the test!

“

WILDERNESS IS NOT A LUXURY BUT A NECESSITY OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT. ”

EDWARD ABBEY

NEW SUPERSPRING FOR VANS

The SSA55 joined the SuperSprings product line at the beginning of the year as a new and improved design for better tment and easier installation for Sprinter Vans. This new application is the latest in our line of steel, bolt-on, helper springs. Our self-adjusting SuperSprings are designed for stabilizing and providing greater ride control on vans, trucks, and RVs. This solution, eliminates sag and reduces body roll without ever breaking the existing springpack.

SSA55 PRIMARY APPLICATIONS

> Dodge Sprinter 2500 4 X 2 (2004 - 2009)

> Dodge Sprinter 3500 4 X 2 (2004 - 2009)

> Freightliner Sprinter 2500 4 X 2 (2002 - 2020)

> Freightliner Sprinter 3500 4 X 2 (2002 - 2020)

> Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 4 X 2 (2010 - 2021)

> Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 4 X 4 (2016 - 2021)

> Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 4 X 2 (2010 - 2021)

> Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 4 X 4 (2016 - 2021)

THE INTRODUCING THE SSA55

The need for the SSA55 was discovered during a similar installation in which the opportunity for a new mounting design that would make installation of SuperSprings easier on a Sprinter van.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF APPLICATIONS VISIT SUPERSPRINGSINTERNATIONAL.COM

The SSA55 project started back in July of 2021 with the goal of eliminating the need of an additional mounting kit and making the installation process much easier. The solution? A polyurethane spring pad on which the helper leaf spring can be installed. The spring sits directly on top of the existing leaf pack without a steel bridge for separation from the axle components like in the previous applications for Sprinter vans. Paired with longer shackles, for more pre load adjustment options, this solutions makes the installation a much cleaner process with fewer parts.

Also new to the SSA55 is the additional leaf pack compression tool. Used to clamp multi-leaf applications during installation, the compression tool will hold all the leaves together during the clamping process of the installation. A er the initial design and gathering of parts, it was test tted in late 2021 to con rm the product’s improvements and the installation proved to be much easier and cleaner.

“A er installing the previous SuperSprings on a Sprinter, I knew there had to be a better way using fewer components with a more solid install mount.” - Chad Bussanich, SSI Engineer

the Spring Pad (PSP-8) on the existing leaf spring and the SSA55 spring on top of the Spring Pad. Install the Spring Clamp with the appropriate bolts and nuts insuring that the SuperSpring has clearance on both sides.

Starting at the front, rotate the shackles down and use the provided compression tool (square u-bolt, cross plate, and nuts) to compress the existing springpack, if it has more than one leaf. Using a SuperSprings Installation Tool or a C-Clamp, clamp down the SuperSpring and the existing spring until the bolt and roller can be installed onto the SuperSpring. Start with the bottom most hole on the shackle and move up to the middle or upper holes for more

Existing Spring Pack

TOP HOLE

HIGH PRE LOAD TENSION

MIDDLE HOLE MED PRE LOAD TENSION

LOWER HOLE LOW PRE LOAD TENSION

SSA55 SuperSpring

Spring Clamp PSP-8 Spring Pad

INSTALLATION BY KEVIN

Once SSA55 was released we worked with Taylor and Kevin of Mathers on the Map. They installed the SSA55 on their van and let us know what they thought.

In the video above, Kevin explains the process of installing the SSA55 as he puts it on their van. He shows that the installation is easy enough that it can be done in your driveway without removing the wheels. He also detailed which directions the bolts should go and talked about the new compression tool, although he did not need to use it because his van only has one leaf.

A er installing the SuperSpring on both sides, Kevin realized that the spring was barely hitting the frame of the van. To correct this he moved the roller bolt from its original place in the lowest hole to the middle hole which created enough clearance around the frame.

Overall, Kevin gave a great visual explanation of the installation and how the di erent parts of the system work as well as how to trouble shot the clearance of the shackles on both ends of the SuperSpring.

Although SuperSprings are not designed to give the vehicle a li , the installation may result in ½" to 1" of li . Kevin gained about a ¾" li on the back of their van a er adding the SuperSpring.

If you have questions while installing your SuperSprings International part please reach out to our team, call - 800.898.0705

email - support@supersprings.com

or chat - superspringsinternational.com

video by Taylor & Kevin of Mathers on the Map

“IT DOESN’T REALLY BOUNCE”

THE TEST DRIVE

Once Kevin got the SSA55 installed he hit the road to test the sway and he immediately noticed a di erence in the ride quality.

Kevin noted that he could feel the strength of the springs in the back and that it was a lot tighter. He said that before when they would hit a bump they would just bottom out, now the ride feels smoother.

When Taylor joined the test drive Kevin got to experience the ride as a passenger and he was just as impressed. Both Kevin and Taylor stated that they wished they had done this sooner and had them for their previous trip in Baja.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall this installation is fairly easy, if you have a shop and jacks to take the wheel o , the installation is even easier but as Kevin showed it doesn’t take a shop or a lot of tools to get the job done.

For how quick the install is the results are undeniable. There was less leaning, no more getting knocked around, and height regained a er loading the back of the van from the build.

This is a great simple solution for anyone with a van that has a lot of sway, is loaded up and needs to be leveled out, or just looking for a better ride quality.

As Kevin mentioned they can’t wait to get their SumoSprings so that they have the complete suspension package and can Journey Better.

Those bumps felt good!

Yep, they feel good. It’s so crazy it’s only 3 bolts!

Yeah. That’s nuts!

ABOUT TAYLOR & KEVIN WITH MATHERS ON THE MAP

Taylor and Kevin started Mathers On The Map mainly as a travel blog, but also a blog about teaching others how to essentially travel for free. They have goal of traveling to 30 countries before they turn 30 ! In 2 0 19 they started converting a 2 0 15 Mercedes Sprinter Van, which they named Merl, and a er almost a year the conversion is complete and they hope to explore all the little nooks and crannies of our beautiful country.

To follow their journey and for full blogs and videos about their van conversion, featuring our SuperSprings, follow them on Instragram and YouTube @mathersonthemap.

“Usually you get the bounce back and forth as you turn ... and I’m not getting that, I don’t feel it.”

It’s so weird how two things can make such a drastic di erence

BUILD IT HEAVY KEEP IT LEVEL

Improve handling and increase load support without worrying about maintenance. Ever.

SUSPENSION SOLUTIONS BUILT FOR THE JOB.

RAM 4500 & 5500

SSA32

2,800 (lb) ADDITIONAL LOAD-LEVELING ABILITY

SSA54

4,400 (lb) ADDITIONAL LOAD-LEVELING ABILITY

SSA33

5,800 (lb) ADDITIONAL LOAD-LEVELING ABILITY

FORD

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF APPLICATIONS VISIT SUPERSPRINGSINTERNATIONAL.COM

THIS QUARTER’S FEATURED DISTRIBUTOR

Sky Padgett, our Director of Sales caught up with Dan Dalton from etrailer to nd out more about the company. Here’s how some of their conversation went.

Sky: Who is etrailer and what do you do?

Dan: “etrailer started as a small neighborhood trailer shop, helping our neighbors solve problems over the counter, in the parking lot, and in our service bay. We developed a website to help organize our products and capture information to better help our neighbors in the shop. This site caused our neighborhood to grow, and has allowed us to provide personalized, over-the-counter service to our new neighbors across the United States and Canada.”

Sky: What makes etrailer di erent and stand out from the rest?

Dan: With roots as a small shop, we understand the n and challenge in nding the right parts for each customer and each install. With an install shop onsite we’ve gained honest, tried, and tested opinions of our products and share those opinions with our customers. We know the value of having parts in stock, even niche replacement parts. And we know how important it is to be able to talk to a real person trained to solve problems. We know your time matters.

We are not perfect, not even close. And knowing this drives us to always learn and improve to provide as much real value to our partners as possible.

Sky: How long have you been working with SuperSprings International?

Dan: We have had the pleasure of working with our friends at SuperSprings International since 2010.

Sky: What challenges are you looking to solve for your customers by using our products and solutions?

Dan: People want to go camping or get a job done. We want to help them avoid the white knuckle stress of driving with a heavy load. By o ering SuperSprings International products we provide a premium option to help make activities and work safer. SuperSprings products help us help our customers enjoy their activities, spend relaxing time with their families, or help them do their work e ectively.

Sky: What does etrailer like most about our products?

Dan: That the products make it safer and easier to haul heavy loads. We also appreciate the reliability and quality of SuperSprings International products.

Sky: What separates our products from similar alternatives that you carry?

Dan: The fact that once the product is installed and you never have to think of it again. The ease of installation coupled withthe so er, yet more supportive ride is also hard to beat.

Sky: Tell us something about etrailer that you’d like to be known!

Dan: We are not robots. We are not racks of soulless computers. We are not a mega-corp inc. conglomerate trying to push skus to meet a quarterly sales target. We are real people who have been in the business for 75 years getting people the right parts the rst time. We wake up every day genuinely striving to create real value for all of our neighbors and our 8,000ish dealer partners. If we create real value for our dealer partners and neighbors, everyone can win. We are excited to have a partner like SuperSprings International for this journey!

NEW LEADERSHIP

of SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL

Meet the new SuperSprings International Leadership Team.

SSI has restructured to establish ve de ned business units, each led by a member of the new Leadership Team. These new business units will be as follows:

Data & Tech Ops – led by Justin Tevis, Operations – led by Jeni Chen, Finance & HR – led by Ryan Dougan, Sales – led by Sky Padgett, Marketing – led by Tom Bateman.

All of these business unit leaders now report to Adam Weisner, Chief Commercial O cer. Adam continues to report to Gerry Lamberti, who remains the company Chairman and CEO, leading SSI overall.

“We have experienced incredible growth over the last several years, including more than 40% growth in 2021. With this new team in place, I believe we are positioned to grow exponentially,” stated Gerry Lamberti, CEO

The newest additions to the Leadership Team are Sky Padgett - who joins SSI as the Director of Sales, and Jeni Chen - who joins as Director of Operations. As well as Tom Bateman, who has been promoted into the Leadership Team as Director of Marketing, building on his already success l 2+ year career at SSI.

“Sky, Jeni, and Tom are going to add some incredible dynamics to this newly structured Leadership Team, and help el continued growth for our company as we scale.”

TOM BATEMAN Director of Marketing

JENI CHEN Director of Operations

SKY PADGETT Director of Sales

JUSTIN TEVIS Director of Data & Tech Ops

RYAN DOUGAN Controller

GERRY LAMBERTI Chairman & CEO

ADAM WEISNER Chief Commercial O cer

“This new leadership structure is exactly what SSI needs as we turn the page on 2021 into 2022 and beyond.” - Gerry

“I’m very excited and grate l to be able to work alongside this level of talent every day.” - Adam

BETTER SUSPENSION ON EVERY JOURNEY WITH

ZERO MAINTENANCE. LIFETIME WARRANTY. USA MADE

SuperSprings are a simple, bolt-on, steel helper spring that eliminates rear-end sag and stabilizes sway & body roll. Built in the USA from high-grade shot peened steel, this suspension solution allows you to add everything including the kitchen sink, without sacri cing your ride quality.

The SuperSpring design includes a patented roller shackle on each end that allows for self-adjustment as weight is changed. This is particularly help l as you add water or gear to your RV.

Welcome to the last suspension upgrade for your vehicle.

JOURNEY BET TER

superspringsinternational.com

SUMOSPRINGS FOR THE 3RD GEN TACOMA

SO WHAT EXACTLY ARE SUMOSPRINGS?

The SuperSprings website describes them as “a patented suspension product designed to enhance load carrying ability, stabilize sway, and improve overall driver control and ride comfort.” They have a progressive spring rate, meaning they become sti er the more the rther they are compressed.

It is no secret that the stock Tacoma leaf pack is pretty weak. Adding just a hundred pounds or so will cause the rear end to noticeably sag and reduce your Tacoma’s ride quality. If you’ve hit the stock Tacoma bump stops, you know how jarring and uncomfortable the ride can be.

Sure, you can install airbags on your truck, but they are quite a hassle to air up and down every time you load up the bed. Airbags also aren’t a good option for people who go o -road in their Tacoma because they are prone to punctures.

The easiest and most maintenance-free way to support your truck’s rear suspension is to install some upgraded bump stops. SumoSprings are just that; a drop-in replacement for your Tacoma’s terrible stock bump stops.

SumoSprings are an alternative to airbags that are made out of durable closed micro-cellular urethane, which is puncture-proof and does not require adding or removing air. Though SumoSprings do not require you to ll them up with air, they still contain air which is trapped in millions of tiny air pockets in the micro-cellular urethane material.

They come in a few di erent con gurations with di erent height, diameter, and density to support varying amounts of load. They are rated by how many pounds of pressure it takes in order to compress the spring to 50% of its height.

They come in blue, black, and yellow colors that denote which density they are, with blue being the least dense and yellow being the most. For the Tacoma, SuperSprings o ers the blue (500lb capacity at 50% compression) and black (1000lb capacity at 50% compression).

A GREAT AFTERMARKET BUMP STOP THAT HELPS TO REDUCE SAG AND SMOOTH OUT THE RIDE FOR YOUR 3RD GEN TACOMA

INSTALLATION OVERVIEW

TOOLS & MATERIALS

> Floor Jacks

> Jack Stands

> Tire Chocks

> 19mm Deep Socket

> Wrench or Impact

> Torque Wrench

> Breaker Bar

> PB Blaster or WD-40

In this install and review, I am using their lightest (blue) con guration, which is rated for 500lbs, since I have an empty bed with my current setup and mainly wanted them as an upgraded bump stop rather than a load-bearing product.

This install is pretty straightforward, but your install may be slightly more involved depending on the setup of your truck.

If you have a completely stock truck with no li in the rear, then you will likely need to jack up the rear end of the truck in order to lower the rear axle to t the bump stop in. If your truck is li ed, you will likely be able to do this install without jacking up your truck.

TO JACK OR NOT TO JACK

In my case, I have a 2" li on my truck, so I was able to t the SumoSprings in without jacking up my truck. It’s worth noting that if your truck is li ed, the SumoSprings will not be touching the frame of your truck unless you order the extended version.

I was okay with this because I wanted to retain as much articulation as possible. I do not tow or haul o en, so I’m not really using the SumoSprings as an airbag to reduce sag. If your truck is li ed and your goal is to reduce sag, get the SumoSprings with the spacer so that it is touching your frame and engages faster in the articulation of your rear suspension. As I stated earlier, you will need to jack up the truck if your suspension is stock.

Although I didn’t jack up my truck, I ended up using the jack under the frame as a safety precaution in case the truck was to move for some reason.

SSR-612-40

PART 1. REMOVE STOCK BUMP STOPS

Before attempting to remove the stock bump stops, you will need to put tire chocks in front of your tires and pull the emergency brake so your truck doesn’t move while you are working on it.

To remove the stock bump stops, you will need to loosen the U-bolts on the rear axle. I recommend doing the ll install on one side at a time. This means removing the stock bump and replacing it with the SumoSpring on one side, then do the same on the other.

It is a good idea to hit the nuts on the U-bolts with some PB Blaster to help make it easier to loosen them. A er giving the PB Blaster a couple of minutes to penetrate, you can use the breaker bar with the 19mm deep socket to loosen the nuts.

Once they’re loosened and moving easily, you can nish loosening them with your wrench or impact. You probably won’t need to completely remove the bolts to remove the stock bump stops.

When the U-bolts are loosened su ciently, you should be able to push one of the U-bolts over the lip of the bump stop’s bracket and then angle the bump stop out of the other U-bolt to remove it.

PART 2. INSTALL SUMOSPRING

At this point, you should have loosened the U-bolts and removed the stock bump stop. Now it’s time to install the SumoSpring.

The SumoSprings come with some blue Loctite to apply to the bolt that holds the spring to its bracket. If you jacked up your truck for the install, you’ll want to put the Loctite on rst. To do this, simply unscrew the spring from its base, add the provided Loctite to the bolt, then screw the spring back on.

If you are doing the install without jacking up your truck, you can add the Loctite a er installing the SumoSpring.

Now you are ready to install the SumoSpring onto the leaf pack of your Tacoma. To do this, simply angle one side of the bracket under one of the loosened U-bolts.

I found that the bracket on the SumoSpring is taller than the bracket on the stock bump stop. Because of this, I needed to completely remove the nuts on the other U-bolt in order to get it over the lip of the bracket.

Once the SumoSpring is in place, you can tighten the U-bolts back down.

PART

3.

TORQUE DOWN U-BOLTS

When searching to nd the torque spec for the U-bolts, I ran into some controversial answers.

What is the Torque Spec on Tacoma U-Bolts?

I believe a previous version of the Tacoma manual had the U-bolt spec listed at 37lb- , which is ridiculously low. Some have speculated that the manual had the numbers backwards and it really meant to say 73lb- .

I have since seen an updated diagram that lists the speci cation at 50lb- . In my opinion, this still seems a little low. Some a ermarket leaf packs and add-a-leaf (AAL) instructions have the speci cation all the way up to 120lb- .

Suggested Tacoma U-Bolts Torque Speci cations?

For my peace of mind, I torqued the bolts down to 80lb- . This is the spec I used when I installed my Icon 3-leaf AAL, and I didn’t have any issues.

I implore you to check the speci cation manual for your speci c Tacoma or ask your Toyota tech, but I think generally a range of 70-100lb- should be okay.

Now that your SumoSpring is installed on one side, you can repeat the process on the other side and you’re done.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As I stated earlier, I mainly installed the SumoSprings as an upgraded bump stop and not necessarily to reduce sag since I don’t haul or tow o en. So far, I have noticed a pretty signi cant di erence having the SumoSprings installed. Because my truck is li ed and I have the normal SumoSprings, they aren’t resting on my frame as they are intended to. This means that they aren’t getting engaged unless my truck is flexed about 2" or so on either side. I am perfectly happy with this because it helps me to retain some articulation of my so suspension while o -roading. Regardless, the SumoSprings are still hitting the frame quite o en both under normal driving conditions and when I’m o -roading. I have noticed that the SumoSprings seem to be “catching” the bed on its way down when going over large bumps. Overall, I am very happy with this product and they are working perfectly for my situation. They are providing me with a smoother ride while o -roading and are preventing the nasty clunking that occurred when hitting the stock bump stops on the frame.

If you are interested in getting some SumoSprings for your truck, I suggest reaching out to the company to help decide which con guration will work best for your setup and intended use.

Install Video Review Video

2022 Q1 BEST SELLER

The best front journey for your Toyota

FACTORY BUMP STOP

it reigns supreme over factory bump stops at nearly twice the height, that means sooner engagement for a smoother ride.

Installation could not be easier, simply unscrew your existing bump stop and replace it with the SumoSpring either to the frame or the lower control arm. Whether you already have rear SumoSprings or are looking for a complete suspension package the SSF-604-40 is the solution for your Toyota.

The demand is high and the solution is a zero-maintenance giant. Toyota Better

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF APPLICATIONS VISIT SUPERSPRINGSINTERNATIONAL.COM

“Where I see the most preformance is o -road hitting those big washouts. I can de nitely feel my lower control arm pressing up into the SumoSpring.”

- Brenan Green of Trail4Runner.com

by David Guest of Camping Trade World

With several years of successes and exponential growth behind it, SuperSprings International has some big plans to take things even rther in 2022. The company’s unique focus on branding and doing things di erently has the end goal of making it a household name.

SuperSprings International (SSI) is a company that likes to do things di erently. From development and manufacturing through to marketing and branding. The California-based suspension expert rarely does any of its thinking inside the box.

“That’s fair, and we like it that way,” explains the company’s Director of Marketing, Tom Bateman. “We have and continue to produce all visual content in-house and that’s what gives us the agility and wealth of content to attack the industry di erently.”

“There’s nobody as passionate about our company and our products as us, and our passion and mission is to make the end consumer’s journey better. That includes our approach to how we market, how we present ourselves, and the type of company we want people to associate themselves with. We’re here to create better journeys and to be a leader in marketing while doing it.”

You may be thinking to yourself, you’ve heard this all before. Marketing is marketing right? Wrong. The team at SSI places a huge emphasis on their brand and how they want to present it to the industry – even the tiniest details are poured over with great

precision and with serious thought about their overall impact to the brand. Joined up thinking is essential when you want your branding to deliver a clear and engaging message about your company, and that’s something Tom and the team have placed huge importance on since the early days.

“There’s been times when Adam Weisner (CCO of SuperSprings International) and I have sat in our o ce for north of three hours trying to nd the right three words to use in a line of copy for an ad. But it’s those types of relentless exercises that make a good brand really special.”

“When we set out to grow and shape our brand a couple of years ago, Adam and I wanted to make sure it was classy, simple, clean, and consistent. It’s been a lot of work, but we’re both really proud of what it is today. Under his direction and leadership, it’s now really gaining heavy momentum.”

“I think the best branding is the most simple, and that sounds easy, but it’s actually quite the opposite,” says Tom.

THE METHOD

Naturally, a good marketing plan has a combination of elements –you really can’t leave any stone unturned. Sure, some aspects will deliver better or faster results than others, but when they are part of a network of communication across many channels, they do their best work. Having said that, one clear strategy that has performed very well for SSI is video.

Tom says: “We’ll keep saying it… video is king! It really is the key to unlock everything. Stills, social media, print and digital ads, web campaigns, you name it; it’s all possible with high-quality video as the bedrock.”

Whether its instructional videos explaining the products and how to use them or choose the right one, inspirational videos about the amazing adventures people have had in RVs using SSI products, or behind-the-scenes discussions with the people who build RVs, SSI has a wealth of video content that it keeps building on to rther emphasis the strengths of its brand. Throughout 2021 and into the year to come, the company is utilizing this content heavily to make its presence at shows, exhibitions and conventions stand out too. It recently revealed a new booth design at the Meyer Distributing

THE 2022 GAME PLAN

So, what of the year that is to come? A er enjoying phenomenal success for its SumoSprings product, SSI is planning to slightly shi the focus with its marketing and promote its namesake product: SuperSprings.

Tom explains: “SuperSprings are a simple, bolt-on, steel helper spring that eliminates rear-end sag and stabilizes sway & body roll. Built in the USA from high-grade shot peened steel, this suspension solution allows you to add everything including the kitchen sink, without sacri cing your ride quality. It’s a really impressive solution, especially for heavy RVs.”

“The SuperSpring design includes a patented roller shackle on each end that allows for self-adjustment as weight is changed. This is particularly help l as you add water or gear to your RV.”

With that clear focus in mind, SSI will be pushing SuperSprings and its other products in the same way it has for several years now –with solid marketing investment, with smart ideas that tell stories, and with modern, engaging content like its excellent video range.

Below: SuperSprings International 20 ' x 20 ' Trade Show Booth at NTEA 2022

YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS & WE’VE GOT ANSWERS

We want to address some of the most common questions we hear from you. If you have a question you think would be help l for a wider audience that we can answer in ture issues, let us know by emailing marketing@supersprings.com.

ARE SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTS COMPATIBLE WITH LIFTED VEHICLES?

Yes, most SuperSprings International products will work on li ed applications. Knowing if and how the suspension changed a er a li is help l, and the type of li does matter at times. Some li kits do not change the recommendation or performance of products such as the SuperSprings. However, spacers are available for many of the SumoSprings when necessary.

HOW DO I DETERMINE WHICH SUMOSPRINGS I NEED FOR MY CLASS A MOTORHOME?

Finding the right solutions for a class A motorhome built on the Ford F53 chassis is a bit di erent than a typical application. For this lookup, we’ll need to know the make of the actual motorhome (Coachmen, Winnebago, Ti n, etc.) and the total GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).

SuperSprings International o ers front and rear SumoSprings kits that can be ordered separately, or together in a combo kit. SuperSprings, our steel overload springs, are also available for coaches leaning heavily to one side or the other.

WHAT IS THE BEST OPTION FOR A DAILY DRIVER?

That would be something that is as adaptable as you and your vehicle! The SumoSprings “Rebel” is one of the largest kits we have to o er, and is designed as a two-piece unit. This design allows for unlimited vertical travel and separation when your truck or van is unloaded, perfect for a daily driver.

If the Rebel is not available for your particular application, the SumoSprings “Solo” kit is the next best option. Give us a call or send us a message for more information on the Rebel and Solo!

CAN I INSTALL SUPERSPRINGS ON MY RV?

Yes! Both SumoSprings and SuperSprings are major upgrades. In some cases, you can get the best of both worlds by adding the comfort and control qualities from SumoSprings, along with the load-leveling ability of the SuperSprings on the same RV. Although SumoSprings have historically been the popular solution for these vehicle types, SuperSprings International has developed some key partnerships in the RV/Vanlife space to share the bene ts of SuperSprings kits with the world.

REAL LIFE STORIES FROM THE ROAD.

FORD F-150:

by Tom Bateman, Director of Marketing

There’s a whole host of reasons the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling truck in America for the past 45 years. From its payload capacity, to towing strength, comfort for a ll family, and everything in between, the F-150 is just a tough truck and has a demand that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. With a truck that’s ‘Built Tough’, it’s a match made in heaven to add the most indestructible suspension enhancement in the industry.

To get a real idea of how good the SumoSprings are on the Ford F-150, we partnered with Tyler (@velocityblue_fx4 on IG). This is a real-life story from the roads of Northern California on Tyler’s 2019 F-150 FX4, highlighting the SSR-146-40 and CSS-1094 rear and front suspension solutions respectively.

FACTORY BUMP STOP SUMOSPRING SSR-146-40

A er the grueling 10-minute install of the SumoSprings front and rear, Tyler was ready to take his truck out for a spin and see what the micro-cellular polyurethane could actually do for his ride control and comfort. Living in Northern California, there’s plenty of opportunity to nding winding country roads, some potholes, and of course some dirt roads and overlanding simulation. For ll disclosure, Tyler was not paid for his feedback and o ers his feedback and experience of his own accord!

On his way to test out some dirt roads, Tyler drove along familiar roads, many of them with a 25mph speed limit thanks to constant the winding through the golden hills. Like anyone trying to get some scienti c data, driving at 40mph around a corner is the best way to see if the upgrade made any di erence. The reality? Ask Tyler.

“So that right there was one of the 25 mile-an-hour turns. We're going about 40, and I kind of exaggerated it a little bit to try and get the truck to roll. Kinda yank the turn wide and that… it felt like I was driving in a car right there. The front end feels solid.”

“You can jam along the road just like you're in a car. The truck is not jarring. It's not jumping. The steering wheel isn't shaking in your hand. Again, everything is just smoother.”

That’s a big part of the engineering. Alternative suspension solutions that address rear-end sagging, load support, and ride control o en negatively a ect unloaded ride. It’s important to us that we improve the ride at all stages – unloaded, overlanding, towing, loaded and so on.

Test one – completed and success l. So, what about on a dirt road? Something with potholes. A road that for sure you would expect to get some reaction from the back-end and some bounce. The kind of road that as your driving down, you’re gripping the wheel waiting for the truck beat you in the seat. Yep… got those. Tyler, tell us how the best-selling truck fairs with the SumoSprings installed…

“The back end doesn't jump out, there's a lot less rattling.” Going over these rocks right there, not a lot of bouncing around in the rear end like you would normally get. So far, the SumoSprings system has helped extremely well.”

“Everything feels as it does from factory, which for just driving down the road is a good feeling for sure. That's de nitely a positive of having this system installed.”

COIL SUMOSPRING INSTALLTION

the Solo option, the SumoSpring is attached on the frame only. One connection point allows the truck to move up freely for travel and then so en and dampen the harsh rebound on impact.

We’re con dent in the SumoSprings. We’ve seen them battle tested. We saw the US Border Patrol add it to 3,000 o -road vehicles without a single return. But there’s nothing like a fresh voice on the experience of adding this USA made suspension solution. Making journeys better is our passion and purpose, so when we get this type of feedback, it validates our mission.

Tyler’s overall take on his new setup?

“It's a very re ned way that a SumoSprings suspension appears to work. If I had another vehicle that I could put another set of SumoSprings on, would I? Without a doubt. De nitely. I love them so far.”

“It doesn't feel like you're losing any kind of articulation in the suspension even with everything installed. So that's de nitely a bonus.”

ACCESORIOS 4X4 MISUTONIDA, SPAIN

by Teresa Pozas, General Manager & Eduardo Pozas, Product Manager at Accesorios 4x4 Misutonida

WHO WE ARE ACCESORIOS

4X4 MISUTONIDA o ers all kind of equipment solutions for 4wd, pickups and vans. We are a family based company with more than 30 years of experience in the o -road and over-landing eld. We import accessories from over 12 countries all around the world. Speci cally from countries where 4wd vehicles dominate the market, taking advantage of their experience and knowledge, including Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Africa and of course the USA. The 4x4 market in Europe has shi ed greatly in the past few years. In the beginning, the top sellers were purely 4x4 vehicles such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, Mitsubishi Pajero or Nissan Patrol. Over time these have disappeared from the scene and let the SUVs take over. We have been adapting and specializing for the past 15 years in the pickup and work vehicle eld. Also, for the past 5 years or so we decided that it was time to widen our o ering in equipment for camper vans and RVs, not only introducing o -road accessories for this kind of vehicle but also introducing “on-road” equipment such as skid plates, auxiliary lightning solutions, improved suspension components & roof-racks.

SUMOSPRINGS = GAME CHANGER

Back in 2018, before we knew SuperSprings International and started working together, we had already o ered reinforced leaf springs, shock absorbers, and pneumatic suspension for 4x4, pickups and vans. But the arrival of SuperSprings International’s SumoSprings to the market was a absolute game-changer.

When it comes to reinforcing your vehicle suspension, most users choose SumoSprings over any other alternative for many obvious reasons, the awesome rate bene t vs. cost being one of the most popular ones.

With SumoSprings, not only do they reinforce their suspension but they also greatly improve their driving stability and comfort. For the most adventurous, 4wd and overland users the fact that this system needs no maintenance whatsoever is also greatly appreciated. And all of it for much less than what a traditional pneumatic system would cost.

AROUND THE GLOBE NEWS FROM

SPAIN

CARVANING MOTOR SHOW

A er two COVID-19 pandemic years, of no motorshows. We nally had the chance to exhibit in the International Caravaning Motorshow in Barcelona in November 2021. This fair is the biggest within our country, and one of the most important shows in Europe. We properly introduced the SumoSprings in all their glory, with 8 dedicated podiums and two lly equipped vehicles (Fiat Ducato and Ford Ranger). We also had a TV featuring the SumoSprings in action, and the Learning Series from SuperSprings International, being showcased all day long, both in English and Spanish.

PRESENT AND FUTURE

ACCESORIOS 4X4 MISUTONIDA will keep o ering all kinds of suspension solutions to their customers. We always give a customized advice where we analyze speci c needs and situations to be able to propose the best possible solution for the customer. A er 3 years with amazing results and tons of very satis ed customers, we are 100% convinced that SumoSprings are the most ideal solution for at least 80% of the end users. Our main markets currently include Spain and Portugal, but we have presence in several other countries within Europe and we expect to potentially grow our business over the next years.

It is worth mentioning that since almost all SuperSprings International applications are developed in the USA market, we t the European vehicles that do not exist in the USA, doing our own research, testing and development of brackets or hardware, as we did with Renault Master or Iveco Daily. We have the means, workforce and technical team needed to achieve our goals.

This fair allowed not only the nal users to touch and know the product, it also allowed us to reach a good amount of the professional campervan and RV builders and get them familiar with the products, from whom we received great positive feedback.

THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC

A

Tom Bateman, Director of Marketing

story about electric drivetrains, optimized mileage range, and a better journey.

It’s

no secret

that electric vehicles are the talk of the town. In fact, it won’t be long before it’s common place for households to own electric vehicles instead of gas- or diesel-powered engines. One thing that remains a question, however, is what will happen with the multitude of vehicles on the roads now and if there’ll be a way of retro tting your favorite car. One Colorado-based company is already ready to answer that question.

For the past number of years, Lightning eMotors has been creating lly electri ed engines that they then drop into what would otherwise be a traditionally powered vehicle. So you’ve got a 2022 cargo van or shuttle bus that all of a sudden makes essentially zero noise when driving around your parking lot and you’re le starring at it to try and gure out what it is! The reality is, it’s an electric vehicle – in the truest sense – just not one you’ve likely seen before. As Chelsea Ramm, VP of Global Supply Chain (right) puts it, Lightning “has been doing electric vehicle retro ts on a huge variety of chassis’. We’ve also been doing it for so many years that we can do it on an old chassis, a 2016 vehicle, or a vehicle that was built this year.

Chelsea goes on to explain that Lightning “has been working really hard to gure out how to make these vehicle for DHL – it’s a unique platform and not something we make for anyone else.” There’s a reason for that. “We do a lot of things that other people aren’t willing to tackle”, said Chelsea.

Perhaps additionally, what is going to increase the advantage that Lightning has is that the Ford Transit chassis has no signs of leaving the road anytime soon. In fact, it’s quickly becoming one of the most di cult vehicles to get a hold of. Likely because it’s the arguably the perfect cargo van, passenger bus, and conversion-ready Vanlife vehicle. As the world moves toward electric-powered chassis, Lightning has positioned themselves to be at the front of the pack.

Where this type of retro t starts to really shine is when there’s a use-case that makes a real di erence. That is seen in the new DHL delivery fleet in New York City. Lightning now creates a ll system –powertrain, batteries, electronic brain etc. – for the Ford Transit 350HD. The all-electric powertrain and integration allows DHL to operate a fleet of cargo vans throughout the metropolis without creating any emissions or stopping for el. What’s more, by ne-tuning the exact needs for DHL, Lightning has been able to create the fleet while only using one battery per vehicle. higher e ciency, and plenty of driving range for the task at hand.

“We have the engineering capability and expertise to be able to do that.”

“We’ve never backed down from a challenge and that’s what gives us an edge.”

According to Marketing Manager for Lightning, Dan Bennett, (above) having the right appetite for new ventures is a hallmark philosophy for the company. “We’re not scared to go a er niche requirements, and that means there’s some engineering needed on our end for individual customer requirements.” There’s evidently a massive amount of care and pride that goes into the creation and integration of the electric systems and vehicles they produce. That means when issues arise from their conversions, Lightning is the rst to make sure it’s properly taken care of, and the right solution is included in the build. This is true of the DHL fleet.

We’re not talking about AA batteries here. These batteries are not small, and they’re not light. Adding that much weight to any vehicle is going to a ect the ride height, the quality of the journey, and the control the driver has over the vehicle. To add to this, not addressing this immediately demises the desired range of the batteries as the vehicle is no longer operating as engineered. In the case of the DHL fleet, the battery is at the back of the vehicle and as result, the van has a common case of rear-end-sag… enter SuperSprings…

“We looked at the van and saw that the back was sagging so much that it would be compromised in its performance” Dan notes. A senior technician at Lightning has prior experience with the steel SuperSprings suspension solution and didn’t skip a beat in recommending that they be added to address the issue.

No more sag. No more performance issues. No more diminished battery range. It’s that simple.

Lightning eMotors has a passion to make their retro t vehicles the best they can possibly be. It just so happens we make journeys better. There isn’t a better t.

“So we selected a product, brought it in, and that’s what we’re using. Adding SuperSprings is the obvious solution – it’s easy to install and you’re good to go!”

ABOUT LIGHTNING eMOTORS

Lightning e Motors is based in Loveland, Colorado and has been creating high-e ciency engines since 20 0 8 . In recent years though, the company has made a switch to design and build electric engines that are then retro tted to several medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including delivery trucks, shuttle buses, passenger vans, chassis-cab models, and city transit buses. Currently, Lightning produces elegantly integrated all-electric powertrains for the Ford Transit 350 HD passenger and cargo vans, Ford E- 450 shuttle bus and cutaway models, Ford F-59 step/food van, Ford F-550 cargo trucks and buses, Chevrolet 650 0 XD Low Cab Forward model, and 30 -foot, 35 -foot, and 4 0 -foot transit buses.