5 minute read
Real Life Stories from the Road
A COMPLETE SUSPENSION REVIEW OF SUPERSPRINGS & SUMOSPRINGS
by Brenda Ely, Multimedia Designer
ft Kevin & Taylor Mathers of Mathers on the Map
You may remember Taylor and Kevin of Mathers on the Map from the second issue of our Journey Better magazine, but in case you missed it they have a lly converted 2015 Mercedes Sprinter Van that was heavy and in need of a complete suspension upgrade. Afer installing SuperSprings in the rear as well as front and rear SumoSprings, let's check in to see what they think of the ride.
Kevin jumps in the van, still dirty from installing the SuperSprings and his first words…
Now that’s what we like to hear from our customers. The excitement of a smoother ride with less sway is sure to put a smile on your face.
Have you ever intentionally hit a speed bump in the Home Depot parking lot or the random curbs in your neighborhood just to feel how nice your suspension rides?
Kevin has. That is exactly what they did on a rainy day to test out the complete suspension upgrade.
And their reaction to it? Kevin and Taylor both thought that it felt nice! That’s probably not the reaction you would expect as you drove over a speed bump, especially in a van that has so much extra weight that it had been jarring you around at the slightest dip in the road. They both felt the improvement in ride while sitting the driver and passanger seats, making the ride more enjoyable all around.
To recap SuperSprings are a simple, bolt-on, steel helper spring that eliminates rear-end sag and stabilizes sway & body roll. They are built from high-grade shot peened steel and allow you to load up without sacri cing your ride quality. SuperSprings includes a patented roller shackle on each end that allows for self-adjustment as weight is changed. This is particularly help l for vans that have been converted, like the Mathers, where the weight inside the van is constantly changing with water, gear, and them!
Kevin could feel the change in the suspension and described it as being a lot tighter in the back, with less sway. “Usually you get a little bounce back and forth as you do a little turn or waves, and you just don’t get that anymore”.
An extra benefit, Kevin noted that before this upgrade they would hear the air escape from the shocks as they became fully exhausted and now they don’t hear it anymore because of the support from the SuperSprings.
And to complement the SuperSprings, the pairing of the SumoSprings in the front and rear. SumoSprings are manufactured from micro-cellular polyurethane, and they reduce rear-end sag, decrease vibration, stabilize sway, and so en harsh rebounds. This is a progressive spring with a very so initial engagement. That means that as more weight is added, the harder they get and the more they push back, providing support and control when you need it without affecting the factory ride when unloaded.
Kevin and Taylor told us that they had just returned from a road trip to Baja, Mexico which consisted of hours on dirt roads that were washed out and bumpy to no end as well as countless topes. Some to the point where Taylor felt sick and others where the van was so loud because everything in it was violently shaking everywhere. Parts of their trip where they experienced this were documented in their videos and are shown above.
Once they felt how drastically this suspension upgrade helped on even just the speed bumps in the Home Depot parking lot they knew that their ride quality could have been much better on their road trip.
Overall they were very excited to have the complete suspension upgrade in their van conversion and couldn’t wait to go on their next road trip.
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 had a goal of traveling to 30 countries before they turn 30 which they sucessfully completed! In 20 19 they started converting a 20 15 Mercedes Sprinter Van, which they named Merl, and a er almost a year the conversion the van was complete and they were ready to explore America in it.
To follow their journey and for full blogs and videos about their van conversion, featuring our SuperSprings and SumoSprings, follow them on Instragram and YouTube @mathersonthemap.
