Hi all, I have been downgraded from a Daf xf460 to a Renault T range 460.
Well in 1 department especially. The Daf 460 was a slug, but a comfy slug. It was a 6x2 , the T range is a 4x2. My biggest issue is the hard ride. I carry a Moffett. This makes things very twitchy. Is there anyway of adjusting the valving on the airbags so it rides smoother? My boss will keep this until it falls in half. If there is no adjustments, I may have to move on.
Help
Redrooster:
Hi all, I have been downgraded from a Daf xf460 to a Renault T range 460.
Well in 1 department especially. The Daf 460 was a slug, but a comfy slug. It was a 6x2 , the T range is a 4x2. My biggest issue is the hard ride. I carry a Moffett. This makes things very twitchy. Is there anyway of adjusting the valving on the airbags so it rides smoother? My boss will keep this until it falls in half. If there is no adjustments, I may have to move on.
Help
I drive a T range with a Manitou, 6x2 no problem whatsoever, loss of traction sometimes but its something you learn to live with.I enjoy mine.
bobbya:
Redrooster:
Hi all, I have been downgraded from a Daf xf460 to a Renault T range 460.
Well in 1 department especially. The Daf 460 was a slug, but a comfy slug. It was a 6x2 , the T range is a 4x2. My biggest issue is the hard ride. I carry a Moffett. This makes things very twitchy. Is there anyway of adjusting the valving on the airbags so it rides smoother? My boss will keep this until it falls in half. If there is no adjustments, I may have to move on.
HelpI drive a T range with a Manitou, 6x2 no problem whatsoever, loss of traction sometimes but its something you learn to live with.I enjoy mine.
4x2!!!
I can control it, but when weather conditions are bad, it is not good.
Mine going back to Renault for the third time in three weeks. Same fault
In what way is it “not good” when the weather conditions are bad?
They are a harsh ride I find on the odd occasion I’ve driven one. I think though it’s the suspension setup between the cab and the chassis that’s to blame but haven’t investigated fully. Not that it’s something that could be changed in any case.
Should drive a modern Actros on leafs if you want to know what a proper harsh ride is 
. Renault’s are like Rolls Royce in comparison.
Mick Bracewell:
Should drive a modern Actros on leafs if you want to know what a proper harsh ride is
A big plus one for that!!! There is a hell a lot worse than a Renault, when I get one its heaven compared to a 4x2 Actros
Have you checked the tyre pressures, if you run at max weights when loaded suggest you try 90psi in the drive axle, if you run lighter you can go lower, 125 in the steer axle.
If the drive axle tyres are even 10psi overpressure the ride and grip difference will surprise you.
Different drive tyres on the two vehicles?
Also with a 4x2 you might find it beneficial to move the fifth wheel further back, even a few inches will increase the weight imposed on the drive axle, which together with tyre pressures to suit the loads carried should help with grip issues, though a Moffet mounted yards back on the trailer is always going to give you grip and stibility issues when empty.
Are you running the same trailer as before? does it have a lifting front axle and is this working as it should when empty or lightly loaded when coupled to the Renault, if a different trailer have you gone from a front lifter to a fixed or even worse a rear lifter? is the rear overhang longer on the present trailer?
Redrooster:
Hi all, I have been downgraded from a Daf xf460 to a Renault T range 460.
Well in 1 department especially. The Daf 460 was a slug, but a comfy slug. It was a 6x2 , the T range is a 4x2. My biggest issue is the hard ride. I carry a Moffett. This makes things very twitchy. Is there anyway of adjusting the valving on the airbags so it rides smoother? My boss will keep this until it falls in half. If there is no adjustments, I may have to move on.
Help
Not Renault specific but, I think there are some things being mixed up here.
“twitchyness”:
Having a Moffat hanging off the rear of a trailer will increase the weight of the whole rig, (compared with no Moffat) but not increase the weight on the drive axle.
A 6x2 wheel unit will weigh more than a 4 wheeler extra axle and prob longer, and will (especially with lift axle up) have a bit more weight on the drive.
Altering the suspension settings won`t affect the weight and hence the grip of the drive axle. A 4 wheeler is likely to have less grip so will always be twitchier.
Ride quality is dependent on suspension spring rates and damper rates, plus the springs and dampers on the cab suspension.
You won`t be altering the road springs and dampers much to improve ride, without compromising weight carrying ability.
Just make sure the cab suspension has good suspension components. Worn bushes, shot dampers will enable the cab to bang about more than it should.
^^^ a Moffet hanging off the back is probably reducing the weight imposed on the drive axle by half a ton or more despite increasing the weight of the trailer by however much the thing weighs.
If the wheelbase of the 4x2 is different to the 6x2, it could be that the Moffett counter weight on the front of the trailer needs adjusting. Presumably if you’ve gone from 6x2 to 4x2 you’re not carrying a particular heavy product.
Mick Bracewell:
In what way is it “not good” when the weather conditions are bad?
Let’s just go with wet conditions!. It feels like it could step out on the rear at any time. Oversteer isn’t it!!. Jacknife liable. Simple really I suppose. Modify my driving. By slowing down considerably.
In the garage at the moment, with several faults. Main one being it loses power intermittently…
I’d be looking to see if the ride height link rod has come off for the cab suspension if it’s on air .
Redrooster:
Mick Bracewell:
In what way is it “not good” when the weather conditions are bad?Let’s just go with wet conditions!. It feels like it could step out on the rear at any time. Oversteer isn’t it!!. Jacknife liable. Simple really I suppose. Modify my driving. By slowing down considerably.
In the garage at the moment, with several faults. Main one being it loses power intermittently…
You’ve answered your own question, modify your driving because of the Manitou on the back of mine I expect to lose traction on occasions ,so I drive very steady all of the time,its amazing how much more relaxed and stress free it is,and I still cover all,of my work.
It would be interesting to see a photo of your outfit, taken side on.
I see some very badly thought out combinations with rear mounted forklifts on.
Ideally, the trailer would be as long as possible, but with only the bare minimum of rear overhang, no more than is absolutely necessary to tuck the forklift wheels under. If it is a triaxle, then a front lifting axle will improve things a little. All this will help to reduce the cantilever effect caused by the weight of the machine at the rear. At the front you want the absolute maximum permitted forward overhang from the pin, which i think is currently 1.6m.
I would be nervous of moving the fifth wheel back, as, while it may, in some circumstances, aid traction, it will in other circumstances make jack knifing more likely.
The fifth wheel has to go back as far as possible. Otherwise the trailer will hit the cab.
Basically I have to shut up and put up.
Anyway, I have been to the workshop today to try and sort the truck out. The pulling issue is the camshaft is screwed, plus 1 or more injectors. As the cam lobes have hit one or more injectors. £4000 for a cam. I said about £500 for an injector. They said “and the rest”. New lights ECU last week. Ambient temperature sensor, wiring loom faults. To follow, night heater to be fixed. New indicator stalk. Motor for mirror. Luckily under warranty all this. Dealer going to lose a few quid!!! Two months warranty left. The hire truck is a 6x2 Renault T range. 480 thirteen litre. Now we are talking. The ride is so so much smoother and more comfortable.
Perhaps I won’t give it back lol
What’s the wheel base dimensions of the unit? If it’s as bad as what you make it, I wonder if they’ve specced a short wheel base unit. I still think that the problem is with your set-up rather than the manufacturer. I’ve driven several different Renault T 6x2s with normal curtain-siders at 44t and the ride and handling has been absolutely fine - very well damped in fact.
Sounds like it’s cantalevering, shouldn’t trailers with Mountys on have 1/4 stell plate on front to add some weight to stop this.
Camshaft and injectors, surely not with Volvo quality 
biggriffin:
Sounds like it’s cantalevering, shouldn’t trailers with Mountys on have 1/4 stell plate on front to add some weight to stop this.
Should certainly have a counterweight on front of trailer to stop this happening. Actual weight needed is calculated using a fairly simple formula. Weight of Mounty multiplied by distance from axle pivot point should be equal to weight of front counterweight multiplied by distance from axle pivot point. Same for artics and drawbars. In theory, if correct, you should be able to drop an empty trailer without putting the legs down and it will stay level, but I’ve never been brave enough to try!!