VANME & 4×4 Proyect

If you take your camper seriously, you can’t ignore the chassis. Not the standard chassis – which is designed for delivery operations, not for a 3.5-ton camper van on Moroccan gravel. But a chassis that knows what it is doing. This is precisely why VANME works together with 4×4 Pro yect: the Spanish specialist for off-road suspension systems, which, as an official Bilstein Offroad Expert Center, develops some of the most advanced suspension solutions for vans, off-road vehicles and expedition vehicles on the European market.

The cooperation between VANME and 4×4 Proyect is not a dealer partnership in the traditional sense. It is the result of a shared conviction: A camper that is to travel the world, go on off-road tours or even just reliably get through the Scandinavian winter needs a chassis that suits the vehicle concept – not one that the manufacturer has installed as the cheapest compromise.

Mercedes Sprinter, VW Crafter, MAN TGE – designed as commercial vehicles, not as motorhomes. The standard chassis of these vans are designed for one purpose: light to medium loads in distribution transport, on asphalt roads, with manageable daily distances. What is on these vehicles at VANME has little in common with this load profile.

A fully equipped camper is permanently close to the permissible total weight. Kitchen, water system, pop-up roof, lithium batteries, insulation, furniture body – this quickly adds up to 600 to 900 kilograms of additional weight, which permanently weighs on the chassis. Added to this is a higher center of gravity, which is noticeable in crosswinds, on bends and on freeway stretches. And if you are also driving on gravel roads in Norway, corrugated iron tracks in Namibia or mountain roads in the Alps, you are asking something of the chassis that it was simply not built for.

The consequences are well-known: spongy steering behavior, strong rolling movements in windy conditions, a sagging rear end, noticeably reduced comfort on long journeys and accelerated wear of all suspension components. Dedicated off-road suspension from 4×4 Proyect solves these problems not with a single component, but with a coordinated system of dampers, springs and add-on parts.

As a certified Bilstein Offroad Expert Center, 4×4 Proyect has direct access to Bilstein’s industrial capacities and develops the ADVANCE and EXPEDITION suspension series exclusively for this frame. The in-house PRERUNNER series with the distinctive 2.65-inch monotube dampers, on the other hand, is a pure in-house development by 4×4 Proyect – with racing technology that is normally reserved for competition vehicles.

Testing takes place where it hurts: on the Baja California, at the Moab Overland Experience in Utah, in the Sauerland quarry, on the slopes of Morocco. 4×4 Proyect not only equips its own test vehicles, but also equips vehicles from renowned US manufacturers such as Storyteller Overland and Winnebago with PRERUNNER suspensions, which then have to prove their durability in the tough everyday life of rental campers.

The list of vehicles for which 4×4 Proyect offers suspension solutions is long: Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 (W906 and W907), VW Crafter, MAN TGE, Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes G-Class, Jeep Grand Cherokee and others. For VANME, the systems for Sprinter and Crafter are particularly relevant – the two platforms on which the majority of our conversions are built.

4×4 Proyect divides its portfolio into three clearly defined product lines: ADVANCE, EXPEDITION and PRERUNNER. The three lines do not simply differ in terms of “good, better, best”, but in their application profile. Which system is the right one depends on how and where a vehicle is moved.

The 4×4 Proyect ADVANCE series is the entry into the world of high-quality off-road suspensions – and at the same time the best-selling system for camper conversions. The Bilstein Advance Lift Pro 7016 kit for the Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 (W906 and W907) is an example of what this line can do.

At the heart of the system are Bilstein monotube dampers with a large piston diameter – the piston area is more than twice as large as that of conventional twin-tube dampers. Degressively tuned valve stacks (so-called spring disk assemblies) ensure that gentle bumps are comfortably absorbed, while hard impacts are absorbed in a controlled manner. In plain language: the suspension works softly when it should work softly and hard when it has to work hard.

The coilover auxiliary suspension system typical of 4×4 Proyect is used on the rear axle. These additional springs support the rear when loaded, increase the articulation off-road and eliminate the need for air bags with all their disadvantages – no compressors, no lines, no sources of error. The main springs come from Eibach, are manufactured in Germany and enable a lift of up to 50 mm.

The 4×4 Proyect ADVANCE kit is available in two tunings: MID TUNE for vehicles up to 3.8 tons and HEAVY TUNE for upgrades between 3.8 and 4.5 tons. The 4×4 Proyect ADVANCE is the right choice for VANME customers who primarily drive on roads and paved tracks and are looking for a noticeably better driving experience than with the standard suspension.

The 4×4 Proyect EXPEDITION series is aimed at travelers who regularly travel off-road and do not want to compromise on comfort and reliability. The 4×4 Proyect Expedition Lift Pro 8023 is the reference system for the VW Crafter and MAN TGE; the Expedition Lift Pro 8024 is the reference system for the VW T5 and T6.

The decisive difference to the ADVANCE series: the EXPEDITION line has remote reservoirs on the rear axle – i.e. compensation reservoirs that are separate from the actual shock absorber. These reservoirs increase the oil volume in the system, improve heat dissipation and thus prevent the dreaded fading: the loss of performance of the shock absorber under sustained load, for example on long washboard tracks or when driving fast over uneven terrain.

The front axle of the 4×4 Proyect EXPEDITION system is height-adjustable (R.H.A. – Ride Height Adjustable). Each spring can be adjusted steplessly and independently, enabling ride heights of 20 to 50 mm. This is not a gimmick – it is the solution to a real problem: after removal, a camper rarely sits evenly on both sides. If you have a heavy gas system on the left and the water tank on the right, you can compensate for this with the individual spring height on the front axle. Even after changing the rear springs or installing lifting blocks, the front axle can be readjusted without having to dismantle everything again.

The springs here also come from Eibach (Made in Germany) and are deliberately tuned to a rate that does not bottom out when loaded, but is not as hard as a board when driving empty. For VANME customers who take their camper on overland tours, long African trips or extended Scandinavian journeys, the 4×4 Proyect EXPEDITION suspension is the most sensible investment.

At the top of the 4×4 Proyect portfolio is the PRERUNNER series: an in-house development that translates racing technology into suspension packages suitable for everyday use. The centerpiece are the 2.65-inch monotube dampers from 4×4 Proyect with external nitrogen reservoirs, hardened piston rods (22 mm and 28 mm) and Cerakote ceramic coating on the damper tubes.

What makes these shock absorbers special: self-adjusting ACV valves (Automatic Compression Valve). They automatically adapt the response behavior of the damper to the respective driving situation – comfortable on the country road, progressive off-road, with full damping reserve at high speeds on the track. Conventional high-performance suspensions are tuned for competition and are uncomfortable on the road. The 4×4 Proyect PRERUNNER suspension combines both – that was the development goal right from the start.

For the Mercedes Sprinter 4×4, the 4×4 Proyect 2.65 PRERUNNER system offers an optional coilover auxiliary spring at the rear, which allows the ride height to be fine-tuned even when heavily loaded. The rear axle articulation is significantly increased and the off-road performance can be further enhanced with optional separable stabilizer links.

The 4×4 Proyect PRERUNNER is the choice for VANME customers who really push their camper to the limit: Expeditions in difficult terrain, fast kilometers on dirt roads, missions under extreme temperature and load conditions. No marketing superlatives – simply the best technology currently available for campervans.

Ordering a chassis from stock and installing it – that’s not how it works at VANME. The integration of a 4×4 Proyect chassis is part of the overall planning of every camper project. We analyze the vehicle base, the expected weight, the weight distribution between the front and rear axles, the planned destinations and the customer’s individual requirements.

On this basis, we recommend the appropriate 4×4 Proyect line and configure the system precisely for the vehicle in question. The suspension set-up is then not considered in isolation, but in conjunction with the tires, rims, any underride protection plates and the entire body. The result: a camper in which the running gear does not appear superimposed, but is an integral part of a well thought-out overall concept.

This type of integration sets VANME apart from workshops that install suspensions as individual measures. With us, everything is coordinated – from the first planning meeting to the final inspection.

The 4×4 Proyect suspension systems can not only be integrated into new builds, but can also be retrofitted to existing campers. Anyone who is already driving a converted Sprinter, Crafter or TGE and is dissatisfied with the handling can retrofit – installation does not require any special tools and all mounting parts are included with the 4×4 Proyect kits.

For a retrofit at VANME, we first analyze the current condition of the vehicle, the removal weight and the desired application profile. Based on this, we suggest the right 4×4 Proyect system and take care of installation and fine-tuning. Including wheel alignment, test drive and follow-up inspection.

There are several suppliers of suspension components for vans. Why 4×4 Proyect? The answer can be reduced to three points.

Firstly: 4×4 Proyect does not develop universal solutions. Every suspension system is vehicle-specific. The Bilstein Advance Lift Pro 7016 is developed for the Sprinter 4×4, not for vans in general. The Expedition Lift Pro 8023 is for the Crafter and TGE, not for “large vans”. This specificity is immediately noticeable when driving.

Secondly: 4×4 Proyect tests under real conditions. Not on the test bench, not with computer simulations alone, but on real roads, with real vehicles, under real loads. Cooperation with rental camper fleets in the USA provides additional long-term data that no laboratory test can replace.

Thirdly, the quality of the components. Bilstein dampers, German-made Eibach springs, Cerakote coatings, hardened piston rods – these are not compromise products. 4×4 Proyect doesn’t skimp on supplier quality, and that’s why we use it at VANME.