VANME & 4×4 Proyect

If you take your camper seriously, you can’t ignore the suspension. Not the stock suspension—that’s designed for delivery operations, not for a 3.5-metric-ton motorhome on Moroccan gravel. But a suspension that knows what it’s doing. That’s exactly why VANME collaborates with 4×4 Proyect: the Spanish specialist in 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.

This collaboration is not a dealer partnership in the traditional sense. It is the result of a shared conviction: A camper designed to travel the world, tackle off-road tours, or even just get through the Scandinavian winter reliably needs a suspension system that fits the vehicle’s 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, excessive body roll in windy conditions, a sagging rear end, noticeably reduced comfort on long drives, and accelerated wear on all suspension components. A dedicated off-road suspension system from 4×4 Proyect solves these problems not with a single component, but with a coordinated system of shock absorbers, springs, and mounting parts.

As a certified Bilstein Offroad Expert Center, 4×4 Proyect has direct access to Bilstein’s manufacturing capabilities and develops the ADVANCE and EXPEDITION suspension series exclusively for this chassis. The in-house PRERUNNER series, with its distinctive 2.65-inch monotube shocks, is, by contrast, an entirely in-house development—featuring racing technology normally reserved for competition vehicles.

Testing takes place where it really counts: in Baja California, at the Moab Overland Experience in Utah, in the Sauerland quarry, and on the trails of Morocco. 4×4 Proyect not only equips its own test vehicles but also fits vehicles from renowned U.S. customizers such as Storyteller Overland and Winnebago with PRERUNNER suspensions, which must then prove their durability in the rigors of everyday rental RV use.

The list of vehicles for which suspension solutions are offered 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 are not simply categorized as “good, better, best,” but rather by their intended use. Which system is right depends on how and where a vehicle is driven.

The 4×4 Proyect ADVANCE series is the gateway to the world of high-quality off-road suspension systems—and also the best-selling system for camper conversions. The Bilstein Advance Lift Pro 7016 kit for the Mercedes Sprinter 4×4 (W906 and W907) is a prime example of what this line has to offer.

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 rear axle features the coil-over auxiliary spring system typical of 4×4 Proyect. These auxiliary springs support the rear end when the vehicle is loaded, increase articulation off-road, and eliminate the need for air springs with all their drawbacks—no compressors, no hoses, no potential sources of failure. The main springs are from Eibach, are manufactured in Germany, and allow for a lift of up to 50 mm.

The 4×4 Proyect ADVANCE Kit is available in two configurations: MID TUNE for vehicles up to 3.8 metric tons and HEAVY TUNE for vehicles weighing between 3.8 and 4.5 metric tons. For VANME customers who primarily drive on roads and paved trails and are looking for a noticeably better driving experience than with the stock suspension, the 4×4 Proyect ADVANCE is the right choice.

The 4×4 Proyect EXPEDITION series is designed for travelers who regularly venture off paved roads but don’t want to compromise on comfort and reliability. For the VW Crafter and MAN TGE, the 4×4 Proyect Expedition Lift Pro 8023 is the standard system; for the VW T5 and T6, it’s the Expedition Lift Pro 8024.

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 continuously and independently, allowing for lift heights ranging from 20 to 50 mm. This isn’t just a gimmick—it’s the solution to a real problem: After being set up, 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 by adjusting the spring height individually on the front axle. Even after replacing the rear springs or installing lift blocks, the front axle can be readjusted without having to disassemble everything again.

The springs are also from Eibach (Made in Germany) and are deliberately tuned to a rate that prevents bottoming out when loaded but isn’t rock-hard when the vehicle is empty. For VANME customers who take their camper on overland tours, long trips to Africa, or extended journeys through Scandinavia, the 4×4 Proyect EXPEDITION suspension is the smartest 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. At the heart of the system are 4×4 Proyect’s 2.65-inch monotube shocks with external nitrogen reservoirs, hardened piston rods (22 mm and 28 mm), and Cerakote ceramic coating on the shock tubes.

What makes these shocks special: self-adjusting ACV (Automatic Compression Valve) valves. They automatically adjust the shock absorber’s response to the current driving situation—comfortable on country roads, progressive off-road, and 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 from the very beginning.

For the Mercedes Sprinter 4×4, the 4×4 Proyect 2.65 PRERUNNER system offers an optional coil-over auxiliary spring at the rear, which allows for fine-tuning of the ride height even under heavy loads. Rear-axle articulation is significantly increased, and optional detachable stabilizer links further enhance off-road performance.

The 4×4 Proyect PRERUNNER is the choice for VANME customers who really push their campervans to the limit: expeditions into challenging terrain, high-speed off-road driving, and operations under extreme temperature and load conditions. This isn’t just marketing hype—it’s simply the best technology currently available for campervans.

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

Based on this, we recommend the appropriate 4×4 Proyect line and configure the system precisely for the specific vehicle. The suspension tuning is then not considered in isolation, but in conjunction with the tires, rims, any underbody protection plates, and the entire body. The result: a camper in which the suspension doesn’t look like an afterthought, 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.

4×4 Proyect’s suspension systems can be integrated not only into new vehicles but also retrofitted into existing campers. Anyone who already drives a converted Sprinter, Crafter, or TGE and is dissatisfied with its handling can retrofit their vehicle—installation requires no special tools, and all mounting hardware is included in the 4×4 Proyect kits.

For a retrofit at VANME, we first analyze the vehicle’s current condition, its unloaded weight, and the desired usage profile. Based on this, we recommend the appropriate 4×4 Proyect system and handle the installation and fine-tuning. This includes wheel alignment, a test drive, and a follow-up inspection.

There are quite a few suppliers of suspension components for vans. Why 4×4 Proyect? The answer can be boiled down to three points.

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

Second: 4×4 Proyect conducts testing under real-world conditions. Not on a test bench, not relying solely on computer simulations, but on real trails, with real vehicles, under real loads. The collaboration with RV rental fleets in the U.S. also provides long-term data that no lab test can replace.

Third: The quality of the components. Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs manufactured in Germany, Cerakote coatings, hardened piston rods—these are not compromise products. 4×4 Proyect doesn’t skimp on supplier quality, and that’s exactly why we use it at VANME.