The Great Journey – next stop Cape Town

“Our Terra Love, a Bimobil EX 420 built on an IVECO Daily 4×4, has been our travelling companion, workplace, home and retreat all in one for years. It’s a vehicle with which we don’t just roll from one campsite to the next, but with which we also tackle long distances, poor roads, dirt tracks, heat, corrugated surfaces, potholes and, at times, truly challenging situations. Anyone who travels as we do realises very quickly that a good suspension is no trivial matter. It determines whether, after a long day’s driving, you step out completely exhausted or still have enough energy to really take in the place you’ve arrived at. It’s about comfort, but also about control, safety and confidence in the vehicle.

What was important to us regarding the suspension update? We didn’t want a stiff, sporty suspension. That wouldn’t suit our vehicle or our style of travelling at all. It was important to us that the Terra Love felt more stable, that it had less body roll, that it felt more controlled on poor roads, and that we still felt confident behind the wheel even when fully loaded.

What has changed since the installation? We didn’t first notice the difference on some rough track, but within the very first few kilometres after the installation – just driving normally on the motorway. Before, there were situations we found particularly unpleasant in our Terra Love. Particularly in motorway roadworks, when the road surface suddenly became uneven, the lane meandered slightly and you also had to change lanes, our expedition vehicle sometimes felt spongy and difficult to control. After fitting the Marquart shock absorbers, this behaviour had completely disappeared. Since then, the Terra Love has felt much more stable on the road.

The difference is particularly noticeable on undulating roads, poor road surfaces, ruts, during rapid changes of direction and, indeed, in those typical roadworks situations on the motorway. The cab moves less, the after-sway is significantly reduced, and you feel noticeably more confident behind the wheel. You drive in a more relaxed manner, tire less quickly and have the feeling that the chassis, bodywork and load are finally working together more effectively.

Our conclusion For us, the chassis is one of the areas where you shouldn’t cut corners. An expedition vehicle or motorhome carries not only weight, but also responsibility. For the people travelling in it. For the technology on board. And for the many kilometres that lie ahead. With the Marquart shock absorbers, our Terra Love feels more stable, smoother and more confident.”
Denis and Tanja Katzer from Schwaig