What is the difference between a 500 & 700 Van

[maestro vans]

I know the difference ie the amount of weight it can carry ie 500 & 700kgs respectively. But is the difference down to the leaf springs. The reason I ask is I will be carrying a 400 litre water tank in the van 1 litre=1kg therefore the 500 van will be OK. However with everything else it soon hangs low to the ground. Could I swap the leaf springs from a 700 van to the 500. Is the leaf springs what causesthe difference or is it something else. Any ideas gratefully received.

[weasel2400]

the engines are different for a start - 500 being a 1.3 petrol and 700 being a 2ltr diesel ( there is a 1.6 petrol but this is rarer) - one other sugestion if im not missing the point - fill the tank with water when you get where your going as it wont weigh much when empty;)

[D87 SMW]

Taken from the 'Story of the Maestro' page... (Clicky (http://www.maestro.org.uk/maestro/)) :spanner:

The vans were better known as 500 or 700 vans, the difference between the two being that the 700 had uprated suspension to take a 700kg load rather than 500kg. There were two petrol engine options for the vans initially (1.3 or 1.6 litre), although the 1.6 was only offered for a short time and not at launch.

[maestro vans]

Thanks for the replies guys, so am I right in saying it is the leaf springs that are different and the shock absorbers are the same. Does this seem feesable?

[Rich]

the engines are different for a start - 500 being a 1.3 petrol and 700 being a 2ltr diesel

How come my van is a Maestro 500 City Diesel then?;)

I think, the springs are different, I fitted new ledbury ones to mine, which were 500 ones like for like, beware however if you change the springs, to get the front drivers side spring bolt out, you have to remove the fuel tank, and haynes does not tell you this!

I do believe the shocks are different too, and I once read somewhere that the wheelbase was longer, but I find this hard to believe. I do know that the wheels were bigger, at 14" rather than the 13". They may be a good upgrade in themselves, I think the handling would improve and am semi looking out for a set for mine.

It will sit low with that much weight in, I have overloded mine in the past, and nothing went bang. Add up 560kg of concrete blocks, all the woodwork ply lining in there, a full tank of fuel, the spare wheel and carrier, roof rack with ladders and pipe carrier on and 2 people in the front! I realised when I unloaded the blocks and was parked on a slope, that the towbar almost touched the ground! Still I wouldn't advise this on a regular basis!

Rich

[BIGLAD]

Also it may depend on what life your van has previously led. If it was a builders van etc etc it may of spent most of its time full of tools and 3 ton of sand!:eek:
This may cause the springs to weaken and "flatten" out over a period of time.
I had a 700 series Diesel Van and that never "sat" particularly high even when empty. But I know that it was owned by a city council when new and was probably (judging by the extra locks/security) full of tools etc most of the time.