How to Improve Handling and Drivability of Armored Vehicles

Armored vehicles carry more stress-induced weight than a contestant on The Biggest Loser. Depending on the vehicle, it could be hauling anywhere from 500 to 6,000 extra pounds in armored weight.

Significant armoring affects a vehicle’s center of gravity and puts more stress on mechanical components. This can cause significant handling problems when driving, especially around turns.

To help improve the handling and drivability of your armored vehicle, follow the tips in this article. It includes parts and driving tips to help you out.

Install Sway Bars

Installing armored vehicle sway bars greatly enhances handling and drivability. The driver has more control over the vehicle with sway bars, especially around sharp turns.

Sway bars significantly enhance cornering traction for safer turning. Your tires will better grip the road around sharp turns because vehicle weight will be evenly distributed. Sway bars give you a much more secure feeling to handle:

• Strong winds
• Passing trucks on the highway
• Winding roads

The bottom line is that quality sway bars are a must on armored vehicles. Weight will be evenly distributed giving you a smoother and more enjoyable ride.

Get Stiffer Springs

Considering the amount of armored weight the vehicle will need to support, you’ll want to go with springs that have a higher spring rate. The higher the spring rate, the stiffer the springs.

Stiffer springs will help to reduce the amount of sag caused by the armored protection. A good set of springs will help to compliment your vehicle’s sway bar for a more stable ride.

Upgrade the Shocks

Because you’ve gotten stiffer springs, you’ll also want to be sure the armored vehicle is outfitted with high quality shocks. A good set of shocks will help keep the tires from bouncing, which improves traction.

Your armored vehicle will drive a lot smoother over bumpy surfaces because the shocks will better dampen the springs to minimize bouncing.

Check Wheels and Braking

You’ll also want to check the wheels and braking. Regularly examine the vehicle’s alignment to ensure it is not pulling to one side. This will help to reduce tire wear, giving you better grip and traction.

Because your vehicle carries so much weight, stopping ability is very important. Slotted braking rotors can help to improve stopping ability. They also have been shown to reduce brake fade and rotor temperatures to ensure optimal braking functionality.

Promote Responsible Driving

Finally, it’s important to make sure that all of your armored vehicle operators drive responsibly. All drivers should be properly trained on how to operate the vehicle. Remind your drivers to:

• Check mirrors before driving
• Watch mirrors when making turns
• Slow down around turns
• Begin braking earlier
• Always know the height of the vehicle

Following these driving tips will help to significantly improve the handling and drivability of your armored vehicles.