Air suspension is there much difference in the ride , and any one fit then in Scotland (1 Viewer)

[Trout bum]

Hi are these aux air suspension units any good I've heard they give a much smoother ride and less wind swaying ?? Is this true and anyone know a place in Scotland that will fit it , and a Thule bike rack .

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I had mine done by Dave Newell a few weeks ago. This is on a Sprinter 519 - it now sways a bit but no longer lurches and feels a lot happier on the road. I thought that it was well worth the money

 

[icantremember]

Hi are these aux air suspension units any good I've heard they give a much smoother ride and less wind swaying ?? Is this true and anyone know a place in Scotland that will fit it , and a Thule bike rack .

I can't help with fitters in Scotland, but we have had AS AirSuspension (Warrington) fitted to our last three motorhomes and happy to confirm there are numerous advantages including a more stable ride.

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[Hettie's Crew]

On our Alko chassis with 2000kg rear axle it has made a useful improvement but we were on the limit of the 2000kg. We have less swaying and the rear suspension, now being assisted appears to work much better, no crashing and banging, it also used to squeak and that has stopped.
On our previous motorhome we had overly hard, less forgiving leaf springs, I think they were too stiff for the vehicle and don’t think we would have noticed any change, unless we’d fitted softer leaf springs. I think it’s down to if your current set up needs assistance or not, like sitting low or crashing over bumps.
Thumbs up for AS Suspension in Warrington that did ours.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Had mine fitted by http://www.airide.co.uk/ in the car park at the PBoro MH show... mainly to get the uprate of max weight - but I agree the ride & handling has also improved.

Took the fitter about 45-60mins to fit [including time to book in the next slot for the van parked next to me]

The point is, you can buy the kit from a number of trustworthy sources and any competent mechanic should be able to fit it for you.
If you use the search function, there are threads by Funsters who have fitted it themselves.

 

[IanF]

I'm 72 and I've just two weeks ago fitted air suspension to our MH. It took me about 4 hours and was not difficult at all to do and very few tools needed at all. Cost was just about £350.plus £30.00 for buying axle stands.
Much improved driving experience especially when being overtaken by HGVs
Ian

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[andy63]

Ive not long fitted the dunlop kit to a chausson 620 on a ford base..
It took me a couple days but that included the compressor gauges and wiring..the kit contained everything necessary..
So far id say the ride is stiffer..less body sway when cornering and less wobble when artics go by..
Still playing with pressures bur think it will becaround 2.5 to 3 bar for best results...
It will aso lift the back overhang a few inches when fully inflated which might be handy..

Andy

 

[Lenny HB]

You don't say what chassis you are on but if it is an Al-Ko you can't get DIY kits for them. Depending which system you go for on an Al-Ko it will cost between £1500 to £2000.

 

[Trout bum]

Thanks for all the info the chassis on my Adria is the Fiat camper one so hopefully kit should be available it sounds as if it's a better smoother ride and less swaying when being overtaken I'll have a look and suss out kit prices if I can't get it fitted in Scotland I will take it on myself .

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[Minxy]

You don't say what chassis you are on but if it is an Al-Ko you can't get DIY kits for them. Depending which system you go for on an Al-Ko it will cost between £1500 to £2000.

Adria Matrix M670SL

 

[Gellyneck]

Thanks for all the info the chassis on my Adria is the Fiat camper one so hopefully kit should be available it sounds as if it's a better smoother ride and less swaying when being overtaken I'll have a look and suss out kit prices if I can't get it fitted in Scotland I will take it on myself .

Other side of the country but Roseilse do fitting. Not a recommendation, just came across them when looking for something else.
Broken Link Removed

 

[IanF]

Thanks for all the info the chassis on my Adria is the Fiat camper one so hopefully kit should be available it sounds as if it's a better smoother ride and less swaying when being overtaken I'll have a look and suss out kit prices if I can't get it fitted in Scotland I will take it on myself .

Hi again the kit I used does not even require you to undo the existing spring U bolts at all. The kit is called EasyTop,made in Italy,ordered online, cost including postage £330.
www.sospensionieasytop.it/en/catalogue/2~fiat.html
There is an installation video available on this link too.
Ian

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[DavidG58]

I paid nearly £5K for my AS system, barely notice any difference in the ride, but very useful for lifting rear end for ferries and steep site entrances

would I pay the same again, nope, not enough advantage, my Mercedes still rocks a lot from side to side on slightly uneven ground

not sure why you are looking to fit yours though

 

[Lenny HB]

Adria Matrix M670SL

So what's the chassis, I'm too lazy to look it up.

 

[Lenny HB]

I paid nearly £5K for my AS system, barely notice any difference I the ride, but very useful for lifting rear end for ferries and steep site entrances

would I pay the same again, nope, not enough advantage, my Mercedes still rocks a lot for side to side on slightly uneven ground

not sure why you are looking to fit yours though

Is that because the Merc is a soft ride to start with?
I'm finding my Maxi Al-Ko chassis a bone shaker and trying to talk the boss into spending the money

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[Dan and Jan]

Had VB Air suspension fitted on my last motorhome Burstner. Had it fitted at Turriff Caravans just above Aberdeen. They even let me camp in their yard with electric FOC for 2 nights. Really clean job, recommended.

 

[DavidG58]

Is that because the Merc is a soft ride to start with?
I'm finding my Maxi Al-Ko chassis a bone shaker and trying to talk the boss into spending the money

possibly but only posting what we have found, the side to side rock on ours typically when moving from tarmac to grass on site is really quite violent on ours

edit now not sure if I have AS or VB

it links to E + P and drops the air when jacks deployed if that helps

honestly I even despair at my own lack of knowledge, let alone memory

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Is that because the Merc is a soft ride to start with?
I'm finding my Maxi Al-Ko chassis a bone shaker and trying to talk the boss into spending the money

Precious van was Al-Ko chassis and a reasonable ride, then moved to a Fiat camper chassis and the ride was bone shaking, now on a sprinter and it was very wallowing until improved a bit by the air assist. Prefer the ride on the sprinter unless going over rough ground in which case you need seasick tablets

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[two]

I had full air put on my new Fiat with Alko chassis. Not cheap yet I cannot say that I noticed any improvement in the ride. Being able to level on site, or adjust the ride attitude is handy, though. If my van had been older, with aging suspension, I’d expect to notice an improvement because I’d be changing an old suspension system for a new one.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

I'm finding my Maxi Al-Ko chassis a bone shaker

Isn’t that the consequence of having a maxi chassis on the lighter DL, you get a huge payload but for the suspension to work properly that payload would have to be utilised. Our last motorhome, with the Fiat Camper chassis, was always a smother ride when loaded to the gunnels. This one, on the 35 light Alko chassis, felt overloaded on the rear until air assist was fitted. It’s spot on now at 1.5bar, with the option to increase the pressure. Maybe rear full air is the best solution to yours.

 

[Chipster]

I was bitterly disappointed with the ride of our new van on the AlKo chassis. Even after faffing with tyre pressures I still wasn’t impressed so pressed the buy button on VB full air. Even the boss noticed the difference on the way back fron Doncaster. Not only has the ride been significantly improved, we have added flexibility of lifting the van to get it over the previous exhaust scraping entrance to storage and tilt to empty the tanks. It’s by no means perfect but worth the investment in my opinion.

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[Lenny HB]

Isn’t that the consequence of having a maxi chassis on the lighter DL, you get a huge payload but for the suspension to work properly that payload would have to be utilised. Our last motorhome, with the Fiat Camper chassis, was always a smother ride when loaded to the gunnels. This one, on the 35 light Alko chassis, felt overloaded on the rear until air assist was fitted. It’s spot on now at 1.5bar, with the option to increase the pressure. Maybe rear full air is the best solution to yours.

Possibly we are running about 3900kg, but last Monday we had a couple of adults plus their luggage probably about 4200kg. Went across country from Lydd in Kent to Gatwick and it was still a bone shaker. I don't think the Michelins tyres help even though I'm running at much lower than the recommended pressures.

Yes I'm looking at full rear air, I don't think I can persuade the boss to go for the front as well. She makes a tight Lenny look like a spend thrift.

 

[Lenny HB]

I was bitterly disappointed with the ride of our new van on the AlKo chassis. Even after faffing with tyre pressures I still wasn’t impressed so pressed the buy button on VB full air. Even the boss noticed the difference on the way back fron Doncaster. Not only has the ride been significantly improved, we have added flexibility of lifting the van to get it over the previous exhaust scraping entrance to storage and tilt to empty the tanks. It’s by no means perfect but worth the investment in my opinion.

Like it, Like it, that sounds good.
What van?

 

[Chipster]

Like it, Like it, that sounds good.
What van?

2016 Frankia i740 A class. 7.5m 4500kg. If you can justify it, full has to be the way to go. I felt a lot of the crashy ride came from the front.

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[Trout bum]

Yes it's an Adria Matrix 670sl 2016 model on a Fiat camper chassis the ride is ok but just heard that it's smoother with the rear air suspension fitted got to remember the chassis on motorhomes is always loaded due to furniture fittings tanks etc thought that the air suspension would help that part and take some of the strain off it x also if bikes on the back rack and all fishing gear in garage just thought it would give more assistance don't mean putting any more weight onto it just less pressures on the rear springs

 

[Minxy]

We would certainly have air-assisted rear suspension if we ever went back to a coachbuilt MH, it really DOES make quite a difference, even on a new MH - a lot less sway and roll especially when cornering and going around roundabouts and also when being passed by lorries/trucks etc or when it's windy. It also makes a much nicer ride too.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

2016 Frankia i740 A class. 7.5m 4500kg. If you can justify it, full has to be the way to go. I felt a lot of the crashy ride came from the front.

Would love to, but it really is expensive and can’t justify it. The air assist on the back is a decent compromise

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[Tibbo]

I had it fitted by Towtal in Stoke to my 2000 Peugeot Boxer, what a difference! The first time I drove my motorhome on the M5 it was a butt clenching experience being buffeted by HGV's. Now it's a much more pleasant drive. On an older van I can highly recommend it. Cost was about £550 fitted.

 

[Lenny HB]

2016 Frankia i740 A class. 7.5m 4500kg. If you can justify it, full has to be the way to go. I felt a lot of the crashy ride came from the front.

Same size and weight as my Hymer, better start buttering her up & try and get her to let me spend 5 grand before I loose any more teeth.

 

[Clarky]

Go on @Lenny HB, bite the bullet.
Our 4.5 tonne Carthago is on the ALKO heavy chassis and really used to crash at the front when hitting potholes.
Fitted full VB air and the front ‘crashing’ completely stopped. Still a bit from the rear, probably due to the high pressures in the Michelin’s, but it’s much better than before.
Much smoother ride although anyone prone to serious sea sickness could find the ‘floaty’ feeling a bit uncomfortable on some roads.
Directional stability much improved in cross winds and when passing trucks.

If you’re going to hang onto the van for a while it’s worth the cost..........and while you’re about it you might just as well fit E&P hydraulics as well.

Richard.

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