Air assist/suspension (1 Viewer)

Howard H

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Nov 10, 2015
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Benimar mileo 294
just looking at a air assist/suspension kit for my 2015 fiat ducato rear suspension for £250 on eBay from Slovenia , but bearing in mind I am mechanically inept do you think it is a job I should attempt . Has anyone fitted a similar kit and how hard and how long did it take you. Thanks
 

138go

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If you are mechanically inept then .. NO

What do you need it for ..
 

Neckender

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I fitted the Dunlop semi air suspension to our last Ford based van in 2-1/2 hours, and where the air hoses made contact with anything that could chaff through I fitted clear plastic tubing over the hoses.

John.

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Howard H

Howard H

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Nov 10, 2015
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Benimar mileo 294
If you are mechanically inept then .. NO

What do you need it for ..
Just with a trailer on , I was a little afraid of dragging the tow bar on the ferry ramps and if it was an easy job it might solve that problem. The benimar 294 have large over hang .
 
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Howard H

Howard H

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I fitted the Dunlop semi air suspension to our last Ford based van in 2-1/2 hours, and where the air hoses made contact with anything that could chaff through I fitted clear plastic tubing over the hoses.

John.
Thanks Neckender , I presume the bump stops just screw off and are replaced with the air bags
 
Oct 29, 2012
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I am just reading all the manuals on mine (Dunlop) and it comes with comprehensive fitting instructions. Doesn't actually look that difficult but as previous said, if you are not confident get someone else to do it.

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Dec 11, 2011
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I did mine but I used to be a reasonably competent DIY fixer of my own cars - before everything went electronic!
It's not a difficult job and the only specialist tool I needed was a torque wrench (for the U bolts) - otherwise it's basic spanners, sockets etc.
You DO need to be fit enough to roll around under the motorhome for 2-3 hours though!
 

tonka

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Go on youtube as there are some video on the subject.
Read all the threads on here as it's been discussed a few times..

The Theory is tap and unscrew 2 x "bump stops"..
Fit the air suspension in place and bolt up.
Fit and run the air pipes, connect gauge.. Blow up .. SORTED..

I did mine with a kit off ebay £259 and i know quite a few other funsters did theirs.
Used my fiamma ramps to back the rear wheels on to, put some axle stands under for safety and was enough room to do the job on my back.. My downfall was the bump stops should have just screwed off, my mistake by not using enough releasing fluid on the nuts and letting it soak in. So I snapped the nuts as the stops just spun around. Got sorted at local garage so cost me and extra £60. Once off I soon fitted the kit, ride is better and my saggy back end is nice and pert ready for the next ferry.

DSC_0427.JPG
 

SUGGY

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I have the same kit .it clamps onto the existing spring mounts .dead easy to fit .
I ran the air pipe along the hand brake cable and secure it with tie wraps.
I drilled through the step alongside the hand brake cable and mounted the gauge unit on the door pillar behind the drivers seat .
Took about 2 hours from start to finish.
I run it with 60psi when fully laden .
You can also raise / lower the rear using the air bags so i rarely use the levelling ramps .
 
Oct 29, 2012
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I'm glad I read the manual, now I find out not to run under 5psi having just driven 230 miles back from the dealers. thought they might have mentioned that before I left! fortunately no leaks. topped it up to 2 bar last night and gauge not moved this morning.I will play with the pressures once loaded. once again this forum proves its worth!!!!
 

Kevan

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all good as long as it is not ALKO Chassis AS air suspension fitted mine can raise the back end 4 inch(y)

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Oct 29, 2012
887
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Rapido 9090df
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20 years (unless you count my dads VW which makes it 52 years with a few gaps!!)
mine is Alko but not checked yet how much it raises it.
 
Jan 27, 2014
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Hi Howard .where you off to with your new air suspension
On a ferry I bet.hope your both keeping well
Best regards mike.
 
Jan 27, 2014
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Duplicate post poor Internet.

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Aug 31, 2015
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hubby fitted a kit to our Merc sprinter but does have a bit of mechanical knowledge. It took him about 2 hours and he found it easy to do.
 
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Howard H

Howard H

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Hi Howard .where you off to with your new air suspension
On a ferry I bet.hope your both keeping well
Best regards mike.
Hi Mike , just a couple of weeks in June around Quimper and le Rochelle . Have not got the air suspension yet still making enquiries but the holidays on even if I am dragging the rear ended of the mh onto the ferry :LOL: regards H
 
Jan 27, 2014
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Sounds good have a good time.hope you get air suspension sorted.

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138go

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After reading the specifications for the Benimar 294 I think I would load it up ready to go with full fuel tank, passengers, dog ( If applicable ) and travelling water and then take it down to the weigh bridge and find out how much is on each axle and total weight. You are restricted to 2000Kg on the back axle according to specs and payload is only 260Kg.



260Kg payload for 4 people ???? .. Wonder what they include when they weigh it .. I suppose it would be to much to ask it they just weighed it empty as it stands in the showroom and you can then add your own weights.

If you exceed the plated weight you may not be covered by your insurance if you have an accident.
 
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Howard H

Howard H

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After reading the specifications for the Benimar 294 I think I would load it up ready to go with full fuel tank, passengers, dog ( If applicable ) and travelling water and then take it down to the weigh bridge and find out how much is on each axle and total weight. You are restricted to 2000Kg on the back axle according to specs and payload is only 260Kg.
I did upgrade the weight to I think 3680 kg and I know just by the feel of it we must be getting near the mgw , but what do you do we don't take loads of stuff but what we do take we need if we have the smart car behind we can put a bit of gear in that , I think I might have to look at going to 4000kg soon .
 

Neckender

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I did upgrade the weight to I think 3680 kg and I know just by the feel of it we must be getting near the mgw , but what do you do we don't take loads of stuff but what we do take we need if we have the smart car behind we can put a bit of gear in that , I think I might have to look at going to 4000kg soon .

With us it's not so much what we take but what we bring back with us.:wine:

John.

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Howard H

Howard H

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I woke up this morning not worrying about weights but now it's dominating my thoughts , how do they calculate the miro weight ie whats included driver/ some water / fuel . (y)
 

138go

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They all seem to do it differently depending on how many they want to sell. The only way you can find out the weight is to take it to a weigh bridge and get it weighed. You need a full tank of fuel as you normally fill up at a garage and water that you normally carry. I use our local scrap yard as he only charges a £5 but I don't get a ticket he just writes the weights down. You will then have to add the weight of the tow bar part that connects to the back of the MH. Easy enough with a set of scales but add a bit extra as the weight on a long overhang can add extra to the back axle as it transfers weight from the front. Ideally you need the normal passengers as well.

So you need to weigh the front axle , then the whole lot and finally the back axle. The back one is the important one as it's where all the weight is. It should be under 2000Kg. If it's over then you need to consider moving things around.

All MH's are different as they all leave the factory with various addons depending on the build. Dealers fit bits and so do end users. Yours has a tow hitch which will consume some weight. They also seem to have a +-5%.

You could phone your dealer and ask whats included in their calculations.

As a side once you know the weights on each axle you can adjust the tyre pressure to give a better ride. Contact the manufacturers with the weights and they will give you the correct tyre pressure to use.
 
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Howard H

Howard H

LIFE MEMBER
Nov 10, 2015
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West Lancashire
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Benimar mileo 294
They all seem to do it differently depending on how many they want to sell. The only way you can find out the weight is to take it to a weigh bridge and get it weighed. You need a full tank of fuel as you normally fill up at a garage and water that you normally carry. I use our local scrap yard as he only charges a £5 but I don't get a ticket he just writes the weights down. You will then have to add the weight of the tow bar part that connects to the back of the MH. Easy enough with a set of scales but add a bit extra as the weight on a long overhang can add extra to the back axle as it transfers weight from the front. Ideally you need the normal passengers as well.

So you need to weigh the front axle , then the whole lot and finally the back axle. The back one is the important one as it's where all the weight is. It should be under 2000Kg. If it's over then you need to consider moving things around.

All MH's are different as they all leave the factory with various addons depending on the build. Dealers fit bits and so do end users. Yours has a tow hitch which will consume some weight. They also seem to have a +-5%.

You could phone your dealer and ask whats included in their calculations.

As a side once you know the weights on each axle you can adjust the tyre pressure to give a better ride. Contact the manufacturers with the weights and they will give you the correct tyre pressure to use.
Blissful ignorance was a wonderful thing :LOL: this weekend I will try and take it to my local weighbridge ,then I have some weights to work from. Many thanks for the info (y)

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