Cost of Full Service (Inc Cam belt and water pump). Also - Air Assist Suspension rear axle (AL-KO Chassis)?

[Paul E.]

Good morning all

I am about to get a full/major service done which includes the Cam belt and water pump on my RAPIDO 7098F (2007). Could anyone give me an idea what sort of costs to expect at a reputable garage.

The old story of lousy payload has led me to investigating the possibility of air assist suspension for the rear axle (AL-KO chassis). Has anyone had this done recently. It would appear fitting air assist to an AL-KO chassis increases the cost of parts considerably. I have been through the paper exercise to raise the weight to 3850 kg. With air assist I can take it to 4100 kg. Prior to purchasing my RAPIDO it had been fitted with a tow bar, two bottle gas low system, bike rack, and solar panel. Having recently put it on a weigh bridge it came in at 3430 kg! This did not include my wife and I, the water tank was empty and the fuel tank was full. I was not carrying bikes.

I would be grateful for any advice re either of the above questions.

All best wishes

Paul

 

[Jev88]

Interested to see what you find .
Do you have springs or tortion bar Alko rear axle?
Was told very expensive to add air assist to tortion bar that I have. Only really done at factory?
Air available for front though. Alko themselves usually tell you to speak to a dealer like VB in my experience.

 

[lunarman]

Fitting semi air suspension to an Alko chassis is not really a DIY job.
There are a at least 3 systems available now

As suspension in Warrington (recommended by many here)
Gliderite do a system fitted at their premises in Hampshire.
LNB in Bristol offer 2 systems one by Dunlop and one similar to AS.

In each case the cost is about £1700 for supply and fit.

Good luck with whichever you choose.

 

[Paul E.]

Many thanks Lunarman. The prices that I have started to come up with are much as you have suggested. I am not in a hurry which gives me time to contact the companies that you have posted.

All the best, Paul

 

[MikeD]

Have a word with Dave Newell. He is a member on here and ivery well respected.

Up rating Alko chassis is very expensive compared to Fiat chassis

dave newell

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[TheBig1]

dave newell lvs

 

[Paul E.]

Dear All. Thanks for your kind advice. I will let you know how I get on. All best wishes.

 

[cranky]

my last full service with cam belt change inc. alko greasing was £750 + vat
is your chassis the alko heavy?

 

[Paul E.]

My total bill ended up being £966! I am not sure about the chassis. The average cost is coming out at about £1750 for the air assist.
I will check the chassis and get back to you. Thanks for responding Cranky. All best wishes. Paul

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Which Alko chassis do you have? The light can only go to 3850kg regardless of what you do to the suspension/tyres, whereas the heavy can go to 4250kg without, I thought, any mods.
We had AS Suspension air assist fitted and 112 index tyres to get our light Alko to 3850kg. Highly recommend AS at Warrington.
I was misinformed by JR Consultancy that we could be 4100kg with air assist and uprated tyres.

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[cranky]

My total bill ended up being £966! I am not sure about the chassis. The average cost is coming out at about £1750 for the air assist.
I will check the chassis and get back to you. Thanks for responding Cranky. All best wishes. Paul

add on new stainless exhaust and 4 new tyres and vat and it nearly hit 2k!!

 

[Paul E.]

£2000 Cranky is some bill! Thankfully mine was high but reasonable. Hetties Crew - that is very useful advice. I am already at 3850 kg and as such will have to examine the next steps very carefully indeed. I will check the chassis type and move on from there. Thanks all.

 

[Paul E.]

Does anyone have any idea how I tell which of the 2 AL-KO chassis (Light or Heavy) that I have. I have checked the AL-KO plate under the bonnet which provides little obvious information. Any ideas anyone.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

The Alko plate should have something like AMC35L, AMC37L, AMC40H or something similar. The L for light and H for heavy, the numbers 35 for 3500kgs etc.

 

[Lenny HB]

Does anyone have any idea how I tell which of the 2 AL-KO chassis (Light or Heavy) that I have. I have checked the AL-KO plate under the bonnet which provides little obvious information. Any ideas anyone.

There should be a plate on the side of the chassis near the axle but the front plate should tell you. If the rear axle is 2000kg it is a light chassis if it is either 2400 or 2500kg it is a heavy.

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[Paul E.]

Thanks all. Most helpful. Rear axle is 2000 kg. On the AL-KO plate it shows AMC35L. A light chassis. Thanks again. Paul

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Your weights in the OP sound similar to ours on exactly the same chassis/axle combo. As said 3850kg is the max we can go to as a total on the AMC35L chassis but we still uprated the rear axle to 2240kg with air and tyres because it was always around the 2000kg limit when weighed.
Fitting the air assist and higher index tyres gives us a total of 4190kg, adding the two axles together (2240+1950) but can’t be used.
The big bonus of having the air assist fitted is that the rear suspension works now, it was always at it’s full compression and now the air bags take a lot of the strain allowing the torsion bars some relief.
Our total weight is around 3650kg loaded and ready including us, the dog and water so 3850kg is ample.
We are having our cam belt changed, plus service and MOT, in a couple of weeks at North East Truck and Van so will let you know how financially painful it was.

 

[Paul E.]

Thanks for the info Hetties Crew. It lifted the fog for me. All the best. Paul

 

[BILL 875]

I asked NET&V for a price to change the oil and filter on my a class Rapido £244.00 plus vat, I bought genuine oil and filter for £70.00 and had it changed for £30.00 will be interested on your bill.
Bill

 

[sparky]

Hi I had cam belt/ water pump/ full device / damp check/ mot done last year at camper uk / burstner a class fiat 2.4 2014 reg 15000 miles £1200

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[Paul E.]

Morning Bill and Sparky. My engine is the Fiat 2.3 multi jet. The bill came in at £966. I went with genuine parts. To replace the cam belt it is also necessary to refurb the water pump. The belt and kit for this supplied by my mechanic was £320. Given that this was the long service which included everything I did not see this as expensive. It is a five yearly necessity. All best wishes and thanks for responding. Paul

 

[Hettie's Crew]

I asked NET&V for a price to change the oil and filter on my a class Rapido £244.00 plus vat, I bought genuine oil and filter for £70.00 and had it changed for £30.00 will be interested on your bill.
Bill

£129 at NET&V Hull for oil and filter change. £280 for the same including MOT and fuel filter the two years after that.
This year (year5) £1040 for Full service, including all filters, brake fluid change, supplying and fitting the Fiat cam belt kit, MOT and sorting out a red dash light fault relating to the air bag system.
Up to this years shock I’ve been very happy with NET&V Hull but have noticed prices appear to vary across the area.
The Fiat cam belt kit alone was £360 plus vat.

 

[Bobd]

Which Alko chassis do you have? The light can only go to 3850kg regardless of what you do to the suspension/tyres, whereas the heavy can go to 4250kg without, I thought, any mods.

Just had my 2017 8096df uprated from 3700kg to 4000kg. The vehicle has the light chassis.
I would recommend that you give sv tech a call and they will explain your options.
I could have uprated to 3850kg without any suspension changes.
I have had air assist on the rear, and new springs on the front. The work was carried out by sap of Doncaster, and I can fully recommend them for advice and the quality of their work.
The difference in ride quality is remarkable.
It wasn't cheap though, £660 for the springs, £1670 for the air assist and £310 for the paperwork. Still it was cheaper than changing the m/h and we now have peace of mind on our long winter trips

 

[Hettie's Crew]

I would recommend that you give sv tech a call and they will explain your options.

I did and it was them that said the AMC35L can only go to 3850.

 

[Lenny HB]

I did and it was them that said the AMC35L can only go to 3850.

There are 2 versions of the light chassis a 35 & a 37 the 37 can go to 4000kg.

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[Hettie's Crew]

There are 2 versions of the light chassis a 35 & a 40 the 40 can go to 4000kg.

I don’t have access to the paperwork but always thought 35 and 37 were the two types of light, 40 being H, heavy.

 

[Lenny HB]

I don’t have access to the paperwork but always thought 35 and 37 were the two types of light, 40 being H, heavy.

Think you might be right so it must be the 37 that can go up to 4000 kg. There are so many diffent specs depending on the suspension set up. Certainly enough to confuse me.
Edited.

 

[Bobd]

Regarding my uprate to 4000kg I have the AMC37L

 

[cranky]

Regarding my uprate to 4000kg I have the AMC37L

Thanks for that! I just looked at mine and I have the 37l as well. mine was upped to 3850 by previous owner but if I can go to 4000 even better. happy days

 

[cranky]

Regarding my uprate to 4000kg I have the AMC37L

what did you have to do to go to 4k? mines got air suspension (rear) and I have just put new tyres on and went for 225's so would be interested to know if I have to do anything else

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