Driving a motorhome with a drop-down bed

[Denis Stone]

Hi all, we are on our third motorhome, this time having bought a 6m van with a drop-down bed. When parked up, it's fantastic - a great space-saver - but on the road it is unpleasant. We find it is very susceptible to even moderate cross winds, even though there is such a short overhang at the back, and generally feels top heavy. Has anyone else experienced this? Any solutions, other than trading in for a different layout?

 

[Wikky]

I've never driven one with a drop down bed but perhaps putting more weight lower down may help counteract the high up weight of the bed.

 

[Wagoneer]

It's usually vans with a luton over the cab that suffer most with cross-winds.

Having said that, any slab-sided van, 3m tall, is going to be suseptable to cross-winds. Only advice is to check your tyre pressures and reduce your speed accordingly.

I even had trouble with my VW Type 2 van, driving along the South of France coast road with a Mistral wind blowing. Even worse with my current 3m high van - had to slow down to 30mph.

Think the fact your van has a drop-down bed is a bit of a red herring. Most Coachbuilt vans are quite high to allow use by tall people.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Are you suggesting that the drop down bed upsets the vans weight balance ? If that’s the case then fill your water tank and take a look at your suspension, if the rear is leaf springs, maybe consider Sumo rubber stops or semi or even full air suspension.

 

[Lenny HB]

Our last two vans have been A Class with the drop down bed not noticed much difference to the previous low profile.
Current van we had full air suspension fitted its now runs dead straight in any conditions well worth the expense.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ctc]

Had exactly the same problem, after having semi air fitted no rock and roll at all.

 

[Minxy]

Get semi-air fitted to the rear, it will transform it for very little cost, we had a similar issue on a low-profile Rimor due to the length which made it susceptible to side winds etc, once we put on semi-air it was a completely different vehicle.

 

[BusyBuilder]

We put semi air in our B544, no problems, infact it make the rear less hard on the suspension.

 

[wolfie2]

Dennis stone If your new van is shorter than your previous ones it maybe you are feeling the effects of the reduce wheelbase. I would expect a short vehicle with the same height as a longer one to be more reactive to side winds.

 

[Larrynwin]

No problems on the road with our B544.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Shrimp]

Our 6 mtr Hymer has a drop down bed over the driving seats. Hubby has never complained of dodgy handling and I’ve never noticed it either.
Is it just because you’ve changed van and this one has different characteristics. Can’t see why the drop down bed would make so much difference.
Maybe different tyres would help if the ones you have are soft compound.
We also have rear air suspension.

 

[WillH]

Dare I suggest lowering your tyre pressures a little, may just help.

 

[Larrynwin]

Any confusion here with tramlines on some roads, it does affect mine at times.

 

[the1andonly]

Any confusion here with tramlines on some roads, it does affect mine at times.

I can agree with that statement. The road can have a dramatic effect. My vaN is also 6m with a drop down bed. It is also more stable than a Bongo thin and a heavy lifting roof.

 

[drpeej]

Can you drive it with the bed in the lowered position?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

I think a lot of your problem is down to it being a 6m van it will have a short wheelbase which generally gives an unpleasant choppy ride. If you fit full air suspension it will transform it, well worth the expense.

 

[Larrynwin]

I don’t think a drop down bed has much to do with handling. My van has one and is just 6.5m and certainly doesn’t give a choppy ride in fact it handles easily and predictably , the only time it changes is where tramlines are evident which isn’t helped by the difference in tracking width between front and rear wheels common to many motorhomes.

 

[Denis Stone]

16 replies to my post since April 2021 and all really helpful. Thank you all so much!! I run my Michelin Agilis Camping front tyres at 65 because Michelin won't sanction a pressure lower than this, but I have seen a couple of useful blogs suggesting this pressure is too high. Total front weight on the 2 tyres is just over 1500kg.

I am now going to fit air suspension, at least on the rear. I want the type that has the two gauges in the cab, so that you can adjust each side separately and you can do it while moving. I have seen good reviews for AS Air Suspension in Warrington. Any other recommendations for a company based in central England that does this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Swifter]

16 replies to my post since April 2021 and all really helpful. Thank you all so much!! I run my Michelin Agilis Camping front tyres at 65 because Michelin won't sanction a pressure lower than this, but I have seen a couple of useful blogs suggesting this pressure is too high. Total front weight on the 2 tyres is just over 1500kg.

I am now going to fit air suspension, at least on the rear. I want the type that has the two gauges in the cab, so that you can adjust each side separately and you can do it while moving. I have seen good reviews for AS Air Suspension in Warrington. Any other recommendations for a company based in central England that does this would be greatly appreciated.

I recommend getting a kit online and then getting a local garage to fit it or fit yourself

Motorhome, Caravan & Marine equipment

www.marcleleisure.co.uk

 

[Jamesh]

16 replies to my post since April 2021 and all really helpful. Thank you all so much!! I run my Michelin Agilis Camping front tyres at 65 because Michelin won't sanction a pressure lower than this, but I have seen a couple of useful blogs suggesting this pressure is too high. Total front weight on the 2 tyres is just over 1500kg.

I am now going to fit air suspension, at least on the rear. I want the type that has the two gauges in the cab, so that you can adjust each side separately and you can do it while moving. I have seen good reviews for AS Air Suspension in Warrington. Any other recommendations for a company based in central England that does this would be greatly appreciated.

Try it at 50 / 60 psi first

You might find it dosen't need air suspension.

Cheers James

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Try it at 50 / 60 psi first

You might find it dosen't need air suspension.

Cheers James

Don't be silly where's the fun in that, much more fun spending money.