Can air assist suspension soften your ride?

[Mick Kennedy]

Sorry can't agree our van had an incredibly hard ride with full air it's still hard but markably better certainly worth the money.
And the gain in driving stability is incredible, you can sail past artics on the motorway take your hands off the wheel and the van keeps a dead straight line.
Also driving down the A75 with all those twisty bends and gale force crosswind I wouldn't want to do that without air suspension.

If may not make such a difference on a 3.5t van but it certainly does on a 4.5t van.

Yes, Lenny, I agree with you on that part. I still don't find the ride any more comfy, but yes, the stability is defo improved passing artics, etc.

 

[Phill D]

Perhaps a stupid question ( it is early for me). I see people commenting that they can use rear semi air bellow pressures as a means of levelling the van when on site, our van is always slightly nose down even when fully loaded. So if I fit semi air for other reasons I'm assuming I still won't be able to level the van on flat ground by emptying the bellows to their minimum.

Absolutely correct

 

[Landy Andy]

Perhaps a stupid question ( it is early for me). I see people commenting that they can use rear semi air bellow pressures as a means of levelling the van when on site, our van is always slightly nose down even when fully loaded. So if I fit semi air for other reasons I'm assuming I still won't be able to level the van on flat ground by emptying the bellows to their minimum.

I do. Either pump them up or drop the pressures.

 

[steveh57]

I do. Either pump them up or drop the pressures.

Thanks , but in my case surely I would have to find a pitch that elevated the nose and then raise the rear to level off.

 

[Landy Andy]

My semi air raises the rear by 50mm (driving position 3bar) but can raise it 100mm.

It will vary on each van/pressures/weight, and IF the pitch is actually level.

We still carry level blocks and often use them though.

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[funflair]

Thanks , but in my case surely I would have to find a pitch that elevated the nose and then raise the rear to level off.

Correct

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Perhaps a stupid question ( it is early for me). I see people commenting that they can use rear semi air bellow pressures as a means of levelling the van when on site, our van is always slightly nose down even when fully loaded. So if I fit semi air for other reasons I'm assuming I still won't be able to level the van on flat ground by emptying the bellows to their minimum.

Hi, our Sunlight has the same nosedown stance. As well as ramps I also carry some 4" x2" timbers about 1' long, with the leading edge cut to 45deg. They are also useful as weight spreaders on soft ground, and also a leading edge for running onto the ramps on hard standing plots.
Mike.

 

[Dutch 68]

Whilst spending some pounds, why not have live axle and total vehicle weight monitor fitted, then you know always if you are within the law, this is the screen on the dash

 

[IRHP]

Perhaps a stupid question ( it is early for me). I see people commenting that they can use rear semi air bellow pressures as a means of levelling the van when on site, our van is always slightly nose down even when fully loaded. So if I fit semi air for other reasons I'm assuming I still won't be able to level the van on flat ground by emptying the bellows to their minimum.

Correct. When semi Air is fitted it can only raise the height at the rear. With no air bags fitted or fitted with all the air our the van will still be supported by the springs so your van will still be nose down.

 

[Two on Tour]

At last, someone who’s got Sumo Springs fitted. These are very popular in the USA but I couldn’t find much information from UK users.

Which ones did you get, and did you do the fitting yourself?

Fitted a pair to the front spring on our Peugeot Boxer "C" class this morning.
Probably will not get the chance to test them out on the road before next weekend.

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[Sapper520]

Fitted a pair to the front spring on our Peugeot Boxer "C" class this morning.
Probably will not get the chance to test them out on the road before next weekend.

View attachment 559047

I’ll be interested in your comments about them. I’ve been looking at the ones that replace the standard Fiat cone thing on the rear.

 

[Two on Tour]

I’ll be interested in your comments about them. I’ve been looking at the ones that replace the standard Fiat cone thing on the rear.

The rear ones get good reviews from those that have fitted them in the Youtube videos I have seen.
I bought mine direct from the States as they were £40 cheaper than the UK supplier.

 

[Sapper520]

The thing I’m concerned about is the rear ones rest on top of the spring. I’ve read on here that some MOT’ers have failed a vans MOT thinking they are bump stops, not having enough clearance, and not part of the suspension set up.

 

[Two on Tour]

The thing I’m concerned about is the rear ones rest on top of the spring. I’ve read on here that some MOT’ers have failed a vans MOT thinking they are bump stops, not having enough clearance, and not part of the suspension set up.

If that is a concern, then I would go for an MOT armed with information on the Sumo Springs and what they're all about.

 

[steveh57]

Not heard of Sumo Springs, however with regard rear bump stop replacement I wonder whether the likes of SV Tech would consider these as a part of the package for increasing rear payload instead of airbags/springs especially as one version of the bump stop as a load capacity of 1270kg

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[Sapper520]

Not heard of Sumo Springs, however with regard rear bump stop replacement I wonder whether the likes of SV Tech would consider these as a part of the package for increasing rear payload instead of airbags/springs especially as one version of the bump stop as a load capacity of 1270kg

They’re not bump stops fitted by Fiat to their vans, they are spring assisters and form part of the rear suspension.

Sumo Springs replace the small Fiat cones for something more substantial.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

They’re not bump stops fitted by Fiat to their vans, they are spring assisters and form part of the rear suspension.

Sumo Springs replace the small Fiat cones for something more substantial.

Are they better, worse, or just work differently to air bags? Presumably, not adjustable like an air bag? Just out of interest.
Mike.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I just had look on EBay, it looks like they may well improve the load carrying capacity of the vehicle, but do not in and of themselves qualify for a weight plate upgrade? So air bags might still be the best fix for a first stage upgrade.
Mike.

 

[Sapper520]

They are very popular in the USA where they are made. There are 2 or three types, depending on your load rating / useage.

I’ll try and find a link.

 

[Sapper520]

Hope it works.

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[steveh57]

They’re not bump stops fitted by Fiat to their vans, they are spring assisters and form part of the rear suspension.

Sumo Springs replace the small Fiat cones for something more substantial.

Perhaps an inelegant description on my behalf, my defence, I was quoting from the Rhodesian website website "SumoSprings Solo Kits are a one-piece unit attached on one side used as a replacement/upgrade to factory bump stops |Position Rear | Weight Capacity 1270kgs"