Thinking of fitting Air Suspension, any advice ?

[Sandancers]

Just got a faint thought about fitting Air Suspension, maybe / maybe not ?

Any pros and cons ?

Recommendations for quality suppliers / fitters in North East UK (preferably), maybe some that offer discounts to MHF members ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Having it on my current van wouldn't have a van without it.
Driving stability is brilliant particularly in crosswinds and when passing artics. Can use it for leveling & get level over 90% of the time.

The only downside is the boss moaning about the 8 or 9 grand it costs.

SAP at Doncaster are the go to people.

 

[Jo662]

Having it on my current van wouldn't have a van without it.
Driving stability is brilliant particularly in crosswinds and when passing artics. Can use it for leveling & get level over 90% of the time.

The only downside is the boss moaning about the 8 or 9 grand it costs.

SAP at Doncaster are the go to people.

8 or 9 grand, bloody hell, i didnt realise air suspension was that expensive.

 

[Howard B]

8 or 9 grand, bloody hell, i didnt realise air suspension was that expensive.

Air assist is a lot cheaper, £300-£350.

 

[Lenny HB]

8 or 9 grand, bloody hell, i didnt realise air suspension was that expensive.

6½k four years ago, its gone up a lot, when I get it on the new van, if it ever comes she might get a bigger rolling pin out.

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[Lenny HB]

Air assist is a lot cheaper, £300-£350.

Still over 2 grand if you have an Al-Ko chassis and not really comparable. If you are going to do a job do it properly.

 

[Howard B]

Still over 2 grand if you have an Al-Ko chassis and not really comparable. If you are going to do a job do it properly.

Was happy with air assist on my last van, we cant all afford to spend £8k.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

That's a full system, all singing all dancing price. Do you need a full system that allows for levelling on site ect?
There are systems on the market for a fraction of that price that whilst not giving that full range of levelling options, do however improve the driving experience considerably.
Air bags just on the rear, Sumo fit and forget air springs, partial air,that allows the raising and lowering of the back end, set your budget, and demands that need to be met then explore the options, which are many.
Do you need a payload upgrade ? Air bags can help with that as well.
Mike.

 

[Lenny HB]

That's a full system, all singing all dancing price. Do you need a full system that allows for levelling on site ect?

The price was for the basic system including the leveling & emergency inflation options. You can have the active system which I think it's about another 4 grand.

 

[Sandancers]

WOW, price was more than I thought !

Anyone know if SAP gives discount to MHF members ?

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[Millcourt]

WOW, price was more than I thought !

Anyone know if SAP gives discount to MHF members ?

No, they don’t and when I spoke with them yesterday about E&P self-levelling, this has gone up by £500+ in the last week to over £6,500 fitted. Think we can survive with a couple of levelling ramps!

 

[Sandancers]

Thanks all for the answers.

 

[Boringfrog]

Thanks all for the answers.

Get yourself the airbag assist, fit em yourself...

 

[royw]

We have both on our van air and levelling , they were there when we bought it as it was fully laden with extras I feel blessed that I have it now and could not imagine being without, it seems very composed during a drive and we have used the emergancy lift feature for some dodgy gradients.

 

[bladerunner]

V&P rear air assist and front beefy springs have transformed my Mercedes RWD.
Around £3k IIRC

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[mr_jay]

I'm looking at buying a FWD MH at the moment and am seriously considering upgrading the rear with V&P air assist, but not sure if I should do the front springs as well. When you mention beefier springs, you mean they're stiffer? So less dive under braking, anything else? Wouldn't the ride be slightly harsher? Also, would one have to switch out the shock absorbers as well?

 

[bigtree]

I'm booked in at A&E Leisure on the 31st of July for VB full air, a bit cheaper than what SAP quoted.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

We have the full Vb air system and the Active set up. I've often referred to it as assist for some reason? Hey oh..cost £8k in total. It makes the ride superb and the levelling on site.. like lenny has said..90 % it does its job well. A lot of money I know, but worth it .

Kev

 

[MichaelT]

No, they don’t and when I spoke with them yesterday about E&P self-levelling, this has gone up by £500+ in the last week to over £6,500 fitted. Think we can survive with a couple of levelling ramps!

But once you have it you wouldn't be without it. Roll up on site, handbrake on, press button and all level. No faffing outside and someone making sure you don't go over the top and having to keep getting the spirit level out to check especially in inclement weather.

Also with ALKO chassis you can jack rear axles off ground for greasing, no blowing about in high winds and no movement when you walk about in van.

 

[Orion]

If it’s rear air assist then not too difficult a job to install. I did my own with the Dunlop kit, and even being the ‘Guinea Pig’ for the Ducato with the electric handbrake, it went reasonably well. Post #46 on this thread.

Wouldn’t be without it now after giving the van a good workout over 8 weeks away in Greece and Crete, plus I’m looking to up plate to 4250kg, which is impossible without it.

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[Lenny HB]

If it’s rear air assist then not too difficult a job to install. I did my own with the Dunlop kit, and even being the ‘Guinea Pig’ for the Ducato with the electric handbrake, it went reasonably well. Post #46 on this thread.

Wouldn’t be without it now after giving the van a good workout over 8 weeks away in Greece and Crete, plus I’m looking to up plate to 4250kg, which is impossible without it.

That is not an Al-Ko chassis, much more difficult to do on an Al-Ko and the DIY kit is £1600.

 

[SSILVO]

Give Carl Leake a call at Gliderite on the wirral I had the firestone system fitted on the rear in 2021 it was 1016 Inc vat and had the MAD springs fitted on the front was 617 fitted ...made a big difference.

 

[Howard B]

Post deleted.

 

[Sandancers]

Give Carl Leake a call at Gliderite on the wirral I had the firestone system fitted on the rear in 2021 it was 1016 Inc vat and had the MAD springs fitted on the front was 617 fitted ...made a big difference.

I'm not going forward with this idea now, too much other stuff needing funds.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

Does full air make the van less "bouncy" when parked up? We only had E&P levellers on our last van and so no "bounce" and we're debating whether to go for air assist and levellers or full air on our current van.

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[Landy Andy]

Does full air make the van less "bouncy" when parked up? We only had E&P levellers on our last van and so no "bounce" and we're debating whether to go for air assist and levellers or full air on our current van.

Even air assist on rear lessens the bounce when living inside the van.

 

[Bear]

Give Carl Leake a call at Gliderite on the wirral I had the firestone system fitted on the rear in 2021 it was 1016 Inc vat and had the MAD springs fitted on the front was 617 fitted ...made a big difference.

I'm up there in Oct to have the same done on me tag.
Is there uprated shocks for the front?

 

[Elsie2010]

Just got a faint thought about fitting Air Suspension, maybe / maybe not ?

Any pros and cons ?

Recommendations for quality suppliers / fitters in North East UK (preferably), maybe some that offer discounts to MHF members ?

We had manufacturer fitted in our old pvc, noticed a vast difference compare to the coachbuilt although, I know pvcs are a bit better a ride and better at being buffered
First time we inflated it, we both came off feeling we'd just gotten off a ship!

Think ours was the basic type from 2010 and I believe what you get these days are a different league but we liked ours, made a far comfier ride and less rattles and better buffering
We could tell a difference when they were ready for an air top up

 

[SSILVO]

I'm up there in Oct to have the same done on me tag.
Is there uprated shocks for the front?

I should imagine so ,I had MAD springs fitted which are progressive according to how you brake . Had HPC levelling system put on at same time which has also ( touch wood) been faultless.

 

[Bear]

I should imagine so ,I had MAD springs fitted which are progressive according to how you brake . Had HPC levelling system put on at same time which has also ( touch wood) been faultless.

I'm getting the MAD springs at the same time hence now thoughts of a complete overhaul at the front.

Will message David after the weekend fir his thoughts.

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