Air suspension - a gadget or a necessity?

Air suspension - a gadget or a necessity? – main image

In recent years, our editorial office has had the opportunity to try out many motorhomes from various price segments, with different dimensions, bodies on different base cars and with different equipment in action.

Whenever we test a vehicle, we take a closer look at safety, driving comfort and utility values. Our experience shows that one of the key elements is the selection of the suspension and its parameters. There are many modifications to serial solutions available on the market, which only seemingly may seem universal and the same.

What can we gain by installing additional air suspension?

  • suspension work optimization
  • increased security
  • increased comfort
  • protection of the base suspension
  • protection of cargo and passengers
  • saving on repairs
  • periodically increasing the ground clearance of the vehicle
  • leveling the vehicle with unevenly distributed load (dual-circuit version)
  • the ability to set the hardness of the suspension when the road surface changes (version with a compressor)

Stock = imperfect?

Of course, the above statement may seem harmful, but we are in a hurry to explain. Budget and mid-range motorhomes are very often delivered with the complete suspension of the base car manufacturer - take the Fiat Ducato for example. Perhaps the use of a standard solution will not adversely affect the driving properties of a standard tin plate in a construction company, but a camping vehicle is a specific vehicle with a considerable weight and a completely different distribution. Here we must honestly define the comfort and quality of the Italian solution as mediocre at best.

The first serial alcove on the Ducato , after covering a few hundred meters on unevenness, can give the driver and passengers a headache. Characteristic "tapping" of the suspension, swaying, jerks and blows along with acoustic fireworks - this is not what we expect from cars often worth several hundred thousand zlotys. To improve the characteristics of the car, we can choose between options - from budget to the most technologically advanced.

Support suspension

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The assisting air suspensions are relatively simple systems available at affordable prices. As a base, they use the original suspension of the vehicle, strengthening and stabilizing it. A vehicle with air suspension is definitely more resistant to high mass loads and uneven surfaces, and at the same time responds much better to the driver's commands.

The air suspension, thanks to the constant height of the body, also results in significant savings in fuel consumption and suspension components, the work of which is transferred to the optimal range. The incredible variety of available booster suspension kits means that almost every delivery vehicle available on the European market can be equipped with them. The most common solution here are air springs with pressure gauges placed in the cab. The regulation takes place by means of valves, and in most vehicles the pressure element is a simple compressor. Such a modification usually costs several thousand zlotys. The improvement of many parameters - especially in the case of series chassis, eg FCA / Stellantis, is significant.

Full air suspension - uncompromising comfort

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By transferring the load from the mechanical parts to the pneumatic cushion, we obtain greater comfort, and in the event of an overload, we maintain driving safety and increase control over the vehicle. Thanks to automatic control and programmed options, we have the ability to set the suspension at the level required at the moment. Due to these advantages, full air suspension is so popular on specialty cars such as motorhomes. We have quite extensively presented the assembly method and benefits here: Air suspension and hydraulic supports in the motorhome - assembly at the Elcamp Group

Theme for specialists

When deciding on such a motorhome upgrade, it is worth trusting specialists with appropriate preparation and authorization as well as technical facilities. Thanks to the knowledge and experience of specialists fromELCAMP RV from Krakow, we gain the possibility of precise, individualized selection of the suspension to the needs and conditions of the car. The company works with the leading manufacturers of air suspension in Europe: DriveRite, VB and Goldschmitt and has a wide range of chassis solutions of all the most popular brands.

www.elcamp.pl

Air suspension - a gadget or a necessity? – image 1
Air suspension - a gadget or a necessity? – image 2
Maciej Kinal
Maciej Kinal

I feel best in the form of trade fairs and meetings with enthusiasts. Technical freak. In my life I have dismantled many motorhomes for the first time. Fan of large vehicles, mountain biking and traveling without weight and financial restrictions. At CampRest, I am responsible for all publications on automotive topics.

Also read

Motorhome accident repairs – image 1
Tips
Motorhome accident repairs
When we have a motorhome with a minor or larger accident, or we intend to buy a collision car, it is always worth contacting a proven service, specialized in repairing motorhomes. The Elcamp company from Krakow, known as a manufacturer and seller of motorhomes and a distributor of car parts and accessories, also runs a camping car repair service. Not only what's outside Most often, during a collision, elements of the outer skin of the car are damaged. The effects, however, can be much more serious. It is always worth checking if the equipment inside the vehicle and installations: water, gas, electricity, TV and others have not been damaged. The next stage of repair is the replacement of damaged parts . It is safest to get a specific, new part directly from the manufacturer. Elcamp gives a guarantee for all work performed, unless the repair at the customer's request was not carried out in accordance with the recommended technology. Then no one will take responsibility for any future faults. The biggest enemy of any building is its leakage . The vast majority of motorhomes have "sandwich" coverings. After a collision, check if there are any leaks through which water enters the interior, causing the frame to rot. In the event of damage or leakage of the roof, we will usually have nothing else to do but replace it with a brand new one. This usually takes a lot of time and money. Is the repair worth it? In the autumn and winter period, the workshop is working at full speed. A company with as much experience as Elcamp undertakes every repair of a damaged vehicle . Clients usually ask two questions: about the cost and duration of the work. Unfortunately, post-accident repair can take up to several months . This is due to the fact that not all parts are available "out of stock". The cost obviously depends on the degree of damage to the vehicle or its equipment. When the initial cost , which is usually estimated at the first inspection, exceeds the value of the car, it makes no sense to undertake repairs. Repair expenses are, of course, a river topic. They can be up to 100% of the market value of the vehicle. It is worth emphasizing, however, that it is not synonymous with the actual selling price - well-kept cars, repaired with the use of original parts, reach prices above average market prices. Please check before buying Sometimes it's a good idea to buy a used vehicle. However, be careful with new (or almost new) cars at bargain prices . Then we can almost be sure that they have had an accident. Of course, you can do something with them, but it is important to know about a possible collision. The purchase of an accident motorhome can even be profitable, provided that the vehicle is thoroughly inspected and, during the inspection, as much damage as possible related to the incident (or even earlier) is noticed. It even happens that the cost of post-accident work is lower than in the case of non-damage repair. Remember that previous defects are easy to hide in a damaged car, in which the seller will not allow us to connect, for example, electricity or gas during the inspection, explaining that the installations may be out of order. Sometimes it is of course true, but in this way we are deprived of the possibility of checking individual pieces of equipment. Haste is a bad advisor To find a used motorhome in good condition, you need to spend some time searching for it. It is rare that the first copy that catches our eye is actually worth buying. Here there is a small problem - buying a car abroad. Since we are going far and spending money to see the car, even if it does not correspond to the description, we often decide to buy it anyway. This is a serious mistake. When we are not specialists ourselves, it is best to opt for an advisor - it is an expense much lower than the unexpected repair later. Elcamp's experts often advise on the purchase of damaged or used cars, both at the company's headquarters and at the seller, at the request of customers. However, as they say themselves, nothing can replace a car inspection in a professional service prepared for the comprehensive service of camping vehicles, which has all the necessary equipment. Thanks to them, it is possible to detect defects that even an experienced specialist will not notice with the naked eye.