Air suspension and hydraulic supports in the motorhome - assembly at Grupa Elcamp

Air suspension and hydraulic supports in the motorhome - assembly at Grupa Elcamp – main image

As the owner and driver of a colossus with a GVM of 4.5 t, I am constantly looking for solutions that can contribute to improving the quality of driving, as well as increasing the comfort of my and my family's traveling.

In recent years, I have been closely watching all the news, both at national and international fairs, as well as on forums associating fans and users of large recreational vehicles and owners of "my" brand cars. A frequent topic in discussions about improving road behavior and functionality at a standstill was the topic of pneumatic suspension and hydraulic supports .

For a large number of premium brand customers in our western neighbors, these elements are an indispensable "must-have" and they cannot imagine everyday use of vehicles without them.

Choosing the right air suspension

The analysis of solutions available on the market as well as opinions and technical data quickly focused my attention on the VB brand in terms of suspension and E&P as a manufacturer of proven supports. Due to the scope of the investment and in the interests of proper installation, I wanted to find a proven and experienced supplier with appropriate workshop facilities.

Air suspension and hydraulic supports in the motorhome

The choice fell on the company ELCAMP from Krakow , where after the first contact I became convinced that it is the right partner to carry out this "operation" (despite the distance, because I am 500 km from Krakow). Vehicles like ours turned out to be frequent visitors here, and the technical interview itself exhausted the last doubts.

Driving experience after assembly

My experiences after 2 months of using the vehicle in the form of a synthetic summary are presented below:

Vehicle: CARTHAGO CHIC C-LINE 4.9 Superior 2017, GVW 4.5 t

Factory equipment: Fiat Heavy Suspension (front), AL-KO (rear)

After modifications:

  • Complete VB AIR SUSPENSION air suspension system instead of FIAT and AL.-KO suspension
  • E&P hydraulic support system with manual panel and new touch screen / tablet solution.
Air suspension and hydraulic supports in the motorhome

Suspension observations:

  • Almost no susceptibility to side gusts when driving on the highway (improved safety)
  • More reliable (more stable compared to the factory suspension) driving on uneven surfaces
  • The multitude of modes makes it easier to find yourself in any situation: the PARKING mode lowers the suspension, making it easier to enter the vehicle, the auto level mode allows you to level the vehicle during e.g. a short stop / break, the raised off-road mode allows you to overcome large unevenness at a speed of up to 30 km / h
  • Lowering the front and lifting the rear makes it possible to overcome significant slopes without "hooking" backwards even with large overhangs (in the described Carthago it is over 2 m) - it makes it easier, for example, to enter a ferry
  • Possibility of forcing the vehicle to tilt to the left or right to empty the gray water tank

Observations related to the support system:

  • Automatic leveling on 4 supports in all terrain, stable bases - excellent stability when stationary
  • Full integration with the suspension system (first the vehicle empties the air suspension system, then the system proceeds to level the vehicle with the help of supports)
  • Possibility to manually lift each side of the vehicle separately (e.g. for service, wheel replacement, etc.)

Weight of the air suspension and hydraulic supports for the motorhome

Of course, everyone interested will ask about the weight of the entire set - also for me (despite considerable reserves in terms of DMC) it was an important issue. In total, it should be assumed that the weight of the air suspension with the entire compressor system, etc. and the factory (in this case Fiat / AL.-KO) is balanced. The weight of additional supports, depending on the vehicle, is approx. 70 kg.

Driving a large campervan can be fun - now I know that. After years of compromises in terms of driving comfort and safety, placing chocks at a standstill and endless "rocking", I am now fully convinced of the earlier opinions of our western neighbors. I am glad that these solutions are available in Poland and that there are companies with experience in the field of their installation and service.

A video showing the work of the suspension and supports

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Air suspension and hydraulic supports in the motorhome - assembly at Grupa Elcamp – image 1
Air suspension and hydraulic supports in the motorhome - assembly at Grupa Elcamp – image 2
Air suspension and hydraulic supports in the motorhome - assembly at Grupa Elcamp – image 3
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mkinal
mkinal

For over a dozen years he has been an enthusiast of caravanning, after caravans it was the turn of campers in 2014. I follow the caravanning market in Europe, with particular emphasis on Poland, hoping that both the popularity of this form of recreation and the quality of the equipment will soon catch up with Western Europe ...

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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.