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Rear Suspension Air Bags

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Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby Woodenman » Wed Mar 10, 2021 6:55 pm

Have any of you used the air bags for the vans rear suspension.

Been looking around for my H3L4 2017 and have seen various makes and prices. Was initially looking at an Air Lift kit like far out ride use but getting hold and import tax is a killer.

The other end of the market is Ebay and something like this -https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223782913294

Has anyone used an Ebay kit? I want to be able to hoick my arse up for rougher terrain, over in the French mountains and Welsh :) the rear overhang can catch and it would help with body roll I guess too. I'm also looking to run bigger tyres for a little more lift too. Just to note my van isn't overloaded I just go up tracks and trails and almost got stuck pre Covid due to clearance :)

Thanks in advance :)
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby dumper » Wed Mar 10, 2021 8:50 pm

Conrad Anderson do a kit when I had a look there setup did away with the springs so not cheap.https://www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby Airthies » Thu Mar 11, 2021 7:53 am

But be careful you don't end up cracking the chassis rail as where they fit it's not designed as load bearing

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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby workbox » Mon Mar 15, 2021 1:28 pm

Airthies wrote:But be careful you don't end up cracking the chassis rail as where they fit it's not designed as load bearing

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Watch YouTube how these airbags cracking chassis on half.
Creating single pressure point make chassis fail apart.
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby dumper » Mon Mar 15, 2021 3:56 pm

dumper wrote:Conrad Anderson do a kit when I had a look there setup did away with the springs so not cheap.https://www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/

When I first looked at this for my mk6 what they had on the site was like the rear setup of the Dennis Dart bus and didn’t use the bump stop for the airbag and used the spring pickup points what they have on there site now is a drawing giving the impression that it has a reinforcing channel to take the weight as Airthies says the bump stop is not designed to take the load of the vehicle.
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
dumper
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby Woodenman » Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:11 pm

Thanks for the feedback guys, hadn't looked at it like that, it was just the thing everyone seems to do. I would be better getting slightly stiffer rear springs and possibly a lift kit instead, sounds extreme maybe i need to get the wife onboard first :)
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby dumper » Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:08 pm

In the end I went for a set of 470 spec springs from midland springs with camper vans been at a constant weight the ride was still ok it’s not like a van that can be empty at times and give a ruff ride .
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
dumper
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby TransitFlash » Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:08 pm

I fitted Dunlop Air Bags to our MK7 Motorhome last weekend . I inflated them to 70psi and left them over night to check for any leaks . I let them down to 40 psi next day and took it for a drive . Not long enough to give a decent verdict but when the lockdown lifts I will let you know. I was pleased with the ride hight though "MO"

https://www.dunlopsystems.nl/en/downloads/Ford
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby workbox » Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:37 am

TransitFlash wrote:I fitted Dunlop Air Bags to our MK7 Motorhome last weekend . I inflated them to 70psi and left them over night to check for any leaks . I let them down to 40 psi next day and took it for a drive . Not long enough to give a decent verdict but when the lockdown lifts I will let you know. I was pleased with the ride hight though "MO"

https://www.dunlopsystems.nl/en/downloads/Ford



Check this out before fitting airbags
https://youtu.be/10zH1UtkiQ4?t=250
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby workbox » Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:19 am

I would recommend twin rear leaf springs see video
https://youtu.be/h2U703q0vEI?t=121

I might be wrong but I think airbags more useful for vehicle level up on campgrounds rather as suspension.
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Re: Rear Suspension Air Bags

Postby TransitFlash » Thu Mar 25, 2021 7:29 pm

A bit late now LOL, but I think I made the right decision. I dont want to carry extra weight (More than its plated to carry which is 3.5 tonne ) just help the springs out a bit . I have had uprated springs on previous trucks and although they were great for carrying the weight... the ride was too solid ( read Terrible). I think the air bags are a bit more compliant and hopefully will give not such a harsh ride. after all they are one of the more popular additions on motorhomes. "MO"
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