Air suspension question

We have a 1995 Autosleeper Executive with air suspension. My other half is trying to find out what the pressure should be in the air suspension.
He has contacted Autosleeper but they have advised him that they did not fit air suspension on that age of van... can anyone advise please. 

I run our Symphony at around 35 - 40 psi. I think it's a suck it and see thing - whatever you feel happiest with.
Modelman has a similar van to yours so praps he will give you a more accurate guide.

Frank

Like Frank I run the Windsor (bit bigger van than the Exec) at 35 to 40 lb and it gives a comfortable ride.   

Comparing the two models (we had an Exec for 8 years) think I would use the same pressure range.

many thanks for the advice guys  

I've tried several pressures on mine ( Dunlop-air-rides ) & like Frank 40psi seems to work best for me, & my Talisman is almost identical to the Exec model.

Does anyone know what the difference is between air rides and air tops suspension please

As I understand it there is a sort of grey area between the two.

Simplistically an air ride is active, with compressor, that you can use to alter ride height in real time, while air assistance is passive, meant to assist springing and damping rather than alter ride height significantly. However, sometimes the latter is fitted with a compressor to allow the driver to alter the level of assistance in real time - hence the grey area.

Generally, air ride will be the much more expensive of the two. AFAIK, AS have never fitted anything other than air assistance.

Airides, DriveRite, Avon, Dunlop etc, are all of similar manufacture and there is little to choose between them. They offered with or without a compressor fitted in the system.  These arethe most popular types.

I use a separate 12v compressor to save space and the bags dont need topping that often to justify another £200 the AS/BB here in Warrington wanted to include a permanent one.

Air Top is the Alko system and you can read all about the issues on here and other forums where they have been fitted wrongly, thats all I know about that make

Thanks for the response, Mojo & Roger, I'm leaning towards Air rides but could do with finding a supply & fit closer to Stoke than Poole in Dorset

Hi Deka
I have Alko air top suspension on a conventional X333 Puggie chassis, had them fitted at AS workshops, van rides like a dream and handles well in cross winds and country roads.
I can adjust the height on one side if I need to fine tune the levelling on a caravan pitch, then pump it up again on my portable compresser
Boaby

Go and see Towtal they aren't far from you, think its Drive rites they push. Quite a few people I know have used them. Leisure Power also fit them 30mins drive at the most for you

Cheers Roger, Already contacted them and waiting for a call back, As they have moved from Fenton and their new premises are only a short walk away, So if you ever have to go there let me know and I'll put the kettle on. Cheers Derek

Hi Deka, I fitted the Dunlop air suspension system to my last motorhome my self quite straight forward on the mk7 transit. but my new Broadway I had the dealer fit it so that I got manufactures warranty with it. I too am just around the corner from towtal.

John.

Towtal did respond, and this is what they came up with

Thank you for your enquiry. The price of our air suspension kits are as follows…………..
 
Glide-Rite Basic Kit                                                              £545
AL-KO Air Kit (inc twin gauges)                                          £645
VB Semi Air Kit (inc twin gauges & compressor)            £845*
 
*different/chassis/base models can be an additional cost. Please call for confirmation.
 
These prices include VAT and fitting so this are your "job done" costing.

has anyone had dealings with Glide-Rite.???

The air bags are made by Firestone,Avon, Dunlop, etc and most kits have one of these manufacturers bags included. The rest is about plastic pipe, unions (available anywhere) and the guages/valve block/mountings.

A chap I know (and Deka has met) has had these things fitted to around 6 vans now and he doesn't recon there is any difference between any of them for the basic kit

Our Airide system only has one guage but each side has an isolation valve so I can adjust each side differently. The way I see 2 guages is extra possible leak points!

Hi Roger, please forget the pm,Didn't realise your body was the same as mine, With the air rides fitted did you manage to get the rear wheels off,

Thanks for all your help, I think I've found out all I need to know, And I'm booked in on Monday to have heavy duty Firestone air bags fitted and hopefully that will solve all my problems. " well nearly all " I'll let you know how I get on, Cheers Derek

Hi, I've just got back from having my heavy duty Firestone air bags fitted, The fitter left me with 60lb in them " far too hard " I'll have to drop them down at least 20lb. When I pump them up to 100lb max I am just about 1" short of clearing the strengtheners  on the inside of the wheel arch of getting the wheel off, Hopefully the tyre man can work his way round that when I go to have my new tyres fitted on Thursday." I'll let you know then." I had the Air bags fitted by Ken Rose, from Warrington 01925838900 or 07503171601. I think this was the guy Roli put me onto. He did a brilliant job and a good price. Very pleased. Deka.  

Hi Deka, I run my Broadway on about 30-35psi. approx 2bar.

John.

Cheers John, I'll try it at that.

Tyres fitted and all ready to go, ( No problem )  215/70/15 cp. 65lb rear  60lb front, 35lb in the air bags totally different ride

I'm just getting air assist fitted to the back of the new van as part of the up rating (found out the hard way that unlike A/S, the French aren't that truthful about real payloads) so looking forward to a ride improvement as well

Now got two almost new Conti Vanco spare as well.......

Can't speak for the other makes, but those Firestone heavy duty bags seem to be brilliant at the moment. As for the tyres I've had 4 Conti Vanco 215/70/15 Cp's £480-00 fitted. Cheers Deka