Al-Ko air springs

We have a 2014 Warwick Duo fitted with the extra leaf spring and in addition, Al-KO air springs at the rear. We have had the van from new and I have experimented with different pressures in the Al-KO units, but not noticed any real differences in ride height, cornering, or ride comfort. Out of curiosity can other forum members please let me have their own experiences with these air units and what pressures they use?

No experience as such, but I was thinking of fitting them last year and spoke to an AL-KO rep at the NEC. He was very helpful and informative, and he did say that the pressure was fairly critical for getting the best ride characteristics.

Might it be worth giving them a ring? From what he said it would be helpful to have your front and rear axle weights ready, as measured fully laden in holiday mode.

Dave

P.S. He also said (very fairly I thought) that they wouldn't make a lot of difference to our van since it already has a spring upgrade (??) and didn't need air bags. He didn't amplify, but I was impressed by the lack of bullsh## and genuine help he offered.

Shortly after buying the NuevoES, I had AL_KO Air Tops fitted by AS, because (a) the NuevoES seemed to wallow more than the old Clubman (which had rear coil springs); and (b) I'd read on the Forum that leaf springs are likely to sag in due course, so better give the springs some assistance from the outset.

Because I only experienced the vehicle for a very short time before fitting the Air Tops, I can't now recall the extent of pre-fit wallowing. I was new to the van. I think that the Air Tops have improved things, but not dramatically. I've experimented with various pressures in them: the recommended pressure given by AS for the SWB Peugeot was 26psi; I find that a few psi more is better.

Can I seek clarification about the 2 earlier posts on this thread, please? I see that AL_LO make a number of suspension products. When Spsope refers to "AL-KO air springs" is that Al-KO Air Tops or something else? If something else, then my comments (limited to my experience with Air Tops) are irrelevant.

And I'm intrigued by Gromit's reference to the AL_KO rep's statement about a "spring upgrade" - as indeed is Gromit by his question marks. I didn't know that the springs had been upgraded - if I had, maybe I'd not have rushed to get the Air Tops!

Whatever, the laws of physics will prevail, and my motorhome will never hug the road as my old TT Quattro used to!! Mind you, that didn't have an onboard WC, although Mrs Cymraes sometimes wished it had - such was my enthusiastic driving!

Cymro wrote:And I'm intrigued by Gromit's reference to the AL_KO rep's statement about  a "spring upgrade" - as indeed is Gromit by his question marks. I didn't know that the springs had been upgraded - if I had, maybe I'd not have rushed to get the Air Tops!

I can only think it's the "extra leaf spring" Spospe referred to in his opening paragraph.

Didn't know I had those either, but the van seems pretty stable - except when encountering those hemispherical sleeping policemen that have the profile of a copper's helmet!! Hit them at more than walking pace and the rear springs feel completely rigid!! The back end virtually takes off, and the expensive sounds from the crockery cupboard are quite upsetting!!

Dave

To clarify  ....

1) Yes the AL-KO are the Air Tops (should have mentioned this at the start)

2) The additional leaf spring at the rear is the one which you can see quite clearly without getting under the van and it has a rubber buffer fitted at each end (which I have never seen touch the original leaf spring at all when the van is parked up, no matter what the load has been).

I have tried various pressures in the AL-KO units and (possibly due to the extra spring mentioned above) have not noticed any differences in ride comfort, or roll in bends etc.

Just been to check under the 2015 NuevoES.

Can't see anything corresponding to your description of the additional leaf spring, Sopse. All I can see, on each side of the vehicle, is the lower leaf spring which terminates in the rubber bushes fixed to the chassis, and seemingly resting above that leaf is another leaf, which ends an inch or two before the bushes, and is not connected to them. I think that those two leaves make up the spring.

Pretty sure I don't have the additional leaf spring which you have on the Warwick Duo. With luck, Gromit may confirm for his NuevoEK.

The ride in my NuevoEK (with AL-KO Aitr Tops) is comfortable and steady, with no disconcerting roll at roundabouts. The rear of the vehicle such that unless the ground is level I need a block (I carry two short blocks of 2" x 3") to allow the steadies to touch the ground.

Cymro, I'm pretty sure that the additional spring is only fitted to pvc's not coachbuilt vans like the Nuevo.

Probably correct Spospe.

I haven't got one, so Cymro can relax - he hasn't been short changed!!!

Dave

Phew!
Cardiganshire blood relieved!

Cymro

We have an Sussex Duo, The Marquis version of your van. Our's is fitted with the Al Ko air top system and when working correctly , does improve the suspension , especially when cornering. It is most important that the air pressures on the gauges are correct as we found out. Down in Spain this year one deflate , no idea why, as we had been given conflicting air pressure info when we bought the van. According to Al Ko it is acceptable to drive with one deflated but reducing the pressure to .7 bar. This we did, and contacted AS who had two spare , which we needed as the other bellows showed signs of damage. The cost was about £ 360. Having spoken to them the suggestion is that the pressures should be 1.8 bar each side. Now we always check on our daily pre flight to check the pressures before moving off. An expensive lesson !!Hope this helps

Tengah74, thank you for your reply. I run my AL-KO units at about 1.5 bar each side and have found that it is critical to check and adjust the pressures with the van on level ground. If the van is not level side-to-side, then the pressures vary wildly between the 'uphill' and the 'downhill' sides of the van.

What I would really like is to hear from people who have experimented with a range of pressures, say from .5 bar, up to 2.5 bar (I know I could do this myself, but am rather hoping to hear from someone who has done all the legwork for me).

I have tried as low as 1 bar and as high as 2 bar, mainly to see if I could achieve a level van without the use of ramps, but this did not seem to help at all. I did this experiment on site, using a bicycle hand pump to raise the pressures, but did not drive with them at either the low, or high end of the range before re-setting them at 1.5 bar.

Has anyone experimented over a decent time period?

I ran on 24psi [1.6 bar] as originally suggested for the SWB Boxer. I experimented with 28psi [1.9 bar] and found that better. I now use that.

Of course, that's for my van's laden weight. Yours will be different. Just as with tyre pressures, I guess that the optimum pressures to use in the Air Tops will to some extent depend on the weight of the vehicle above them (and, maybe, the condition of the leaf springs?). And whether you like a boneshaker ride!

Thanks Cymro. You are correct in that the right pressure will depend on laden weight, so what I really want, is to hear from other Duo owners (or at least other A-S pvc users) who use their vans in a similar manner to myself.

I am beginning to think that this question of mine is unanswerable except by personal experimentation, but thanks for trying.

You are right, it is a matter of choice as to the correct pressure, and the weight and level ground are the main influences . However .5 bar I feel is a little low and a reckon that's what damaged my other set of bellows. I always now carry a bicycle pump with me " just in case"! Incidentally, had our Sussex Duo nearly 4 years and very satisfied, especially the large payload for the wine!!!!

I have an auto sleeper wind rush, and like you have played around with different pressures, I am now at 1 bar and happy, anything more and I think it makes the van bang around a little more. I have not noticed any real difference though in handling.

I also have a big 6 berth Autoroller on a transit twin wheel, this has air suspension on it and it makes a huge difference and a big improvement, I think with the AS PVC it doesn't actually make that much difference

We have only had the Warwick a few weeks but have "lived" in for a total of 6 weeks mainly in Ireland.

I set the airbags at 2 bar, a pressure I had previously used on the Windsor Airides.  This gives the Warwick a smooth enough ride and stability on bends. (for our van as we have it loaded)
When they start to loose pressure I had thought about trying 1.8 bar as an experiment

There was an issue with the attachment bolts incorrectly fitted, but I am sure this has already been dealt with on a differen forum.