Airbag suspension

[FinAde]

Just fitted the air suspension today, went on in a couple of hours no probs, fits the Amarok a treat

One thing I didn't realise is that it seems to take the place of the normal suspension completely, I thought it assisted the existing.

The unloaded minimum pressure is set at 0.5 bar, and loaded can be anything between 1 and 5 bar. There are no suggested pressures for any particular weights so if anyone has a guide on what pressures to use when the camper is loaded that would be a great help

Nearly ready to load up and have our first practice trip !

[rubberrat]

50psi for the camper and 25psi for my tipper trailer.it firms up the rear when towing fully loaded.

[Bookend]

Is this an essential mod if so I better look into it!!

Another complication

[zildjian]

Not many mods;
air bags aren't essential (but recommended) if nothing else it corrects the headlight beam which would otherwise be pointing upwards, at best it improves ride and stability massively.

Kits from a range of manufacturers in UK kit comprises 2 air bags (which fit after bump stop on axle is removed usually)
few metres of 6mm pipe with simple push fittings and a pair of schroeder valves to site somewhere around rear of hilux to add air either of forecourt or cheap 12V air compressor last kit I bought was around £300 and its DIY

[zildjian]

As Finade mentions here, on occasion (and depending on vehicle) when installed the air spring seemingly makes the roadspring redundant, you might notice the springs making a clinking noise as the weight of vehicle is in fact being supported on air instead.

Hilux Mk6 did this initially at least, after a few months as I guess the airsprings settled in it quietened down, I did apply lithium grease aerosol myself and the garage applied some light grease at MOT time as well but in any case it all worked together in the end.

Empty I add 5-10PSI
and loaded with camper maybe 50-80 sometimes,


over winter I would say you might check it more often as the push fittings while good seem to leak air in extreme cold, as seals shrink under the low PSI
(when fully inflated they oddly do better)

[rubberrat]

I didn't have airbags when I first bought the camper - on my old Chevy truck, and to be honest I thought the handling bordered on the downright dangerous. Any kind of slightly sudden direction change would have the thing heeling over like a galleon!

Also the back end sagged down and it looked wrong.

In ship terms we always said that if it looked wrong - it almost certainly was wrong (see car transporter on Bramble bank a couple of weeks ago!)

[FinAde]

Glad you said that rubberrat, I had such a bad day with them on Monday I nearly got them removed.

The suggested unloaded pressure took all of the weight off the normal suspension and I thought the truck was going to bounce me off the road into a ditch down our local country lanes. Took some of the air out and it's almost back to normal

[rubberrat]

Yeah.. I sometimes give mine a bit of air when I have my trailer on and loaded. If I forget to drop the pressure when running light it doesn't take long for it to remind me!! Seeing the dog an inch from the roof over the backseat is the 'red light' moment

[zildjian]

Glad you said that rubberrat, I had such a bad day with them on Monday I nearly got them removed.

The suggested unloaded pressure took all of the weight off the normal suspension and I thought the truck was going to bounce me off the road into a ditch down our local country lanes. Took some of the air out and it's almost back to normal

Blimey I'll bet that was an uncomfortable ride,


no I only add the bare minimum empty, you soon remember to do that

[zildjian]

Out of interest, what is the 'suggested' unloaded pressure Finade?