Air Ride - opinions please!

[Wishart]

Im lookin at my bus wishing i could get it just a bit lower all round, but I can't really make a permanent job of it cos it wouldnt make loading it up with camping gear and touring very easy... its hard enough as it is just driving round the roads of Northampton!

So...

I started dreaming/thinking about air-ride and the practicalities of having it on a daily driven bus? Ive never ever driven with or used air modified set ups so it would be a bit worrying to bet out with it.

Does anyone use it on their EB? Daily?

All thoughts welcome - its only an idea

 

[Araon]

The problem you have with the air ride kits is where to store it all....you just need to look in the back of Matt Ballz bus and that just runs the front end.....

 

[Wishart]

ahhh see i didnt think of that lol Thats why im asking the question... i need someone to tell me that its either a genious idea or im being an idiot and forget it

 

[rustydiver]

A mate runs it on his splitty at the front and has never moaned about the space.
He fitted it to raise the front when getting on and off ferries as his radiator is slung under the front and hit big bumps.
Hes got a diesel lump in the rear.

 

[AxlFoley]

AIr ride is on my wish list, although i will be fitting it to my TT before the bus, a mate runs it on a Mk4 daily and has no problems, your best bet is to have a chat with;

http://www.maxhydraulics.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or http://www.rayvernhydraulics.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

good luck

Mark

 

[ant]

air management does not need to take up much space..... its dependent on what lift rate you want,

 

[AxlFoley]

ant. did you ever fit any of your own setups, or did you get it fitted? I know yours was juice, but the principle must be muc the same or is it?

Just wondering how hard it would be to fit Air myself.

 

[Guest]

AFAIK there are no 'off-the-shelf' air rides kits for Bays yet. It something you would either have to have made bespoke, or put together yourself from components. Either way its expensive or very very tricky unless you have the knowledge and skillz.

I'd love air ride and i just cant understand why no one has produced one specifically for bays yet? :? is it due to cost?

 

[Wishart]

Ive emailled a couple of the companies that supply the component parts etc. and also places like Type2Detectives to see what advice I can get. I was looking at a Squareback that a mate of mine has with Air, and on face value you would never know there was any kit installed! Look underneath and you see it, but on the inside its well hidden..

If i was to go with it (i need to start saving my pennies fast!!!!) Im thinkin id start with the bus lowered anyway Its gonna sound like an expensive solution to get me out of pot holes etc. but hey, its only an idea for now. Im already concerned about ferries at low tide LOL my old Bug struggled with them but it was lower than my bus is.

 

[easy]

Have you tried dub monkeys? they gave me a very good quote

 

[faux]

Isn't the creative kit based around the 68/69 A-arm? if it is then wouldn't it be possible to fit this kit to a 68/69 bay????

Just asking the question?

 

[ant]

most kits (like creative) are onboard (fitted to the tubes).

You may want to pm ***** from here as i was talking to him the other night and he is fitting bags to the frt of his bay, outboard ie inplace of the shockers(ish*). The prob with doing it this way round is the diametre of the bags....... *sam is getting some custom made bottom trailing arms made.

ant

 

[Wishart]

Also, does air-ride need a lot of attention after its fitted? whats the wear and tear like?

 

[ant]

That again is down to the fitting/fitter.... A properly installed air/juice system should need the minimum of maintenance.

The big thing with compressed air is that you must fit a water trap. Water/moisture can kill components. I've seen pictures of cheap chrome tanks that have exploded due to the tanks rusting on the inside. By the best components you can and not cheap crap, fit water trap installed properly and your good to go.

My lowrider forum is goldmine of info.... rod, chewy and fatdaddy know their way around air systems, ask away on here.

http://uklows.com/forum/index.php?action=forum