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Good morning ,very new to this forum thing. Son has told me to write asking for advice as this will be the best place to get it. We have a Fiat bases 2003 hymer motorhome. The ride is hard so we were thinking that maybe air suspension would help solve this. Anyone else tried it? and is it worth having it done. Next question where can I get it done. We live in Gloucester and if it's worth having done would like it fitted this mouth before we go off to Italy in September. We won't be able to fit it ourselves as I'm a nurse and can only help mend humans, and hubby is disabled now and can't crawl under the motorhome.
I don't mind sitting up half the night to read all the helpful replys.
Welcome to this forum. I'm not sure that air suspension will help giving you a softer ride - indeed often the latter although it depends upon what pressure you are operating it at. It will improve road handling and cornering, particularly on roundabouts though. The biggest cause of a hard ride is overinflated tyres. The pressures given by the converters and on the tyres are often significantly higher than they needs be although it all depends upon axle weights. There are numerous threads on here about the correct pressures but you need to know your fully laden axle weights to work it out properly.
May I suggest you search the archive as "Air Assist ", "Air Suspension" has been discussed ad nauseum. Miles of strings etc. I am sure you will find what you want here.
Have a look under the back of your 'van. It's possible your leaf springs are loaded and the 'van is resting on the bump stops. Apparently this is acceptable but can lead to a hard ride.
This was my problem when my van was loaded. I fitted the air ride suspension (which replaces the bump stops) and now everything is very much better. Smoother ride, better handling.
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Have a look under the back of your 'van. It's possible your leaf springs are loaded and the 'van is resting on the bump stops. Apparently this is acceptable but can lead to a hard ride.
This was my problem when my van was loaded. I fitted the air ride suspension (which replaces the bump stops) and now everything is very much better. Smoother ride, better handling.
Hi,
Are you sure it is acceptable for a van to rest on its bump stops when loaded? Where did you read that?
you are never going do get a car like smooth ride in your motorhome.
A lot of the banging and crashing that goes on is pots, pans and cutlery in the back and the noise makes it seem worse than it is.
I went 38 miles yesterday down the A4 motorway from hell in Poland and will never think my Hymer has harsh suspension ever again.
Just make sure your tyre pressures are not too high. I'm running mine at 65psi front and back but I must get the vehicle weighed and get the correct pressures from Mitchelin. I won't be far out though.
[quote="BillCreer Snipped: Hi, Are you sure it is acceptable for a van to rest on its bump stops when loaded? Where did you read that?[/quote]
He might have read it on one of my threads or posts.
The last time I wrote about these things was after I had spoken to Fiat. I told them about the conversation I'd had with my MOT examiner who showed me that my 'bump stops' were nearly sitting on my springs. I explained then to the examiner that the 'bump stops' were part of a supplementary suspension system.
A gent from Fiat told me later that the bump stops are, in fact, part of a supplementary suspension system and are designed to just about touch the spring as maximum axle load is achieved.
They are NOT bump stops. They are part of the suspension.
As an aside, I remember fitting the same type of device to a Morris Marina in about 1982, to stop the exhaust hitting the back axle. Bump stops are SOLID, these conical shaped devices are soft and collapsible.
Coming back to Peribro's advice: The biggest cause of a hard ride is overinflated tyres. The pressures given by the converters and on the tyres are often significantly higher than they needs be although it all depends upon axle weights. I agree entirely. Only 15 months ago, I started a thread about tyre pressures... http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftopict-86250-.html
All good advice, especially for newbies.
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Have a look under the back of your 'van. It's possible your leaf springs are loaded and the 'van is resting on the bump stops. Apparently this is acceptable but can lead to a hard ride.
This was my problem when my van was loaded. I fitted the air ride suspension (which replaces the bump stops) and now everything is very much better. Smoother ride, better handling.
Hi,
Are you sure it is acceptable for a van to rest on its bump stops when loaded? Where did you read that?
the bump stops aren't bump stops, they are an integral component to the suspension and are there to be used as an aid to the spring under load.
However, they're crap! They make the rear suspension harsh and unforgiving, probably as the rear will be permanently suspending the thick end of 2 tonnes all the time.
I've got airride rear suspension fitted to my 2003 Ducato base unit and it has transformed the ride no end. It was an immediate solution fitted by my supplying dealer in response to my complaint about how harsh the rear suspension was.
Now I keep the air pressure at around 40psi for a nice smooth ride.
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Let´s keep fighting with Mavis, Ray and all those in need!! 
