Air? Is that the answer
- Thread starter Oldrat
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- air suspension
They are one of a few sets I have.. just trying the bronze look. I’m just not a fan of steels on mine! I love them on everyone else’s though.
I just love bronze/gold 
I’ll lay it out..
Coilovers are great and I’m sure there are wonderful comfy/low sets out there. I’m no suspension specialist by a mile..
I suppose if you have the option to go up and down on command something has to suffer. Maybe comfort but not in my eyes and experience.
if I run the air really low all round then it’s not going to be comfy. If I air up and shove 60/70psi in the front it’s high and again isn’t that comfy.. buy who drives around like that! There is a sweet spot on the air and that’s around the mid range. Like anything if you take it to the extreme you start to go backwards.
With the air installed and where it shines I can pull into a car park, scene park and air out looking cool (if that’s your thing). I can then raise up and drive comfortably around towns motorways and when I reach that campsite with that pothole gravel road I can raise it high to overcome that problem of huge potholes. Ok it’s not going to be the best ride over the pot holes but neither is the best suspension ever made.
there are many pros and cons for both. For me the air route seemed the most practical after having springs and coilovers.
Coilovers are great and I’m sure there are wonderful comfy/low sets out there. I’m no suspension specialist by a mile..
I suppose if you have the option to go up and down on command something has to suffer. Maybe comfort but not in my eyes and experience.
if I run the air really low all round then it’s not going to be comfy. If I air up and shove 60/70psi in the front it’s high and again isn’t that comfy.. buy who drives around like that! There is a sweet spot on the air and that’s around the mid range. Like anything if you take it to the extreme you start to go backwards.
With the air installed and where it shines I can pull into a car park, scene park and air out looking cool (if that’s your thing). I can then raise up and drive comfortably around towns motorways and when I reach that campsite with that pothole gravel road I can raise it high to overcome that problem of huge potholes. Ok it’s not going to be the best ride over the pot holes but neither is the best suspension ever made.
there are many pros and cons for both. For me the air route seemed the most practical after having springs and coilovers.
Yes all mounted on the outside of the van. Yes it auto levels on the fly.
Im not sure if you can use existing shocks. I don’t see why not. With mine I think it was a warranty issue on the whole system.. that’s what I was told
cost is the only downside in my opinion. Flexibility is key for me. If professionally fitted by a reputable company it’s a solid option.
I’m more and more thinking that I’m going to keep this van long term rather than change with everything that’s happened, which would leave me a nice improvement budget. I have found the low suspension has caused issues on some of the potholed forestry tracks, but the thing that stops me going “swamper” is that I hate the rolling about on high suspension and I really need to stay under 2m for some of the places I go, and most importantly fitting in my garage. This would seem to give m everything I need and I’d be prepared to pay the price if it’s done right. Who fitted yours, how much (if you’re prepared to say) and have you been happy with their work? You live at the opposite end of the country to me but I’d rather go to someone with a proven reputation.Yes all mounted on the outside of the van. Yes it auto levels on the fly.
Im not sure if you can use existing shocks. I don’t see why not. With mine I think it was a warranty issue on the whole system.. that’s what I was told
cost is the only downside in my opinion. Flexibility is key for me. If professionally fitted by a reputable company it’s a solid option.
VW-T fitted mine down this way. Great install without any issues and seems to be very neat and works faultlessly.
Your in the right area if you want that done! Everyone who has a good name for air is up your end. THQ, plushautomotive, riiva design and you have JLP automotive in Basingstoke. Those above will fit the extreme stuff.
Then you have many who fit the VB air.. if your not looking for extreme it’s meant to be good but can’t comment as it wasn’t extreme enough and also it’s approved by VW. Exploria up your way, rhino installs Preston and vanworx down on the south coast.
VB Air Suspension - Let's Discuss...
Sounds like a few members on here have the kit.. I am interested to hear their thoughts. So its a parking mode, sport mode, standard mode, off road mode and a self levelling mode for camping. Doesn't sound like the Sport mode isn't as low as the B14's.. but from what i've read the ride...
Also another plus is I don’t have to jack my van up to keep swapping my sportsline splitter and lower maxton splitter as I’ve just found out!!
Thanks. I've had a read up on here about VB and it doesn't look like it fits my requirements. I've just watched a video from THQ demo-ing the new quieter compressors they're selling and he mentioned that they farm their air work out to someone, maybe that's Plushautomotive as they seem to be in Leicester too. That might be the place for me, it's only about 90 mins away. I'll do some more research, thanksVW-T fitted mine down this way. Great install without any issues and seems to be very neat and works faultlessly.
Your in the right area if you want that done! Everyone who has a good name for air is up your end. THQ, plushautomotive, riiva design and you have JLP automotive in Basingstoke. Those above will fit the extreme stuff.
Then you have many who fit the VB air.. if your not looking for extreme it’s meant to be good but can’t comment as it wasn’t extreme enough and also it’s approved by VW. Exploria up your way, rhino installs Preston and vanworx down on the south coast.
VB Air Suspension - Let's Discuss...
Sounds like a few members on here have the kit.. I am interested to hear their thoughts. So its a parking mode, sport mode, standard mode, off road mode and a self levelling mode for camping. Doesn't sound like the Sport mode isn't as low as the B14's.. but from what i've read the ride...www.t6forum.com
Oldrat,
I am not familiar with some of the proposed systems. I am sure people are happy with them. I know that they are sometimes used by those who want to go exceptionally low and is what they may be saying, as extreme I do not know.
What I do know is that the VB Air system is used by a few members on this board but mainly on
vwcaliforniaclub.com
vwcaliforniaclub.com
VB air is something that I intend to have installed because my home is completely off road and over many years I have also done a lot of off road activity. VB air was developed with WV for the transporter but they dropped it I understand because they were concerned about costs. The system has a letter of compliance by VW and is installed under strict protocol. It does not affect warranty. It allows various settings including, very low, sport, normal, off road and a manually adjusted Maximum. It will only allow sport and normal at speed over 20km. It offers levelling which is useful for camping and various other functions for ferries and emptying tanks. It can be used with ones own dampers or from a section including Koni. There is a wide selection of fitting stations in the UK and EU and I understand it might be a Dutch company like Koni.
The dealer that is mentioned most frequently is Rosmia. Vehicle Adaption Specialists for VB-Airsuspension systems | Rosmia
I would suggest read all the posts on here and on the VW California club. Rosmia I am told are very helpful and I am absolutely positive that they will give a far more accurate and detailed account than my self. I have absolutely nothing to do with VB Air or Rosmia and nor have I spoken to them. I am just impressed by the system and the network set up and note of compliance at least for Transporters. I also know that they are very experienced in fitting very much larger vehicles that our own.
I hope that you are successful in finding what is most appropriate for your needs. Good luck with this venture.
I am not familiar with some of the proposed systems. I am sure people are happy with them. I know that they are sometimes used by those who want to go exceptionally low and is what they may be saying, as extreme I do not know.
What I do know is that the VB Air system is used by a few members on this board but mainly on
VW California Ocean, SE, Grand & Beach Forum
The VW California Owners Club is an official worldwide club for owners and enthusiasts of the VW T4,T5,T6, T6.1 & California Campervan which includes and SE, Beach, Ocean & Grand 600/680. We also have a full online accessory store and arrange meets throughout the UK and Europe
vwcaliforniaclub.com
Suspension
vwcaliforniaclub.com
VB air is something that I intend to have installed because my home is completely off road and over many years I have also done a lot of off road activity. VB air was developed with WV for the transporter but they dropped it I understand because they were concerned about costs. The system has a letter of compliance by VW and is installed under strict protocol. It does not affect warranty. It allows various settings including, very low, sport, normal, off road and a manually adjusted Maximum. It will only allow sport and normal at speed over 20km. It offers levelling which is useful for camping and various other functions for ferries and emptying tanks. It can be used with ones own dampers or from a section including Koni. There is a wide selection of fitting stations in the UK and EU and I understand it might be a Dutch company like Koni.
The dealer that is mentioned most frequently is Rosmia. Vehicle Adaption Specialists for VB-Airsuspension systems | Rosmia
I would suggest read all the posts on here and on the VW California club. Rosmia I am told are very helpful and I am absolutely positive that they will give a far more accurate and detailed account than my self. I have absolutely nothing to do with VB Air or Rosmia and nor have I spoken to them. I am just impressed by the system and the network set up and note of compliance at least for Transporters. I also know that they are very experienced in fitting very much larger vehicles that our own.
I hope that you are successful in finding what is most appropriate for your needs. Good luck with this venture.
Watched it again and it appears to be someone called Mitch at Mr Retrofit in Northampton. I've had alook but they only seem to have a Facebook page and I absolutely refuse to sign up for Facebook so I can't see anything beyond the last two posts about headlights so I'm not 100% it's the same one.Thanks. I've had a read up on here about VB and it doesn't look like it fits my requirements. I've just watched a video from THQ demo-ing the new quieter compressors they're selling and he mentioned that they farm their air work out to someone, maybe that's Plushautomotive as they seem to be in Leicester too. That might be the place for me, it's only about 90 mins away. I'll do some more research, thanks
Oldrat,
I am not familiar with some of the proposed systems. I am sure people are happy with them. I know that they are sometimes used by those who want to go exceptionally low and is what they may be saying, as extreme I do not know.
What I do know is that the VB Air system is used by a few members on this board but mainly on
VW California Ocean, SE, Grand & Beach Forum
The VW California Owners Club is an official worldwide club for owners and enthusiasts of the VW T4,T5,T6, T6.1 & California Campervan which includes and SE, Beach, Ocean & Grand 600/680. We also have a full online accessory store and arrange meets throughout the UK and Europe
Suspension
VB air is something that I intend to have installed because my home is completely off road and over many years I have also done a lot of off road activity. VB air was developed with WV for the transporter but they dropped it I understand because they were concerned about costs. The system has a letter of compliance by VW and is installed under strict protocol. It does not affect warranty. It allows various settings including, very low, sport, normal, off road and a manually adjusted Maximum. It will only allow sport and normal at speed over 20km. It offers levelling which is useful for camping and various other functions for ferries and emptying tanks. It can be used with ones own dampers or from a section including Koni. There is a wide selection of fitting stations in the UK and EU and I understand it might be a Dutch company like Koni.
The dealer that is mentioned most frequently is Rosmia. Vehicle Adaption Specialists for VB-Airsuspension systems | Rosmia
I would suggest read all the posts on here and on the VW California club. Rosmia I am told are very helpful and I am absolutely positive that they will give a far more accurate and detailed account than my self. I have absolutely nothing to do with VB Air or Rosmia and nor have I spoken to them. I am just impressed by the system and the network set up and note of compliance at least for Transporters. I also know that they are very experienced in fitting very much larger vehicles that our own.
I hope that you are successful in finding what is most appropriate for your needs. Good luck with this venture.
Worth noting that VB don’t appear to have their four wheel air system for the crafter. They have the rear wheel system, which might be enough if the steps you want clearance on are at the rear. In a way though, it feels like a shame to install air and not get an autolevel which really is the magic feature in a camper.
Thank you guys
Some excellent ideas for me to ponder.
To explain the need a little more-
The new crafter now has the fuel tank exactly where the step goes, this means that the step cannot mount as high as it used to.
The Grand California (and the California), doesn’t have the the problem, it has the slider on the Euro side (offside) and mine is on the correct side, the nearside- I mean, who wants to debus into the road!
So I want the occasional lift (don’t we all?) at low speed, for ‘rough terrain’ I’m not interested in having a lower stance, but the killer application may well be the self levelling- that will be right handy.
Anyone running an underslung waste water tank will know that a gradient ruins their capacity, they can show full when only partially so cause slow draining.
I’ll start ringing around tomorrow. I think that price will be the major factor
Some excellent ideas for me to ponder.
To explain the need a little more-
The new crafter now has the fuel tank exactly where the step goes, this means that the step cannot mount as high as it used to.
The Grand California (and the California), doesn’t have the the problem, it has the slider on the Euro side (offside) and mine is on the correct side, the nearside- I mean, who wants to debus into the road!
So I want the occasional lift (don’t we all?) at low speed, for ‘rough terrain’ I’m not interested in having a lower stance, but the killer application may well be the self levelling- that will be right handy.
Anyone running an underslung waste water tank will know that a gradient ruins their capacity, they can show full when only partially so cause slow draining.
I’ll start ringing around tomorrow. I think that price will be the major factor
Just having it on a single axle would put me off also. I wonder why?
They do, and it's excellent, but sadly it's not listed as available on the crafter, only the rear version is. Might be worth giving them a ring to see if one is in the works though?
@Oldrat - I know some folk are really happy with VB air, but there is always 2 sides to every story...
@Eli was not a happy customer on VB air, although it was for a T6 not a Crafter.
VB Air 4C...........you decide.
So after having had VB Air 4C fitted for 10 weeks I could honestly its up there were one of my worse purchases I have ever made and believe me I've wasted money on some S**t. Im sure the kit could be quite good but after my experience with all those involved, to the point now where the people who supplied and fitted the kit have gone mute and have not responded to my last 3 emails.
Since I picked the vehicle up on the 16th November, I have sent more than 30 emails to both manufacture and supplier, I have had 4 calibrations and 3 hunter alignments . I have even asked the supplier to remove the kit and refit my original suspension and told me they want a further £750 because it would be at my request rather than acknowledge there is a fault/issue. Since I have refused to pay the £750 to remove the kit the suppliers have refused to engage in any conversation. I now have to find an approved installer who will do an independent inspection and report. I have called 3 other companies and one of the companies already new about me and the issue I was having with the tracking ( not sure how another fitter would know ) and refused to do a report so unfortunately I can not say who is going to be doing the report.
So for those who already have VB 4 C with no issues enjoy but for me whether its a faulty kit or just a bad fitting company you can decide. I know which company I have picked
So here's my final post on VB Air..........in a nutshell first and foremost fine yourself a reputable company. Unfortunately for me a didn't and its cost my over £5500 and £460 worth of damage to the interior to find that out. A & E Leisure turned up at my work last Thursday to collect my vehicle although we hadn't actually agreed what was to be done, they wanted to recheck their work and I wanted the kit off but refused to pay another £750. As it happens I was out of the office but emailed an apology on my return.
"Apologies for not being available but I thought it was bit of a given the you would not be collecting my vehicle as I wanted you to remove the VB 4C and you would only remove it for a further £750. Whilst I believe the calibration was done to a faulty cable, the tracking issue is down to the fitting and as your refusal to deal with issue has now resulted in me having to get an independent inspection at an additional cost of £180"
So as with their usual customer service panache, I received an email 4 days after my last email, at 20:00hrs last night, they must have be working late on a Sunday, we are mates or at the pub .........
The end result is that I have cancelled my claim with the bank even though they advise me there is a claim to make. I cannot abide people who refuse to acknowledge there is a problem after they have take your money, customer service separates you from everyone else.
The best advise is to speak to people on the forum as the information is invaluable and will help others make and informed decision.
@Eli was not a happy customer on VB air, although it was for a T6 not a Crafter.
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