Have you ever found yourself weighing up which investment is better for you, air suspension or hydraulic jacks? Well, we've compiled our expert insights on both systems to make the decision a little easier for you.
What is air suspension?
Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension that uses compressed air to replace or work alongside your original suspension system. Our full air suspension kit replaces your original suspension whereas our semi air and FSD upgrades work alongside. The VB-FullAir system also has a range of features such as water tank tilt and VB-Autolevel, which we will talk more about further down.
Our air suspension systems aim to filter out unevenness in the road surface, improving ride comfort, safety and stability, along with helping common issues such as grounding out, rear end sagging, unwanted vibrations and more.
What is hydraulic levelling?
Hydraulic levelling is a process used to achieve a precise and level surface using hydraulic jacks, when activated, hydraulic fluid is pumped into these jacks, raising or lowering different corners of the motorhome to make it level, even on uneven ground.
With SHR levelling your vehicle is levelled under 60 seconds, so hydraulic jacks offer automatic levelling from the touch of a button. Along with some other features including safe tyre change and a weighing function.
Which system is better for me?
When deciding on air suspension or levelling jacks, the main thing to consider is your travelling habits. Whether you prefer an adventure and your constantly on the go or you'd rather opt for a relaxing long term stay, we can help!
You've found your perfect motorhome, you've brought it home and your getting it packed for your first adventure but then you've hit the road and you quickly realize that the drive isn’t as comfortable as you expected. This is where air suspension comes in! This is something we often hear and people are discouraged due to the amount of money spent on the motorhome to then experience ride discomfort, however a thing to remember is motorhomes are built on a regular van chassis, now with a lot of extra weight.
Air suspension is designed to improve the stability, comfort and safety of your journeys, therefore if your a regular traveller and don't like staying in one place for too long, air suspension could be the more beneficial system for you. We often get customers who enjoy extensive touring and spend lots of time on the move and have previously not enjoyed the drive, so they opt for air suspension to ensure a quieter and more comfortable ride, especially on long journeys.
As for getting your vehicle levelled, our 4 corner full air suspension offers VB-AutoLevel as an additional feature. So, if you've found the perfect campsite spot and pulled up for the night but you've noticed the ground is uneven, AutoLevel will get your vehicle back to a horizonal position with the push of a button. Now, if you prefer to camp off-grid rather then on a campsite, this system may be the better option for you due to how discreet the auto level feature is. No levelling jacks mean a more subtle way to get your vehicle levelled, plus you'd be avoiding the hefty wild camping fines in Europe.
On the other hand, hydraulic levelling could be the way to go if you're planning to stay in one place for a longer duration or if you're someone who migrates seasonally, such as during the summer months. Hydraulic levelling is very precise and provides solid, secure support. It works by lifting the weight off the wheels and onto hydraulic cylinders which gives extra stability. This can be especially beneficial for long-term stays, as it helps relieve strain on your vehicle’s structure and ensures that your appliances, such as the fridge, shower or air conditioning can function properly without any hiccups ( a rocking motorhome isn't ideal when you're trying to have a shower!) For the lucky ones who are set up for the season somewhere nice and hot, the added stability also provides a more comfortable living experience, particularly in areas where the ground may be uneven or soft. When camping on un-even ground, the length of hydraulic cylinders mean that these systems are able to level better than air suspension, which is restricted to the travel of the suspension.
Simply put when thinking about the two systems, if solid stability when parked is your top priority, we would recommend opting for hydraulic jacks. Alternatively, if you want to be able to level your vehicle while having extra ride comfort when driving, air suspension is the way to go.
Did you know?
A lot of the time when the question comes up ''Air suspension or hydraulic jacks on a motorhome?'', many peoples response is ''We couldn't be without either''.
Having both hydraulic levelling and air suspension on your vehicle offers you the best of both worlds. The hydraulic leveling provides stability when parked, ensuring your vehicle remains firmly grounded on uneven surfaces, so when your parked up your assured your vehicles not moving anywhere. Meanwhile, the air suspension adds that extra layer of comfort and stability when driving, allowing you to adjust your ride height for a smoother ride when you're hitting the road.
However, getting one of these systems fitted to your vehicle comes with quite a hefty price tag, let alone both! But we often find that the benefits of having both hydraulic levelling and air suspension justify the expense, especially if you're always on the move or living in your motorhome full time. If you're not quite ready for the full upgrade, at VB we offer some cost-effective options that still improve your ride, you might consider SHR Levelling and VB-SemiAir. This duo provides a great balance for those who want the advantages of both systems and with semi air you could save around £5,000. Top tip: getting both systems fitted at the same time can also help lower the overall cost!
But what about extra weight?
Adding either or both systems can add extra weight to your vehicle, which in return can take away weight you may need for food, passengers etc. In order to ensure you’re not over your legal weight limit, which can lead to hefty fines, where possible you can uprate your gross vehicle weight with WDT Services. Uprating is the process of increasing your motorhome or campervan's Gross Vehicle Weight limit, enabling you to carry more payload. The Gross Vehicle Weight refers to the legal maximum weight that a vehicle can safely be used at including it's own, so you are able to carry more without the worry of being stopped and fined for your vehicle being overweight, which can be very beneficial if you're thinking about getting both levelling and air suspension fitted.
So, we hope this blog has been a help when making your decision to opt for either hydraulic levelling, air suspension or both! However, if you're still not sure, then our VB-Dealers are happy to have a no-obligation chat with you about which system will help you on your travels.
