On the air bag suspension, I thought this should be an independent Posting rather than put it in the previous thread, as before I got back to the
BOG, there were about 70 viewings that might not see this, so here goes… I will give both sides of the argument from, as there is not a definitive answer. Yes it is nice, but unless money is not an issue, I am not sure the advantages are there. The upgrade costs $4000 with extra chassis work, and I don't think we are charging enough for it to be honest! I spent the years in development and running the air bags in testing on first a Ford F-350 and then a Mitsubishi truck, and then a couple of prototypes for vans, and yes they do give a couple of advantages… But it was more in R&D for the Truckie types that thought the Air Bag suspension was the ONLY way to go and would not hear of anything else... And they just insisted and demanded it in their vans! After three years of my own experimenting with it on my Ford (now gone) and Mitsubishi horse truck, Vehicle Components stepped up to bat and were the brilliant Contributing Engineers to make it an option for
Bushtracker, meeting our requirements... VC have been a real pleasure to work with...
Yes there are advantages: It does give a nice adjustable ride, and it does give you another compressor to fill tyres, and it does give you a nice ability to do side to side levelling with the air bag pressure being let down one side or the other... And if you had a short overhead clearance to a shed or something, you could drop the suspension down about 100 mm.... HOWEVER, I try to give a balanced view on things with 40 years of experience, and the combined Feedback of the Bushtrackers in the field, and ongoing R&D. It really comes down to this: IS IT NECESSARY? I am not sure it is worth the expense when there is nothing wrong with our regular suspension! Yes it has the added advantage of side to side levelling with valves, letting down or pumping up one side only… But there is nowhere in Australia that you can't scuff some sand in front of the tyre, or pick up a rock or scrap tree branch to put in front of the tyres to pull up on to level the van side to side, while you are waiting for your Turbo to cool down.. Yes those with it, claim it rides nicer, and is adjustable; but my point is there is nothing wrong with the current suspension that is modified to our requirements that has served us so well for so long!
In saying that, if money is not an issue, and you want the best, then yes the Air Bag Suspension is nice improvement and it does make the ride adjustable and side levelling when you stop, and such as I have mentioned above. Yes, it could help to make the ride easier on the corrugation, but it is still a good idea to drop the tyre pressure when the corrugation is severe... I guess it comes down to money, as it is expensive for not only the airbag suspension but extra chassis work and different tankage arrangements, and valving and wiring and installation. Money no object? And you want the best? Well OK, yes it is better in some respects… But is it necessary? I don’t think so.. I personally did not do it on my latest new van just finished.
About the only other negative potential that I can see: I can say is that while it is the best, there will possibly be some instances of staking of air-bags in the long run. To run with the lighter loads, these airbags are only a fraction of the thickness of the huge ones the Truckies run in the Outback.. So there is the potential of damage to the airbag itself off-road.. Mind you, none have failed yet, but I can see the potential in the longer run.
All in all, it is nice; but a personal choice that may come down to just dollars of which way to go.... Money not a problem, then go for the best. But there is nothing wrong with our fully independent and load sharing suspension, and it is tough: So I think it is just not a necessary thing, more like a luxury choice possibly, but not necessary, OK?
Cheers from the “Lone Ranger” at
Bushtracker