Looking for the perfect driving experience: retrofitting of air suspension or damper upgrade?
Essen (Germany), 13.06.2024 - Motor homes are in demand like never before. However, many first-time campers are surprised when they start for the first big holiday trip with their home on wheels. The OE suspension quickly reaches its limits when fully loaded. This is because camp mobiles based on the platform of a transporter usually also adopt their unmodified suspension. These are designed ex works for different load conditions – but not for permanent maximum payload. Heavy fixtures and enormous payload – for example, luggage, bicycles or additional equipment as well as a significantly higher centre of gravity – are clearly noticeable in campers: lacking travel comfort, poor stability in bends and during fast driving manoeuvres or annoying noises can be the result. As a remedy, most campers first think of the expensive and time-consuming installation of additional air suspension, which they associate with increased comfort. But that is not a good idea: although an air suspension lifts the heavy camper (mostly on the rear axle) for increased suspension quality, the active suspension effort is left to the OE spring. At the same time, the OE damper is responsible for damping the vehicle, which can be easily replaced to increase comfort.
Those who like to enjoy the perfect driving experience on the next trip should consider upgrading the dampers with products specially developed for campers – such as the BILSTEIN B6 Camper and BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced high-performance shock absorbers. These can compensate for the design-related shortcomings of standard leaf springs, as they are ideally matched to a heavy loaded suspension. The solution developed by technology leader BILSTEIN keeps the vehicle in the optimum comfort range.
Damper upgrade is easy on the wallet
The special set-up of the B6 Camper shock absorbers results in added safety in crosswind, improved grip in bends and makes the driving experience more intense. In addition, traction improves, handling becomes more precise, ride comfort increases and the adapted damping reduces driving noise due to optimised rolling behaviour. This makes these dampers an attractive alternative to air suspension – especially as they are easy on the budget. Compared to the installation of an air suspension, the conversion to BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced products is significantly faster and cheaper, as no additional spring needs to be fitted. In addition, there is no need for heavy additional parts such as compressors, nor do the mechanical high-performance dampers require any special maintenance. Another advantage: the conversion to the BILSTEIN B6 Camper dampers does not require registration – one less item on the long to-do list before the next holiday.
The BILSTEIN B6 Camper and BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced are suitable for semi and fully integrated vehicles and panel vans based on the Fiat Ducato from model year 2006 (Light & Maxi / Heavy) as well as all identically constructed vehicles from Citroën, Peugeot and Opel: the Citroën Jumper, Peugeot Boxer and Opel Movano. Recently, the Camper shock absorbers have also been offered for the up-and-coming Sprinter models 906, 907, 910. Other variants and vehicle applications are to follow.
Damper upgrade is easy on the wallet
The special set-up of the B6 Camper shock absorbers results in added safety in crosswind, improved grip in bends and makes the driving experience more intense. In addition, traction improves, handling becomes more precise, ride comfort increases and the adapted damping reduces driving noise due to optimised rolling behaviour. This makes these dampers an attractive alternative to air suspension – especially as they are easy on the budget. Compared to the installation of an air suspension, the conversion to BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced products is significantly faster and cheaper, as no additional spring needs to be fitted. In addition, there is no need for heavy additional parts such as compressors, nor do the mechanical high-performance dampers require any special maintenance. Another advantage: the conversion to the BILSTEIN B6 Camper dampers does not require registration – one less item on the long to-do list before the next holiday.
The BILSTEIN B6 Camper and BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced are suitable for semi and fully integrated vehicles and panel vans based on the Fiat Ducato from model year 2006 (Light & Maxi / Heavy) as well as all identically constructed vehicles from Citroën, Peugeot and Opel: the Citroën Jumper, Peugeot Boxer and Opel Movano. Recently, the Camper shock absorbers have also been offered for the up-and-coming Sprinter models 906, 907, 910. Other variants and vehicle applications are to follow.
Conclusion: additional air suspension vs. damper upgrade
Campers looking for a significant increase in comfort should consider an upgrade with BILSTEIN B6 Camper and BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced – especially when on a budget or driving an older vehicle. The pure damper solution is not only less expensive than an additional air suspension, which in any case acts only as an assistant to the overstrained leaf springs, but installation costs also remain low.
Motor home owners who still prefer the level compensation of the air suspension and a possible increase in the permissible total weight can have special motor home shock absorbers fitted, such as BILSTEIN B6 Camper or BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced, when retrofitting an air suspension. After all, simultaneous replacement of air suspension and dampers is not only economically reasonable. It also promises maximum performance for the vehicle.
