Motorhome Mechanic : Air Bag Suspension and Clifton Suspension Bridge

[@tonyblundal5763]

Thanks for your vlog on this one, we went there also, great product, well installed. Stabilises the ride nicely and sorts out driving over ground obstacles also. Great bit of kit. All the best both, Tony and Julie.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Thanks Tony and Julie. Great piece of kit 👍

[@paulonthemove5543]

I fitted an air suspension on my work van a Renault Master 6 years ago, and I have to say it was the well worth it, you wont regret fitting them on Herman. 6 years it cost me €800 for parts and I fitted it myself as the main dealer was not familiar with air suspensions on vans. Stay safe.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Thanks Paul. We would have liked to have fitted them ourselves (Chas and myself) but it seemed such a good deal

[@alanhayward5579]

that yellow cage in the gorge can be accessed from that building with scaffolding around it ....the observatory ..as for airbags mine has failed on one side (20 years old) so will pop in to these people as i live on that road below the bridge lol

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Interesting! Thanks @alanhayward5579 👍👍

[@markevans1973]

Nice look at Clifton bridge.and nice suspension mod. I saw some rust bubbles on sill recommend as sanding and rust treatment on a hot sunny day and some waxoyl

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Thanks for spotting the rust, Mark. This is one of next jobs

[@paulfoster238]

Hi, thanks for the video. Did you need to reset your brake compensator and if so any info would be great. Thanks, keep up the good work.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

I haven't adjusted the brake compensator, @paulfoster238 but I don't know whether they did this when they fitted them.

[@christyfur1162]

Hi guys. My hometown. I've never walked across that bridge despite being 56! That building surrounded by scaffolding was the Observatory. Glad you enjoyed yourself! Kind regards. Chris

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

We couldn't go in the Observatory and I think it's a cafe now (or cafe part of the Observatory). Have you driven over the bridge? It's a great view from there.

[@dereklodge8332]

Great job. Pity he didnt give the rust on his chassis and cross member some attention.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Thanks Derek. They're not going to do that are they. That's a job for us to do later in the year

[@sleepycatpictures1176]

Awesome Bridge! So, that's how they add airbags. Interesting bit of fabrication. Handy for carrying lots of stuff. I fitted Monroe Air Shocks to my Mk 1 Granada for towing purposes. £210 it cost . . . 40 years ago!

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

I don't think you're allowed to DIY air shocks now. It needs to be done professionally. £210, was that expensive back then?

[@sleepycatpictures1176]

@@HermanHitstheRoad Wages were about £50 week. Yes. Very expensive. £70 for each shock and same for the compessor. The shocks could be bought separately and pumped up like a tyre, but having the compressor with a switch under the dash was cool! Interestingly, the '97 Astra came from the factory with airshocks, but they are long gone now.

[@wimoweh]

Thanks you for the metric!

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

You're welcome 👍👍

[@julianchambers8372]

Hi how does this compare to super springs.?

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Sorry, I have no idea what super springs are, Julian

[@aldeco5698]

I have visited the suspension bridge many years ago and in the same time the Great Britain from the same architect.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Wow, what a beautiful ship. We should have visited it too. Next time we're in Bristol. Thanks for that

[@aldeco5698]

Yes it is a beautiful ship and she is very lucky also. Brought back to his own dry dock many years later. And something funny is that when te ship left Bristol the bridge was not finished. She never came back to Bristol during her career and in the Beginning of the 70' she passed for the first time under the bridge from her architect , Mister Brunel. Beautiful history. Only British do this.

[@franklovett5813]

I wonder what made you go to Bristol for the fitting? Do you live near there? We are located in North Hertfordshire. Would you recommend the firm that fitted yours? You mentioned in the video that you have also changed the rear leaf springs and front coil springs? What did you change them to and what difference did it make to your ride please? KRs F

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Hi Frank. We came across then at the NEC with £100 off. Thought it was a great deal. Bristol is 2 hours away. Here's a video of us going the read suspension kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHuanH2Lg7Cmo8k

[@franklovett5813]

Herman Hits the Road So I’m just curious to know whether, having had air suspension for a while, whether you now believe it was a worthwhile thing to do? I’m hovering on ‘should I, shouldn’t I’ because clearly it’s a one way street and a lot of money to spend to perhaps not see any great difference. Then there is also the question as to whether to upgrade the front suspension as well? Question, questions. That’s easy. I know that finding answers is far more of a challenge! What do you think? F

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Hi Frank, it really depends on whether you think you'd benefit from it. If you're happy with how your van drives or you don't have problems with kerbs, ferries or roundabouts then it's probably not worth it. The front suspension is more complicated than the rear and needs a specialist to fit it and therefore much more expensive. If you're thinking of levelling while on site then get a levelling kit instead. Four hydraulic legs come down picking up the van and making it level and steady

[@johnvickers5750]

LOL! When we had ours fitted at Telford we took the opertunity to visit the Abraham Darby built bridge across the river Severn & Iron Gorge museum we still have a few sites left to visit on our sites passport. As per the Dunlop recommendations we asked our service garage to give them a annual maintenance spray of auto body wax which keeps them in good condition.👍

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Hi John, giving them a protective spray is a great idea. What's the sites passport. Sounds interesting

[@johnvickers5750]

There's a 1yr ticket passport which you can use to visit several historical idustrial revolution sites in & around the Iron Gorge valley the Bliss hill victorian village is a must & definitely recommended. www.ironbridge.org.uk/plan/ticket-prices/

[@Simon_W74]

Double bonus with air suspension is a better ride, no longer running close to the bump stops, and being able to raise the rear for those occassions were you would otherwise scrape the back end of the Mototrhome getting off ferries. It will be one of the things I'll be looking at when we finailly get our Motorhome. Begin to think it may not be this year sadly. Fingers crossed it will be, but with the current situation who can tell. Hopefully if we all do our bit it will be over sooner, rather than last in to next year.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Yeah, fingers crossed we'll all be back out touring again. We've not had problems with ferries but then we don't know how close the tow bar has been to the floor so it's a great addition to help improve that

[@TomRyall3]

So he was only in his thirties when he designed that bridge two hundred years ago! Half our generation can hardly manage to get off their couch these days still living with their mums!

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

I know. Amazing isn't it.

[@MrJasdog107]

Air suspension fitted while visiting Clifton Suspension Bridge. Nice flow to your story.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Thanks James. Have you visited the bridge?

[@MrJasdog107]

@@HermanHitstheRoad We have stayed at Baltic Wharf CAMC so only viewed bridge from below. But Bristol is amazing place to visit Isambard Brunel and Banksy.

[@henrybarnett1063]

Always wanted air suspension , pity you can't go on a road trip to really try it out.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

I know. Lockdown the weekend after we got it fitted

[@GAZOD]

Nice you will be to alter each one to level the motorhome when on a slight slope or rough ground

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Great idea. We really just wanted them to improve the handling and ride.

[@tomthumb3085]

How was your insurance affected because of the air suspension.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

It hasn't affected the insurance, Tom

[@stephenb5560]

We had the same manual system fitted, fabulous. Did your installer register the 2 year warranty with Dunlop? If not it needs doing.

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Yes, all registered

[@ttxela]

Something I've been thinking about installing at some point. I wonder if a drawback of having a system without a receiver is not having the option of installing an obnoxiously loud air horn? 😂🤔

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

If I'd have thought of an air horn I'd asked for a air tank. Missed opportunity.

[@MotorhomeDIY]

@@HermanHitstheRoad can I ask what was the price fitted please

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Full price was £1100

[@kroozer5215]

How much did the suspension cost Adam ?

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Show price was £1000. Normal price is £1100

[@mikerphone7039]

@@HermanHitstheRoad wow lol 😆

[@andrewcwood1]

mornimg all, what was the cost

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Show price was £1000

[@an04ker]

Next job is a new exhaust 😀

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

LOL. Yeah probably but it's still hanging in there

[@connorpeabody9008]

Kevin

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

Thanks for commenting, @connorpeabody9008. I hope you enjoyed the video?

[@twoeyedbob]

😴

[@HermanHitstheRoad]

🥰