Air ride for motorhome

After lots of searching and comparing we had the Kelderman system installed front and rear along with stiffer sway bars. We stopped in the Kelderman factory in Iowa on a trip and had them look at what settings we were using. They made time for us the next morning and replaced the front shocks with "softer" Monroe's and set the air pressure front and rear and tire pressure. The ride has been perfect since.

The Kelderman people were the nicest group overall we had ever done business with. Since they design and make all their own parts on site they know what they are talking about. They didn't try to sell us the fancy extras and they discussed the pros and cons of them openly. They said the only thing we needed were the front shocks, and anything else would just be feel good parts.

They have a couple of pads you can stay at their place while they do any work and there is a nice little state park less than 1 mile from them.

Can't wait for the weather to improve so we can get on the road again.

But that's just my comfortable riding opinion FWIW. ;-)

Ski

Tntman wrote:
I had a 2001 National Tropi-Cal on a Ford chassis. I installed the Firestone air bags on the rear and it improved the ride. I did not install a compressor, I ran the air lines to the wheel well and aired them up there. I did have to cut some plate from the frame, did not effect the strength of the chassis.
Have fun!!

What pressure were you running when you started to see ride improvement? What was the improvement?

Thanks

I had a 2001 National Tropi-Cal on a Ford chassis. I installed the Firestone air bags on the rear and it improved the ride. I did not install a compressor, I ran the air lines to the wheel well and aired them up there. I did have to cut some plate from the frame, did not effect the strength of the chassis.
Have fun!!

Goldencrazy wrote:
If you search on Kelderman on this forum you will find much info on this subject. All of us who have been willing to experiment for better ride have shared our results. I think we have found common ground that first tire pressure, 2nd shocks and finally Kelderman. For wind it is rear trac bar, steering stabilizer and the "cheap fix". Along the way we rejected some things and I think we all agree that alignment is critical under all conditions. Good luck.

This... x2

Actually the only "lipstick on a pig" aspect is the air bag its self, because he is not changing the spring rate. Truthfully the air bag may increase the spring rate and make the ride worse. If one wants a softer ride, they need to reduce the spring rate. This can be done by installing something like Morride or https://www.sulastic.com/Default.aspx. You must have a progressive or dual spring rate to achieve a soft ride, or really long suspension travel.

BillMFl wrote:

Weathertodd221 wrote:

JimGo wrote:
Perfect timing-

I have a 2006 W22 chassis that I am installing Firestone Air Bags next Monday.

I already installed the compressor and control valves w/ remote control. Chassis shop will install the bags and run the air lines.

Also installing Koni FSD's at the same time.

Have previously installed front and rear sway bars, front and rear track bars and a safety+. That really helped in the handeling.

Installed a Banks system that improved performance up grades.

Now looking to smooth out the ride. Will post results after testing.

lipstick on a pig comes to mind. I have all those accessories minus the air bag system. Its leaf springs and to try to make a leaf spring vehicle an airbag ride... you are going to spend lots of $$$ for very little benefit.
Also keep in mind... with air bag rides also comes the fact that if the controller valve fails... you wont be able to drive it.

Oink oink. I nearly spit out my coffee! Thanks for the chuckle.

Weathertodd221 wrote:

JimGo wrote:
Perfect timing-

I have a 2006 W22 chassis that I am installing Firestone Air Bags next Monday.

I already installed the compressor and control valves w/ remote control. Chassis shop will install the bags and run the air lines.

Also installing Koni FSD's at the same time.

Have previously installed front and rear sway bars, front and rear track bars and a safety+. That really helped in the handeling.

Installed a Banks system that improved performance up grades.

Now looking to smooth out the ride. Will post results after testing.

lipstick on a pig comes to mind. I have all those accessories minus the air bag system. Its leaf springs and to try to make a leaf spring vehicle an airbag ride... you are going to spend lots of $$$ for very little benefit.
Also keep in mind... with air bag rides also comes the fact that if the controller valve fails... you wont be able to drive it.

Sorry I was laughing and hit the wrong key.

I have Airlift front and back on my current Ford Spring chassis. Works as intended. I had Airlift on my previous W22 and that worked as well. Bags will help some, takes the jolt out of expansion joints. As far as "Lipstick on a pig", just another cheap shot from a diesel fume breather. Come on guys, we all know that DP is better, Ya, Ya, Ya, but why do you always have to bring up some snide comment. I for one don't appreciate it all the time. Some of us LIKE our less expensive rigs because they are what we can afford and we are able to maintain them ourselves. Besides when I came down here to the RGV in Jan this year and since I'm not leaving till mid-Mar, the only difference in ride I experience seems to be the lack of frequent smell of deisel fumes around my coach.

Weathertodd221 wrote:

JimGo wrote:
Perfect timing-

I have a 2006 W22 chassis that I am installing Firestone Air Bags next Monday.

I already installed the compressor and control valves w/ remote control. Chassis shop will install the bags and run the air lines.

Also installing Koni FSD's at the same time.

Have previously installed front and rear sway bars, front and rear track bars and a safety+. That really helped in the handeling.

Installed a Banks system that improved performance up grades.

Now looking to smooth out the ride. Will post results after testing.

lipstick on a pig comes to mind. I have all those accessories minus the air bag system. Its leaf springs and to try to make a leaf spring vehicle an airbag ride... you are going to spend lots of $$$ for very little benefit.
Also keep in mind... with air bag rides also comes the fact that if the controller valve fails... you wont be able to drive it.

Yes, it will cost. Not true that it is small change and not true about not able to drive if bag fails with Kelderman. It is built with the springs.

Adding air bags is not air suspension. You may be able to lift the coach into a softer range of spring travel, but its not really air suspension. What you really need to know about air suspension ride comfort is that the design of reversing sleeve air bags have a center range of about 1.5 inches that the spring rate is nearly flat - meaning that in its designed center of operating range, the spring is extremely soft. Outside of that range, the spring rate dramatically increases. There is absolutely nothing magic about air giving a soft ride. Air is a spring, just like any other spring. The "magic" is in the variable rate characteristic of a reversing sleeve air bag.