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These pages are being updated. Please visit our NEW SHOP for latest prices and to place an order. Alternatively please feel free to EMAIL or call 0800 772 0315.

Note:- All Transporter products are now listed HERE.

NOTE:- Kits fit T26, T28, and T30 from 2003 to 2015. We also do kits for T32, and T5, T5.1 (facelift) and current model T6 (see separate page).

SAFETY WARNING

Fits 4wd 4x4

This kit has been used on many four wheel drive vans so we know it’s OK for standard two wheel drive and for four motion variants. It has around 5 inches of travel at the front and up to 9 inches of travel at the rear. High lift version has an additional potential 3 inches of lift (total 8 inches). Tested in various rough environments and known to be tough and reliable.

Lowered

This image shows one of the early conversion running 22 inch rims in the lowest setting. 18, 19 or 20 inch wheels will be noticeable lower and also ride better, getting the most out of the air suspension conversion. Even on 22's you cannot turn the steering when fully down!

Lifted

The same early conversion with the suspension lifted. Again with 18, 19 or 20 inch wheels this would look higher. This equates to the standard kit although every vehicle and wheel combination is different. More than enough lift to clear obstacles including speed ramps. Not enough to damage driveshaft joints.

2007 Style

Here we have the old style 2007 front struts with small bag, and armoured leader hose. Armoured hoses and not push in hoses are essential on all front struts. This bag was soon found to be rather small which compromised ride quality and handling. Its still the type of bag sold by many companies - it lifts, and it lowers but modern air suspension systems can do so much better, which is why we stopped using it within a year (see below).

Lowered

This shows the rear in the fully down position. Again the use of 22's limits the drop but this allows easy loading when required and always looks cool. With the vehicle fully down no handbrake is needed - the body sits on the tyres on all wheel/tyre combinations we have seen. Extreme lowering helps considerably for access by some poeple and for motorcycles and other heavy objects.

Lifted

Lift on the rear is around 9 inches maximum. Enough to clear any obstacles generally encountered. Ride quality fully up in compromised so it is intended for maneuvering speeds only, after which users return the vehicle to normal ride height. Tyre wear, handling and ride quality are all best close to the original ride height.

Black T5 on AirRide 01

RidePro

Older computer displays from around a decade ago look a little old fashioned these days and have been superseded but this shows the main functions that remain today. The display shows the pressure in each corner which is directly proportionate (within limits) to the height of the vehicle. From the pressure the user therefore knows the height.

Pre-sets

All controllers allow full independent 4 corner control of the air suspension. In addition most have between 3 and 8 pre-set heights which the vehicle will lift to at the touch of a single button. On this vehicle 3 was set for max lift which you can see with the extreme pressure required. Another reason not to go for smaller bags.

AirLift 3P

Modern controllers not only look snazier, but the 3P controller is also very easy to install. Almost everything is integrated into the single unit and there are just 5 lines and 5 wires to hook up - contrast with many dozens for the old RidePro shown as well. Although listed as our budget controller the AirLift is a good value unit.

7 inch Strut

We quickly discovered that 5.75 or 6 inch bags (which still dominate the T5 market) were simply too small to achieve what air suspension has to offer. So very quickly we switched to bigger bags and in 2012 we developed our own strut using our own design of billet top cap. This is not available anywhere else as we own the intellectual property to this design.

2012 style

This shows some of the pre-launch development units, which have all the correct double sided hose clamps, retain the anti roll bar (as required by law). these experimental units have additional fittings for experimenting with pre-load gases both in terms of mixture and pressure. Our own recipe is a secret and we soon discovered how unhelpful adjustable dampers/shocks were.

Big Bag Installed

Under no circumstances should a push in nylon line be used directly into a front strut. Its simple not durable, safe or legal for road use. You can also see the 7 inch bag is the biggest that will fit without rubbing and failing. Correct brake hose and sensor fittings are also still in use.

Quality Front Air Struts

This graphic illustrates exactly what is needed to make a quality front strut. Starting at the top the best ride quality is always achieved by using the original VW rubber and thrust bearing, so that's what we do.

Next down is our own unique trademark and copyright billet aluminium top cap. This is tough and robust as required on 3 ton plus vehicle. It also has four different seals and fits with the VW thrust bearing allowing the steering to function as VW intended.

Then there is the large volume 7 inch bag with sophisticated waist band for durability.

Lastly and often forgotten - we start with a VW Transporter strut - not a car one which will break. The correct strut is a must on this vehicle. A car strut can usually be seen because the body joints the furniture and has a waisted section where it tapers from one section to another - see dangers with T5 kits.

Note: Anti roll bars are required for legality. Do not remove them and do not cut your hub!

Reliability = Safety

The Transporter is a heavy beast. Standard vehicle vary between 2600Kg and 3000Kg max, with the mighty T32 up to 3200Kg and all vehicles easily re-rated for an additional 200-225Kg. With this sort of weight items designed for a 1200-1400Kg VW Golf simply are not up to the job. Hence they break. Everything we sell for the VW T5 and T6 is designed with durability in mind and based on well over a decade of manufacturing our own conversion kit for this vehicle.

Although the notes on this page focus upon the struts, the rear bags are just as important. Slim 5 inch and 5.5 inch bags that we have seen offered by some will lift and lower but they wont handle or die well. so we don't use them. We use the correct bag for the job - not the easiest to fit.

What to look for when buying air suspension for a T5 or T6.

So why are AirRide front struts so good?

To put it very simply - they work exactly like the originals but with airbag/air springs in place of the coil spring.

  • Therefore they work exactly as VW intended. Our Struts use the original thrust bearing, bush and fixings so you know it won't fail. The bag used is a large volume one as small car derived bags just don't work on the VW T5 Transporter - a 6 inch bag needs huge pressure to lift the weighty T5.
  • The top cap is quadruple sealed with 3 O rings and a bush to ensure it never loses air from the moving surface. In order for a strut to function the top which is fixed to the vehicle must remain fixed whilst the lower section turns or lift with the wheel. This is where most manufacturers fail, and some don't even realise the need. AirRide struts have a lovely soft floaty limo type ride when installed.
  • All struts are powder coated for durability - not spray painted.

For a video of this vehicle driving please click HERE. This video shows varying road conditions at varying speeds.

Cheaper Alternatives.

We hear and read of dozens of people having bought cheaper struts elsewhere because ours are "too expensive". The story is always the same - a long list of complaints about these other "cheaper products", including at least some and often all of the following:-

  • My strut broke? Often "cheaper struts" use only 17/18mm shafts (from poor quality coil overs). VW struts use a 25mm shafts - almost double the strength and that's what we use - no exceptions and no broken shafts - ever!
  • My ride is awful and gets worse the further I travel? Again this comes down to using car struts, not transporter struts. The body of most car struts is around 50mm but the VW transporter is not a car and uses struts which are 58mm - it does not sound like much but its a 35% increase in the amount of oil or gas the shock/damper can fit. And that's before you consider the damper is also longer than car dampers. This volume of damping media is what gives the comfort on the vehicle - reduce it for any reason and you reduce the ride quality. If its too low then it can overheat and the ride gets progressively worse.
  • My struts clonk and bang? - you have torn out your top mount. Cheaper struts manufacturers don't seem to understand that the struts need to rotate when you turn - we use the original thrust bearing/mount on the top. Its as quiet as it was before because its the same as it was before!
  • I have to change my rubber mounts every few hundred miles? - see above. If you don't change it then you potential have nothing holding your strut on other than gravity!! eeek.
  • It rides like its on coil overs (badly/harshly/sporty)? The airbag is too small. The damper is also possibly too small. Because many manufacturers are used to working on smaller cars like Golfs some manufacturers use 6 inch bags. Others cannot work on dampers and therefore just buy in cheap coil overs - so they ride like coil overs - something most customers are trying to get away from! This will never handle or ride well on the large and heavy T5. Using car struts is a big mistake - the T5 is not a car.
  • Its making my back sore? - see above.
  • I'm fed up with having to take them off all the time for repairs/replacements? I don't want to say I told you so - but there are plenty of cheap ones for sale second hand - I never saw any of ours for sale second hand!
  • They leak all the time - how can I cure this? This is a manufacturing and or designs fault. Air bags should hold pressure for 6-12 months with no inflation. Some manufacturers unsafely use a plastic push in hose into the strut - that's why some people say it only leaks when it low or they are turning left!!! The plastic push in line is fabulous but not onto a moving strut - the plastic line only seals if left in a fixed position and comes straight out of the fitting for around 2-3 inches. Some manufacturers use very cheaply made fittings which leak, and also advise PTFE thread tape to seal joints. dont use cheap fittings they are a false economy, and never use PTFE thread seal as it invalidates all warranties - use the correct air suspension sealant.
  • HELP - They refused me an MOT (if correctly carried out!). Tangled hoses, catching airbags, catching tyres, faulty thrust bearings, lose dampers,,,,, all of which we have seen and all of which (rightfully) cause your vehicle to fail its MOT. These can be caused by defective design and manufacture but also sometimes by incorrect installation.

Cheaper struts made from POS imported coil overs with no hose fittings, and no thought as to top mount articulation are always a problem. After 15 years making these products these school boy errors are not ones we make. All our struts are made using the correct VW thickness's of materials, diameters of bodies and shafts and take the original VW thrust bearings, and hose clamps. Search the internet and a few forums and you will see pages and pages of issues like those listed above and which have been reported to us over the years.

What to look for?

  • What size is the front strut bag? If its 6 inches or less then avoid the kit.
  • What size is the pressure body on the front damper? It should be 25mm - if it is less you have a car strut.
  • What size is the pressure tube? It should be 58mm - if it is less then you have a car strut. this can be seen with tapered or stepped section to the body which should not be present on a T5 strut - its 58mm from the bottom to the top (except the last inch hidden by the bag).
  • Does it come with an armoured front hose? This is a safety item - if its not included why not? Your kit wont be safe without it which means it also wont be road legal.
  • Does the kit come with a pressure relief valve - if anything goes wrong will the tank pressure be vented off before an explosion can occur? This is essential - if its not included then why not?
  • Does it come with a tank gauge? This allows you to monitor the pressure and ensure there are no problems - again a safety item.
  • What size are the rear bags - same as the front less than 6 inches should be avoided.
  • Is it a 2 circuit system? This means your left and right air springs are conected together - a really bad thing that is unsafe. All our kits are FBSS, 4 circuit independent systems.

Rear Axle Kit

The rear kit in powder coated metal is strong and durable. The unique alignment adjusters are included to ensure that the bag is perfectly aligned (this make a massive difference to durability and so lift potential of the kit). Many customers with motorhome fit schrader valve kits to inflate the air springs but we highly recommend the on board air control system to get the most from your air suspension.

Special Purpose Kits

We are also able to offer "special purpose" air suspension kits for the VW T5 Transporter. the standard kit listed is designed to prioritise comfort, and drops around 100mm from standard, with a 100mm range. We also offer a Mega-lift kit which drops 100mm and allows 200mm range (100mm lift and 100mm drop) which is ideal for vehicles used for forestry and agricultural uses that need additional clearance now and then. We also offer a Mega-drop kit which drops around 160mm from standard with a 100mm range. Results may vary depending upon model and wheels fitted and are for guidance only. Price for Mega-lift and Mega-drop are around £300 extra from the prices listed below.

T32 Variant

The T32 is the heavy variant of the Transporter and as the name suggests has a maximum weight of 3200Kg. To achieve this it uses different suspension. The front struts and hubs are completely different, and far heavier in construction. The vehicle also benefits from air suspension so we also doa kti for the T32 - the dampers on a T32 weight more and are thicker metal.

Rear Axle Kit

The rear kit in powder coated metal is strong and durable. The unique alignment adjusters are included to ensure that the bag is perfectly aligned (this make a massive difference to durability and so lift potential of the kit). Many customers with motorhome fit schrader valve kits to inflate the air springs but we highly recommend the on board air control system to get the most from your air suspension.

Special Purpose Kits

We are also able to offer "special purpose" air suspension kits for the VW T5 Transporter. the standard kit listed is designed to prioritise comfort, and drops around 100mm from standard, with a 100mm range. We also offer a Mega-lift kit which drops 100mm and allows 200mm range (100mm lift and 100mm drop) which is ideal for vehicles used for forestry and agricultural uses that need additional clearance now and then. We also offer a Mega-drop kit which drops around 160mm from standard with a 100mm range. Results may vary depending upon model and wheels fitted and are for guidance only. Price for Mega-lift and Mega-drop are around £300 extra from the prices listed below.

Overall

The full 4 wheel air suspension conversion kit for the VW T5 Transporter fits all vehicles from 2003 to 2016 (and we also have kits for the T6 2016 onwards). The kit is a simple bolt on conversion requiring only a few holes to be drilled, and can be reversed later if you trade your vehicle in (or lease it) and wish to take the kit to a newer van later. Only the highest quality components are used throughout, and are chosen for reliability over any other factor. The basic non management kit is just the front strut and rear bag kit without any compressor, controller, or management. Various options are available and the most popular is the basic kit which includes a manual controller. Other options include remotes, solenoids and computers. Twin tanks and twin compressors are also available as additional options. This kit has been designed to be diy friendly and is rated for very competent DIY fitment or local garage fitment.

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NOTE

Please note that although our kits may not be in stock, they will be made up to order and are usually dispatched in 14 days, although this can vary at busy times. For more accurate information, please contact us.

These pages are being updated. Please visit our NEW SHOP for latest prices and to place an order. Alternatively please feel free to EMAIL or call 0800 772 0315.