Christine

We've seen quite a few social media posts about this plus seen some interesting examples on the roads ourselves and decided to contribute to the topic.

Look at the two photos. In the first one, it's obvious that the flatbed is inadequate for the size and weight of the vehicle. In the second photo, a lot of people wouldn't immediately see that something isn't right. The car physically fits on the car transporter so what's wrong with it? We tend to perceive cars as lightweight and vans as heavy,  when in reality there might not be that much difference in weight between the two. Cars can easily weigh up to 2.5t, which is over the kerb weight of a Ford Transit. Fiat Ducato vans, although they look much bigger and bulkier, have a payload of only 3.5t. Once you deduct the vehicle weight, there is only enough payload left for a really small car or old car.

One of our staff recently witnessed a VW T4 being carried on a Citroen Relay flatbed, which exceeds the payload by about one ton! That might sound like nothing when compared to the Ukrainian lorry, caught a few years ago, that had managed to be overloaded by a whopping 162 tons, but it is no laughing matter.

Overloading is not just illegal, it's dangerous too! Overloaded vehicles have reduced handling and stability - think of going around corners or passing other vehicles on narrow Norfolk roads, take longer to stop or fail to stop at all, and the extra weight puts pressure on major components of the car transporter: suspension, engine, tyres, to name a few. If it's windy and the overloaded flatbed is travelling fast, the consequences can be devasting for other drivers when the driver of the unstable flatbed loses control and gets blown right into your way. It can happen on the motorway, it can happen on a B road.

There is a common misconception that adding airbags to the vehicle will automatically increase payload. It will NOT. The vehicle needs uprating and air suspension is part of the re-rating process. The quality of the airbags is also of great importance. We've said this before and we'll say it again: beware of cheap kits from eBay/other online marketplaces that claim 4000 kg load capacity, this is not possible in real life. Cheap kits use either counterfeit or lightweight bags, often in combination with thin brackets. Low quality kits with false capacity claims can damage the suspension, making the vehicle unsafe and therefore illegal for road use. If you want to add air suspension for load support or plan to uprate your vehicle, buy quality air suspension which, of course, is what we specialise in.

Whilst the Police and VOSA do not inspect air suspension for quality, they do pull vehicles over for a weight check. Driving an overloaded vehicle is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. If you need to hire a car transporter, don't just go for the cheapest quote. You need to do the maths to make sure that the flatbed that's arrived to collect your vehicle can actually legally carry it.

We've had a great start of the year with many AirLift Performance (ALP) products now having been reduced in price, and one favourite re-introduced (may not be permanent). So many kits have gone down in price!

ALP is an iconic brand that many air enthusiasts aspire to own so it's great to see that they've become cheaper. As a company, we always strive to pass on savings to our customers when we can.

Use this opportunity to browse our website, the full range of ALP products is AVAILABLE HERE.

Can't find your vehicle? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

We get all sorts of enquiries. Our favourite so far has been a customer who asked us how to protect air suspension from mice. If you've ever dealt with rodents then you know they love to chew. Airline is an easy target altough rats can bite through (soft) metal as well!

We've never had a rodent problem with our vehicles but we have had several reports over the years of rodent issues with airline and with wiring, and one customer believed his airbags had been nibbled. So we put together a short guide:

No food

Like any living creature, rodents need to feed. If you have a habit of eating in your car, make sure you dispose of any food wrappers as soon as you're done. Don't leave any leftovers lying around. Vacuum your car or get it cleaned by a professional on a regular basis to avoid crumbs on seats and carpets. If you have a camper or a motorhome, clean the kitchen area after every meal, sweep and/or vacuum the floor on a regular basis. Remove all food items once you're back home and clean your camper/motorhome thoroughly before storing it for winter.  By food we also mean pet food and livestock feed.

Keep it clean

Don't use your vehicle to store random junk, empty product packaging, etc. Check the boot and engine bay if you're not using the vehicle on a regular basis. Don't let rodents get cosy and make a nest. If you're parked in a leafy area, remove the foliage from around your car. Rodents love leaves and use them to build their nests.

Let there be light!

They don't like it. Rodents prefer dark places. This might be a problem if you're vehicle is stored away for winter in a garage so you might need to consider lighting solutions for the garage or inside the vehicle.

Paw patrol

Have a cat? Excellent. Dogs, too, are a natural enemy of rodents. So, if you have pets let them wander round your vehicle if possible. If you're transporting your dog in the vehicle or your cat is curious and likes to jump in every now and then, it will act as a further deterrent to rodents. Our Office Admin once had a cat that loved napping on a warm car bonnet.

Peppermint oil

Natural rodent deterrent. We've heard strories about people spraying hot sauce on their car floor but, personally, we think peppermint oil is a far better option. One of our customers wanted to use it directly on the airline and airbags - this is not something we would do ourselves. The nylon airline will be fine but it is difficult to predict how the peppermint oil would affect rubber airbags.

Need air suspension parts? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

Both the Sales Office and the Workshop will be closing at 5 PM on 14/12/2023 and reopen at 10 AM on Tuesday, 02/01/2024. During this time, phones will be answered by our Call Centre staff. Please note that they cannot assist beyond taking messages.

Any orders placed will be dispatched after reopening in January. All made to order kits will be dispatched once manufactured when we re-open in the New Year.

We know that many customers install products over the festive period so if you require technical assistance then please email us at  ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK using the subject ‘Technical’.  Messages will be monitored sporadically by skeleton staff.

We would like to thank our customers for their continued support and wish you all a Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays!

It is back! We know a lot of you have been waiting for this year's AirLift Performance Black Friday sale - many products are now up to 20% off! They won't get any cheaper so if you've been thinking about equipping your car with ALP gear, now is the time to order.

As usual, sales prices cannot be used with any other offer and the sale ends 04/12/2023. A very long Black Friday indeed...

Please contact the office for prices by emailing to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK or call us on 0800 772 0315.

Compressors are among our bestselling products. With so many available on the market we try to keep things simple and only stock one manufacturer: Viair, a trusted and iconic brand. We do have a selection of their products on our website but it's mainly for display purposes. Most of the time we use and recommend the same model: VIAIR 444C.

It's a solid aluminium compressor with a sealed non return valve and braided hose. You won't see any plastic parts that are so common on cheap emergency tyre inflators maskerading as air suspension compressors.

100% duty cycle at 100 PSI and 200 PSI max offers great value for money. Please note that it does not come with an on/off button and requires an external pressure switch. At £238 it is not much more expensive than lower specs, although it is a bit bigger and heavier. Unless you're restricted for space we recommend using 444C when installing/replacing a compressor. As one of our all-time favourite products it's almost always in stock. Other Viair compressors are not but can usually be obtained within 3-5 days.

Sometimes we get asked whether we can supply other manufacturer compressors and the answer is No. If you want a specific compressor by a specific manufacturer you're better off ordering directly with them even if it means paying customs fees. If you do need to replace a compressor and are unsure what to choose simply provide us with the tech specs and we'll do our best to assist.

Any questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK.

We understand that choosing air suspension parts for your car can feel overwhelming at times so we've put together this short guide.

What kit should I choose?

This will depend on the vehicle in question. Some cars will have several kits available, others only one. And then there are cars with no bolt on kits available that will require universal parts. Our kits are primarily for lowering the car.  If that's not what you're looking to achieve - get in touch!

If you want to lower your car and there is a choice between a kit from AirLift Performance, TA Technix and AirRide Gold then...

AirLift Performance uses the biggest bags and their 'Performance' kits have 30 level adjustable damping. The 'Slam' kits do what their name suggests.

TA Technix uses small bags and their kits are great for slamming the car to the ground, but they're not very adjustable.

AirRide Gold kits use bigger bags than TA Technix, have 36 way adjustable damping but they're still sporty kits.

AirRide Custom kits are available for a selection of vehicles. They will lower your car but are built with comfort and ride quality in mind. These kits mainly use Universal Air bags and do not include shock absorbers.

Once you've picked the kit for your car, the next question customers ask is...

Do I need air management?

The short answer is: yes, you do. Air management is sold separately, it is not included in the car kits. Our car kits are bags and brackets and, with some kits, also shock absorbers.

Without a compressor, a tank and a controller you would rely on Schrader valves. This solution works well on motorhomes and other heavy vehicles that simply need lifting up but not on cars.  One of the main advantages of air suspension is adjustability: to be able to adjust height and pressure on the go, at the touch of a button. Cars will need regular adjustment to adapt for weight fluctuations (cargo, passengers) and road surface/condition. Having to stop to inflate/deflate the bags via Schrader valves is not very convenient.

What air management should I choose?

Front and rear kits require a 4 circuit management where each corner is separate. Anything else is neither safe nor road legal.

Our air management of choice is the 3P DIGITAL CONTROLLER PACK. It is easy to install, easy to use and what we fit to our own vehicles. Because there are only a few wires to connect going for the 3P pack saves you money on labour costs.

Choosing a compressor and a tank can be confusing because there are so many options available but we've got you sorted. Our compressor of choice is always the VIAIR 444C as it's excellent value for money. Customers sometimes ask whether they need to install 2 compressors in case one fails. With a reputable brand like Viair you don't have to worry about it and one compressor is enough.

Air tank wise, our default choice is the 2.5 GALLON TANK but we can supply smaller or bigger tanks if necessary.

Any questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

It is summer (despite the rain and the wind!) and that means staff holidays.

Our Sales Office will be closed between 1st August - 17th August 2023. You will still be able to call and leave a message to our call centre staff who then forward them to us. Calls and emails will take a bit longer to answer.

Our workshop (manufacturing and installations) will be run by skeleton staff. As much as we like visitors, we won't be able to do inspections or repairs that have not been booked in advance.

Orders for in stock items will be processed but might take longer to dispatch. New orders for manufactured items will not be processed until our return on 16th August.

If you require technical assistance for a product you are fitting then please email us at ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK using the subject ‘Technical’. Emails will be monitored sporadically and those relating to your technical enquiries will have priority.

We thank customers for their support and business, and hope you are getting to enjoy your motorhomes, vans and cars this summer.

Just as you need the right bags and brackets for the job you also need the right sealant. Do not use tape to install air suspension or to fix air leaks. For some reason plumbers PTFE thread seal seems to work adequately on water pipes but does not ever work well on air suspension systems. Additionally it invalidates the warranties on most electronic controllers. Only use liquid thread sealant.

Thread sealant, as the name suggests, is for use on metal threads. It's easy to use and highly reliable. With an operating temperature between -50°C to +150°C  and a maximum operating pressure of 250 PSI, it can be used on most installations, and almost all air suspension systems we see.

This can also be used on bead seal bags, but quality bags such as the Boss ones we supply can be assembled dry and wont leak up to about 750psi (safe working pressure 160 psi). This NOT for direct use on the plastic pipe (polyurethane or nylon) as it will damage it. Neither should you use superglue/CA glue as we have heard one supplier recommend. If you need to use superglue on a PTC (Push to Connect) fitting then you need to change supplier. Quality fittings do cost a little bit more but leaks make the system unuseable. So which is more expensive?

The thread sealant is AVAILABLE HERE. Free mainland UK delivery!

Any questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

One of the most common enquiries we have is for replacement airbags. In an ideal world, the original supplier/purchaser/installer would take a note of the part number and preserve it for future use. In real life, very few people do that. Vehicles get sold, part numbers wear out or are not clear to start with, and suppliers products evolve. The only sure way to identify, for instance, a Firestone bag is by the W number, which is written... wait for it... on a paper label on top of the airbag! The chance of that surviving for years under a vehicle is, as you've probably guessed, pretty close to zero.

Firestone bags do have other numbers printed on them but these are mould numbers and are used on dozens of bags, and so of limited help.

There are about 10 000 airbags in common use today so if no part number is available, customers would need to send us photos  of an airbag with height and width measurements. Alternatively, customers are welcome to post us a bag and we'll try and match it. Please note that if the bags are really old there is a chance that the airbags have either been discontinued or the manufacturer is no longer in business. In that case we'll try to come up with an alternative solution.

For popular vehicles, such as 1990s Sprinters or leaf spring Ducatos, we have replacement kits available meaning that both bags and brackets can be changed to bring things up to modern standards.

So if you need replacement bags for any application the first thing is to shoot us some photos and dimensions, and failing that post us a bag and we will do our best to assist.

Our workshop and sales office will be closed between March 27 - April 10. This is due to staff going away to work on location for a TV project. The job involves a vehicle for which there is no existing air suspension solution and we're really looking forward to this challenge. That's all we're allowed to say about it, sorry! We hope we'll be able to share more details about the build in near future.

Orders placed via our website during this time will not be dispatched. Made to order kits will be dispatched once manufactured after Easter.

If you call us on 0800 772 0315 whilst we are away our call centre staff will take a message.  Please provide your name, telephone number, vehicle make, model, year and brief details of what sort of air suspension you are looking for. The call-backs will be very limited so customers are encouraged to email us at ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK instead. We endeavour to reply to your query within 48 hours, but cannot guarantee this.  If you are trying to install our products and require technical assistance then please put ‘Technical’ in the subject line.

Since we will come back shortly before Easter and AirRide is closed on bank holidays, we will re-open at 10 AM on Tue, April 11. We'd like to wish you all a Happy Easter and see you in a few weeks!

If it has suspension it can likely be fitted with air suspension! We offer over 1200 car kits and hundreds of van, pickup and motorhome kits - the biggest AirRide range anywhere - however, we get enquiries nearly every week for air suspension solutions for vehicles that don't have bolt on kits available.

For example...

Vauxhall Cavalier

1950s Chevy 3100

Suzuki Jimny

Honda Acty

1973 Ford Thunderbird

1978 Rolls Royce Shadow

Austin Maxi

1986 Leyland Tiger

As in everything, whether a vehicle will have a kit developed for it depends on supply and demand. It costs thousands to develop a kit and it can only be done if the manufacturer believes that there is a market for it. Luckily, we are a manufacturer ourselves and can make custom kits in our Norwich workshop. Price depends on the amount of work involved and customer requirements.

Alternatively, we can supply universal parts for customers who will do the installation themselves. Here we would like to make it clear that universal parts are not like an Oodie where one size fits most. Universal parts won't magically bolt onto the vehicle in question. They will require cutting, welding and grinding by the customer in order to fit. Each kit is put together following provision of vehicle details and will include all the components that we would use if the vehicle came to us for an installation. How close this gets you will vary from vehicle to vehicle but is usually around 70-90%.

For more information and quotes please call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to  ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

Although our primary work is conversions, as an air suspension specialist we regularly work on all sorts of air suspension. For instance, this S212 came to our workshop to replace some OEM air suspension parts.

We have a penchant for Mercs, Land Rovers and Bentleys here at AirRide so we have a wealth of knowledge about factory air suspension on these vehicles although, of course, we service other vehicles too.

We can help with:

• diagnostics
• maintenance
• sourcing parts
• repairs

Our workshop is in Norwich, Norfolk - not to be confused with Northwich, Chesire as we seem to come up on air suspension specialist searches in the North East!

Unless we are super busy in the workshop or away doing film/TV/custom work, we can normally inspect your vehicle at short notice or even on the same day. Please note that OEM parts are not held in stock so customers would either need to leave the vehicle here or come back when the parts have arrived.

Need more information? Please call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to  ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

Got a Renault Master? Whether it's a commercial vehicle (left) or a camper (right), we have a range of air suspension solutions available depending on your requirements. We also do diagnostics and repairs in our Norwich workshop.

If you need to lift a sagging vehicle, check out our load support kits. Using the toughest bags from Boss Air, they are ideal for heavily loaded vans:

For X70 Master, Movano & Interstar (1998-2010) CLICK HERE

For X62 FWD & RWD Master, Movano & NV400 (2010-) CLICK HERE

Commonly used on: campers and motorhomes. Also used on: commercial vehicles that don't need lowering, but need support for existing suspension.

Need a rear kit that can lift and lower ?  Check out our

Renault Master/Movano Ultimate Rear Kit | AirRide (2010 – current) HERE

Commonly used on: ambulances, museum transit vehicles, aviation transport vehicles, wheelchair access vehicles. Also used on: recovery trucks, motorhomes, campers that need to be as close to the ground as possible for loading/unloading.

Interested in front air suspension?

Check out our custom made struts HERE.

Usually it is the rear kit that makes the most difference, however, each vehicle is different! Also, customers who need their vehicle as low as possible will benefit from front and rear air suspension.

All products are available with various air management options to suit your needs: from basic Schrader valves to sophisticated automated on board.

Need more information? Please call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to  ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

The AirRide Custom for VW T5/T6 is one of our very best selling kits having been in production for an amazing 18 years in various evolutions! If you're looking for a comfy ride and want the option to lower the vehicle... you've found it!

Although not the absolute lowest vehicle possible this is the best kit in terms of robustness and comfort. The AirRide Custom uses some of the highest spec bags on the market. Loading is easier for sure and it has been used by lots of builders and plumbers wanting nice looking vehicle but also vehicles which can go to rough sites where roads may not have been finalised yet.

We've added some photos of a recent installation: our customer wanted to lower his T5 camper without compromising on comfort. After weighing the pros and cons of 3H (height +pressure) vs 3P (pressure only), he chose 3P. The 3P computer controller pack is our most popular air suspension management option. It is easy to use, allows to save up to 5 pre-set heights, making it so much more convenient to adjust pressure on the go. It is also the easiest and therefore lowest cost air management option to install. With only a few wires to connect, 3P saves you money on labour and maintenance costs as it reduces the chance of an air leak.

In terms of where to install air management parts, each VW Transporter is different so this is always discussed with the customer to find out their needs. Because space is usually premium, the bulk of our installations are hidden installations meaning the compressor, controller and tank don't take up any space inside the cab but are instead tucked away under the vehicle.

The AirRide Custom kit is available HERE.

Need more information? Please call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to  ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK