If you own a Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay or Citroen Jumper based van, camper or motorhome, there is a good chance that air suspension will make a very worthwhile difference to the way it drives, sits and copes with load. These vehicles have been one of the most important bases for European motorhomes for many years, and for AirRide they remain one of the biggest parts of our van and motorhome air suspension business.
In fact, our rear load support kits for the Ducato platform are our single most popular load support kits, accounting for around a third of all the load support kits we sell. For much of the last twenty years, Ducato based motorhomes made up the majority of the market. That is changing somewhat now as more manufacturers move towards Ford based vehicles, but the Ducato, Boxer, Relay and Jumper platform is still one of the most common and most important vehicle families on the road.
With the weather improving and more owners starting to think about weekends away, holidays, touring and getting their vehicle ready for the season ahead, now is a very good time to upgrade. We currently have good stock of popular Ducato air suspension kits and can also advise on front struts and AL-KO applications.
Why Fiat Ducato motorhomes and vans so often benefit from air suspension
The Fiat Ducato and its sister vehicles are used for panel vans, camper conversions, coach built motorhomes, A-class motorhomes, minibuses and commercial vehicles. That flexibility is one of their strengths, but it also means many of them work hard and carry a lot of weight. Water tanks, passengers, tool kits, mobility equipment, bikes, tow bars, scooter racks, luggage and general conversion weight can all take their toll on the rear suspension.
Many motorhomes are effectively running too close to the bump stops for comfort. When that happens, you lose suspension movement, ride quality gets harsher, the rear end can sag, the vehicle can feel less settled and the whole thing becomes more susceptible to wallowing, crosswinds and the buffeting effect of large passing vehicles.
A good rear air suspension kit for a Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay or Jumper can help recover lost suspension motion, improve ride quality, improve stability, reduce sagging and help the vehicle sit and drive more as it should.
The toughest Ducato rear load support kit we know of
We believe the Boss bagged rear load support kit we supply for lifted Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and Jumper applications is the heaviest duty kit on the market that we know of.
- Heaviest duty bags we know of
- Heaviest duty brackets we have seen
- Proper high quality fittings
- Extremely simple bolt-on fitting
- Designed specifically for hard-working vans, campers and motorhomes
That matters because all air suspension kits are not the same. The internet is full of low-priced air bag kits, unbranded bags, weak brackets and poor fittings. In this market, cheap often means compromised. Suspension parts are carrying real load on heavy vehicles, so bracket design, steel thickness, bag quality and fittings quality all matter a great deal.
Boss Extreme air bags - serious specification for serious vehicles
This rear kit uses two Boss Extreme double convoluted air bags. These are rated in use at 1136 Kg per side (max 2000 Kg per side) and have been government approved tested to over 750 psi. They can be used up to 400 psi and are recommended at a maximum of 160 psi in service. Most owners will never need anything like those figures in normal use, but that huge reserve of capacity tells you a lot about the specification of the bags.
In normal motorhome use, pressures are often far lower than the bag is capable of, which is exactly how we like it. It means the kit is working well within a robust design range rather than near its limit.
Heavy duty 6 mm brackets and proper support
The brackets are just as important as the bags. Our Ducato based rear kits use proper heavy duty steel brackets made from 6 mm steel with real braces and supports where required. A good air bag fitted to a poor bracket is still a poor kit. Brackets must be designed to carry the load safely and properly without slipping, bending or creating issues elsewhere.
We do not use pressed single-piece brackets of the type known to cause chassis damage on this application (due to not spreading the heavy load over a large enough area). Our brackets are properly designed for the job, built for strength and support, and this kit is made in Norwich.
Over the years we have replaced or advised against a lot of poor quality kits. That is one of the big differences between dealing with an air suspension specialist and buying blind from a generic seller. We do not just move boxes. We have years of practical experience in supplying, fitting and supporting air suspension systems.
Easy to fit - no drilling, no nonsense
One of the biggest selling points of this Fiat Ducato rear air suspension kit is that it is also one of the easiest to fit. On the correct vehicles, it replaces the bump stops with heavy duty brackets and bags, and the installation is extremely straightforward. Remove the bump stop and fasten the new assembly in place. That is it.
No unnecessary complexity, no elaborate fabrication and no drilling for the basic mechanical installation. That makes it attractive for capable DIY owners, local garages and professional installers alike.
What are the real world benefits?
A properly chosen and properly fitted air suspension assistance kit for a Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay or Jumper can help with a wide range of common complaints.
- Improves ride quality
- Helps recover lost suspension movement
- Lifts a sagging rear end
- Improves stability and handling
- Reduces wallowing
- Helps with crosswinds and passing lorries
- Improves behaviour with bike racks, carriers and towing
- Helps reduce grounding on ramps, ferries and awkward driveways
- Can make the vehicle feel more controlled and more comfortable
For many motorhome owners, the biggest difference is that the vehicle simply feels more composed and more pleasant to drive.
Important - not every Ducato based vehicle takes the same rear kit
This is where real experience matters. Many sellers advertise one kit as fitting everything from the mid-1990s onward. In our experience, it is not always that simple.
Newer Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and Jumper models, particularly post-2020 vehicles, often need a different lower profile rear kit because there is less room between the chassis and leaf spring near the bump stop area. Some earlier vehicles may also need the lower kit if there is limited space, especially on heavier conversions.
We have seen examples where a standard style kit can be physically installed but the bags end up too compressed to work properly. In that situation, ride quality can actually get worse rather than better. That is why choosing the correct kit matters.
As a general guide, if there is less than 200 mm of room between the chassis and the leaf spring at the intended ride height, you may need the lower or later type of kit. If you are unsure, contact us and we will help you identify the correct option.
We are also often asked about later vehicles with an electronic handbrake and vehicles fitted with composite rear leaf springs. This kit can be fitted to both, and always has been able to. If you are unsure about your exact suspension specification, just contact us and we will be happy to advise.
We also offer Fiat Ducato front struts
AirRide also offers front struts for all post-2006 Fiat Ducato based vehicles and for some post-2000 vehicles as well. These front strut solutions are ideal for owners wanting more control over front ride height, better balance, improved front end behaviour or a more complete air suspension solution.
If your vehicle is heavier than average, is an A-class motorhome, or you want a more advanced setup than rear assistance alone, please ask us about front air struts.
AL-KO chassis Ducato, Boxer, Relay and Jumper kits also available
Many motorhomes based on the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and Jumper platform use AL-KO chassis rather than the standard rear suspension arrangement. We also offer kits for AL-KO based vehicles, but the fitment details can vary and some applications need additional advice before ordering.
If you have an AL-KO based motorhome, please contact us for more details and we will point you in the right direction.
Why buy from AirRide?
We are air suspension specialists with one of the largest product ranges in the market and more experience in this field than any company we know of. We deal with real installations, real customer problems and real vehicle differences. That practical knowledge makes a big difference when you are trying to choose the correct kit for a specific van or motorhome.
We do not compromise safety or specification just to get the price down. Even our basic kits are chosen and supplied with reliability, fitment and proper support in mind.
Get your Ducato air suspension sorted before the season gets busy
If your Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay or Citroen Jumper is sitting low, riding poorly, grounding out, feeling unstable or simply not performing as it should, now is a very good time to sort it out. We currently have good stock of popular Ducato rear load support kits and can also advise on later vehicles, front struts and AL-KO applications.
Call AirRide on 0800 772 0315 or email enquiries@airride.uk for advice on the correct kit for your vehicle.
Whether you know it as a Ducato, Boxer, Relay or Jumper, we can help you choose a proper heavy duty air suspension solution that is built to do the job properly.
