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Suspension systems for motorhomes
Enjoy improved handling, more stability
and increased driving comfort.
Discover the possibilities.
Why optimise your motorhome's suspension system?
A motorhome journey is all about freedom and enjoyment. The original suspension system is designed for average use and therefore does not always provide the right support. Heavy loads, a high centre of gravity and additional accessories such as a bike carrier can negatively influence handling. This leads to an unstable vehicle and an uncomfortable and tiring driving experience.
Do you recognise this?
- You have to steer tightly and feel that crosswinds bring your motorhome out of balance.
- The motorhome tilts when cornering.
- The motorhome suspension compresses too much at speed bumps; the front dives and hits the bump stop and the rear sometimes even touches the ground.
- At various instants, you feel the camper swaying.
This is not only uncomfortable, but can also lead to dangerous situations or cause damage. This is why we offer suspension systems for demanding vehicles that provide better handling, more stability and increased driving comfort - regardless of load or road conditions.
Common suspension system problems
- Insufficient suspension travel to absorb uneven road surfaces. This regularly causes the vehicle to slam on its bump stops.
- Unstable driving characteristics and swaying, which increases in crosswinds.
- Excessive lean when cornering (body roll).
- Increased driving and interior noises.
- The front of the vehicle dives and hits the bump stop when going up or down a speed bump.
- The rear of the vehicle hits the road surface when driving up/down ramps, such as a ferry or speed bumps. This can cause damage to, for example, exhaust, tow bar, spare wheel or water tank.
Want to avoid these problems? Then a suspension system upgrade is the solution.
Original suspension system vs. MAD semi air suspension
Original suspension system
Equipped with semi air suspension - MAD Air Master Pro
Choose the right suspension system for your motorhome
MAD develops coil and air suspension systems that are tailor-made for motorhomes. Choosing the right suspension system is essential for optimal driving characteristics, driving comfort and a stable vehicle. Every motorhome and use case are unique. It is therefore important to consider the following factors when choosing a suspension system:
- The type of motorhome: camper van, semi-integrated or integral.
- The load: for example, does the camper have a storage or long rear overhang? Or does the motorhome regularly take extra loads on the tow bar?
- Your specific needs in terms of comfort, stability and ride height.
Which chassis does your motorhome have?
To select a suspension system, it is necessary to know which chassis your motorhome has. Motorhomes are assembled in different ways which sometimes makes it difficult to find this out. A common chassis, for example, is the light and low AL-KO chassis. Quickly find the right chassis and solution with our handy flowchart.
Coil suspension vs. air suspension
Which suspension system do you need?
A good suspension system is essential for a stable and comfortable ride. Depending on your motorhome, needs and budget, you can choose coil springs or air suspension. Below is a brief overview of the differences between the two systems.
Coil springs
Improved support
Our coil spring systems come in different variants. They all offer extra support compared to the original suspension system. This keeps the motorhome visibly level (at the rear) and maintains traction when accelerating (front-wheel drive). In addition, driving characteristics and stability improve, which also improves road safety.
It is also possible for most motorhomes to replace the front springs with lift springs. These are 25% stronger and +/- 20 mm longer than the original springs, raising the vehicle slightly higher. This leaves sufficient spring travel available in all conditions and the bump stop is reached less quickly, increasing comfort on poor road surfaces and at speed bumps.
The advantages of a MAD coil suspension system:
- Provides consistently more support compared to the original suspension system;
- Limits front-end diving;
- Prevents sagging and hitting the road surface at the rear;
- Increased comfort: spring travel remains available when loaded;
- Cost-effective solution;
- Easy to fit and maintenance-free;
- Improves comfort, stability and driving characteristics in loaded situations;
- Ideal for camper vans.
Discover all the benefits and more:
auxiliary springs | reinforced main springs | lift springs
Air suspension
Maximum comfort & adjustable
With an (semi) air suspension system of MAD, you enjoy more driving comfort and improve road holding and driving characteristics. The air suspension bellows effortlessly absorb any unevenness in the road surface. You easily set the desired ride height. The pressure in the bellows can be set separately on the left and right to enable levelling the motorhome in all conditions. Ideal for motorhomes where weight differences may occur due to the way they are set up or loaded.
If you choose the automatic height control, the motorhome will maintain the preset ride height under all loading conditions. With the Dual Control function, you can temporarily adjust the ride height manually at low speed.
Our air suspension systems can be combined with lift springs on the front axle on most motorhomes.
The advantages of a MAD air suspension system:
- Provides adjustable support;
- Adjustable ride height, the motorhome can be raised as required. Useful when getting on and off a ferry and levelling the motorhome;
- Provides maximum comfort and improves stability with varying load (left/right);
- Provides protection to the inventory by reducing shocks and vibrations;
- Improves driving characteristics;
- Supplied complete and assembled;
- Ideal for semi integral and integral motorhomes.
Discover all the benefits and more:
semi air suspension | full air suspension
MAD Special Duty Kit
Ultimate suspension system upgrade
The original suspension system, including shock absorbers, is designed for average use. When using an alternative suspension system of MAD, the original shock absorber in most cases still does its job perfectly well. In extreme cases, such as when heavily loaded, the original shock absorber may not be able to control the suspension sufficiently. This can then lead to an undesirably large jounce or rebound suspension travel and long rocking after irregularities in the road surface, which feels particularly uncomfortable.
A special shock absorber ensures that both larger and smaller irregularities in the road surface are transmitted less to the vehicle’s body, making them less noticeable to the occupants. This is because both the compression and rebound travel are now better and more smoothly controlled, allowing the vehicle to return quickly to its neutral driving position after each suspension movement.
B: Exiting a speed bump
Advantages deployment KONI Special ACTIVE shock absorbers:
1. Jounce and rebound suspension travel is better controlled.
2. Vehicle returns to neutral driving position more quickly.
That's why we combine a selection of our advanced suspension systems with KONI's high-end shock absorbers; the MAD Special Duty kits. The solution for specific deployment areas. Based on extensive testing, these kits have been carefully composed by us to deliver optimum performance in extreme situations. A smart investment for top performance, which also offers a price advantage in both purchase and fitting.
MAD Special Duty Kit
+ MAD suspension systems
+ KONI shock absorbers
Find out which suspension systems and Special Duty Kits are available by vehicle in the Product Finder.
MAD Special Duty Kit
Want to take your vehicle’s handling, driving performance, and comfort to the highest level? Choose the MAD Special Duty Kit and experience the difference.
