2020 v 2022/3

Lucinda · Aug 14, 2022

Hi all, looking for thoughts and opinions please. I have a 2020 Ocean, in which I spend 6 months a year touring. I love it but would like to add air suspension to improve ride over poor roads and get a little extra clearance for the really lumpy off-road bits. I'm wondering whether it's worth getting a new vehicle if I'm going to invest a lot of additional money adding air suspension. I'd also be open to suggestions on alternative vehicles.....

chockswahay · Aug 14, 2022

I would have thought you are better off keeping what you have. You have already taken the hit and you won’t have to wait for a year or more to get one! Also it will be like most other ‘options’ on a car…… you won’t see much return on your air suspension when you come to sell as most people aren’t bothered and won’t wish to pay the extra that you will feel entitled to ask.

I have never driven one on standard suspension but I am told the ride on our (30mm VW) lowered Coast is an improvement ……..

B J G · Aug 14, 2022

I've had VB Air Suspension which was replaced by Bilstein Air Suspension.

VB has soft damping which will improve rough surface comfort. I found mine 'bounced' too much and as VB failed to respond I changed to the Bilstein setup.

I personally wouldn't change to air expecting a better ride as it is mainly controlled by the shock absorbers which you can't alter on the front if not to your liking, rear yes.
Main advantage of air is the ability to change ride height to suit road surface or obstacles such as speed humps and being able to level up on site within suspension travel capabilities. Also no rear sag as auto axle levelling always in operation.
VB heights are preset , Bilstein you can set your own but won't have on site autolevel but you can set it easily and faster by control panel and reference to a spirit level.

Adding to a new vehicle would give the longest time to justify the cost.

Californication69 · Aug 14, 2022

B J G said:
I've had VB Air Suspension which was replaced by Bilstein Air Suspension.

VB has soft damping which will improve rough surface comfort. I found mine 'bounced' too much and as VB failed to respond I changed to the Bilstein setup.

I personally wouldn't change to air expecting a better ride as it is mainly controlled by the shock absorbers which you can't alter on the front if not to your liking, rear yes.
Main advantage of air is the ability to change ride height to suit road surface or obstacles such as speed humps and being able to level up on site within suspension travel capabilities. Also no rear sag as auto axle levelling always in operation.
VB heights are preset , Bilstein you can set your own but won't have on site autolevel but you can set it easily and faster by control panel and reference to a spirit level.

Adding to a new vehicle would give the longest time to justify the cost.

Ballpark cost of the Bilstein if you don’t mind giving out this info ?
The VB is around £5k?

SFO · Aug 14, 2022

Reduce size of alloys, and fit higher profile tyres?

Cumbrian Cali · Aug 14, 2022

Lucinda said:
Hi all, looking for thoughts and opinions please. I have a 2020 Ocean, in which I spend 6 months a year touring. I love it but would like to add air suspension to improve ride over poor roads and get a little extra clearance for the really lumpy off-road bits. I'm wondering whether it's worth getting a new vehicle if I'm going to invest a lot of additional money adding air suspension. I'd also be open to suggestions on alternative vehicles.....

Hello, can't talk about air suspension or what's going to happen in the future but we've been looking at cali's and 2020/2021 vans are currently selling for the lor very near to a negotiated price of a new van if not the lost price..on that basis we've just placed an order for a new van and know we have to wait but thinking it makes more sense, it might be something worth thinking about/looking into x

B J G · Aug 14, 2022

Californication69 said:
Ballpark cost of the Bilstein if you don’t mind giving out this info ?
The VB is around £5k?

Bilstein is just the air bag/dampers. You have a choice as to the control computer and air compressor fitted. Some have 8 preset levels, mine has 3.
Bistein is based on their B14 dampers which are sports orientated. If they used their latest Comfort damper it would give a ride suited to Cali relaxed touring.
Price wise it will be more expensive than VB due to a higher base unit spec cost.
My cost included removal of the VB units and was a few years ago.

2020 v 2022/3

Lucinda

chockswahay

B J G

Californication69

Bill

SFO

Cumbrian Cali

B J G

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