Air Suspension vs. Hydraulic Levelling

Have you ever found yourself weighing up which investment is better for you, air suspension or hydraulic jacks? Well, we've compiled our expert insights on both systems to make the decision a little easier for you.

What is Air Suspension? 

Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension that uses compressed air to replace or work alongside your original suspension system. The VB-FullAir suspension kit replaces your original suspension whereas their SemiAir and FSD upgrades work alongside. The VB-FullAir system also has a range of features such as water tank tilt and VB-Autolevel, which we will talk more about further down.

VB-Air Suspension systems aim to filter out unevenness in the road surface, improving ride comfort, safety and stability, along with helping common issues such as grounding out, rear end sagging, unwanted vibrations and more.

What is Hydraulic Levelling?

Hydraulic levelling is a process used to achieve a precise and level surface using hydraulic jacks. When activated, hydraulic fluid is pumped into these jacks, raising or lowering different corners of the motorhome to make it level, even on uneven ground.

With SHR Levelling your vehicle is levelled in under 60 seconds, so hydraulic jacks offer automatic levelling from the touch of a button. Along with some other features including safe tyre change and a weighing function.

Which System is Better for me?

When deciding on air suspension or levelling jacks, the main thing to consider is your travelling habits. Whether you prefer an adventure and you're constantly on the go or you'd rather opt for a relaxing long term stay, we can help!

You've found your perfect motorhome, you've brought it home and your getting it packed for your first adventure but then you've hit the road and you quickly realize that the drive isn’t as comfortable as you expected. This is where air suspension comes in! This is something we often hear and people are discouraged due to the amount of money spent on the motorhome to then experience ride discomfort, however a thing to remember is motorhomes are built on a regular van chassis, now with a lot of extra weight. 

Air suspension is designed to improve the stability, comfort and safety of your journeys, therefore if your a regular traveller and don't like staying in one place for too long, air suspension could be the more beneficial system for you. We often get customers who enjoy extensive touring and spend lots of time on the move and have previously not enjoyed the drive, so they opt for air suspension to ensure a quieter and more comfortable ride, especially on long journeys.

As for getting your vehicle levelled, our 4 corner full air suspension offers VB-AutoLevel as an additional feature. So, if you've found the perfect campsite spot and pulled up for the night but you've noticed the ground is uneven, AutoLevel will get your vehicle back to a horizonal position with the push of a button. Now, if you prefer to camp off-grid rather then on a campsite, this system may be the better option for you due to how discreet the auto level feature is. No levelling jacks mean a more subtle way to get your vehicle levelled.

On the other hand, hydraulic levelling could be the way to go if you're planning to stay in one place for a longer duration or if you're someone who migrates seasonally, such as during the summer months. Hydraulic levelling is very precise and provides solid, secure support. It works by lifting the weight off the wheels and onto hydraulic cylinders which gives extra stability. This can be especially beneficial for long-term stays, as it helps relieve strain on your vehicle’s structure and ensures that your appliances, such as the fridge, shower or air conditioning can function properly without any hiccups (a rocking motorhome isn't ideal when you're trying to have a shower!) For the lucky ones who are set up for the season somewhere nice and hot, the added stability also provides a more comfortable living experience, particularly in areas where the ground may be uneven or soft. When camping on un-even ground, the length of hydraulic cylinders mean that these systems are able to level better than air suspension, which is restricted to the travel of the suspension.

Simply put when thinking about the two systems, if solid stability when parked is your top priority, we would recommend opting for hydraulic levelling. Alternatively, if you want to be able to level your vehicle while having extra ride comfort when driving, air suspension is the way to go.