Thread: Airbag suspension and off-road driving

Yes I've used the coil helper airbags on two vehicles, a RRC and the current 130, and am not a fan. They can level a load but I think they prevent the coil from working properly and make for a harsher suspension than the right coils for the job would do. I'm not aware of them being original equipment from any vehicle manufacturer, which I think is telling.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

And it turns out GrizzlynBear managed to wreck an airbag through too much articulation.

It turns out they workshop that fitted the airbags didn’t read the instructions……..hence they had a failure which should never have happened.

Originally Posted by Tins

See if you can have a yarn with W&KO about his setup. On the road atm o a little difficult to reach.

Yep Full time on the road…..sure we are touring but ours has had plenty of articulation to test em out over the years…..although not extreme tracks.

I cannot recall the total travel, it’s in my build thread…..if you need more travel than maybe you need to retain coils……for us travel hasn’t been an issue

Our have been through the VHC, probably not the toughest tracks, we did all right…..a rear locker helps a little.

Originally Posted by W&KO

It turns out they workshop that fitted the airbags didn’t read the instructions……..hence they had a failure which should never have happened.

Interesting .... do you know in what episode they talk about it? I just did a quick search but couldn't find it.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

Interesting .... do you know in what episode they talk about it? I just did a quick search but couldn't find it.

It’s in their cape York videos…..one good point is I now know you can put a bag back together on the side of a track.

I have ran airbags all round on my 130 for the last 10 years, i think it would be a similar setup to MLDs - airbag man front bags, these are based on a p38 range rover bag i believe, and a truck air spring rear using a combination of 2 different assembly's to get the piston and bag i wanted.

The only issues i have had are failed bellows in the front but never a failure that i couldn't continue to drive with just leaks, i also carry a spare bellow on long trips just in case - i did break a shock mount on the front but that was because it was a crap terrafirma mount, we remade these adjusting the height top and bottom using heavier material and ive not had an issue since. As for the rears, they have never had an issue. As for compressor, control valves/ECU etc i have had a few issues but again nothing that has stopped me - i always carry some PTC fittings with Schrader valves so i can easily pop the lines and inflate the bags manually if i have to.

As for suitability for off road use, my setup works amazingly well off road, comfortable on rough terrain and corrugations, plenty of travel and well balanced in more serious stuff, so much better then any other land rover ive had on coils but its a bit of a trade off with body roll on road - this could easily be sorted with a decent sway bar. With its current setup we have taken the 130 all around the country, cape york, kimberly region, gulf of carpentaria, many trips to Fraser island etc etc all heavily loaded and towing a camper.

Originally Posted by cal415

I have ran airbags all round on my 130 for the last 10 years, i think it would be a similar setup to MLDs - airbag man front bags, these are based on a p38 range rover bag i believe, and a truck air spring rear using a combination of 2 different assembly's to get the piston and bag i wanted.

The only issues i have had are failed bellows in the front but never a failure that i couldn't continue to drive with just leaks, i also carry a spare bellow on long trips just in case - i did break a shock mount on the front but that was because it was a crap terrafirma mount, we remade these adjusting the height top and bottom using heavier material and ive not had an issue since. As for the rears, they have never had an issue. As for compressor, control valves/ECU etc i have had a few issues but again nothing that has stopped me - i always carry some PTC fittings with Schrader valves so i can easily pop the lines and inflate the bags manually if i have to.

As for suitability for off road use, my setup works amazingly well off road, comfortable on rough terrain and corrugations, plenty of travel and well balanced in more serious stuff, so much better then any other land rover ive had on coils but its a bit of a trade off with body roll on road - this could easily be sorted with a decent sway bar. With its current setup we have taken the 130 all around the country, cape york, kimberly region, gulf of carpentaria, many trips to Fraser island etc etc all heavily loaded and towing a camper.

Do you have any photos of the setup?

I'd love to see it!

I've got a simple setup in mind for a 110 that's is ECU controlled and should be seemless, but there's a fair bit to fabricate and sort yet.

I run front and rear sway bars, but the bar on the back of one of the 130's could be heavier.

Originally Posted by shack

Do you have any photos of the setup?

I'd love to see it!

I've got a simple setup in mind for a 110 that's is ECU controlled and should be seemless, but there's a fair bit to fabricate and sort yet.

I run front and rear sway bars, but the bar on the back of one of the 130's could be heavier.

I think i will have some in an old build post on here? im not sure what i have actually posted, but here is a pic i had handy.