Question for owners of Interstates with VB-Air Suspension

[Boxster1971]

My question for Interstate owners with the VB-Air Suspension System: does your rig have the rear under floor storage box shown below?

I have long considered upgrading my rear suspension to either the VB-Air Suspension system or the Glide-Rite system. Now that I’m starting to get serious about it I have come to realize it might not be able to retrofit these air suspensions. They both require about 15 inches of clean space behind the rear axle. On my 2013 Interstate the Onan generator is mounted less than 4 inches behind the rear axle to allow space for the spare tire and the Airstream added rear under floor storage box as shown in the photo below.

I’ve looked at some of the recent photos on the Colonial Airstream web site and it looks like the units with VB-Air Suspension don’t have the rear under floor storage box.

Thanks,
- - Mike

[Mcrid]

I have the '16 GT with the VB Air Suspension and there is no under floor storage. And I have spent a good bit of time under the van installing two additional AGMs and can assure you there is no space for an under-floor storage. The spare tire is right up next to the Onan. Suspension air hoses are just on the other side of the Onan.

[summerwood]

correct....rear storage box is eliminated. Ride in the rear is worth it

[Boxster1971]

Thanks Mcrider and summerwood. Guess I'll have to pass on an air suspension upgrade since there is just no room under my van. Getting air suspension will have to be on my next van - if I ever get a new one.

[markc12v30]

So, the ride is worth it! Very interesting. My wife rides on the back lounge all the time with the grandkids. Kids love the bounce, but my wife doesn't. Available on the 2016 models but not as a retrofit. I guess I need to think about a new Interstate. Does anyone have a good working aftermarket air suspension system? Or is the Airstream model well worth the investment? I'd really like to keep my 2014 if possible.

[73shark]

Might check w/ VB to see if there's enuf clearance on yours or see if spare and generator could be moved back. Hard to say if that's possible w/o seeing how the 2016s are set up.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by 73shark

Might check w/ VB to see if there's enuf clearance on yours or see if spare and generator could be moved back. Hard to say if that's possible w/o seeing how the 2016s are set up.

I looked closer at some photos I had taken at Hersey of a 2016 Interstate with VB Air Suspension. Since they eliminated the under floor storage box they just kept the stock OEM spare tire mount an moved the Onan generator back to leave enough space behind the rear axle for the air suspension cross links. I also looked at the technical specs of the VB Full-Air Suspension on the VB web site. It indicated you need 17 inches of clearance behind the the axle, measured from the axle center line. That matches the 15 inches I saw someone post in the past.

Here is North America dealer list from the VB USA web site.
http://www.vbairsuspensionusa.com/us...lers/list.html

Don't bother contacting Advanced RV since they won't do retrofits on existing vans.


- - Mike
2013 Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by markc12v30

So, the ride is worth it! Very interesting. My wife rides on the back lounge all the time with the grandkids. Kids love the bounce, but my wife doesn't. Available on the 2016 models but not as a retrofit. I guess I need to think about a new Interstate. Does anyone have a good working aftermarket air suspension system? Or is the Airstream model well worth the investment? I'd really like to keep my 2014 if possible.

The ride is worth it, but to get it on your 2014 you would have to give up one of three things now under your van, assuming you have a Lounge EXT model.
1) Onan generator
2) Spare tire
3) Under floor storage box

I know there are a few Interstates with retrofitted full air suspensions. The Sprinterstore in Oregon installed the Glide-Rite system on at least one Interstate, but I don't think it was a 24 foot EXT model. The Stonebrooke shop in Minnesota installed a VB Air system on a 22 foot Roadtrek Sprinter with a generator, but I don't know if it had a spare under the van.

From my research only the VB Full-Air system is approved by Mercedes for our 3500 (5 ton) vans. That is probably why they have gained a sizable presence in the US market.


- - Mike
2013 Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

[dapolrbear]

Anyone know if the 2017 VB air ride have an air tank with pump or just pump?

[UKDUDE]

If you look at Advanced RV's website, you can see that the latest offering from VB does include an air tank.
There are also some pictures of the undercarriage.
I believe Advanced RV have chosen to leave out the spare tire.
https://advanced-rv.com/framework/

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by UKDUDE

If you look at Advanced RV's website, you can see that the latest offering from VB does include an air tank.
There are also some pictures of the undercarriage.
I believe Advanced RV have chosen to leave out the spare tire.
https://advanced-rv.com/framework/

Yes - Advanced RV does not mount a spare under the van - they do have a large battery box behind the rear axle for their lithium batteries.


- - Mike
2013 Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

[dapolrbear]

I saw that on Advanced RV website. Let me rephrase: Just wondering if the 2016/2017 Airstream Interstate air ride will be equipped with the new version.

Thanks.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by dapolrbear

I saw that on Advanced RV website. Let me rephrase: Just wondering if the 2016/2017 Airstream Interstate air ride will be equipped with the new version.

Thanks.

There might not be anyone on this forum that can answer your question. You could call Colonial Airstream in NJ and ask for Patrick Botticelli. Ask him if the VB Air Suspensions now include the storage tank - the newest version.


- - Mike
2013 Lounge EXT on 2012 Sprinter

[Boxster1971]

Lastest news from VB-Airsuspension today over on Sprinter-Forum. It was posted on the VERY active LTV Unity subforum.

http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum...t=43557&page=4

Re: VB Air Suspension
This is Gertjan Meijer speaking on behalf of VB-Airsuspension. I would like to reply to a couple of questions asked recently in this topic. First, our air ride suspension products we sell are approved by Mercedes-Benz. However, only certified VB-Installers are able to install them and this is not possible directly from Mercedes-Benz. The companies performing retrofits are listed at our website www.vb-usa.com. Besides this we have a couple of manufacturer's (like airstream) using our system but do not offer a retrofit solution (they are not listed yet on our website). It is correct that we built 1 unit in South Carolina. This was done by an upfitter near the factory but we don't work together with this company anymore. Good news for the people living on the east-coast, we are going to add an VB-Installer in Charlotte, North Carolina within a few weeks. The data will be published when the training course has been succesfully completed. Regards Gertjan