Reinforced shock absorbers for motorhomes of all brands

According to many customer enquiries, the swaying and rocking of the vehicle greatly undermines the sense of safety. For some, ruts in the road are a real nightmare. On roundabouts, many feel as though their vehicle is about to tip over. Many drivers feel as if they are on the high seas. When the vehicle is stationary, it feels as though it is ‘rocking like a boat’. Crosswinds are also a major problem for motorhomes of all makes, and for some drivers this even means they prefer not to drive on windy days.

This is because motorhomes are usually based on standard light commercial vehicles or on a stripped-down lorry chassis. The original shock absorbers fitted to motorhomes are usually not up to the diverse demands placed on them.

This suggests that your motorhome’s shock absorbers are too weak or even faulty. Original shock absorbers from a van are usually not up to the diverse demands of motorhomes, as they do not take into account the significantly different usage and the fact that motorhomes almost always travel at their weight limit. The standard chassis is often not designed to withstand this constant strain:

• A completely different vehicle height and width,
• a long rear overhang, (measured from the centre of the rear axle to the rear of the vehicle)
• additional tanks (moving load),
• a motorcycle bridge at the rear (shifted centre of gravity) or
• Load on the roof (raised centre of gravity).

Failing to adjust the dampers to these new requirements is negligent.

Marquart Germany offers suspension components for motorhomes of all makes to suit every need: stiffer and firmer shock absorbers for the rear axle, and firmer yet comfort-oriented shock absorbers or struts for the front axle. In addition, we offer shock absorbers with different characteristics in both the rebound and compression stages. We also supply the struts with springs tailored to your requirements. We have these in stock for you in various combinations of both spring rate and height. You decide how comfortable or sporty the handling of your motorhome will be.

• Greater stability in crosswinds and when crossing bridges,
• Improved handling in stormy weather and gusts,
• Stability on winding roads; no more body roll or being pushed out of bends,
• Excellent handling in roundabouts,
• Swaying, bouncing and spongy steering are a thing of the past.

We are often asked by motorhome owners: “What can I do to improve my motorhome’s handling? What are the benefits of air suspension for my motorhome?”

Air suspension is particularly useful when you need to raise the vehicle’s height or compensate for uneven ground at your parking spot. This is especially beneficial for vehicles with a long rear overhang (from the centre of the rear axle to the rear of the vehicle). For example, if you frequently use ferries or drive on steep ramps. An air spring can also be beneficial if the vehicle is sensitive to wind. However, an air suspension system only ever operates vertically.

However, to improve driving safety, it is particularly important to take account of horizontal forces (lateral roll and sway, and all pitching and rocking movements). To significantly improve a vehicle’s handling, fast-acting shock absorbers are the first choice. As soon as the body moves out of its horizontal position, it must be held in place by a strong yet finely tuned rebound damping. The compression stage of our dampers allows for rapid compression without letting the cab ‘bottom out’.

Reinforced shock absorbers for motorhomes, with perfectly matched rebound and compression settings for the front and rear axles, keep the vehicle safely on track even in tricky situations. No matter what make of motorhome you’re driving – whether it’s a Carthago, Euramobil or another brand – our chassis optimisation will make your motorhome’s handling significantly more composed and safer.

Volker K. from Quckborn

For motorhomes, we have a wide range of chassis optimisations in stock for you: raising the rear axle using an additional spring layer and/or shims, or completely new spring assemblies. Increasing the load capacity following an individual assessment, or fitting air suspension (including with a certificate of compliance). And, of course, reinforced Marquart shock absorbers. There are restrictions for Alko chassis. We’d be happy to discuss your requirements to find the perfect chassis optimisation for your needs. The result will be a more comfortable ride, better directional stability, greater ground clearance and a level vehicle alignment.

In an interview with Reisemobil International, Christian Marquart explains the importance of suitable shock absorbers for the handling of motorhomes.

Click on the testimonials from our satisfied customers below to see how we can optimise your motorhome’s suspension. Send us an enquiry!