VW T5 / T6 Transporter Rear Full-Air Suspension Kit

Standard coil suspension on the Transporter is a fixed compromise. Empty, the rear can feel harsh; loaded, it settles onto the bump stops and the ride deteriorates. A rear full-air kit replaces that fixed rate with an adjustable air spring — you set the rear pressure to suit the load, so ride height is restored under weight and the empty-van harshness is reduced.
 
Adjustable spring rate: raise rear pressure as the load goes on, drop it when empty
Restores rear ride height under load rather than sitting on the bump stops
Internal bump stop retained
Bolt-in rear fitment; standard suspension geometry retained
Reversible
Designed and built by On Air Suspension — engineered, prototyped and tested at our Ongar workshop
 
Payload note: This kit adjusts ride height and spring rate for the load your Transporter is already rated to carry. It does not increase your van's legal payload or gross vehicle weight. Refer to Volkswagen or your V5C for official payload capability. Where a legal weight increase is needed, up-plating is a separate process carried out by a specialist third-party company.

How you control it
 
Base kit — manual inflation (AKF1017Z). Set rear air pressure yourself via the supplied inflation panel, using a tyre inflator or workshop air line. You adjust to suit the load and it holds at that pressure until you change it. Simple, no electronics.
 
Optional upgrade — On Air Active automatic control. Add our own in-house electronic control system to level the rear automatically to a set height and lower it on demand for loading access, without reaching for an air line. Two full-air options:
 
CKA9002Z — S1.1, with tank. Adds an air tank and pressure sensor for stored air and faster response. The right choice for full-air systems using the lowering function.
 
CKA9006Z — S1.0, no tank. For full-air installations where space is limited or stored air isn't required.
 
Who it's for
 
Tradespeople with variable load. Vans that run empty one hour and near-capacity the next sit at a different height each time, changing the ride and headlight aim. Air lets you match rear pressure to the day's load.
 
Rear-biased conversions (food vans / coffee vans). We've fitted rear full-air to T5/T6 espresso and food conversions where the weight — machine, water, batteries, generator — sits over the rear axle. A dense static load pushes the rear down on coils; air restores the rear to a level ride height.
 
Campervan conversions. Fixed furniture, water, leisure batteries and rear kitchens add permanent rear weight. Air compensates without removing or modifying the factory suspension.
 
FAQ
What does a rear full-air kit actually change on a T5/T6? It replaces the fixed-rate rear coil with an adjustable air spring. Add pressure and the rear rate rises and ride height is restored; reduce it and the empty ride softens. You're setting the rear to suit the load rather than living with one compromise setting.
 
Does it let me carry more weight? No. It manages the load your Transporter is already rated for by holding rear ride height — it does not raise your legal payload or GVW. Check Volkswagen's figures or your V5C. A legal weight increase (up-plating) is a separate process handled by a specialist third-party company; we can provide technical documentation for it.
 
Do I have to adjust it manually, or can it level itself? The base kit is manual — you set the rear pressure for the load and it holds there until you change it. If you'd rather it levelled the rear automatically and lowered on demand from the cab, that's the On Air Active upgrade (CKA9002Z or CKA9006Z), our own in-house control system.
 
I run a coffee / espresso conversion — is it suitable? Yes — these are a common fit for us. The machine, water and battery bank concentrate weight over the rear axle, which pushes a coil-sprung rear down. Air restores rear ride height under that static load. Tell us your build weight and we'll advise on setup.
 
What about other food-van conversions? Same principle for any rear-biased build — pizza ovens on pull-out slides, holding freezers and soft-serve units, multi-tap bars with keg storage. These put dense, largely static weight over the rear; the kit lets you restore height rather than sitting low.
 
I run a water tank (window cleaning / pressure washing) — does it help with a shifting load? A part-full tank changes rear weight as it empties and the water moves. Air lets you set rear height for the tank's weight and adjust it as that changes across the day. (Kept to height management only — no roll/cornering-stability claim.)
 
I'm a trade with a different load every day — is that the point of it? That's exactly the use case. Instead of one fixed rate, you match rear pressure to the day's load — heavy in, more pressure; empty, less. The On Air Active upgrade automates that if you'd rather not set it by hand.
 
Will it fit my T5 or T6? Yes across the range — it fits T26 and T32, front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive (4MOTION), on both T5 and T6. If you're unsure, send us your registration or chassis details.
 
Does it need servicing? There's no scheduled service interval — the manual kit is mechanically simple. Problems in the first 3–5 years are uncommon, and air springs themselves often last well beyond that in service. If something does go wrong it's usually straightforward: an air line that's worked loose or split (a trivial repair), or an air spring that's perished or split (a direct replacement). The give-away is the rear sitting low again shortly after you've re-pressurised it — that points to a line or a spring rather than anything complex. The brackets are stainless steel, which resists corrosion.
 
Can I still run the van at normal height? Yes. Set it to your normal ride height empty and adjust up only when you load. Nothing about the factory setup is removed. Do you fit it, or is it DIY? Both — it's a bolt-in rear kit, and we fit at our Ongar workshop.

How long until it ships? Built to order — usual despatch within 2–3 business days.