Arriving simply relaxed at your camper holiday destination

This is quite unsatisfactory, especially when you know how to do it better.” The basic problem with almost all campers: They are based on simple van suspensions and “inherit” their suspension setup – anything but ideal for camping applications because of the different load profile. While a normal van is sometimes full, sometimes empty, campers are almost always loaded to 75 percent due to the fixed installations. Including luggage, bicycles, etc., the load can quickly reach almost 100 percent.

This is exactly where the new B6 Camper high-performance shock absorbers come in. Their special set-up results in added safety in crosswind, improved grip in bends and makes the driving experience more intense. In addition, traction improves, handling becomes more precise, ride comfort increases and the stronger damping reduces driving noise due to optimised rolling behaviour. “We know from customer enquiries and the steadily growing registration figures in the camper segment that there is a great demand for camper shock absorbers”, Becker adds. Since well over half of all campers in Europe are based on the Fiat Ducato, BILSTEIN initially concentrated on this platform (as of the 2006 models) and the technically closely related Citroën Jumper and Peugeot Boxer van models.

Both panel van conversions and semiintegrated vans were taken into account during development, while other models such as the Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit are also the focus of BILSTEIN’s road tests. “We focused on a good price-performance ratio from the outset to ensure that the installation of our suspension solution is also worthwhile for smaller budgets or older vehicles. Therefore, we opted for a pure damper solution – our core competence”, said Matthias Becker. This means that the B6 Camper upgrade is not only cheaper than a complete suspension, but also installation costs remain low. Registration in the vehicle documents is not necessary for the B6 Camper and the even more powerful B6 Camper Advanced. “We wanted to realise an option with different characteristic curves for particularly demanding customers.

This is the only way to really master the balancing act between comfort and driving safety”, Becker knows. The purely mechanical DampMatic® was exactly the right technology on the BILSTEIN shelf. “The result convinced me immediately in the road test”, says Becker enthusiastically: “The ingenious system enables soft characteristics at low damper piston speeds and tight characteristics at high speeds. Compromises in the setup are thus a thing of the past: I can cruise comfortably with the B6 Camper Advanced and in the next moment avoid a suddenly appearing obstacle while keeping directional stability. The damper also responds perfectly to crosswinds on the motorway.” BILSTEIN B6 Camper and B6 Advanced high-performance dampers also bring a significant improvement in handling for craftmen’s vehicles, which are always heavily loaded because of their fixtures.