What began as a small family business run out of a garage in Queensland 30 years ago has grown into the Airbag Man brand we know and trust, delivering premium air suspension solutions for vehicles and caravans around Australia and worldwide.
Founded in 1995 by Richard Clamp, Airbag Man is proudly a family owned and operated company based in Brendale, Qld. Over its three decades and two generations of family members, this Aussie company has established itself as Australia’s leading designer and manufacturer of air suspension systems.
Whether it’s your tow vehicle, caravan, camper trailer or RV, there’s an Airbag Man solution for a safer, more durable and more comfortable ride. All the airbag kits are designed, engineered and hand-assembled in its Queensland warehouse using quality components sourced from trusted local and international manufacturers, including Firestone and AMK.
Airbag Man has held its ISO certification since 2007, and all products are thoroughly tested across thousands of kilometres in Australia’s harsh conditions, on icy roads in Alaska and even in deserts in the Middle East to ensure optimum performance in real-world conditions.
“Airbag Man was founded on a pioneering spirit,” Ben Clamp, Airbag Man General Manager explained. “Back in the 1990s, air suspension was commonly being used in Europe and the UK, but no one was doing it here. We literally started by putting air suspension on the map in Australia! That first-to-market mentality has carried through from the start. Airbag Man was the first company in the world to install airbags on a caravan and also the first to put a Nissan GU Patrol on full airbag suspension.”
Airbag Man suspension in a caravan
Airbag Man has continued to grow over the years, applying airbags in diverse applications, from truck seats, ambulances and armoured vehicles through to movie making equipment and bottle manufacturing plants.
“We’ve expanded our technical resources, to allow an increasing amount of R&D in-house. We continue to expand our dealer network, increasing our market presence and enhancing our sales and service nationally. As long as there’s a need for vibration isolation and actuation, we’ll continue to expand our offering and keep on bagging things!”
Unique qualities and innovations
Airbag Man has a massive lineup of more than 1200 kits, each one designed for specific vehicles. This means that every component in the kit — the airbags, mounting hardware, fittings and so on — have been designed and tested to be compatible with that particular vehicle make and model.
“Airbag Man is the only company in Australia with a range of purpose-fit airbag kits this extensive,” Ben said. “Having custom applications for each vehicle, as opposed to universal bracketry for example, helps to ensure the best possible fit and that the airbags are positioned for optimal performance. For example, it’s the airbags carrying the load not the brackets, the airbags are extending and retracting without distortion, and so on.”
Testing the RAM and WeGo camper on the roads to Cape York, Qld
Airbag Man also E-coats (electrocoats) all of its brackets to make them more chip and scratch resistant than powder coating. E-coating is a process between painting and plating, where an electrical current is used to coat a metal surface with a protective layer.
Another Airbag Man innovation is its unique and patented High-Pressure Sleeves, which are designed to allow its coil assist airbags to run higher pressures for heavier appliances, such as when towing a caravan or trailer. The sleeves also provide an additional layer of protection for the airbags in both on and offroad conditions.
The new Airbag Man wireless air control app
Integrated technology is a growing trend, and not one we expect to slow down anytime soon. And to answer the demand, Airbag Man released its new wireless air control app powered by Firestone this year. This new air control system can be paired with Airbag Man’s coil and leaf assist airbags and two-corner full-air suspension kits with onboard air compressors (more on these later), allowing users to remotely inflate and deflate their airbags via their smartphone or similar device.
Convenience is king here, and the cutting-edge wireless technology is simple and easy to use. No gauges or wiring is required in the cab — simply use the app interface to adjust your ride height across different/uneven loads and road conditions and access live system updates and diagnostics.
The wireless air control system has been used across all kinds of setups, from Jeeps and Jayco JPOD X camper trailers through to Isuzu NPS Expedition trucks.
Airbag Man wireless air control systems being tested in Isuzu NPS Expedition trucks
It’s compatible with two-corner air suspension systems and comes with two load presets so you can easily adjust your vehicle to loaded and unloaded levels at the touch of a button. You can also control the airbags individually, allowing for side-to-side levelling once you’re pulled up.
There is also an optional remote control that can be paired with the system; it’s not necessary but can be a handy backup to have around camp.
The wireless app control system is available from Airbag Man directly or via its network of dealers, with the free app downloadable on both Android and iPhone.
How does air suspension improve travel on and off the road?
There are plenty of ways that air suspension products can enhance your driving and/or towing experience and also make it safer, whether you’re on the road or off.
When you’re towing a caravan, or have your vehicle loaded to the max with all your gear, the extra weight can negatively impact your ride quality, handling and the longevity of your setup. It’s something we discuss often here in Caravan World, but it remains a common misunderstanding that just because a vehicle is legally rated to tow a certain weight, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to do so.
Airbag Man at the entrance to Cape York, Qld
There are many dangers to towing a caravan or trailer that is too heavy for your vehicle, including suspension sag, unpredictable handling and control, loss of braking performance, trailer sway and wear and tear of many components across your vehicle and van.
It’s crucial to have the proper suspension height, especially when towing. Air suspension is a great solution for offsetting additional weight and the stiff ride quality that may occur when driving unladen with upgraded springs and shocks.
“The beauty of airbags is that they give you the best of both worlds: a safe, comfortable and level ride when loaded and unloaded. Instead of needing an excessive, heavy-rated spring which would normally be quite stiff and uncomfortable, especially when unloaded, you can use a more moderate spring in your tow vehicle for a nicer ride, and then adjust the airbags as needed as load is either added to or removed,” Ben explained.
What air suspension setups does Airbag Man offer?
Tow vehicle options
Airbag Man has three main types of air suspension systems, which fit into two main categories: assist or ‘helper’ airbags, which are intended to work with the vehicle’s factory or aftermarket suspension type such as leaf or coil; and full air suspension, where the coils are replaced entirely with a rolling sleeve style airbag.
Assist airbags
Airbag Man’s assist or helper airbag kits are designed to work alongside existing coil or leaf suspension systems to help offset suspension sag and return the vehicle to its ideal ride height once you’ve got everything loaded. And then once you’re unloaded or no longer towing, simply deflate the airbags to go back to your everyday setup.
Coil and leaf assist kits come in various shapes and sizes to suit a large range of factory and aftermarket coil springs. The leaf assist kits will also come with brackets specific to the vehicle and/or the leaf suspension.
Helper or assist airbags are one of the most popular choices
Full airbag suspension
Two-corner and four-corner full air suspension kits are for selected coil sprung vehicles only and will allow you to remove the coil spring entirely and use a rolling sleeve style airbag for the best ride height, weight carrying capability and ride quality.
This suspension system has the same benefits of the coil and leaf assistance kits, with the ability of lowering the vehicle for height clearance, ease of hitching/unhitching and loading/unloading, as well as side-to-side levelling when needed (this is especially helpful when you’ve got a rooftop tent or internal sleeping areas).
Suspension options for your caravan
Airbag Man has been offering air suspension solutions for Aussie caravans since the 90s, revolutionising the industry and offering a unique way to improve ride quality and experience. The brand hasn’t slowed down, and its products can be found in caravans all over the world.
The caravan air suspension options differ slightly to the tow vehicles; while there are still assist/helper double bellow style and rolling sleeve style airbags available, these airbags are typically paired with independent trailing arms — from various caravan suspension and chassis manufacturers. It’s from here that owners will have different package options or levels of air control to choose how they want their system to be operated.
Airbag Man suspension on a Jayco caravan
Variable spring rates are essential and allow for a more comfortable ride no matter the load, and air suspension can enhance the setup even further. Airbags can help ensure the van tows smoothly on and off the road and with different load weights and offset some of the ride quality issues that can arise with excessively stiff springs.
“Additionally, due to the superior isolation capabilities, the airbags will help reduce vibrations through the van during travel which will reduce the chance of damage to the van’s contents and the van itself,” Ben said.
How to choose the right air suspension setup
If your tow vehicle is suffering from suspension sag or handling issues, then an air suspension kit is going to be a good option to make the vehicle ride and handle the way it’s supposed to. From there, it’s your suspension type (coil or leaf) that will determine what style of air suspension you’ll need. Airbag Man’s website is the best place to go next so you can browse the wide range of available kits or build your own to get a setup that suits your specific vehicle make, model and suspension height (standard or raised). This allows users the flexibility to get the airbags alone, upgrade with an onboard air compressor and so on. If you install an airbag kit and decide to add a lift kit later down the track, Airbag Man offers a range of spacers to suit its kits which will prevent the need to purchase a whole new kit.
Caravan suspension will require a bit more assistance. Airbag Man recommends contacting your caravan manufacturer as most major van suspension and chassis manufacturers offer retrofit kits using Airbag Man’s products to suit its specific suspension system. These kits may also include a trailing arm and mounting hardware, which is specific to these brands.
“If the van, chassis or suspension manufacturer doesn’t offer a solution, then you can contact the helpful sales team at Airbag Man to discuss further,” said Ben.
A basic air suspension setup will allow for manual inflation of your airbags using a portable compressor. But if you enjoy travelling on and off the road, don’t always fully load your van — or you simply want a more convenient way of adjusting your airbags — then it’s worth checking out Airbag Man’s different air control kits and components. There’s a wide range of onboard options to suit individual needs and budgets, from manual controlled systems with switches and gauges to the fully automatic IntelliRide systems.
Digital gauge and switches for adjusting the air suspension
The IntelliRide system is especially popular and has two add-on options which include a speed sensor for safety reset to ride height, and a Horizon Levelling Sensor that allows for auto levelling based on the horizon around the van from the press of a single button on the handheld controller.
What’s on the horizon for Airbag Man?
One of Airbag Man’s most anticipated upcoming events is that it will be officially celebrating 30 years in business in 2025.
“The fact that we’ve gone from a garage to a global enterprise while still being family owned and operated over three decades and two generations is something we’re extremely proud of,” said Ben.
When it comes to new products, the brand has a few surprises up its sleeve, including a number of apps currently in development that will allow a more seamless and enhanced user experience when using Airbag Man’s products in your tow vehicles and caravans.
Airbag suspension can make setting up camp a breeze
Thirty years strong
With 2025 marking a milestone anniversary for Airbag Man, we’re excited to see what this company will be up to next.
Airbag Man’s unique air suspension solutions have become a tried-and-true product in the 4WD and RV industry in Australia and worldwide. The brand has a national network of dealers and installers for supply, fitment, repair and replacement of any parts required, and the professional in-house sales team are on call to help with technical or after sales enquiries.
Airbag Man warranty
All of the company’s airbags for passenger vehicles and caravans come with a limited lifetime warranty, which covers the bags against any manufacturing or material-based defects. All other components supplied in the kits, including the high-pressure sleeves, brackets, fittings and mounting hardware, have a two-year warranty.
“We have known cases of our airbags still going strong after more than 20 years of use! This is why we stand by our slogan ‘Bag it with the Best’ — it doesn’t just represent the business itself, but also the products that we produce and market,” Ben said.
To find out more:
P: 07 3889 6556
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