QUALITY CONTROL
Independent coil suspension absorbs massive
forces imposed by varying road conditions. If
it can’t do that reliably, it isn’t worth the steel
it’s made from.
A quality setup will comprise components
tuned to suit the weight and intended use of
the caravan, Andrew Goddard said, with
shock absorbers that have been valved for
the application.
The suspension arms should have been
thoroughly tested in local conditions, too.
“An often-missed area is access to spare
parts,” Andrew said. “Suspensions that often
come on imported (trailers) don’t have the
parts or support to keep them going.
“The X-factor in suspension also comes from
the team behind it. If they live and breathe the
offroad industry and are passionate about it,
it will be reflected in the product.”
AL-KO Enduro.
CRS is Cruisemaster's semi-offroad
coil suspension system.
Jibu John, AL-KO Australia’s RV engineer
responsible for the development of the Enduro
coil suspension range, pointed out that it was
essential that a coil suspension system
maximised friction between the tyre and road
surface, maintaining that contact consistently.
In terms of ride comfort, a quality coil setup
should efficiently absorb the vibration,
gravitational and impact forces from the road,
Jibu said.
SUSPENSION COMPONENTS
Independent coil suspension is made up of the
following components:
Control arms (stub axle included): These
allow the up and down movement of the
suspension while holding the pivot joint
bushes, coil springs, shock absorbers and
wheels firmly onto the caravan body.
Coil springs: These support the sprung mass
(chassis and van) and provide the main ride
characteristics. As the tyre strikes a bump in
the road, a vertical force is applied to the
spring, which is compressed, causing the
wheels to move vertically relative to the
caravan body while maintaining constant
contact with the road.