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Game changing new GT suspension
Vehicle Components seeks slice of touring market with new entry-level GT coil suspensionQueensland’s Vehicle Components has gone on the attack again in the local ‘suspension wars’, releasing a potential game changer for both caravans and camper trailers at this week's Victorian Caravan & Camping Supershow.
VC’s new GT (Grand Touring) independent coil spring trailing arm suspension is designed to replace leaf and rubber spring suspension under black-top tourers, and joins the suspension specialist’s suite of (now) five differently-graded independent suspension systems topped by its extreme off-road Cruisemaster ATX.
The GT’s main attractions for caravan buyers is its lower unsprung weight, resulting in a smoother ride on road bitumen or mild corrugations compared with beam axle systems. It also offers greater stability because of its longer wheel travel, lower lifetime maintenance costs and the promise of enhanced resale value when you come to sell your rig.
For caravan manufacturers and chassis builders, its attractions are its compact design, light weight, simple installation and nation-wide service support.
With customers getting more savvy about what goes on under their RVs and with a weather eye to their potential resale value, Vehicle Components is hoping to grab a share of the entry-level caravan, pop-top and camper trailer market that still relies on beam axle underpinnings.
With a single axle, single telescopic shock absorber set-up weighing from about 90kg, VC’s GT is lighter than many leaf-spring suspension systems and offers manufacturers the ability to have closer wheel centres on tandem axle vans. This results in smaller, less intrusive wheelboxes and thus frees interior space.
While designed predominantly for bitumen use, GT can also mix a little rough with the smooth, as was demonstrated in its 22,000km of testing last year during VC’s ‘lap of Australia’ proving run.
However, VC’s Business Development Manager Tim Elcock was quick to point out that the new system is not a replacement for
VC’s Cruisemaster CRS (Country Road Suspension), which is designed for a mixture of bitumen and unsealed main road travel.
By comparison, he said GT with its 90mm of wheel travel has around 10 per cent less articulation than CRS (100mm), while the range-topping ATX offers 140mm.
Another interesting feature of GT is its one-piece, cast trailing arms incorporating the axle, spring cup and bump stop that are emblazoned with the company’s VC’ logo.
“We wanted to make a point of difference between the precision work we do with suspension systems and other cruder systems on the market,” said Elcock.
GT is available in three GTM ratings of 1125kg, 1440kg and 1800kg for single axle campers and caravans and with 2250kg and 2700kg GTM ratings for tandem axle vans.
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Written byMichael Browning
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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