Spotlight: Cruisemaster ATX

How tough can an off-road RV suspension get?

Queensland’s Vehicle Components, or VC as they are referred to nowadays has been working on vehicle running and towing gear for many years.

Initially with axles, leaf springs and hubs for councils and the like, then more practical off-road systems for the public just over a decade ago as demand increased in the caravan market.

The result was the Cruisemaster LT suspension, which is a combination of trailing swinging arm attached to VC’s tandem shackle leaf. This leaf tandem suspension still survives the rigours of the outback to this day; witnessed by this writer who has LT underpinnings on a 2008 Regal van that is currently used on a permanent basis, mobile as it is.

Later, swing arms loaded with airbags joined LT and subsequently a coil spring version was added to the range. This became the Cruisemaster XT range which is now armed with all manner of shock absorbers designed to withstand the harshest corrugations and potholes without going into meltdown.

While standard bellow-style airbags still feature on the current Cruisemaster XT Air, Vehicle Components’ latest, top-spec ATX suspension uses a rolling sleeve type, like that used in the trucking industry, which offers more travel of the swinging arm without over extension.

On the showroom floor kit that we viewed at VC’s Geebung, Queensland facility, the stand out feature was the change in profile of the swinging arm system. Gone is the typical ‘A’ frame arm, replaced with a balanced single stem arm recessed into gussets in a number of areas to provide the strength required when pounding hard ground.

A rebound cable is fitted as standard to the ATX, whereas other models see this as an option. The arm is loaded with VC’s premium X5K coil springs and proprietary Shockmaster shock absorber; the spring interchangeable with an air bag if required.

The piggyback shocker system has a reservoir attached to the main shocker tube which in the M46’s case contains a 46mm piston. The subsequent increase in oil volume allows an extended stroke of the 20mm piston rod and the oil pushes against a nitrogen gas charge of 150psi.

Confused? Basically, this design aids fade prevention caused by excessive heat and the rapid movements it’s exposed to. Improved handling and control is another bonus of the piggyback mono-tube design; technology that has come from off-road racing.

An anti-roll bar is an option on the ATX system as it is on the lighter-duty CRS and off-road XT coil and air suspensions.

In regards to the rolling sleeve Firestone airbags, the internal piston can be modified at the base of the sleeve by VC to enable the spring characteristic of the bag to be adjusted to suit individual requirements.

Basically you can dictate at what point the spring rate will increase and alter the way the swinging arm is damped.

Incorporated into the swinging arm are lockable camber and toe adjustments, so the running gear under your caravan or camper can be wheel aligned just like your towing vehicle.

VC has used 63mm stub axles that incorporate their proprietary wheel bearings, and both electric brake drums and ventilated electric/hydraulic discs are available as options.

Two years in development, the ATX suspension also offers 140mm of wheel travel, which is 10mm more than the Cruisemaster XT coil and air systems and 40mm more that the CR (Country Road) suspension. Single axle maximum ATM is 2800kg and tandem limit is 4500kg.

So how much is it? What’s clear is that VC’s ATX Cruisemaster suspension is a top-end, innovative product that demands a premium price.

That said, off-the-shelf pricing for the single axle coil ATX suspension starts at $3680 (not including fitting), which is only about $400 more than the equivalent XT kit. However, adding options like the anti-roll bar, disc brakes and technology like the latest, remote-control levelling will raise the cost considerably.

Already premium off-road manufacturers including SLR and Zone RV have adopted ATX for customer builds, and more manufacturers are certain to get on board as demand grows from buyers wanting the best off-road caravan suspension money can buy.

The ATX suspension can also be retro-fitted to older vans, which will set you back at least $6000 for the basic single coil set-up including fitting.

With Vehicle Components sitting on a number of R&D projects which they’re tight lipped about, you can be sure there’s more innovation to come from this forward-thinking manufacturer.

VEHICLE COMPONENTS CRUISEMASTER ATX

ATM: 2800kg single, 4500 tandem

Brakes: Electric drum or electric hydraulic ventilated disc

Stability control: Anti-roll bar optional

Shocks: 46mm Piggyback mono-tube

Springs: Premium X5K coil

Airbags: Firestone rolling sleeve

Rebound cable: Standard

Wheel travel: 140mm

Warranty: Two years manufacturer

Price: From $3680 for base model single axle coil system

More info: Vehicle Components, Geebung Qld

Spotlight: Cruisemaster ATX

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