ALKO independant susp- pros and cons

[2_door]

Hi all,

I am about to plunge into CT ownership again and this time I am doing a bit more research on suspension.

I am interested to know what people think about the ALKO independant torsion suspension, the link -

AL-KO Australia : Vehicle Technology : Products · Axles · Independant Rubber Suspension (IRS) axles (http://www.alko.com.au/vehicle/axles/irs.html)

This isnt independant Vs leafs debate, just after some real world feedback from those with the ALKO rubber torsion suspension system and what they think of it.

Is it any good for extended gravel road touring???

[Rosco]

I have no personal experience with them, however one bro has that setup on his Camperomatic which he's had for many years.

He's very happy with it, though I seem to recall they had issues early in the piece .. can't recall what exactly. It's been up the Cape and all over the place in that time.

As far as I'm concerned, they do seem to be a reasonably good bit of gear, but I still harbour some reservations re parts in the bush.

[2_door]

yeah, parts was one of my concerns.

The other is longevity. They are reportedly a 'sealed unit' but wonder what happens if and when they get water and dust in, it would be highly abrasive and damage the rubber. They might be fine for bitumen use but I am unsure about dusty, gravelly roads and creek crossings.

any ideas :confused:

[discowhite]

parts?? what parts..

have a read of my 130tub trailer build.

cheers phil

[2_door]

thanks Phil. I have had a read of your build, well done ;)

how does the alko go, I assume you are happy with it. It seems that your company has 'road tested' them quite well and you give me the impression that this set up is suitable for an offroad environment.

When I refered to the parts, I was meaning the inner tube and rubbers that act as the resistance for wheel travel. How is it sealed??? any close up pics of the end of the axle???

cheers

[101 Ron]

The ALKO torsion rubber suspension is the best thing for boat trailers as it unaffected by water and there is very little to rust as the main tube is gal.
It is simple and nothing to wear out.(not affected by water or dust and nothing to grease)
I have used this system on large boat trailers and a twin axle car float.
I am curently running it on my Jayco camper van which weights 1.5 tonne loaded.
It is important to match axle rating to expected load to get the best ride.
The rubber bushes inside the axle last the life of the trailer in most circumstances.
The suspension will take over load.
The on road suspension normally runs without shock asorbers.
Off road rated suspension on some models run shocks.
In a nut shell it is a good thing and bullet proof, but as always some one will drag up some horror story.......but that can be done with any suspension system.
Now the bad stuff.
For camper trailer you will want the off road version which has slightly longer arms and therefore wheel travel.
This off road package still lacks long wheel travel and the suspension works very well until you find that big pot hole and the suspension doesnt have the travel and flex for the wheel to follow though the pot hole.
A suger glider suspension will eat the ALKO for this reason.
The shocks fitted to the off road versions are better left off as they are mounted forward of the swing arm and get stone damage until they are useless in short order.
The system works fine without the shocks.
I rate it good as leaf with nothing to go wrong or wear out.
Suger glider type suspensions are better for ride.
Alko better for corragations.
Alko very, very easy to install.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/1401.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/03/337.jpg

[101 Ron]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/trailers-vans-campers/32210-130hcpu-camper-trailer-build.html

[discowhite]

what ron said:D

cheers phil

[PhilipA]

I met a guy in Karajini who had previously owned an early Camp-o-matic with an ALKO suspension.
It collapsed on a trip and was not repairable without being returned to ALKO in Melbourne for a reset as they told him that special equipment was necessary to set it up.
Seeing he was somewhere in Queensland at the time he was pretty gobsmacked by this and was forced to fit a complete leaf spring suspension to get himself mobile again.
He was not a fan of ALKO suspensions.
Regards Philip A

[isuzu110]

I stopped to help a bloke on the Gibb River Road with this Alko rubber suspension. He had managed to snap/damage the rubber torsion system. No one was able to repair his suspension on the side of the road. He was trying to source parts.

[discowhite]

the only way to damage an alko irs is to absuse it, usually by overloading it or not fitting shocks to controll the dampening for offroad and touring work.

as ive said before i was in an industry that used alot of these systems in equipment that worked 24hrs 7 days a week..now in 10years in that job i never once had to repair or replace any irs units.
most of these units also had massive amounts of oil and diesel constantly covering the axle bushings.

i have nothing but absolute faith in this product.

cheers phil

[PhilipA]

Yes phil, BUT in the unlikely event it does break, the complete axle has to be sent to ALKO in Melbourne for repair. According to the bloke it happened to ALKO told him that there is no field fix possible.

Sorta like one of those newfangled D3s.

Regards Philip A

[101 Ron]

I have never seen a ALKO rubber suspension fail and I have used them for on and off road with different loads on different trailers.
I have never had to work on or repair one , but have been told the three rubber elements can be replaced.
No one stocks the parts because they dont fail.......?
How many fancy independant bullet proof coil suspensions , or leaf suspensions fail or need repair out in the middle of no where ?
If though some quirk of fate my ALKO rubber suspension failed, I personally wouldnt bother trying repair it , as the whole replacement axle is not too expensive and is only four bolts to undo and the whole lot comes off.
The curent trailer in our family is a twin axle heavy duty thing and is often over loaded and there is no equilistation between the axles, so with off road work going over humps and dips one axle often takes the weight.
This trailer is thirty years old with the same ALKO rubber axles.
To top it all off different tow hitch heights will again lift a axle on flat smooth roads too........this trailer gets a hard time......no problems other than that wheel bearings going due to over load.
Here is a pic unloading my jeep at the farm.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/1326.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/04/275.jpg
The trailer went back into town with 2.5 tonnes of fire wood over some fairly rough fire trails........it does this regularly.
The ride of the ALKO system is very good if only small wheel travel is needed.
The suspension lacks the travel for larger pot holes.........as I stated before corragations........brillant.

I might add the trailer had just been refirbished when the pic was taken and the new gal mud guards got bent and broken in short order as they were too low

[sschmez]

My camper was fitted with the ALKO suspension before I got it.

I'm very happy with it and the way the trailer tows on and off road.

It's been to the cape and back before my time, and through some pretty rough Vic High Country with me. Mostly travels on road and fast corrugated dirt but gets into the best campsites too. I would happily fit it to any other trailer I may get in the future.

Stevo

[2_door]

thanks guys, that feedback is appreciated.

There will always be horror stories about anything, its just nice to see what fails and under what circumstances.

cheers ;)