It’s difficult to believe what a difference the Outback Suspension Pack makes to Trakka’s latest Torino series…
Suspension of Disbelief!
52 | Quick Spin: Trakka Torino Xtra
The Torino has long been a best seller for Trakka, combining as it does the brand’s signatures of style and innovation
in an affordable and liveable package. Never one to rest on its laurels, Trakka’s R&D team is always developing and refining existing models between major updates. This quest for improvement has resulted in extensive collaboration with chassis and suspension specialist AL-KO on its Fiat Ducato-based Trakkaway coachbuilt models. Now, lessons learned are making their way to the Fiat Ducato van-based Torino series.
Background
Fiat’s Ducato is the preeminent base vehicle for Australian built motorhomes. The model is unique in being supplied
three ways: as a van, a factory cab-chassis or
cab-only for AL-KO’s aftermarket motorhome chassis. Because AL-KO works closely with Fiat and makes its own rear suspension for its own chassis, it has turned its expertise to the Ducato’s front suspension, one of the model’s few shortcomings.
Ducato’s are noted for limited front suspension travel that crashes heavily over bumps at speed and a general nose-down stance, particularly evident on vans. To counter this, a few years back AL-KO Comfort Suspension (ACS) was released, which is a “high performance strut for a perfectly tuned front axle,” according to the brochure. Not only does it improve ride and handling via a totally new shock absorber and coil spring arrangement, it increase front ride height by 40 mm (1.5 inches).
Recently, AL-KO released a complementary
The Torino Xtra’s raised ride height is evident here, especially at the front. Ride quality is significantly improved and is perhaps the biggest reason to order the Outback Suspension Pack.
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rear suspension upgrade for the Ducato that carries the fitting acronym of ARS – for AL-KO Rear Suspension. Who said Germans have no sense of humour? Ducato vans, like the factory cab-chassis, have conventional and quite unsophisticated rear suspension, comprising a beam axle with leaf springs and shock absorbers. It’s about as basic as systems come these days but is common on commercial vehicles. The ARS system improves it by adding a pair of coil springs at the rear axle, which basically act as ‘helpers’ specially tuned for campervan work, plus a new set of shock absorbers.
Combined with ACS up front, the promise of the new ARS (sorry!) is a total Fiat Ducato suspension solution that improves ride comfort, reduces roll and pitching at the front and increases roll stability and crosswind resistance at the rear.
Torino Extras
Trakka now installs ACS as standard on the front of its third generation Trakkaway 700 to complement its tailored AL-KO
chassis. It has also offered ACS as an option on the front of Torino and Torino Xtras for some time. The advent of ARS now allows Trakka to offer a total suspension upgrade on the Torino series vans, which it has decided to release as an option called the Outback Suspension Pack (rather than explain ACS, ARS and AL-KO to every prospective customer). The other idea behind the Outback Suspension Pack name is it increases ground clearance and wheel travel (at the front at least) making the vehicle more suitable for dirt road touring and bush track exploration.
I’ve previously driven both the latest Trakkaway 700 and a Torino van with ACS and been
The rear suspension upgrade retains the Ducato’s factory leaf springs and adds these ‘helper’ coil springs (a standard Ducato just has the rubber bump-stop in this location). The shock absorbers are also replaced and specially tuned to the new spring combination.
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mighty impressed by the difference it makes. It unobtrusively transforms the driving experience and puts Fiat’s Ducato about on par with Mercedes’ Sprinter in terms of steering feel, ride comfort and quality. When the Trakka team told me about ARS and offered a spin in the first fully equipped Torino I was keen to experience the total package.
I first reviewed the Torino Xtra in a touring test in Issue 58 on 18 October 2014. Malcolm took one to the snow and penned his thoughts on it in Issue 79 on 5 September last year. We both came to the conclusion it’s a highly practical and desirable vehicle that would suit many buyers. So the purpose of this ‘quick spin’ was to see how the new suspension worked rather than review the vehicle again (although it’s still highly desirable!).
As a reminder, the Torino series comprises two models: Torino and Torino Xtra. Torino is a two- seat, two-berth motorhome with single beds at the rear running lengthwise that can also be made into a king bed. Torino Xtra is a four- seat, two-berth motorhome that adds a proper front dinette by sacrificing bed length; offering instead an east-west double whose party trick is to hinge up on one side to provide a clear aisle for carrying bikes, a kayak or other lifestyle gear.
Down the Track
I borrowed the Torino Xtra while putting last issue together, so time was limited – especially considering a visit to the Trakka
showroom is a 300 km round-trip. The good thing about the drive home was it revealed just how refined the total suspension makeover is. Ride quality and comfort on the mix of Sydney suburban roads and freeways was good enough to basically go unnoticed. The
Top to bottom: New front struts are a total replacement; On corrugations the front wheel travel is smoother and better controlled; Basic rear beam axle (visible between back wheels) is now the lowest point underneath; Increased ride height pays dividends in many ways, like here when pulling over on a narrow dirt road.
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Torino Xtra no longer felt like a converted light commercial vehicle, it was more car like and composed, with a degree of suppleness and fluidity to the ride that Fiat could learn a lot from. But it was dirt roads I was keen to reach…
Those time constraints kept us closer to home than desired, but a mix of recently resurfaced dirt back roads and a couple of minor tracks soon revealed the Outback Suspension Pack’s worth. The Torino Xtra remained composed on all surfaces, even when ‘pushing on’. There was no adverse steering kickback or shake on rougher sections, nor was there any indication of bottoming out or hitting the front suspension’s bump stops. Tyre adhesion on the fine loose surface was the biggest limitation, while the back end followed dutifully without hopping sideways on rough corners or feeling strained or out of its depth.
Then I ventured down a narrow track that led to a creek crossing. The improved front wheel travel was obvious, as was the ground clearance. It added considerably to my confidence, although I still got out to assess the final section before committing $134,000-plus of brand new Trakka demonstrator to the water!
Rocks, logs, underslung water tanks and exhaust pipe aside, ground clearance is ultimately limited by what’s called ‘ramp-over angle’. That’s the amount of clearance under the body between the font and rear axles when transitioning from a level surface to a decline, or vice versa. Even with the Outback Suspension Pack it’s important to remember the Torino Xtra is not a proper off-road machine. Rather, it’s a light duty explorer that requires care but is probably more capable than most people think – or owners will likely venture to find out. A set of good quality and slightly wider all-terrain
The Outback Suspension Pack doesn’t transform the Torino Xtra into a serious off-road machine, but it does provide enough clearance to venture down bush tracks like this one, with increased confidence.
56 | Quick Spin
Top to bottom: Off the beaten track: A set of all-terrain tyres would help you explore even further; Increased rear ride height helps keep underbody bits like the grey water tank drain tap clear of obstacles; The distance between the axles is still the limiting clearance factor, plus things like the exhaust, but the Outback Suspension Pack certainly improves the Fiat’s abilities.
tyres would extend its capabilities even further. You could also run them at somewhat reduced pressures than the standard road tyres, which do the Ducato no favours when the going gets muddy, slippery and/or lose.
The creek crossing approach required negotiating a couple of small rock outcrops, and not being sure of the track beyond the creek (it’s years since I’d been down there), I elected to reverse down the small hill and cross the creek backwards – perhaps a first for a Trakka demonstrator? Coming back up the rise the Torino walked over the obstacles and cleared the small ledges with ease. On the drive back out along the track the suspension coped admirably with the rough surface, ruts and rocky outcrops, even when purposely pushed a bit to check its reaction.
Bottom Line
The Torino Xtra ‘comes of age’ with the Outback Suspension Pack, which is to say the Fiat Ducato reaches its potential.
From a basic commercial delivery van with price-driven underpinnings to a compact luxury motorhome riding like it ought, AL-KO’s suspension work is transformative.
Priced at $2850 this transformation isn’t cheap, but at around 2% of the cost of a new vehicle it’s money well spent. In fact I can’t think of anything else you could do that would make such a daily difference to the ownership experience. To me it’s a no-brainer even if you don’t plan venturing off the beaten track. Think of it as the extra that makes the Torino Xtra extra special. It also puts it another step ahead of the pack. Not that that’s difficult to believe…
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AL-KO isn’t alone in offering a front suspension upgrade for the Fiat Ducato. King Springs and Pedders both offer aftermarket front spring replacements that many owners opt for as a cheaper alternative. Replacing just the springs, however, is really only doing half the job.
Ducato front suspension employs a MacPherson strut, which is a system widely used in passenger vehicles. It’s a long strut with a shock absorber in the top and a coil spring around it, which saves space, weight and complexity compared to other independent front suspension systems. The shock absorber and spring are designed with complementary compression and damping rates. Changing the spring on its own upsets the design balance.
That’s not to say it’s dangerous or not worth doing, you just need to be mindful that you get what you pay for. Only AL-KO offers a total
MacPherson strut replacement with a properly engineered spring and damper combination. It’s also now the only company with a specifically engineered rear suspension solution, although some people fit supplementary helper air bags from other aftermarket sources. Again, these aren’t vehicle specific and haven’t been designed to work as a total system.
Saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars is an obvious attraction, but in the overall purchase price a properly designed and fully warranted suspension upgrade is obviously the best solution. In good news for exisiting Fiat Ducato owners, AL-KO can supply and fit ACS, ARS or both to your vehicle and I’m sure Trakka would be happy to accommodate owners of older Torinos if requested.
The Outback Suspension Pack greatly enhances Trakka’s Torino Xtra and makes it a true all-road touring vehicle that will probably go further than most owners dare.
trakka.com.au Open the doors to flexibility
58 | Quick Spin