I'm thinking about buying a coromal van. I have had nothing to do with the independent suspension on them. I believe it consists of a wish bone swing arm, supported by a leaf spring.
I was looking for comments good or bad about the suspension. There seems to be heaps on the road, so it must work. It looks like a lot more joints to wear, But maybe it's well designed & maintenance free.
Cheers Pete
PeterD said
02:06 PM Jun 17, 2015
From my recollection the suspension is an A frame with a large base along the centre of the van. There should not be much of a problem with ware affecting the suspension geometry. If you read the articles under Vehicle Suspension section on this site you will possibly be convinced that independent suspension is not desirable on trailers. However I would not bother about that if Coromal vans take your fancy.
Pejay said
05:29 PM Jun 17, 2015
We heard the system by Coromal is the best in the industry, hence we have a Coromal Element #632 van and it tows beautifully, and we have towed it for the last 4 months continuously with no problems, and we have come across quite a lot of their vans as we have been travelling around, and everyone we speak to rates them highly.
bowsie1 said
10:33 PM Jun 17, 2015
We have a lifestyle 667 sits behind tug beautifully and know problems off road hope this helps cheers bowsie
wasn_me said
08:17 AM Jun 18, 2015
Thanks for the replies. I'm looking at a 535 poptop with tandem axle, if I can say axle, (4 wheels anyway). At around 1300 kg tare, I figure it should as safe as on 4 wheels.
Cheers Pete
woolman said
03:04 PM Jun 18, 2015
The major down side of the Coromal suspension is whilst being independent it is not load sharing. Load sharing is critical in my view. Mind you I did not realise it was not load sharing until after we purchased ours. I assumed that independent would have been load sharing but not always the case. Lasted 11 months then Coromal bought back.
Neil
wasn_me said
11:08 PM Jun 18, 2015
Hi Niel I don't believe any independent suspension would be load sharing. What problem did you have with yours.
Pete
woolman said
11:58 AM Jun 19, 2015
The chassis bent (120mm at front and 80 at rear) once the pop rivets in the walls sheared off. Got to the stage we could not open the door until we wound down the legs (with too much pressure). They now have a heavier chassis in the Prinston.
There are some independent suspensions (can't recall name but was at caravan show) that are load sharing but expensive. I still think a solid axle load sharing is as good an option as any
Neil
-- Edited by woolman on Friday 19th of June 2015 12:01:12 PM
KevKim37 said
02:00 PM Jun 19, 2015
On the earlier Coromals the Independent Suspension was not Load Share as are the newer type as are all Coil Spring/Air Bag type Independent Suspensions. Except that the newer design Independents have Heavier Rated Axles/Components/Bearings etc to cope with the Increased Loads experienced when NOT LOAD Sharing.
Cheers Kev.
Hiedipo said
09:39 PM Jun 19, 2015
We used to be Franklin caravan dealers in the 1970's and have been constantly involved with most makes then and since. We regularly traverse parts of Aust. In 2003 we got our first Coromal, brand new, and like you, wondered about the suspension.
What a blessing. We are now on our third Coromal and intend to not buy anything else. The current one, a 625, has probably done 70-80,000 km, often loaded with tools, sewing m/c, etc as we do voluntary work in communities. We are presently in Mareeba, en route to the Kimberlee & Perth for the third time. At 79 & 76 we may not change vans again but if we do it will definitely be a Coromal.
woolman said
12:05 PM Jun 20, 2015
Hiedipo wrote:
We used to be Franklin caravan dealers in the 1970's and have been constantly involved with most makes then and since. We regularly traverse parts of Aust. In 2003 we got our first Coromal, brand new, and like you, wondered about the suspension.
What a blessing. We are now on our third Coromal and intend to not buy anything else. The current one, a 625, has probably done 70-80,000 km, often loaded with tools, sewing m/c, etc as we do voluntary work in communities. We are presently in Mareeba, en route to the Kimberlee & Perth for the third time. At 79 & 76 we may not change vans again but if we do it will definitely be a Coromal.
Despite my problems with Coromal I think I agree with you. The very first few Prinston models that came out were just too light in he chassis as the theory of using the frame as chassis support failed due to the pop rivets shearing off. I reckon they new the problem which was why they bought it back from me (at current new price). Did take threat of legal action though.
I'm thinking about buying a coromal van. I have had nothing to do with the independent suspension on them. I believe it consists of a wish bone swing arm, supported by a leaf spring.
I was looking for comments good or bad about the suspension. There seems to be heaps on the road, so it must work. It looks like a lot more joints to wear, But maybe it's well designed & maintenance free.
Cheers Pete
From my recollection the suspension is an A frame with a large base along the centre of the van. There should not be much of a problem with ware affecting the suspension geometry. If you read the articles under Vehicle Suspension section on this site you will possibly be convinced that independent suspension is not desirable on trailers. However I would not bother about that if Coromal vans take your fancy.
We have a lifestyle 667 sits behind tug beautifully and know problems off road hope this helps cheers bowsie
Thanks for the replies. I'm looking at a 535 poptop with tandem axle, if I can say axle, (4 wheels anyway). At around 1300 kg tare, I figure it should as safe as on 4 wheels.
Cheers Pete
The major down side of the Coromal suspension is whilst being independent it is not load sharing. Load sharing is critical in my view. Mind you I did not realise it was not load sharing until after we purchased ours. I assumed that independent would have been load sharing but not always the case. Lasted 11 months then Coromal bought back.
Neil
The chassis bent (120mm at front and 80 at rear) once the pop rivets in the walls sheared off. Got to the stage we could not open the door until we wound down the legs (with too much pressure). They now have a heavier chassis in the Prinston.
There are some independent suspensions (can't recall name but was at caravan show) that are load sharing but expensive. I still think a solid axle load sharing is as good an option as any
Neil
-- Edited by woolman on Friday 19th of June 2015 12:01:12 PM
On the earlier Coromals the Independent Suspension was not Load Share as are the newer type as are all Coil Spring/Air Bag type Independent Suspensions. Except that the newer design Independents have Heavier Rated Axles/Components/Bearings etc to cope with the Increased Loads experienced when NOT LOAD Sharing.
Cheers Kev.
We used to be Franklin caravan dealers in the 1970's and have been constantly involved with most makes then and since. We regularly traverse parts of Aust. In 2003 we got our first Coromal, brand new, and like you, wondered about the suspension.
What a blessing. We are now on our third Coromal and intend to not buy anything else. The current one, a 625, has probably done 70-80,000 km, often loaded with tools, sewing m/c, etc as we do voluntary work in communities. We are presently in Mareeba, en route to the Kimberlee & Perth for the third time. At 79 & 76 we may not change vans again but if we do it will definitely be a Coromal.
Despite my problems with Coromal I think I agree with you. The very first few Prinston models that came out were just too light in he chassis as the theory of using the frame as chassis support failed due to the pop rivets shearing off. I reckon they new the problem which was why they bought it back from me (at current new price). Did take threat of legal action though.
Neil