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INTO THE GROVE WITH SIMPLICITY CARAVANS

Here’s how Simplicity’s Smart Coil and Tandem Load-Sharing Suspensions revolutionised Caravan Suspension

Caravan off-road suspension manufacturer Simplicity understands remote area travel. We see it in their designs and their approach to customer servicing. The Aussie fabricator has the serial number and vital statistics on every axle sold since the early 80s ensuring easy maintenance for years to come. And with so many of the components engineered in-house–including the drums and hubs–combined with many locally acquired parts like bushes, turnaround on service times is reassuring.

Engineering Firsts

Those engineering smarts have sparked their share of innovations, notably with the Simplicity Smart Coil in 2015, followed by the gravity smart Tandem Load-Sharing systems in 2017.

These solutions work beautifully together in Simplicity’s signature Tandem Load-Sharing Coil (LSC) suspension, tailored for medium to heavy vans with high payload capacities. Let’s see how the technologies meet vanners’ needs starting with the Smart Coil.

Same Van, Different Day

While your camper or van’s dimensions may change little in its lifetime, how you load it and where you take it places different demands on your suspension.

The breadth of change is increasing as more of us carry and consume water and food in bush settings off-the-grid. A van’s weight may fluctuate 10 per cent on the same trip depending on its water tank capacities.

Soft vs Stiff Springs

Traditionally, a stiff or heavy duty suspension will protect heavier caravans on rough tracks. But they are less comfortable on the highway because the springs need more impact to respond. Choosing a softer suspension that responds to roughly patched tarmac can improve towing comfort. But, if you load up that van and take it too far off the tarmac, the springs can fully compress when they hit a rough bump– shaking your gear.

One Spring, More Conditions

Simplicity addresses these opposing needs with its progressive rate Smart Coil spring, which is sympathetic to load variation.

The wider spirals respond to less pressure for a smoother ride, even if you are carrying less gear. The tighter coils remain ready for harsher impacts caused by rough tracks or a heavier load. Simplicity uses these Variable Rate Springs in two systems: the Single Coil axle suspension (1400kg-2600kg) and the Tandem Load-Sharing Coil suspension (2500-4400kg), which we explain in greater detail below.

Sharing the Load

Many of us consider our van to be a home. A tandem axle setup can help support one that’s loaded with daily comforts, with all four wheels carrying their share. This works well on a flat track. But what happens to that weight when you travel over a bump or up on a curb? Does it tilt the van? And if so, where does that weight go?

Thankfully, the Simplicity Tandem Load-Sharing Coil suspension (also avail. with leaf springs) has a few cards up its sleeve to keep that weight on each wheel.

Vertical Travel

Simplicity Tandem LoadSharing suspensions maintain their balance while towing heavy loads on uneven surfaces using a nifty trick called vertical travel. This measures how far your wheels move up and down before tilting the caravan and shifting that weight. To achieve this, two things need to happen. First, the wheels need to move up and down independent of each other. Secondly, the weight and shock affecting one wheel must transfer onto the other wheels without transferring to the van.

The Vital Link

Simplicity achieves this by attaching the wheels and their control arms that articulate freely, to a central cross beam. These control arms are coupled front to rear via a pivoting Link Arm and Coil springs. This freely transfers load between the leading and trailing control arms giving equal load and shock load. As a result, the four control arms on the Simplicity Load.

Sharing suspension will let your wheels move 20cm+ vertically as you tow over rocks and potholes without tilting the axle. Is it gravity defying? No, it’s gravity in action!

Less Resistance

While other independent trailing arm suspensions use vertical travel to a degree–the trailing arms on equivalent-rated Simplicity Load-Sharing designs face fewer forces on the tracks. It does a great job at keeping that axle straight. That’s because Simplicity radically rethought the role of springs (and shock absorbers on the LSC) in its Load-Sharing designs. The springs aren’t connected to the chassis to soften the entire control arm motion; instead, they move with the arms–only activating when it matters.

Inherently Efficient

Because the system maintains equal loads on all four wheels, components in the Aussie made Simplicity Tandem Load-Sharing suspensions experience less wear and tear. The system is so efficient that the coil springs on the LSC only require one shock absorber per wheel to stop them from vibrating after an impact. And the leaf-spring version requires no shock absorbers at all.

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EZYTRAIL CAMPERS – STIRLING GT MK3

A WIDE RANGE OF CAMPING TRAILERS TO CHOOSE FROM

At Ezytrail Camper Trailers, we carry a broad range of camping trailers designed to make cross country travelling as comfortable as possible. Choose from:

FORWARD FOLD CAMPERS
DUAL FOLD CAMPERS
SOFT FLOOR CAMPER TRAILERS
HARD FLOOR CAMPERS
STIRLING GT MK3 – OFF ROAD PREMIUM SERIES FORWARD FOLD HARD FLOOR CAMPER TRAILER

When your priority is a quick getaway, and a super-fast set-up time when you get to your destination, Ezytrail’s Stirling GT MK3 is an off-road family camper-trailer that does the lot, making it the number one selling camper-trailer in the market.

Here at Ezytrail we know that personalising your trailer is important, which is why we offer different colour options for all our camper trailers. Just remember though, custom colours mean you do need to wait a few more weeks for delivery, just like a new car!

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CUB ESCAPE 2023 ENHANCEMENTS, NOW APPLYING ON ALL NEW ORDERS

A brighter tent with greater airflow

The first thing you’ll notice is the tent and awning has been upgraded to match the Frontier. This tent redesign sees an improvement in airflow and light through the addition of upper quarter windows on either side of the camper. With the awning now zipped across the top of the tent you can feel confident that it will handle all sorts of weather conditions.

Updated drawbar design

The Escape’s drawbar now matches that of the Frontier. It’s made from 150mm x 50mm x 3.0mm Australian steel, ideal for rural and remote outback travel. An extra clamp on the drawbar accommodates the jockey wheel when you’re towing increasing storage space within your camper and vehicle. The roof rack and pole carrier are redesigned and features upgraded tie down points on the roof rack. The kitchen track is also now powder coated.

800kg Payload

Twin shock absorbers now as standard on the Escape affording greater on corrugated outback roads. We’ve increased the ATM on the Escape to 1900kg which is nearly 300kg greater capacity than the previous model. This allows for a payload capacity of approximately 800kg which is unheard of in a rear fold camper.

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The Legend Continues…

Bluewater Campers have gained a cult-like following in recent times, and it’s not hard to see why.

Their camper trailers sport some of the most acclaimed accessories and products in the Australian caravan and camping industry, and when it comes to the Lachlan MKII, well, it speaks for itself. Based on Bluewater Camper’s most popular model, the Lachlan Forward Fold (Family Trailer), the Lachlan MKII Easy Tourer sports an impressive host of upgrades forged straight from heart of real-world feedback. So, let’s take a closer look at what all the fuss is about.

LATEST CANVAS CREATIONS

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screenshot 2021 06 11 at 12.13.14 pm

The Lachlan MKII has scored itself a completely revolutionised tent design, known affectionately at Bluewater Campers headquarters as the “Curved” tent. It’s a fully Australian Made Wax Converters Dynaproofed canvas tent, utilizing robust YKK Zippers and high-quality mesh screens. Make no mistake, longevity
is categorically assured. However, the tents strength and durability are rivalled only by its practical design and included features. For example, the setup is refined to the point where there are no internal spreader poles required in the main tent. In fact, the innovative new tent is kept taunt by the included winch system. The impressive new ceiling height also allows generously sized windows, which provides increased ventilation and air flow. Add in the internal non-adjustable quick set-up poles and you could say it’s lightyears ahead of the competition.

KITCHEN QUARTERS

Sporting a redesigned kitchen and pantry system, the MKII offers more practical bench and storage space than ever before. Featuring a quality eleven litre per minute water pump, which is plumbed directly to the kitchen via Bluewater Campers popular “Snake Track” water and power delivery system, this is one ultra-convenient set-up!

RELIABLE RUNNING

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screenshot 2021 06 11 at 12.10.15 pm

Sticking to their “long-term reliability” theme, Bluewater Campers pride themselves on using premium quality fittings and components for all of their camper trailer builds. The list of industry leading brands currently championing the Lachlan MKII Easy Tourer include products such as quality Japanese Bearings, Lovell Coil Springs with progressive bump stops
and twin Ride Pro Shock absorbers. A Cruisemaster DO35 tow coupling keeps the camper firmly attached to your vehicle, while the proven ARK – XO series off road jockey wheel rated to 750kg supports the weight when unhitched. Primal Alloy 16″x8″ wheels with 265/75R16 Tyres provide a stylish yet reliable rolling combination, with an Electric Breakaway Unit and 12inch. Electric brake system to provide safe, dependable control of your camper.

AN UPDATED FAMILY FAVOURITE

Physically the largest of its kind, the revised body design of the MKII includes even taller camper body walls, which allows larger storage compartments for those bulkier items. Two separate beds and multiple sleeping configurations are also now available. Plus, the main bed sports a 12cm thick Australian innerspring queen mattress ensuring a relaxed night’s sleep for mum and dad. Critical to the Lachlan MKII’s success, Bluewater Campers claim their “world class rear slide-out system” is the perfect solution for a comfy kid’s bed area, too!

WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

The team at Bluewater Campers have gone above and beyond to revolutionise what was already a popular camper trailer model. With updates to interior trimming, hinges, and even an all-new aluminium angled lid, the Lachlan MKII Easy Tourer is a whole new beast in its own right. But add extra luxuries like the built-in hot water service, rear shower connection and a totally redesigned pantry/fridge slide configuration, and it’s safe to say this family favourite is sure to tick a heck of a lot of boxes.

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Win Free Caravan Service

Now is a great time to get your van serviced and ready to travel once again.Adelaide Caravan Repairs is giving you the chance to get your caravan or camper ready. Simply enter to go into the draw to win 1 of 10 free caravan services, valued at $350 each. 2 winners will be notified via email weekly. ACR can complete caravan servicing on all makes and models and are currently offering free local pick of your van. Enter here > https://www.adelaidecaravanrepairs.com.au/news/win-free-caravan-service

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