Quick Spin: Trakka Torino Xtra

52 | Quick Spin: Trakka Torino Xtra Suspension of Disbelief! It’s difficult to believe what a difference the Outback Suspension Pack makes to Trakka’s latest Torino series… Quick Spin | 53 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. he Torino has long been a best seller cab-only for AL-KO’s aftermarket motorhome for Trakka, combining as it does the chassis. Because AL-KO works closely with Tbrand’s signatures of style and innovation Fiat and makes its own rear suspension for its in an affordable and liveable package. Never own chassis, it has turned its expertise to the one to rest on its laurels, Trakka’s R&D team Ducato’s front suspension, one of the model’s is always developing and refining existing few shortcomings. models between major updates. This quest for improvement has resulted in extensive Ducato’s are noted for limited front suspension collaboration with chassis and suspension travel that crashes heavily over bumps at speed specialist AL-KO on its Fiat Ducato-based and a general nose-down stance, particularly Trakkaway coachbuilt models. Now, lessons evident on vans. To counter this, a few years learned are making their way to the Fiat Ducato back AL-KO Comfort Suspension (ACS) was van-based Torino series. released, which is a “high performance strut for a perfectly tuned front axle,” according to Background the brochure. Not only does it improve ride and handling via a totally new shock absorber and iat’s Ducato is the preeminent base coil spring arrangement, it increase front ride vehicle for Australian built motorhomes. height by 40 mm (1.5 inches). FThe model is unique in being supplied three ways: as a van, a factory cab-chassis or Recently, AL-KO released a complementary 54 | Quick Spin 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. rear suspension upgrade for the Ducato that Torino Extras carries the fitting acronym of ARS – for AL-KO Rear Suspension. Who said Germans have no rakka now installs ACS as standard on sense of humour? Ducato vans, like the factory the front of its third generation Trakkaway cab-chassis, have conventional and quite T700 to complement its tailored AL-KO unsophisticated rear suspension, comprising chassis. It has also offered ACS as an option a beam axle with leaf springs and shock on the front of Torino and Torino Xtras for some absorbers. It’s about as basic as systems come time. The advent of ARS now allows Trakka to these days but is common on commercial offer a total suspension upgrade on the Torino vehicles. The ARS system improves it by series vans, which it has decided to release as adding a pair of coil springs at the rear axle, an option called the Outback Suspension Pack which basically act as ‘helpers’ specially tuned (rather than explain ACS, ARS and AL-KO to for campervan work, plus a new set of shock every prospective customer). The other idea absorbers. behind the Outback Suspension Pack name is it increases ground clearance and wheel travel Combined with ACS up front, the promise (at the front at least) making the vehicle more of the new ARS (sorry!) is a total Fiat Ducato suitable for dirt road touring and bush track suspension solution that improves ride comfort, exploration. reduces roll and pitching at the front and increases roll stability and crosswind resistance I’ve previously driven both the latest Trakkaway at the rear. 700 and a Torino van with ACS and been Top to bottom: New front struts are a total replacement; Quick Spin | 55 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. 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 borrowed the Torino Xtra while putting last issue together, so time was limited – Iespecially 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 56 | Quick Spin 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. Torino Xtra no longer felt like a converted Then I ventured down a narrow track that light commercial vehicle, it was more car like led to a creek crossing. The improved front and composed, with a degree of suppleness wheel travel was obvious, as was the ground and fluidity to the ride that Fiat could learn a clearance. It added considerably to my lot from. But it was dirt roads I was keen to confidence, although I still got out to assess the reach… final section before committing $134,000-plus of brand new Trakka demonstrator to the water! Those time constraints kept us closer to home than desired, but a mix of recently resurfaced Rocks, logs, underslung water tanks and dirt back roads and a couple of minor tracks exhaust pipe aside, ground clearance is soon revealed the Outback Suspension Pack’s ultimately limited by what’s called ‘ramp-over worth. The Torino Xtra remained composed angle’. That’s the amount of clearance under on all surfaces, even when ‘pushing on’. the body between the font and rear axles when There was no adverse steering kickback or transitioning from a level surface to a decline, or shake on rougher sections, nor was there any vice versa. Even with the Outback Suspension indication of bottoming out or hitting the front Pack it’s important to remember the Torino suspension’s bump stops. Tyre adhesion on the Xtra is not a proper off-road machine. Rather, fine loose surface was the biggest limitation, it’s a light duty explorer that requires care but while the back end followed dutifully without is probably more capable than most people hopping sideways on rough corners or feeling think – or owners will likely venture to find out. A strained or out of its depth. set of good quality and slightly wider all-terrain Quick Spin | 57 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 he Torino Xtra ‘comes of age’ with the Outback Suspension Pack, which is to Tsay 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.

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