How do I upgrade my XT Coil Suspension to XT Air?
If you have an XT coil system and the coil mount is welded to the chassis (ie you do not have the bolt-on coil bracket) you need to cut the coil mount off the chassis and weld the airbag mount on.
When converting from XT coil to air, the parts required are:
- new swing arms
- airbag mounts for chassis
- LEVEL 1 air control kit (base level fittings & line)
- Air control system (tank, compressor and panel) – Level 3 manual and Level 4 Auto are the most popular
To quote the parts, we will need to know:
- the chassis to face dimension of the trailing arms,
- colour
- brake type and size
- the ATM rating
- and tandem/single axle
Note – If starting out – bolt-on coil brackets are available for the XT suspension so you can start with coils – and upgrade later without any welding!
Why are the largest chassis to face options not available with some ATM ratings?
On the Installation Guide for the XT Freestyle suspension kits you will see at the bottom the high ATM and high C/F options are shaded red and deemed to be unacceptable. Clearly the more weight you carry and the further out the rim is – the higher the stress on the suspension setup. This assumes you are using zero offset rims. You can use positive offset rims to reduce the effective chassis to face dimension back into the permissible range. See the Coils example below.
At what ATM should I go for 12 inch brakes?
As a general guide Cruisemaster recommend 12 in brakes for ATM 1.7 tonnes and above on single axles and ATM 2.9 tonnes on tandem axle systems.
What size of wheel rim do I need for 12 inch brakes?
If you are choosing 12 in Drum brakes you will need at least a 15 inch rim to accommodate this. The external diameter of the drum is approx 13 inches.
If you choose the 12 inch disc brakes option then you will need a minimum of 16 inch rims for the extra clearance.
What is the warranty with Cruisemaster products?
Cruisemaster™ has a proud history of engineering and real life testing – making them the trusted leader in the industry when it comes to products being designed to last. The standard 3 year warranty shows you their confidence to stand behind the products.
In addition, an extended 2 year parts only warranty is available to any owner that registers their warranty with Cruisemaster™ within 3 months of taking delivery of their products.
For details of the standard 3 year warranty see here
Or to access the extended warranty registration form click here.
Which Air Control Kit is right for me?
Interested in a Cruisemaster Air Suspension kit and not sure which Control kit to choose? Please click here for our Guide to the Cruisemaster Air Control Kits
How do I choose the right spec for my Cruisemaster XT Freestyle suspension Kit?
Want a Cruisemaster Suspension Kit but not sure how to decide the exact spec? There is a comprehensive guide here to help you work out the ideal specifications of your Cruisemaster suspension kit here.
One of the main benefits of the XT Freestyle suspension kits is there are many options to make a perfect fit with your chassis – and allow you to use your preferred rims and locate the wheels where you want them in the wheel arch.
What brands of drum brakes are available with Cruisemaster suspension kits?
In 2019 Cruisemaster developed their own All Terrain Electric Brake setup which had been in testing since 2016 and have tackled various terrains around the country covering over 40000 km. So we were able to offer Cruisemaster, Dexter and Alko drum brakes at that time. However due to supply chain issues in the last 2 years the Dexter and Alko brands have not been available so as at Feb 2023 we are are only able to offer Cruisemaster A/T for your drum brakes option.
Please see the Electric Brakes Info Sheet here for full details
Can you ship my weld-on parts asap so I can get my chassis finished?
Each Cruisemaster suspension kit will come on a pallet with the weld-on parts included. To get a set of weld-on parts earlier you now have to buy an additional set and we will freight them to you. Cruisemaster are no longer able to split a kit and ship the weld-on parts separate to the main kit.
I have a Cruisemaster ATX Coil system – can I upgrade it to Air Suspension?
Yes you can do this quite easily. To convert from coil to air on ATX suspension, you would just need the airbags themselves, the level 1 air control kit which includes the lines and fittings, and the level 3 air control kit as a minimum which includes the tank, compressor and panel. Or if you want Auto levelling select the Level 4 Cruisemaster Air control Kit.
When you enquire, please email a clear photo of the current Cruisemaster plate on your chassis – this will ensure the new Cruisemaster plate you receive with have all the correct details etched on it.
Contact Us here if you require pricing.
What are Cruisemaster disc brakes made from?
The disc brakes are made from cast iron. Where customers encounter salt water crossings they would need hosing down immediately to prevent any reaction – just the same as the range of drum brakes.
Can I buy a Cruisemaster Air Suspension kit without the Air Control Kit?
The Cruisemaster XT Freestyle Air Suspension Kit is available with the schrader valves (called Air Kit # 1 or base level) so you can inflate the airbags with your own compressor as required. With this supension kit the customer does not have to buy a Cruisemaster air control kit. It is worth noting that if you install another brand of air control kit you will risk the warranty of the Cruisemaster suspension components.
The premium Cruisemaster ATX Air Suspension Kit can only be sold WITH a Cruisemaster Air Control Kit # Level 3 (manual or wireless) or #4 (auto height control)
How do I choose which spigot size and stud pattern to select for my kit?
Click here to download the Cruisemaster guide to Stud Patterns
You will need to decide which rims you are going to use on the trailer and the goal is to match the spigot size to the rim though this may not always be possible. You can measure the diameter of the central bore and identify if it is 5 stud or 6 stud. More info on stud patterns and spigot sizes can be found here.
If the rims are from a vehicle you know or own you can find all the details on a wheel database such as this one.
The most common spigot sizes are
- 93 mm (standard)
- 106 mm
- 110 mm – this spigot is also available with 12 in disc brakes
The most common stud patterns are
- LC 6 stud 1/2 in
- LC 6 stud 12mm
- LC 5 stud 14mm
Please note – NOT all stud patterns and stud sizes are available with all spigot sizes and brake systems – for example the ventilated 12 in disc brake system is only available with the 102mm or 110mm spigot and also only available with LC6 1/2in or LC5 14mm patterns (not LC6 12mm pattern)
A limited range of other combinations (eg for Dodge RAM) are available – so please send the details of your central bore and stud pattern through and we will see if your combination can be manufactured.
I am interested in CM Suspension – but how can I compare the different types to work out what suits me?
Initially it’s best to take a look at the summary table below – before checking out the product page of the suspension you think suits your project.
What Airbags do the XT Air Suspension Kits use?
Prior to Covid-19 the Firestone brand was the preferred airbag used. However with supply chain issues the use of Airbag man airbags has now been incorporated in the 2.6T and 4.5T XT Air Kits.
For more details please see the Cruisemaster update below (Feb 2022)
Do Cruisemaster sell the wheel nuts?
Cruisemaster do not sell wheel nuts suitable for alloy wheels. These are normally supplied with the alloy wheels or if you require them we recommend you contact Lugnut Australia here to get the wheel nuts you need for your project.
I want to build a chassis for a Cruisemaster Suspension system – how do I find the dimensions etc I need?
Once you have chosen the type of CM suspension you want eg XT Freestyle Air System- Tandem axle you need to study the Documents which can be found on the relevant product page here . For this Kit the document called Cruisemaster XT Freestyle Air Installation guide has all the dimensions you need to ensure the kit will attach to the chassis perfectly.
In addition you will need to decide all the details of the CM kit specification before you design your chassis. For example your chassis to face dimension will be affected by the chassis rail width and the types of rims and tyres you choose.
Please read this article on How to specify the ideal Cruisemaster XT Kit for my project to make sure you have all the details of your kit finalised before you start welding your chassis.
These documents below also have valuable information to make sure your chassis is well designed.
Can I fit any size of tyre to a CM suspension kit?
CM maximum recommended size on any off –road suspension is no bigger than 840mm (33 inch) diameter. To install a wheel and tyre larger than this would lower the braking capacity dramatically and therefore also the suspension rating.
What is the lead time for a Cruisemaster Suspension kit?
As all Suspension Kits are made to order in Brisbane the lead time for manufacturing varies depending on demand. Prior to 2021 it would typically be 4 weeks whereas now it can be much more and changes regularly. Please ask us what the current lead time is between placing an order for the Kit and it being completed ready for shipping when you make your enquiry.
I want to specify hydraulic disc brakes but can I use my own Hydraulic Brake Actuator?
Yes – you can as long as it is rated at 1600psi for the tandem kits.
Does the hydraulic disc brake option have a provision for a hand-brake cable?
Yes it does – the disc brakes come with a mechanical lever for the park brake cable. So if you need a DO35 coupling choose the one with the handbrake and remember to order a handbrake cable kit as is not included in the suspension kit – it can be purchased as a separate item – choose 10m or 15m cable lengths.
If I purchase an XT Freestyle kit with coils now, but I want to upgrade it to airbags later do I need to specify this when I get a quote?
Yes – We would supply a different Air Bracket that has a bolt on coil plate. This way you can install the coil system as normal initially and when you choose to upgrade to an airbag system, you simply unbolt the coil plate and install the airbags to the bracket that is already welded onto the chassis.
Do you freight suspension kits to other States?
Yes we can ship your suspension kit across to any State or Territory. When the kit has been manufactured and crated ready for shipping, we will book the freight with our preferred partner TNT. As a heavy pallet our standard practice is to only ship to business addresses as TNT charge a surcharge of $175 plus gst for freight to an address not in a business district.
Once the freight is booked you will receive the TNT email with all the tracking details. If you need other hardware like the DO35 coupling best to make sure it goes in the crate before it leaves.
Customers are welcome to opt to collect their Kit ex works when it has been manufactured and is ready for pickup.
Is it possible to get the XT Suspension in 8×165.1 stud pattern to match my Dodge Ram or 8×170 for my Ford F250?
Yes it is – but only in a 12 in drum setup with a 93 mm spigot. This setup is not available with disc brakes.
Are the Cruisemaster Suspension tandem kits load sharing?
The Cruisemaster tandem suspension kits are referred to as close coupled non Load -Sharing Suspension. This has important implications regarding your choice of wheel rims and tyres also. It is best to refer to Document VSB1 which can be found here which has all the relevant details and states that
Where non-load sharing suspension is used in ‘close-coupled axles’, the following must apply. The individual axles, and the wheels and tyres fitted to each axle, must have a load carrying capacity at least 120% of the load on that axle with the trailer at its ATM (maximum permitted load).
Load sharing suspensions must be designed so that each axle in a group carries the same load irrespective of the relative movement of the wheels.
What is the weight of a Cruisemaster suspension Kit and parts? I am designing my trailer and want to calculate the final weight.
As a guide an XT Freestyle Coil kit will weigh approx 130Kgs per axle and the XT Freestyle Air weighs approx 140kgs per axle. This includes hinge bars, trailing arms, coils or airbags and braking system. In addition allow 10 kgs for a DO35 coupling and 25 kgs for the Air Control Kit 3 or 4.
I have just received my Cruisemaster Suspension kit – how do I unpack it so I know there is nothing missing?
One of the best ways of checking your suspension kit when it arrives and getting familiar with the components is detailed on this you-tube video