What Is Radflo?
Radflo is an American suspension manufacturer based in California, producing high-performance remote reservoir shocks, coilovers, and bypass shocks primarily for off-road use. They're well-known in the US Baja racing and overlanding communities, and their shocks have found a loyal following among serious 4WD and camper trailer users in Australia.
Radflo shocks are built on similar principles to King, Fox, and Icon — remote reservoir design for improved heat dissipation, rebuildable construction, and externally adjustable damping. The key difference: Radflo positions itself as a mid-to-premium option with genuine race-derived engineering, typically priced below King but above Fox in the Australian market.
Why Consider Radflo for a Black Series HQ?
The stock suspension on a Black Series HQ is capable, but it's designed as a compromise for the average buyer — not optimised for a specific load or terrain. Most HQ owners loading their camper to capacity find the stock shocks work satisfactorily on graded roads but begin to feel inadequate on repeated corrugations, loose terrain, or heavily loaded touring setups.
The specific limitations of stock HQ suspension:
- Heat fade on extended corrugated roads — the smaller-volume shocks generate heat that degrades damping
- Limited adjustment — no external ride height or damping tune
- Rebuild cost vs replacement — non-rebuildable shocks must be replaced rather than serviced
Radflo addresses all three issues directly.
Radflo Remote Reservoir Shocks: Key Features
Remote Reservoir Design
The remote reservoir separates the main shock body from the oil/gas reservoir. This gives significantly more oil volume, which delays heat fade on sustained high-speed corrugated driving. It's the same principle used in race shocks and is standard on King and Fox Racing Shox at the premium end. Radflo's 2.0" and 2.5" body shocks use this design throughout their 4WD and trailer lineup.
External Compression Adjustment
Radflo shocks feature a compression adjuster on the remote reservoir. This lets you tune compression damping (how quickly the shock compresses over a bump) independently from the spring rate. In practice, this means you can run a softer initial ride for empty or lightly loaded travel, then add compression for a loaded touring setup — without touching springs.
Rebuildable Construction
Every Radflo shock is designed to be serviced and rebuilt. Seals, bushings, and oil can be replaced. For a serious overlanding setup that racks up kilometres on rough terrain, this is a meaningful advantage over non-rebuildable shocks. The expected rebuild interval is approximately 50,000–80,000km in typical off-road use.
Nitrogen Charged
Like all quality off-road shocks, Radflo units are nitrogen-charged to prevent cavitation (oil foaming), which causes spongy damping. Nitrogen charge pressure is maintained during rebuilds.
Radflo vs King vs Fox: How Do They Compare?
| Spec | Radflo | King OEM | Fox Racing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir type | Remote | Remote / piggyback | Remote / piggyback |
| Adjustability | External compression | External C+R | External C (some R) |
| Rebuild friendly | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Australian pricing | $$$ | $$$$ | $$$ |
| Track record | Baja, overlanding | Desert racing | Desert racing, OE |
| Australian support | Good | Strong | Strong |
Radflo is typically priced 15–25% below King OEM shocks for equivalent specs, making them attractive for HQ owners who want race-quality damping without the King price tag.
Real-World Performance on Corrugations
The most common test for Australian camper trailer shocks is the Oodnadatta Track, Gibb River Road, or Canning Stock Route — long stretches of corrugated outback road at 80–100km/h. In these conditions, shock heat management determines whether your ride stays controlled or turns to mush.
Radflo-equipped HQ17 owners report significantly better composure at speed on corrugated roads versus stock — the remote reservoir keeps oil temperatures manageable on 200–300km corrugated sections. At slower speeds on rocky terrain, the compression adjustment allows a softer tune that tracks terrain better than a stiffer setup optimised purely for corrugations.
The verdict from extended touring use: Radflo shocks transform the HQ17 (and HQ15/HQ19) from capable to genuinely impressive on rough terrain. For HQ owners who spend significant time on outback tracks, they're one of the highest-return upgrades available.
Fitting Radflo to a Black Series HQ
Radflo shocks for the Black Series HQ are built to the same dimensions as the factory units, typically a direct bolt-in replacement. Specific fitment notes:
- Use a torque wrench on all mounting hardware — eyelet bushings must be torqued correctly to function as designed
- Run the shock through full suspension travel before final torque to centralise the bushing
- Compression adjuster direction: clockwise = more compression damping; start at mid-adjustment and tune from there
- Allow 500–1,000km break-in period before final tune assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Radflo shocks come with a warranty?
Yes — Radflo offers a limited warranty against manufacturing defects. Extended protection is available in Australia through authorised dealers. The rebuildable design means wear items (seals, bushings) are serviceable rather than warranty items.
Can I fit Radflo shocks myself?
Yes, with basic mechanical skill. The fitting is a direct replacement — remove old shocks, install Radflo with correct torque, set initial compression adjustment. No specialist tools required beyond a torque wrench and standard hand tools.
Which HQ models do Radflo shocks fit?
Radflo supplies specific shock configurations for HQ12, HQ15, HQ17, and HQ19 across different model years. Always confirm the specific SKU for your year model and build variant before ordering.
Shop Radflo at RV Parts Giant
We stock Radflo shocks for Black Series HQ camper trailers. Browse our Radflo collection for HQ-specific shock configurations, or contact us with your year model for a fitment check.