Geronimo John

First Question: GJ response: Remains to be seen. We are assured that the new springs will fit and do their job much better than the OEM 4 leaf ones. But one hitch in the game plan has already surfaced, and we don't know yet that they will be a Direct Replacement until they are installed and a few miles gets put upon them. Best wait just a tad and see how this plays out. But the odds are for sure with a successful deployment of the new product. With much greater safety margins as well I believe. Second Question: GJ Response: No. Good quality springs that are not abused or overloaded have a VERY long life span. With the new 5 leaf springs it would not be necessary to have a spare. If you were thinking of keeping your old springs, you would need to buy a 4 leaf spring as a spare. No point in spending money on what appears to be a bad product for our use. GJ

thank you for your post. I will follow the lead and reduce my 50 to 42 PSI. Mahalo and Aloha, GJ

Yes, lots and lots of good info at your finger tips. Try searching as below. GJ .

Shifting focus on the topic: When the spring fails, does the tire or broken spring get into the wheel well fiberglass? Would the answer to the above be different if we were on a fire road with big bumps up/down? GJ

Good catch. A good example of why letting the first install with a few miles take place before opening up the flood gates. I would prefer to use a bench vice and two strong C-clamps. Belt and suspenders with one of them (The bench Vice) for sure not going anywhere.... just in case. GJ

One needs to ask, why would a spring set rated for 2,000 pounds fail with just a 1,350 pound load? In light of the heat treatment photo, this clearly is a defective product and we have almost a dozen instances where the Dexter provided axles have failed. This is a life safety issue that OTT would be in the best position to pursue with their supplier. Not to mention, as I suggested above, OTT should be warning their customers of this known issue. Keep in mind that not all OTT owners read every thread. We all would feel terrible if one of our beloved trailers went off a cliff and took out a family due to this defect. MODERATORS: I am asking that you: Make OTT aware of this issue and the frequency for which it appears to have occurred. Strongly suggest that they provide all owners with a Safety Bulletin. And to specially ask owners that have had failed springs to notify them for documentation and further actions with their supplier. Once they have the facts from owners with defective axles, to formally advise Dexter of this issue. GJ

Would seem that since the water proofing (caulk) is on the inside, that using a below the water line marine product would be in order. Maybe? GJ

So, if we have a 6,000 pound trailer, with four tires and a 10% tongue weight, each of our tires will be supporting 1,350 pounds. The chart shows a minimum recommended load of 1585 pounds. So basically it appears that we are not on the chart.... GJ

Yes, I came to that same conclusion earlier as well. Combine that with being overloaded would make the failures far more commonplace. GJ

LOL. Mine was so long, I had to make two lists: 2024 Do List Future Years Do List GJ

This is starting to sound like another Dexter defect that they will never fess up to..... just like the EZ-Flex Center Bolt backing out was. It warrants at least a OTT Safety Bulletin and possibly a NTSB complaint.

Ditto for our hull. GJ

Larry: This really is significant. It appears that the heat treatment was not consistant across the cross section of the spring. This would set up the spring to have force concetrations and/or embrittlement fractures. I have been contemplating various ideas to stiffen up our OE2 suspension, and the higher rating for the spring rate with a small air bag may be a step in that right direction I think. Once you have a chance to install, if they work out as hoped, I am thinking that there will be a significant number of us that will want to replace ours. With commitment for a lot of sets, it becomes possible to negotiate a group purchase at discount. Paid in advance of the production run with an option to pick up at the factory or shipped to owners desires address with additional cost. I know more than a few of us could be in their fine city later this summer. Do they have a facility suitable for installation on our trailers? The would be helpful for those of us on the road. Your thoughts? GJ PS: I OFTEN take posts of significance and turn them into a condensed word document. Hope you don't mind, but my version is attached. I find it handy having an electronic copy for down the road, and having the info you posted is GOLDEN! Made in USA leaf springs (6 FEB 2024).docx

Yes to the first part..... I would think "not" for the second part. Lots of steel there.

Per the video, the Zone 19 footer checks in loaded at 7,000 pounds. Our OE2's typically are about 6,000 pounds. I bet much of the Zone's extra weight is the suspension. Somehow could we get air bags under our's? That alone would make a huge difference. Has OTT considered such an option? is it even possible with the small space we have between the frame and the Dexter axle system?

I recall from a relatively recent post that the spring length's are not one of the common standardly stocked kind. Something about Mr. Oliver wanted to shrink the distance between axles to reduce tire scrubbing during maneuvers or something like that..... GJ

A bolt head of the right size is a suitable substitute for a very large Allen Wrench. GJ

For the negative terminal to the Shunt, many of use 1" copper bus bar. Cheap at Amazon.

They would make height adjustments to gain more spring travel a lot easier!

Suggest starting a list of hull numbers, Month & Year MFG, trailer miles, and predominant use type (RV Parks, Boondocking, Off Road). GJ

And the Stick Built Owners that like to boondock off hard surface roads become Ollie Owners as a result of their stick builts falling apart. Love my OE2! GJ

I really like your hard top rain and wind shielding "Guest House". Safe for Alaska and Canada (Generally speaking). And will encourage guests not to stay more than a few days. Sweet build for sure! GJ

I pre freeze at the Ranch ten small water bottles. Then put them into the freezer and refrig compartment they aid in the cool down process GREATLY! GJ

Amen to that! GJ

Yea I saw that. My slide rule must have needed some grease for that calculation! 🙂 GJ