Mountainman198

The pair of PR4 springs I got to replace my failed stock springs and limp home last year had the same size bushings as my old 1,750 stock springs. Perhaps yours are different?

Which bushings do your 2,600 lb PR4 springs have?

Yes. While I.D. Remains the same as stock, the bushing wall thickness on the Alcan is greater than the dexter ( Alcan is bottom in attached photo while stock dexter-supplied spring is on top).

I replaced two springs on the same axle at a campground after one broke and the other was failing. Took 4 hrs using the onboard rear “stabilizers” and a bottle jack. Found a pair of springs at a local rv shop. Once I made it home I replaced all four with Alcan 5-leafs and never looked back. 10,000+ trouble-free miles on the Alcans. It can be done if you have the tools. PM me and I am happy to talk you thru the process.

I like it, Art. Might I suggest the coveted patch series for Ollie owners would be the “Boondock Centurian” patch celebrating 100, 200, 500 nights spent without hookups?

This interior shot was posted on the Oliver FB page for their new Bluetooth speaker. Could this be the interior view of the new windows?

No worries. I have a 1979 Husky 390WR that I would put on my tongue, balanced-out by a hitch-mounted Big Green Egg on the back

Glad you got what you wanted. Lew and his team are Great. the springs you bought are just like the top one in the attached pic, minus the bottom most (short) leaf, correct? Please keep us advised as you put more miles on the new suspension

Interesting design, but the rear overhang is HUGE. Coupled with what appears to be low ground clearance, the departure angle would be really small.

Initially, they are a bit stiffer but after 500 miles or so the ride softens. I dont notice much more stiffness now than stock ( judged by stuff falling off counters and beds while underway). There is less side to side movement of trailer going down the road than before. I am extremely happy with my Alcans after 10,000 miles. Everyone has to come to their own conclusion about what is right for them. I have no idea if St Louis Spring makes a good product or not. It is merely an alternative to be investigated by those who want something other than stock or Alcan.

Try here. When doing my initial research for US made springs, they said they could re-create the 1,750 lb 4 leafs using US steel. Saintloiusspring.com

I do not believe Oliver offered a 2” receiver option again until just recently. Definitely not offered in 2021. If you bought yours used, perhaps prior owner had the smaller sleeve pressed out in hopes of using a 2” shank, however as I recall, there have been posts about owners trying this only to find out that the i.d. Was not large enough. Please post pics so others can weigh-in.

Exactly what I found at Lowes. I couldn't find my packaging. Thanks for posting

Exact match. I took the one from my door into Lowes before it rotted and fell off so I would know. Last one from Lowes lasted three years before falling off. Looks like I need to root thru the drawer for a replacement

Bought a package of them at Lowes and keep in the junk drawer in the trailer. If I recall they were pretty reasonable

Nothing good can come from this meet-up! Have fun at the Rally!

Pretty sure these statements are directly from Ram as I have seen the exact quotes elsewhere in their announce media. Assume these quotes are for when vehicle is operating in Tow mode. Battery reserve would have much lower “floor” in normal mode. Looking forward the TFL Truck test run towing the Ike Gauntlet. Hopefully they address the normal vs tow mode battery reserve issue when towing. I love the series PHEV model for “EV” towing. I just wish they would make tow mode automatic when a trailer is attached (maybe this will be the case at launch).

The Ramcharger appears to be a series hybrid which means that the onboard gas generator provides electricity to the batteries to drive the wheels when the drive battery charge goes below the predetermined lower threshold and stops discharging. This feature is great when you deplete your battery and then the generator kicks on to provide electricity. From what I understand the generator can only provide a diminished, set amount of electric to run the drivetrain. This is all fine for driving on flat land at moderate speed and not towing. But what about when you are towing up a significant incline and the battery has gone below its lower limit and the electricity output from the onboard generator is not enough to meet the heavy power demands of towing uphill? It appears the Ram engineers have thought of this and included a “Tow” mode which reserves a preset amount of battery reserve to be engaged along with the generator output in high demand situations. Good thinking. This is very similar to the “Mountain”mode in my Chevrolet Volt (which reserves electric for climbing when using the onboard gas generator. But, what if someone forgets to engage towing mode and depletes their battery before starting to climb a long steep grade while towing? If the Ramcharger behaves like my Volt in similar conditions, you can quickly reach a point where energy demand outpaces the capability of the onboard gas generator, forcing the vehicle into reduced propulsion mode. I know with my volt the accelerator response and power is greatly diminished, placing the car into a sort of enhanced limp mode. Will the Ramcharger do the same? Will the reduced propulsion mode on the Ram be enough energy to tow a heavy trailer up a grade slowly or at all? Will the tow vehicle come to a stop leaving you stranded on incline? Who will be first to test this out and report back? my point above is stated perhaps more clearly in this article, however it is still not clear whether the enhanced battery reserve is available in standard drive mode or only when the driver manually engages tow mode before heading out with a fully charged battery. https://insideevs.com/news/751670/ramcharger-battery-size-usa-towing/

I have Firestone airbags installed on my Tundra and have liked the way they perform (25,000 miles towing to date). Adjustability is key for my uses. 25 psi when towing eliminates jouncing in rear of truck. Happy Camper. Adjustability, price point (approx $400 at time of install) and ease of install were selling points for me. Very little leakage over 3 yrs.

I did something similar by merely double stacking a nylon lock nut on top of the standard wingnut. All you are trying to do is slow down a thief since a serious one will merely use a big screwdriver or wrench and pry the spanner up 1/4” between the two tanks to free them to be pulled out.

10,000 mile update on Alcan springs: A year had passed since my dreaded roadside leaf spring break and 10,000 miles are on the Ollie with Alcan springs underneath so I thought I would provide my update. Ride height - rear bumper rides approx 1/2” higher than stock Ride performance - first 500 miles seemed a bit stiffer than stock with a few more items from counter and beds on the floor but the springs settled-in after that and there is no observed difference inside the trailer now (no additional stuff found fallen to the floor). Trailer tracks the same as stock, however visible jouncing (up and down) and side to side (roll) are observed to be less pronounced than stock. I also noticed when doing annual bearing maintenance that the spring shackles no longer invert when both wheels on the same side are jacked off the ground. Overall impression - had I known that a heavier capacity, 5-leaf spring, made in the US with US steel and featuring a design with the second leaf which extended all the way under each spring eye was available sooner I would have swapped sooner, just as I had previously done with solid stainless lug nuts and US made Timken bearings. No regrets on the upgrade from stock springs.

Never tire of this campground. Aguirre Springs, site #18. Campground was nearly empty so finally got what I consider to be the best site. Organ Mtns, NM. White Sands on plains below to left

For those who are not on the Fiberglass Rally Facebook page. Oliver camp shown both at the beginning and at end of the video.

We are turned up to Eleven (Ollies, total count) currently. Good to see old friends and make new ones.