MAX Burner

…great opening ceremony talk by Rodney Lomax, excellent dinner company, awesome raffle prizes - all along with a beautiful sunset!!!🌆 Perfect way to start the Rally!

Hey, @KenB - how many miles do you estimate were on your shocks before replacement? Just curious... TKX

Yeah, our first time here - didn't realize how BIG Nashville is! HUGE...

We're headed down this morning from Nashville - figuring right at 162 miles and a 4-hr run w/puppy bladders...HA! See y'all down there!

Solid copy, @rideadeuce! Thanks for the vectors in Guntersville, Mike - will look forward to them! Cheers!

There are two more Zerks fittings in the center EZ-Flex mount on the frame - one facing fore, one aft, here's a couple pix to orient your perspective: Above pic show the forward facing Zerk... Above pic show aft facing Zerk... FYI: There's 8 zerks per side on our 2017 OTT...

@Patriot - maybe provide a link to the pix of the set-up at your home for EXPLOR to @NomadLife... You've got an awesome protective structure that he may find interesting, just a random thought. See y'all tomorrow in AL! Safe travels, brother! A & D

Not to worry, JD - we'll keep you posted of the shenanigans!

Hey, brother - just pulled into town early this afternoon. Staying at an RV park near the airport. D flies in tomorrow AM and we're headed to the owners rally on Tuesday. Can you recommend a good "Monday Night" food joint nearby? Just curious.... Cheers!

Awesome idea - impressive!!!

D and I can attest to how quiet the Houghton unit operates. We did a side-by-side comparison last summer - first running the Dometic in "Zone-5 Afterburner" (its only mode) and attempting to converse inside with little luck. We then moved into John's unit a few yards away with his Houghton running - OMG, a significant drop in db level and we could actually communicate normally... My subjective appraisal as it is... Just say'n.

@CW. Craig/MaryLou - congrats on your new acquisition of Hull #962! @Coach and JoJo have passed along a wonderful example of an OTT to y'all, and you can make your mark on it by participating in these forums. As you already know, there's a huge compendium of information and experience from thousands of forum participants that await your searches for operating procedures, fixes, upgrades, and modifications. Welcome to the Oliver Family and we all look forward to your descriptions of "next adventures"! Cheers!

Absolutely correct, Steve. We did the same procedure by drilling-out our spring plates for the 9/16" U-bolts. Not only are the U-bolts beefier, but the Alcan-provided nuts are 50% longer than those on the standard Dexter axle made with sub-standard Chinese spring steel leafs. More thread contact between bolt and nut = mo betta. This was one of the main decision points in going with Alcan versus Dexter spring packs for our application. Dexter's 5-pack springs are designed in the same fashion as the 1750# 4-packs - with the 4th longest leaf extending to only about 3.5" from either eyelet. This is the traditional break failure point that Steve's referring to in his description above. With the Alcan design, that 4th spring fills the gap by extending to the point where the 5th leaf starts curving for the eyelet. Another feature of the Alcans, previously discussed but adding here for clarity, is the larger walled bronze bushing - 3/16" versus 1/16" for the Dexters that had bronze bushings. This thicker walled bushing creates an even larger diameter eyelet = mo betta. Please note that the current Dexter 1750# 4-spring packs w/D52 axles are fixed with plastic bushings. I observed this first-hand last week when replacing our D35s for the D52s. Serious NOTE: Owners with the newer Dexters should determine if their axles are equipped with either bronze or plastic/nylon bushings. Why, you ask? If a rig's running gear is fixed with an axle kit using spring packs with plastic bushings and using Dexter EZ-flex wet bolts, the bushings will likely not last a season. The petroleum-based grease used for the wet bolts can decompose plastic bushings. Not good, IMO. The pic below shows Alcan's extended 4th leaf right to the curvature point of the 5th spring's eyelet - a robust design feature not found in either the 4- or 5-pack Dexter Chinese-made spring kits (FYI, the traditional breaking point with the Dexter 4-packs is about where the end of the 3rd spring is located, see below pic): Comment on Shocks: If one assumes that OTTs are "under sprung" - i.e., not heavy enough leaf springs, then the constant expansion/contraction rate that the Monroe's experience is very high. IMO, this wears out the shocks much sooner - and which were never designed for an "under sprung" suspension to begin with. Using heavier-duty shocks on the same running gear may last a bit longer but shock failure will occur sooner than if they were mounted on running gear of heavier design. The Alcan option may just allow our shocks to last their designed lifespan... who knows? Let's get some miles on these babies and find out! 'nuf said.

It came up some, Ranger Rick made us clear out and go to higher ground in the trees to spend our last night there... No biggie - up'n moved in 10 mikes.

...but at least we try to! HA!

Absolutely, makes total sense, JD! Had we not planned to attend the owner's rally, we probably would have lived with the 3.5k#-ers for a while. But here's a consideration - the D52 Dexters (or the older D44's and D35s for that matter) are custom cut to OTT width specifications (they're only approx. 62.5" flange-to-flange). I suppose one could order an OTT spec'd set of axles from Dexter in Sparta, TN but that could be costly for a single run off. We have not contacted Dexter to learn what the one-off cost/time schedule/shipping costs would be - maybe another owner could do that. Since headed eastbound from NM anyway, we decided to contact OTT directly, and coordinated with Jason Essary to acquire our axle kit. Timing was just right with the rally scheduled for next week. Our approach to the running gear upgrade became a phased approach instead of "all at one time in our shop" primarily due to logistics and cost. Alcan springs first, 5.2k# axles, then shocks (only by happenstance, not planning) - & the Cooper Discoverers only have about 15-16k on them. As far as labor costs, my time is free for me... We ate the cost of travel to Hohenwald because we planned on attending the owner's rally anyway - the entire running gear upgrade worked out well for us. HA!

The height of the trailer after new spring pack installed was approx 5/8" higher. The hull and frame assy doesn't squat down as much with the heavier springs. The length of the 3/4" longer shocks wouldn't make any difference regardless of what spring packs are installed. They need to be fully compressed to get into the mountings anyway - just adjust the nose up/down to get the correct clearance. JFTR: Finished up with the "in situ" shock R&R drill at Primitive Campsite #8 at the Mousetail SP on the TN River just now -- and Casablanca is back to that "yellow" looking running gear. The only mod to the drill was using fresh nylocs instead of the nuts provided (a bit of overkill, but D's idea - "happy wife....): New axles, springs, fresh shocks, newer Cooper tires - isn't it a good feeling? Or an obsession??? Thoughts?

Same here, Steve - looking forward to the rally and putting faces to the names! TKX again for the time consuming effort with the roster... Keep your head on a swivel and travel safe! Cheers! A

Right?

Apologies in advance for those who already read our post on the subject, but here's a "Reader's Digest" version of what our conversion finally ended up like... 1. We mounted the POE injector (converts 12vDC to 44vDC for dishy), DC-to-DC converter, 3rd party mini travel router, and wiring in the closet (the second DC-DC converter is for the Camera): 2. Power Switch for SL kit and Security Camera located on bulkhead above closet door: 3. Communication (Ethernet) Cable penetrates closet bulkhead (adjacent to bathroom), drops down under vanity, exits hull via a Blue Seas Clam along with DC-DC charger cables and OEM 12vDC cable (pls. ignore the knucklehead in the pic): 4. The SL Cable is routed forward into the "dog house" and exits via a "weather proof" (term use lightly) 4-pair connector: NOTE: Normally, we would mount the dishy on top of the flag pole which you'll see the mount for above, but today we've been informed by Ranger Rick that flood warnings exist on the TN River and we may need to "Exit Stage Right (like Yogi would say)" rather quickly, so dishy is mounted in it's travel box and placed on a picnic table for a rapid departure, if needed: This post is coming to you via our 12vDC Dishy kit, FYI... Good luck with your's! Feel free to PM us anytime regarding details not covered in this or our previous posting on the project. Cheers!

And a ""Good "Starlink" Morning"" from Casablanca at Primitive Site # 8 in Mousetail Landing SP along the TN River... Happy feet enjoying mid-60's temps this AM with a couple Knuckleheads and some Blackbeard's Delight Black Rifle in the mug: Headed to Nashville tomorrow to collect my bride and VFR-direct to Guntersville on Tuesday... Safe travels, All!

As mentioned in an earlier rant, we did the "ride-along" test before and after replacing the spring packs... Over a 3+mile course over improved but rutty country roads, there was no "felt" difference at speeds up to 25mph, before/after. Higher speeds may show different results. Riding back there wasn't anything like the difference riding in our 2016 (stock) RAM 3500 and our 2022 (almost stock) TUNDRA. Huge difference between the two. Although the RAM rode like a "buckboard" (I don't think it would scramble eggs) but the TUNDRA rides like a car, soft yet sure footed. Actually, I was somewhat impressed how stiff the ride felt before changing spring packs. DBo (Dusten Bowden, an 18-yr OTT Veteran) has concluded that OTTs are way under sprung for their construction. JFTR: He was very impressed with the Alcan upgrade and would recommend them for any owner, especially for those that have experienced 4-pack spring failure - as its a perfect time for upgrading. Someone correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe Mr. Oliver insisted on 5-packs and 5.2k# axles on both his rigs... FYI and as it may be known, OTT is no longer installing 3.5k# axles on their new LE2 rigs (LE1's have alway had 5.2k# Dexters) - so, like Steve mentioned above, perhaps 5-packs may come in the future. We believe that will be an overall improvement to what we consider an already well engineered product. At the end of the day, the "spring-pack/axle" discussion boils down to individual camping style and personal preference, IMO. The probability of us breaking one or more of our previous 4-pack leaf springs, I'm sure, is a low one. However, I know how we roll - I'm the guy that would break a Chinese 4-pack halfway out on the 14-mile washboard road to Chaco Canyon or on the way to "Moving Rocks" near Furnace Springs, Death Valley. I'd have a spare 4-pack with me, of course - but another one would break on me on the way back after swapping! The discussion does not have a "go/no-go" solution set - it's an "it depends" solution, IMO. Like @Patriot sez, "Roll-ON", regardless... Cheers, All!

...and another one's down, another one's down, another one bites the dust! Hey, hey, hey" Lyrics from some random song from the '70's?

Well, this one probably doesn't count then:

Excellent point, brother! I'm thinking why not turn the OEM crossbar upside down so the receiver is on the bottom - that way one could access the spare w/o taking apart the rear assy. But then the bumper may not clear the receiver - need to look into this.