MAX Burner

What a fantastic upgrade! We'll be doing this over the fall in prep for our JAN Q-site outing.... Excited to see how this shakes out, @jd1923! Will you disable the PD converter/charger function and use the MPII charger function? Just curious...

Not to make the list more complicated or confusing, but would it be of value to anyone by indicating OEM "original" axle capacity and "upgraded" axle capacity for those that have gone from D35s to D52s? Just a thought...

@HDRider - No worries, brother! There's a balance we use when planning for a long trip. We nail down details for the big ticket locations (reservations, time spent there, etc.). But.... we also leave enough time in between those "big tickets" to allow us to explore. We've always thought of the travel plan as a "point of departure" should we need to change routes for any reason. So, we use an "overall plan" such that we've got something to deviate from... We take our time when planning, but don't go too far down the rabbit hole -- it's more fun for us to approach planning that way. Be sure to keep us posted on your experiences with pictures... Cheers and definitely have FUN on your long OTT adventure!

That sound perfectly normal for being outside...

The original D35s were Spring Center = 50.5"

FYI: This is exactly what we learned from Dexter and OTT last May when we switched ours out. Turned out that OTT had the correctly sized D52s in stock for our model year (luckily) so we didn't have to wait 3 - 4 weeks for the special order from Dexter. The price was $825/ea from OTT but that included the Dexter 4-pack 1,750# which we didn't need. Just as an interrogative comment: Since installing the Alcans in March, we've logged 6,750 miles on them and since upgrading from the D35s to D52s in May, we've logged 3,729 miles on the axles. We've experience zero issues and frankly, cannot "feel" or observe any differences while under tow. I "base-lined photographed" each of the aluminum angle cross members prior to installing the springs and have checked them several times since and haven't noted any cracked welds or other damage. At the 5,000-mile point, we last checked the 3" x 9/16" U-bolt torque - all good. Granted, we didn't wonder off on any long unimproved roads except for a few short jaunts into BLM and USFS campgrounds.... FWIW: We'll continue to keep a weather-eye on the running gear (as we would anyway), but our peace of mind and overall confidence in Casablanca is significantly better than before making these improvements. Cheers, ALL!

True that.

@John Dorrer - John; that's correct. You'll need to examine your Dexter D35 axles and determine if you've got 2-1/2" or the 3" diameter units. I believe most Olivers were initially configured with the 3" diameter D35's, but Dexter makes both sizes. Lew or Mike at Alcan will sell you the appropriate U-bolts for your axles with your leaf spring order. Note that U-bolts are a one-time use item, so you shouldn't re-use your current U-bolts/nuts/washers. Also, the new Alcan-made U-bolt kits arrive unpainted, it would be a good time to clean off the machining oil and hit them with a good oil-based product such as Rust-Oleum to slow down the accumulation of oxidation on them. Plus, it will make those nice Alcan 5-packs and running gear look "all new and shiny." Keep us posted on your upgrade efforts! Cheers!

Same here...

We're on that same train, John!

Just as an interrogative comment and question on the subject: New OTT owners may still have spring issues with 2024 model year and forward rigs even though the new OEM axles are D52s. When we replaced our axles last May at Hohenwald, I noticed that our D52s were configured from Dexter with 1,750# 4-pack leaf springs. Since we had already installed Alcan 5-packs a few weeks prior, the OEM Dexter 4-packs were not used and stayed in TN after our D52/Alcan installation. @rideandfly - Bill, y'all seem fortunate to have your #75 rig come with the LE configuration running gear (D52s plus Dexter 5-packs)... It's my understanding that there has yet to be a reported any 5-pack spring failures. My question is, why doesn't the factory order the same axle set configuration for both the LE and LE2? Wouldn't this simplify supply from Dexter, inventory stocking, removing possible installation errors (as with 5k#/7.5k# Bulldog couplers), and ultimately do away with the 1,750# 4-packs which have a history of failing?

Gotta love the "Fall Colors" in the Rockies! Great snapshot, @Patriot!

Bummer, for sure. But you can still consider retro-fitting some heavier 5-pack springs for your running gear, IMO.

Thanks for posting such great pix, Mike! Ouray, "The Little Switzerland of the Rockies", that place never gets old! We've stayed in Ridgeway many times and love the scenery - be sure to drop into Telluride and have lunch at "Brown Dog Pizza", it shouldn't disappoint! Enjoy!

Mine's wired exactly as the illustration you've posted... My negative bus bar is within 6 - 8" from the Orion and with a common ground between TV and TT, FYI.

Just curious, what's your SOC when you're reading 11-15amps? Your 50amp Victron charger may only allow lower charging amp at higher SOCs. FYI, we're getting 25-28amps with SOCs below 70% on the road. As the SOC increases we're seeing 10-15amps (our's is a 30amp charger unit).

We're definitely considering the Lynx PD unit as well for when we drop the hammer on upgrading to the MPII - its a very clean option as compared to our Blue Seas bus bar, IMO.

@jdmmtx ; If you're still in need of replacement leaf springs, you're welcome to have my OEM 4-leaf springs - no longer needed because we replaced them last April using the Alcan 5-leaf spring packs that @Steph and Dud B mentioned above. Shoot me a PM with a shipping address and cover the shipping costs... You can have 1 or all 4 of the springs. They are in serviceable condition. Cheers, Art

@rideadeuce - Hey, Mike - are those a couple of airedales you have there? I used to have a female that looked just like them! You're right @jd1923, the DC/DC charger really makes the battery package work for us, BTW. Gone are the days of having our AS with 4 heavy AGMs!

Not sure what Jason's comments meant regarding new Dexter axles not fitting on @Wayfinder's hull....??? @ScubaRx's hull #050, as well as our #226 retro-fitted the D52's w/12" drums and Alcan 5-leaf spring packs - both are config'd with the EZ-Flex system. We'll be interested in hearing the back story....

Our 3 x BB's are a perfect AH storage capacity for our style of camping/boondocking, FYI. But when it comes to AH's, "MO is BETTA", IMO. Frankly, I don't know what I'd do with another 300AHs! Keep the AC running for the Knuckleheads when we're away, I suppose! HA!

@jd1923: Very clean mod, brother! Nicely done - BRAVO ZULU!

The MaxxFan Plus with the LED light really makes for a superior lighting configuration in the head with the factory OTT LED lighting package, FYI. Should be another standard module from the Mothership, IMO.

Same here, Mike.... love the "auto" mode on just about anything - so long as it works correctly. HA!

FYI: D and I have reserved site #81 for the mini-rally; looking forward to meeting everyone! Cheers!