Alcan spring kit sprung stiffer or is it bad roads?

[taylor.coyote]

900 miles on new Alcan springs, Dexter E-Z Flex Suspension Kit (K71-653-00),  5,000 lbs axles at 55lbs tire pressure.

My trailer content is shifting like never before (especially pots and pans). Don't know if trailer is sprung stiffer or the really poor California freeways, Highway 71 and 15 getting around LA had big compressions and peaks. 

Anyone running the Alcan spring kits having the same experience? 

Edited Thursday at 04:54 AM by taylor.coyote
typo

[Mike and Carol]

We haven’t had any content shifting issues.  My impression so far is that the trailer seems more sure footed with the ALCANs.  Mike

[MAX Burner]

16 hours ago, taylor.coyote said:

Anyone running the Alcan spring kits having the same experience? 

We reconfigured our OTT in the same manner and have logged over 12k miles since.  Concur w/ @Mike and Carol, the rig feels solid and tracks true over various terrain conditions.  @Geronimo John and I ventured over several dozens of USFS roads in rough and muddy conditions earlier this year while searching around and met @jd1923 w/o any noticeable relocation of contents inside the cabin.

Rugged terrain should be transited slowly and surely, IMO.  I would not have chose to transit those USFS roads without the suspension upgrades you've done to your Ollie.

just my $0.02...

Be safe out there...

[Patriot]

With approx 11,000 miles logged on our Alcan running gear we have not had any issues with our gear moving around at all. I agree with Mike the trailer seems more planted when towing. I also run 55# tire pressure. I even leave a pair of reading glasses on a small shelf near my bunk and they stay put. 

Edited Thursday at 12:52 PM by Patriot

[johnwen]

9 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

We haven’t had any content shifting issues.  My impression so far is that the trailer seems more sure footed with the ALCANs.  Mike

Same here with 15,000 mi since install early this year  :)

[katanapilot]

Contrary view here.  I went with 4 leaf ALCAN springs and have had more "content shifting" than with the OEM Dexter springs.  The 5 leafs are stiffer yet.  Much like a 2500 or 3500 series truck will have a stiffer ride than a 1500 with the same cargo loading.  Only makes sense. 

[Ronbrink]

No Alcan upgrade, but kinda recall owners saying there is a reduction in the initial spring stiffness over time as they wear-in. I did however, recently install new Bulldog shocks and first go had things shift more than the prior; like hangers off the rail and propane housing dislodged from the center hanger mount. Luckily, all mellowed out in short order as the shocks quickly broke-in. 

[Mountainman198]

5 hours ago, katanapilot said:

Contrary view here.  I went with 4 leaf ALCAN springs and have had more "content shifting" than with the OEM Dexter springs.  The 5 leafs are stiffer yet.  Much like a 2500 or 3500 series truck will have a stiffer ride than a 1500 with the same cargo loading.  Only makes sense. 

I spoke with Lew at Alcan about the differences in ride between the 4 and 5 leaf versions of the springs he has sold to Oliver owners. His response was that the 4 and 5 leaf springs have the same ride and spring rate (amount of weight required to be exerted on a spring to deflect it 1”).  This makes sense as the 4 leaf versions are merely the 5 leaf with the shortest leaf removed, leaving the identical top 4 leafs in place. Since the shortest leaf doesn’t go to work until the first four leafs reach their limits this makes sense.

 

So, my takeaway from my discussion with him is that both the 4 and 5 leaf versions of his springs have the same ride firmness when towing. The big differences are in lower unsprung weight (4leaf version has one fewer leafs) and higher load capability of the 5 leaf (due to the 5th leaf providing greater load capacity).

 

oh, and over 20,000 miles on my 5 leaf Alcans with no issue of ride harshness or things getting jostled around (tires @50 psi and speeds not in excess of 70mph)

Edited Thursday at 07:26 PM by Mountainman198

[Geronimo John]

Spring rating and spring capacity together determine how the road conditions impact the load.  For a given load, a higher rated suspension will have less travel than a softer one.      

• To put this at an extreme, if we go with an infinately strong suspension, say a block of wood, an input from the road will imediately be felt in the cab.  This is not what we want.
• On the other end of the extreme, if we have a too soft suspension, the axle will bang the frame with every input. 

We don't want that either.  And for this reason, all the springs and shocks being used by our owners fall between the two stupid extremes above.  Hence they work.  

The root cause of these discussions as admitted by three Dexter Tech's to me that the original OEM springs being contineously loaded were under designed.   That's why so many have prematurly failed.  The good news is that many of us have upgraded our springs to higher rated ones.  I personally recommend this to ALL OE2 owners who still have their OEM 1750 Dexters.  So for those of us who have already done so, bascally all we are really fretting about is the personal selection of different options. 

It is Physics that if you have a stiffer suspension, you will get less spring travel.  For some that is greatly needed.  But if an owner of several years has zero witness marks on their frame and axle U-bolts, then likely they just need to address the under design issue and go with a compromise spring rate.    

 

On 11/26/2025 at 10:18 AM, taylor.coyote said:

900 miles on new Alcan springs, Dexter E-Z Flex Suspension Kit (K71-653-00),  5,000 lbs axles at 55lbs tire pressure.

My trailer content is shifting like never before (especially pots and pans).

 As Ronbrink mentioned above, your shocks will wear in a bit and may help some.   With the upgrades you have your rig is set up for great off road service.  There is only one thing I can think of to amelerate your situtation.  

You may want to check YOUR tire MFG Pressure/Load chart for recommended tire pressure at your actual axle loading.  If you don't know that number, please hit the scales.  At 55 PSI, I would wager that you are well over your tire MFG recommended pressure.  I recommend 40 to 45 tops for 95% of our OE2 owners weights.

GJ

[rideandfly]

17 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

You may want to check YOUR tire MFG Pressure/Load chart for recommended tire pressure at your actual axle loading.  If you don't know that number, please hit the scales.  At 55 PSI, I would wager that you are well over your tire MFG recommended pressure.  I recommend 40 to 45 tops for 95% of our OE2 owners weights.

GJ

We plan to replace our Dexter 5 leaf spring packs with Alcan springs during 2026, installed new shocks last year. Our LE2 is light, even after adding to Ollie's ready to camp weight during 2025, should be around 5100 pounds with empty tanks.  

Been running 40PSI in Ollie's tires during 2025 and not having issues with trailer contents shifting.

This air pressure chart came from a previous thread here.

 

 

Edited 16 hours ago by rideandfly

[Geronimo John]

1 hour ago, rideandfly said:

We plan to replace our Dexter 5 leaf

Dexter 5 leaf?  Typo?  Good that you are planning to change your springs before their roadside failure.  

The above generic chart provides general industry standard info.   The Michelin provided chart for these tires also require at least 35 PSI.   If an owner can not find a chart for their manufacturer, use of the above could be pretty good guidline.  But with the internet the actual data for your tires is better.  Here is the chart for mine OE2 tires:

For talking purposes, a typical 6,000 pound OE2 will have a tongue weight of about 580 pounds.  That calculates to about 2720 pounds for each axle.  From the chart we are off the chart.  One could mathamatically postulate that at the example axle weight we should use about 27/28 PSI.  Not the case.  The pressure shown on the left side is the minimum pressure to be used.  

But for the purpose of lowering running drag, and to give us more safe warning time when a tire is failing, most of us add some pressure.  Likewise, I also run my OE2 with 40 to 45 PSI when on highway.  If serious off roading I lower it further to 35 as per the charts.  But if conditions dictate, for short duration I would not hesitate to go below the 35 PSI.  And have twice with our Ollie.

SUGGESTION:  I like many other owners, believe that having a 20/18 volt air compressor (And a good plug kit) are musts when traveling far or traveling off road.

GJ

   

[Geronimo John]

Guess I'm on a roll today.....

I keep hearing that X-spring seems to make their trailer sure footed.  Likely a good observation by credible owners.  I suspect they do to at least some extent.

But.  Not once in eight years of crossing the Continental USA, running 9,000+ miles a year, always with significant highway and off road use in the mountains, have I ever had my OTT OE2 not be dirctly behind my truck.  It just follows where the Anderson leads it.  It does not sway. It does not wonder around, it does not wag it's tail at other pretty trailers we pass or that pass us, and it certainly has never been sideways to the path.  It just follows behind me and always shows up in a second or two when we arrive.  So, really is being "Sure Footed" a critical factor in selecting a trailer spring for all of us?  Likely not.  

Whereas, ride of the trailer, and especially our contents, is an important spring selection consideration.  For the 5%ers who have significant witness marks, you have other criterion of more critical importance, and that is keeping the axle U-Bolts from killing your frames welds due to how you love to use your trailers.  For that you need the stiffness of the super duty 5 leaf Alcans.  And I support that perspective for your use.  But I suspect that "sure footedness" is  not a relivant criterion for the majority of owners that don't have witness marks on our frames, and who's frame welds are not worried.  🙂

GJ  

[rideandfly]

2 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

Dexter 5 leaf?  Typo?  Good that you are planning to change your springs before their roadside failure.  

Our LE2 came with 5200lb axles and 5 leaf springs. I'm not going to install them, going to visit Alcan in 2026 and let them do the installation. 

[katanapilot]

3 minutes ago, rideandfly said:

Our LE2 came with 5200lb axles and 5 leaf springs. I'm not going to install them, going to visit Alcan in 2026 and let them do the installation. 

Has anyone with the 5200 lb axles factory installed had a leaf spring failure? 

[rideandfly]

Just now, katanapilot said:

Has anyone with the 5200 lb axles factory installed had a leaf spring failure? 

Not aware of any 5 leaf Dexter spring failures, yet.

[Geronimo John]

4 minutes ago, rideandfly said:

Our LE2 came with 5200lb axles and 5 leaf springs. I'm not going to install them, going to visit Alcan in 2026 and let them do the installation.

Bill: 

Lucky you to have the 5200's for free. 

I am going to "Assume" you are not a 5%er.  If not, I get a second strike.

With your super good 5200's and BEEFY brakes, and likely the Dexter 5 Leaf springs, I do not recall a single post where the 5 leaf springs on 6,000 pound class OTT's have failed.  (Somebody please correct me if my memory has gone on strike in this.  If so, please provide specifics.) 

I would continue to inspect them every season checking for flatening out of their curve.  But then that would be smart for every owner to do, even those with Alcan's.    🙂

GJ

 

[Geronimo John]

13 minutes ago, rideandfly said:

Not aware of any 5 leaf Dexter spring failures, yet.

15 minutes ago, katanapilot said:

Has anyone with the 5200 lb axles factory installed had a leaf spring failure? 

Should we not get contrary documentation, it pretty much validates the Dexter assessment that the Dexter PR4B 1750# springs are undersized for our full time loaded 6000# class trailerls.  

Does any OE2 oqnwe in your situtation know if the OTT installed 5200# axles on the OE2's came with the Dexter PR4 2400# springs or something different?  Would be really good to know this.  thanks

GJ

 

[rideandfly]

33 minutes ago, Geronimo John said:

Bill: 

Lucky you to have the 5200's for free. 

I am going to "Assume" you are not a 5%er.  If not, I get a second strike.

With your super good 5200's and BEEFY brakes, and likely the Dexter 5 Leaf springs, I do not recall a single post where the 5 leaf springs on 6,000 pound class OTT's have failed.  (Somebody please correct me if my memory has gone on strike in this.  If so, please provide specifics.) 

I would continue to inspect them every season checking for flatening out of their curve.  But then that would be smart for every owner to do, even those with Alcan's.    🙂

GJ

 

 

That's why we're taking our time replacing the springs in 2026 with Alcan springs.

I don't like Dexter EZ Flex wet pin spring bushings, they were thin and fragile when installing the EZ Flex system, very easy to damage. Believe Alcan's bushings are made of more durable material and thicker than Dexter's wet pin spring bushings. This will be a good reason for us to visit Grand Junction, CO this year during our western trip. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 10 hours ago by rideandfly