rideandfly Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 After seeing Randy's post about having NVR Lube Bearings on his 2015 Ollie, started hoping we had the same bearings. Called Dexter, gave them the Dexter SN and our Ollie does not have NVR Lubes bearings :( . Guessing bearing/axle changes were made during 2015. Asked if I could upgrade to NVR Lube bearings and Dexter said I would have to install new axles to make that upgrade. When I upgrade to the EZ Flex on our Ollie, will lube the bearings, inspect brakes, and replace seals. Bill & Debbie / 2015 LE2 #75 / 2024 F-150/5.0L / North Carolina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rideandfly Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Here's the Dexter SN: Additional axle information on a axle tag: Bill & Debbie / 2015 LE2 #75 / 2024 F-150/5.0L / North Carolina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Davies Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 After seeing Randy’s post about having NVR Lube Bearings on his 2015 Ollie, started hoping we had the same bearings. Called Dexter, gave them the Dexter SN and our Ollie does not have NVR Lubes bearings ? . Guessing bearing/axle changes were made during 2015. Asked if I could upgrade to NVR Lube bearings and Dexter said I would have to install new axles to make that upgrade. When I upgrade to the EZ Flex on our Ollie, will lube the bearings, inspect brakes, and replace seals. Bill, be glad you don't have them! They are not an "upgrade". If you venture far from help the cartridge NVR Lube bearings are a horrible idea. You need a big hydraulic press to replace them and they are uber expensive. If you don't mind servicing them, the old kind make so much more sense. You can fix a blown bearing at the side of the road in an hour using hand tools and the cheap bearings, seals, and grease that are in your spares kit. Do some research on the RV forums. You will see that the sealed bearings are fine until the fail, then they are an extremely expensive PITA to deal with. A bearing kit and a pound tub of grease is less than $20 and you can find the parts at ANY auto parts department or store. The cartridge bearings may have to be ordered and one set is $140. Scroll to the bottom here: https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trailer_Bearings_and_Races-pc-3500_lbs_Axle.aspx It's the same with your pickup truck - the front cartridge bearings are fast and easy to install at the factory, which is why they are used, but they put all the load over a very narrow distance compared to conventional bearings. They are convenient as heck for the builder but they are a very poor design for longevity. I'm sure there are videos about trailer hubs, but I don't have a link. I do have a link to a pickup front spindle conversion kit that is very informative, and much of it applies to trailers. If I can specify the old style axles when I order, I will do so and be very glad to have them! John Davies Spokane WA 1 SOLD 07/23 "Mouse": 2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rideandfly Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 John, Appreciate the info! My plan is to pack the bearings by hand when everything is taken apart. One guy I used to work with used an Alemite needle with grease gun to lube bearings. Buzzy, Tommy can answer your question next week! Saw two completed Elite II campers at Oliver on 5/27. One has a green color scheme and the other has a blue scheme. Could one of those be yours? Bill & Debbie / 2015 LE2 #75 / 2024 F-150/5.0L / North Carolina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donthompson Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 A local frame and axle shop ordered this for me and installed it this morning They charged me $212 for the Dexter kit and $160 to install (2 hours of labor). With tax, I paid $407. Leaving for a long trip to Colorado and Utah next Tuesday. The trip should be a good test of this modification. Don 2020 Kimberley Kruiser T3 2019 Ram 2500 Diesel States I visited with my Ollie (Sold October, 2019) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commanche Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Don, I'll be anxious to see it when we meet up in Utah. Time to "get packin' " See you then. Stan Stan and Carol Blacksburg, VA 2014 Dodge Durango 5.7 Hemi 2014 Legacy Elite II Standard Hull 63 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators topgun2 Posted June 3, 2016 Moderators Share Posted June 3, 2016 Stan, Don't forget your touque wrench! Bill 2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist" Near Asheville, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rideandfly Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Just ordered a kit from Nick's for $193.21 delivered. Will take photos during Ollie installation: http://www.nickstruckparts.com/k71-653-00.html Bill & Debbie / 2015 LE2 #75 / 2024 F-150/5.0L / North Carolina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rideandfly Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 By the way, during my delivery day Tommy mentioned that he really likes the Dexter EZ Flex and is hoping OTT makes it a standard on all trailers. Cool! Buzzy This improvement will contribute to many trouble free towing miles. That's what I like about Oliver!!!!!!! Bill & Debbie / 2015 LE2 #75 / 2024 F-150/5.0L / North Carolina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overland Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 I was doing some suspension research this morning and came across two similar solutions from Lippert that might be of interest, the EquaFlex and the Centerpoint Air Ride. The EquaFlex is identical in concept to the EZ Flex, but perhaps is a bit softer. The CenterPoint replaces the bushing with an air bag system which, while obviously complex, looks like it could really help out on rough roads. It also looks like it would raise the suspension a fair amount and provide a good bit more suspension travel. This might be a better solution for those of us who are considering an overslung axle for added ground clearance. https://store.lci1.com/equa-flex-suspension-enhancement https://store.lci1.com/center-point-kit-tandem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Davies Posted June 25, 2016 Author Share Posted June 25, 2016 This morning I was crawling around under Ollie and counted 12 grease fittings. Four on each of the Dexter EX Flex and one on each end of the leaf springs. (See pics below) Am I missing any?! Buzzy That should do it. How easy was it to grease those zerk fittings? Make sure each one actually takes grease, and that it squirts out around the bushing as in your first picture. Also, wipe off the excess or it will just attract dirt. Yours are installed in the "correct" orientation, as per Dexter's instructions, but many folks choose to have them face inwards so that there is no reaching past the tires, plus they stay a little bit cleaner in that location. While you do have to lie down on something to get to them, your arms will stay clean. Order a set of these, install them and keep the grit out of your fittings. Plus they will look very professional and it will tell a knowledgeable onlooker that you know what your are doing. Regardless of whether or not it is true ;) https://www.amazon.com/Grease-Fitting-Caps-Yellow-Polyethylene/dp/B0040CWX7C They make heavy rubber ones, but they dry rot, crack, fall off and are way more expensive. These will not roll into a crack or under your tire when you service the fittings. BTW how does the trailer ride with that kit? John Davies Spokane WA SOLD 07/23 "Mouse": 2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwbark Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Those look very pro! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vector - Lanham Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Hey John, thanks for the video. Vector 2016 Oliver Legacy Elite II; #129 Ordered in 2015, picked up in 2016. My friend Don Thompson picked his up right in front of me, very cool dude. 2016 Nissan Titan XD, Diesel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayfinder Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Ok fellas, I've seen mention of folks ordering the 33" and the 35" Dexter kits. Which is it for the 2016 LE-II? ? My hubs appear to be 33.5" apart, both sides. K71-652-00 (33"/6000 libs) - https://www.amazon.com/Dexter-K71-652-00-Complete-Suspension-Kit/dp/B01HOAGBSI <OR> K71-653-00 (35"/8000 lbs) - https://www.amazon.com/Dexter-K71-653-00-Complete-Suspension-Kit/dp/B01HOAGBHO Thanks, Chris Chris 2016 Legacy Elite II o--o Hull #110 o--o Wayfinder o--o Twin Bed o--o 2020 RAM 1500 Limited 5.7L Augusta, Georgia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Mike and Carol Posted September 25, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 25, 2021 I would call Oliver service. They were doing quite a few installs on the ‘16 and earlier trailers and should be able to give you a definitive answer. Mike 1 Texas Hill Country | 2016 Elite II #135 | 2020 Ram 2500 6.7L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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