Made in USA leaf springs

[Geronimo John]

On 8/2/2024 at 4:36 PM, jd1923 said:

Last thing anybody wants is to spend big $$$ for lesser springs. We have shown in detail the Alcan product is superior to OEM. That was the reason @Mountainman198 brought this to our attention months and 19 pages ago…

Yes the Alcan springs many have purchased are a better made spring..... but it is not the right choice for a growing number of owners that are fully considering all sides of this "agree to disagree" topic. 

In the opinion of several non-involved spring vendors, for our OE2 trailers, replacing a 1750 pound spring with a more expensive 2700 pound one is an expensive effort to achieve an oversprung load.  Not saying that doing so is bad for some frequent extreme off-roading boondocking users, just that for the fleet in general, it is NOT believed to be THE recommended solution.

So instead of repeating the same confirmation bias we have heard on both sides of this issue, let's just sit back and see what OTT is going to use on their future year models.  My guess is that it will NEVER be a 2700 pound rated 5 leaf spring for the fleet in general use by OE2's.  Why?  Here I go again... It would be oversprung for general fleet use.  

PS:  My Dexter PB-4 2400 pound four leaf springs fit perfectly and are doing just fine.

GJ

 

[CRM]

1 hour ago, Geronimo John said:

PS:  My Dexter PB-4 2400 pound four leaf springs fit perfectly and are doing just fine.

 

 

That's the route I think I'll be going, too. We travel light and I don't see the need for springs with any higher capacity than that.

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

but it is not the right choice for a growing number of owners

A “growing number” or just you John? We’ve heard you a good 3-4 times.

I’m against the Tesla Cybertruck, so after a comment or two, I stopped and haven’t kept up on that thread in months. It’s just not for me and this is not for you, no value-add in repeated comments. Buy the leaf springs you want and start a new thread!

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, CRM said:

That's the route I think I'll be going, too. We travel light and I don't see the need for springs with any higher capacity than that.

Go back to page 1-2 and look at the picture of the failed steel, poorly hardened.

Buying heavier but same level of quality IMHO is asking for the same failure.

i was first of the belief these would be too heavy. When I can, I’ll go with the new product @Mountainman198 brought to our attention and @MAX Burner, @ScubaRx and several others have proven to improve ride and dependability!

it’s similar to replacing a Dometic A/C with another. 🤣

Edited August 5 by jd1923

[Ronbrink]

23 hours ago, jd1923 said:

A “growing number” or just you John? We’ve heard you a good 3-4 times.

You’ve heard it from me a time or two before and probably will a time or two again, “don’t thread on Crazy Horse”!

NOTE: To set the record straight, the term ‘You’ve’, as used above, denotes everyone on the forum and not meant to apply to any single individual! 

Edited August 6 by Ronbrink

[Geronimo John]

On 8/5/2024 at 6:19 AM, jd1923 said:

A “growing number” or just you John? We’ve heard you a good 3-4 times.

Jd, you would be suprised of the number of people that actually READ this important topic and don't respond publically.... but do via PM. You can sleep well knowing that there are more reasoned owners that are not going with the ALCON's 5 spring 2700 product.

That said, if you go back an look at the majority of my reponses, they are typicaclly in direct response to your "exeburant yet opionated" posts.  We all have agreed that some owners may need to overspring their rigs.  I have pretty much spoken the logic line for the fleet, not the few who should go with such a stiff spring.  

Why don't we just stand down and sit back and wait to see what OTT does on future models?  Or do you just like sparring?   

[Mountainman198]

On 8/3/2024 at 11:02 AM, Mountainman198 said:

My Alcans do not hit like yours show, however if they did I think I would taper the square end of the second leaf with a grinder so it would clear. 
 

Let us know how you decide to proceed 

I have been away from my trailer since this post but just returned and the first thing I did was inspect the shackles both to measure as well as inspect the gap between the second leaf of the Alcan springs and the dexter equalizer arms. Here is what I found:

-Hull #898 came stock with 2.25” shackles (see pic)

-there was plenty of space between the equalizer arm and the second leaf of the springs (see pic)

-there were no witness marks on the equalizer arms where the springs had made contact

My experience does not mean that every trailer has 2.25” shackles (it appears that at least one E2 had 2” shackles)

 

Edited August 22 by Mountainman198

[rideandfly]

The EZ Flex kit I installed on LE2 #75 has 2.25" shackles. Assume that's a typo beside the photo saying 2" since you said 2.25" earlier.

 

[Mountainman198]

1 minute ago, rideandfly said:

The EZ Flex kit I installed on LE2 #75 has 2.25" shackles. Assume that's a typo beside the photo saying 2" since you said 2.25" earlier.

 

The pictures interrupted the text. It has been corrected. Thanks for the alert. 

[ScottyGS]

WOW!   We have been sidelined this summer since the aborted eclipse trip and have been attending to other more important issues... So, no camping for us.   But now we are looking at a short trip in October, so I thought it would be a good time to freshen up on recent issues.   

And WOW!   What a thread.   Yes.... I read it all.    So, THANK YOU to the brain trust.   It's nice having talented, knowledgeable, articulate, and kind owners to collaborate with.   Really... you guys are awesome. 

So, I figured I should get my butt under the trailer for a look see.  First spring looks good... no flattening.    Same for second and third.   Fourth looks good too......   Wait a minute....  The second longest leaf is shorter than it's supposed to be.   Better take a closer look.   

See the picture.  The second leaf broke about a half inch shorter than the third leaf. 

Guess it's time for a call to ALCAN.  (Sorry GJ)   

Thanks to you all I have almost all the info I need.   Except for someone to do the work after I get the springs from Alcan. 

We live just north of Asheville NC. 

Bumgarner in Lenoir NC is an Oliver dealer about 91 miles out.   Camping World in Hendersonville is 35 miles out.  

I would like to minimize my travel and risk of breakage on the road.   

Are there any other type of shops that could do this work?   Any personal recommendations to be made? 

Thanks again for all the help. 

Scotty 

[John Dorrer]

15 hours ago, ScottyGS said:

WOW!   We have been sidelined this summer since the aborted eclipse trip and have been attending to other more important issues... So, no camping for us.   But now we are looking at a short trip in October, so I thought it would be a good time to freshen up on recent issues.   

And WOW!   What a thread.   Yes.... I read it all.    So, THANK YOU to the brain trust.   It's nice having talented, knowledgeable, articulate, and kind owners to collaborate with.   Really... you guys are awesome. 

So, I figured I should get my butt under the trailer for a look see.  First spring looks good... no flattening.    Same for second and third.   Fourth looks good too......   Wait a minute....  The second longest leaf is shorter than it's supposed to be.   Better take a closer look.   

See the picture.  The second leaf broke about a half inch shorter than the third leaf. 

Guess it's time for a call to ALCAN.  (Sorry GJ)   

Thanks to you all I have almost all the info I need.   Except for someone to do the work after I get the springs from Alcan. 

We live just north of Asheville NC. 

Bumgarner in Lenoir NC is an Oliver dealer about 91 miles out.   Camping World in Hendersonville is 35 miles out.  

I would like to minimize my travel and risk of breakage on the road.   

Are there any other type of shops that could do this work?   Any personal recommendations to be made? 

Thanks again for all the help. 

Scotty 

Look for a truck service place. We have one 5 minutes away

 They grease our zerks, inspect the suspension, etc. I will have a discussion about switching out the springs, when we pick up the trailer and stop to get the zerks greased for our trip. I pay $52 for greasing the zerks.

Edited August 25 by John Dorrer
Updated Comment

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, ScottyGS said:

Are there any other type of shops that could do this work?

Look for an old-school trailer shop. Not a company that sells RVs and pretends to service them. Not a truck service center that works more on repairs and high-end, high $$$ truck accessories.

Just a trailer service co, that has a dozen cargo trailers and another dozen simple flatbed trailers on their lot. Unless you want to be r@ped in service costs and get a B- or  C+ installation m.

Hey Scotty, if you live west stop by with your Oliver and new parts and we’ll get er done together! If you live east, go see our OTT Elder, our most knowable forum member @ScubaRx, either way it’w be great!

Best wishes, JD

[Hperdue]

Good Morning!

When replacing the leaf springs, how tight should the bolts be that go through the shackle?

Thank you,

Hal

[John Welte]

13 hours ago, John Dorrer said:

Look for a truck service place. We have one 5 minutes away

 They grease our zerks, inspect the suspension, etc. I will have a discussion about switching out the springs, when we pick up the trailer and stop to get the zerks greased for our trip. 

John, what do they charge you to do that?  I need to crawl under the trailer this week to grease ours.

John

[John Dorrer]

20 minutes ago, John Welte said:

John, what do they charge you to do that?  I need to crawl under the trailer this week to grease ours.

John

I will be picking the trailer up on 9/17 and plan on asking them about replacing the springs with Alcan's. Also, plan on having new shocks installed at the same time. I pay around $52 for the zerks. I don't want to mess with it.

Edited August 25 by John Dorrer
Updated Comment

[ScubaRx]

2 hours ago, Hperdue said:

Good Morning!

When replacing the leaf springs, how tight should the bolts be that go through the shackle?

Thank you,

Hal

43 pound/feet. The shoulder of the bolt will bottom out on the hanger, make sure it has done that then tighten. DO NOT attempt to use the nut to pull the bolt into place. It will strip the nut and ruin the wet bolt.

Edited August 25 by ScubaRx

[ScubaRx]

On 8/5/2024 at 10:18 AM, CRM said:

That's the route I think I'll be going, too. We travel light and I don't see the need for springs with any higher capacity than that.

Your Hull #045 does not have 5 leaf springs?

[Hperdue]

Thank for the information.  Seems like as tightens you can see the shackle start to squeeze the leaf spring.

Is that normal?

Hal

[CRM]

1 minute ago, ScubaRx said:

Your Hull #045 does not have 5 leaf springs?

Nope, though I do think they might be the heavier duty 4 leaf Dexter's, so maybe they've  been changed before?

[ScubaRx]

3 minutes ago, Hperdue said:

Thank for the information.  Seems like as tightens you can see the shackle start to squeeze the leaf spring.

Is that normal?

Hal

Yes...I assume you're actually referring to the welded on U-shaped hangers rather than the shackle.

[ScubaRx]

On 8/25/2024 at 12:01 PM, CRM said:

Nope, though I do think they might be the heavier duty 4 leaf Dexter's, so maybe they've  been changed before?

As you are the fourth owner, that may well be the case. I have pictures of yours and another being built for Jim Oliver in 2009. Jim was adamant about there being no such thing as overkill and I know he put 5200 pound axles and the larger five leaf springs under his. Being as all the current models were Elites (at that time) and the only axles and springs they would have had on hand would have been the HD's, I just assumed that yours were too. Jim named that trailer "The Beast" and it had full extension drawers mounted under the hull between the steps and the front axle.

Edit: @CRM has located a photo of the underside of Jim's "The Beast." It had four leaf spring packs rather than five so now I wonder if the axles were 5200 pounds when originally built.

Edited Tuesday at 09:39 PM by ScubaRx

[Hperdue]

Yes I was referring to the u shaped metal that is welded to the frame. The spring fits in it and the bolt goes through it.

Really appreciate your help!

Hal

Hull # 790

[Ralph Mawyer]

1 hour ago, ScubaRx said:

 Jim named that trailer "The Beast" and it had full extension drawers mounted under the hull between the steps and the front axle.

Sounds cool.  Don't suppose you have photos? 😉

 

[John Welte]

11 hours ago, John Dorrer said:

I will be picking the trailer up on 9/17 and plan on asking them about replacing the springs with Alcan's. Also, plan on having new shocks installed at the same time. I pay around $52 for the zerks. I don't want to mess with it.

Hi John, what shocks are you going to use?  Lew at Alcan suggested RadFlo.  We plan to do the job in Grand Junction and do springs and shocks at the same time.  $52 sounds like a good deal to avoid doinf the job.

John

[John Dorrer]

8 hours ago, John Welte said:

Hi John, what shocks are you going to use?  Lew at Alcan suggested RadFlo.  We plan to do the job in Grand Junction and do springs and shocks at the same time.  $52 sounds like a good deal to avoid doinf the job.

John

$52 was for greasing zerks. As far as costs for installing Alcan Springs and shocks, I don't know those costs until I talk to the service guy that would be doing the work.

 

Several Owners have installed Bulldog shocks, but there seems to a report supply issue. I'm watching carefully. Keep everyone posted on the install and what you were doing for the 50, 50, 500 mile torquing of the new bolts.

 

Find out what you can on those shocks. I may also consider having Alcan do the work also.