Made in USA leaf springs

[Geronimo John]

Now I understand why the new Oliver's cost so much.  Its the cost of bandwidth we consume on the web!

Street legal 250cc Enduro with a X2 seat and super duty bulldog shocks and Alcan springs! 

Oh, with a lithium battery and a Truma hand washing station.

GJ

[Geronimo John]

I can't wait to see the GIF that a certain Moderator is sure to post!

LOL

GJ

[John Dorrer]

7 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

Now I understand why the new Oliver's cost so much.  Its the cost of bandwidth we consume on the web!

Street legal 250cc Enduro with a X2 seat and super duty bulldog shocks and Alcan springs! 

Oh, with a lithium battery and a Truma hand washing station.

GJ

👍

[topgun2]

OUCH!

[jd1923]

21 hours ago, 2008RN said:

I  just figured we would try to hit 50 pages.   I have gone back a couple of times through the thread when I couldn't sleep.  better than counting sheep.😳

Well we just hit 26 pages. I remember asking the Mods to close this thread after 12 pages, but it was not my thread to close. Most of the additions I've read here in the last 10-15 pages are slight variations of the comments and questions made in the many pages before.

I just reviewed pages 1-2. And yep, that's all you need to know on this subject. Except that a few pages later we learned that the Alcan springs are actually rated at 2750 vs. 2000 lbs. There was the same concern on page 2 about this rating being too much. I had that concern early but no anymore.

We're on a long road trip where we have not before towed so many highway miles. Our OEM springs are in very good condition, no sag, still nicely arced and perhaps Dexter used better steel in 2015 than more recently. Who knows but htey're in excellent shape and no rust given where we live. When the other day, I crossed railroad tracks that were on about a 30 degree angle to the road, I watched our Oliver in the side view mirror. The Oliver waddled like a duck going over those tracks, side-to-side, the top of the Oliver swayed a good 1 1/2 ft like a pendulum both ways! These springs are under-rated, as the Alcan rep stated.

It's crazy that this is our 2nd longest thread, just behind "Where's Ollie" at 28 pages! This truly means not enough of you are posting travel pics! 🤣

[jd1923]

In the recent thread, "2 broken leaf springs / shocks" the discussion of Alcan springs came up again. Then I realized we would travel right through Grand Junction CO on our way home, so it got me thinking. Is now the right time to upgrade?

So, I called Alcan yesterday and thought I would be connected to Lew, the name I read on our forum many times, but instead talked to Tim who was fully versed in Oliver needs. We talked about the leaf springs and upgrading to 5200 lb axles.

I cannot see doing one without the other. I sure wish they had run out of 3500 axles, like some others, when they built our hull! The 5200 axles and Alcan springs would allow carrying more weight. I don't see much in other limiting factors, the wheels, tires, frame and steel sub-frame should all handle more weight. Not that we would ever carry much more weight being at about 6500 lbs today, but nothing wrong with over-engineering overall strength. My only worry about new axles are the mixed reviews on the Nev-R-Lube bearings. I want 5200 lb axles to have 12" vs" 10" drum brakes. This is a big deal/difference for mountain towing.

I was contemplating having them do the work, biting the bullet on this large $$$$ ticket item, but in the end I got off the hook! Alcan stocks the Dexter 50.5" 5200 lb axles but not the older 50" model that only a couple of us have.

Tim put a set of 5-leaf Alcan springs on hold for me including their HD shackles and new wet-bolts. I will hold off on new u-bolts until I purchase new axles. The Alcan leafs will like sit on the shelf in my shed for a while. Our original leafs are still in like new condition, not a spot of corrosion and nicely arced. I also have a new pair of leaf springs and new u-bolts under the tool box of our TV, with the necessary tools, for any roadside emergency. I'll spend close to $1,000 next week and then another $2,000+ at the time we purchase new axles...

[Gliddenwoods]

Having read so much about broken springs and the potential benefit of installing  better(?) ALCAN springs I have decided to "consider" such an upgrade to my Oliver. However the garage I built for year-round storage of the Oliver has very limited door clearance when backing in; just two inches.

Question. After having the ALCAN springs installed with the additional spring does the overall height of the Oliver increase? If so, how much? I have revised my building three times now since having purchased three different trailers until the Oliver and I can not revise the door clearance any more so this is a critical question.

Thanks.

[John and Debbie]

2 hours ago, Gliddenwoods said:

Having read so much about broken springs and the potential benefit of installing  better(?) ALCAN springs I have decided to "consider" such an upgrade to my Oliver. However the garage I built for year-round storage of the Oliver has very limited door clearance when backing in; just two inches.

Question. After having the ALCAN springs installed with the additional spring does the overall height of the Oliver increase? If so, how much? I have revised my building three times now since having purchased three different trailers until the Oliver and I can not revise the door clearance any more so this is a critical question.

Thanks.

I don't notice any difference in ground clearance.  I think someone said there was a 1/2 inch difference, but that's just going on memory, so not sure.  

John

[tallmandan]

4 hours ago, Gliddenwoods said:

does the overall height of the Oliver increase?

I tried to measure pre and post install based on height of the wheel well trim from the ground.  It was less than a half inch in difference on my trailer.   I spoke with Lew for awhile when I was there a few weeks ago and he thought he had upgraded close to a hundred trailers now.  As others have reported, they were pleasant to deal with and did good work.  Lew said my springs had flattened and were "shot."  He also said the bushings were badly worn and emphasized that I now have brass bushings along with the heavy duty shackles.  Two of my shocks were blown (which I already knew) so they installed 4 new ones that I brought with me.  I decided to "spring" (haha) for the new 5200 axles as well so my wallet was way lighter but my piece-of-mind was way higher!   Just returned from a trip to Flaming Gorge/Green River, Utah and it performed great over the nearly 1k miles round-trip.  We returned through Northern CO where the two-lane highway has quite a bit of freeze/thaw damage and heave so I was sure glad I had it done.   I do notice that it is more stout.  The "waddle" over angled railroad tracks or curb that @jd1923 mentioned is definitely less.

[Geronimo John]

On 6/21/2025 at 6:06 AM, jd1923 said:

My only worry about new axles are the mixed reviews on the Nev-R-Lube bearings. I want 5200 lb axles to have 12" vs" 10" drum brakes. This is a big deal/difference for mountain towing.

Mine as well. I'm thinking EZ Lube as I have a concern with ALWAYS and NEVER for just about all things.  They are two absolute words we both used to use.  🙂

Keep us posted on your decision.  I'll likely follow your lead. Good Camp Fire discussion next month!

GJ

7 hours ago, John and Debbie said:

I think someone said there was a 1/2 inch difference, but that's just going on memory, so not sure.  

Another indicated it was 3/4" increase.  I have similar storage door frame height limitations. 

Edited Monday at 11:41 PM by Geronimo John

[Patriot]

18 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

Another indicated it was 3/4" increase.  I have similar storage door frame height limitations. 

GJ - Would lowering tire pressure a few lbs work to get you parked in storage? 🤔

Edited Tuesday at 05:48 PM by Patriot

[Geronimo John]

10 hours ago, Patriot said:

GJ - Would lowering tire pressure a few lbs work to get you parked in storage? 🤔

Yes of course.  But with my Houghton I gained about an inch or so.