Made in USA leaf springs

[ScubaRx]

Teaser Alert, I’ve got some new info about the Alcan Springs. 
 

Edited April 23 by ScubaRx

[Mike and Carol]

8 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

Teaser Alert, I’ve got some new info about the Alcan Springs. 

 

My ALCAN springs arrive tomorrow.  Oliver service will install them when I have them do the shocks, bearings and brakes in two weeks.  New information is always good.

Edited April 23 by ScubaRx
Spelling

[rich.dev]

1 hour ago, Mike and Carol said:

My ALCAN springs arrive tomorrow.  Oliver service will install them when I have the do the shocks, bearings and brakes in two weeks.  New information is always good.

Nice, if I missed it, how much is Oliver charging you for the install?

[Mike and Carol]

2 hours ago, rich.dev said:

Nice, if I missed it, how much is Oliver charging you for the install?

I haven’t asked for a break out for the different replacements/installs.

[topgun2]

[ScubaRx]

2 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

Teaser Alert, I’ve got some new info about the Alcan Springs. 
 

There has been some unintentional misinformation posted in this thread about the 5-leaf Alcan Spring that is being sold to Oliver owners for retrofittiing. That being the weight rating of the spring packs. I've seen ratings posted varying from 2000 to 2400 pounds.

During multiple conversations with Alcan Spring in Colorado, the owner Lew Weldon, has stated that the correct weight rating is 2750 pounds per spring for a total of 11,000 pounds. They supply exactly the same spring for both the 3500 pound and the 5200 pound axles, the only difference being the U-Bolts provided which is based on the diameter of the axle itself.

The GVWR of both the Oliver Elite's is calculated using the weight ratings of the axles and the spring packs. The final rating is based on the weaker of the two. For those owners that have the 3500 pound axles, the installation of these heavier springs will not affect your GVWR of 7000 pounds. For those owners that either already have or have switched to the 5200 pound Nev-R-Lube axles you would now effectively have a GVWR of 10,400 pounds upon the installation of these heavier springs.

[ScubaRx]

5 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

I'm starting to feel sorry for that horse. Yes, I do know he's allegedly already dead.

[Mountainman198]

54 minutes ago, ScubaRx said:

There has been some unintentional misinformation posted in this thread about the 5-leaf Alcan Spring that is being sold to Oliver owners for retrofittiing. That being the weight rating of the spring packs. I've seen ratings posted varying from 2000 to 2400 pounds.

During multiple conversations with Alcan Spring in Colorado, the owner Lew Weldon, has stated that the correct weight rating is 2750 pounds per spring for a total of 11,000 pounds. They supply exactly the same spring for both the 3500 pound and the 5200 pound axles, the only difference being the U-Bolts provided which is based on the diameter of the axle itself.

The GVWR of both the Oliver Elite's is calculated using the weight ratings of the axles and the spring packs. The final rating is based on the weaker of the two. For those owners that have the 3500 pound axles, the installation of these heavier springs will not affect your GVWR of 7000 pounds. For those owners that either already have or have switched to the 5200 pound Nev-R-Lube axles you would now effectively have a GVWR of 10,400 pounds upon the installation of these heavier springs.

This is unfortunate as many of us were quoted weight rating of 2k. Mine are installed so I am running them as I do not want to go back to the cake that Dexter installs on their axles. I know of at least two E2 owners who have towed with these springs (one for 5k miles and another for 1.5k miles with good results. I head out Thurs on a 1.5k mile trip with the Alcans. 
 

Thanks for posting this after speaking to Lew, Steve. I guess at this point it is tow forward and observe.  Stay tuned. 

[Mike and Carol]

 

1 hour ago, Mountainman198 said:

I guess at this point it is tow forward and observe.  Stay tuned. 

I’ll get mine installed in 2 weeks then off to East Tennessee for a week or so before the rally.  I’ll also tow forward and observe.

[Geronimo John]

4 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

the owner Lew Weldon, has stated that the correct weight rating is 2750 pounds per spring

All of a sudden, the Dexter 2400 pounders don't seem so radical after all.   

If proven to be the case, then maybe a rethink of running your tires at 40 or 50 PSI is in order.  Likely maybe 28 PSI????

 

But the great news is that those ALCAN's are great springs and will certainly last ten life times. Maybe 100 life times!  

Steve, please tell us that your post was just a joke!   Please.

My condolences to those "early adopters".

GJ

 

Edited April 24 by Geronimo John
I guess it's verified for sure: "During multiple conversations with Alcan Spring in Colorado, the owner Lew Weldon, has stated that the correct weight rating is 2750 pounds per spring for a total of 11,000 pounds."

[Geronimo John]

Would somebody please bring my horse back alive?

GJ

[Ronbrink]

On 4/23/2024 at 5:54 PM, ScubaRx said:

I'm starting to feel sorry for that horse. Yes, I do know he's allegedly already dead.

I often accuse my wife of finding new and creative ways to further torture an already dead chicken! 

Edited April 26 by Ronbrink

[topgun2]

[Geronimo John]

18 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

During multiple conversations with Alcan Spring in Colorado, the owner Lew Weldon

Thank you Bill for the miraculous recovery.  The universal karma is again restored.

Now that I'm back in the saddle.....

In those conversations by chance did Mr. Weldon indicate that they have a more suitable spring solution that is in the 2,000 pound range?  I suspect several owners would like to know this answer.  If so, there would seem to be justification for ALCON to do the right thing via restitution to those early adopters.  

GJ

[CRM]

22 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

For those owners that either already have or have switched to the 5200 pound Nev-R-Lube axles you would now effectively have a GVWR of 10,400 pounds upon the installation of these heavier springs.

In this scenario, I think the wheels and/or tires would limit most of us below that effective GVWR. Mine wheels are stamped with a 1950# rating.

[MAX Burner]

6 hours ago, CRM said:

In this scenario, I think the wheels and/or tires would limit most of us below that effective GVWR.

Correct, IMO.  

But in the original scenario with the 3.5k# Dexters and "under-rated" 4-pack springs from China -- those springs will always be the weakest link in the running gear.  Poor design - specifically regarding the short "2nd" leaf spring and questionable quality (at best) of steel will be a critical path to failure and breaking of the 1st leaf near the eyelet.

Jim Oliver, lead OTT designer, had it right.  He likely knew of this shortcoming since he insisted on configuring his personal rigs with the 5.2k# axles and higher rated (2,750#) spring packs.  AND, the "Jim Oliver" configuration has yet to report broken spring packs.

Owners having chosen to upgrade their rigs with Alcans or similar designed/rated spring packs are clearly on the right path and making an informed decision leading to significantly lowering the probability of spring failure, IMO.  

Do not second-guess your decision to toss the Chinese packs and upgrade your running gear to a more robust/safer configuration.

For us, the 5.2k# Nev-R-Lube Dexter's with our new Alcans are close-in on our radar screen.

 

Edited April 25 by MAX Burner
Corrected a couple of typos and added detail.

[ScubaRx]

8 hours ago, CRM said:

In this scenario, I think the wheels and/or tires would limit most of us below that effective GVWR. Mine wheels are stamped with a 1950# rating.

I'm unclear why you would think that. Your wheels have you at 7.8K pounds, well above the stated 7K GVWR.  Which tires, axles and spring packs are riding under your Hull #045? How much does your trailer weigh full of water, gear and ready to camp for a 3 month long foray?

The wheels and tires under my Hull #050 have a load rating of just over 13K pounds.

The Axles are rated at 10.4K pounds.

The Alcan springs can support 11K pounds.

The Outlaw Oliver has always weighed well over 7000 pounds in its natural habitat. And, it has traveled over 100K miles, most of it with the tires sitting at 80psi all without a single issue. I'll be forever grateful for Jim Oliver's guidance and assistance in designing the most over built Oliver rolling down the road.

But, there are those here that think I tend to over-engineer everything.

Edited April 25 by ScubaRx

[dewdev]

@ScubaRx What tire pressure do you run at now-a-days?

[jd1923]

On 4/23/2024 at 3:51 PM, ScubaRx said:

During multiple conversations with Alcan Spring in Colorado, the owner Lew Weldon, has stated that the correct weight rating is 2750 pounds per spring for a total of 11,000 pounds. They supply exactly the same spring for both the 3500 pound and the 5200 pound axles, the only difference being the U-Bolts provided which is based on the diameter of the axle itself.

Did you ask why @Mountainman198 was told (in writing I assume) and sold springs rated at 2K LBS?

[ScubaRx]

17 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Did you ask why @Mountainman198 was told (in writing I assume) and sold springs rated at 2K LBS?

I did, Lew (the owner) stated the person that wrote the email simply was mistaken.

[ScubaRx]

17 hours ago, dewdev said:

@ScubaRx What tire pressure do you run at now-a-days?

Around 50psi.

 

[Mountainman198]

First day towing on Alcan springs update:

-500 miles (Ubolts re-torqued at 50, 100 and 500 miles intervals to 90 ft lbs). Decreasing amounts of adjustment required as mileage increases)

-ride slightly harsher during first 100 miles, harshness decreasing as mileage increases (finding nothing returning to the floor at 500 mile checkpoint).

-running 45 psi in tires (was running 55 psi with stock springs). Monitoring tire wear at each stop. Likely will increase to 48psi at next stop. 

-less observable side to side (roll) movement.  Very stable while underway (drove in high winds thru Kansas yesterday)

-so far I am happy with the new springs

I am very interested in reports from early hull number E2 owners who have purchased the Alcan springs. Wondering what their observations are as compared to stock heavy duty 5leaf springs they are replacing. 

[Mike and Carol]

1 hour ago, Mountainman198 said:

I am very interested in reports from early hull number E2 owners who have purchased the Alcan springs. Wondering what their observations are as compared to stock heavy duty 5leaf springs they are replacing. 

My springs arrived yesterday.  We leave next week and will have them installed May 6 at Oliver, then we’ll go to East Tennessee before we head to the rally.  Will provide observations.  Mike

[connor77]

4 hours ago, Mountainman198 said:

 

I am very interested in reports from early hull number E2 owners who have purchased the Alcan springs. Wondering what their observations are as compared to stock heavy duty 5leaf springs they are replacing. 

I have had my leaf springs replaced with the Alcan's and will soon share my feedback.  My short ride home from my mechanic's place didn't tell me much but we'll head south soon for the rally and I'll report while we're on our way down.

I'm planning to run my tires at 48 PSI.  Will do as so many others have suggested and re-torque u-bolts regularly.

[MAX Burner]

5 hours ago, Mountainman198 said:

-less observable side to side (roll) movement.  Very stable while underway (drove in high winds thru Kansas yesterday)

Concur 100%.  We put north of 1900 miles on the Alcan's on our last trip to Dallas from NM.  Subjectively, high cross winds on I-40 near Amarillo did not cause nearly as much roll as before replacing the spring packs.  We ran the tires at +/-50psi the entire run.  Nothing different noticed inside the rig after stopping (window shades still attached, converter door under dinette still closed, glass flowers & vase still on dinette table, etc.).

3 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

We leave next week and will have them installed May 6 at Oliver

We'll be in Hohenwald 8-9MAY to have a couple 5.2k# Nev-R-Lube Dexter's mounted over the Alcans - so, we'll probably miss meeting you and Carol until we make it down to the rally...FYI

Safe travels, All...  Cheers!