PAoutdoorsman
South Central PA
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elkhorn98 wrote:Finally installed the ez flex and wet bolt hd kit. Thanks to all those who posted tips before. Did it by myself so first side was about 3 hours second side about 2 hours. I have the harbor freight tool but only used it to seat the bolts. Needle nose pliers took care of the old bushings in short order. I also tapped in the new bushings with a 9/16" bolt...way faster than the hf tool. My 5th is a 2007 and has less than 10,000 miles...plastic bushings were still ok but the shackles were getting oblong and tweaked. My trailer height dropped by 3/16" so no issues replacing my alko gear. Ran out of time so I'll have to test drive tomorrow.
elkhorn98, are you saying your TT had AL-KO axles and you were able to successfully use the Dexter kit?
My 04 Keystone Cougar has a pair of AL-KO 4400 # axles under it. The equilizer bolt spacing is 6 1/8". I'm trying to determine if the Dexter EZ K71-652-00 will work for my non Dexter setup.
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PAoutdoorsman
South Central PA
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I've been able to confirm fitment for my AL-KO axles and ordered the kit from Dexter while it is still on sale. I needed to do the bushing upgrade anyway, and with the current sale price on DexterAxle dot com, it is only $16 more to buy the entire EZ Flex tandem kit vs buying just the heavy duty suspension kit. No brainer. I should have it soon.
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joeve09
aklan
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LAdams wrote:Each greasable bolt has 1 hole in it... According to Dexter, the hole exit is supposed to be in a horizontal plane rather than a verticle plane... I haven't sat down ad figured out what forces are in play in the axles, bolts, hangers, etc but I guess that this is the ideal position for the greasable bolt to be in so that grease will flow readily thru it and lubricate the balance of the bolt surface...
Les
yes it is.the ideal position for greasable bolt to be in.
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Beach-Rat
Northern Virginia
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Joined: 09/14/2007
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Great thread.. I was installing my EZ Flex just about the time that this thread was started.
Three suggestions..
Place large piece of cardboard or tarp under the work area. Pounding and banging to remove/loosen the old bolts will create a rain of rust & funk (Northeast & rustbelt) that you do not want to have to lie in during the assembly stage.
Test all of the wet bolts, I had one that the two drilled grease holes did not meet..had to run out to Dexter jobber for a replacement.
Place the bronze bushings in a tub of ice water, remove them just as you are ready to install.. dry & lube.. heating the spring eye a little helps even more..
Good thread..
On Edit: I placed my zerk fittings facing inward.. that way i can crawl under the trailer and lube it without pulling the wheels.
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elkhorn98
California
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Joined: 07/31/2001
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My ez flexs failed from bad rubber. Bought mine in 6/11 but installed in 5/12. Emailed dexter and they immediately sent replacements. Switched them out and everything is fine now.
Elkhorn98
2010 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4 Duramax/Allison w/45 gal Transfer Flow Tank
RBW X16 Slider, Yamaha EF 2400iS
2007 Springdale 245 5th Wheel - E-Z Flex HD Suspension & Mobile Outfitters Shock Kit Upgrades
with Firestone Transforce Ht Lt 2357515 tires
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pmfelectric
New Hampshire
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Kits are on sale still. just got one for my TT
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Still Searchin'
Bend, Oregon
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Thanks for your very informative article, Les. Since I'm in the "faint of heart" category, I had my local RV dealer install the Mor/ryde heavy duty shackle kit that also had bronze bushings and greasable bolts. My trailer came with the Mor/ryde CRE/3000 rubber cushioned equalizer.
I had approx. 20,000 miles on my trailer and was pleased to see that there was almost no wear on my original bolts or shackles and very little wear on the plastic bushings, but still happy to now have the much heavier duty lubable shackle kit installed.
I did ask the tech to read your excellent article so he would be aware of possible bronze bushing damage as you experienced. He reamed out the holes as needed and said he had no problems.
I'm sure your article helped the job go well! Thanks.
2011 Jayco Eagle Lite 256rks 28ft. travel trailer; Reese SC hitch
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500 6L w/3.73 differential
Member: TTN, Escapees, Good Sam
3x around USA, traveling about 6 mo/year
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allen8106
Burrton. KS
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My 2010 Jayco Eagle SL 31.5RLDs has the MorRyde CRE3000 equalizers.
Any thoughts on these?
2010 Eagle Super Lite 315RLDS
2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD 6.6L Duramax
2010 Nights 45
2011 Nights 70
2012 Nights 144
2013 Nights 46
2014 Nights 49
2015 Nights 57
2016 Nights 73
2017 Nights 40
2018 Nights 56
2019 Nights 76
2020 Nights 68
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JBarca
Radnor, Ohio, USA
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MorRyde makes good products. The CRE-4000 is a higher end equalizer than the CRE-3000 however the 3000 is better than the stock rigid equalizer. I have not used either but have researched.
I have used both size Dexters EZ Flex's and the Trail Aire Equa Flex. The MorRyde CRE-3000 from my point of view works a little different in mechanical action. I really cannot state if it is any better than the Dexter or the Trail Aire.
I doubt you are going to see a major difference between all 3 brands. All are far above the rigid equalizer they are replacing. I myself would not change the CRE 3000 to one of the other brands if you already have it installed. However, if you do not have shock absorbers, I would add them. Shocks and the rubber equalizers do different things. The rubber equalizer reduces the hard bounce effect going over the bump, shocks reduce the multiple oscillations after you go over the bump. I have added both at different times and I will never buy another TT with out both.
Good luck and hope this helps
John
John & Cindy
2005 Ford F350 Super Duty, 4x4; 6.8L V10 with 4.10
CC, SB, Lariat & FX4 package
21,000 GCWR, 11,000 GVWR
Ford Tow Command
1,700# Reese HP hitch & HP Dual Cam
2 1/2" Towbeast Receiver
2004 Sunline Solaris T310SR
(I wish we were camping!)
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allen8106
Burrton. KS
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JBarca wrote:MorRyde makes good products. The CRE-4000 is a higher end equalizer than the CRE-3000 however the 3000 is better than the stock rigid equalizer. I have not used either but have researched.
I have used both size Dexters EZ Flex's and the Trail Aire Equa Flex. The MorRyde CRE-3000 from my point of view works a little different in mechanical action. I really cannot state if it is any better than the Dexter or the Trail Aire.
I doubt you are going to see a major difference between all 3 brands. All are far above the rigid equalizer they are replacing. I myself would not change the CRE 3000 to one of the other brands if you already have it installed. However, if you do not have shock absorbers, I would add them. Shocks and the rubber equalizers do different things. The rubber equalizer reduces the hard bounce effect going over the bump, shocks reduce the multiple oscillations after you go over the bump. I have added both at different times and I will never buy another TT with out both.
Good luck and hope this helps
John
While I would like to add shocks But I'm a bit reluctant to being afraid I would void the coach warranty. It's a two year factory warranty that still has 4 months on it plus three more years extended warranty.
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