Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Dexter HD Suspension & EZ-Flex Install (long w/ pictures)


	Already a member? Login here. If not, Register Today! \| Help

Newest | Active | Popular | RVing FAQ

Forum Rules | Forum Posting Help and Support | Contact

Open Roads Forum > Travel Trailers > General Q&A

Reply to Topic | Subscribe | Print Page | Post New Topic |

exploringcarolina

North Carolina

Full Member

Joined: 04/30/2012

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 10/06/16 08:17pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Installed the EZ Flex system on the Ollie:

Less than 10,000 miles on original Dexter parts:

Talking to a friend and he wanted to install Dexter bronze bushings and wet pins on his single axle Ollie:

He has trouble using his right arm, so made him a stand for the grease gun:

Installed 45 degree grease fittings:

Greasing with one hand:

Bill
Oliver Elite II
5.7L Tundra 4X4

mrw8i

Home

Senior Member

Joined: 01/15/2010

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 12/10/16 07:25pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

I started my install today, got one side done. 2006 Ragen 5th wheel toy hauler. According to my mechanic who looked this trailer over when I purchased it a little over 2 years ago, this trailer did not have a lot of miles on it. In 2 years I've put about 4000 miles on it. I did the right side today. Nylon bushings - the most front and most rear were in good shape - the bushings in the center were in poor shape but still there. However, the steel parts in the center were pretty worn out, ovaled, etc. Will do the left side tomorrow, will post pictures of worn parts when complete.

Completed the install on the left side the next day. Took about 2 hours, a little faster than the right side.

On both equalizers the center bushing was almost gone and the hole was quite oval'd out, more so towards the center of the trailer. On both sides of the trailer the shackles connecting the leaf spring to the equalizer were oval'd out. The bushing on the leaf springs where they connected to the shackle were also worn through.

Thanks everyone for all the great posts, pictures, suggestions, work arounds - saved my butt with the things I ran into today.

* This post was edited 12/12/16 04:19pm by mrw8i *

chilly81

USA

Full Member

Joined: 03/13/2011

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 01/10/17 10:56pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Dumb question I just thought of. Have some people done this with one side of the trailer still on the ground - wheels weighted? Most of the (great) pics in this thread show both ends being jacked at the same time. I'm full time in a 22'TT and barely have the equipment and blocking to get one side off the ground at a time (going to buy a cheap bottle jack to go with my floor jack, and chop up a couple extra 4x4's tomorrow).

brulaz

Ontario Canada

Senior Member

Joined: 02/27/2013

View Profile

Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline

Posted: 01/11/17 05:42am

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

chilly81 wrote:

I do that to grease the bushings, they take the grease better with weight off.

2014 ORV Timber Ridge 240RKS,8500#,1250# tongue,44K miles
690W Rooftop + 340W Portable Solar,4 GC2s,215Ah@24V
2016 Ram 2500 4x4 RgCab CTD,2507# payload,10.8 mpgUS tow

chilly81

USA

Full Member

Joined: 03/13/2011

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 01/11/17 09:38am

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

brulaz wrote:

I do that to grease the bushings, they take the grease better with weight off.

I do it for tires and wheel bearings and such - but was just thinking once you disconnect one side of the suspension it might be another story. With weight on the other end of the axle does it make it really hard to maneuver back into place, etc.

Learjet

Louisiana

Senior Member

Joined: 02/21/2006

View Profile

Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline

Posted: 01/11/17 03:34pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

chilly81 wrote:

I'll answer the question NO don't do it...you must have the weight off both sides of the axle or you will have problems. You'll will have the weight on the wheels on the ground and the axle spring point acting like the fulcrum point once you disconnect the opposite side. I'm talking about disconnect the spring attachments, not greasing.

2017 Ram Big Horn, DRW Long Box, 4x4, Cummins, Aisin, 3.73
2022 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Onan 5500, Disc Brakes, 17.5" tires
B&W Ram Companion

brulaz

Ontario Canada

Senior Member

Joined: 02/27/2013

View Profile

Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline

Posted: 01/11/17 03:44pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

chilly81 wrote:

brulaz wrote:

I do that to grease the bushings, they take the grease better with weight off.

Could be. I had a shop do it, and they put the whole trailer up on blocks, so all wheels were suspended at once.

You should be able to do that if you have enough supports. Lift one side, add supports, then the other.

Learjet

Louisiana

Senior Member

Joined: 02/21/2006

View Profile

Good Sam RV Club Member

Offline

Posted: 01/11/17 03:54pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

chilly81 wrote:

Have some people done this with one side of the trailer still on the ground - wheels weighted- wheels weighted? .

See my answer above, I think some are not reading what you are asking.

chilly81

USA

Full Member

Joined: 03/13/2011

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 01/11/17 05:18pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Learjet wrote:

chilly81 wrote:

Have some people done this with one side of the trailer still on the ground - wheels weighted- wheels weighted? .

See my answer above, I think some are not reading what you are asking.

You definitely are understanding what I'm asking. At first I didn't think much of it, but now I think about I'm tending to agree with you. The fulcrum part you mentioned is true, but it will be pushing the axle downward on the unfastened/raised side, so you could support it with a jack. The big worry for me is if there was any slope or tendency towards rolling - with the weighted side chocked, it could put a fore/aft force on the axles and might be really hard to get back aligned. And that could be tough to recover from.

Sucks because I'm full time in a 22' TT. The stuff to raise the whole trailer up in the air at once eats a lot of space. I can already do one side with normal jackstands and a bunch of 4x4. Harbor Freight has some nice 25" 6-ton stands for $39.99 I'll just get (TT is 20" to frame bottom). Guess I'll just have to find something to throw away so I can store them somewhere.