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Machinery, Trailers, Toyhaulers and Motorhomes => Trailers, Toyhaulers and Motorhomes => Topic started by: dsrace on April 22, 2013, 06:19:25 PM
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well been waiting for a dry day to get this done before the dune trip. added the ez flex and wet bolt kit to the leaf springs and shock absorbers.
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I'm not very bright and don't know a thing about the ezflex but,are you SURE the shackles won't just flip over at that angle to an upward angle instead of down when you put the weight back on the wheels? Never saw a setup with spring shackles at such an angle.
Just now looked at Dexter site. I think you have an equalizer for 33" spacing axles but you need 35" spacing equalizer to correct shackle angle. Am I missing something?
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Other than ride height, I don't think it would make any difference if they flipped............
They look interesting, curious as to how they work.
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The geometry isn't right up or down. Dexter site shows shackles pretty much perpendicular to the ground. All trailer spring setups I have seen are that way also. To transfer loads correctly to the ez flex equalizer the shackles need to be so also,IMO.
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you are correct they are supposed to but up and they do go up when I let the weight back on it. I set them down to set the shocks. I bought longer shocks than needed but thought about a 2" lift down the road to accommodate 235 80 16 tires and wheels and have 225 15's now. I do have 33" spacing on the axles when it's on the ground. from what I have read on several camper forums several have added them ( the ez flex equalizers ) and on the same roads behind the same trucks the one thing they ALL say is that there is no more objects bouncing off beds and around in cabinets anymore and most say feels better in the truck. I know when I bought this new and deano and I towed it home with the tires aired up to 80 psi max it was bouncy on the innerstate in iowa and smooth once we hit nebr. we stopped and dropped pressure down to 60 psi and 50% of the bounce stopped and that was unloaded so I know shocks alone would've handled that. the shocks they offer on the dexter site are what you see on campers and I believe Monroe shocks. I have used these kyb monomax on my truck and what a diff they made over the same rated Monroe's. I found the correct length monomax off a Toyota and figured they were for heavy hauling so with the weight of the camper it's always handling heavy loads lol.
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HAVE YOU TOWED IT YET ??? 8) :police:
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as soon as i get the other side done i will.
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when you put a jack under the axle may shackle does pivot up and once loaded just like in the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6hXCegZNxE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6hXCegZNxE)
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Dang that hurt just watching. That is something to look into. been wanting to put a set on my TH.
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Good link here on the install.
http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f65/dexter-ez-flex-equalizer-upgrade-with-many-pics-9839.html (http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f65/dexter-ez-flex-equalizer-upgrade-with-many-pics-9839.html)
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Yea the video part where shows the thing bouncing swinging back and forth bout made me car sick. Lol. Hope it works out great! Might be an add on?
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from what I have read on the camper forums they really make a diff. people have posted about before and after, now they're not having items bounce off beds and what not, where they did before but I don't think they have ever drove into Oklahoma lol that will be the real test!! lol
here is a cheap and probably easier shock kit to add for those that want to.
http://dexteraxle.com/inc/sdetail/1168/1171 (http://dexteraxle.com/inc/sdetail/1168/1171)
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http://www.monroeheavyduty.com/products/kits/trailer-retrofit-kits (http://www.monroeheavyduty.com/products/kits/trailer-retrofit-kits) or this one like I bought.. I did screw up and ordered qty 2 when I should've only ordered qty 1 on the shock mount kit from Monroe so I have a kit to do 1 more tandem axle trailer. I will just put it for sale when I am done.
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http://www.monroeheavyduty.com/products/kits/trailer-retrofit-kits (http://www.monroeheavyduty.com/products/kits/trailer-retrofit-kits) or this one like I bought.. I did screw up and ordered qty 2 when I should've only ordered qty 1 on the shock mount kit from Monroe so I have a kit to do 1 more tandem axle trailer. I will just put it for sale when I am done.
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ezflex cost?
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ezflex cost?
http://dexteraxle.com/inc/sdetail/18096/18100 (http://dexteraxle.com/inc/sdetail/18096/18100)
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mine was the 5k axles on 33" spacing and 26" eye to eye leaf springs tandem so it was $158 shipped.
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just got back and the air hitch and dexter ez flex + shocks was worth every penny and time!!!!!!!! I hung a jacket on the coat hook on the wall and it was still hanging there after 8 hr drive and 2 state lines with crap roads in Oklahoma!!
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Air hitch? which one?
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ezflex cost?
Less than Torflex axles. ;)
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torflex axles ,contrary to popular belief , ride just as rough as leaf springs. To be honest ,I'm not convinced they ride any smoother than leafs. I tow both all the time.
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I have goggles, tape, shirts, towels all hanging in the trailer. All made it home on their hooks. No shocks, no air hitch, 7 k leaf spring axles. I know its not a "camper" that I am towing. Could be my full steel frame dose not swing around like all that kindling.
Not a fan of torsion axles here. Buddy has them on his enclosed. Kept blowing tires till he noticed the tires tilted in far enough to rub and cut the side walls. Had to put spacers in. It was as picked up from the dealer. Just not convinced of there strength.
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dune you also have slipper springs and I think those are the best of the bunch. nothing would stay put before but does now so that was all I needed to know.
here is a link to the air ride hitch I bought. mines on the left http://www.mountainmaster.net/hitches.html
along with the ez flex and shocks I like it!! and no I don't like torsion axles either they are not strong enough imo but they might ride smooter on pavement but not for me.
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The caparison to my highly modified cargo trailer to commercially made campers is unfair. Mine has a much lower center of gravity that helps stability. All steel structure is more rigid. There is no doubt in my mind that all the mods DS has made are worth it and needed IMO. His relaxed state when he got to LS is testimony to that. He drove through some harsh winds.
I had the chance to speak with a retired engineer from Winnebago (he is driving a truck part time to occupy his time now.) Bet we talked for over an hour. The stability of motorhomes and camper trailers has been a know and ongoing issue. They went out on the interstates and filmed campers going down the road. The noted that the chassis were working properly. But the super structure was flexing out of square from the chassis. Going from squares to parallelograms. I suspect this is more pronounced on the toy haulers since they have fewer interior walls at the back. This motion then transfers to the chassis. So the shocks have to be doing a lot to help.
Knowing how happy DS is with his hitch and shocks has made me think about doing shocks on the trailer. Know something can be better is a real bitch. Thanks DS for putting another like to do on the list for the money pit I call a trailer. Dam thing is like a buggy, its never done. The air hitch concept just rocks in my book. Anything that takes the shock load off has got to be better for the trailer and tow truck. I had air bags on my last truck and loved them. They took some load off the leaf springs and made a huge difference in trailer bucking. Didn't hit the overload springs. I suspect they acted a lot like the air hitch to some degree by softening that transition. Been thinking of adding those to my 3500. I don't have the cash for a air hitch.
Now should we talk about going from bumper pull to fifth wheel/ gooseneck? I know DS just loved his bumper hitch camper! ;D ;D bs1 Sarcasm
Dam, that was a lot to type. Stuck at home off my foot. Not much else to do.... I even paid all the bills. So internet here I go. Shit here goes some money...
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I have a class 5 http://www.airsafehitches.com/receiver_hitches.html#Class5 and a
http://www.trailersaver.com/airsuspensionhitches_ts3.php (http://www.trailersaver.com/airsuspensionhitches_ts3.php) 5th and goose.
I don't feel the trailer behind a C4500 GMC. A very smooth ride in the truck.
The trailer looks smooth till you look at the hitch going down the road. Just walk to the back seat. Pulled a 39.5' toy hauler.. didn't hardly feel it.. 2500' pin weight. 18,000 empty. Nice trailer but,what a pig.
Don't like to tow without one.
Worth the money IMO.
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The caparison to my highly modified cargo trailer to commercially made campers is unfair. Mine has a much lower center of gravity that helps stability. All steel structure is more rigid. There is no doubt in my mind that all the mods DS has made are worth it and needed IMO. His relaxed state when he got to LS is testimony to that. He drove through some harsh winds.
I had the chance to speak with a retired engineer from Winnebago (he is driving a truck part time to occupy his time now.) Bet we talked for over an hour. The stability of motorhomes and camper trailers has been a know and ongoing issue. They went out on the interstates and filmed campers going down the road. The noted that the chassis were working properly. But the super structure was flexing out of square from the chassis. Going from squares to parallelograms. I suspect this is more pronounced on the toy haulers since they have fewer interior walls at the back. This motion then transfers to the chassis. So the shocks have to be doing a lot to help.
Knowing how happy DS is with his hitch and shocks has made me think about doing shocks on the trailer. Know something can be better is a real bitch. Thanks DS for putting another like to do on the list for the money pit I call a trailer. Dam thing is like a buggy, its never done. The air hitch concept just rocks in my book. Anything that takes the shock load off has got to be better for the trailer and tow truck. I had air bags on my last truck and loved them. They took some load off the leaf springs and made a huge difference in trailer bucking. Didn't hit the overload springs. I suspect they acted a lot like the air hitch to some degree by softening that transition. Been thinking of adding those to my 3500. I don't have the cash for a air hitch.
Now should we talk about going from bumper pull to fifth wheel/ gooseneck? I know DS just loved his bumper hitch camper! ;D ;D bs1 Sarcasm
Dam, that was a lot to type. Stuck at home off my foot. Not much else to do.... I even paid all the bills. So internet here I go. Shit here goes some money...
no problem lol just add it to the add shitter and shower to the camper list and your good!! rofl rofl
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I have a class 5 http://www.airsafehitches.com/receiver_hitches.html#Class5 and a
http://www.trailersaver.com/airsuspensionhitches_ts3.php (http://www.trailersaver.com/airsuspensionhitches_ts3.php) 5th and goose.
I don't feel the trailer behind a C4500 GMC. A very smooth ride in the truck.
The trailer looks smooth till you look at the hitch going down the road. Just walk to the back seat. Pulled a 39.5' toy hauler.. didn't hardly feel it.. 2500' pin weight. 18,000 empty. Nice trailer but,what a pig.
Don't like to tow without one.
Worth the money IMO.
I really like the Omni 22k myself ( http://airsafehitch.com/air-hitches/fifth-wheel/omindirectional ) ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfyXaG3fsZ8 ) but I don't care which one a guy buys, having one is better than not! lol
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhn6dypPxOg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhn6dypPxOg)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HERPc7trbuo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HERPc7trbuo)
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I have been looking at the Cody hitch unit. I picked up one of there hitch's of CL for the F250. Really well made. I will see how the toy hauler tows before I drop the coin though.
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You are right DS.... Air hitch no matter what the brand is... It's better than a sold hitch. A lot easier on the back and ride. Going to add a Kelderman to the whole truck. http://kelderman.com/taxonomy/term/56,89,40,34 .
Air seats are not enough...........
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Damn, I'm all over that bumper pull set-up!
Thanks for the share!