Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit for Single Axle Trailers - Double Eye Springs

Ask the Experts about this Dexter Axle Trailer Leaf Spring Suspension

• Thicker Trailer Suspension Shackle Kit Recommendation that is 2-1/4 inches Between Bolt Holes
  We have the part # 018-026-05 which is a set of wet bolts with a single thicker shackle like you want that is 2-1/4 inches between the bolt holes. For additional shackles you'll want the part # 018-024-01 and then for nuts part # 006-092-01.
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• Compatibility of Dexter Kit # K71-358-00 with 3,000 lb Tandem Axles and Lippert Equa-Flex System
  The Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit for Single Axle Trailers - Double Eye Springs # K71-358-00 has shackle strap dimensions that are 4-5/8" long x 1-1/2" wide x 1/2" thick and the length from center of bolt hole to center of bolt hole is 3-1/4". If you current shackle straps are not even close to that dimension, then you will want to use the Never Fail Bushings - 9/16" Inner Diameter, 11/16" Outer Diameter - 1-5/8" - Qty 8 # LC279684 and wet bolt # 126B2. You just don't want...
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• Why Does the Dexter Suspension Upgrade Kit Not Come With Bushing for Other End of Leaf Spring
  I am not quite sure why the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit for Single Axle Trailers part # K71-358-00 doesn't come with new bushing for the front hangers. That said, you could add these easily with the part # D014-077-00.
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• Does the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit Come With Different Length Shackles
  The Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit part # K71-358-00 is only offered with one shackle strap length which is 3-1/8" long center to center. That said, it could be used to replace a 2-5/8" shackle strap without issue and the decrease in ride height would be extremely marginal and likely unnoticeable. It can be used on tandem axle trailers but you would need two kits. If you wanted to keep the shackle straps you have now and still upgrade, the next best option would be to order...
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• Should Wet Bolts be Torqued Tighter Than Instructions
  When adding wet bolts like what come with the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit for Single Axle Trailers - Double Eye Springs # K71-358-00 you should always follow what the manufacturer's instructions are. You are correct that over-tightening the bolts can bind your suspension, which you'll obviously want to avoid.
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• What Are The Dimensions Of The Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit Part # K71-358-00
  I went out to our warehouse and measured the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit for Single Axle Trailers part # K71-358-00 for you. The dimension for the shackle kit are as follows: The distance between the top and bottom steel brackets is 1-3/4" tall. I have attached a photo to further explain these measurements.
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• Is There Any Advantage to Having a 3 3,500 lb Axle Over a 2-3/8 3,500 lb Axle
  If the weight rating is the same then swapping your 3,500 lb axle with a 2-3/8" diameter to a 3,500 lb axle with a 3" diameter wouldn't do anything for you. Since 3,500 lbs is a very common axle weight rating manufacturers make them with both the 2-3/8" and 3" diameters. If you are looking to upgrade your axle to a higher weight rating then it is possible but unless that is your component with the lowest weight rating nothing will really change on your trailer. Just make sure that you...
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• Recommended Upgraded Wet Bolts and Shackle Straps for 5th Wheel Trailer
  The Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit part # K71-358-00 is my recommendation to upgrade the suspension on a 5th wheel trailer. The kit comes with wet bolts for easy maintenance, thicker shackle straps which are more durable, and upgraded bushings which last much longer than the standard nylon options. The kit comes with everything needed for one axle so you will need multiple.
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• How Many of the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit K71-358-00 for a Tandem Axle Trailer
  Yes, if you wanted to use the # K71-358-00 on a tandem axle trailer you would need to order two of these kits.
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• Increasing Length of Suspension Shackle Strap When Upgrading Trailer Suspension
  If you're not changing the spacing of the spring hangers and you're using leaf springs that are the same length (just a greater capacity) than your current springs, you would not want to change the length of your shackle straps. A longer strap would add more play into the system, which could cause the back of the leaf spring to bang into the underside of the trailer. You'll want to continue using a 2 inch shackle straps. You're increasing the capacity of the axle, suspension, wheels...
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• Upgrading Leaf Springs on a Trailer with a 3500 Pound Axle
  If you are wanting to go to higher capacity leaf springs I would advise against it. The problem is that since the trailer axle is rated for 3,500 pounds you won't gain any additional capacity by switching to higher capacity springs. What it will do is not allow the suspension to compress as much leading to a very stiff and jarring ride for the trailer and anything in it. Another problem is that alternate springs may not have the correct measurements and that would mean that the spring...
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• Can You Use Industrial Strength Red Grease In The Dexter HD Suspension Kit # K71-358-00?
  Yes, you can use a Lithium Complex grease like Lucas Oil's Red and Tacky or Lubrimatic's LMX Industrial Strength Red Grease, # L11390 in these shackles. These Lithium Complex grease products resist water and stay in place, which means they work well on external parts that are exposed to the weather. Lithium Complex grease works well with trailers that are heavily loaded as well as industrial or agricultural trailers that get a lot of use. If your trailer is not used for industrial or...
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• Length of Dexter Heavy-Duty Shackle Straps in Dexter Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00
  The center on center measurement from bolt hole to bolt hole of the heavy-duty shackle straps included with the Dexter suspension upgrade kit, part # K71-358-00, is indeed 3-1/8 inches.
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• 2-3/4 Inch Long Shackle Straps and Wet Suspension Bolts for Trailer Suspension
  The eye center to center measurement on the shackles included with Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Kit # K71-358-00 are 3-1/4 inches apart. You would need to piece together a similar kit since there are no options that already have 2-3/4 inch shackle straps. For shackle straps you can use # TRSL275, sold as singles. And for a wet bolt with nut, also sold as singles, you can use # 126B2. The shackle straps aren't the thick kind like in kit # K71-358-00 though.
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• Would Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit Fit Lippert 3,500 lb Axle
  The Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00 is designed for 3,500 lb axles like your Lippert axle so this would work well. Dexter and Lippert make most of their axle components to the same standard style and dimension so many of their parts interchange between the two.
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• Recommendation For Over-Under Conversion And Suspension Upgrade For Coachmen 5th Wheel
  Based on your information, I recommend the Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit, Item # K71-385-00. This kit works with 3 inch diameter axles and includes enough components for one axle. The kit will also help level out your trailer and provide some extra wheel clearance. I have created a link to our selection of cushioned equalizers to help you upgrade your trailer's suspension. You will need to select equalizers that match the bolt hole dimensions of your current ones...
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• How Tight Should Shackle Strap Bolts Be
  The shackle bolts used between the springs and hangers do not require a specific torque rating because tightening the shackle bolts too much will squeeze the shackle straps against the leaf springs, and the whole suspension system will bind and cause problems. The best thing to do when tightening down shackle bolts is to use lock nuts, tighten them until they are snug, then back them off 1/4 turn. Lock nuts should be used because they resist loosening with vibration or torque. The part...
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• Can Trailer Suspension Hangers be Drilled Out to Use Larger Shackle Bolts
  I do not recommend modifying the hangers because doing so could make them structurally unsound. The best solution is to remove the old hangers and have new ones welded on. Since it is a single axle trailer it won't cost much and it's the safest option. I have included a link to the double-eye spring hangers we have.
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• Does Orientation Of Wet Bolt Grease Hole Matter When Installing Dexter Suspension Kit 71-358-00
  The orientation of the grease hole on the wet bolts of the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00 does not matter. When you go to install this you don't have to worry about that at all.
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• Why Dont Trailer Hangers Come with Bushings.
  The # 30-20 hanger is a unique hanger as it comes with it's own bushing that has an inner diameter of 9/16 inches and installs in a different orientation than most. Like Victoria said, the reason most standard style hangers do not come with bushings is because the bushings are on the spring side of the equation. While what you said is true about wear with dissimilar materials, the reality is that hangers don't wear out at a fast enough rate to warrant a different approach. We rarely...
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• Will Dexter Heavy Duty Shackle Upgrade Kit Fit 2013 Jayco 184BH Camper
  The Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit for Single Axle Trailers # K71-358-00 is a great option to replace your current hardware but you do need to make sure that the 3-1/8" center of bolt hole to center of bolt hole measurement matches what you currently have. If there is a slight difference you will still be okay but if it is significant then you'll need to choose different shackle straps which you can filter through on the linked page.
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• Flange Nut Size for the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00
  The flange nuts that come with the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00 are 7/16 - 20. My contact at Dexter Axle confirmed this. We actually have the flange nut available as a replacement part listed as part # 006-092-01
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• Wet Bolt Kit Recommendation for Coachmen Travel Trailer Apex Coachmen
  As long as your trailer has standard leaf spring suspension with axle capacity range of 3,500-7,000 lbs the wet bolt kit you'd need is the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00.
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• Purpose of Replacement Bronze Bushings in Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit
  The bronze bushings in the Dexter Axle Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00 are replacements for the bushings in the eyes of the double eye springs. Since this kit is for a single axle trailer with double eye springs, there will be 4 eyes in the suspension set-up, and the 4 bushings are for those 4 eyes.
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• How Often to Grease Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00
  If the trailer wasn't used very often once a year would be adequate for greasing the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00. Beyond that it really depends on the how often it's used. For most people twice a year would be adequate. But if the trailer is out every day probably once a month would be smart.
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• How Long Are the Wet Bolts in the Dexter Suspension Upgrade Kit Part # K71-358-00
  The 9/16" diameter wet bolts that are included with the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit for Single Axle Trailers part # K71-358-00 are 3" long not including the grease fitting or 3-1/4" long including the grease fitting.
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• Recommended Wet Bolt Upgrade Kit for Tandem Axle 5th Wheel Trailer
  The Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit part # K71-358-00 is an excellent upgrade option for any trailer with standard double eye leaf springs. It comes with wet bolts, heavy duty shackle straps, and bronze bushings. Please note, you'll need one kit per axle.
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• Heavy Duty Shackle Kit for Lippert 4,400 lb Axles
  For a heavy duty shackle kit that would work well on your 4,400 lb axles we have the Dexter HD shackle kit part # K71-358-00. These shackles are really thick at 1/2 inches.
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• Is Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00 Zinc Coated
  The shackles of the Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit # K71-358-00 are zinc coated but the bolts are not. For zinc coated bolts as well you'd want the # TRFA73Z916DLNZ.
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• Parts Needed To Upgrade to Wet Bolts and Bronze Bushings On Double Eye Leaf Springs
  The Dexter Heavy Duty Suspension Upgrade Kit part # K71-358-00 would allow you to upgrade to wet bolts and bronze bushings on 1-3/4" wide double eye leaf springs. The wet bolts and bronze bushing will last much longer and preform better than the standard bolts and nylon bushing currently in place. The kit does come with extra wet bolts if you are only doing the shackle side. If you have a tandem axle trailer you would need two kits.
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