Are There Dexter Double-Eye Leaf Springs For 8k Axle Close to 25-5/8 Inches

Updated 01/05/2026 | Published 09/21/2024

Question:

I have a 2021 Coachmen Apex Nano 213RDS travel trailer and just finished a 5K mile trip which resulted in 2 broken leaf springs. There seems to be very little info on a replacement part number for these from either Coachman or Dexter who supplied the axles and the suspension. The springs are of the double eye type with a 9/16 inch ID plastic bushing. The Spring Eye center to center distance measures approximately 24-5/8 inch rather than the more standard 25-1/4. Each leaf spring only has 3 spring laminates, but the axle U-Bolts are long enough to accommodate 4 spring laminates I installed the heaviest 4 laminate X 25-1/4 inch long spring available from Rural King to get me home, but the longer length is causing the shackles to crowd the equalizer. Do you have a good quality 24-5/8 inch or maybe 25-7/8 inch spring which I could purchase to replace all 4? BTW: This RV trailer is a dual axle arrangement using 2 Dexter 600 8k axles.

asked by: Jason W

Expert Reply:

Hey Jason,

While we don't have a 24-5/8 inch leaf spring for an 8k axle, we do have one that is close, the 24-7/8 inch long Dexter 7-Leaf Double-Eye Spring for 8,000-lb Trailer Axles # DX74XR.

I know it's not specifically what you were asking, but I wanted to mention it just in case it can work for you as you mentioned the approximate 24-5/8 inch measurement (from center eye to center eye). This is the only length of double-eye spring we offer for 8k axles so hopefully it works for you.

expert reply by: Kyle S

Jerred H.

1/5/2026

Hey Jason, did the 24-7/8 inch Dexter 7-leaf spring end up working for your trailer? Your results could really help others trying to match leaf spring lengths on similar setups. Knowing how it fit might guide the next person facing the same issue.

Jason W.

1/5/2026

@JerredH I ended up purchasing slightly shorter and thicker Dorman 929-1013 springs (23-1/8 Eye to Eye, 4 leaf, 2,500Lb capacity) along with MORyde CRE2-33 CRE3000 compensators and combined these with heavy duty shackles + wet shackle bolts. The MORyde compensators have a slightly wider shackle bolt distance that allows the slightly shorter springs to work and their elatomeric element helps to soften the shock from pot holes, etc. So far, no problems on shorter trips and I have noticed a reduction in the jostling of my camper contents (wish I had mounted and recorded accelerometers before and after). I have a 5K mile trip coming up this year that will be a better test of the new set-up. The OEM set-up was probably OK for traveling 50 miles to a nearby camp site, but not really up to the task of the longer trips we have been taking (5K miles Yr1, 3.5K miles Yr2). I suspect it was engineered to provide a minimally acceptable capability while allowing Mfg. cost targets to be achieved.