Best Suspension Upgrade for 33" Tandem Axles: Road Armor vs Dexter EZ Flex for Ember 22ETS

Question

Question:

Considering dexter EZ flex or Lippert Road armor equalizers as upgrades to my ember 22 ETS. Tandem Dexter axles 3500-pound rating with 33-inch spacing. Has a dexter equalizer currently. What road armor kit would work and or what dexter kit would work. Thank you.

asked by: PAUL C

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Expert Reply:

Hi Paul, you’re definitely on the right track here, and I can help you narrow this down with confidence. With your tandem 3,500 lb Dexter axles and 33 inch spacing, both the Dexter EZ Flex part # K71-652-00 and the Lippert Road Armor part # LC53CK are going to fit your setup properly and won’t cause issues like clanking, binding, or tire clearance as long as your current dimensions are standard. If your goal is the smoothest ride and keeping things inside your trailer from getting bounced around, I would recommend going with the Road Armor. It does the best job of calming down that back-and-forth motion you feel on uneven roads and expansion joints.

The EZ Flex is still a really solid upgrade and a big step up from stock. It uses a rubber core inside the equalizer that compresses over bumps to take the edge off harsh impacts, and it’s a very durable, simple design. It also comes as a complete kit with new wet bolts, bushings, and heavy-duty shackle straps, which are typically 2-1/4 inches center to center, so you’re refreshing more of the suspension at the same time.

The Road Armor takes things a step further in terms of ride quality. It uses a pivoting design with rubber shock absorption on each side, so it can react to both axles at once instead of just absorbing a single hit. That helps reduce chucking and overall vibration more effectively, which is why it tends to feel smoother and keeps gear inside the trailer from shifting around as much.

If you go with the Road Armor, you’ll want to add a hardware kit like part # LC52SV, which includes wet bolts and heavy-duty shackles with a 3-1/8 inch center to center length.

Before ordering, I’d recommend taking a quick measurement of your current equalizer and shackle straps from center to center of the bolt holes just to confirm everything matches up perfectly. If you can share those numbers, I’m happy to double check it all for you.

Are you mostly trying to smooth out highway bounce or dealing more with rougher roads where things inside the trailer tend to shift around?

expert reply by: Heather A

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Paul C.

4/21/2026

I am replacing a Dexter 13-104 equalizer. Key Measurements for Dexter 13-104-02: Overall Length (Center-to-Center): ~5-5/8" to 5-3/4" Height: 2" Spring Width: 1-3/4" Bolt Hole Diameter: 9/16" (center and end holes) Shape: Curved / Triangular I believe with the road armor which was my first choice I need brass bushings as well? Why the increased shackle length? Thanks Paul

Heather A.

4/21/2026

@PaulC Hi Paul, great info. Since you’re replacing a Dexter 13-104 equalizer, the current Road Armor kit you’d want is part # LC53CK. That matches the typical 33 inch axle spacing setup you have and will line up well with your existing geometry. On the bushings, you’re covered with this kit. The LC53CK already comes with bronze bushings installed, so you won’t need to add those separately. You will still want to pair it with a wet bolt and heavy-duty shackle kit to get the full benefit and tighten everything up, especially if you’re coming from factory nylon bushings. As for the longer shackles, that’s tied to how the Road Armor is designed to move. It uses a pivoting system that needs a little more room to cycle properly, so the slightly longer shackles help keep the equalizer sitting at the correct angle and allow full suspension travel. It’s not meant to change your ride height in a noticeable way, just to keep everything moving smoothly without binding. Based on your measurements, you’re in a really good spot for the Road Armor, and it’s still the better choice if your goal is smoothing out the ride and cutting down on that back-and-forth motion.

Paul C.

4/21/2026

Is it possible to use this kit MORryde Suspension Upgrade Kit for Tandem Axle Trailers - 3-1/8" Long Shackle Straps? Part number MR76ZR in place of the Lippert hardware kit as the Moryde is much cheaper? Thanks Paul

Heather A.

4/22/2026

@PaulC Hi Paul, yes you can absolutely use the MORryde kit part # MR76ZR in place of the Lippert hardware.

See All (6) Replies to Paul C. ∨

Answer 1

Hey Ronnie! You want the upgraded equalizer to match the existing equalizer measurements so you don't throw off the suspension geometry. The Road Armor #LC53CK is only 6" long making it is a little too short for your setup. The MORryde Shock…

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Answer 2

Hey, Lance. The direction the springs are in doesn't matter. They can be to the front or to the rear of the axle and will perform the same either way. What kind of trailer are you working on?

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Answer 3

Despite what the manufacturers of these equalizers say, the axle/wheel spacing isn't the right way to figure out the best fit for upgraded equalizers, including the MORryde CRE3000. The wheel spacing is more of a guideline, so to determine the…

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Answer 4

Hey Mark, the only real downside to an offset ball like the Gen-Y part #GY43XR is going to be that it costs more typically and it would take up more room when stored compared to a non-offset ball like the #C38CR. The handling and weight carrying…

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Answer 5

Hi Brian, To ensure you're getting the correct fit you'll want to measure the spacing horizontally from eyelet to eyelet and vertically from the hanger bolt eyelet down to the center of the shackle strap eyelets on your current equalizer. The…

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Answer 6

I will be happy to explain how to install the shock kit #LC281255. In addition to the instructions below I have also included a picture of the actual instructions. 1. Raise trailer and jack up the axle to release pressure on the springs. 2. Remove…

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Answer 7

If you want the best, it's the MORryde Rubber Equalizers for Tandem Axle Trailers part #MR87ZR. These are the best as they offer the most travel which is basically how much that rubber bushing compresses and the more it compresses, the better…

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Answer 8

You can use leaf springs that are rated higher than the axle without any issues as long as they measure the correct measurement for your trailer. For example the 6-leaf double eye spring for 7,000 lb axles part #e64SR measures 24-7/8" eye to…

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Answer 9

Hey Richard, great question. To get the full 2-1/4" lift on a tandem axle setup, you actually need the triple axle kit part #RR55QX instead of the #RR23QX tandem axle kit. You could also achieve this by getting the tandem axle kit, and an…

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Answer 10

Hey David! The best upgraded equalizer is the one that matches your current equalizer dimensions. If your Jay Flight is anything like my Jay Feather I recommend the Dexter E-Z Flex Suspension Kit #K71-652-00. The E-Z Flex is 5-3/4" long which…

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Answer 11

Hi Luis, I sure can get you the exact suspension upgrade for your 2021 Grand Design Momentum 29G trailer. Grand Design is one of the only trailer manufacturers that has any info about the parts on their trailer (which we love around here), and so I…

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Answer 12

Hello Joe, Thank you for reaching out! The Power Mountain Tallboy Off-Road Bottle Jack - 11-5/16" to 27-1/16" Lift - 12 Tons #PM94FR does have the capacity you’d need, but since your fifth wheel’s frame sits about 25" off the ground,…

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