Thanks Don,

Mine is a 2012 and not like yours. It has the 3 holes like we've seen for years. However, mine is very early #3 off the line. I suspect that the need for the other 2 holes is unnecessary now-a-day, with all the higher trucks. I do believe mine are 3/16" thick though. rockin'

I have a 2013 with 3 hole spring hangers. Is the picture above a 2014 or 2015?

The photo is of my 2011 Excel Winslow fabricated December 2011. I don't know why it's different.

Don

Knowing what little we know now.......sounds like this may have been a "test running production change" that may have not lasted long. Hmmm.

It amazing to me of how looking at two rigs rig with the same floorplan only a couple of VINs different from each other (built very near the same time frame) can have so many differences. For example, met a guy with a '05 FLR once with similar VINs as ours and his stove/oven was located in a different area in the rear kitchen. Also his roof antenna was mounted near the front of the rig and mine in the rear. Changes happening all the time, trying to make us a better rig. rockin'

Custom orders may also account for some of these anomalies.

Don

True, but on my old 05 FLR I was describing above, I know that the other rig was not special ordered. And to top it off, the floorplan spec sheet (paper and website) shows the stove being located in the position that my friends FLR model. His was built after mine. Just sayin'

Don, I have a 2011 31RLE. My serial number is 11014. It is number 14 for the 2011 year. The date on the build sheet when it was ordered is 03/15/2010. It was probably built early to mid 2010 and has the same shackles as yours.

I have a Hydralift on the back that carries a 900 lb. Harley. When loaded the rear of the coach drops very little from an unloaded height. The front is a little nose high which causes the rear to be somewhat low. I often wondered why I didn't have adjustment holes on the shackles like others have here but now seeing your pictures, yours are built just like mine and I wonder if this is something that is just on the model 31's. I wish the shackles had the extra holes to drop the springs for a little more rear clearance and to level the coach better. I have the pin box/hitch set for about 5" of clearance over the top of the rails so I can't go any lower in the front.....Pat

Pat - If you really wanted to you could probably purchase new shackle brackets (with 3 holes) and have your existing ones replaced. Sounds difficult, but to someone who welds it would be easy.

Don

I just bought a 15 F350 DRW 4x4, 3:73 gears, put a Reese Elite 26.5K hitch in the factory bed setup and am towing my 06 Excel 30 RSO L with a Goldwing on a Swivelwheel DW58.

I set up my hitch on lowest setting and changed pins to lowest setting on shackles. I have over 10" clearance at bed rails with the coach being a tad nose high.

One thing not mentioned here, dealers commonly set tire pressures low, especially on heavier trucks to make it "Seem" like its a smooth ride. Just sayin. I haven't been down any washboard roads yet but I'm very pleased with my ride quality loaded and unloaded. More importantly, towing is much easier and actually fun with a dually. You should know I am biased to Ford as I get family plan pricing, although I did consider Dodge this time.

After 3 months with new F350 I'm quite pleased with it.

2008 Excel 33RSE /2010 Chevy 3500 dually 4X4
 

33 Excel RSE on the road at 16K. I had the factory raise the coach 4" to mate with my 2006 2500 Chevy Silverado 4X4. I was over the recommended GCVW for the truck. I replaced the '06 with a 2009 3500 Silverado, Duramax, Allison tranny, 4X4. I have replaced all 4 disk rotors with drilled and grooved rotors. I'm not sure it was necessary and probably would not do it again. I've towed various fifth wheels since 1990. This is probably the best all around combination I have come up with. I looked at Chevy's Kodiak and decided it was much more truck than I needed. It also would not fit in my garage.

My 2008 33RSE and the Silverado sit level when hooked up and the coach has nearly 6" clearance between the box and fiver over hang. The hitch is a B&W with the in box adapter for a standard fifth wheel pin box.

Don't know if this info helps in your decision but the combo works for me. By the way driving a dually by itself takes some getting used to if you have only driven single rear wheel units.