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05-03-2013, 07:50 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Excel Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Farmington NM
Posts: 1,822
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Raising the coach/ moving springs to the top of the axle
Ok. how many of you have raised the travel height of your Excel by moving the spring set to the top of the axles? I ride nose high and have no more pin box or hitch addustmenst left. If you have done this, are you happy with it, how does it look appearence wise and does it pull ok? What was the overall height gain?
Its been ok, but when I retire in August (3rd and last time) we are hittng the road and really want a level tow.
Byran, Jack or Ralph, any comments or sugestions?
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05-03-2013, 09:23 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,269
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The word coach in the subject line threw me and possibly more than a few other off.
I've had to raise 2 older 5ers, for clearance , on both the spindles were straight off the end of the axle and I could determine the amount of raise with a tape measure. Measure the center line of the axle to the bottom of the spring perch, add that measurement to the bottom of the spring. The center line of the axle was above the thickness of the spring and after it is below. center line to center line is your amount of raise.
You will be turning the axle over ( flipping) to get the perch back on the spring centering bolts, so you have to rotate the backing plates over to get the electric brakes back rightside up , and always use new U bolts and nuts , retorque after 50 miles again in 200.
You may have to put on longer/shorter, shocks depending on the mounting, do not leave them off!
I was happy with the handling on both 5ths but they were both under 10k weight.
If the raise will be more than what you need , there are kits available , with longer hangers and center pivots for 2&3" raises. Some do require welding.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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05-03-2013, 10:14 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Excel Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Farmington NM
Posts: 1,822
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ok, raising the 5er.. i know the process to move the spring saddle on the top side of the axle. I was looking for feedback from Excel owners who have done this or had their rig built in this configuration. Thanks for the bounce back
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05-03-2013, 11:54 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 22
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RV Sales changed mine many years ago. I was getting tired of punching holes in the front of the rig by the tool box and smashing the bed rails. I have about a 6 inch clearance now and a level ride. Added air bags when the truck springs started to weaken. If there is a downside, I haven't had any shock absorbers since then and nobody has figured out how to fabricate mounts to install a set of shocks. Although I haven't noticed any negative effects of running without shocks.
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05-04-2013, 06:53 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Beaumont, TX
Posts: 1,053
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This may not help, but I raised my Alfa in this manner and the Alfa springs are the same as the Excel. Putting the springs on top raised the rig about 5 1/2" which I didn't like at all. I was 13'2" going down the road and that is too high as far as I am concerned. I had to raise the 05 Alfa to fit under a new truck. Dexter makes a kit for it. The ride didn't change.
If my problem had been a little nose high and I had had 6" or so clearance I wouldn't have changed it.
My new Excel has the springs on top and is 12'10" high at the front a/c which is fine with me and I am still a little nose high.
I am not trying to take business away from Gene, but it is my opinion.
PS- How nose high are you?
__________________
GARY
2022 Duramax LTZ 3500 4x4 drw//2021 Van Leigh Beacon 34RLB//Magnum MS 2012 inverter/charger/4- T105's/Trimetric/Tristar//B&W 3000//TST tire monitor
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05-04-2013, 06:20 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Excel Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Farmington NM
Posts: 1,822
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Tex, I am about 3.5 -4 inches nose high with plenty of bed rail space. Gene can also build me custon stronger reinforced hangers and just go up a few inches but thats why more $$$. Gene says the axle change will give me 4.5 - 6" raise at the axle that he says will be about right.
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05-04-2013, 06:29 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Folsom, CA, USA
Posts: 154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief02
Ok. how many of you have raised the travel height of your Excel by moving the spring set to the top of the axles? I ride nose high and have no more pin box or hitch addustmenst left. If you have done this, are you happy with it, how does it look appearence wise and does it pull ok? What was the overall height gain?
Its been ok, but when I retire in August (3rd and last time) we are hittng the road and really want a level tow.
Byran, Jack or Ralph, any comments or sugestions?
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I flipped my axles for the same issue. It tows beautifully now. The overall gain was a little over 4". I replaced the springs at the same time and the appearance improved as the springs settled. The shock mounts still work but just barely.
__________________
2018 DRV MS 38RSSA, 2017 Ford F450 Lariat Ultimate
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05-05-2013, 06:02 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Beaumont, TX
Posts: 1,053
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief02
Tex, I am about 3.5 -4 inches nose high with plenty of bed rail space. Gene can also build me custon stronger reinforced hangers and just go up a few inches but thats why more $$$. Gene says the axle change will give me 4.5 - 6" raise at the axle that he says will be about right.
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You can flip the axles and then you should be able to adjust it down. I think the cost of the frame shop and kit from Dexter on my old rig was less than $500. How tall are you now?
I suspect I am 3 or 4 inches nose high and have heard no arguments that I buy that it is bad. I like about 8" clearance since we boondock camp a lot. I have about 6K on each axle.
Has Gene advised you that you need to do it? If so what was his reasoning.
The only reason I did it on my old rig was to get the new truck under it.
__________________
GARY
2022 Duramax LTZ 3500 4x4 drw//2021 Van Leigh Beacon 34RLB//Magnum MS 2012 inverter/charger/4- T105's/Trimetric/Tristar//B&W 3000//TST tire monitor
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05-06-2013, 03:02 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Excel Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Farmington NM
Posts: 1,822
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Talked to Dexter and Ralph at PI today. DExter does not have a kit for 7k axles and a saddle would need to be built, which Gene said he would do. Ralph said that if I didnt want to move the spring set up, I could get a taller equalizer and get a few inches (Dexter confirmed that) and I could pull the spacers from under my Dodge spring set and get 1.75 inched there. But I like the idea of having Genes move the springs then I could lower the trailer to a higher shackle hole. I hadn't thought of that! Thanks Tex!
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05-06-2013, 05:00 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Beaumont, TX
Posts: 1,053
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chief02
Talked to Dexter and Ralph at PI today. DExter does not have a kit for 7k axles and a saddle would need to be built, which Gene said he would do. Ralph said that if I didnt want to move the spring set up, I could get a taller equalizer and get a few inches (Dexter confirmed that) and I could pull the spacers from under my Dodge spring set and get 1.75 inched there. But I like the idea of having Genes move the springs then I could lower the trailer to a higher shackle hole. I hadn't thought of that! Thanks Tex!
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I guess they ought to know, but I used this used:
Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - K71-385-00 Over/Under Conversion Kit
__________________
GARY
2022 Duramax LTZ 3500 4x4 drw//2021 Van Leigh Beacon 34RLB//Magnum MS 2012 inverter/charger/4- T105's/Trimetric/Tristar//B&W 3000//TST tire monitor
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05-06-2013, 07:05 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 996
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Consider having the spring shackle mounts boxed. If you move to the bottom hole, you essentially have 2 straps holding your 5'er up. Boxing them adds side to side strength.
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05-07-2013, 04:16 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Beaumont, TX
Posts: 1,053
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Here's mine.
__________________
GARY
2022 Duramax LTZ 3500 4x4 drw//2021 Van Leigh Beacon 34RLB//Magnum MS 2012 inverter/charger/4- T105's/Trimetric/Tristar//B&W 3000//TST tire monitor
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05-07-2013, 08:03 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Excel Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Farmington NM
Posts: 1,822
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yea I asked Dexter about that kit. They clearly said not for 7k axles and above...Hmmmm. I think I will call again and see if I get the same answer.
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05-07-2013, 08:28 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Fleetwood Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: REGINA
Posts: 623
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip426
You will be turning the axle over ( flipping) to get the perch back on the spring centering bolts, so you have to rotate the backing plates over to get the electric brakes back rightside up ,
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That's not good practice as the axles are bent/cambered. If you just flip them upside down you will now have a lot of negative camber on your wheels.
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