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11-13-2015, 02:50 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member 
1971 23' Safari
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 65
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Shocks or No Shocks?
I received my Dexter Axles today. I ordered them with shock brackets and they arrived without. Should I go ahead and install without the shocks, or should I take them some place locally and have some brackets put on?
What say you?
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11-13-2015, 02:54 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Personal opinion. Have the brackets properly mounted. The person I bought my Bambi II axle thru made sure the mounts arrived welded properly on my axle.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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11-13-2015, 04:17 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bvcg1
I received my Dexter Axles today. I ordered them with shock brackets and they arrived without. Should I go ahead and install without the shocks, or should I take them some place locally and have some brackets put on?
What say you?
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Weld the shock brackets on before you install the axle.
I cannot tell who sent you the axles, but if we did, the shock brackets would have been sent separately.
Andy
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11-13-2015, 08:46 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,435
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Got ours rom Andy, InlandRV. I welded my own from Andys kit on. On our 34' Excella, that was about 3" from the axle plate to the location we welded the new plate. You can mount further out so you can have more clearance and may be able to mount your shock after axle install. I could not. So mounted shock to axle before install. This keeps the "shock" parallel... If I have to remove in future I will bend the plate.
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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11-13-2015, 10:26 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mission
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 836
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Shocks ... there is a reason why they were invented and continued to be used.
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11-14-2015, 10:55 AM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member 
1967 22' Safari
West Fork
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 397
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Uwe Salwender, Area 63 Productions, advises that shocks on Dexter TorFlex axles are decorative. He has tested with and without shocks and finds no difference. In my opinion if the axle supplier thought you should add shocks they should have welded on the brackets in the right spot prior to shipment. Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion and should do whatever they think best.
Jim
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11-14-2015, 12:17 PM
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#7
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coloradopete
1988 25' Excella
Montrose
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 28
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Shocks or no?
I am the original owner of my 28 year old 25' Excella. Replaced the shocks this year for the first time, with those recommended by Airstream (horizontal mode), and notice a significant difference in the amount of sway and bounce that occurs when someone is walking around in the unit while it is parked. This can only mean there must be considerably more sway and bounce when traveling with no shocks or with those that are too old to function properly. IMHO, it is well worth using shocks to reduce the amount of stress on the trailer that is present without them. I purchased mine from Inland RV.
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11-14-2015, 02:23 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2010 28' Flying Cloud
Lower Alabama
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 658
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Put the dampers on
You need the damping, put the shocks on. Towing is problematic enough without creating an additional issue to contend with.
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11-14-2015, 04:23 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRF0st3r
Uwe Salwender, Area 63 Productions, advises that shocks on Dexter TorFlex axles are decorative. He has tested with and without shocks and finds no difference. In my opinion if the axle supplier thought you should add shocks they should have welded on the brackets in the right spot prior to shipment. Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion and should do whatever they think best.
Jim
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Did he use a flat bed trailer for testing? 
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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11-14-2015, 05:46 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,435
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The difference is "night and day"!!! I have new axles and shocks.... Traversing roads that once bounced all over... Now, smooth.
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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11-14-2015, 06:26 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1966 24' Tradewind
2005 22' Safari
Bastrop
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 329
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Our 22 ft tandem axle Safari came from the factory with no shocks and performs flawlessly :-)
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11-18-2015, 02:18 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1962 28' Ambassador
1961 19' Globetrotter
1962 26' Overlander
Mesa
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,999
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We just got new ones and asked for the 32 degree additional lift. Sorry if that verbiage is not quite correct. Being installed as we speak. Old ones and new ones in photograph. Went with Monroe Gas Magnum Shocks.
Lots of threads here on Axles and Shocks. Andy from Inland RV and Colin Hyde great sources and resources.
__________________
Hittenstiehl
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11-18-2015, 02:19 PM
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#13
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King of the Zebra Speedo
Obrien
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,439
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I fairly well documented the ever popular "Welding of the Shock Bracket" in my epic, best selling, award winning, thread to end all threads, "Resurrecting Big Bertha; How I Spent $30,000 on a $2,000 trailer"... Pictures and all (to keep it interesting for our north central Florida friends).
I recommend installing them. Someone much smarter than me decided they needed to be there... Now electric brakes on the other hand, there's some weight you can do without! Your truck has brakes! Why bother with them on a trailer?
-Red, not serious about the brakes...
__________________
Somebody ought to clean these windows. There is a tremendous buildup of gook all over them...
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11-18-2015, 03:09 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Panama Red
I fairly well documented the ever popular "Welding of the Shock Bracket" in my epic, best selling, award winning, thread to end all threads, "Resurrecting Big Bertha; How I Spent $30,000 on a $2,000 trailer"... Pictures and all (to keep it interesting for our north central Florida friends).
I recommend installing them. Someone much smarter than me decided they needed to be there... Now electric brakes on the other hand, there's some weight you can do without! Your truck has brakes! Why bother with them on a trailer?
-Red, not serious about the brakes...
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Yeah I hate all those frills. Sal
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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