Wet Bolts

[VTLee]

I have a 28ft 2010 Cougar and want to install wet bolts but do not have a proper place or equipment to do so. Has anyone had them installed by an RV shop and how much did it cost? Would I be better of taking it to a truck/trailer shop?

[P_Kennedy]

The bolts (pins) that mount the equalizer and spring eyes are greasable and not dry like a standard pin. This allows the suspension pivot point to move easier allowing the suspension to float better and having the grease zerks keeps the pins free and pushes the dirt out. The pins and bushings should outlive the RV.

[McObra]

Please pardon my ignorance, but what is a "wet bolt"?
I don't own a fiver.

[Dandy_Dan]

VTLee wrote:
I have a 28ft 2010 Cougar and want to install wet bolts but do not have a proper place or equipment to do so. Has anyone had them installed by an RV shop and how much did it cost? Would I be better of taking it to a truck/trailer shop?

I had Dexter Axles and purchased the wet bolt conversion directly from them. they were great to work with. I took the RV to our local truck garage and they put them in for me. I don't think it was over $50 Was worth the switch. The wet bolts come with bronze bushings where the original bushings were a plastic/fiber(?) type material and quickly wore out.

[cummins2014]

Puddles wrote:

up2nogood wrote:

Puddles wrote:
There's a "sticky" thread on the travel trailer forum that details wet bolts/equilizer installation. Very good pics and instructions... encouraged me to do that mod several years ago. 🙂

Can't remember the exact cost of the kit, but if I would have bothered to check having them done, I would have never touched that fifth wheel myself to save a few dollars. I had the equipment, but for a 200.00 price tag, its not worth doing yourself, as long as its a reliable shop. I did go one step farther fabricating ,and installing the X-Factor style braces on all three points when doing the wet bolts.

Although there's nothing wrong with saving a few dollars... I'm more interested in... (who's to blame if the job isn't done right)... everybody picks what they're most confortable with.

I am always comfortable with doing it myself, I wouldn't do if I didn't think I have the expertise to do so. Most of the time in my case I feel I will do a better job, and installing wet bolts is far from rocket science, its pretty much just wrenching, and not all that fun.

[Puddles]

up2nogood wrote:

Puddles wrote:
There's a "sticky" thread on the travel trailer forum that details wet bolts/equilizer installation. Very good pics and instructions... encouraged me to do that mod several years ago. 🙂

Can't remember the exact cost of the kit, but if I would have bothered to check having them done, I would have never touched that fifth wheel myself to save a few dollars. I had the equipment, but for a 200.00 price tag, its not worth doing yourself, as long as its a reliable shop. I did go one step farther fabricating ,and installing the X-Factor style braces on all three points when doing the wet bolts.

Although there's nothing wrong with saving a few dollars... I'm more interested in... (who's to blame if the job isn't done right)... everybody picks what they're most confortable with.

[fj12ryder]

bkick wrote:
Dex will replace the cracked units. They had a bad production of rubber which resulted in this problem. I contacted them and they replaced mine within a week. They had a person assigned to handle this problem. Only had to provide proof of purchase. They are great to work with. New parts are still perfect and doing the job.

I also had units with bad rubber. Dexter replaced them with no issues, but it was a bit of a pain to have to go through the replacement. The new ones do seem to be doing much better though, and I wouldn't hesitate to install them if I didn't have them.

[bkick]

Dex will replace the cracked units. They had a bad production of rubber which resulted in this problem. I contacted them and they replaced mine within a week. They had a person assigned to handle this problem. Only had to provide proof of purchase. They are great to work with. New parts are still perfect and doing the job.

[TS21sso]

rjxj wrote:
Are you throwing some of these on while they are at it?

Dex

The EZ Flex came standard on my trailer. 7000 miles and already rubber cushion has cracks. I would at least up grade to the Equa Flex by Lippert. Mor Ryde makes one also, just seems a little pricy.

[cummins2014]

Puddles wrote:
There's a "sticky" thread on the travel trailer forum that details wet bolts/equilizer installation. Very good pics and instructions... encouraged me to do that mod several years ago. 🙂

Can't remember the exact cost of the kit, but if I would have bothered to check having them done, I would have never touched that fifth wheel myself to save a few dollars. I had the equipment, but for a 200.00 price tag, its not worth doing yourself, as long as its a reliable shop. I did go one step farther fabricating ,and installing the X-Factor style braces on all three points when doing the wet bolts.

[Puddles]

There's a "sticky" thread on the travel trailer forum that details wet bolts/equilizer installation. Very good pics and instructions... encouraged me to do that mod several years ago. 🙂

[Veebyes]

If you are physically able & have the time & tools, bottle jacks & lumber, to do it yourself, it is not a hard job.

Agree that to get some type of equaflex system installed as well would be a very good addition.

[laknox]

VTLee wrote:
I have a 28ft 2010 Cougar and want to install wet bolts but do not have a proper place or equipment to do so. Has anyone had them installed by an RV shop and how much did it cost? Would I be better of taking it to a truck/trailer shop?

A local (to me) trailer shop quoted me about $200, installed. This included wet bolts and heavy duty replacement spring shackles. I thought this was pretty reasonable, and cheaper than a suspension place I called about a year ago.

Lyle

[fj12ryder]

^^^^^^^^^^^^An excellent idea while you're having the wet bolts installed, might as well have it done right.

[azrving]

Are you throwing some of these on while they are at it?

Dex