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12-10-2018, 10:05 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: dunnellon
Posts: 50
M.O.C. #19170
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High Country wet bolts
This post is primarily intended for HC owners. I have a 2017 HC and finally got around to doing wet bolts. Jacked it up by its jacks, blocked it up with 6 ton jacks front and rear then got to work.
Surprise. Pulled the first spring eye out and was dreading forcing out a cheap plastic bushing. Low and behold, Keystone put brass bushings in with just a plain bolt. Pounded that bushing out as well as a couple more then compared them with the bushings in the shackle kit from MorRyde. They miked out the same and all were in excellent condition. Left the others ones as they were, just cleaned them up and inserted the wet bolts.
Easy peasy! Whole job only took 3 hours including set up and tare down. Impact wrench made short work of a few over-torqued bolts. Point being that if you have a HC, (mine is a 2017) you might already have HALF the wet bolt kit. If so, and you're dreading the upgrade to wet bolts, its not the PIA that some have encountered. And, at 72, if I can do it so can you.
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12-10-2018, 10:26 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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Good information!!!
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Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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12-10-2018, 04:02 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hanover
Posts: 1,471
M.O.C. #13325
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Got to tell you though, those sleeves don't last forever. They are FAR better than the nylon crap Keystone uses for new rigs, but be sure and grease them at least yearly. I found I had two bronze bushings almost worn out after about 40k miles - couldn't get grease into one and pulled everything apart to see what was going on. Then I started checking all the others and found another one.
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12-10-2018, 05:03 PM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Charleston
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #23103
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What are wet bolts
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12-10-2018, 05:25 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Thornville
Posts: 546
M.O.C. #21110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Studpuppy
What are wet bolts
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They are greasable bolts that hold your suspension to the frame. You will find them in the "rubber bushing" parts that are where the "U" bracket is welded to the frame. They will have a grease zerk fitting on them, to lubricate said bolt/bushing.
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Darwin & Carla
2018.5 3701LK Montana
2022 3500HD Denali Duramax SRW
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12-10-2018, 06:23 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,932
M.O.C. #20477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WaltBennett
Got to tell you though, those sleeves don't last forever. They are FAR better than the nylon crap Keystone uses for new rigs, but be sure and grease them at least yearly. I found I had two bronze bushings almost worn out after about 40k miles - couldn't get grease into one and pulled everything apart to see what was going on. Then I started checking all the others and found another one.
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Walt,
What year did you get nylon bushings? I believe all the recent Montana models (less HC) have wet bolts with grease zerks.
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Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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12-10-2018, 08:54 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,701
M.O.C. #12947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Studpuppy
What are wet bolts
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It's not just the bolts but also the heavier shackles that link the springs to the frame and other suspension components. http://www.morryde.com/products/70-h...le-upgrade-kit
And once you have the wet bolts, regardless of whether MorRyde or Dexter, the Dexter manual shows they should be greased every 3 months or 3,000 miles. http://www.dexteraxle.com/docs/defau...4.pdf?sfvrsn=0
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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12-11-2018, 04:56 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: POINTBLANK
Posts: 1,888
M.O.C. #19944
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my '17 had the bronze - added the wet bolts and heavier shackles … piece of mind
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RAM 22' DRW 3500 Crew LB 40 gal reserve tank / RETRAX Bed Cover / 2020 373RD HC / IS / MOPEKA Tank Monitor / Furrion Side&Rear Cameras
Slide Toppers / EMS-HW50C / Sailun 85's
3rd AC / Dometic 320
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12-11-2018, 07:55 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,318
M.O.C. #17894
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I had to replace my entire suspension on my 2011 unit. It had wet bolts from the factory. The bronze bushing were TOTALY worn out and came out in pieces. The spring eyes were worn oblong. Since I am the 2nd owner I really don't know for sure how many miles it had been towed. I do know it has been from coast to coast at least once and from the north east to Florida several times. So I replaced it all. New springs/mor ryde wet bolt kit/ubolts etc. I did not replace the shear springs though, they looked good. If I have any more issues, Its getting the mor ryde IS installed.
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2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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12-11-2018, 10:34 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wampum
Posts: 571
M.O.C. #9928
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Adding wet bolts is definitely a good upgrade for any trailer. Keeping them properly greased is the other best thing to do. Also, while you're at it, double check the "U" bolt nuts. Some of them are not properly torqued to begin with.
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"What happens at camp stays at camp"
2018 3121RL
2016 Ford F350 SB SRW
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12-18-2018, 03:31 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slufoot733
Adding wet bolts is definitely a good upgrade for any trailer. Keeping them properly greased is the other best thing to do. Also, while you're at it, double check the "U" bolt nuts. Some of them are not properly torqued to begin with.
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They are probably torqued at assembly but any U-bolted spring needs to be retorqed after a couple thousand miles. On ours, the original U-bolts were barely over finger tight. When I added wet bolts, I also replaced the 1/2" U-bolts with 9/16" parts. These were then torqued to 75 lb ft - which immediately bent the spring plate. I redrilled the old Dexter OEM spring plates then used them, torqued to 75 lb ft (90 is the spec for 9/16 Gr5U-bolt torque) on our 6000# suspension. They needed retorquing after 2500 miles as they were again very loose but not as bad as the OEMs.
Don't ever believe that wet bolt bushings don't wear out. Our first set were shot at 16,000 miles and greased about every 3-4000 miles. I'm currently giving the Lippert Never Fail bushings a try but do have a spre set of new bronze pieces JIC
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Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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03-26-2022, 07:56 PM
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#12
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Odessa
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #26184
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave W
They are probably torqued at assembly but any U-bolted spring needs to be retorqed after a couple thousand miles. On ours, the original U-bolts were barely over finger tight. When I added wet bolts, I also replaced the 1/2" U-bolts with 9/16" parts. These were then torqued to 75 lb ft - which immediately bent the spring plate. I redrilled the old Dexter OEM spring plates then used them, torqued to 75 lb ft (90 is the spec for 9/16 Gr5U-bolt torque) on our 6000# suspension. They needed retorquing after 2500 miles as they were again very loose but not as bad as the OEMs.
Don't ever believe that wet bolt bushings don't wear out. Our first set were shot at 16,000 miles and greased about every 3-4000 miles. I'm currently giving the Lippert Never Fail bushings a try but do have a spre set of new bronze pieces JIC
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What part number are you using for replacement parts. K71-696-00 Dexter Axle
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03-26-2022, 09:06 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Northeast TX
Posts: 943
M.O.C. #30262
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Our 22 model HC has a full wet bolt compliment. Not sure if this is model specific not or not.
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Lee, Edith, Lil' Bit & Cuddles
22 MHC 331RL, Surge Guard 35550, SumoSprings, Kodiak disc brakes, 412Ah Lithium, Gen 3 Goosebox, Sailun 85s
22 Ram 3500 CC DRW 6.7 CTD Herrin Hauler Classic Bed, 45 gal AUX tank
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03-27-2022, 04:39 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonbaby
What part number are you using for replacement parts. K71-696-00 Dexter Axle
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MORryde UO12-016 ( This one from Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/MORryde-UO12-...8377232&sr=8-3 )
The equalizer should already have wet bolts if it's a CRE 3000
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Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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03-27-2022, 07:48 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,470
M.O.C. #23668
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Sounds like the HC line is always changing in what it offers as standard on their rigs. Ours came with the CRE3000 but no wet bolts. It did come, though, with the brass bushings. Like others, I was a little pleasantly surprised to find those when I installed the wet bolts.
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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03-27-2022, 08:46 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,146
M.O.C. #1920
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Yes, Montana continues to improve their product. This post was started four years ago and hadn’t had any activity since 12/2018 until a couple of days ago.
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Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
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