Leaderboard

We chose the camper shell. One of the trade offs that comes with the Oliver's size, construction and technology is a bit less storage space for bulky items. These need to go in the truck. A sliding/rolling tonneau cover sat a bit lower than the bed rails and we needed to pack a few items that would have been too tall to close and lock the cover. Our travel plans include combining campgrounds and hotels and we need secure storage. The second influence was grandchildren. Oliver has three beds and we have three grandchildren that are too young to sleep outside on their own-grandpa sleeps outside. A fitted air mattress goes a long way in making this comfortable. Camper shell avoids camper's hell.

Purchased a Dexter EZ Flex kit from Nick's Truck Parts, part number K71-653-00. http://www.dexteraxle.com/inc/sdetail/18100 The following is how I installed this kit as an experiment only, not intended as installation instructions. I'm confident there are safer methods used by RV/Trailer professionals. Installed one side of the kit this morning and plan to install the other side of the kit tomorrow. Connected the Ollie to the Tacoma and placed weight on the front jack: Chocked both wheels with four chocks on the opposite side and put weight on that jack also: Lifted the wheels off the ground on side for kit installation with on board Ollie jack. Also placed jack stand under Ollie frame in case of trailer jack failure: Used a Craftsman ATV jack and with two 10' long 2X4s cut in half and screwed together to support both axles at the same time. Cut notches in the 2X4 beam to hold the axles in place, decided not use to the notches (axles did not fit perfectly), flipped the beam over and used the smooth side & worked OK. Using the 5' long jack/beam with ATV jack to support both axles during project: Removed shoulder shackle bolt and plastic bushing : Replacing plastic bushing with bronze bushing in spring with bolt & nut pulling bushing into spring: Bronze Bushing Installed: Shackle bolt, bushing, and spring assembled with bolt grease outlet hole axis parallel to Ollie frame: Removed shackle bolts and center pivot bolt for EZ Flex Equalizer installation: All of the original Dexter bolts and plastic bushings were in good condition except for the center pivot plastic bushing, it was starting to wear through and fail. Our Ollie has about 9000 miles since new.

Annie Regardless of being male or female, the Oliver is built for comfort, ease of handing and low maintenance. If you have a physical disability or impairment that would cause you to be unable to complete a necessarily task, you will find the folks at Oliver very accommodating. As an example, I had Polio as a child and have limited use of my right arm. The standard features of an Oliver are considered luxuries on other trailers and unavailable or many others. I do not have to go under the carriage to level my trailer. I can stand in one place and level the entire trailer by pressing three buttons. I could have paid less $$$$ for a trailer, would have been able to use it less and it would have been much more work. I would advise you to contact the sales office and get a brochure and price list. I was able to have my trailer built with everything I needed to travel cross country and return for 4+ weeks on my maiden voyage. Ollie is well built, easily maintained and very easy to pull. I have the Elite, the smaller unit and love it. Good luck coy

Bill, looking forward to the installation on the single axle Ollie. Thanks for documenting it! This something I'd like to do soon to my 2008 Elite. randy

John, We purchased our Ollie used, too. Surprised me seeing this on the road side pivot bracket. Bottom left plastic bushing had failed and was completely gone with the top right bushing very loose after 9000 miles. Taking the Ollie out for a short trip later this week, checking out a new TV and EZ Flex ride.

I am on my 5th truck and have gone through a litany of different models and makes from small imports to the larger domestics and others in between. Likewise I have also tried just about every thing available to deal with the truck bed from nothing, to FG topper shells to roll up tonneau's and have come to the conclusion there is no perfect answer and regardless what you decide on there will be some buyers remorse at some point. For my last two trucks I have used the rollup tonneau covers but at times really wish I had a FG topper shell. But we also often load lots of other things into our trucks from landscaping materials to lumber, plywood and other items where not having a topper is a huge benefit. The rollup tonneau allows either one of us to stand up in the truck bed almost instantly, and if need be we can load things that are taller than the truck bed sides with ease. This arrangement also allows us to attach our Thule rack mount system to the side rails which then allows us to carry kayaks on the crossbars, and road bikes below in the truck bed. The down side of course is those items are not weather protected, and their in lies the rub. Good luck with your decision.

Good results on the kit! Was wondering if wet pins & bushing have been installed on a single axle Ollie before. This is a friend's kit we plan to install on their single Axle Ollie this fall. Will post a thread & photos about the installation.

Mike, Understand about folks that can't make it, so will post many photos!!!!! :)

Looks like a great event planned!!!! Thanks!