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Truck is set up with Solar. We ordered our Oliver without panels as we are always under trees when parked. Solar suitcase and truck panels. DC to Dc charging for us while driving. Will be picking up our Elite 2 First week of April

I have a 100w panel on my truck topper, linked to a 20W mppt controller and two 12v agms. Controller and batteries reside in the truck bed, are not linked to truck batteries and support a dometic compressor fridge/ freezer. Works great! You have a great idea. Best of luck and let us know as you proceed with the build

There are actually 16 zerk fittings in total. There are FOUR hidden ones (2 on each side of the trailer) on the EZ flex links where the links are attached to the subframe bolts, one facing forwards and one facing backwards on each side of the trailer. You found two of them. See photo. I always crawl under the trailer to get to those 4. Sorry about the bad photo, really hard to get the phone in there for a picture. The photo shows the forward facing zerk on the link on the right in the photo. There is rearward facing zerk on the other link on the left in the photo.

Not noisy at all.... when compared to an F-14 on a full afterburner climb out. Seriously though I think we may be in for some relief. I don't have any insider info but looking at what is happening in the RV industry I believe we will see some changes in RV air conditioners. Houghton and the Truma Aventa are low noise alternatives. Dometic would do well to take their newly purchased Atwood technology and incorporate it into their line. If they don't I predict a competitive disadvantage for them. A low noise A/C is something the RV consumer will soon be demanding... (previously asking). Lithium batteries will drive demand for reduced power as well. Five years ago only the technically advanced tinkerer would experiment with battery run A/C. Now it's becoming an advertised feature. For existing owners an upgrade to Truma or Houghton is available now. Some Oliver owners have replaced with Houghton (search the forum). And there is at least one Oliver with the Truma. (unless we have been fooled by a photoshopped pic)

We love good coffee too, whether at home or camping. Once you grind coffee, a lot of the flavor starts being lost quickly if you don't brew asap. So a good quality small portable burr grinder is a must. We used to use a classic looking Zazzenhaus mill but after many years of use while car/van/trailer camping the burr was shot and not replaceable, so I got a Hario Mini Mill to replace it - it works reasonably well and has no glass (whereas the larger Hario mill has a glass bowl to catch the ground coffee - I'd prefer to avoid glass for a camping grinder...). For brewing, we both like the Clever Dripper. It looks like a classic filter cone type brewer, but it actually brews more like a french press in that the coffee sits in the cone extracting flavor from the grounds until you put the device on a cup/mug and then a stopper opens up and lets the coffee pour through. But unlike french press, it's as easy to clean as a simple plastic cone with a disposable filter and you get no grounds in your cup. You grind as for french press and let it sit for minutes in the cone with a stir partway through before letting it rip into the cup. It's definitely not for someone who want a high volume of coffee fast but it does make an excellent cup once you get your grind and timing down. We have two Clever Drippers so we can brew our own cups simultaneously (and do our own mix - I do mostly home roasted decaf which is better than almost any decaf beans I've ever found with the one exception being a now out of business small batch roaster/cafe on the WA coast). I love the espresso we can make at home but the Clever Dripper makes equally fine cups of coffee albeit in a somewhat different style. https://www.sweetmarias.com/clever-coffee-dripper-large.html

Hi Bill, My apologies for the late reply. I just saw your post. Per your suggestion we have been watching a lot of videos on the Anderson WDH (including the one from Ollie). I appreciate you taking the time to post! Dale

Thanks GJ- that's one of the reasons that I carry a couple of THESE caps now. Another reason is that these are a bit easier to seat versus those caps with a more rounded cap. Bill

Try HERE.

Bill: I also lost two of my "Hub Caps". The grease caps should not be coming off. I spoke with the Service/Warranty Department at Dexter about grease caps. They are aware of the wimpy metal of some of their grease caps. They are stamped from sheet metal that is either .021” or .029” thick. The thinner ones have been known to come loose. I have the .021” and two of them fell off after my fourth annual bearing service effort. Recommendation from Jason E. is to replace them with a heaver metal grease cap. I looked at dozens of grease caps, often having to call the manufacturer to get the metal gauge. So if you have experienced this problem, below are two that I would consider using. The BrakeBest is .030" .027", and the NAPA is .032". 16 FEB 2022: JPR UPDATE: Just got a follow-up E-mail from Reiley. They stated that the BrakeBest Select Trailer Parts Trailer Bearing Grease Cap thickness is .027". As such, if you have "loose caps", I would recommend the NAPA version.

Hello fellow coffee enthusiast! We wanted to share with those of you who like to camp off grid or find yourself often without shore power how we make copious amount of coffee with no battery impact. We drink A LOT of coffee and for fear of an intervention we will just leave it at a lot, so we needed to come up with a way to make a large amount of GOOD coffee. We started with a large French press. It was a water consumer when trying to clean and we were spending a lot of time making coffee instead of enjoying our time enjoying the scenery. Pour over was the next option but it too took a lot of “preparing” time UNTIL we found the melitta 60 oz carafe and pour over basket. We have a traditional percolating camping coffee pot. But is used for boiling water and only use it to make coffee in an emergency. It was hard to be consistent with taste and strength and keeping warm without “burning” it was an issue. I have attached pictures of our system. Hope this helps our fellow boondocking coffee drinking camping enthusiasts. Finding joy in every moment,

I couldn't un-stick the zerk that wasn't accepting grease, and decided to replace it. When I removed the curb-side rear wheel to make it easier to get a ratcheting socket on the zerk, I discovered that there are 14 zerk grease fittings, not 12 as mentioned in my original post. With both wheels on I hadn't noticed the 'hidden' zerk on the bolt that attaches the E-Z Flex system to the subframe. I had assumed that bolt would have had a zerk in the bolt head like the bolts that attach the leaf springs to the E-Z Flex, like in John Davies photo above. I mention this with the hope that some other new owner realizes that there are two zerks that are not readily visible without removing a rear wheel or crawling under the trailer.

I have a Champion 2500 watt dual fuel inverter/generator. It came with a 1/4" RV quick connect fitting for the generator end, and an ACME female fitting with a regulator, for connection to a bulk propane tank. To use it with an Oliver quick connect, you will need a different hose which has only the second regulator of a two-stage regulator. See Galway Girl's post dated March 27, 2023. This is because the Oliver propane tank outlets are already regulated down to about 11 inches of water column (an appropriate LP gas pressure) by the regulator on the tanks. I believe you will need a propane hose with only the second stage regulator, and 1/4" RV quick connect male fittings on both ends, since the Oliver quick connects are 1/4" female and the Champion generator connection is also 1/4" female. Again, see Galway Girl's more accurate, and precise, post dated March 27, 2023. FWIW, I considered getting the quick connects on our Elite II and doing what you plan to do, i.e., run the generator from the trailer's propane tanks. But, I finally decided to carry an extra 5-gallon propane tank in the bed of my pickup to run the generator, to preserve the fuel in the trailer's propane tanks for heating, cooking and water heating. An added benefit is that I can place the generator farther from the trailer without a long propane hose. So, I plan to use the hose with regulator that came with my Champion dual fuel inverter/generator. Hope this helps.

Yeah thanks…. I didn’t even know that Army surplus HUMVEE scissor jacks existed until your post. Now I must have one! 😂

Italian stove top expresso maker. Makes an authoritative brew but then you had hot milk or other “white” stuff. Works well for me and you don’t need electricity (assuming you have a way to grind coffee or, as I do, grind some before leaving home).

We have a diamondback cover as well. Current plan is to permanently mount 4 - 24 inch long 8020 black anodized sections to the four corners. This will be the foundation for multiple different rack systems which I’ll probably build out of the cheaper non coated 8020. For a solar setup I have 3 100w 20x40inch panels that I’ll connect on the long side making a 60x40 array reinforced with angle aluminum. This array will be suspended from 8020 crossmembers mounted to the above mounts. Hopefully, I’ll have time to put everything together in a few weeks.

Darn it, I hate articles like that, 😉 - I did not even get to the Hummer scissors jack, when I saw the Safe Jack, and that stopped me in my tracks. It is made in Pasco WA just a couple of hours away, so I feel obliged to get a kit. ... https://safejacks.com https://safejacks.com/collections/bottle-jack-accessories/products/safe-jack-bottle-jack-recovery-kit-with-bottle-jack - watch some of the "how to" videos toward the bottom! I think it would be useful for the Ollie too, you could use the saddle adapter and lift one axle by the tube, close to the springs. I was pretty much dead set against hydraulic ones, most are are a pain, they leak, they don't go high enough, you have to block therm. But this changed my mind about that attitude - it is long but very educational and entertaining. Highlift jack vs Bottle jack vs Exhaust jack John Davies Spokane WA

We are set to leave on March 1 to take delivery on March 4. We will be traveling light leaving behind our bulky espresso maker. As an alternative we will have our stove top Bialetti 6 cup, which will do for the time being. It is not exactly what a counter top espresso quality cup is but it will be good enough.

The nectar of the gods, fresh-brewed in the GSI filter.

Looks right to me. Thanks again!

I've become quite fond of an Aeropress for coffee (https://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Portable-Travel-Coffee-Press/dp/B07YVL8SF3/ref=asc_df_B07YVL8SF3/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=366315314542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2052564283732757323&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029602&hvtargid=pla-851550080547&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=84691874068&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=366315314542&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2052564283732757323&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029602&hvtargid=pla-851550080547). For an Oliver mug I fill it up once and let it drip, fill it up again and press. Fast. Super easy cleanup.

I’m still a novice (after daily use for a month), but I’ve found the following gives me consistent results: med-high heat till it begins to perk, perk for 4 min on med heat, remove from heat and let sit for 5 min.* I’ve tried a couple different filters and no filter; I can’t discern a difference with or without filters. Letting sit for 5 min settles most of the grounds. However, because I’d rather not have any grounds in my cup, I pour through a strainer (pictured). *I’ve always used medium ground coffee. I understand a coarser grind may require a little longer perk time.

My problem with a percolator is also the timing. I guess the more you use it the more exact you become?

We also use the compact camping percolator on the gas stove. I am still trying to get the timing down for good consistency. Haven't spent enough time on the road yet. We also pre-grind the coffee before we leave home. We have several different flavors at home to select from. I do notice a difference between my grind technique and my wife and the outcome of the coffee. About 17 years ago I decided that when the cheap $40 grinder dies I would buy a nice gear grinder. Still waiting for the grinder to die. I want to get the full life out of this grinder.

https://www.exploringoverland.com/overland-tech-travel/2021/11/14/a-guide-to-recovery-jacks-for-the-beginner-or-procrastinator scroll to bottom…

The mixed reviews on these scissor jacks on Amazon always keep me from buying one. A lot of good reviews but also some scary failures. I’ve been using a leftover scissor jack that I still have from my old Dodge pickup truck (the truck is long gone). It’s worked really well, very thick metal parts. Might be worth checking scrapyards to find an old factory scissor jack from a full size truck. I’m skeptical of the imported jacks on Amazon.

Just kidding about the campfire coffee, our trailer has a small one cup Keurig. trainman

I’m getting some good ideas. We keep it simple, and use a compact camping percolator on the gas stove, just like the ones Road2Trails and Frank-n-Val show in their pics. We like our coffee strong and a little bitter, so that’ll do it. Don’t stray too far from stove, or risk burning the coffee, but it’s easy. Regarding Cowboy Coffee, this guy is an expert. I haven’t used his technique yet (no egg), but I want to try it soon. https://youtu.be/7UAoT21eqXI

Old backpacking habits die hard, and this filter is a survivor, which also turns out a wonderful cup of coffee. This GSI filter clips onto just about any cup, takes #2 or #4 filters, which allow for very little water for cleanup. I haven’t broken it in 10 plus years of heavy use(quite a feat for anything to survive my ham-fisted antics for that long). It weighs less than 1/2 ounce. I boil water and control the bloom easily… makes a great cup, every bit the equal of my Technivorm Moccamaster at home.

We have 2 set-ups -- aeropress and the little dripper. For extended trips in a single location, we'll find space for the breville barista espresso machine! mb

The closest thing I've ever had to cowboy coffee was my grandmother's coffee, in a big white enamel pot on the stove top. No basket or filter. An egg and cold water settled most of the grounds, not all. She and her brother used to turn the cup upside down after afternoon coffee, and read "fortunes." I only let my gramma read my fortune. Her brother's were always too dark... Some people call it Swedish coffee. It was well known among all the Scandinavian folks (who all kept chickens, so the egg was "free")

Cowboy coffee can be very good or very bad. The longer you have been out on the trail, the more that you (and those around you) smell like campfires, horses, horse poop, saddle sweat, human sweat, etc., the better the coffee usually tastes.☺️

I've been watching "1883" on TV and they just use the old fashion way, coffee pot on the open fire, don't all campers do it that way. trainman

Great post. We use the cheep black and decker 5 cup coffee maker. Easy to store, found it’s not to practical for camping no heating element to keep coffee warm. I like the ideas shown keep them coming. I’m looking to change coffee makers.👍🏼

Dale C - And the same holiday wishes to you and your family. I basically tow my Elite II with the same truck except that mine is a 2017 with the 3.5 liter. Your choice to include the Andersen is a sound one. It is the only weight distribution hitch that will work with the Elite II (without extensive fiberglass work). Also, to be "legal" and within Ford's warranty, you must use a weight distribution hitch (WDH) when the tongue weight is at or above 500 pounds. Except for very rare cases virtually all Elite II's are above the tongue weight. When you have time before delivery, be sure to watch any number of videos about the Andersen WDH. They will help you understand how it works and give you a number of tips/tricks on how to use it without excessive frustration. Bill

They had a really good run in 2017 between hulls 255 and 257.

Great info! We watched the Oliver E2 YouTube Delivery walkthrough video recorded two weeks ago and decided we are going to purchase a torque wrench in advance of pick up. Will this torque wrench work? The video doesn’t say the size (1/2”, 1/4” etc) needed? Do you recommend a particular one? Thanks Much, M&K 1/2-inch Drive Click Torque Wrench, 10~150 ft./lb

Just want to confirm that we got the same stuff as TexasGuy so that you're hearing from another person that took delivery recently. Also, please remember to consider adjusting your tire pressure before you leave Oliver. It is set at 80lbs and the advice given on this site to reduce pressure to 60lbs is prudent in my opinion. Consistent with my last sentence make sure you have a tire pressure gauge with you that has an appropriate range for this type of tire.

The best person to answer this question is your sales rep at Oliver (in the event that there have been any recent changes). Bill

What is this "minimalist camping" of which you speak?

Most of the other truly necessary gizmos are available at Hohenwald walmart, or tractor supply. What you want to buy ahead are locks, leveling system, and whatever you like to outfit the interior. My Advice: Don't go crazy. A lot of stuff is available anywhere, and people buy a lot of unnecessary, never used stuff, ahead of time. Try out minimalist camping. Then add.

I have no idea of the brand, but Oliver installed the same ones a few years back, when our original covers looked terrible. You could open a ticket. I'm sure they're not very expensive.

Yeah, the aluminum adapter from Agile Offroad that fits over the post is another $90. This Oliver addiction is getting expensive!

Browsing that data sheet leaves me wondering how much gypsum dust the folks on the Holloman AFB (which is next to White Sands NP) breathe in their time there...