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  1. Although I wouldn’t do it, if you want to go cheaper than lithiums, you could just go to AGM’s. But for less than $3K, you can replace the four T-105’s with 3x100 amp hour Battle Born lithium batteries and a new PD charger that’s plug and play. There’s no need to spend $15K. And you’ll end with an extra 100 amp hours over what you currently have.
    6 points
  2. I agree with Steve here and with JD’s advice. Our AGMs lasted almost 5 years. We’re almost at 2 years with our 3 Battle Borns. If your trailer is a 2017 I assume you have the Blue Sky controller. The base 100aH BB lithiums were about $800 each. The updated PD 4045 was a little over $100, also from BB. There is some reprogramming of the Blue Sky but BB provides the parameters and it is not difficult. The PD (Progressive Dynamics) 4045 is what charges your batteries when on shore power. The old model did not support lithium, the new one does. It is part of your fuse box under the dinette seat. Check to see if yours has a little lithium toggle on the front. Not difficult to swap out. The folks at Battle Born are very helpful answering questions and giving guidance. Mike
    3 points
  3. left click on the area where you "log out" at top right corner of the page left click on "account settings" left click on "signature" on left side of page fill out what you want your signature to be left click on "save"
    2 points
  4. Thank you so much Brian for the recommendation. We recently tried Bugs Off and it works like a dream.
    2 points
  5. You can also use Turtle Wax Graphene/Cermaic wax. This stuff works great on the whole trailer and tow vehicle. Best part is it isn't effected by the sun. Won't melt like wax.
    2 points
  6. Four 6 volt AGMs are certainly the most painless and cost effective option. But they are not especially long lived, anything longer than three years is uncommon. Mine were fried at the beginning of season four. The advantage is that they are completely plug and play, you don’t have to mess around with different charger settings or making new cables. Lithiums are the way to go if you are at all handy and willing to learn how they work. They require a clear understanding of their differences and care. The weight savings is stunning! They do require a new charging board for your converter, with a “lithium switch”, and a simple change of settings in your solar controller. Your truck will no longer charge them properly, you should either disconnect that charge wire or install a smart DC to DC charger that will properly manage that current. If the brand has its own Bluetooth app, you do not need to do anything else special, but Battle Borns require a separate battery monitor, to keep track of the state of charge. (You can no longer use the system voltage since it doesn’t steadily decline like a lead acid battery.) I suggest that you educate yourself about RV lithium batteries, and then make an informed decision. I switched to two Battle Born 100 amp hour ones and I find that amount to be plenty, except when I am running a compressor fridge in the truck, that uses up to 50 AH per day and then I start to worry. I do have room for a third battery, but so far I do not think I will need to add it… These ship free and have a super warranty and reputation: https://battlebornbatteries.com/product/12v-lifepo4-deep-cycle-battery/ This is excellent: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6629-how-to-find-happiness-with-lifepo4-lithium-ion-batteries-solacity-article/ Other FYI: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/4812-how-to-progressive-dynamics-pd4045-lithium-upgrade/ https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5270-how-to-redarc-dc-to-dc-11-amp-output-trailer-charger-installation/ If you must get running again ASAP, buy a $100 12 volt Walmart Deep Cycle battery (not AGM) and use that until you get the situation under control. Later you can sell it on Craigslist and recoup some of its cost. John Davies Spokane WA
    2 points
  7. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and pictures! We will be ordering mattresses from Southern Mattress Company and I believe they will be 10" as well. I think I can get the dimensions close enough and then tuck in any excess as needed on the wall side. However, given my slowness in finishing these types of projects, I'm glad to know I can get something "off the shelf" and make it work too. 😉
    2 points
  8. @Katjo that is what we're going to do with ours this winter because we have the 315Ah batteries. Maybe it's ok because the internal heater is draining the batteries some before the converter and solar refill them? Don't know, but that's the mfg recommendation.
    2 points
  9. I have sent an inquiry to Timken asking if Summit is a trusted dealer for their bearings and National Seals. Awaiting their response. JPR NOTE: Still waiting a response from Timken on 1 NOV 2022.
    1 point
  10. There are a lot of counterfeit “Timken” bearings out there, especially on Amazon. At that low price I’m not sure I’d even trust the ones from Summit to be genuine Timken bearings. I bought mine through an authorized Timken distributor (Applied Industrial) and it was about $60 per wheel for the two sets needed (inner and outer bearings sets) for each wheel, plus the new seal needed. And I use the WBA bearing app available for smartphones to scan the QR code on the bearing packaging to confirm they are legit.
    1 point
  11. I have used this product for many years on trucks, motorcycles and campers. Take a look at BugSlide and decided for yourself. You will be surprised and it is gentle on all surfaces. Safe Travels, Brian
    1 point
  12. Thanks Mike. I will check on your suggestions and place a call to BB. As long as I have a technical person helping me along the way, I am good if it is not too difficult and from your post, it doesn’t sound as if it is.
    1 point
  13. We store our 2015 LE2 in an airplane hangar without electricity and heat since 2018, when not camping. We use a master disconnect switch to disconnect the Battleborn battery while in storage. Battleborn storage instructions:
    1 point
  14. I spoke with Mike from Oliver Service this morning. He advised that, "according to Lithionics," the storage procedure for Lithionics batteries warmed by the external heating pad Oliver installs with the Lithium Pro Package is the same as for Lithionics batteries with internal heaters. So, you CAN leave Lithionics G31 batteries in an Oliver connected to shore power during winter storage, so long as the red toggle switch that controls the external battery heating pad (mounted on top of one of the batteries) is left "On." I recommended that the Oliver Service Department publish a storage procedure for the Lithium Pro Package which addresses this issue. I suggested it could forestall service tickets from folks who have the Lithium Pro Package and live in colder climates. I am pleased that Lithionics has approved the simple procedure of leaving trailers with Oliver-installed external battery heaters connected to shore power during winter storage, without pulling the batteries. But, given the nearly universal recommendation from lithium battery manufacturers to conduct a discharge/recharge cycle at least every 6 months to preserve battery life, I plan to do so once mid-winter, with the batteries still in the battery box, protected by the heating pad. Per the Lithionics Rev. 7 Storage Procedure, I plan to fully discharge the batteries, then fully recharge, then discharge back down to about 50% State of Charge, then reconnect shore power, which will return the batteries to full charge for the balance of the winter. If any of you electrically-savvy engineer types out there recommend a different approach, I would love to hear it.
    1 point
  15. Thank for the late night comment John. You’re right. My mental math with Volts, Watts, and Amps was off by a decimal place this evening. The onboard converter is the way to go.
    1 point
  16. Ken, it is far better to plug the gennie 120 VAC output into your shore power connection. That will give you 45 amps through your onboard converter. It should be fine as long as you don’t try to draw any extra power while charging. Flip off all those other breakers. FYI the 8 amps DC is unregulated. You really don’t need to worry with a large battery bank, but it will fry a small battery since the current never tapers off. Good luck. John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  17. Hi John, I'll post a pic of my tow vehicle and trailer when I receive it. It's a 22 year old vehicle and has over 240k miles on it but, she my baby and never left me stranded on the road. I've had numerous parts replaced on the vehicle to make sure I don't have any breakdown. Yep! It's a first generation Toyota Tundra Limited TRD. with mods.
    1 point
  18. We use a cover in the off-season at a storage lot. I wrote about it here... I leave the Renogy solar suitcase panel to keep the batteries charged. Just covered it again for the winter.
    1 point
  19. Thanks for the compliment, Bill. We are on our third set of quilts/spreads. They have all been standard twin sets from Bed Bath and Beyond or Target. We sleep with our heads to the kitchen but make the beds with the pillows at the back. We tuck in the excess quilt under the mattress on the wall side and have a normal amount on the aisle side. Nothing fancy, we try to be practical! Just took this tonight as we’re camping in Tennessee. This is our first iteration when we picked up in 2016 Another set a couple of years ago.
    1 point
  20. 1 point
  21. Oliver staff doesn't routinely watch the forum. Please, do open a ticket with any safety or repair item, even if you fix it yourself. Production can't fix a problem they're not aware of. Exactly, @Cameron, give them a heads up. And, thank you for doing that.
    1 point
  22. I understand completely but don't worry about it. I do know (within reason) that the Oliver staff sincerely appreciates the input of owners - both good and bad. Bill
    1 point
  23. Thanks for the replies & just confirming my perspective. My O is 2.5 weeks old and I am very pleased overall & very impressed with the quality & the O staff (good people!). However, I (as a boat & furniture woodworker) can not in anyway understand the O use of too long of bolts that are just wrong is wrong. No woodworker would do this. I checked the door in the showroom and the same incorrect bolts/construction is on the show O2. I hope O is listening and will correct this error going forward. Disappointing. Easy for me to fix, but...
    1 point
  24. We just returned home from an amazing 8 days at Huntington Beach SP only 247 miles away from our home. Located right on the Atlantic Ocean with 3 miles of beach front and no high rises hotels or homes ever yay! Our weather the entire time was stellar! We took our bicycles and rode every path on the park. There are plenty of alligators 🐊 and we spotted a few while out riding in the lake and swampy areas. We are mountain campers, but we need a beach fix this will be our go to SP. The staff at this park really worked hard to get it back up and running after Ian blew through at high tide. It’s amazing what the park staff and volunteers got accomplished cleaning up in a very short turnaround . Our site was less than a 5 min walk to the beach. I even cheffed up some fresh blackened shrimp. 🍤 A very memorable stay! 😊
    1 point
  25. I am not sure when they stopped offering the mirrored doors. I quite like them because they make the inside seem way bigger than it actually is. Does anyone know at what Hull number this option was ended? I spent three nights at Heyburn State Park, ID, Hawley’s Landing CG, $92 with power and water, with a senior midweek discount taken away and a $10 res fee added. It is about 30 miles south of Coeur d’Alene, next to the wonderful Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes bike trail. I am glad I had power because the trees are packed in there, I rarely even saw a piece of sun. One night I woke up at 2:00 am and could not get back to sleep, so I started playing around with my iPhone 13 Mini, which has amazing night mode. Here are a bunch of shots with various interior lighting on or off. No flash, unedited. The first one is no cabin lights, just various LEDS from the appliances and my box heater (under the table) and HEPA air cleaner (in the bathroom). No lights: Cabinet lights only: Cabinet and puddle lights: The green LED is the cell booster: This is my favorite Hall of Mirrors shot: All lights on - Ouch!: John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  26. I just replaced mine, you’ll need four for an Elite II. Monroe Shocks & Struts Magnum RV 555001 Shock AbsorberMonroe Shocks & Struts Magnum RV 555001 Shock Absorber https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-555001-Gas-Magnum-Shock-Absorber/dp/B000C53RR6/ref=sxts_rp_s_a_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.fcbf2b35-b342-496e-87b6-d95b51fd1abd%3Aamzn1.sym.fcbf2b35-b342-496e-87b6-d95b51fd1abd&crid=2RJE8U8YPP2GL&cv_ct_cx=555001+monroe&keywords=555001+monroe&pd_rd_i=B000C53RR6&pd_rd_r=90e48016-e3ee-4551-8ce8-0e8b1fed491a&pd_rd_w=2UL1u&pd_rd_wg=OtqDu&pf_rd_p=fcbf2b35-b342-496e-87b6-d95b51fd1abd&pf_rd_r=R6AR2HNZZ3W4CKAD4NZ9&psc=1&qid=1665797842&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjU5IiwicXNhIjoiMC4zMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=555001%2Caps%2C353&sr=1-1-ea136695-3596-4534-80e7-1570345d02b9
    1 point
  27. 1 point
  28. Dedroll: On second thought here is some Dexter Related info that may save you some time. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me. GJ Testing Trailer Brake Magnets.docx Timken Bearings and National Seals.docx Dexter Grease Caps.docx
    1 point
  29. Yes, saw it off! I got a deep scratch on my back from that pesky bolt that didn’t have a stopper once and that was enough!
    1 point
  30. OMG....Not to be a downer, or impeach your desire for knowledge....but there must be at least 200 pages in this forum that talk about this very issue. My humble recommendations are: A. Kindly provide in your signature your trailer and tow vehicle info. B. Kindly search the forum for this topic. Again no disrespect to you as a new member. GJ
    1 point
  31. On my previous fifth wheel, we went in Indiana at MoRyde to get and independant suspension and disk break installed on the rig. Honestly, disk brake didn’t make a great difference because it is powerred electrictly and the reaction is always to much brake or not enough brake. Its hard to get the right ajustements. And the hydraulic pump and reservoir take a bit of space in compartment. In cold weather, sub zero, braking is harder because of the oil viscosity type. For a small rig like Oliver, i won’t get it for the price and the small difference on braking for a light weigh rig…….
    1 point
  32. Neither does Bowlus at 5-6 times the price of an LE.
    1 point
  33. 1 point
  34. Welcome to the forum! Some of us have been complaining for seven years 😬. Your trailer will be an easy plug and play mod, a set of stainless Kodiak 12” rotors and calipers would be perfect. The LE2 is not P&P because it has an oddball hub bolt pattern with its 3500 pound axles and 6 on 5.5 wheels….. you have to install bigger axles 😤 The service department will do the mod to your trailer after delivery. It will be expensive. Where do you live? What route home do you plan to take? Please add your tow vehicle and trailer model to your signature. John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  35. WOW! One of my new favorites - not. Bill
    1 point
  36. My Garmin 890 is better in all respects as compared to any other GPS unit I've owned. This includes the GPS navigation system in my Ford F-150. Having said this - none of these units (in my experience) are perfect. Speed limit signs/zones are delayed or missed, wrong turns and/or directions are given and these units can be a bit slow when it seems that they are needed the most - heavy traffic and congested areas. School zones are missed, etc.. It really does help to: have a navigator who really knows how to use these devices. Knows or at least has a general idea of where you are going and the general direction you should be taking to get there. Has a "sense of direction" and can read a map - both digital and paper. These devices are "aids" but do not replace my responsibility for knowing where I'm going and what the conditions are in getting there. I can only wonder what that State Trooper would say when I'd tell them that my Garmin told me it was "x" speed limit when in reality the speed limit was "y"? Perhaps there is something wrong with your specific unit. Mine always connects to my 5G here at home. Bill
    1 point
  37. Understand that this chore is not really all that difficult. And, it is good to know how to do this job in the event you have problems while on the road. However, it is messy and requires attention to detail. Remember that mistakes can be very costly. Your "big question" relative to the brand of bearings really depends on a bunch of factors - how hard are you on your bearings (i.e. do you normally tow in high heat at high speed or in wet weather or in a salty climate or tend to perform maintenance on the bearings later versus sooner, or .....). Having said this - quality is generally a good thing, kind of like one of the reasons we all bought an Oliver in the first place. But, if you are gentle on your bearings, always perform maintenance at or ahead of time, etc. there is a case to be made for not throwing your money away just so you can say you have the best. Tools are a similar decision. Buy quality tools and they will last you a lifetime. However, if you will only plan to service your bearings once a year or so and do not plan on using the tools for any other purpose and only plan to keep your RV for another 10 to 20 years and usually keep your tools in good condition (i.e. don't leave them out in the rain, stress them beyond normal tolerances, don't use a screw driver as a chisel, etc.) , a case can be made that you are wasting your money by buying anything beyond what will give you service for that period of time. Bill
    1 point
  38. And here’s a very long thread on bearing maintenance that discusses the tools needed and the Timken bearings and seal part numbers: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5166-dexter-axle-bearings/
    1 point
  39. Here’s the video from Dexter on bearing maintenance: https://youtu.be/GnH-h3W9XvI
    1 point
  40. LE2 2022 Hull 806 here, I utilize a HFreight ramp I already had on hand....it works great to lift either tire off the ground. It has 6.5" of lift and is as simple as it looks. I use the ramp to take tires off when I grease the zerks. I hope I never have to use it on the side of the road, but I have complete confidence if I need to do so.
    1 point
  41. I never buy anything that I don’t absolutely, positively think that I MAY use one of these days.
    1 point
  42. If you camp in humid areas where morning dews are common, wait until the trailer and your truck are wet - the bugs have soaked overnight (“hydrated”) and come off a lot more easily in the morning. John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  43. Great photos Chris and Duke! It sure beats Florida with hurricane Ian on its way.😳
    1 point
  44. Perhaps that Jay is trying to drill for an implant?😁 How's that Ollie treating you guys and gals? Bill
    1 point
  45. Yeah, 50 hours would mean that they're less efficient at it than I was when I did mine. And I really had little clue what I was doing.
    1 point
  46. The costs of producing these "colored" Ollies was very expensive - they were not painted and the color was obtained in the same basic manner as the white is obtained. Therefore, the cost of cleaning ALL of the coloring out of the machines and anywhere near the production space was very labor intensive when it came time to switch back to another color. There may have been another color - blue - but I'm not sure that this was painted or produced like the red and black ones and I've only seen a picture of the top outer shell - not the complete trailer. Here is the red one before it was lovingly restored by its current owner. Bill p.s. I found it! Below is a pic of that blue top outer shell.
    0 points
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