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BaseCamp550 - just S of Ridgway CO, 8 miles N of Ouray, our view from the back of campsite #17 looking southeast. The tallest peak on the right is Mt Sneffels, one magnificent Colorado 14er, simply amazing! 😂 Certainly our best campsite in 5 weeks travel. An older RV park from the 70s. Though I have a leaf-blower, if I had my weed-whacker I'd clean up this site a bit. The view makes up for it and we have a triple-wide spot between a cabin, their front facing away, and the laundry which makes it private, not having RVs left and right. It's just so nice!

I love my old truck and have put my heart and soul into rebuilding it. It drives and tows great, but as we’re camped in Ouray Colorado, no way in the world we’re descending the Million Dollar highway when we leave here. The other route back home through Cortez CO, driving past Telluride will be enough for our rig! (BTW it’s amazing here, see the Where’s Ollie thread soon for our campsite pic)! The torque, the gearing and braking of modern HD diesel trucks are amazing! Something I should have considered sooner. I will be giving this some hard thought this summer while we’re home! Thank you for this reminder, my friend Patriot! We’ll be home for by The 4th of July. A salute to you, Mike and the other Oliver Vets during our Nations 249th! 😂

It also looks like the elbow in your picture is loose as well. Just as a suggestion go through every fitting that you can possibly get to and check them for tightness. They are just hand tightened. I go through mine periodically and I always find one or more a little loose.

Several years ago, The Wonder Egg had the similar symptoms. Ultimately, my local RV mechanic diagnosed a leak at the point the water leaves the fresh water tank and starts its journey up over the arch of the hose to the overflow exit point. Water was escaping and finding its way down into the lower section of the basement and out through the closest weep hole underneath the trailer. It was a head scratcher for a bit, but after stemming the leaky hose/tank joint all was well with the world.

We like to stay at Ridgway State Park which is in the same area. Great location to explore Ouray, Telluride and even Silverton (nice drive down 550). We’ll be back in Colorado in August! Mike

After spending well over three grand on axles, springs and other parts. And after my recent experience, I'm wondering, does our hull truly need a new suspension? (I'm just kidding 🤣, but you're not going to believe this!) We camped on the Yampa River valley, near Craig CO. We had used most of the water in our fresh tank the 2 days before, so when we setup camp I connected hose from our TV 35-gal aux tank to the Oliver boondocking port to fill the FWT. Afterwards I put everything away, but forgot to cap the hose port. The next morning we drove down to Alcan Spring in Grand Junction. A 3-hour 140 mile trip, starting with 40 minutes of dirt, then CO Highway 13 south where we dropped 2500 ft in elevation, then on I-70W and it was the usual windy day in the West. After I worked with the staff at Alcan, I walked back to our rig to grab a personal check for payment. As I walked behind the Oliver, I froze in awe, OMG, are you kidding me? The cap was exactly where and how I placed it the night before. There is no logic, no physics nor engineering science to explain this, but believe me, it's the God's honest truth! This just goes to show that Oliver Travel Trailers are rock-solid driving down the highway! 😂

We fixed it! The pex tube became unlocked and lengthened resulting in the tube getting in the way of the connector screwing back on.

Another is Valley of Fires in New Mexico. The campground is between the flows and there is a great raised trail over the fields. We had a pull through site.

If you can't make it to Idaho and still want a mini-version of lava fields, you can always try Snow Canyon State Park. This park is located north of St. George, Utah with the lave field hike at GPS: 37.222005386630634, -113.64194019098785. There's also lava tubes and petrified sand dunes here. Bill

Loved that park and campground. The laval rocks were a bit rough on our dog.🙃

yes yes The 80% fresh water tank being full and no leak while the fresh water tank at 100% full has a leak indicates to me that your leak is probably happening at or near where the overflow tube is "attached" to the fresh water tank. Bill

It really depends. Geoff really explained every facet nicely and fully in detail. Everybody should read his post a few times! When we had the OTT installed 2KW Xantrex, when OFF shore power you had to turn the inverter on to run anything 120VAC, but not the air. You wanted it off most of the time if you're running on LA or AGM batteries, when not needing AC appliances/outlets so you would not loose SOC%. With a 3KW inverter installed, generally all AC circuits run through the inverter including the A/C. This is also how I installed our Victron Multiplus 2. I see no reason to ever turn off our inverter, so we don't. In fact since I installed it a year ago it has been on 24x7x365 unless it's on high amp charge when I'm trying to get to sleep and it's making some noise under my bed. Then I turn it OFF via the Bluetooth app and turn it back ON when I wake. With ample Ah LiFePO4 batteries and rooftop solar and the fact that our hull sits outdoors and does not get winterized nor go in storage, our Victron MP2 in ALWAYS powered on ready to use anytime.

Lee on FB showed pointed me at the check valves. I was looking right at them, but didn't know for sure if those were the check valves. Updated pick. I ordered three of them to keep a spare when someone at a rally needs one. It's going into my parts list/log.

Pull off the travel lanes ASAP! Greg: My response was off target to you and this thread topic. Double bad... More seriously. I would pull off and just remove the tire/rim from the bad brake location. But be SURE to put at least two lug nuts back on the drum to keep it from going a different path. It likely would not be necessary to tie UP the naked drum depending on the road surface. But it would necessitate carefully traveling so as not to turn the brake drum into a skid plate. Then cautiously travel to a safer spot to asses the issue.

Pull off the travel lanes ASAP!

We have been on the fresh water tank all day yesterday and all night. It is 7 AM local time Saturday. I filled the tank to 90% and hit the road yesterday morning. We were on FW tank all day Thursday and Friday. We have been on the FW tank now for 3 days. Pump is normal. No leak.

We drive up and down 550 towing from Ouray to Durango frequently. It is easier with our 2500 but we also used to make the drive towing with a half ton. We’ve done the drive around by Telluride and Cortez, it’s also a very scenic trip that you’ll enjoy! Mike

Wow, it's been almost a year, right?! Chris in another thread, I wrote that I just placed a special order with Alcan Spring for Dexter D52 50.00 axles. They are an authorized Dexter distributor. Soon I should get confirmation and a part number for the correct axles for our hulls. If you are going to install yourself or in your home town, you could do the same given it works out for me. But perhaps you'd be going to back Hohenwald which is out of the question for me. Let us know what OTT says now and I will post here when I hear something.

You’re welcome, glad it helped! I wasn’t mixing up proper names, but online names @GlacierGirl and @Galway Girl! I should have known better, since I’ve read many of Craig’s posts! Best wishes, JD

I hope so!😁

I finished my first visit to Idaho this week, and it was a great trip, though I wish I had more time. Coming from Jackson, my first stop was Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve where I managed to land a spot in the Lava Flow campground (FF and somewhere in the fine print, they warn people not to pull trailers past a certain number). The park is generally viewed by driving along a loop road, with some parking at various spots. There are opportunities to hike up and around lava formations, as well as climbing down into lava caves. It was very windy! I recommend the hike up the Inferno Cone (a stiff hill that is longer than it appears) where you can see the Great Rift, the Snake River Plain, the Pioneer Mountains and the Teton Range 100 miles to the east. Entry into the caves requires a free permit from the Visitor Center (with instructions from staff). The campground was okay; it's in a lava field so the sites are arranged around the landscape.

Manti - La Sal National Forest, Devils Canyon CG, Utah...45 degrees this AM (furnace on) woohoo! Spending the night in a hotel in Moab for 41st wedding anniversary and doing the tourist thing. We tackled some awfully wicked hiking trails today in Canyonlands NP and will need some time to recover tonight. John

Enjoying our mid morning coffee and cool weather in Montrose, Colorado at River Bend RV Park. Still meandering westward. A couple of days ago we visited The Garden of the Gods outside of Colorado Springs and saw an Oliver from Florida in the parking lot. After our park visit we waited but unfortunately we didn’t get to see the owners. River Bend in Montrose, CO

David, we agree!!!!!!! Believe many areas on the BRP will reopen by the end of the year! 🙂

Doughton Park NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We head to the BRP to beat the heat this time of year. After the hurricane last year, many areas are still closed, but repairs are being made and areas slowing reopening. No electricity or water at the campsites but Ollie handles it fine with a portable solar panel. Directions to Doughton Park, take Rt. 21 to the BRP to the Park. Doughton Park Picnic Area: Air Bellows Overlook:

Ours work as designed after 10 years. Not an easy campsite install unless you’re very small. My size, I can’t reach them and that’s why the job is still on my to-do list! 🤣

It’s always a good idea to ocasdionally check ALL your pex compression fittings for tightness especially during or after a long trip. Just a little hand snug, no need to over tighten or you risk replacing a cracked fitting. Safe Travels!

While towing with my 2021 powerboost I lock out 10th gear, keep the speed around 70 and on flat ground with no wind I’ll get 13 to 16 mpg. Fords 10 speed transmission has a double overdrive, keeping it in 9th is the first overdrive. If you’re really serious about fuel mileage run it in 8th, which is direct, no overdrive, at 60 mph and you’ll be amazed

On Campendium you had to read the fine print to know that “Elk Ridge Campground” was actually Ridgway SP. We noticed the park sign as we drove in. Yes Mike, it is a beautiful location! I chose this place, without knowing better, because it was not on a lake! This place is rustic with only a half dozen decent RV sites. Looked like the SP had many more sites, more the usual setup. Most of the lake sites we’ve stayed had many mosquitoes where we’ve been chased in early at night! We sat out last night without those nasty creatures. Perhaps I’ve gotten used to the dry climate of AZ, preferring mountain views over lakefront locations. I know most people feel the other way, like my sister who has to live on the coast. She could not survive out where we live! 🤣

Agree, only axles with SC 50" on the list so far are 2014, 2015, & 2016 LE2s.

That makes sense.

Hello. I have a 2024 F150 Lariat Powerboost hybrid. I bought the hybrid to get the 7.2kW generator with the 30amp plug in the bed. I have not yet used the 30 Amp setup, but have used the 20 Amp outlets in generator mode. It's a bit quirky - you need to leave the truck "on" for the generator to power the outlets. It's not smart enough to turn off the radio and it stays bluetooth connected to my phone. I've used it to power a portable refrigerator (IceCo). It's probably good to leave the AC on in the summer, as the cab gets hot trying to keep the inverter cool. I get between 9 & 10 miles/gal when towing the Legacy Elite 2. Wind direction affects mileage quite a bit. This is not much better mileage than I got with my 2006 Nissan Titan with a V8. Even when not towing the trailer, the mileage is probably about the same as you'd get with a regular V6 Ecoboost - probably due to the added battery weight. It doesn't run on pure battery very often. Only at really low speed on flat ground or downhill. Again, I didn't buy it for hybrid driving reasons - I wanted the big generator and 30Amp capability. I believe the Powerboost ONLY comes in the 5.5ft bed and crew cab, independent of the trim line. This is why there are no 6.5ft beds on dealer lots. I've had it 7 mo so far and like it. It is loaded with tech (most of which I don't need), but I really wanted ventilated seats. I'll post more once we've used the 30Amps for boondocking.

Oh, okay. In that case, @topgun2 had a good notion that it's leaking where the vent line connects to the top of the freshwater tank, However, that doesn't explain why the pump is cycling . . . unless the pump check valve is leaking by; back-filling the tank from the pressurized side, and then leaking where the tank vent is connected to the top of the tank. . . and it would only be noticeable when the tank is full! Are we getting closer? Geoff

I agree, although I think disc brakes add a “cool factor” and are likely much easier to service I have never had an issue with the drums or have no plans to spend the $$$ to replace mine. While in descent on some of the steepest declines (fully loaded to camp) out west such as Wolf Creek Pass and Teton Pass, I let the 6.7 Power Stroke diesel engine brake work its magic and rarely had to use my brakes. Very impressive to say the least. Suffice to say, Ford nailed it with the 10 speed and the engine brake in my experience. I do recall a time when there were folks being pulled over in Rocky Mtn NP and having their brakes checked with infrared thermometers, then were told to stand by and to allow their brakes cool. We were stopped very briefly and then waived through, they never even checked our brakes. Park Rangers obviously knew a little bit about the diesel engine braking system and they waived us on. Based on these experiences I don’t see a need for disc brakes ever with our present TV. With a half ton TV, I can see the interest certainly in the name of safety.

Two little Ollies in a sea of 5th-wheels and Class-As!

GJ, didn’t you rule out option B in your previous post? Now I understand why we remembered disc brakes are no-go for Olivers with 3500 LB axles. Too bad OTT installed 3500s on some of hulls. Yes, just over $2K plus tax and delivery. But this and another $1K for HD springs and parts and I will be happy with a completely over-engineered suspension, carefree for several years!

Krea: When going to disk brake systems for thee 3500 axles the calipers all appear to me to be something like this: My search shows lots of kits that serve the 4 or 5 inch bolt patterns. Sadly I failed to find any for our 6 bolt pattern. So based upon my limited search skills, if you want disk you also get to change out your wheel rims and tires too. That is a deal killer for our Ollie as I like our 16" wheels and think going smaller was a mistake just because they could not find ST tires for the 16's. I say run LT Truck tires and roll on with the E-rated ones. If you or any reader knows of a disk kit that will work on our existing wheel/tires, please post a follow-up. GJ

Great explanation! Thanks so much for the information! I’ll keep you posted Mark

Mark, I think you got better recommendations here. Hopefully you get things sorted out.

Nope, maybe next time. We’re budgeted on time! In Caspar WY (correct spelling) today and soon to Colorado to meet up with Oliver friends this Wednesday! GJ, you will be very happy to know I’ll be at Alcan, Grand Junction CO in just two days. I will observe their operation, expect nothing but the best and will report here…

Wow, I skipped the word ‘June’ when reading, focusing on the picture! Our trip was June too, fog where I could only see at most 30 yards ahead!

Just happened to pull in right next to the sign for the Continental Divide on our most recent trip. Kind of a cool random photo.

I believe OTT welded the axles saddles (not sure of correct term?) +/- 1/4 to the steel subframe (welded to inside or outside edge of the frame). It's just as crazy that OTT did this as the fact that Dexter would have both 50" and 50.5" axles in their catalog!

Great looking rig Bill! Nothing like our NC Blue Ridge Mtns! Blessed to live here!

A belated Hello to the Oliver who passed me heading west towards Craters of the Moon National Monument, on Sunday 6/15. Idaho plates, I believe — it’s my first time in Idaho and it’s been lovely touring, hiking and soaking in the hot springs on my loop through the Sawtooth Mountains.

We passed through SD on our way to Glacier, Grand Teton, and beyond. We stayed in Spearfish and wish we would have taken a few extra days to visit Badlands. Oh well, another trip! Great pics, John. Enjoy the drug store, I’m sure you’ll find something interesting there! Mike

Just pulling into Abilene, KS, going through town saw an LEII parked in a driveway. We’re hear for two nights on our way to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming.

Current location: Fish Creek Ponds Campground site 222 in the Adirondacks. Absolutely beautiful! The view from the door

Lowrider! We are currently at Hamlin Beach State Park, in New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario. On the way here, I realized that I’d never seen this Great Lake before, despite several trips across New York over the decades. It is a very nice park, with brand new bathroom/showerhouse combos, and lots of beach, shelter houses, laundry, playground, etc. Tomorrow we leave for Fish Creek Pond in the Adirondacks for the six night TearUp ADK rally.

Thanks. This is our first big trip out west and I am just trying to get a feel for the likelihood of rolling up on a place and it having a spot. I have no problem staying one day and moving around or moving on, but I don't want to be left with no options. I like the Corp parks too.