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Showing content with the highest reputation on 08/04/2025 in all areas

  1. I have extensive experienece with carbon fiber vs alloy aluminum for structural components under heavy load. Specifically in critical components such as hang glider frames. I have many times put my life on the line with them in that sport. They are strong and reliable... until they are not. When they fail, the consequences are generally been dire. This happened to two of my free flight friends. They died. The problem is that carbon fiber components are extremely difficult to inspect for tell-tale structural failure. With aluminum, for most spars, we see micro crazing then small cracks. They grow as the structural intregruity deteriorates. I no longer fly or use carbon fiber for life safety applications. The reason is that the inspection technology to ensure they are still safe to use is way way beyond what the average owner can do at home or in the field. GJ
    3 points
  2. Ditto. There have never been any Oliver dealers in Wisconsin or anywhere close to me. It is almost a draw between the closest out of state dealer and going to OTT in Tennessee. I am not complaining as I understood this when I bought the trailer. My solution: I found a reliable RV service center (and dealer of other brands) in the state that is also an authorized Truma service center. They work well with Oliver, Truma, Xantrex, etc. They did a couple of warranty repairs for me with no issues and Oliver providing reimbursement (Thank you Jason E.). If I need other repairs, I will go back there. At one time, we discussed having an informal Oliver service center directory. I understand there may be some implied endorsement issues with having that posted here but it sure would be handy (assuming everyone understood the ground rules).
    3 points
  3. I recommend you leave your inverter off until you need to use 110, especially with AGM’s. As mentioned above, just having your inverter on and not being used draws down battery capacity. We rarely turn our inverter on.
    3 points
  4. Most things that "go wrong" in my 17 year experience can be handled by me and my husband, or a local rv tech. That said, every 3 to 5 years, we head to hohenwald. Mostly because we want to see the progress the factory has made, and reconnect with friends there. Oliver was always very good at helping remote locations with our few issues.
    3 points
  5. Correction, it was the GFCI outlet that the inverter plugged into. I did not notice that was a GFCI plug, until I was going through Galloway Girls post again. Went back to double-check that outlet and walla! The circuit was tripped. Thanks for the help!
    2 points
  6. Before you do that please check the GFCI outlet on the inverter itself. You said you have the Xantrex 2000 watt inverter and if it’s like the one I used to have in our Oliver, there is a duplex GFCI outlet on the inverter with a romex cable plugged into that outlet that then feeds a CB on the panel. Your wiring may be different than mine but I hope this helps.
    2 points
  7. Typically it's a GFIC receptacle (outlet) with a reset and test button, not a breaker. It will be the first receptacle closest to the breaker panel that daisy chains to feed the others, mine is the one under the dinette.
    2 points
  8. A good way to check if the GFCI on the inverter is working is to see if the microwave has power, since it plugs directly into the GFCI outlet on the inverter. If the microwave has power then your inverter is working. If not, the GFCI has tripped and needs to be reset. For reasons unknown my GFCI has tripped, wherein the microwave and outlet receptacles have no power. There have been times when it took a few presses of the reset button on the GFCI to get it to work again. Once power is confirmed at the microwave, all is good. This may not be your remedy, but a good place to start.
    2 points
  9. Solar can charge the batteries (12 volts DC). Batteries can run the inverter (12 volts DC converted to 120 volts AC). Inverter is a pass through of 120 VAC when on generator or shore power. Inverter is also a converter and will provide 12 VDC to charge the batteries if AC load allows. Solar cells do not provide AC! If the batteries are charged, the inverter is turned on, the GFCI on the inverter is not tripped and the CB in the main panel is not tripped - the AC outlets in the trailer should operate. If the outlets aren’t working, check the GFCI on the inverter and the CB on the main panel under the dinette. Wire plugged into the GFCI feeds the AC outlets through the CB.
    2 points
  10. All the comments are right on the money. But for a little more perspective of why you fell short of power, consider this: My guess is that you have about 400 Amp Hours with your 4 AGM batteries, which gives you about 200 AH usable power without going below 50%. You stated that your inverter stays on. A Xantrex Freedom inverter uses 72 AH per 24 hours of standby power (turned on without a load.) The Victron Multiplus is better at 40 AH a day with standard factory settings, and as low as 16 amp hours a day with power saving settings. These are both zero AH when turned off. The batteries are being supplemented with an assumed 320 watt solar system, which is under 30 AH a day in sunny conditions. You mentioned a coffee maker which burns a lot of power, typically about 20 AH to brew coffee, and more if your keeping it warm. That could cancel out the solar contribution. Now add in the AH values for whatever else you're using, and you can figure out how long you can last when boondocking. Hope that helps! Cheers, Geoff
    2 points
  11. If your batteries are too low of voltage < 10.5v the 2000 watt inverter shuts down. the inverter should alarm on low voltage or give an E01 code. when you are in solar if the batteries drop too low the inverter will not turn on again until the batteries are charged When we boondock we leave the inverter off unless we need 110 as it draws down the batteries just being turned on. if you fully charge your batteries the inverter should begin working.
    2 points
  12. Wondering 6 weeks later, could you provide additional feedback on your new Pioneer? Have you used it camping? Still getting the same numbers? Is it truly quiet or how would you describe it? For every hour of use on a summer day, how many Ah are used in battery SOC? Answers to any of these Qs would be helpful. Also, did you keep the fiberglass platform that OTT had mounted behind the 14x14" A/C opening? I don't believe our hull has that add-on. I'm trying to finalize if this is the right purchase and is now the right time to buy the Turbro Greenland which is now at $1,275 plus tax. Except in warranty and perhaps temp range, the Pioneer and Greenland appear to be the same.
    1 point
  13. Thanks, yes I have the GFCI outlet under the dinette. I tested that when I was plugged into shore power and it tested fine, so I ruled that out. But just double-checked it now, with only the inverter on (not on shore power) and it will not trip, when I test it. I plugged back into shore power and the GFCI outlet tests and resets fine. Looks like that might be it. I'll replace it today. Thanks to all!
    1 point
  14. "The batteries are fully charged and my 110 outlets will not work with the solar. I am wondering if there is a fuse somewhere else in the trailer, other than the fuse/breaker panel or if I have a problem with the transfer switch, maybe? I'm asuming the problem is inverter-related, but not sure. I have the 320 solar watt package, with the Xantrex 2000 watt inverter. The batteries are fully charged and my 110 outlets will not work with the solar." is this statement true...batteries at 100%, you are not connected to shore power and your 110 outlets don't work....but your inverter is ON? Here's a checklist to help: Battery Charged (YES) Connected to shore power (Yes) (No) Inverter On (Yes) (No) Fridge Breaker Tripped (Yes) (No) = ours has a 20amp breaker in the panel for the fridge Inverter Built In GFCI Tripped (Yes) (No) = There is a plug in on the actual inverter that has a GFCI on it...see below GFCI In Outlet Tripped (Yes) (No) = Our hull has a second gfci outlet on the front of the dinette seat.
    1 point
  15. Inverter should be off unless using microwave, outlets, or watching TV
    1 point
  16. The batteries are back to fully charged. They went to down to around 50%, when this happened, but back to 100% now.
    1 point
  17. I've never heard of a carbon fiber frame for RV's but given that thousands of road and mountain bikes are made from this material and given how they are ridden most likely a frame made of the same material would hold up well too. It's expensive to make, so one has to take that into consideration as well, meaning the price of admission for an RV made partly or whole with CC could become very pricey. Not that the Olivers are chump change, far from it.
    1 point
  18. Hey John, It might be worth checking out my post Bathroom Heat - a more direct approach! It's an easy and significant improvement to bathroom heating. It won't help with your dust issue, but it includes replacement of some of that problematic flexible duct. It would be near impossible to replace that long duct going to the bathroom, but I think with a filter installed the dust problem should go away. Since I've done that mod, I've added more semi rigid duct from the furnace to the kitchen. It's tucked up out of the way into the space above the return air register as seen in the photo, and it eliminated some restrictions and puncture hazards. I also cut a vent hole in the wall on the left side of the toilet through to under the dinette seat as others have recommended. It helped a lot! Afterall, bathroom heat is a nice luxury, and it helps with the wet bath humidity too! Cheers, Geoff
    1 point
  19. Oliver was quick to reimburse any warranty repairs at a local RV repair shop. I’m assuming that would continue if the dealers are going away. We had a couple of warranty things repaired locally years ago and Oliver sent us a check to cover the repairs. I’m always looking for an excuse to go to Tennessee, one of our favorite places to camp and visit. Mike
    1 point
  20. My understanding in 2022 (when we picked up ours) that the Lithionics batteries are only sold to OEM places like Oliver. I was told that you can buy them thru Oliver. If that isn't the case anymore someone can chime in and correct me. Just from reading the Forum I know folks have bought the Xantrex inverters directly from Xantrex.
    1 point
  21. Wow, I read this two years ago when I first joined the forum! Rivernerd, were you ever able to get OTT to assure the correct wire gauge in your hull? I'm getting new D52 axles next week. Wonder what gauge is used in the axles? And what gauge OTT installed from the junction box under the bathroom vanity and to the wheels. If I find this wire undersized I will replaced that section of wiring. Going to 12" brakes on new axles and want them working correctly. You can test each drum brake by lifting each wheel off the ground, rolling the wheels and actuating the brakes, listening and feeling for proper drag. Make sure the self-adjusters are where they should be, tighten them as needed. Just did this in May prior to our long trip and discovered our brake controller needed replacing. John E Davies was an artist when it came to Oliver mods! But many of them left me with the question, as to why? I believe wiring the brake wires external to the axle is not recommended. Not only for the reason of road debris and zip-tie maintenance, and what a mess! Where we live Pack Rats would devour the wiring and cable ties. The other thing is the suggestion to go to manual-adjust brakes. Also not a good idea. If you do, get under your trailer every few hundred miles and adjust them manually. This means every couple weeks for those of you who tow 1000-mile trips! The only issue with self-adjusters is that they may not adjust adequately and so should be checked, tightened when needed and more so the rears in a tandem setup. Brake wires in trailer axles and self-adjusters on drum brakes have been industry standards for longer than our lifetimes. This Arizona Pack Rat looks too cute just sitting there. They are troublesome little SOBs and they take too much time out of our lives in trapping them and removing their nests from our property. Everybody in our town leaves the hood up on their pickup trucks so that their engine bay does not become one big nest made of hood insultation, wire insulation, shock boots, plastic parts, etc.
    0 points
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