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This is stellar service, kind of like the Oliver company. Note the time of the email. It was 7:18 AM (their time) when this got processed. And I only asked for one.😳 John Davies Spokane WA

Hi all, I went out looking at trailer specific bike racks and they wanted to know the distance from the pin that holds the bike hitch to the center of the rear wheel on the tandem axle LE2. If it's under 6 feet I have more options. Our two bikes aren't very heavy, about 20 for one and 39 for the electric bike. If anyone is bored and looking at the tape measure on your kitchen counter, do you want to measure that? After you're done, you can put the tape measure back in the garage. See, I am helping you! Thanks

Just an FYI for any others who may need this part. ebay wanted $92.99 plus shipping. I was able to order it on Amazon for $40.70 and free shipping since I am a Prime member: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XD67D86/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 On the other hand, I wouldn't have known what part to order had it not been for you, Steve. Thanks.

John As Mike D. mentioned above the part isn’t on their web site to purchase. I would suggest you call them as I had the same experience with fast service when I spoke to them on the phone. Two new fans overnight free of charge. If all else fails my offer to ship you one of my spares still stands. Mike

I have successfully been able to run the AC (without easy start) using my Champion 2500 Dual Fuel generator on propane. It weighs about 40 lbs and is pretty easy to transport in the bed of the truck.

Good point! The lithiums draw a lot of charging power. Xantrex setting #28 will cap the total amount of amps the converter will pull for charging while still feeding the other 120v items in the trailer. Set it to 15 to prevent overloading a 2200W generator. (Remember to set it back to 25 - factory setting - when you go back to shore power.)

A 2200 watt generator should run your air conditioner but with minimal to no headroom to charge your batteries as John pointed out. Assuming your LE II will have the inverter/charger and lithium batteries, even a 3,000 watt generator will likely NOT run the air conditioner as delivered, depending on how the inverter/charger comes configured when the LE II is delivered from the factory. The reason is the charger section of the inverter is probably set to a charge rate of 100 amps or higher. This means that the batteries will be charging at a 100 amp rate off the generator, which will require about 1,600 watts of continuous generator power not counting the air conditioner. If the inverter/charger is set to a 150 amps charge rate, it will require over 2,300 watts of continuous generator power just for charging the batteries. In both cases, a 3,000 watt generator would be unable to run the air conditioner and simultaneously charge the batteries without overloading. However, there is an easy adjustment that will allow you to run the air conditioner with either the 2,200 watt or 3000 watt generator. The inverter/charger allows the user to customize the charging current from zero to maximum in 5 amp increments. It only takes a minute to change the setting. If using a 2,200 watt generator, set the charging current to zero (i.e., turn the charger off) and start the air conditioner. If the air conditioner runs fine, you can turn the charger back on and gradually increase the charging rate from zero until the generator starts laboring or shuts off. Then you know how much is too much and set the charge rate accordingly. It may be only 10 amps. If you have a 3000 watt generator, you can do the same thing. Begin with the charger turned off and start the air conditioner, then increment the charging rate until the generator complains. You will probably be able to simultaneously run the air conditioner and charge the batteries at close to a 100 amp rate at the same time with a 3,000 watt generator. The best news is that the solar panels will continue to charge the batteries even if the inverter/charger charging rate is set to zero. My personal preference would lean toward the smaller, lighter, quieter 2,200 watt generator, turning off the charger section in the inverter temporarily, and relying on the solar panels to charge the batteries when I am running the air conditioner. Others please correct anything I got wrong here. Thanks.

It does. I've never tried to run the AC off of the Honda, seems that I should be able to. To others' points above, we just don't use our trailer as if it was plugged into a 30a shore power outlet. eg, I've only used the microwave once, we were plugged into shore power. I've only used the AC to load our trailer in Phoenix in the summer then we get the heck outta dodge so we don't need it any more. I get that some folx camping needs at festivals and such might need that, so everything is according to your own needs/camping style. you absolutely need a neutral ground plug. SUPER simple to make your own, I'm electrically incompetent and made mine. 😄

Virtually all generators will require the neutral-ground bonding plug.

Picked up our OTT (named TT after my wife’s nickname) in March (hull # 1056) and enjoyed several Tennessee State Parks before heading away from the nest to Williamsburg VA where, sadly, TT sits idly ‘til our travels to PA & NY State Parks this summer. Really love TT’s solid build & clean lines (the Ollie that is), and the folks at Oliver were/are extremely helpful, responsive and professional…think we made the right choice for our mode of retirement traveling. I’m also quite impressed with the useful information provided by contributors to this forum. Lots of talent & experience out there. Looking forward to giving back when I can. We sailed the Chesapeake Bay for many years so traveling light & messing about with shore power, etc, is familiar but, as novice land yachters, hitching and backing will take quite some time to master. So far, no real hitches in the hitching, except I feel that I’m fighting the air suspension on my new (and new to me) Ram 1500 when I raise the tongue with the front jack to attach the Andersen wt distribution whale tail to the hitch. Maybe I should place the truck in “jack” mode” while lifting to attach the whale tail? Any advice from seasoned veteran OTT travelers would be greatly appreciated. Only other challenge is the noticeable hum when on shore power. No hum when disconnected, and the inverter fan isn’t the culprit…the fan noise actually provides some relief because it drowns out the annoying hum. According to folks at the Oliver Service Dept, it’s either the transfer relay or surge protector. They’re waiting for me to inspect more closely to ID the noisy bugger. Hoping it’s not a “normal” hum and an easy fix. Looking forward to exploring this lovely country in TT, and reading more comments on the forum. Paul & Santina

Just a heads up that there will be a total lunar eclipse giving most of North America a good show this weekend.

We have a Rad-mini and a Rad-mini step-thru. We carry ours in our truck bed in a rack under a topper. When we're not camping and going in our Jeep we fold them and put them in the back of the Jeep. We've been very happy with our purchase of the bikes. Cindy

Another consideration for those that wish to install a single pole switch such as the BlueSeas 6006. It’s rated for 48V max, 300A continuous. Zamp confirmed to me that the dual Zamp 170W panels and 30A PWM controller that has been the standard with many OTT solar packages will not exceed 24V, and optimum amperage is about 17-18A at 60% SOC. So the BlueSeas 6006 switch is more than adequate. However, Zamp cautioned me that some MPPT controllers may exceed the 48V max in certain conditions, so caution should be used if you are considering this modification.

Not being a solar guy I would say if it works for you, go for it. You should be able to track aliens, or tornadoes with that setup when not powering the batteries. trainman

We have the Honda EU 2200i Companion. It is specifically built for campers with a 30amp plug. WORKS GREAT! weight about 55 lbs. I converted our to Propane with Hutch Mountain conversion kit.

When you go to NY, don't miss Watkins Glen. We stayed in the local town park campground. Hiked the Glen early in the morning to avoid crowds.

Looks like I got a lot to think about depending on my needs! You folks are awesome! THANK YOU! Now on to the hunt! Vic Shumate #1132 Auburndale, Fl 33823 2022 Ram LImited 4x4

If you want to tinker there are several models to choose from. (The chart uses an underscore in place of the letter B.) I was considering trying one with greater CFM and pressure to see how they perform on those soggy days. Obviously Natures Head uses the lowest watt and noise level model. For example Model M can be purchased online.

On the trip where I got 13.8MPG towing on steep grades & interstates I divided total miles driven by gallons used. Did the same today when not towing with the on board computer displaying slightly lower MPG than actual MPG after dividing total miles by gallons burned yielding 24.5MPG. On the other two trips where I got above 15MPG and 16MPG while towing used the on board computer with slightly higher readings than mentioned. When we purchased Ollie used and towed it home with a 2013 2WD Frontier with 4.0L automatic, the onboard computer indicated over 15MPG while towing across TN on I40. I thought the on board computer was wrong until I divided miles driven by gallons used. We used to tow an all aluminum 2000 pound 2010 CampLite camper, a 2000 pound aerodynamic brick and could not get much over 13 MPG with this same Frontier. Our Ollie is a light LE2 Ollie at 4950 pounds ready to camp with empty tanks except for full hot water heater. Some folks here get better fuel economy than our rig with a diesel powered TV and heavier Ollie, probably some gas TV rigs, too. I am very careful with throttle control while driving, like I said earlier some folks can only get 15 to 16 MPG with the same Tundra not towing, it's how they are driven. Our Tundra is also 2WD.

I did not have a fan failure yet, but I wanted a spare. I called Natures Head last year and ordered an extra pee tank and some replacement screens. I noticed the fans are not shown on their web site for order. I asked them why, and they said they would send me two of them for free. They did just that, excellent customer service. Also, for those that don’t know, the fan is direct wired before the circuit breaker (at least it is on my trailer). It runs all the time if not disconnected. You can remove the fuse, but I disconnect mine with the connector plug at the toilet when not in use, but only if the toilet is extremely clean and dry.

Oh -- no I didn't have anything with me for sanitizing. I had to switch up those valves under the bed, unfortunately AFTER I had taken the latex mattress out of the plastic bag and put my linens on. And then I attached the water hose and turned on all the faucets (except later I discovered more antifreeze at the outside shower a few days later). It was trial by fire. Lucky for me, Tina and Greg invited me to have some luscious pot roast at their place -- it was the best pot roast ever!

I replaced my 4 AGMs with 3 Battle Borns and did not disable the 12V from my truck. We’ve been from south Texas to Maine and back and also to Arizona and Utah and back. No issues. I would also be interested in the pros/cons of disabling the charge from the TV. Mike

Congratulations and welcome to the Oliver family. Hope you can narrow down where the hum is coming from. Let us know if there are things the forum can help with. Mike

I learned to sail on Chesapeake Bay - many fond memories. Crab cakes at a little dive in that big town of Suicide, MD after a day on the water🙂. Enjoy your new baby and welcome to the Family! The next time you are backing up your Ollie and thinking that it is a bit of a problem - recall those days trying to dock with a raging wind and terrible current. Land yachting is easier. Bill

Welcome, and hope you have a great camping season. We are sailors as well. There's a lot of carryover, but obviously, other things are different in a land yacht. When you visit NY, I hope you will find space at Letchworth s p for a few days. It's a beautiful park, and worth several days. (My husband hails from western NY.)

You don't absolutely need a 30A connection/3000W generator unless you plan to run everything on generator the same way you would on shore power (microwave and AC at the same time, for instance). A 2200W generator should be enough to charge your batteries and run an air conditioner with the soft-start feature, but you may have to pick and choose when you want to run the microwave, hairdryer, InstaPot or other high-draw appliances with the AC on. The advantages of the smaller generators are less weight, less noise, less fuel consumption, and lower cost. OTOH, the larger generators will let you use your Ollie as if you're plugged into shore power. If you do decide on a smaller generator, you may need a "dog bone" adapter to convert your 30A RV plug to whatever's on the smaller generator (often a standard 15A household plug). If it's a Honda you may need a neutral-ground bonding plug, too, to make your surge suppressor system happy. I do love my little Honda...

You need more than a 2000/2200 watt unit because you probably will be able to run only the AC by itself, no other loads. With a slightly larger one you should be able to run AC and also the converter. It is nice to be able to recharge your battery bank while cooling off the cabin, especially if you get lithiums which don’t charge off the truck (as delivered)! I have been extremely pleased with the Yamaha 2400 I have used for five seasons. It puts out more than the rated power and in my mind is better engineered and built than a Honda. It is discontinued, you would need to research the “current model” ( generator pun). https://www.yamahagenerators.com/Yamaha-EF2400iSHC-p/ef2400ishc.htm Make sure you pick a unit with a manual fuel shutoff valve so you can run the carb dry each time. At 75 pounds it is manageable, you don’t need wheels. I run mine in the truck usually and I use a little hydraulic lift work table to store it at home, I roll the cart to the truck, jack it up level and push the gennie into place… this is frequently on sale. https://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-capacity-hydraulic-table-cart-61405.html John Davies Spokane WA

We have had the same Yamaha EF3000ISEB generator sitting on the tongue of two different Oliver’s during the past 14 years. It will operate our 13,500 BTU A/C unit flawlessly without an East Start installed. It has a battery start but is not dual fuel. At 150 pounds, it is not light. Remember, using propane as generator fuel, at sea level a 2400 watt generator becomes a 2000 watt generator. At 7000 feet it will only put out about 1450 watts.

EDIT 05/15/22 see related thread: ... https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6892-how-to-connect-a-standard-sae-4-pin-harness-or-4-pin-with-backup-lights-to-your-oliver-factory-7-pin-wires/ This is just a teaser, I took a video today and it is very cool. I wanted to make very sure my connections were good before putting the rear cargo area back together. I haven't finished the job yet. I will add to this in a couple of days. Video - OLIVER Bike Rack LED Light Bar Initial Test What a pain, the Oliver 7-Pin wire color coding is very different from the industry standard. I figured it out on the first try, and nothing smoked or melted. More later. John Davies Spokane WA

NPS put this out on social media, in a humorous attempt to make more people aware of the dangers. Every year, we see reports of folks trying to interact or take selfies with wildlife, with disastrous and sometimes fatal results . None of us, I'm sure.

Alberta and Randy, I had the same problem trying to figure out how to reinstall the egress window screen. The screen is mounted outside the widow channel using four metal clips. The clips snap into the edge of the plastic channel. Just hold the screen in place and push until you hear it snap. It took me several frustrating minutes to figure it out.

Thanks John

I called Zamp Tech Support on Monday to ask them these questions, I had a lengthy discussion with Lane. He admitted to me that he was not familiar with the NEC Codes referenced in the video, but advised he had never had a technical question about this issue. He said he would check around and get back to me if he found out otherwise. He also could not think of any technical reason not to install a single pole disconnect just as OTT installed mine, but could not guarantee anything because the custom install is not a Zamp design, it’s Oliver. He suggested I query Oliver on any concerns I might have. I gave it some thought, and decided I have no concerns, I’m satisfied with the wiring setup I have. This isn’t the only issue that might be a code violation, for example, most of us can agree the AC plug for the refrigerator is definitely not a safe installation, but also relatively easy to correct. That’s covered well in John Davies posts. So in sum, I respectfully submit I am not an certified electrical expert. Im just relaying what I think I heard from Zamp, so please don’t shoot the messenger. I’d like to add that I have called Zamp several times in past few years with questions, and they never fail to impress me with their knowledge and help.

Just as the hurricanes and mosquitoes quiet down the snowbirds start piling up!

My friend (who camped with a VW van for decades) used a 5 gallon bucket fitted with a toilet seat (lidded seats are available in many places). She lined the bucket with a heavy duty garbage bag and a diaper-change absorbent pad (or puppy pad); she bagged it and tossed it. My NH fan has worked so far -- but at the 3rd campground on my way home, the HANDLE fell off in my hand! The handle has a set-screw and it had fallen out -- luckily NOT down the shower drain!

Yes indeed.

Indeed, thanks! The trout fishing was ok too!

I want to tell you about a number of ways you can use the Apple Notes App for travel. The Apple Notes App is free. One of the nice things about Notes is that it uses iCloud to seamlessly sync between an iPhone, an iPad, and a Mac. I typically use the Mac to copy/paste information into the file but then use the notes on my other devices. (I am more comfortable with the laptop keyboard than the phone.) Importantly, you can share a note with your partner. This is particularly useful if I am driving; I can ask my wife to open her notes app and find some info or dial a phone number listed there. What is it useful for? I will start with a simple example. I have a Note called Current Trip. If it is a camping trip I will list each of our campsites in chronological order. For each campground, I copy/paste the Address, Phone Number, Website, etc, into the Note. For non-camping trips, I put in hotel or Airbnb information. If I book a restaurant, I put the info into the Notes file. Ditto for Car Rental information. The Address, Phone Number, and Website in the Notes file become links. If I touch the Address on my phone, it opens up the Address in the Maps app, and I can now click on directions. If I click on the Phone Number it offers to dial the number. If I click on the Website it opens in a web browser. These links can be incredibly useful. Again, having the notes file shared with your spouse or other traveling companions means they can access this info. This Notes File can be wonderful for Wi-Fi Passwords. Suppose you check into a place and they give an awful random character password, such as t?Uc'C&Ds9Ye;v. Now you have to enter this into each of your devices, under conditions where what you have already typed is obscured! Instead, I enter the password into my Current Trip file and verify that I typed it correctly. I can then copy the password, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, select the network, and paste in the complex password. Since my Current Trip file syncs with my wife’s devices, I can copy the password from her Notes and get her Wi-Fi set up. You can put nearly anything into a Notes file, including images (jpg, heic, png, tif, or pdf). On our trip to Zion NP last month, I pasted maps for the Zion Park shuttle system and the campground map. I have also pasted driving directions for the trailhead for a hike into the Notes file, or the mile makers for Rest Areas along the route. Another Notes file I use is called Travel Plans, and this I also share with my wife. It helps us both know what upcoming trips we had or when visitors were expected. I started this in 2018, when we had a lot of travel planned. I discovered that this Travel Plans file turned out to be very useful for examining our travels retrospectively. I found it so useful that I used my photo files to add dates and destinations for all of our past foreign trips. Another Notes file is called Ollie. I started this file soon after we started camping with Ollie. We pull into a commercial campground and walk into the office to register, and the first thing they want is the vehicle license plate number. So I put this info in the Ollie file. When we first started camping with Ollie, I had to look up in the Owner’s Manual which water inlet I wanted to use, Fresh Water Connection vs City Water Connection, so I put that in the Ollie file. Height to the top of Ollie, tire pressure and torque info, details on the Solar controller or the WiFi Ranger. We like to make pancakes when camping, and we heat up the real maple syrup in the microwave. If we heat at full power the syrup boils, so we needed to use a lower cooking level. After looking up how to do this several times in the instruction manual, I decided to put the info into the Notes Ollie file. (Note, our microwave is a Summit OTR24, and yours may be different. Basically, anything I had to lookup more than once went into the Notes Ollie file. I also put pictures into the Notes Ollie file. I use a milk crate to store my chocks and wooden blocks. I had worked out a nice way to fit them all in neatly, but then at the next stop, I couldn’t remember. So once I figured it out, I took sequential pictures of the packing steps and put them into the Notes Ollie file. I posted about how we lock our bikes on the rack on the back of the trailer, using a 6-foot heavy-duty chain that just barely fits. A picture of the bike lock on the bike rack that is stored in the Notes Ollie file helps me remember the strategy for attaching the lock and chain. The last Notes file I want to mention is the After camping list. While on a camping trip I think of things I want to repair or want to research/purchase to make camping more enjoyable. I always have my phone with me, so I can add to this list while barbequing. I recommend all Ollie owners use a file like this. A couple of final points about the Notes app. Pin. The default is to sort by Date Edited (which can be changed), but sometimes the Note you use the most has not been edited in a while and is far down the list. In that case, you can Pin the most important Notes to the top of the list. Folders. If you have a lot of Notes, you can put them into Folders, so that you can look in a particular folder. I have a number of folders, including Computer & Phone, Cooking, Medical, Ollie, Photography, Travel, and TV & Movies. Icons. If you have a lot of Notes, a picture or an icon can make it easier to find the Note you want. When I first started pasting photos into Notes files, I discovered that the photo would be visible in the list of notes. If there are multiple photos, only the first one appears in the list. I later decided to search for icons to mark Notes files. Suitcase icon for Travel, trailer icon for Ollie, etc. If I have pictures in the Note, then I put the Icon image earlier in the Note. These icon images can be tiff, png, jpg or heic files. While you can put pdf files into notes, the pdf images do not appear in the list of Notes files. Perhaps a PC / Android phone user can provide info about similar apps for the PC and android devices? I did find an article explaining how iPhone owners can edit their Notes on Windows.

Common problem. Easy to replace from the roof. They've improved the design of that gearbox now. The new ones are reinforced with a couple of metal screws.

Read through this thread, lots of discussion and pictures. Mike https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/3986-maxxfan-service-lubrication-repair-help/?tab=comments#comment-55518

One nice park that comes to mind is Koreshan State Park. It's in the south part of Lee County. From there, you have easy access to head east to FGCU campus area via Alico Road (off US41).... I should also mention it's along a creek where you can canoe or kayak, and it is home to a unique historic site. Here is the link for reservations via the Florida SP system: https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/web/Facilities/SearchViewUnitAvailabity.aspx

October is one of our favorite months in Florida. Hurricane risk is lower, usually cooler and drier. And, you can more easily find campsites in shoulder season...before the Canadians and northerners come down. Sites really start filling up after Thanksgiving through April.

If inside electric is available then I would simply put the batteries on a smart charger (battery minder). Remember to go over to the Ollie every few weeks to make sure that you are still good on fluid levels in the batteries - of course this assumes that your batteries are flooded wet cell batteries. If they are AGM's then they take care of themselves regarding fluid. If you are doing the above then turning things like your propane/co2 detector off is not necessary - they don't really draw all that much current. However, if you decide to NOT use the smart charger then I'd take the fuse out of the propane/co2 detector Its located right behind the detector under the dinette seat), and disconnect (via the two main fuses) the rest of the 12 volt current in the Ollie. Bill

I assume OTT installing them on all solar packages now. Might be useful if you ever have to disconnect batteries. The solar circuit can be turned off so the circuit is not energized when sun is shining.

Frankly, I love the eTorque system and IMO your salesman doesn't know what he is talking about. Maybe he's referring to the new eco 6. BTW, I understand 2023 is the last year for the Hemi ☹️. Here's a link to a YouTube where a factory engineer explain the multiple things the eTorque system does. I have no negatives at this point, but I only have 3k miles on the Ram. Take a look at this one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwnw452p2ZA Charlie.

My neighbor has the same truck as you @CnC and it's a beauty. He loves his Hemi, too! Now I'm going to have to look up what an Air Lift bag is. Not that I'm lazy, but I'm solo, and I might want less work on occasion.

I guess it's time to report on our TV. No crew cab models will fit in our garage! That really limited our choices! A Ram Quad cab will fit in our garage - barely. I like the Laramie trim, but Ram has decided to nix the Laramie trim in the line up of 2022 Quad cabs. After a couple of months our dealer found one acceptable to us - a new 2021 Ram 1500 Quad 4x4 Laramie 5.7 Hemi eTorque with tow package. Love that Hemi ! We have pulled the E2 about a 1000 miles now. We have averaged 14.4 mpg in Arizona - that included all types of desert/mountain terrains. I typically do not drive over 65 mph. While this Ram tows well and the Ollie behaves well behind it, I'm going to add Air Lift 5000 bags. Not because it needs it, but because I'm old and lazy. We're planning three long "destination" trips this summer (almost 10,000 miles) and I'll be using "overnight pull throughs" whenever possible. In doing so, I'll simply adjust the air bags to suit the front/back leveling issue with the partially filled shallow tanks while still hooked up to the TV. Yah, I'm lazy.

I read that (and a bunch of other CR articles) and it doesn't sound good. The article was focused on 2021 vehicles, if I remember correctly, and stated that there was a 'refresh' that should have taken care of the issue/s. However, there is also supposedly a lawsuit for older vehicles that focuses on a gross amount of oil-consumption, supposedly an issue that was either ignored or not resolved. My ordered vehicle is a diesel engine. There are also rumors about faulty parts (CHIPS!) that might be responsible for a large number of vehicles sitting idly in lots (due to faulty chip and now an assembled vehicle that isn't running).... but those are rumors, not to be taken as facts. I'll continue to try to stay positive. A friend's vehicle is arriving from GM on Thursday; her order was a week ahead of mine, so maybe, just maybe.

Consumer Reports is saying some of the new GM gas engines are having significant reliability problems. New-crate-engine level failures.

I just replaced the “Operator Mechanism” on my Maxxfan just as others have done. Mine shattered into a bunch of pieces. I got a new one directly from Airxcel, the manufacturer. It was on backorder for a week so that tells me it must be in demand. I had removed the fan and disassembled it to see what was going on and also to give it a good cleaning. To replace the operator mechanism you don’t have to remove the fan. You do have to get up on the roof. I didn’t open the new mechanism to see how it was lubricated. I spoke to a technical help guy at Airxcel and learned that the way it works is that when you hit open the lid lifts until enough resistance is felt then it shuts off. Closing is the same, it continues to close until enough resistance is felt then the motor is shut off. I think that pressure eventually takes a toll and the operator mechanism fails.