mountainborn

GOT TARPS ? Part two of a three part series by Larry Mountainborn Harmon http://olivertraveltrailers.com/got-tarps-part-two-larry-mountainborn-harmon/

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/got-tarps-part-one-larry-mountainborn-harmon/

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/camping-elevation-part-5-5/

So, what does loaded too heavy in the trailer's rear look like out on the highway ? Here is a look:

RASPY said "It looks to me like a lot of modern low cost travel trailers are being built to the absolute minimum strength. I see a lot of them on the road and am happy I’ve already learned my lesson and moved to an Ollie." Just received a message from my sister. Here is a part of it: Me too, last month we took the trailer in for service and they found four cracks in the frame, couldn't even give the trailer away, we paid $2,700 on fixing it. Seems like when it rains it pours. I won't call the manufacturer's brand name, but the experience is sadly pretty common. This really makes one appreciate the sometimes referred to as "overbuilt" Oliver frame.

It arrived quietly, kind of knodded it's head as we eased on by it, leaving it in the dust as we moved along. 1,000 members on the forums ! Here is the current statistics: Forum Statistics Threads: 1,607, Posts: 11, Members: 1,004 Welcome to our newest member, Don Most users ever online was 11 on 18-05-2016 15:01:30

This photo was taken in Miami Arizona, we were pulling with no weight distribution hitch and no sway bar. We were headed to our campground assignment at 10,800 feet in New Mexico. To get to our campground we had to climb LaManga pass and climb 3000 feet in five miles. The formula for success is balancing your loads and keeping a low center of gravity.

via GIPHY

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/elevation-camping-part-4-5-part-series-larry-mountainborn-harmon/

Hi John ! When we decided to get our Ollie we wanted to pull it with a Jeep so we could explore old Spanish Mines, ghost towns and drive Jeep trails such as Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass. The way we did it was to drop the Ollie at a primitive boondocking campsite well above 10k feet to start our day of Jeeping. We had a 2005 Wrangler 2door and we bought a 2008 Wrangler 4door to pull the Ollie with and put an expedition roof rack and a spare tire mounted trail rack on it to carry stuff expedition style. The 2008 Wrangler had Jeep's first v6 and was a little short on horsepower but we never were below third gear on the steep and crooked, million dollar highway. The engine was an EFI engine and ran well at all elevations. The only time we used low range was during the more extreme Jeep trails. The 4door usually caused us to make a four point turn instead of a three point turn on those trails. As you have figured, weight was a constant concern and we packed very carefully keeping our center of gravity low. All of that stuff up on top was placed to keep well balanced fore and aft. Fore and aft balance on the Ollie was equally important. We did not use a weight distribution hitch or a sway bar. The climb up to the campground in the photos was three thousand feet up in a five mile stretch of road to get to the 10,800 high campsite. That climb was at 25 to 45 MPH which was the posted speeds. Tow rating and warranty caused us to go with the automatic transmission and factory towing package, supplemented with on board air compressor and air bags on the rear axle. That large aluminum box on the tongue held a Yamaha 3000 EFI generator. Extra generator gas and chainsaw gas was carried on the trail rack above the spare tire. We were in new territory and learning as we went, yet it worked well for us. A good friend tried a similar set up and found that it just wasn't for his style of camping and towing. For one trip West we even carried a three wheeled bicycle up on the expedition rack. The bicycle was more trouble than it was worth. To us the trade off in performance for capability once up high in the Rocky Mountains was worth it. Fuel economy was 14 mpg on the plains but a head wind could cut that back to 10 mpg real quick. Once we had established a base camp our mileage returned as the Jeep was un laden. We traveled expedition style because we were staying off the grid above 10k elevation for over 110 days each year. Our current Jeep is a 2012 Wrangler with a v6 that has about 85 more horse power. We have thought about a turbo charger set up but have never gotten too serious about it. The Rubicon's manual transmission reduces it's tow rating and we have never used locking differentials though there have been times they sure would have been nice ! We have never had a towing scare, probably because we drive like we are in a short wheel base 4X4 and usually in twisty mountain roads. Those times we travel interstate highways at those speeds we are not loaded expedition style. For example when loaded for a Summer's expedition to the Rocky Mountains we would drive secondary roads at those speeds, not the interstate highways. Sorry for the long winded answer ! Feel free to call me at 479.243.5450 and we can cover a lot more ground quicker if you would like to. harm

A quick note about early season Black Bears, they are very hungry and are foraging hard. Never get in between a Momma Bear and her Cubs. As soon as the Choke Cherries ripen they will abandon all other food sources unless campers are careless. Most Bear problems are actually Untidy camper problems. The Bears usually hibernate up high and pass through campgrounds while foraging their way down the streams to lower elevations.

Hi Buzzy ! No black flies at that elevation. Bears Yes. Bear frequency of appearance depends on how tidy the campers in the campground are. Many campgrounds up in the front range of the Rocky Mountains have a bear proof box at each campsite. If not, hanging is a necessity. A bean flip and a marble usually ran them off. The locals told me that Arkie's are crazy they go Bear hunting with a bean flip. In this campground there was a spring up a little higher above it so a water filter worked well. Nearly all of the streams are snow melt run off fed, Trout streams, providing a great source of water to filter.

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/elevation-camping-part-3-5-part-series-larry-mountainborn-harmon/

Part two of camping at elevation, clickable link: http://olivertraveltrailers.com/elevation-camping-part-2-5-part-series-larry-mountainborn-harmon/

John is absolutely right in his post above ! His post is the reason that I thought a follow up posting about assembling a simple PEX repair kit was in order.

The tools used above were "field expedient" and worked. However there is no better way to cut PEX than with a tool designed for that, and the sharkbite fitting is immediately ready to apply because the cuts are so clean. Here is a look at a later repair. This is the damaged part removed: Some may notice that the cuts on the ends of the removed PEX section are not exactly perpendicular or at 90* to the pipe. Even though this was in a tight place and cutting the pipe was not exactly straight, the sharkbite fitting still worked flawlessly ! The orange horse shoe shapped plastic tool is for removing the sharkbite fitting, if needed. The PEX cutting tool is readily available on line. Here is a current eBay auction photo where the tool is listed for $8.90. Cost at the time of this entry about $15 for a sharkbite connector and a PEX cutting tool. Now, that's great because they take up little space, add little weight and there will always be mice in campgrounds that are looking for a nice warm home to Winter up in.

Coy, you are right ! Pressure cookers rule at elevation !

Thanks tstorm5 ! up in the clear, cool, dry air at elevation, it seems that sounds just carry for ever. When the Elk are bugling it sounds totally wonderful !

Hey you guys ! It is different alright. For example water will boil at a much lower temperature, down around 165* instead of the usual 212* or so that we are used to. Baking is really different. Some ingredient changes are in order for higher elevations.

Here is a link to the article with photos and video. http://olivertraveltrailers.com/elevation-camping-part-1-5-part-series-larry-mountainborn-harmon/

Here is a video where they claim it is able to climb grades, ect..

Yes, indeed it is Len ! Betty and I just love your part of Washington. Sounds like you guys are really enjoying your Ollie. harm & bett

Don't you just love that dashboard instrument layout !

Thanks Sherry ! I guess that the cool thing was that the repair we made was with the simplest hand tools. Here is a look at the rusty hacksaw blade and pocket knife that we used. It was in a tight place where a hacksaw would not go, so we took the blade out of the frame and cut the PEX with the blade hand held.

Please guys, stay on topic. Attack the issue, not each other. It is a sure way to get a thread closed, and this is a good topic that concerns us all.