Geronimo John

I actually averaged 99 MPG pulling Ollie!- -Drum roll Drum roll Drum roll Drum roll Oh, did I mention I was going down the TFL Ike Gauntlet in Colorado! :GJ .

That's amazing! 🙂

Melody: There are many half ton trucks that are NOT capable of pulling a heavy Ollie with high truck payloads. That said there are a BUNCH of OE2 owners using highly capable half ton trucks and even a handful using SUV's such as the Toyota Land Cruiser. I'll not (again) dip my toes into brands but you can search TV's on this forum and you'll get many scores of valid opinions. For example, there is the diesel vs. gas perspective, the gotta have a super duty perspective, and of course the gotta have a 4X4 perspectives (just to name a few) all with valid justifications. Just keep in mind that those valid posts are based upon each owners perspective about their rig (TV and RV) and how they use it. Some of those factors include: HOW THEY WILL USE THEIR RIG & WHERE TV payload weight? (Includes weight and number of seats needed, Etc.) Ollie weight Where they intend on towing? (Mountain roads, Flat Land, Near Others or boondocking alone well off the grid, etc.) What kind of roads will they be using or not using? (Interstate, paved, paved bad condition, maintained fire roads, bad fire roads, etc.) Is the TV your daily driver or is it a single purpose vehicle only used to tow Ollie? How many of the four seasons do you expect to normally use your rig? Your driving style (Aggressive, normal, and uber conservative for example) .And I am sure that there are other considerations that my fellow members could add to the list. WHAT ARE THEIR TV and RV METRICS? Axle ratings and the fully loaded certified actual loads on each Combined gross weight ratings of the rig and actual weight "all in" What towing characteristics does their trailer model exhibit? For example is it stable under tow with no sway such as OTT's are. Point is that opinions from any specific owner that their XXX TV is great/poop to tow an OE2 is useful only if they make clear what their use is. If they did, then you would know if it's germane to your use. Please also keep in mind that the MFG tow ratings are traditionally suitable for flat land towing on good roads. If you expect to be using your OE2 under more severe conditions, you need more capable TV. And there are many of suitable TV's half ton and up. So if you really want to get the best recommendations from your Ollie Family, you would be well served to draft out your thoughts about the above "meat balls" and your expectations for towing your OE2. GJ

In my circumstance the current version of RV trackers are lacking. My rig is in a dark barn on top of an Oklahoma mountain for 8 or 9 months a year. None of the top trackers have that kind of battery life. As you suggested fixed camera systems are likely the best option in my case. Something simple as a ring camera facing Ollie is the best option I can think of for my circumstances. Regardless, here is a fairly recent summary of the top three RV trackers that may be of interest for those that have access to their RV on a more frequent basis: https://campersandcampfires.com/rv-gps-tracker/ GJ

YES!

I really like the idea. But for the topic of this thread, I would consider that the thieves will be all over the front of the trailer, and could see the large handle. I would mount near the back bumper. They would not likely see it an it would be a great safety device for parking on grades as well. GJ

Any theft deterrent that we can employ, short of standing outside our Ollie's with a shot gun, can be defeated. As in the military, the best defense has multiple layers to slow down or degrade the attacker. I also submit that our security devices should minimize storage and weight for travel. Here are my suggested layers of defense: Layer 1. For long term (Not Occupied), I start my security prep by lowering the trailer tongue. Simple. Free. No added weight. Layer 2: For this layer I use two items suggested by John D years ago: Unlike the Proven Ind. cover, they easily fit into a kitchen drawer and weigh a lot less than ten pounds. They are a deterrent that some bad guys will walk away. I cover them with large coffee can or a bucket for both weather protection, and also so that passers by can't see what I have in store for them. Most do not bring the power tools required to defeat these devices. For those really serious thieves that do have the power tools please proceed to Layer 6. For those less prepared thieves that do not have the power tools, please proceed to Layer 3. Layer 3. After they get through chewing their way through Layer 2, they then will likely try to dead lift our 640 pound tongue weight. However their sore backs quickly veto that approach. They have a eureka moment when they see the front jack. They eagerly remove the cover and activate the jack to raise the bulldog onto their hitch. But the jack does not work because I removed the fuse. They cut the wires and splice them around the fuse. But drats that does not work either because my DC Master Switch is in the OFF position. So sorry guys. More time burned. Layer 4: Now they are really getting nervous as their 60 seconds and gone plan is out the window. But determined they are and they fetch their vehicle scissors jack that is buried in their TV. But to use it near the tongue, that you will recall is near the ground, requires them to excavate a small trench. They waste time figuring out that they can move the jack aft and try to raise it from there. But that typically means that the jack will not extend high enough to get the bulldog over their super duty truck hitch. Sorry for your back injuries from trying to power lifting our 640 pound tongue weight. More time wasted. Layer 5: In their haste, they had failed to notice that I also have a security lock on the Bulldog. More time wasted to saw off that lock. At this point the dumb ones give up on my Ollie and go to yours. But the Professional thieves have a different path entirely. Instead of taking the time to attack hardened steel, they bypass them entirely. They back up their truck to the bulldog, grab our safety chains/cables and wrap them tightly around their hitch and run them through two carabiners. Fasten them and hall ass. Truly 60 seconds and gone. Layer 6: But wait, you took a few seconds to bolt and double nut your safety cables/chains to together up under the fiberglass propane tank cover. Now they have to go fetch real tools to unbolt or cut your grade 8 steel bolt. More time wasted. Layer 7: Your last straw of hope in getting your trailer back is that tracker you placed over Ollie. Why here? Because no double bubble and better reception overhead. The above are the best seven of my 12 "Home Alone" fun things to mess with thieves. But if you want to explore others consider: Exploding dye packs, trip wires to screamers, and my all time favorite is an electric fence transformer grounded and attached to the frame of Ollie. 🙂 GJ PS: My favorite fun movie is the Christmas Special "Home Alone". I liked the original one the best.

Interesting... it's built like a nice beer cooler! Errrr it used to be that is. Thanks for sharing.

Synthetic grout and white nail polish. Ask a lady to pick out the color as us guys are color blind... At least that's what my wife says. Then clear nail polish over that and poof gone to 99.9%. They will never see it. The bad new s that you, on the other hand will see it every time you walk by it. However, the not so good news is that in time your eyesight will diminish and the brain will forget about it. 🙂 GJ

Totally agree with needing a more capable Tow Vehicle (TV) for 99+% of all owners. The less than 1% are those that remove the tires and have Ollie on blocks parked at their dream spot. That said, what JD stated is correct in that the twin axles are rated at 7,000 pounds. However, if you were to plot the weight of all the owner's (for over a year), and loaded for camping, the OE2's it likely would look like a very flat sort of bell curve. The curve likely would start at about 5200 pounds and end up at about 6,600 pounds. The vast majority I would postulate would be between 5600 and 6200 pound. There would be just a few outliers from the curve below and above this range. Welcome to our family! GJ

Hmmmmm.. Me thinks that when I get old .... errrr, I won't want to be lifting a H2200i that high. I think I'll keep the generator in the truck bed to which I have a nice ladder. Just so when I get old....er I won't find myself talking in a really high pitch.

Thanks Ralph. Great reference you sent. I had not stumbled on it before. Sadly, I have this the 8"drop/rise version shown below. That one reversed drops almost 4 inches. 😞 I think I'll get the Firestone air bags and see what that does for my clearance issue and squat issues before changing the Anderson flip. Using my unladen truck as the target benchmark, the truck payload (all in) squats the truck rear about half an inch. Hitch Ollie up and it squats to 2.5" total rear squat. Tighten up the Anderson chains (3 - 4 threads showing) and the truck squat is reduced to a manageable 1.25". Is it feasible with the Anderson and Firestones to eliminate all the squat? Is that any advantage to shooting for a bit higher for improved spring travel? If not, $138 for the 4" WD Rack (PN 3353).... GJ

In theory both would accommodate a Honda EU 2200I. BOX SIZE Outside Dimensions Inches Inside Dimensions Inches L W H L W H HONDA EU2200I N/A See Right 20 11.4 16.7 R.M. Action Packer 24 Gallons 26 18.5 17 20 14.5 15 AluBox (124 Liters) 32.7 Gallons 27 16 20.5 25.5 14.5 19 However, I would carry in my generator to Walmart and test fit the Action Packer before buying. GJ

That's the perfect box in every way except one.... The cost at Overland Kitted (Arizona) is $580. A bit out of my budget at that number. Even if they had a RoF (Retired Ole Fart) and a military discount. However if they had a scratch and dent one ...... Sure is a fine looking box.

Thanks. For SURE on the price beating Amazon... by about 50%!

Mossey: Is your Honda the EU2000 or their larger EU2200? If it will fit my EU2200, Amazon has a good price for two of these boxes. Thanks GJ

I too really like the idea of using a silver paint marker to indicate the jack input for trailer raise/lower. Makes sense to have it right there during an problem. in 2018, when Phil toured my OE2 on delivery, he stumbled on describing which way to push the rear jack rocker switches. He by habit raised the trailer when he wanted to, but describing the logic of his habit was a problem. I stated, "So push the upper button to raise the trailer!" He commented that that was an easy way to remember it! So I continue to this day, every time I am about to reach down to those buttons, I think: "Trailer UP push upper button", and "Trailer DOWN push the lower button". So we have another extraordinarily moment for us, Your tomato is not my tomaddo. I will mimic the action of the trailer when the button is pushed for my labeling of the rear jacks, by labeling them in a similar fashion: · JD: Counter clockwise is jack up (Trailer Down) GJ: Clockwise trailer UP · JD: Clockwise is jack down (Trailer Up) GJ: Counterclockwise Trailer Down It also works like my ole screw jack. Clockwise and the truck goes up! Owners are you a tomato or a tomaddo? 😃 GJ

is "UP" trailer up or jack up? GJ

The generator issue has been pummeled many times. Recently the inverter world now has many options for quiet generators. Check it out via the search for some great advice.

You may want to reach out to the mfg of your TPS. I bet they would love to hear your story and would send you the wrench. GJ

Roger. It is FOR US a better choice as we do need freezer space. For comparison, I have looked for hours to see the size of the Dometic RM 2454. Any idea it is in liters? I did find it's 16" X 5", but without the third dimension that data is worthless. And thank you! GJ

Spot on Top Gun! Sorry for not also adding my other prime Safety John caution. If working under Ollie, no matter how you got it up, please have it connected to your 6,000 pound anchor (Tow Vehicle). Best to have the TV in park with the emergency/parking brake set. Finally, add some sort of notice on the steering wheel not to drive off with Ollie with jacks down. I use a simple piece of red flagging across the steering wheel as a reminder (mostly for me) that the jacks are down. When covering 500 mile days, I'll stop for sleep and use that same flagging if I need to just somewhat level Ollie for just for an evening. In the morning, I am anxious to get some more coffee and on the road. Fortunately, the first thing I see is the flagging. 5% of the time, I then get out of the truck and raise the jacks, AND do my full pre-departure inspection. That flagging has saved my jacks more than a few times. Do you have an inside and an outside pre-departure check list? If not send me a PM. GJ

I really like the Secop compressor efficiency and having 4.6 cu ft vs. 3.0 is amazing. My only concern is what appears to be a really small freezer space. Our existing Dometic freezer space appears cavernous by comparison. Being remote often, having two ice cube trays and some space for frozen meats is a requirement for us. Don't know for sure as I have yet to find dimensions of the freezer cavity, but it sure looks tiny. Do any of the other Secop compressor frigs have significantly more freezer space yet still fit in our OE2's? GJ

LOL...... Hey careful! I resemble those remarks!

As always, you are a great advocate and tell it like it is. I appreciate your perspectives on this topic and many others as well. That said, as one of "those owners", I do in the right circumstances use my jacks to level and service Ollie axles. But I never do so when not on asphalt/concrete that is quite level. For soft ground I carry a milk crate full of 2" X 6" blocks for tire/ground leveling first. For service, I have a F-150 jack and jack stands that become support after I have gotten Ollie's tires off my level "Hard Stand". Point is that under the right circumstances, my risk assessment when using backup support stands and blocking, is minimal and mine to be assumed. To be clear, my right circumstances does not include a seismic zone or a wind unstable location (Such as the emergency lane just a few feet from 18 wheelers and Greyhound busses wising by at 80 MPH). That would be foolish even for this Hang Glider and Paraglider pilot.....