Geronimo John

@Overland: I believe your batteries are 1,000 amp hour, not 100.

We carry a couple of 5 gallon collapse-able fresh water containers and have never not found a place with good water. Using the freshwater dip tube we up-load the water into Ollie. When boondocking I try to park Ollie with the street side to the "Bush". This allows me to put on a swim-suit and have a hot shower outside. As such we save gray water tank space. Where and when we can, we use campground or restaurant facilities for the toilet and use Ollie's only at night. The above generally lets us stay about ten days at a site before we need to dump. One of the Owners mentioned putting a cup of Downy fabric softener in the black tank and half a cup in the gray tank. This with a single chemical pod from Walmart keeps our tanks really fresh, as well as the valves lubricated.

Thanks Bill! I had not invested any brain cells on the 12V system isolation breaker, so I am glad you answered. For the eight month "winter" of my Oliver, to eliminate any power draw from my batteries, I disconnected the battery cables at the batteries. Sounds like I could save some time by just pushing the red button to kill ALL the 12 volt power in the E2. Do you see any issue with that approach? Thanks,

@John D: If you like the sensor, could you put the sensor in a freezer zip lock bag and tape it to the underside of the trailer. The zip lock will not effect its temperature readings and would keep it dry.

PS to Geronimo John's Engineering Perspective: Sorry, I failed to mention some other key perspectives: The longer the wheel base of your tow vehicle, the better it will handle your towed load. However, of course this "PRO", has some "CONS" as well. Really long TV's are a PITA to park and maneuver. The compromise for some owners with a need to favor people loads is to go with something like the F-150 Super Crew, 145" wheel base, with the 5 1/2' bed, or Super Cab with a longer bed if their needs favor cargo. In my original post, I (and several others) mentioned the importance of knowing your payload, and the specific ability of your truck to haul that payload. Along those lines is another required decision to ponder. That is how many people do you need to accommodate and/or how much weight you need to have inside the truck when towing. These considerations, along with those I (and many others) have posted previously are significant components of "Doing your homework" for the truck that will fit your needs best. As stated by others, cutting yourself short on TV capacity (Payload, Axles, Bed Space, Butt Count, Leg Room, FUEL CAPACITY, etc.) likely will result in a TV selection that will not serve you well for the duration. The important issue is that only you know what will work for YOU. So like Smokey the Bear ("Only you can prevent forest fires"), only you can determine your TV specifications. And knowing the basics before even looking at trucks is what "Doing your homework" entails. Again, good luck.

A few thoughts from a Mechanical Engineer's perspective: With the advent of ten speed transmissions, the importance of getting a 4.XX rear end simply is not anywhere as important as it used to be. For example with a Ford 10 speed transmission, while towing an Ollie II, you will not generally be using the top gear or two. So depending on the rear end you pick, at high speed you may be in 7th or 8th gear. Pick an higher number axle and the transmission will simply run in 8th or 9th gear. Pick a lower number axle and you will be running 6th or 7th gear. Point is you can now get an axle that works really well for daily use as well as towing. For the Ford F-150 3.5L, many people are getting the 3.55 locker axle where they can use all ten speeds then daily driving, but also have the ability to drop down and keep their engine exactly where they want it based upon the trailer and cab loadings and the grade of the highway. In the past with 4 or 5 speeds this was impossible. When doing your test ride, make them as long as you can. Be sure to consider the daily ride of a 3/4 ton vs. that of a 1/2 ton. I really preferred the F150 with the FX4 package ride over the F250. After a few hours in the super duty, my butt was ready for a transfer! But loaded with about 9,000 pounds of trailer and its tongue weight, the F250 ride was excellent. So knowing your likely tow vs daily driving needs is important. Look at the curb weights of the trucks you are looking to buy. Remember having extra weight has pros and cons. The pro's are that the heavier the truck, generally the better it feels on the road when hauling a loaded trailer. In my case, one of the reasons I chose the mostly aluminum F-150 was to save hauling another 700 pounds of dead weight around. Above a certain point, weight is simply a extra load that you just don't need. As mentioned above, all the 1/2 ton trucks have pretty limited payloads. This likely will be fine with Oliver in tow, but not if your also plan on loading up the bed with ATV's or other such toys. So sit down and study your truck payloads to determine which class works best for your. Good luck!

At $450 it must be really good!

@ Tom & Cheryl: I also use Meguiar's M6316 Flagship Premium Marine Wax and purchase it via Amazon. However I purchase it in the 30 ounce bottle. Saves a bunch.

I had my Ollie outfitted with the larger Bulldog and Anderson ball. Ran 8,000+ trailer miles last summer and was pleased with the reduced wear rate of the larger assembly. If I were buying another Ollie, I would go with the larger set-up again.

@Tom and Cheryl: I vote with you on the Telesteps ladder. I am 250 pounds dressed out, and very much appreciate the attributes of the OSHA compliant Telesteps 1400E Telescoping Extension Ladder. This past summer I used it to build lean-to walls that were 48' long by 12' high. This project along with washing and waxing Ollie for over three months worked out very well. The project put me up and down this ladder many dozens of times a day for weeks on end so I know it has excellent durability. Beyond being well made, this Telesteps has three good attributes: It fits nicely into the back of the large storage cabinet at the entry door. As ladders tend to walk off some times, not having it in my truck is a distinct advantage. At 18 pounds vs. the Yesker's 26 pounds, it takes less of a toll on your back if moving it a lot. It performs well and I would buy it again should it become necessary. However if you are over 250 pounds, I would suggest John D's Yesker as it is rated for 300 pounds.

Mike and Carrol: The suction cup style 14" KES refrigerator towel rod does not appear to be available. Would the Yohom 17" Stainless Steel Vacuum Suction Cup version fit? I am asking as I do not have access to my OTT in Hawaii. Thanks,

RB: As a Professional Engineer, I can assure you that your wife's opinion is structurally correct. With each additional support point under the frame, the less flex the hull will have with variable loads. This is true all the way up to having the hull sitting on a concrete slab (An infinite number of support points). I'm 240 pounds and like Overland do not find the flex objectionable... probably due to my past boat life. However, if your wife feels it is, I recommend adding two additional supports. That said, I would not do it as pictured. Rather simply get two half ton screw jacks and don't attached them to the hull. This would provide the same amount of "domestic tranquility" and would not be a permanent eyesore.

Seven Pin Female Pigtail Cover: I have had the pleasure of cleaning out my Oliver electrical umbilical cord connection several times now. I'm not sure how it happens, but when ever there is mud puddle under the tongue of my trailer, my Oliver pig tail does a swan dive out of the tongue storage box to go for a mud bath. The impact of the connector into the below mud seems to always have the same result... mud in the female electrical connector. What a PITA to clean! Since I purchased one of these covers, my pigtail has not once jumped out of the tongue box. Well worth the $7 purchase price from Amazon. Frankly, this cover should be standard equipment. It would surely save a lot of grief. The Amazon description is: Fastway 82-00-3315 7 Way Plug Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JRYHGKC/?coliid=I3IETWGG5DCGXE&colid=BIL63TJ2UBFY&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it Ollie-Pig-Tail-Cover.docx

@John D: His profile says he has a Tundra.

@Trainman & Hobo: Last year I was in your position. I spent a lot of time looking for options that would fit in the basement. Basically there were none. The realistic options appear to be: Carry the BBQ in your tow vehicle (Not good as I was using a 4.7L Sequoia TV) Transport it in the shower (Not ideal from several perspectives) Get the box and transport it there (Not good as I use the box for generator fuel, dunage and chalks) So I ran 2018 with no BBQ. But I resolved the issue for 2019. I replaced my under-powered Toyota 4.7L Sequoia with a F-150. BBQ problem resolved! Sorry for the bad news.

I recommend you entirely read the Forum thread "HOW TO: Tire Pressure Placard" For my Elite II, I am running 60 PSI with a tire pressure monitoring system as suggested by John D and Raspy. Everyone knows that we must check tire pressures when they are cold. I have also found that even after a night of rest, a few hours with one side in the sun can make a big difference in what you will see when you check them sun to shade. I have seen as much as 5 psi difference of those in the sun vs. those in the shade. Finally, as suggested by MANY Ollie owners, I too believe that having a TPMS is essential.

Geronimo Update: Trailer Super Store has longer bolts and Nylocks. Will see if they have castellated bolts and nuts as well and will post back.

@Scuba RX: Roger on the over the cliff or Interstate tumbling show. I towed Ollie 10,000 miles and across several of the plains States was running the posted 80 MPH speed limit or maybe a tad more. I can't imagine what would happen IF I had ran over a tire with the bolt hanging on by a thread. Both Oliver and Dexter Engineering indicated that my experience was unique. Now that both ScubaRX and I have experienced the same sick feeling I suspect there may have been more. This raises my level of concern. So, please all Ollie Owners: If this has also happened to you, please please respond back to this post. Thank you

@ Overland: No, they are just long enough for the job with almost nothing extra. @ John D: Roger on the center punch expansion trick. This would be a good temporary approach. I would MUCH prefer castellated nuts and cotter pins. The Center Pivot Bolts were identified by a trailer supply house as standard "Shackle Bolts". I wonder if a grade 9 bolt that was about 3/4" longer manufactured for a cotter pin and a castellated nut is available?

EZ Flex Service Check: This past summer, I had Ollie going up a very steep four mile section of mountain road to a boondocking site. My tug was in first gear, 4-Low, rear axle locked, center diff locked. That section of road takes me an hour to transverse. Any suspension failures on this road would be a serious problem. Upon arrival, I was setting wheel chocks and noticed that the EZ flex heart bolt locking nut was gone, and the bolt itself was 85% out of the fixture. The only thing holding the EZ Flex in place was the weight of the trailer and a couple of threads. See the pictures below. Now as part of my lube process for the EZ Flex, I recommend you look carefully at the nut to ensure that it is in place, and that you have threads extending past the top of the nut. This could have been a nasty failure. These are "shackle bolts", and I have yet to find longer ones that I could double nut for safety and peace of mind. If you know of a supplier that has some, please let me know. Thanks

@ Bill: Umbrella coverage riders are common and relatively inexpensive. I carry one due to living on a mountain side and also participating in extreme sports. I suspect that OTT owners tend to be a bit better off financially than most, and as such a would have resources that ought to be protected from such legal entanglements. Hence dropping a dime to ask their insurance carrier about an umbrella and its cost is worth more than a quarter. @ John D: Liability waivers are effective in the majority of states. We use them at 99.9% of our hang gliding and paragliding sites as a result. So far they have been effective in court scores of times. In my case, a pilot while on tow made critical errors and crashed. My Texas waiver was reviewed by USAA and they stood behind me as a result. The law suite was filed not by the pilot that crashed, but by his medical insurance provider OVER his objections. Same likely will happen to the OTT owner with the face plant incident. The lady likely will admit she was not rendering due care and fell. But her insurance company will go after the trailer owner and OTT as well. A liability waiver would at least even the playing field.

Does OTT have a list of shops that care as much as they do? If not, having OTT owners submit names of ones they used that do would be a great start to making such a list. The list could be such that the Name and Hull number are listed with the shop info. That way we have some pride of nomination, as well as careful filtering of nominees. How about it OTT?

Hull 342 is parked in a dark shed on gravel. I place jack pads under the jacks and unload the tires (by my best guess) by 50%. In nine months when see her again I hope that she has hatched a new set of baby tires. :-)

Interesting posts. All above are working to narrow down possible causes. Looking at all you have done, I can envisionate a possible cause not documented. Yes you have propane pressure. This is one necessary quality... pressure. But of what? Hopefully 100% of the proper mixture of hydrocarbons we call propane. It may be good enough to sustain fire for your high volume heater and water heater. But the refrigerator is much more picky on what it consumes. Said another way, you may have bad gas. Either in quality or air/nitrogen mixed in it. Recommend you borrow a tank from another trailer/friend and see what if it will run on theirs. That would effectively take gas quality out of the question.

If you have any noticeable vibration, it would be wise to balance your trailer tires.