chuckstovall

I've been continuing to think about how to best bring along my mountain bike on my camping travels. There have been some pretty elegant solutions here on the forum. I got to thinking about the bike rack I used with my Wrangler pretty successfully in the past. Yesterday I pulled off the spare tire cover to investigate. Looks to me like it could be done. Simple - maybe not as much as I'd hoped, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'd need to fabricate a spacer to place between the wheel and the mount in order to push the spare about an inch rearward. Doing so would then allow the 'hook' part at the forward top of the rack to grab the tire. I think I could find attachment points for the strapping. I'd also have to be able to re-mount the license plate and light elsewhere, as well as cover the license plate section of the spare tire cover for those times I'm not hauling the bike and want the tire covered, specifically during storage. I think it might work. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Yep - AndrewK above helped me immensely! I was quoted $3300 by Oliver to add solar to my 2017 new-to-me LEII. Ended up buying 2 Zamp panels with wiring and a 3-port roof cap (all same as Oliver uses) from a Zamp vendor, mounting kit from Amazon (same as Oliver uses) an a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 controller from Amazon. Ended up need some miscellaneous connectors but all in, I was around $1700 if memory serves. If you trailer is preconfigured for solar (and I understand most if not all are -- but check!) it is relatively easy. I spent a couple of sunny afternoons doing the install and another connecting everything up. My controller allows me to monitor the system and batteries from my phone when I'm within bluetooth range. It was pretty nerve-wracking to drill that first hole thru that beautiful roof, but the rest were 'easy'. AndrewK knows his stuff and was incredibly generous with his input, advice, and encouragement. I've done it and would do it again. Please feel free to message me anytime. BTW - not sure of the status of solar tax credits but I did mine last year and still got a nice credit.

Great info in this thread. Thanks all! Anyone have any thoughts re: I like to use my Weber Q1200 and my CampChef Fire pit at home AND when I'm camping with the Ollie. Looks like the fire pit could be just a matter of swapping out the hoses each time from the original that has the regulator on the bottle end to a quick connect hose. The Weber, having the regulator at the stove end... Would love to hear thots of anyone who's done this. Thanks in advance. I should have read Patriot's post above. The video shows exactly how to set up the Weber Q for both uses. Thanks!

SteveC - great thing about this project is it's cheap and pretty easy with a high return. Amazon has tons of choices of stick on tiles too. Go for it! Post some pics if you do it. 🙂

Hi Moots and welcome. I looked at Bigfoot. There were things I liked and things I didn't. The list of things I didn't was much, much shorter on the Oliver. Ended up getting a 2017 LEII used last fall. Only used it a little before COVID, but am very happy. I'm down in Monument and would be very happy to show mine to you most anytime. Feel free to message me if you'd like to set up a time.

Hi all -- hope you are all safe and as gainfully employed as you want to be. I'd been toying with adding some stick-on tiles as a backsplash to both kitchen and bathroom areas. Finally saw a couple of different applications in an Oliver and decided I'd give it a go. Ordered these: https://smile.amazon.com/LONGKING-Backsplash-Stickers-Talavera-Mexican/dp/B07DR8F44K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Peel+and+Stick+Backsplash+Tile+Stickers%2C+Gray+Talavera+Mexican+Tiles&qid=1588613058&s=home-garden&sr=1-1 --- then $30 and since I can't be out camping, decided to at least work in the Oliver. One package of 10 tiles was more than enough, even with one square (3x3 tiles; about 1 square foot) bunged up and pulled off. The tiles are pretty sticky, but can come off if needed but I suspect will stay stuck pretty well.

I got so busy finishing my project before trying to see some spring training baseball early in the month that I neglected to post my pics. Thanks Overland and ALL for the suggestions. I initially fabricated a bigger table top but it was bigger than I needed and the finish didn't come out as hoped, so ended up buying a workbench top from Home Depot. I was able to use it on my 13 day trip from home in Colorado to Mesa, AZ and back. Very happy with the results. Since it is just me in the trailer, the size works. If there were 2, perhaps a bit to small. PS - saw spring training game Tuesday. Wednesday rained out. Thursday rained out and minutes later got word that MLB had cancelled the rest of the spring training season due to the COVID-19. 😞 There's always next year! Go Rockies! E6677BB9-5C8C-41B6-AD36-75D63147A3CE.heic 6D37C146-D66F-4FDE-B970-4CDEF60C6D96.heic

Will do. It's been around a while and there are reviews on Amazon, and perhaps etrailer. Some YouTube vids as well.

Looks a lot like Haul Gauge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUORyaTjXIk A fair amount of reviews available on it. I got one but haven't used it yet.

Thanks for sharing this. Do you have any additional input after a year and a half with the unit? Looking at some of the reviews online, I'm seeing generally good, but more than a fair number of early failures. What has been your experience?

Thanks Bill. Don't imagine it makes a difference, but I'm on a MacBook. This is the bottom of the edit profile page as it appears to me: Do you want to participate in the Referral Program? Yes, I want to show my Oliver No, I do not want to show my Oliver Only Oliver Owners may participate in the Referral Program. Enable Real-time GPS Tracking from Mobile Device Yes, Enable GPS Tracking from Mobile Device No, Do Not Enable GPS Tracking from Mobile Device This is only for Oliver Owners that are participating in the Referral Program.

Hi. My name is Chuck and I just picked up hull #297 on Thursday in Panama City, FL. Immediately pulled it up to Augusta, GA where I'm visiting my grandson and GDIL (that's grand daughter-in-love). Tomorrow I'll head towards Shreveport and then Allen, Texas for Thanksgiving with my Dad, sister and her family. My profile contains more of my story, but I'm looking forward to lots of great trips, learning a lot, sharing my experiences and meeting other Oliver owners. I'm currently camping at a Boondockers Welcome site in Augusta. Host has been great and I'm only 15 minutes from the kids. I'm towing with a 2019 Expedition Limited. I'll be picking up 2 Zamp panels plus the roofcap in Dallas next week for DIY install at home in Monument, CO when I get a stretch of good weather. I'll try to document that process for the benefit of others who may care to follow. I've already been following this forum and have gained some invaluable knowledge -- THANKS! BTW -- I can't figure out how to add a signature line. Anyone point me in the right direction? TIA 10FCC3B7-054C-4590-9447-333E0FF20452.heic

ScubaRx --Wow, great info. Exactly the kind of input I was hoping to hear. It would be fantastic if you could gather any info and share. Thanks so much.

Thanks ScubaRx -- I edited my post above to indicate it's a 2017. I don't think the previous owners know about solar wiring, but will ask. They didn't have a need for solar at time of build. Is the location of wiring standardized, at least by year? I know about the metal plates. I've learned that the 170w Zamp panels currently available are the same size as the 160's used on the 2017. I think I'll be able to pinpoint the location of the plates fairly easily. I'd like to hear more about attaching the 4 panel mount brackets thru the hull and into the metal plates. I understand not going thru, but certainly the mounting screws for the brackets go into the metal plates. Drill and tap some threads? (I know to Dicor on top of all screws, etc.) Do you (or anyone) know how thick the metal plate is? Also, what are the metal plates -- aluminum, I'd guess. I agree -- NO SKYLIGHTS! 🙂 I really appreciate your input.