Patriot

Correct for best tracking of satellites in my field use.

I have not tried deploying the Mini inside our Oliver. When I deploy it outside the operating system requires a quick scan of the sky to locate satellites holding your iPhone up in the air in a scanning motion. This scan allows me to see how good or bad the Mini connectivity is by identifying the satellites via your phone and whether or not you have limited or slower service due to obstructions. I do know that the Mini will work through a truck wind shield or sun roof as long as you have good northern exposure with little to no obstructions. The key to the mini operating at its peak connectivity is no obstructions. My final thought is that it might be a real challenge to get useful connectivity with the mini from inside the Oliver. As this reviewer says, consider the SL signal as a beam of light, if it’s blocked it won’t work. A decent video of a Mini set up and around the 8:10 min mark you will see how this reviewer scans the sky for satellite reception.

I mentioned this portable mount/protective case early on in this thread. After using it last fall on our 48 day trip out west we were really glad to have it. Besides being built to withstand storage travel and use, it gives a little added weight for stability which was welcome and important on windy days. In our field use, we never found a reason to secure the Mini in one location such as a roof top of a TV or the Oliver. For best satellite connectivity you must have clear northern exposure with little to no obstructions. Some campsites you get lucky and can deploy on a table while others your usually deploying on the ground. We prefer no trees especially sappy pine trees. The optional handle to carry the Mini was a good addition and adds an anchor point if we needed to secure it on a picnic table on windy days with a small bungee cord. When does the wind and dust not blow out west? 😄 Camp On! 🇺🇸🇺🇸 https://www.strikerfab.com/products/starlink-mini-mount-for-overlanding-van-rv-boat-sxs-starlink-mounting-options A Frosty 30 degree morning while camped at Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone.

We have been thinking about the standard SL for our home…so thanks for this news. As for travel we really are happy with the Mini for so many reasons especially small size and portability.

Yes, to all the above. shampoo, conditioner and liquid hand soap stay secure during travel. 👍🏻

Yes, I sold our “Demonic Penguin” on FB market place to guy who owns a food truck somewhere near Statesville, NC for $600. It sold about 3 hrs after posting it.

All good information! Thanks! And thanks @Derek B for the link on the cable supplier. I have not ordered lithium’s yet, but this will be helpful when I do!

@Derek B any chance you could post up what cable lengths and gauge you ordered from batterycablesusa.com? It would be nice to have the right length cables prior to ordering the batteries. Like you I see no need to make my own. This sounds like a solid company to order from. Thanks!

We would highly recommend Colorado National Monument (beautiful) as @Mike and Carol mentioned and we drove through Grand Mesa National Forest. We enjoyed Powder Horn and took the ski lift to the top of the mountain and had lunch there. Ski lifts are fun! We also drove out to the (4) corners…meh…it was ok. The KOA in GJ was close and convenient to Alcan so we opted to camp there. You certainly could stay at James M Robb, but you will need to do some research and see if they have availability. They did not have openings when we scheduled with Alcan.

Ralph, When we had our 5 leaf pack installed by Lew and his team at Alcan it took them approx 2.5 hrs and the team did a great job. We got there first thing in morning and all of my expectations were ✅ off. It was worth every cent to have it done professionally and done right. We dropped off our Oliver and went and had an excellent breakfast in Grand Junction at Cafe Sol, gotta go hungry! 😋 We actually camped here the night before- https://koa.com/campgrounds/grand-junction/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp maybe 15-20 min from Alcan with traffic. Cafe Sol…we ate here during our 2023 trip and again as noted in 24 while having the 5 leaf pack installed. Great coffee and we let the forks fly!! 😄 Patriot🇺🇸

Correct Steve, my mistake, they are 12” drums. I edited and corrected my initial reply. Thanks! 😊

Not yet, but buds are coming on! A lighter crop this year as we had to prune way back last year. We don’t do ladders and many of our bushes were 10’ high. So it goes! Enjoy the music rally!

You may want to give Oliver a call and get the latest pricing.

Yeah that too! 😄 thanks John!

John, You keep that torquing up and you will have arms 💪🏻 like Popeye! 😄 Hello to Wendy from Kathy and I, Mod On Brother!

As for the original hub bearing manufacture my SWAG would be made in China bearings like the rest of the Dexter bearings. And yes, you would need to carry a spare hub. At the time I had our 3500# axles swapped out according to Jason at Oliver there were more than 200+ Olivers running the never lubes with zero failures reported to Oliver by owners. And so far no reported failures on here or the FB forum. My local Dexter dealer said they have never seen a reported failure on this particular hub. Not saying that you won’t ever have a failure as anything certainly is possible. They are never lube, not never fail. I could easily carry a spare hub but choose not to as these are available from Dexter and most shops. These 5200# axles are admittedly IMHO overkill for an OLE2, so I just don’t get overly concerned about a bearing failure. I really like the noticeable stopping power of the 12” drums on level roads. That said, with my diesel engine brake I rarely use truck or trailer brakes on long descents like Teton Pass or some of the higher passes in Colorado and areas out west or even here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are trade offs for sure. If it’s within an owners budget, I say have at it.

@John and Debbie I had Oliver Service swap out my 3500# axles to the never lube 5200# axles. I had no issues with my 3500# axles, but just prefer having the never lube bearings and larger axle and 10” drum brakes. On our trip out west last fall, I made an appt with Lew at Alcan Spring and had his team install the Alcan 5 leaf pack, HD Shackles, and HD wet bolts. This took about 2.5 hrs for his team to install. Based on my experience at Alcan, I would not have any reservations what so ever about having Lew’s team do an axle swap along with the 5 leaf pack. Lew’s guys did a great job on the install and I am very happy with my new running gear. I highly recommend traveling with a torque wrench if you have this work done. You will need to torque your new leaf pack Ubolts and wheel lug nuts if you opt for the upgraded 5200# never lube axles. Lew will provide you with the mileage interval and torque specs for the Ubolts. PM me if you have questions.

John, I know you will do your research on this, after your dive please post up your info. I feel sure others would like to know. My initial thought is the weight difference may not be enough to justify the added expense of aluminum tanks at least for me. Another reason we opted to roll with a 1 ton diesel truck. Safe Travels! CAMP, CAMP, CAMP!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🫡

I wondered a little about if there would be enough room with a round lock, it might be tight. 5 years in and we have AGM’s and we only use the exterior hatch lock. I suppose if I had Lithiums I might consider a lock on the tray. This all sorta falls into the bucket of LP tanks and spare locks, I have never heard of either of these items being stolen at least from an Oliver owner here or on the FB owners forum. But if it allows an owner peace of mind, I say MOD ON! 👍🏻🤠 Lock’em UP!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

John, Another lock option which is a little more difficult to get a bite on with a bolt cutters. If nothing else makes it more difficult. Not seeing many reports of batteries being stolen at least from Olivers, I suppose it is a peace of mind especially for those that keep their Oliver in a storage facility away from home. https://www.amazon.com/BRINKS-173-80051-Stainless-Resettable-Combination/ Hello to Wendy! David

@GEN11 Welcome to the forum and congrats on your maiden voyage. A great looking new OLE2! Patriot🇺🇸

It was so cold here the other morning I saw a politician with his hands in his own pockets, and no spare tire! 😂 Ba da bum!

We have a 1Up Super Duty Bike rack which lives on the back of “XPLOR”. In order to access the spare, I have to unlock and remove our bikes, then unlock the bike rack in two locations, and remove it. So for now that’s how we roll with rear spare security. Steinaker SP, Vernal, Utah

As you state mostly good reviews. I will take 72% on solid reviews vs 5% not so good reviews any day of the week, fairly easy math on the old skeeter beaters! We all have to roll with what works and our experience these work were very effective and work very well. Patriot🇺🇸

Surely no man ever said I have too much LP, so I am in the 30# tank club here. 😄 We enjoyed rarely having to fill out LP tanks on our 48 day trip out west last fall and rarely had thoughts about LP. Never had any issues with locating an LP supplier out west during our travels. I digress. Nice work @rideadeuce nothing better than a clean fit and finish DYI install! The only thing you may want to consider is adding a lock to your T-handle where you secure those pretty new aluminum tanks. Will it completely stop a theft likely not. But it may cause the thug to move on to a more target rich environment. Although, I have never had anybody attempt to steel our tanks, it is merely a peace of mind and an easy mod. Simply flatten your T-handle out a little after tightening it down mark and drill a hole through the T handle and the tank security bracket (pic). I ran a small pistol cable lock securing the T handle to the mount bracket. Or you can just use a decent pad lock. Again nice work on the scooping up the tanks and mount fab! Patriot🇺🇸🇺🇸