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dhaig

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Everything posted by dhaig

  1. I recently installed the TireMinder i10 TPMS system. The instruction manual says the following of page 28: Can Rubber Valve Stems Be Used with The TireMinder Transmitters? Yes, TireMinder Transmitters may be used on high quality, high pressure rubber valve sterns. However, we highly recommend brass or stainless steel valve sterns. Due to the fact that rubber valve sterns deteriorate fairly quickly, e.g. they should be replaced when replacing your tires, an external TPMS sensor can exacerbate the deteriorating by adding weight to the valve stern. Additional rubber valve stems issues are based on age, length and physical location (i.e. exposure to road salt, high heat, sun, etc). If using rubber valve sterns, it is recommended that you check the condition of you rubber valve sterns on a regular basis. Failing to do so will result in a tire failure.
  2. John, Useful advice on dealing with the drawer releases. However, I suggest NOT glueing the bottoms of the drawers to the sides. The drawer bottoms typically rest in a groove in the drawer frame and are purposely NOT glued to permit movement of the wood as temperature and more importantly, humidity vary.
  3. Very impressive piece of engineering to address a complex problem. Do you have plans to produce these for sale to other OTT LEII owners? I am interested.
  4. Oliver is using Tochta as their optional mattress supplier, replacing KTT. Apparently, KTT was having supply chain problems. We opted to have our LEII delivered in mid-February with the standard cushions. We wanted to try the cushions before deciding to upgrade to mattresses. When we were at Oliver to pickup Hull 990 we tried the Tochta mattresses in one of the showroom units. I believe Oliver is using 7 inch thick Utopia mattresses from Tochta. We decided to purchase 8" Utopia mattresses directly from Tochta. You have more choices and will save some money by purchasing directly from Tochta. Shipping is free. Also look online for coupons. We got a 5% discount using an online coupon. I recommend you see the Tochta website. I had previously been told by Oliver that they were no longer accepting direct shipments of purchases by owners without adding a surcharge.
  5. Paul, That is very helpful information. Separately, I heard from Jason Essary, Oracle Service, who appears to recommend the same access approach (although is wasn't something Oliver Service had ever done). He mentioned the faux wall in the basement must be removed to access the wiring to the lights. I will pursue this course. Thanks, Don
  6. I am adding a rear mounted enclosed cargo carrier to our new LEII. The cargo carrier has a 4-way male connector and integrated lights which can provide lighting functions typical of a trailer (tail lights, brake lights, directional and flashers). Although the tail lights on the LEII will be visible with the cargo carrier mounted, I would like to also have the lights on the cargo carrier function as well. I will also need to relocated the license plate mount and its light to the rear of the cargo carrier. This seems relatively straightforward, by extending the existing wiring under the spare tire cover. Has anyone added a 4-way lighting female connector and wiring harness to the rear of an LEII to provide lighting on a cargo carrier or bike rack? I have not yet removed the rear wall panel in the basement to explore for the tail light wiring on the LEII. Assuming I can locate wiring connection points, how do I route the wires out the rear of the LEII to the cargo carrier? Fishing the wires through the route taken by the license plate light wiring through the spare tire mount looks very challenging. One approach may be to route the wiring for the rear 4-way female connector into the front of the LEII where the 7-pin connector cable enters the cabin and determining connection points, which I believe would be under the front dinette seat. Then run the wiring for the rear 4-way connector under the body to the rear, fastening the wiring to frame members. I am confident this has been done before. I will appreciate hearing suggestions and lessons learned. Thanks, Don
  7. My wife and I took delivery of LEII Hull 990 on 2/17/22. Among the options we chose was the Auto Drain, for $300. There is nothing "auto" about this drain switch, I had incorrectly assumed this switch closed the valve preventing back flow of grey water into the shower using some motion sensor to determine when the trailer was in motion. Not at all. The switch (mounted just inside the closet on the left side) flashes a red light continually when open, and no light when closed. To change state from open/close a rocker switch at the top must be held until the valve fully opens or closes. I find flashing red lights annoying, usually indicating some malfunction. I recommend avoiding this option.
  8. @CNC, I did not see your post before submitting mine. Your description caused me to look again at the regulator, and I noticed the regulator connects to the safety valve via an adapter, one end of which is ¼" NPT and the other end is the odd size used by Champion on the two ports the safety valve. I believe you have solved my problem. I can now connect a female ¼" NPT quick connect to the safety valve by using the adapter previously used to connect the regulator. The solution is embarrassingly simple. Thanks!
  9. @Happy Camper, I also purchased a Champion Dual Fuel 2500 watt generator, Model 200961. From reading the OTT forum I learned the regulator provided with the generator should not be used when connecting to the low pressure propane system on our LEII (pickup on Thursday). So I set about checking that I had obtained the proper low pressure hose and connectors to eliminate the Champion regulator. I tried connecting a low pressure hose with common ¼" NPT quick connectors to my generator. I then learned the male quick connector on the hose was incompatible with the female quick connector on the generator, and could not be connected. Comparing the male quick connector on the Champion regulator male quick connector (below, left) with the ¼" NPT quick connector the low pressure hose (below, right), I found they differ slightly, as can be seen in the photo below. The ¼" NPT quick connector will not connect to the female quick connector on the generator. On the left is the male connector on the Champion regulator assembly; on the right the low pressure hose and ¼" NPT quick connector I purchased on Amazon. DOZYANT 18 feet Low Pressure Propane Quick-Connect Hose, RV Quick Connect Propane Hose, Quick Disconnect Propane Hose Extension - 1/4" Safety Shutoff I contacted Champion technical support and found them to be, essentially, no help. I searched extensively online and found this link: https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f224/champion-dual-fuel-inverter-q-c-to-rv-on-board-propane-153043.html The photo shows a layout of various parts, with detailed notes. This looked straightforward, so I proceeded to obtain the needed parts. Only after receiving the parts and attempting assembly did I discover the ports on the safety valve are NOT ⅛" or ¼" NPT, but some ******* size no one has ever seen before. I spent most of a day calling and visiting suppliers of hose connectors for gas and hydraulic applications in the DFW area. None had any compatible adapters to connect the common ¼" quick connects to the ports of the safety valve. The connectors on the Champion hose connecting the regulator and safety valve measures 0.44" O.D., with a 12 pitch. Left- ¼" NPT connector; Right- Champion regulator hose connector Left- 1/8" NPT connector; Right- Champion regulator hose connector Having reached an impasse, I decided to purchase a Y connector and a high pressure extension hose, to run the generator directly from the propane tanks. DOZYANT Propane Splitter, Propane Tank Y Splitter Adapter with Gauge, 2 Way LP Gas Adapter Tee Connector for 20lb Propane Tank Cylinder, Work with BBQ DOZYANT 12 Feet Propane Tank Hose Extension with Gauge Replacement for Gas Grill, Heater and All Other PropaneAppliances, Acme to Male QCC/POL Fittin I don't view this as the optimal solution, as I would prefer using the low pressure connections. However, with no way to connect the Champion generator without its regulator, I have no other option. I want to be able to operate the generator at a safe distance from the trailer to avoid intake of carbon monoxide. If anyone have overcome the issues described above, I would love to hear the details.
  10. About 8-9 years ago my wife and I were hiking/photographing for several days in Guadalupe NP. Cold and wet weather was forecast, so we planned a day at Carlsbad Caverns. The weather outside was miserable, but inside the caverns you would never know. We had a fabulous day taking photos in the caverns when there were hardly any other people there. Highly recommended. The walkways in the caverns are well developed and tight spaces can generally be avoided. I occasionally an claustrophobic, but I had no problems.
  11. John, A new set of all season Michelins was mounted to our X5 about a year ago. We have used these tires previously and found they do well in winter conditions, not that we encounter them often. The full-time all wheel drive also makes a big difference. Thanks
  12. John, Thanks for the warning about OTT not having de-winterized your trailer. When I received a pre-delivery prep call I was told all trailers being completed at this time of year are winterized, but they can be de-winterized for delivery or at the time of delivery. I will call OTT to verify.
  13. Thanks to all for the helpful recommendations and quick responses. They are very consistent and in line with the conclusions I had drawn from other postings on the forum. I had been thinking of the general weather movement as predominant west to east, so a special thanks to @topgun2 for the heads up on the expected movement of the storm forecast for western NC. I had noticed the forecast for Hohenwald included high probability of snow over this coming weekend. Seeing the forecast for highs in the upper 40s temps next Tuesday and Wednesday should eliminate most of the snow from the weekend. In any case, I will pay close attention to that storm. Don
  14. John, I should have mentioned that I do have a generator, a Champion 2500 watt dual fuel, which I plan to run only on propane. I particularly want to test the generator hookup. I also have a pair of the Mopeka tank halos. @AndrewK kindly shared with me his list of items purchased for his LEII delivery, The list has proven very useful. I will need to take my chances on availability of RV antifreeze in Hohenwald or surrounding area (or perhaps from Oliver). Our tow vehicle space will be maxed out with all the stuff for inside the trailer, generator, clothing, etc. I had feared I would need to get a small U-Haul trailer, but I believe I can avoid that. The trailer dropoff was going to be a real inconvenience.
  15. My wife and I (RV newbies) are scheduled to take delivery of a 2022 LEII next Tuesday, January 18. Oliver Service contacted me about 10 days ago to inquire whether we wanted the trailer winterized or de-winterized at the time of delivery. I told them I preferred de-winterized, as we plan to use the trailer on our return trip to Dallas, TX. Our other alternative is to have the trailer winterized at delivery and head directly home to Dallas, with one overnight stay in a hotel. After 1 or 2 nights at Oliver to test systems, we plan travel, photography and sightseeing along the Natchez Trace Parkway, south to I-20, then west to Dallas. I have been following the 10 day weather forecasts for Hohenwald, Tupelo and Jackson, MS and they currently show nighttime lows in the mid to upper 20s F, except low 20s F in Hohenwald on Jan. 20. Temperatures shortly after sunrise will be above freezing. We plan to stay 3-4 nights at state parks, with full hookups, along the Natchez Trace. We would keep the heat on in the trailer and will have a small ceramic heater for supplemental heat. Our trailer will have the Lithium Pro option, and the optional access hatch to the basement. I also plan to install a Mopeka propane level sensing system and the antifreeze kit for the Truma water heater. Based on my reading on the forum about winter towing and camping, it is my impression traveling de-winterized for our return trip is relatively low risk if we run the furnace and open the basement access hatch at night. As a precaution against lower temperatures, I plan to purchase 3-4 gallons of RV antifreeze while in Hohenwald. I will have onboard a Viair compressor, a hand pump and basic tools, should I need to winterize enroute. I would appreciate comments and guidance from those with winter camping/towing experience. Thanks, Don
  16. I have been reading forum postings for nearly two years and have come across a wealth of useful information. In preparation for delivery of our LEII on 1/18/22, I have often wanted to retrieve information I had previously read, or to conduct a new search on a particular topic. Searching the forum postings using the native search capabilities has proven to be very frustrating and seldom producing the desired information. My son reminded me Google's search engine can be used to search within websites. To search the Oliver Travel Trailer Forums do the following: In your preferred browser, open a new tab and enter to the web address search box: google.com In the Google search box enter the URL of the forums followed by any number of search terms: site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums term1 term2 term3 Where term1, term2 and term3 are your search terms, separated by spaces. Use search terms just as you would when conducting any Google search. Following the URL of the forums you may include any of the web search refinements available for a Google search. See: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?hl=en Examples site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums tongue storage box site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums tongue weight site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums storage ideas -facility site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums lagun table Overland site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums mudflaps OR mud flaps site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums basement heating site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums heat ducts Minnesota Oli site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums TPMS site: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums hitch lock OR collar I expect you will find the Google search results much more useful.
  17. We are scheduled to pickup our LEII on 1/18/22. Our original delivery date was 1/7/22, however, we were notified 3-4 weeks ago of the new delivery date, caused by supply issues. I received a phone call from the assistant sales manager. This change did not cause us any particular problems. Actually, I view the new date as more desirable, being on a Tuesday, rather than Friday. Should we encounter any delivery issues, I would rather not have to wait over a weekend for resolution. Also, since we have a winter delivery, I had inquired how Oliver handled delayed deliveries. If memory serves, Oliver will store your trailer for 45 days at no charge. Beyond that there is a nominal charge. Your sales person should be able to provide details. Don
  18. Very clever design. Could you please post the dimensions of the insert box?
  19. In preparation for delivery of our LEII in January, 2022, I have been researching many accessories I expect we will need, including generators. I have seen many recommendation of the Honda 2000/2200 watt generators and acknowledge their reputation for reliability, durability and quiet operation. I also see the appeal of running a generator on propane to avoid the hazard of hauling gasoline and maintenance issues associated with gumming in the carburetor. The dual fuel generators, such as the from 2500 watt Champion, look very appealing, especially since they cost ~$575, with no conversion kit required and a 3 year warranty. I acknowledge they are not as quiet as the Honda generators. I have read a number of favorable reviews of the Champion generators, including by Oliver owners here on the forum. However, the cost comparison is heavily in favor of the 2500 watt Champion. A Honda 2200i costs at least $1050, plus ~$270 for a propane conversion kit, for a total of about $1320, and the loss of the Honda warranty. I acknowledge the Champion does not have the long reputation of the Honda, but I could buy two of the 2500 watt Champion generators and still be ahead $170. I could also purchase two of the 2500 watt Champions AND the parallel kit be ahead approximately $100 versus the Honda 2200i + propane conversion kit. Having two of the 2500 watt Champions and the parallel kit could also provide backup for critical residential loads during power outages. I live in Dallas, TX. I expect to see MORE power outages over the next few years. Can someone provide a compelling argument why I should buy a Honda generator and a propane conversion kit?
  20. We have ordered a 2022 LEII and were also asked if we would like an earlier delivery date. This opportunity arose in connection with the introduction of the Platinum Solar option, which we declined. We were being asked if we would consider trading delivery dates with someone ahead of us in the queue, who might want the Platinum Solar option, not available until October, 2021. One significant advantage I see in the 202 model LEII is the no-lube Dexter axles. I was told this feature would be available only on the 2022 models. Thus, I declined the possibility of an earlier delivery date, and held to our January 7, 2022 date. Avoiding the PITA of having to clean and pack wheel bearings every year seems worth the wait.
  21. When on our factory tour on March 18, we were told Oliver has discontinued the graphics, except for the front of the trailer. We chose a color combination for the standard Oliver logo graphic. I don't know the effective date of this change, but it certainly applies to 2022 models. My understanding is the model year changes in October.
  22. We have just ordered an LEII, and currently have 1/7/22 delivery date. I also like your mod and hope you will share construction details. I also contemplate mounting a Lagun table using the design by Overland, mounted under a bed rail.
  23. If you are looking for an app to record all sorts of miscellaneous information, I recommend Evernote. See www.evernote.com. The free version is quite capable. There are versions for all popular platforms, including WIndows/Mac/iOS/Android. There are also web clipper plugins for all major browsers, which enable quickly saving of webpages, or portions of webpages. Multiple notebooks can be created with unlimited notes in each. The search capabilities are good and keywords are also supported. Evernote is cloud based and capable of syncing to multiple heterogeneous devices. The premium (paid) version add capabilities, but I recommend first trying the free version. I have been saving info found on the Oliver forums in Evernote to be able to categorize useful information I might use in future.
  24. I second the SeaDawg's recommendation of Shoe Goo. Several times while traveling, my wife has had sections of hiking boots or walking/running shoes come loose and flap around. Shoe Goo does an excellent job re-attaching the loose parts. I also experimented with various clamps, but have settled on using thick rubber bands stretched across the area being glued. Having about 8-10 thick rubber bands will provide the capability to fix nearly any area of a shoe. Carrying a batch of rubber bands around is also much easier than C-clamps and other tools. Also handy to have available is a roll of blue painter's tape. The tape can be used to mask of areas of a shoe to protect from spread of Shoe Goo.
  25. Susan, Since my postings in May, I did more research on towing with a BMW X5 35d, including the Bimmer Forums for which you provided a link. I found a number of cases where owners of similar vehicles were successfully towing loads similar to an Oliver LEII. Best of all, though, I connected through the Oliver forum with the owner of an LEII, using an X5 35d at TV. We have had several conversations in which I posed many questions. As a result of these conversations, I am inclined to use our X5 35d to tow an LEII, when we are ready. However, due to the pandemic, we have not proceeded to place an order for an LEII. We will continue to wait to do so until there is clear evidence we could travel safely. In the meantime, I continue to follow the forum discussions, which I find very informative. I have seen your posts and am aware you have ordered an LEII. I am sure you will enjoy it. We were in Portland in March, 2017 for a ceramic arts conference, then spent a week hiking and photographing in the Columbia River Gorge. It is disturbing to hear of the scale and severity of the forest fires in your state. Regards, Don
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