Jim and Chris Neuman
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Posts posted by Jim and Chris Neuman
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If you are willing to invest a week or two in a low-impact fix, try Kroil, repeatedly applied over a couple weeks. Amazing stuff and worshiped by folks who work in corrosive environments like salt water boat yards.
Re-install with a quality anti-sieze.
Not as much fun as the "bigger hammer" approach but more likely to leave you with functioning components. You can always bring out the bigger hammer later.
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1 hour ago, routlaw said:
Can someone explain to me why such a long set of extra links are needed for the Oliver/Andersen hookup? Most of the installation videos I've seen install the clamping bars about halfway back on the A Frame with resulting chain being significantly shorter than what Oliver recommends. I realize the clamps mount onto the inner frame member but can't understand why the need for them to be all the way to the back. Are the additional links supplied by Andersen as extras, or can any off the shelf link be used assuming it of the same size and caliber?
After reading through this conversation I am making the decision to incorporate the Andersen although after 7 years of towing without it I'm not convinced of the need, but the insurance and liability part was what convinced me so I'm belling up to the bar for this one. Thanks.
The chain provided by Anderson is too short and will require additional links to fit the Oliver ... at least the Legacy II - someone else with knowledge can chime in on the Legacy I. If you buy the Anderson from Oliver, they will set it up for you, including providing the extra necessary chain links. I also needed to lengthen the emergency brake cable by several inches to fit my 2021 F150.
A bit more money buying from Oliver but, I think worthwhile in easing the workload during pickup day.
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OnX also sells chips containing 24,000 (7.5 quad) topo maps of entire states. These chips can be utilized by devices, such as the many handheld Garmin GPS units which allow you to switch out micro sd cards. While quite spendy, about $100 per state when I bought WA and OR a couple years back, these cards give you seamless, high resolution topo map coverage for an entire state.
As you move from one state to another you must change out chips as you go.
As John Davies stated, you can download maps by region on both GAIA and also OnX. These maps are available in resolution from high to low depending on the size of the area covered - higher resolution comes at the cost of a smaller geographical area covered . This is fine if you have access to internet but is slow or impossible to update on the fly if done over cell signal. If you have marginal or no cell coverage, the option to download maps simply goes away. Files are quite large which means you either have to spring for a device with a great deal of memory or delete files when not in use to make space for new regions.
I like using my I Phone or I Pad for day trips where cell signals are strong but find these devices lacking when signals are weak, non-existent or when your device has limited battery life ... these programs are energy hogs.
When seriously hiking, I carry maps, compass and a dedicated backcountry GPS unit like the Garmin 66ST with pre-loaded, high resolution maps aboard.
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Weight of our 2021 Legacy II with 30# tanks & 390 amp hour lithium package was 5020# dry weight at pickup according to Oliver.
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Been over the Beartooth many times while pulling trailers. Last time was done using our old 2013 Tacoma & pulling a fairly light (3500# or so) trailer. The Tacoma made the pull from the North with ease during a fairly hot summer day. The road is quite good and presents no problems for a vehicle in decent shape. My concern would be heading back down the pass heading East ... I would want the brakes to be in good shape.
I would not hesitate to tow our fairly light, well behaved Legacy II using our F150 with a 3.5.
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You can also thru-bolt the bracket back on. A couple 1/4" bolts would be bombproof. I would suggest stainless carriage bolts - they have a clean, low profile look and are very strong. Drill hole in glass slightly oversized so that the square area behind the round bolt head seats tightly into the countersunk hole, keeping the bolt from turning when tightening. A bit of epoxy behind the bolt head will lock the bolt in.
It also helps to rough up the back of the bracket to help the adhesive adhere. I am talking heavy scraping or even dimples drilled into the back of the bracket.
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We went with the Standard bed option. My wife and I are retired, camp primarily by ourselves and leave the bed made up. When company arrives for dinner or a visit, we stuff the bedding in stuff sacks we have on hand (primarily a down comforter and a couple of sheets) and put it in the back seat of the pickup. We use 2" memory foam toppers split down the middle of the bed and encased in sheets - these we roll up and stuff in the back seat of the pickup along with bedding. The whole process is easy, takes just minutes and leaves you with a large table / seating arrangement. We have seated seven adults comfortably around the table.
Gettng in and out of bed for a nighttime stroll is easy - just slide off the foot of the bed (we sleep with heads to the aft end of the trailer). Accessing valves / breakers under seats is no different than a twin - lift the cushion, prop it up with the lid and make your changes ... it may be incrementally more difficult than a twin setup but not enough to matter.
The bed, with standard cushions and the toppers is extremely comfortable and it is HUGE. One issue you might consider with the standard is that the upgrade, latex cushions are very bulky, heavy and could be difficult to deal with if you have a standard model and wish to store the inserts while using the dining table. For this reason, when placing the order for our standard Oliver II, Rodney in sales suggested we go with the original (thinner) mattress style. Incidentally, I have found that, leaving the table up, the smaller beds on the standard model are still plenty big enough for me @ 5'9 & 180#.
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The Glacier shuttle bus system working the major campgrounds out of West Glacier is an excellent way to access trailheads and other POI's. Great way to ease traffic on the "Going to the Sun" road and ease the stress of navigating an overcrowded road system at the same time. You can drop at one of many trailheads, make your hike and pick up a return shuttle at the other end. Great system.
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This used to be fairly common on cruising sailboats. Downside's include vibration, which can be severe and irritating if the vane is attached to the hull / frame of the trailer. Another significant downside can be noise ... depending on the quality and balance of the installation, this can be significant. While living aboard my sailboat, I had a neighbor who lasted only a few weeks with his new windvane installation before he took it down due to noise and vibration. Glad he did because, even though we were friends, I was about to make a midnight visit to his boat with a cutting torch 😁
There are many cruising sailors who have successfully used a vane system while offshore with success.
Could be fine on your own property where the system will only bother yourself - taken out in public I am not so sure. Seriously, if you are going to do this, choose your system carefully and keep your neighbors in mind.
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Your mosquito's and biting flies are not out in May & early June? What a bunch of slackers. We could bring you a bunch of Cascade mosquito's as seed stock ... they are out early! 😁
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I should add that the lava rocks we used to replace those supplied with the firepit were slightly larger (1-1/2 to 2" in diameter) and, more importantly, of higher density. These rocks radiate more heat in use than the originals. I believe the original rocks supplied with the pit were synthetic as they had the weight and consistency of a fake fire log but I do not know this for a fact. Since lava rocks run a wide range from extremely dense to light and porous (some float), it is possible the originals were real.
We also use more rock by volume ... enough that the lid just locks down for storage. This added volume, in addition to the increased density of the rock combines to provided greater heat output. Even so, heat output does not come near to matching a wood fire.
One downside to this is that cool-down takes longer with the heavier rock. This makes no difference at night before bed but when used in the morning prior to travel the denser rocks must be left to cool much longer than the lighter stuff before storage.
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As a data point for folks wondering about fuel consumption, we have run half a dozen 20# tanks through our fireplace over the last year and seem to be consuming about a gallon per evenings use ... 4 - 5 nights at 2 - 3 hours per session. You can turn the flame up or down which changes the consumption rate. Our fire pit is one of the smaller ones ... maybe 18" across.
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Thanks Mike,
We have a 5.5' bed on the F150. Probably go in sideways but not an ideal situation. Otherwise, the Clam seems ideal.
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Mike & Carol,
How do you store your Clam? The long package will not fit fore & aft in our 5 1/2' pickup bed. Not real excited about hauling it on the roof rack. Everything else about the Clam looks real good.
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Kirk,
A good excuse to visit Craters of the Moon. One of our favorite spots.
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The propane firepits lack the charm and warmth of a traditional wood fire but they are an option as campfire bans become the norm in our dry, Western forests. We set ours up for use either by direct hookup to a tank or by tying a longer hose into the Oliver's external hookups. This requires the purchase of an additional longer hose and adapters to allow for the use of the original short hose supplied for direct tank hookup as well as the second, longer hose. We set up ours to allow for the use of quick disconnect fittings on both hoses.
Heat output is not up to the standards of a real campfire, nor is the fire as fun. You don't get the snap and crackle of a real wood fire and there is no point in jabbing the propane flames with a stick ... always a source of amusement with a real fire. On the plus side, smoke is a non-issue and it does provide a focus point for friends to gather around. We were able to increase heat output by adding a bunch of small, pourous lava stones, courtesy of a local volcano. These stones are heavier than the fake rocks that come with the propane firepits and soak up (& radiate) far more heat. Make sure to use appropriate, completely dry stones to avoid the small, nasty explosions that can occur when heating water soaked stones.
Speaking of things campfire, we recently purchased a small electric chainsaw for use gathering wood. Boy, what a time and labor saver! I should add we get 5 - 6 long nightime sessions (2 - 3 hours each) out of a 20# cylinder if we don't crank it up too high.
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2 hours ago, TexasGuy said:
Been offline for a bit. I tow my LE II with 2021 F150 4WD with max tow package and 3.5EB. Have towed over 6,000 miles since pick up and truck tows like a dream. Very happy with how the truck handles trailer and EB engine handles weight with no issues. One reason I often use cruise control is to keep speed down. The 3.5EB actually tows more than V8 and I have average 12.5 mpg towing.
Good luck with search.
My experience with our 2021 F150 3.5 EB / FX4 / max tow truck mirrors what TexasGuy is experiencing. We have maybe 10K on the F150 while towing our Oliver. Could not be happier with the truck ... a great match for the Legacy II.
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Steph & Dud,
It is but the Cabin envelopes the battery box except on one side and any heat within the cabin will warm the battery box. This is not total protection but does give you a buffer. Outside temp here in Port Townsend, WA is now 40 degrees (at noon) but the batterys are showing at 54 degrees - this with a small space heater set on it's lowest fan / heat setting. Blocking off air flow from the outside of the battery box and insulating the exterior door will offer additional protection for Lithiums. I would not block off outside air from a wet cell.
If one were to mount a permanent heater with ducts into the space between the hulls as well as the interior of the cabin, this would give you a great deal of protection. Just thinking out loud here.
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During the winter I have kept a small electric heater running in the cabin of my sailboat for the last 35 years. It tends to get wet and cold on the coast of Washington and a heater kept on low heat will help dry the air and keep the mustiness out of cabin and lockers. It is also important to have some outsinde air venting through the cabin.
I have given some thought to permanently installing a very small, wall mounted electric heater in our new Legacy II but have not gone anywhere with that. Anyone explored that option?
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Also check out the Overlander.
These Garmin units are far more resource rich and user friendly than the GPS that came in my 2021 F150.
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The factory weight of our hull 770 was 5020# as it left the factory last May.
We went with the Anderson, Lithium package and 30# tanks ... the only things in your build that will really effect weight - the propane tanks and Anderson add weight and the Lithiums will lose you quite a bit of weight over a wet-cell battery setup. Your composting toilet will probably prove out lighter as the "loaded" weight will be less than a full black tank. I suspect the weight of the head itself will be a wash or perhaps a bit lighter than the standard head. I am also guessing the Truma may be a few pounds lighter than the standard water heater / tank combo but do not know this for a fact.
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While building boats, I have successfully sealed the edges of fibreglass using a laminating epoxy such as West or System Three. It is tedius but can be done effectively. It helps to seal an edge, let it cure and then give it a light sanding before re-coating. Mask well and remove the masking tape immediately after sealing in order to clean up any uncured epoxy which may have wicked behind the tape. If you fail to do this before the epoxy cures the tape will be epoxied to the glass.
You can color the epoxy to match the epoxy resin if you desire. The whole process is time consuming and, as I said, tedious.
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Had to laugh when the Tang photo popped up. Years ago, while hiking the John Muir Trail in the Sierra's, we had bears nab the food bags we had hanging from a tree. The only thing the bears did not eat was the Tang and Mountain House freeze dried dinners. Slit the bag the Tang was stored in, tasted it and then set it aside. A bear of taste and refinement!
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Successfully painting gelcoat can be extremely difficult and prone to failure. It can be done by those with the experience and equipment to pull it off but for a beginner, the potential for a real mess is very high and reversing the effect may or not be possible. The only sure outcome, as stated by others, is to lessen the resale value of your Oliver.
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Fridge cold at pickup?
in Delivery Day Photos
Posted
770 was not flushed, filled with fresh water nor was the fridge running when we arrived for PU last May.
Expect to have to perform all this stuff upon delivery. It was however, very clean and otherwise ready to roll.