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Ralph Mawyer

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Posts posted by Ralph Mawyer

    Wet Cell Battery Maintenance

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I know most discussion are on AGM and Lithium, but my May 2020 Elite II came with wet cell batteries.

    It stays plugged in at home when not on the road. The batteries have an indicator window, but it is only visible for the outmost left batteries.

    In order to check fluid level I would have to disconnect all wiring and pull all four batteries.

    Is it reasonable to assume that if the battery indicator window I can see shows good levels, I'm likely OK on the others?

    For those of you using wet cell, what kinda of maintenance  have you done after two years?

    Most usage is RV/State parks with electricity, but I expect at least five days of Boondocking in May, with solar.

    I may outsource a Lithium install to Mike (Moderator), but likely not soon. 😉

     

    micro wave

    in Ollie Boondocking

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Jps190 said:

    Sure you can.  We have a small one from Walmart that we bought for around 60 bucks.  Amazon has a bunch of smaller ones as well.  I think our is 700 watts.  The less power draw the better.

     

    John

    Does it fit in the cabinet?  The depth is less than what I had in my casita. 

    Trip Planning for 2022

    in Campgrounds & Parks

    Posted

    I started trying to pre-book my Yellowstone return to San Antonio leg and my brain hurts in just trying to decide where to go, so many campsite choices out west/north, how long to stay, on a daily basis....or which direction any this point.  Leaning towards the Badlands, as I've never been there.  

    • Like 2

    How to: Search OTT Forums using Google's search engine

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Started doing that right after I got on here.  Took me a bit to figure out that hitting 'replies' would let me see the latest replies for a topic, vs clicking and scrolling.

    So much of this stuff is limited by the website solution software they implemented vs just buying forum specific software.  Few forum software packages seem to have good search tools.

    But overall, it's not too bad and easy to read.

    • Like 3

    Angel's Landing

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

    Kind of like driving highway 550 down to Durango?  I stood in the open door of a C-130 at 1200 feet more than once before making an exit.  I still hate heights!  Mike

    1200 feet?  Did you just bunji cord down? 😉

    • Haha 2

    Central Texas to Grand Tetons/ Yellowstone

    in Campgrounds & Parks

    Posted

    (Not sure if right topic, but...)

    I'm leading a two trailer trip, with a couple of friends that have a 23ft Airstream. Mid-May departure. I'm usually solo, so know this will be slower/shorter days.

    Tentatively looking at 3-4 days in transit, we're leaving from San Antonio making time to the Grand Tetons or a bit south and then slow down a bit.  At this point, looks like we'll go to the panhandle (Palo Duro Canyon most likely), then through Denver somehow, heading west after that on I-80 to Rock Springs then north to Grand Tetons.

    I've done Denver trips a lot of ways, but not needing campsites.   I'm thinking about heading north from Palo Duro and catching I-70 east of Denver, then bypassing it to via the NW loop around the city. I've never done that route, as we usually go up via Raton Pass and north.

    So, all that said, we can either camp south (Pueblo?) of Denver, east (?) of Denver, or push through to somewhere north of Denver, maybe Loveland or Ft. Collins.  Anyone done anything east or north of Denver that isn't too far off the Interstate?  I've been looking at Compendium, and other apps, but thought I'd see what the hive mind here might suggest.

     

    Day 1 - SAT- Canyon/Palo Duro/Amarillo Texas

    Day 2 - TBD (East of Denver or Ft. Collins area?)

    Day 3 - TBD - (Either off I 80 somewhere or push up Rock Springs to Boulder/Pinedale WY

    Day 4 - Arrive Grand Tetons

     

    • Thanks 1

    Legacy Elite for a 6'02" individual?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm 6'2" + and used our 2002 Casita 17 without issues until I moved to the Elite II this past spring.  The top of my head touched the ceiling carpet, but the reality was that I was rarely standing except when transitioning down the aisle.  For a purely weekend/week trip trailer, I don't think it would be an issue.   Even with cold weather, you'll either be at the table or sitting/lying on the bed.  Guessing showers may not be a big priority for a Fri-Sun trip in the winter, but easy to do sitting down.

    When we bought our Casita my wife and I were probably 20-30 lbs lighter, I'm 230-240 now, and usually slept wall to wall.  Most of my trips in the last few years have been solo, since she still works, and I found sleeping diagonally in the Casita was perfect and gave me a corner backrest for reading.

    I'd find a Casita Spirit with the bed made up and see how it feels.  I really don't think you will regret the ease of use of the Elite 1 given your requirements....now finding/getting one is another story. 😉.   The ability to hook-up without a WDH and the maneuverabilty is great.    Now, if you could just leave your Elite II at the lake... 😉

     

    • Like 1

    1000cc Generator for battery backup

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    Useful thread...

     

     

    4 hours ago, Jim Y said:

    Good morning:),

    We oick up our new Ollie on 01/13/22 and I would like to have the generator ready to go in advance.  I'm hoping to possibly take advantage of a Cyber Monday sale.

    We purchased the Elite II with the "Pro" solar system (390AH and 3000W inverter).  Honestly I don't yet even know what that means - so I'm asking the experts:) that do this all the time.  Which generator should I purchase to be able to properly care for the batteries.  We hope to do cold weather camping and will no doubt have many cloudy days.

     

    Thanks so much for your input.  Also - if you think we made a mistake not getting the larger battery system I might be able to change it.  It was just very expensive as you all know.

    Best to you all!

     

    Jim

     

    • Like 1

    1000cc Generator for battery backup

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    2 hours ago, topgun2 said:

    Ralph - 

    Be aware that most (if not all) of Yellowstone National Park forbids the use of generators.

    Having said this - also be aware of Yellowstone's altitude.  While it can be fairly warm during the daylight hours there, I've never had a night where the temps didn't go into the 40's or below.  The same can be said for much of the nearby surrounding area.

    Seadawg has a fair amount of experience with a small generator and I believe that she and her husband have had no issues with using it to top off their batteries over the years.

    Bill

    Thanks, I stayed at Mammoth three years ago in May, in my Casita.  This was right after a late season snow storm that delayed arrival by a day from the Grand Tetons.  No furnace in the Casita, but beat being in a tent.  As noted above, Mammoth does allow day use of generators,  <=60 DBs.  

    • Like 1

    1000cc Generator for battery backup

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted

    Most generator discussions focus on 2000cc units that allow for soft-start of the AC.  I've got a very old, but like new-in-box, Yamaha EF1000cc unit that I've thought about taking as a backup for charging the batteries if the weather is marginal for a large number of days.

    I expect I'll be in Yellowstone with no AC for 7-14 days, with a chance that days before and after will be boon-docking also.

    If I just want to be able to top off the batteries, any downside to just using the small 1000cc generator? (Solar Pack with four wet cell batteries)

     

    I'll be traveling with a couple of friends in their 23' Airstream. They have a 2000cc dual-gas generator, but if we don't need AC, the smaller generator has more appeal.

    Thoughts?

    spending the winter in texas...????

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    It's a big state, so are you thinking snow bird life in the Rio Grande valley, or Dallas, or San Antonio, also west Texas can be awesome, e.g., Alpine (Lost Alaskan RV park)

    More ice and some snow in Dallas area, but it is Texas, so just depends on what the cold fronts do.  Might also start shopping commercial and state campgrounds (2 week limit) to see how availability is.

    Will a V6 4Runner be sufficient to tow a 2009 Oliver Elite I?

    in Towing an Oliver

    Posted

    I pulled my Casita 17 with the Lexus LX 470. So that's 3000+ lbs with the 4.7L V-8, similar to the GX.  It was doable and definitely better than with my 1997 LX 450, but the 570 I use now made it truly painless.

    That said, the E1 is about 5000(?)  lbs and payload of the GX will be limited.  The GX is an awesome truck, but if you want a great SUV for the E1 I'd look at the LX 570 or Land Cruiser with the 5.7 Tundra engine. It would be perfect, if your budget allows. (2013+ @ $40-50K)

    I'd not want to be shopping in this market, but most LX 570s are owned by folks that rarely go Offroad and you can get the service records via the VIN by creating an account on driverslexus.com.  Look for trucks coming off lease or anything 2013 or later with under 100k miles with good service records.

    John Davies and I both pull the E2 with a 200 series.  It's not a 3/4 ton diesel, but gets the job done and doesn't break.

    • Like 1
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