[Silicone Sealant Discoloration]

We did not travel with the Ollie for several months after resealing the windows,, so the discoloration is not due to road grime. When we returned home from collecting our Ollie at Hohenwald, there was road grime on the window caulking, but it came off with careful gentle scrubbing, except for the original caulking on the rear sstreetside window.

[Silicone Sealant Discoloration]

I washed the trailer and applied Rejex about a month after the discoloration began. The fact that only these two windows had discolored sealant is the puzzling thing.

[Silicone Sealant Discoloration]

Last year after replacing the rear egress window (Problem with rear egress window, 10/28/22), I removed the original caulking from all the windows and resealed with silicone sealant. The sealant on the rear streetside window and the rear emergency egress window became discolored within three weeks of application, even though my Ollie is stored indoors. The sealant on all the other windows remained a brilliant white color. I used the same tube of silicone sealant on all of the windows, so that rules out a bad tube of silicone sealant.

I'm going to replace the discolored sealant on those two windows because I don't like the way it looks, but before doing so I'd like to understand why the discoloration occurred so I don't replicate the problem. Any advice?

 

 

[Oliver sighting in Northern California]

I had a brief look at an LE2 heading westbound through Redding, CA today a little before 1PM as I was driving home from shopping. I had to turn right as the Ollie was continuing straight, so I didn't have time to notice anything specific other than that it had dual awnings. I didn't notice the tow vehicle either.

Olivers are rare in northern California (Bigfoot sightings, the critter, not the trailer only slightly more rare), and this was the first I've seen in town in three years.

[Who Might You Be?]

I'm wondering why the original title of my post, "Who Might You Be?", was changed? I certainly didn't do it.

The can has been opened, and the worms are not coming back.

[Who Might You Be?]

Now that I have inadvertently 'outed' the owners of this LE2 with this post, in the hopes of learning whether they live in the Pacific Northwest, I suspect they might want to remain anonymous because of our discussion of their choice of tow vehicle. If they do see this post, let's hope they search the Forum for the many discussions about this subject and reconsider their choice of tow vehicle before they find themselves in a bad situation.

[Who Might You Be?]

After all the discussions I've read on the Forum about appropriate tow vehicles, that was my first thought once I noticed that the Ollie is an LE2.

There are quite a few long and steep grades on Interstate 5 between Redding, CA and the Eugene, OR area, with the highest point being at Siskiyou Summit (4310 feet) just south of Ashland. While some of the larger SUVs might have the horsepower to pull the trailer up the grades at a decent speed, I wouldn't feel comfortable on the downhills with a lighter tow vehicle.

[Who Might You Be?]

While researching Harvest Host locations to stop enroute from Redding, CA to Salmon Creek, WA, I had the rare experience of seeing an Ollie that had stopped at Saginaw Vineyard in Cottage Grove, OR. Ollies are seldom seen in the Pacific Northwest, as they are a long way from their birthplace, but they do have an amazing ability to migrate.

[Refrigerator fan]

For those of you whose trailers have a refrigerator fan, where is the fan switch located? My 2021 LE2 doesn't have a fan switch that I have noticed. If Oliver stopped installing a refrigerator fan after the 2017 models, does anyone know why?

[Canada National Parks Campground]

Thanks for the information, Bill. Yesterday I began planning a trip from northern California to Canada to visit Banff and Jasper National parks, and was confused by the reservation system - it wasn't clear that reservations for the parks are staggered. As I've done on previous trips, I make reservations in the most popular locations first, and work backwards from those available dates. It doesn't always work out as I would have preferred, but being retired give me flexibility with scheduling.

Reading comments on the earlier post, 'Anchorage or Bust', gave me the notion to visit Jasper. I'd appreciate any suggestions from anyone about places to visit and camp. My initial plan is to head northeast and enter Canada north of Bonner's Ferry ID on Hwy. 95, then proceed towards Banff. After visiting Banff and Jasper National Parks, the goal is to head towards Abbotsford BC then head south to the Vancouver WA area before returning home.

[Ollie sighting in Oregon]

While traveling back to Redding CA on Interstate 5 from Vancouver WA, we saw a northbound LE2 a few miles south of Canyonville a little after noon today. I only had a few seconds to look, but the Ollie had what appeared to be bicycles on a rear hitch-mounted rack, under a black cover. We see few Ollies out west - I'm curious where the owners live.

There were more travel trailers than I usually see this time of year heading north on Interstate 5 today, including three Escapes and six Airstreams among all the usual stick-built RV's. I'm guessing that the recent winter storm that shut down Interstate 5 north of Redding for two days created a back-up, and people were finally able to travel. We had to wait two days for the highway to reopen before heading home, but fortunately we were staying with family members in Vancouver, and had no reason to rush home. I was glad we weren't towing our Ollie on this trip.

[Problem with rear emergency escape window]

Two weeks ago I finally got around to installing the replacement rear window in my LE2. I had planned to do it after Christmas, but decided to wait until we had a warmer day (low 60's), thinking that the butyl tape that seals the window would compress more easily when tightening the self-tapping screws that hold the inner and outer window frames together.

It was definitely a two-person job. The hardest part was to properly align the inner frame screw holes with the slot in the outer frame that the self-tapping screws penetrate.  After placing the window assembly in the hull opening, I opened the sliding window so I could temporarily clamp the inner window frame in place while I fiddled with aligning the screw holes. When I was ready to install the self-tapping screws, my wife held the window assembly in place from the outside of the trailer so that I didn't push the window assembly out of the hull opening - the butyl tape would not have held the window assembly in place against the force needed to get the self-tapping screws started.

I waited a few days before caulking around the outer window frame to let the butyl tape compress more. I was able to tighten some of the self-tapping screws a bit more, and could see that the gap between the outer window flange and the hull had decreased a bit. I removed the original caulk around all the other windows (caulk on rear street-side window had yellowed within three weeks of delivery) so that all the windows would have the same type and age of sealant.

[Lithionics Lithium Batteries; RVC or LVC state-of charge status?]

I have the Lithium Pro package with three Lithionics 12V130A-G31-LRBM8 batteries in my 2021 LE2. When I spoke to a Lithionics tech to clarify a question I had before performing the first 6-month discharge-charge procedure, he said it was fine to only discharge the batteries to RVC, not LVC as the manual states.

I opted to disregard his advice and follow the instructions in the manual. I keep screen shots of the Bluetooth app to document battery conditions over time, for warranty purposes should a problem arise. I'm curious to know if anyone else with Lithionics batteries have received tech advice that contradicts written procedure.

[Failed Andersen tension chain coupler - ideas?]

After reading this post I decided to check the quick-links on my LE2. Each one was slightly loose, needing about one revolution of the nut to completely tighten. I bought two spares and will apply red Loctite to the threads on the originals. Issues like this are one of the reasons I read the Forum regularly - I learn something almost every week.

[Problem with rear emergency escape window]

Thanks for all the good responses. Two questions:

Are the windows secured in the hull only by the butyl tape adhesive?

What's your technique for smoothing the caulking bead when using silicone or hybrid caulks that require mineral spirits to clean?

I've only used caulking around the house that can be cleaned with soap and water, and use a wetted finger or a damp grouting sponge to smooth the caulk bead.

[Problem with rear emergency escape window]

Andrew,

Having to replace the bathroom window three times must have been frustrating, especially since your Ollie isn't very old, but now you're the window expert by necessity.

I'll definitely keep your offer in mind when the new window assembly arrives.

[Problem with rear emergency escape window]

Thanks for the input and offer, Andrew. Have you replaced a window on your Ollie, or another fiberglass trailer?

My wife has some relatives and friends in the LA & San Diego area, so a trip down south could accomplish two things.

I like your Ollies name - I haven't been able to think of anything novel yet.

[Problem with rear emergency escape window]

Rivernerd, along with a replacement window assembly, I asked Mike Sharpe to send detailed removal and installation instructions so that I, or whoever replaces the window knows what to do. I'm not certain that most RV repair facilities are used to working on fiberglass trailers. If the process is not complicated, I'd consider doing the job myself, with a helper to give me 'constructive criticism'. 😄

[Problem with rear emergency escape window]

AlbertNTerri, I did request a replacement window assembly, and also asked Mike Sharpe about recommended RV repair facilities on the West Coast, but he said they don't have any. I seem to recall reading earlier Forum posts about Oliver trying to establish such a list, but apparently it hasn't happened yet.

[Problem with rear emergency escape window]

While cleaning our Ollie prior to storing it indoors after 8000K miles traveling this year, I discovered that the rear emergency escape window would not open - the latch would not release completely on the curbside. I had not previously tried to open the rear window since taking delivery in September 2021 (oversight on my part at delivery, trust but verify).

With the curbside red handle completely open, the window would only open about 3/16ths of an inch, just enough to see that the metal hook that the red lever grabs onto was loose, and was impinging on the frame of the movable window. With some gentle lateral prying, I was able to open the window. When I attempted to tighten the screws that attach the metal hook to the window mounting frame, they were stripped.

I reattached the metal hook using larger sheet metal screws and thought the problem was solved, but that would be too easy. After much pondering, it turns out that the hinged window was not perfectly centered in the external mounting frame, being offset approximately 1/8th inch to the curbside, and there is no way to change that - it was just a defective window assembly from the supplier. With my precision hammer, I modified (bent) the part of the moveable window frame that contacted the metal hook enough that it would allow the window to open and close, but not without some contact between the parts. So, the window is now functional, but not pretty when open, which won't happen very often, but resale value would be compromised when the time comes to part with Ollie, as I would have to disclose the damage.

Mike Sharpe at Oliver Support has been very helpful throughout this process, and has offered to send me a replacement window assembly. I asked Mike if the installers at Oliver actually verify that windows work properly after they plug them into the hull openings, because delivering a defective emergency escape window would be a huge liability for Oliver in the event of injury or death. I can't imagine how a functioning window assembly could fail if it had never been opened. I have not gotten a reply to this question yet, as it was after business hours in Hohenwald when I posed this question.

Because I live in far northern California, and am not planning to travel back to the mothership any time soon, I need to find a reputable RV repair facility that works on fiberglass trailers to install the new window assembly. I know that there a handful of Ollie owners on the West Coast, and would appreciate recommendations for repair shops that would be within a day or two travel time.

So, for current or soon-to-be Ollie owners, make sure your emergency escape window works properly.

[Mod idea needed for exterior panel warping]

Hi Cameron,

After reading your post, I noticed that the panel on my LE2 is not completely flush with the trailer body, but not quite as pronounced as your photo shows. I attached two velcro strips, on the back vertical sides of the panel, to better secure the panel. I suspect that a replacement panel would eventually warp a bit, as the plastic is quite flexible.

[Basement storage container perfect fit.]

Thanks for the tip about the Plano storage box. I bought one yesterday to replace the two milk crates that I stored in the inner-most part of the basement. Even with ropes attached to the crates to make it easier to remove them, the furthest crate would always hang up on a bump in the ridged rubber matting, and I would have to go headfirst into the basement to retrieve it. The Plano box slides in and out easily, once you figure out how to angle it just right.

[water pump chattering at end of cycle]

What do I need to do before removing and cleaning the water pump filter to avoid spilling water? I've read enough posts about plastic shavings in the filter that made me want to check, even though I haven't noticed any water flow problems.

[HOW TO: Rear mud flaps for the Ollie]

Hi John. I did not drill drain holes in the bottom of the support bars. The plugs are only in the outer exposed ends, so any water that gets into the bars should drain or evaporate from the open inner ends under the trailer.

Thanks again for the inspiration to make this modification.

[HOW TO: Rear mud flaps for the Ollie]

I finished installing mud flaps on our 2021 LE2 today. The street side mud flap does not clear the basement door, as on JED's trailer, but the door does open fully when the upper part of the flap is bent forward a bit. That's not a big deal, but I do wonder what the difference is between our trailers. The 1"x2" aluminum tubing I used is attached to the forward part of the lateral angle that is part of the sub-frame, and the flap is attached to the front of the aluminum support as in the photos of other installations. I suspect that the lateral angle piece is welded to the sub-frame further to the rear of the trailer, rather than there being a difference in the size of the basement door opening.

I added plugs to the exposed ends of the aluminum supports to give a more finished appearance. I bought them on Amazon (where else?).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CNCCR7S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1