routlaw

Just curious having read through this thread a couple of times. How much or many tools and extra parts do you all carry around with you while camping/traveling? It would appear quite a bit requiring a substantial tool chest. Thus far I've been able to get by with a modest size tool box and usually keep it stored in the rear basement storage area accessed from the outside. From what most of you are describing your tool box or chest would seemingly be carried in the back of a truck bed or equivalent. Doesn't sound like it would fit the rear storage area. This also begs the question, aside from Oliver owners, is this level road trip maintenance preparedness normal? Finally how long does it take each of you (approximately) to perform these maintenance procedures?

Regarding the door, did this happen going down the road or while opened at camp? I’ve been in some extreme wind myself while towing but never had that happen. You can just about always depend on heavy winds in the southwest, still I’m addicted to going down there.

We are in Bozeman, but that’s a ways down the road from Moscow. LMK

Curious what did you use? Hard to tell from the photo. Even though I swore I wouldn’t do it, but am on the verge of springing for the lithium batteries right now and planning out various ways to insulate and seal.

Hmm, seem odd. There a few in Montana including mine. Yeah with LiFePO4’s you most likely wouldn’t want vents in the battery compartment especially up here in the northern hinterlands. Better to keep them insulated and warm than cold. Don’t know what part of ID you’re in but PM me if you would like to see ours.

Can you elaborate on that? Thanks if so.

Have you inspected the anode rod? Could be its shot and needs replacement, especially since its not working on both sources of energy.

Yep, Ryan Gurin was the guy I've dealt with. Also agree the to deep dive into the IPN Remote Controller is not for sissies either, perhaps my only complaint about the system. Also FWIW even Battle Born Batteries which is very particular about what is used with their batteries seems to think positively of Blue Sky. I'm sure impressed.

Just wanted to report on some extraordinary customer service I have received from Blue Sky Energy a division of Sunforge that manufactures the Blue Sky Solar Boost model 3024iL I have on my Oliver. After our return home from a week in southern Utah the thing died on me out of nowhere. Called the company the engineer or tech guy had me go through a few of the settings on the IPN Remote controller and decided I should send it. Said they would repair it for free, this after 7 years of use and 2 years out of warranty. Only thing I had to loose was shipping to the company and of course I gladly obliged. Turns out the inductor had a broken leg, so they replaced that as well as the relay, and updated the firmware then packed it back up and its on its way back all in one day. No charge, not even for the return postage. Wow! I don't why Oliver decided to eliminate this company from their solar setups but I rarely if ever have experienced such great support. Highly recommended for anyone needing a solar charging system. Thanks

Used the lego type blocks in the past but this year bought the Andersen Levelers and really like them. Quick and easy.

Yeah that engine will pin you to the back of your seat for sure. 😂

Good information. I had been under the impression the PB F150 had a much smaller gas tank. We have an older F150 3.5 Eco Boost and under ideal conditions which doesn't always happen out west we can get up to 14.5 mpg towing our Elite II and only a few times has it dropped down to as low as 10 mpg and that was under some terrible driving conditions with howling winds. Averages fall somewhere in between. I do find it odd Ford did not allow this setup to use battery power to assist in towing however.

Can you imagine taking a 600-700 mile (one way) camping trip with necessary charging every 100-150 miles which takes what was it 45 minutes for a DC quick charge and that's if you can find a charge station you can fit into without unhitching and re-hitching. Might take 2-3 days to get to your destination. Puts new meaning on plan ahead. I've not heard of Lithium sulphur batteries, will look into that.

I watched the video in part but like the vast majority of youtube videos there was far too much unnecessary clamoring that had little to any relevance to the primary intent of the test so I skipped through most of it to get to the results. Who in their right mind would buy a truck like this to only be able to tow 100 miles ± a few? I'm all for an alternative energy, but this seems so misplaced and on so many different levels. Also the claims the Rivian was "100 times better" at towing than the F150 seems a bit dubious at best, especially given the drivers enthusiastic waxing about how great the F150 was while driving it. Seriously a pint size truck is better at towing and handling than a full size half ton pickup (of any make or model), really. The torque of the electric motors at which wheel is understandable but beyond that I have my doubts. The biggest disappointment was the F150 not being able to use its onboard battery power to assist in the towing, relegating all the duties to gas power and what many might not know unless Ford has changed the specs the smaller gas tank is only available in these hybrid models. IOW's you only have a gas tank of about 25 gallons instead of the 36 gallon tank. Stupid decision on Fords part with this IMHO. As someone else stated we just aren't there yet and probably will not be for a very long time to come. Have my doubts battery power in this application will ever suffice.

@Chukarhunter sounds like a plan, worth a shot and should be a quick and easy investigation. I will say this thus far I've seen no corrosion at all on any of the wiring throughout the camper. Thanks

This is exactly what I have always thought or been taught too. I will go ahead and post the link to the article keeping in mind I am not promoting this idea or this person just supplying additional information on battery maintenance. https://www.boondoctor.com The above is the general website address where you can find numerous articles or blogs this fellow has posted. https://www.boondoctor.com/knowledgebase/how-far-to-discharge-your-lead-acid-rv-batteries/ He certainly seems to know much more than I do regarding RV boon docking and associated battery information. The article above certainly flies in the face of conventional wisdom.

I hear what you're saying on these numbers and in fact in the past even with less SOC these same batteries would run the furnace. In milder temps at 12.7 volts once the furnace motor started it would immediately drop to 12.5. I was reading earlier today on the boondocks bible website where aging batteries might not have the ability to fulfill a heavy amp draw even though the battery might be charged. Not sure what to make of this, and at least one of the owners stated on his own website (boondoctor.com) lead acid batteries should be drain to 10.5 at least once per year. As you might imagine when asking about this to Trojan and Lifeline results were a bit different. One would think as old as this technology is, there would be no debated about how to maintain them, but this is not the case. I'm inclined to do AGM's but there is not a lot of reputable brands to choose from up here in the Northern Hinterlands other than Interstate Batteries. Shipping on 280 lbs worth of batteries has to be pricey these days.

LOL😂 probably both! Seriously I stand by my initial statement the Suburban furnace is truly a piece of work which only a deeply troubled mind could have designed and invented. Would like to think the Attwood's are at least a modicum better. Good luck getting past 7 years with yours, hope you succeed. Truth be told based upon my testing while the weather was a bit milder I could probably push it and get at least another summer season out of the ones I have. Doubt they would hold up to a fall season though.

Curious our pump has always made this chattering sound at the end of its pressure cycle, never made much of it and its still working. Oh well.

2009 amazing, and there in lies the difference. I have not been that meticulous about the battery maintenance. FWIW I have called both Trojan and Lifeline battery companies and both companies have stated I've done well getting 7 years out of these. To add to that after charging again all day, unplugged battery power started furnace quickly @ 13.0 volts SOC, turned off furnace for a few minutes, SOC @ 12.8 volts and again furnace starts and its freezing cold here with snow now coming down. Did the same thing a few times on Sunday with same results. Looks like time to buy new batteries, because its obvious @ 12.7 volts these batteries do not have enough left to power the fan motor properly. 1st World problems, we should be so luck. Thanks

As I was writing my reply it occurred to me that was your intention, use the Truck with jumper cables to connect. Unfortunately due to where I live this is near impossible without dragging the entire affair to a parking lot of sorts. Live in an older historical neighborhood and the access just doesn't allow for a side by side setup like that. Good idea though. FWIW I have checked the voltage reading with several intervals after a charge. Last two nights I wanted to immolate what it would be like on a boon docking trip using solar in the day by taking camper off shore power at sundown, check voltage first think after sunrise, then try and start furnace. Got 12.7 volts, furnace would not start until I plugged into shore power again then furnaces starts up immediately.

Well there are some technical differences with the 6 volt Trojan T-105 compared to auto/truck batteries. Its my understanding they really are made to a different level with deep cell technology and are meant to last a longer time… maybe. Just had to replace my truck battery this past summer after 8 years of use. And you are correct colder weather puts far more stress on a battery than 60 or 70 degrees. First time I'v heard of unreliable readings for wet cells though, wonder what might cause this anomaly. Thanks

It probably would, but the logistics and effort of removing 4 Trojan T-105's just to install one single 12 volt batter of known quantity would be a major PITA. And @Rivernerd makes a good point about their age as well. Thanks

Another quick update regarding furnace failure. At this point after several days of testing and analyzing the situation all indicators point to failing batteries after 7 years of use. Can't be absolutely be certain of this but the last two days we have had very cold temps overnight. This morning was 17º and yesterdaymid 20's in the morning. Both mornings even after a full charge from the previous day the batteries measured 12.7+ volts but would not start the furnace and on both of those days once plugged into shore power the furnace started up and ran for an hour ± without issue. What puzzles me is, when is 12.7 volts ± a fraction not really 12.7 volts. Makes no sense. Worth pointing out however with milder temps and with batteries in this SOC (state of charge) the furnace lit up. Clearly however the battery pack simply did not have the power to run the fan fast enough to trip the sail switch under colder temps. I could replace the sail switch but from all indications it measures and seems work just fine. Hopefully this info will help anyone else when and if they stumble into similar issues. Would love to do the Lithium as replacements, doubt I will do lead acid again but at least AGM. Suggestions and thoughts appreciated.

The Oliver is our third RV in over 20 years, started with a Coleman pop-up, then a T@b and now over 7 years with the Elite II. With that in mind I have no illusions, grand or not about RV's in general having the same standard as the housing market. In fact my intro subject line could have read "RV appliances s*ck" and they truly do or at least the vast majority of them. If the housing and automobile industry performed to the same standards as the RV industry there would be so many class actions lawsuits it would fill and clog up the court system.