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GaryJona

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Everything posted by GaryJona

  1. Sunset in Lake Havasu Arizona BLM sunset , crossing the Yukon River in the Canada near Dawson City & Chicken Alaska on the Top of the World Highway and sitting on the bay in Seward Alaska. Keep those Tires rolling we say. [attachment file=Oliver Dawson City Yukon.jpg]
  2. Kudo's to you for doing the real math and understanding what they say, not what you want to hear from them. Can you use a 1/2 ton with the right set up i would say yes, but question is what is your traveling style going to be.Here's just a few more things to ponder as you may. My wife and I will go for 2 to 3 months or more and when your going to Alaska it is great to have a large gas tank vs a 24 gallon tank because you sure do not have to stop every 2 or so hours. Traveling across New Foundland is also nice to go for 3 or more hours as well not quite as populated just a thought on what you might want in your truck. Also Truck bed size i would say 6 1/2 foot bed is the right size to think about, if you carry a claim or a quick set up canopy you might need or want that. Sorry and one more thing I would think about is engine braking or Jake brakes sure saves on the transmission and brakes when traveling in the higher mountains, sometimes we have gone down 7 % grades for 8 to 12 miles. On the engine size I would never try anything under a 5.7 unless you never leave Florida or always do short trips. I first pulled with a Ford 5.0 and my buddy a Tundra 5.7 and I was Fred Flinstone when it came to climbing the Mountain passes. You are on the right path and better to think before you make any decisions and you can always go with what got you here first and then decide. Safe travels Thanks Gary
  3. Oliver has a very talented staff and between the welding and the fiberglass division it would have to be really bad. There was an Oliver owner that backed into something and took out the complete top back quarter panel and fixed up like new so there is always a a helpful hand at the Oliver Camper division. Travel safe and enjoy.....we sure do. Thanks Gary
  4. Costco carries the perfect size runners for that area, two fit perfect and then get one small one for the front door. Sure helps when you get in sandy or like those going out to Quartzite right now. Good ideas and make it your own have fun and safe travels. Thanks Gary
  5. I am not sure I can help you on the foam part I got mine at a local flea market in Murphy NC for about $2 a foot and it was about 4 ft. wide so pretty cheap. Before I found this I was thinking about the foam pads they lay under sleeping bags that are also closed cell foam so not to let moisture thru. The duck tape was the low residue tape and only took about one roll to put the foam on and took an hour at the most. I cut the foam at home in Florida to the shape i wanted and applied it to the Oliver when we got into British Columbia right before getting on to the ALcan. The tape held for an easy 6 weeks on the trip to Alaska thru Alaska and back down the Cassiar Hwy. into Washington State then I removed it. It held up great and let no intrusion of the mud and heavy rains or water we encountered and you will I guarantee you will go thru the same. What ever you do you will enjoy the trip , try not to rush your self, and check out Haines and Hyder Alaska for Bear watching if your there during the Salmon runs. If you go to Valdez be sure you cross over to the Salmon Weir on the other side of the bay both times we were in Alaska there was a Mother Grizzly that can down every evening with 4 cubs to feed on the salmon alone with the Sea Lions and eagles. Any way good luck the most important area to cover is the areas on each of the front corners inside from the running lights. Thanks Gary Here is a picture of the better halves from Dawson city waiting on the Ferry to cross from the Provincial campground. This was doing the Top of the World Hwy.
  6. Hello, yes only used the buddy heater as a back up and would not run it when we were sleeping. I placed it at an angle in front of the closet to place the heat down the walk way and not to close to the fridge corner as it does put out a good amount of heat. I always opened up a window in the front and the back of the camper partially for fresh air and did this before we went to bed and turned it on again when we got up in the morning and ran it then for a while while the wife enjoyed her coffee. I would have to check the model but it was the middle size one that ran depending where you looked for it around $79 to $109 in the stores. The heater uses those small green propane bottles you see in all the camping store and Walmart, I usually carry at least 4 of them as I use them for a couple of my camping stoves and if you run out say in the Yukon or nowheresville USA they triple the price for them. Well I hope that helps you out and you never have to use it but I'm sure glad we had it. Thanks Gary [attachment file=Oliver Dawson City Yukon.jpg]
  7. It's only dumb if you don't ask, well if the sun comes out in the morning you will be able to go as long as the propane holds out. You'll run out of gas before anything else if the sun shines. Just a note if you do cold weather camping always have a back up source, don't ask how I know. I keep a small cube heater should we have electric and when boon docking I keep a small propane buddy heater with several small green propane bottles. Thanks Gary
  8. Have a great Holiday and safe travels to all. Thanks Gary & Jona
  9. The bra for my Oliver was 1/8 inch or so closed cell foam I bought at a flea market, just like the material you would buy for under sleeping bags etc. I used the closed cell foam so no water or dust etc. gets behind the material to rub the gel coat. I made the pattern and just put it on in British Columbia and left it on through Alaska and south on the Cassiar into Washigton state and then removed it. I put it on with Non - Residue duct tape which worked really well, stayed on for around 6 weeks, never came lose in the mudd, rain, heat all the weather conditions you get through the Yukon including the Top of the World Highway through Dawson City and Chicken. You can find the Non-residue duck tape at Home Depot, Lowes or most hardware stores. The foam worked really really well you could see all the areas where the rocks hit the front area. A friend traveled with us to Alaska and have the same truck with Mudd Tamers and still had many spots that the rocks hit the foam. I was able to remove the foam as stated and still saved it for our next trip back. Hope this answers your question. Thanks Gary
  10. Yes they are a great tow vehicle you will love it. On the chains go to tractor supply or some place like that and get two hooks that will fit the trailer hitch on your truck and replace those on the trailer because they will not. You just pull the carter pin put the new ones on and hook up. One idea on the safety brakes is look on the under side if the truck hitch and if like mine there is a hole there get a eye bolt a couple lock washers and couple nuts to tighten up and have a nice place right in the middle under the hitch and chains to hook up the brake switch. I have taken the trip to Alaska several times and the rock tamers are nice and help they are not the complete answer. I would recommend covering the front of the trailer from running lights to the center front. I will attach a pic for and idea. I'm not going there only for reference lots of theory on this subject. Thanks Gary[attachment file=IMG_0423.JPG] [attachment file=IMG_0422.JPG] [attachment file=IMG_0423.JPG]
  11. Hey all I went through this for over a year and was the pump check valve leaking back into the fresh water tank. I replaced it and all is well, it would stop for a few days on and off but never went away till i replaced the pump. I took the pump apart and could not see why it might be leaking and by the time you buy the replacement parts for about $30 bucks more you can just replace and put a new one in just my opinion. Thanks Gary
  12. Now that was thinking outside the box Mike, I really like that idea. I have made our's into a king a couple time when we take the Grandkids for a couple weeks in the summer looks good and a lot less extra structure with your method. Thanks Gary
  13. Welcome to the Ollie family you will love your experience, make sure your heat works before you leave and that time of year carry a back up source read the post from New England. The heater is a mechanical piece of the trailer and always subject to issues not an Oliver issue but Murphy's law can prevail we carry a Buddy Heater which uses the small little green bottles of propane, works well we do not sleep with it but will heat the cabin up nice in the evening before bed and in the morning when you get up just leave a window open when using any of the propane heat sources including the stove when cooking. We were on our way to Alaska back in 2016 and boon docking across from the Canadian Ice Fields it snowed and ice on the truck guess what Murphy's law. Only saying this because of your time of year being on the road. Safe travels. Thanks Gary
  14. That is a driver decision, I have the anderson since my first tow vehicle was a F150 and with out it it would have been towing out of spec's. When I went to the Chevy 2500 Diesel I towed once with it and once i received my zero/ 1 inch drop hitch I now carry it as an extra or if I ever get into really windy conditions such as New Foundland etc. I might put it back on. For the last two years I never felt that I needed to and that is in some pretty windy states. That's my 2 cents I have no sway or passing issues so happy so far the Oliver tracks so well with the bigger truck easy to forget she is back there. Thanks Gary
  15. Well welcome to the group congrats on your decision and your will not be disappointed in the purchase. Great group of folks these Oliver people are and a lot of knowledge to gather from, so enjoy the journey it's a good one. Be safe Gary & Jona
  16. I have been towing with the Duramax since 2016 and love the towing ability with the engine braking as well, we have towed our Ollie to Alaska over 17,000 miles on that trip alone and across the US from florida more than several times and just back from Yellowstone last week. I usually travel between 65 and 72 most of the time and never an issue going up or down a Mountain. I just put new E rated Michelin's on a couple weeks ago at 50,000 miles and the rotor's show very little wear and doing great so I can't say anything but good so far. Yes Steve is driving the 2500 diesel now as well as another friend of our ands their Ollie Lee and Terri. Just be sure to always get the 6.5 ft bed and love the 4 door room. Thanks Gary
  17. Great to hear and the very best of travels to you. Yes the wait begins but the prep will continue do you have your Geezer pass for the National Parks if your of age and aligning the items of use on your travels so your ready to go on pick up. We took several boxes of supplies and items and rolled on the roads. Some items you can get there with the Walmart and Tractor Supplies store right near the Factory. Enjoyed it will be here before you know it. Be Safe. Gary & Jona
  18. You can probably unscrew it they will come out and try to clean it out or take it up to the auto parts store and buy a package of a few replacement ones and crew in a new one. They will have them straight as the ones that came on the suspension kit or you can also get some that are at a 45 degree for easier use for some areas. The reason I said to take it up as they cmd in different sizes. Good luck Gary
  19. Hello all a few more cents into the well, one thing I would always do is have a back up plan I love my Oliver but any heating system can have issues, run out of propane, have a leak, battery loss, wire loss, sail switch stuck, just plan fail, campground lose electric ( this has happened to us ). We carry a Buddy heater and works very well, warms it up before going to bed and getting up in the morning. This has saved us before with a wire coming loose while in Alaska once. Just some added insurance that we carry and will have in mu truck when we leave next week for quartzite. Safe travels Gary.
  20. OK I know I should stay out by my two Cents...... Correct buy what is right for you, I first towed the Oliver II with a Ford F150 and I as well loved my Ford ride comfort were great. Then the BUT under powered 5.0 not good in the mountains, short bed under 5.5 bed not good for carrying things like a Clam. Now a friend had a Toyota he also loved his truck but had a 25 gal fuel tank i would be reaching a half tank and he was looking for a gas station we usually camp for 2 to 3 months at a stretch so like Alaska and New Foundland trips a nice reserve helps you feel better on some days. The only thing I will say on the Ford Turbo is they tow great ran into a Airstream 26 or so length that loved his ran into him in Haines Alaska a few years back and another in Virginia but had the small one and he was very disappointed on his ability with a stick built trailer being underpowered. The repairs in and around 125,000 miles on a Ford turbo engine could be a issue I'm not sure,so I would read all the ford reviews on line for me to make that type of decision. Best of decisions, good travels, be safe. Thanks Gary
  21. Welcom, Welcome...... lots of traveling folks on these sites enjoy and safe travels. You could end up anywhere.
  22. Thanks for the update I just got mine in the mail today so will replace tomorrow and I know know it will fit. Thanks Gary
  23. Just one quick suggestion put weather alert on your cell phone and you will get warning where ever you are on the road as long as u have cell service, Tornados, snow, wind, etc what ever the national weather forecasts put out. Thanks Gary
  24. Well I do not know if you have the solar package but we just came back from colorado when it was in the low 20's at night boon docking. The batteries would go from 100 to about 89 to 93 percent each night we did not leave it at 70 but about 60 to 65 at night good sleeping temp and they would charge back up to 100% by noon or so. Hope that helps but even with out solar you should be able to go several nights on 4 batteries that were fully charged. Thanks Gary
  25. I would cover the front of the trailer when you start the Alaska Canadian Highway so through British Columbia and the Yukon Territories we covered ours with a thin layer of closed cell foam I bought at a flea market. Put it on with no-residue duck tape I bought at the Home Depot/ Lowes stores worked well, lasted up through Alaska and back to Washington state when I took it off so for over a month. I made sure no water or air gets behind as that is what wears on the gel coat and you will get rain, mudd, dust and more rain , mudd and dust, but the rain cleans it off pretty well. Just a mention they help but rock Tammers alone are not the answer. Thanks Gary
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