John and Debbie
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Posts posted by John and Debbie
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Hi all, we have the Norcold three way refrigerator that has a large vent on the bottom with three air intake slats and a smaller one on top with I believe five slats. I installed three metal screens on the lower one to keep bugs out. It's designed for that purpose so should work well. Does anyone do anything on the upper vent? If I was a smart bug I would just enter through the top uncovered vent. I don't want to go too crazy and impede the exhaust air unless it's ok.
Thanks, John
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On 8/5/2024 at 6:56 AM, Geronimo John said:
At 24,000 miles on our OE2 I chose to replace the Monroe shocks when doing springs.. All four were still functioning with no leaks or adverse signs of wear. I would consider that 5 seasons or 24K miles would be a reasonable "end of life" goal.
GJ:
Crazy Horse adds: "Yea on the goal, but maybe early just for highway use. But for sure not for the boondocker five-leafer herd".
CH
I have the Bulldog shocks with me so that Alcan can replace the Monroe shocks that are on now when they put the five leaf springs on in two weeks in Grand Junction.
John
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On 5/25/2024 at 12:07 PM, Geronimo John said:
I saw this idea before our trip to Alaska. Didn't do it as I felt that the Husky mud guards, and a large one at the bumper would do the trick. They did their job well.... maybe 99.5%, But that last one half of a percent was noticeable.
When we go back to AK, I'll be sporting Yoga Mats.
GJ
We use Rock Tamers. They're big, maybe similar in dimensions to yours. Good point about that 0.5% still able to make an impact, literally.
John
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Hi all, we leave in about a month for a month long tour in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Does anyone here use a dash cam and if so, which one do you use? Ideally I want one that doesn't need to be plugged into a cigarette lighter as I use that plug for the Oliver back up camera that is on while driving. Looking forward to getting out and seeing more of the country. First stop is Grand Junction, Colorado for the five leaf springs.
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On 4/3/2025 at 9:22 AM, rideandfly said:
We have a RV780, took about 45 minutes. Updated a few months ago, too.
Have you found it necessary to have an RV Garmin or is it just superfluous given that Google will give you directions too? I would think it might come in handy to not take you on a road with a low overpass or bridge structure.
John
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On 4/1/2025 at 8:49 AM, Wandering Sagebrush said:
SOLVED - I think…
Well, I feel a bit foolish, but the outside shower valves were open. They didn’t feel like it, but they were. Turning right (righty, tighty) there was considerable resistance, so I assumed (ass-u-ME) they were closed. Not the case at all he said blushingly.
Dang I feel foolish! I believe a good test coming out of winterization, is to try and turn the shower valves on. If you hit a hard stop, they are on. A slight wiggle when turning right just may indicate an open valve.
The temps went up to 96° before I turned the water off.
The good news is the Truma is decalcified. Bad news is I am embarrassed.🙈
No worries. We all learn from each other. Our outside faucet knobs are hard to move also. Maybe it's designed that way to make sure they don't wiggle open.
John
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10 hours ago, Rivernerd said:
Your burner assembly will then be "better than new."
We submitted our replacement request to Oliver promptly after receiving the recall notice, but still we wait for a properly crimped burner assembly...
We did the same thing. I wouldn't want to modify the burner assembly on my own even if I knew how to do the welding. You're a former attorney. I would think that if a person did that and if there was a fire, you would not have a legal leg to stand on. Correct me if I am wrong.
John
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4 hours ago, jd1923 said:
I'm not the warranty worry type and ours is long out of warranty! What is your warranty end-date? Your hull now being about 3 years old. I did not mention the bulldog before, but if you added two 5200 LB axles (which your hull may already have) and say the Alcan leafs that many have added (rated at 2750 LBS ea, 11K total) AND a 12,500 LB rated Bulldog coupler and 2 5/16" ball, you can certainly go over to 10K LBS (unless you really think the Oliver frame would be the weak link). Let's ask Steve to chime in! 🤣
@ScubaRx has all these upgrades including trailer disc brakes and I'll betcha his hull has been running well over 7K, closer to 10K GTW, for longer than a decade!
What are the limitations with the tires? There must be some maximum weight that they can carry.
John
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2 hours ago, Patriot said:
Ralph,
When we had our 5 leaf pack installed by Lew and his team at Alcan it took them approx 2.5 hrs and the team did a great job. We got there first thing in morning and all of my expectations were ✅ off. It was worth every cent to have it done professionally and done right. We dropped off our Oliver and went and had an excellent breakfast in Grand Junction at Cafe Sol, gotta go hungry! 😋
We actually camped here the night before- https://koa.com/campgrounds/grand-junction/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp maybe 15-20 min from Alcan with traffic.
Cafe Sol…we ate here during our 2023 trip and again as noted in 24 while having the 5 leaf pack installed. Great coffee and we let the forks fly!! 😄
Patriot🇺🇸
Thanks for all the information! I just booked at the KOA and plan to have breakfast at the same cafe. It appears we can drop off the trailer in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon. We plan to stay at the KOA for four nights and explore the area. Do you have any must sees there in the area?
John
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8 hours ago, Trailblazers said:
i'm curious, approximately how much does the 5200 swap-out run?
Lew wrote back that it's 916.83 for each axle.
John
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2 hours ago, rich.dev said:
I was wondering same, we have a 2023 with the D52 axles. @John and Debbie check the label on your axles, if you see D52 you have the 5200 lbs axles, the 3500lbs on the label refers to the springs (2 x 1750lbs), NOT the axles. See pic.
Very valuable information! I did see the 3500 pounds and assumed that was for the axle. I will check the label when I get back to Oregon. I am in Colorado now.
John
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2 hours ago, John Dorrer said:
I believe the 2022's have the higher rated axel. Check the label on the axel. The 2022's have the Never-Lube.
It's 3500 Never-lube
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Hi all, we will be in Grand Junction, Colorado in mid May getting the five leaf springs put on our 2022 LE2. We also have Bulldog shocks that they will put on. Lew was asking if we wanted the 5200 pound Dexter Never lube axles also. Has anyone gone that route? Has anyone had any issues with the stock dual 3500 pound axles?
Thanks, John
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7 hours ago, katanapilot said:
Anyone in the affected serial number range have a creative way of dealing with the recall - given that parts and service center availability is very limited, we can't buy this part on our own (at least I don't think so) and there is no current lead time being provided on when we will individually get our repair.
I am contemplating trying to purchase a replacement heater and installing it myself. Not at all my first choice, but neither is (a) not going camping, (b) not having hot water or (c) burning up our Oliver. Full hookup sites with camp showers aren't ubiquitous on our desired camping route(s).
I plan to just turn off the Truma aquago every night and turn it back on in the morning.
John
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On 2/20/2025 at 6:29 AM, Mike and Carol said:
I’m starting the planning for a trip to visit some National Parks and states we haven’t been to. This will be a late summer trip, August/September. Planning to visit Lassen, Redwood, Crater Lake, Mt. Ranier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks. Would also like to work in some coast driving (101) and camping. We’ve never been to either state so if anybody has any recommendations or advice it would be appreciated. I’m sure the weather is somewhat cooler there in late summer than it is here in south Texas! Mike
Mike, we live in the Portland area. August can be hot. September and October are nice here. Hopefully we won't have a bad fire season. The West burns up every summer with the exception of the winter fires this year in Los Angeles. It can be quite hazy if there are lots of forest fires. All things considered, it's a great time to visit the Northwest.
John
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On 2/15/2025 at 9:12 PM, Jason Foster said:
Mine is on there. It fills up with crap. I clean it and I move on. Don't give it much thought really.
I have awnings on both sides and the seal does collect stuff, but I just take a brush to it and water pressure and clean the area. I don't think much about it either.
John
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On 2/20/2025 at 7:49 AM, katanapilot said:
We plan to turn our water heater off every night and turn it back on in the morning until the warranty work is done. Most likely the water heater will work fine. If it doesn't, then at least we don't waste months waiting for the repair and have a fire while sleeping. Hopefully you let Oliver know if your unit was one that needed the new burner assembly so you're at least in line.
John
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On 1/1/2025 at 8:15 AM, Rich and Jane Walker said:
Thanks to both for the information. I will go out and get a regulator today. Appreciate the help! Greetings from LeFleur Bluffs State park!
I believe Oliver provided a pressure regulator with the supplies that came with the trailer. I have the regulator with the dial also, but use the regulator that came with the trailer. It's a piece that's about 3-4 inches long that regulates to 40psi.
John
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1 hour ago, Mike and Carol said:
CGI does great work…
Mike, we had CGI do our 2022 a year later in November, 2023. They did a great job and it looked better than new. All the imperfections and swirl marks from new were gone. Very easy to clean it now.
John
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15 hours ago, KeysConchs said:
Hello Steve
Contrary to your post above, everything I've read indicates the part number for Bulldog replacements of the Monroe 555001 is HD1213-0656, not HD1214-0656. I put the specs for each as well as the Monroe OEM 555001 in the image below. The specs on the left are for the HD1214-0656 and the right frame is the 1213. If you compare it with the OEM Monroes (the bottom frame), the 1213 shocks line up much more closely than the 1214. My question is: is this just a simple mistake or is there a reason you were recommending the Bulldog HD1214-0656? I ask because I am about to change mine out on my 2018 LE2 (#344) and want a robust replacement.
I bought the Bulldog HD1213-0656 for my upcoming Alcan 5 leaf conversion.
John
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9 hours ago, BoondockingAirstream said:
Previous owner took the 2019 Oliver Elite II into a 'Truma Service Provider'. The Truma was not operationally. The previous owner showed me the last service ticket that the Truma was Fixed, before I purchased the Oliver.
It did not work. I took it apart... obviously... the Service Provider was tired of hearing from the Precious Owner, after THREE Service calls. The Fourthm maybe third was the copy given to me.
When I called the Truma Service that did the 'service under warranty', they became tired of me, as well. I have wondered if Truma Inc. was charged for these Service Calls.
I was notified in the U S Mail recently, that Truma would replace the... PART... that was faulty. A RECALL. Of what kind?
I sent photographs of MY Truma to Oliver...My Repairs... when I discovered the Truma leaked water into the Oliver... see photograph. I was disappointed that Oliver Inc. would not do anything to make it right. The original owner obviously had no fix and did not intentionally damage the copper tank heater.
Obviously the local Service Provider... DID FIX IT... permanently.
When I received the Recall Notice... I was not approved by Oliver Inc.... as I tried to FIX IT, myself. Once removing parts... no wonder it was not going to work.
I will find a much simpler system to install, like a 6 gallon simple Dometic Hot Water system, like the one that has operated perfectly in my 2019 Airstream, since new.
Am I happy? Guess. My Truma was within the numbers of the so called recall. My Truma never worked for me, nor the original owner. I have owned the Oliver Elite II since February 2022. My Problem... says Truma and Oliver. Otherwise our perfect Off the Grid Boondocking travel trailer.
I have had three Airstreams, new since 2006. Kept the 2019 27 foot Airstream and the 2019 Oliver Elite II. I like a Travel Trailer that is simple to operate, works, and some appliances that can be worked on if in remote locations.
The 6 gallon Dometics worked perfectly since 2006. When I began to FIX the Truma myself... This is WHAT I FOUND. Photographs are October 2022. Purchased Oliver February 2022 from original owner.
The Truma was an UPGRADE for an Oliver. ...for what? For... Selling spare parts... I guess. I also noted Truma is pushing their hot water tanks. Customer satisfaction is interesting. I know, I was an owner operated business for decades. Happy customers and friends return... I had to retire. I understand that a customer and referrals, keeps one busy. (I edited this after reading.)
Our Truma Aquago water heater has worked great since new. I wouldn't go back to a tank water heater. We had that in the previous trailer. I also wouldn't try to repair it as I don't have the tools or knowledge.
John
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1 hour ago, Galileo said:
The sound of the circulating pump and the sound of the flame coming on are normal. If you’re outside and listening very carefully, you’ll likely hear the “ticking” of the igniter and a fan noise that keeps the combustion going in the right direction. Those are normal sounds.
The Truma manual says that “boiling water” sounds means you need to descale.
Popping, whooshing, thumping, or banging are abnormal sounds associated with improper combustion from gas burning in the wrong places. That was my tip-off to the problem.
“Galway Girl’s” documentation of the loose burner tube problem is what prompted me to pull out the burner yo check the tubes. I was initially “disappointed” to see the times were all in place. “Nuts! Now what’s the problem!?” I thought. Flipping the burner over and seeing that big plume of soot on the bottom of the tubes and around the nut attaching the gas line to the manifold prompted me to check the nut. Loose. Could move it freely with my fingers.
Though I didn’t see much in the way of “crimps” on any of the burner tubes. (They’re smaller than I was expecting - my experience being with 2 foot long tubes on household gas boilers.) Mine were all in place and tight.Still, disappointing that a premium gas appliance in a premium trailer apparently didn’t get designed or assembled too carefully. Gas burning where it shouldn’t be goes beyond “inconvenient” and well into “dangerous” and “liability” territory.
We put a couple of thousand miles on our LEII every year, and I’ve had several things vibrate or shake loose causing failures. It just reminds me that a good, thorough “preflight” inspection is called for and know trouble areas need to be checked frequently. Ironically, the stuff they tell you to check - like wheel lug torque - never seem to have issues. Go figure.
What is your "preflight" inspection? Is that in the manual or a list you made up? Thanks.
John
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On 1/12/2025 at 10:27 AM, topgun2 said:
On my Garmin 890 there are three calculation modes - "faster time", "Shorter Distance", and "Off Road".
Plus, there are a bunch of "Avoidances" and even "custom avoidances".
The only one I don't see is "Less Fuel".
Bill
What's the best tool/app to use to avoid roads that might have low overpasses or road conditions that we need to avoid? I don't have a Garmin.
John
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Welcome to the Oliver family. We took a bit of time deciding also as they are not cheap, but like you, we decided that you do get what you pay for. Have a great time with your Ollie.
John
Bug screen on the refrigerator vent
in General Discussion
Posted
My cover is 62053 but has the correct dimensions. The link you sent was for 620505. I can't find a screen that goes with my number. The upper outer grill looks the same. Does your plastic grill have the number 62053?
John