rideandfly

Installed two sets of Firestone rear differential airbags on two pickups and three sets of Timbren suspension enhancement systems on three pickups, all for towing. Currently running Timbren SES on the rear differential our current Ollie TV, a 2024 F-150 5.0L. My main reason to use them is to reduce rear end sag when towing trailers. I like airbags because they are adjustable depending on load. Still have Firestone airbags on one pickup with about 10 years of service. They leak a little, so check pressure weekly when towing with that pickup. Timbren are lower cost and easy to install. It also depends on how much load you carry in the pickup bed when not towing with the Timbren system. My F-150 still has about 3/4" air gap between the rear differential pad and Timbren rubber blocks giving a nice ride when Ollie is not attached with our normal camping gear loaded in the pickup bed. The Timbren system gives a firm ride when the differential pad is contacting the rubber load blocks with Ollie connected. Original Ford rear differential jounce blocks: Here's a photo of the Timbren SES load block with air gap between the block & differential pad when Ollie is not connected with camping gear in F-150 pickup bed. With another brand pickup I had with Ollie disconnected and camping gear loaded in the pickup bed, there was still enough load for the Timbren load block to contact the differential pad which gave a firm ride, not desirable. In that case airbags would be better than the Timbren SES system.

I switched tow vehicles, from a 2022 3.4L Tundra to a 2024 STX F-150 5.0L 2WD 3.73 differential, LE-2 #75, you have my previous Tundra listed on line 42. The list is well done! Good job!

Yep, they ran out of 3500 pounds axles when building our LE2 is my understanding, so they installed 5200 pound axle assemblies with 5 leaf springs. Steve installed disc brakes on his LE2 5200lb axles and Pete installed disc brakes on his LE1. The larger drum brakes on the D52 5200 pound axles are very effective and durable. When I need to rebuild the axle assemblies, disc brakes would be nice.

John, Here's how I understand it: D52 is 5200 pound axle and D35 is 3500 pound axle. The D52 has larger brakes and larger spindle that requires larger bearings and probably other different parts. Believe when an axle label says "D52 capacity: 3500 pounds" meaning the axle assembly came with a 5200 pound axle with 3500 pound springs, 4 leaf, the assembly is rated at 3500 pounds. Our LE2 came with axle labels "D52 capacity: 5200 pounds" meaning the axle assembly came with a 5200 pound axle with 5200 pound, possibly higher rated capacity springs, 5 leaf, the assembly is rated at 5200 pounds. Believe Mountainman198 posted about this in another thread, too.

Jamesgang, Thanks! Updated: 2010 LE2 #45 SC 50.5" D52 Original axle capacity 2014 LE2 #50 SC 50" D52 Original axle capacity & Alcan spring & Disc Brake upgrades 2015 LE2 #75 SC 50” D52 Original axle capacity 2016 LE2 #110 SC 50” D35 Original axle capacity (Gathered from Wayfinder's posts) 2016 LE2 #113 SC 50 “ D35 Original axle capacity 2016 LE2 #159 SC 50.5” D52 Upgraded axle capacity 2017 LE2 #193 SC 50.5" D35 Original axle capacity 2017 LE2 #208 SC 50.5" D35 Original axle capacity 2017 LE2 #226 SC 50.5” D52 Upgraded axle capacity & Alcan springs 2020 LE2 #579 SC 50.5" D35 Original axle capacity 2021 LE2 #898 SC 50.5" D35 Original axle capacity & Alcan springs upgrade 2023 LE2 #1386 SC 50.5" D52 Original axle capacity Please me know if information needs to be added/changed for a hull # and can also add additional campers including LE1's.

David and Gail, Welcome to the Oliver family and congrats on Ollie 1585! Please post photos of your Ollie adventures!

Jay, Congrats on Ollie 1056! As you know, this is a great place to to have your questions answered. Please post photos of your Ollie adventures.

Agree, who knows what technology is going to be available in the future and Lithiums should come down in price, too. Purchased our Ollie from the original owner during 2016 that had let the two original 12V batteries run down very low when stored, our Ollie did not originally have a battery master disconnect switch. Replaced them with two 12V AGM group 27 batteries that worked great. I had a good application for two 12V AGM group 27 batteries, so I replaced both AGMs with one BattleBorn 100AH Lithium. We don't have an inverter and can easily operate three days in the summer (furnace not needed) with the single 100AH Lithium starting at 100% SOC with refrigerator running on LP gas before a battery charge is needed.

We don't have Alcans, but as information, replaced original Monroe shocks with Bulldog 1213-0656 shocks on our Dexter 5200lb axles with 5 leaf Dexter springs.

Paul, Welcome! There is a very knowledgeable group of folks here that can help with your questions. Beautiful rig! Please post photos of your Ollie adventures, too. Best Regards, Bill

Wishing everyone and their families Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Bill and Debbie LE2 #75 North Carolina

John, Have not had to pay for updates on our Garmin Nuvi or RV-780 GPS units. Updating our Garmin RV-780 right now with Garmin Express.

One time we camped close to Rt. 66 Winslow AZ, Homolovi State Park. https://azstateparks.com/homolovi Nice SP and happened to be a car show on Main Street @ Winslow on Rt. 66. Just off of I40, too. Very enjoyable day.

Ordering the MetalTech Scaffold system today while still on sale! Thanks for the scaffold information posted! Needed a safer way to wax and work on Ollie's roof instead of hanging off of a ladder. MetalTech Safeclimb 6 ft. Baker Scaffold with Platform and Included Trap Door, 1250 lbs. Load Capacity I-CISCH1 - The Home Depot

Same here

When Patriot told me about how he was connecting Ollie's chains, I did not use them at the time because Ollie's chains were easy to connect/disconnect on the Tundra hitch. When I purchased the F-150, first thing I noticed the chain hooks were not as easy to connect/disconnect as they were on the Tundra, then I remembered what Patriot had said before. I thought Patriot was using lifting shackles (my mistake), so started using screw-pin lifting shackles (using blue Loctite on the threads) that also exceed federal guidance that makes it easy to connect/disconnect Ollie's chains. Thanks David! Hammer Locks: https://www.mcmaster.com/products/hammer-locks/ Screw-Pin Lifting Shackles: https://www.mcmaster.com/products/lifting-shackles/ Federal Guidance: "If the ultimate combined breaking strength of the two chains is equal to the gross weight of the towed vehicle(s), the requirements of § 393.70(d) are satisfied. It should be noted that some States may have more stringent requirements for safety chains". https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/when-two-safety-chains-are-used-must-ultimate-combined-breaking-strength-each-chain-be-equal

Just returned from our first camping trip using the Mini. Our campsite was covered with many trees, but managed to find a small opening in the following photo. Since it was a Rally, we spent a little more time in Ollie than normal. It was windy with tree limbs & leaves moving/falling, believe that affected the Mini's reception, too. Did not document obstructions like Zodd's previous post (I will next time). Used 11GB of data with three days of use streaming mostly with the ROKU device set at 720p resolution. Very pleased with the Mini's performance! 👍 View to NE (030)

Just returned home from the Hungry Mother SP VA fiberglass rally. There were three Ollie's in attendance, too. Fellowship and Potluck dinner were great!

David, Tested the Anker power pack while at 100% charge, the power pack output USB-C1 port is 0 Vdc output when charging on the Anker charging dock, but the Anker charging dock also has three output ports and there is 19.9 to 20Vdc output from the USB-C1 port rated for 100W when testing with the 6' cord plug that connects to the Mini, this should be enough power to run the Mini, will test with the Mini later today. The Anker 100W charging dock also has an AC input of 100 to 240V 50-60Hz. Here is another thread where Snackchaser successfully powered the Mini with a 12V to 24Vdc Victron converter. I'm learning a lot from folks here.

As you can see, this is an old case, but very rugged. Also use Pelican cases on motorcycles, broke a latch on one a few years ago, called Pelican, all they wanted was the name & address to ship a new latch to, no other info needed. When I purchased the Pelican case, it came with egg-crate foam in the lid and two sheets of foam in the bottom of the case. Now I only have one sheet of foam in the bottom of the case since my laptop was too thick for two sheets and I used the second foam sheet for another use. Use two soft foam blocks to secure the Mini in the case. Additional foam blocks should not be needed if the case still comes with two foam sheets in the bottom of the case in addition to the egg-crate foam in the lid.

Good idea on the cord reel, looking forward to hearing how the cord reel works out!

Looking forward to testing the Mini during the next camping trip, this is the main reason we purchased it. It's simple to set up, use, and transport. Started service @ $50 per month for 50 GB of "Roam" service that can be paused whenever not in use. Used ideas from the following video David posted earlier to be able to use the Mini with an Anker power bank for emergency use during a power outage (we have poor cell internet service at home unless used with home WiFi) or if we have a vehicle breakdown in the boonies when without cell service. Had an old Pelican case we used to transport a laptop with. The Starlink Mini, power cable, Mini power convertor, Anker 200W power Bank, 6' power cable for the Mini, and Anker 100W charger all fit easily in the Pelican case.