rideandfly

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.

Sorry to hear about the water problems, sometimes very difficult to locate the source. We had water dripping out of of three windows on three occasions so far, but the windows were not the problem in each case for us. We keep the window weep holes clear. One time the porch light over the window was allowing water in above the window allowing water between the hulls resulting in water dripping out of the window, fix was to remove the light and reseal (old style light). One time the Oliver sign on the rear of Ollie (many here had this problem) allowing water in between the hulls dripping out of the window, removed the sign and resealed to fix. One time during the winter when running electric heater for a few days in Ollie without using dehumidifier water dripped out of the curbside window, found heavy condensation collecting between the hulls in the rear of Ollie to be the issue, using two small dehumidifiers cured the problem for us. Checked where we had access between the hulls at other locations and found very little condensation between the hulls except for the rear of Ollie. Just wanted to share some of our experiences.

David, Putting together a list of accessories for the Mini today, already had a Pelican case originally purchased for a laptop. Will use the Pelican case for the Mini, now. Thanks, Bill

Appreciate all the info on the Starlink Mini. Ordered one yesterday.

Thanks for posting the video. Looking forward to seeing this roll out!

Appreciate the trip report and photos! Also happy to hear about how the Starlink Mini is working out! Have a fine trip!!!

When someone makes a different choice on how to do a job does not mean they cannot perform a job. Most folks here probably use a hammer, but there is another way.

Pins sometimes can be pressed in and out with something like a Ball Joint Service Kit if it will fit within the work space, but it's normally too expensive to justify for one job, unless a friend has one. This Maddox kit from Harbor Freight looks very similar to my Pittsburg kit, it's on sale until 8/29/24 for $44.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-63610.html

We hope to camp at Linville Falls and Mt. Pisgah on the BRP in September. We like Doughton Park, but road construction in that area of the BRP. Crabtree Falls is a nice hike from the BRP; Sunset taken from the BRP: Two Ollies at Mt. Pisgah on the BRP one morning: Mt. Pisgah:

The EZ Flex kit I installed on LE2 #75 has 2.25" shackles. Assume that's a typo beside the photo saying 2" since you said 2.25" earlier.

Agree, Ollie is the best decision we made when buying a camper! We camped mostly in tents and then later in campers. Camping with Ollie has given the best camping experiences Debbie and I have had since being married over 50 years.

Like how Furrion ports are moisture resistant. When installing a 20A Zamp port in the 10A Furrion port, was able to retain the moisture resistance. Original before modification: After modification: Someone called it to my attention that my 10A Furrion port was now a 20A port, a new label fixed that.

John, We do not have factory solar on our LE2. Like mentioned in another thread, our solar suitcase system has evolved over the years. With a single 100AH Battleborn lithium battery and Ollie not being equipped with a 12V/120V inverter, our power use is low. We do use a Honda 2000 gen-set on poor solar days and in eastern US when it's hot & humid in the lower elevations we head to higher elevations to cool off when away from shore power. Tried MPPT SC with two 100W panels and PMW SC with one 100W panel. Currently using a single 100AH lithium battery with a PMW SC & one 100W panel works fine for us. Right now we're using a waterproof Renogy solar controller and waterproof Victron Bluetooth shunt (updated to a waterproof shunt when you mentioned in another thread you had one). Mounted everything on a 1/4" plastic board secured to the Battleborn battery with a nylon strap and locked in at the base between the battery and horizontal plastic board in the bottom of the battery tray and also leave compartment vents open during the summer.

Our solar suitcase system has evolved over the years. Using a solar suitcase panel is about using storage space efficiently for transport and ease of use with the panel or panels. Use three 12' sections combined of 10/2 solar panel cable when Ollie is parked in the shade when reaching out from the shade to sunshine. Normally we can get away with using one Renogy 100W solar suitcase, but we only use one 100AH Battleborn Lithium battery and don't have a 12V/120V inverter. See around 6A charge with a PMW controller mounted close to the battery on a good solar day. Have seen around 11A charge with two 100W solar suitcases, using a MPPT solar controller mounted close to the battery with solar panels connected in series using 36" of 10/2 cable. Posted this in other threads. Originally installed a 10A Furrion solar port that was OK with one 100W solar panel, but wanted a 20A solar port for a higher capacity port. Since I already drilled the hole in Ollie for the Furrion port, decided to modify the Furrion port by installing a Zamp 20A port in the existing Furrion port. Also drilled four through holes to mount the Furrion port with an interior backing plate and locknuts to reduce the stress on the fiberglass. Furrion Solar port installation: Modifided Furrion Solar port by installing 20A Zamp port in the Furrion port:

Thanks!!!! We were given those walking sticks by some very nice folks at the first Ollie rally at Guntersville SP AL! Like the sticks so much going to use golf club whipping (thin black nylon string) wrapping the bottom of each stick to keep the tips in good condition.

Does Zamp reverse polarity because of positive ground solar charging systems? I'm currently using a Renogy 20A negative ground Solar Controller with Renogy suitcase panel, but have seen Renogy positive ground solar controllers, too. Thanks, Edit, Found the answer on Zamp's website, question 4: https://www.zampsolar.com/pages/faq

Mark, Agree with John, would not want to leave the battery door open with the Lithium batteries exposed. Did Oliver install a solar port? Would like to see photos, too!

Took Ollie on a local camping trip to Bandit's Roost ACE NC for a test camping trip with the new tow vehicle. The rig is working great! 🙂