rideandfly

Good discussion! Just measured the Bulldog 2 5/16" coupler and 1 7/8" ball mount/ball and discovered the following. With the 2 5/16" coupler with collar lock installed, a thief can easily back up to a trailer with 2 5/16" coupler, lower it on a 1 7/8" ball and drive away (not sure how far the 1 7/8" hitch would make it). My current 2" Bulldog coupler is still on Ollie stored at the airport, doubt it will slip over a 1 7/8" ball if locked with a collar lock like the Bulldog 2 5/16" coupler, but will check. At the most narrow inside portion of the 2 5/16" coupler with collar locked measures 1.91" A 1 7/8" ball measures 1.87" outside diameter A theft deterrent for the Bulldog 2 5/16" coupler needs to have the ball opening covered or filled to prevent this type of theft. I like using the Bulldog coupler latch locked with a long shank padlock while in transit and for storing the chains with the emergency brake cable snap-hook. Also use an inexpensive Universal Coupler Ball Lock that Fits 1-7/8", 2" and 2-5/16" couplers. Previous Bulldog hitch discussion:

We use a long shank Brinks padlock in the 2" Bulldog coupler. It fits snugly without drilling and hang the chains on the emergency brake cable snap-hook: Tried a short shank Brinks padlock in the new 2 5/16" Bulldog and it fits, too. After making holes in the new Bulldog, will sand and spray paint with aluminum finish for contrast.

Happy July 4th and 250th US Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Ollie does not have factory solar or inverter. I use portable suitcase solar panels or a 2000W Honda Gen-Set when away from shore power. Copied @Snackchaser idea converting the Furrion Cable TV inlet to a Starlink Mini power outlet using a 5.5 x 2.1 mm DC Power Jack Socket. Thanks Snackchaser for the idea! Used a 7/16" drill bit to drill the new Furrion power outlet for the power jack socket to fit. Had enough threads on the 5.5 x 2.1 mm DC Power Jack Socket to install water/dust cover, lock washer and nut. Old Furrion inlet on the left: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKB4YSM5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLKN8J7M?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title Purchased a 12/24V to 48V DC to DC step up Starlink Mini converter and switching with a manual switch to be installed.

That's a great price on the LT225/75R/16 Michelins. Believe one of the local installers for Tire Rack can be Discount Tire, for those who like Discount Tire.

Removed Ollie's spare tire housing again and firmly pulled across one area of tire tread to see if the spare tire had complete contact against the fiberglass hull. It moved a little, not as easily as @Dirt Duff tire. The wing nut was causing friction against the wheel, I thought the spare tire was tight contacting the fiberglass hull completely with the 225/75R/15 spare tire. Believe the same thing was happening with the original 215/60R/16 spare tire, too. Both tires were contacting the fiberglass hull previously in areas, but not completely. Cleaned the area on our camper where the spare tire contacts the fiberglass hull and installed four 3 1/4" diameter 1/4" thick door knob pads for the tire to contact like @Hokieman did on his spare tire. With two nuts still on the stud and four 1/4" thick doorknob pads installed on the hull for the spare tire to contact when tightening down the wing nut, the tire contacts all four pads with clearance left between the wingnut and two nuts. I'm keeping two nuts on the mount stud, but in some cases there could be contact between the second nut and wingnut on other Oliver spare tire installations like it would be on @jd1923 trailer, possibly due to small variations of wing nuts, mounts, wheels and tires. Really like the plastic disc @Townesw installed for the wingnut to contact when the wingnut is tightened against the wheel.

Looks like two Olivers in the photo.

Yep, My original spare tire was a 215/60R/16, even though the DOT tag states spare tire size of 215/70R/16 and my current spare tire I installed is 225/75R/15 to fit in the fiberglass housing. The 215/60R/16 fit tightly against the fiberglass hull like the current 225/75R/15 with two nuts on the stud. Oliver made a change to 225/75R/16 spare tires with larger spare tire housings later after our Ollie was built. Now Oliver's current spare tire is 225/75R/15. @Dirt Duff, you have some good suggestions here to check out that should correct your issue. Edit: For those that have not removed the spare tire cover and tire:

Yep, That sounds right, it's not likely the elastic locks nuts loosened clamping the plate to the fiberglass hull, but still check when the spare is removed. Good advice!

I like the pads (assume) you installed on the fiberglass. Ours has two nuts on the stud, but I like the single nut with disc on yours, too.

@Dirt Duff No that is not typical. On our Ollie the fit is snug when the wing nut is tightened. Is this mounting plate tight against the fiberglass hull?

@routlaw, We previously had Dometic/Seitz awning style plexiglass windows in another camper that we liked. Most folks here want glass. Yep, Lippert 3000 FVD with two operating windows has a maximum size up to 72X30. The frameless glass dark windows looks really good on an Oliver, always liked having the ability to open the Dometic windows during light rain, too. Like I said, it's going to be interesting to see Oliver's retrofit. I contacted Oliver about window retrofits and they said we would all be notified at the same time when available. 🙂

Here's the Lippert information I'm looking at, 3000 FV minimum size 12X12 and maximum size 36X30: I like canopy style frameless windows instead sliding windows, looking forward to see what Oliver retrofits older trailers with.

Guessing the 3000FV is so expensive because Oliver's 48X18 is much wider than their 3000FV maximum listed size of 36X30. It's going to be interesting to see how Oliver retrofits older trailers. https://corporate.lippert.com/products/rv/windows

We had two leaks coming out at the windows, but in both cases the source of the leak was above each window. Oliver sign on the rear window and street side exterior light over the dinette window were the causes of our leaks. It was a easy fix on the exterior light leak, but the Oliver Sign probably took 1 1/2 days to remove the sign, clean and reseal the sign. Where we store Ollie, we have to tape the bottom window drains while stored, rubber plugs are installed in the top, or Mud Daubers will plug the bottom window drain channels. These 8800 windows with drains top & bottom could be reversed during installation for the window glass to open in the opposite direction. Out of curiosity I contacted Lippert to see what they charge for Lippert frameless 3000 FV 48 X 18 with screen window assembly, they only come with black frames, Retail $986.95. The interior black frame for this window cost Retail $44.95. Download the flyer to see the 3000FV windows in the following link below 3000 windows. https://corporate.lippert.com/products/rv/windows I'm waiting to see what retrofits Oliver will be offering on the frameless windows, not in a hurry for now, just curious..

Been camping this week at Mt. Pisgah Campground NC @ 5,000' on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some mornings were in the 50s and highs 60s to 70s. Their campsites do not have water or electricity, with the Federal Senior card $15 per night. They have hot showers. When it's hot and humid in the lower elevations, we head to Mt. Pisgah campground to cool off without using AC system. There are plenty of places to hike and a drive on the BRP is always nice, too.

@John Dorrer glad you're OK! Reed used to post here. He made a video about operating a Bulldog hitch, for those that would like to learn more about the Bulldog:

@Rivernerd Congrats on your new F-350 with Godzilla! Looking forward to the WDH report!

Nice looking installation! The previous owner of our 2015 LE2 also installed gutters, they divert loads of water, too!

Dexter builds axles according to customer (Oliver) specifications, contact Dexter customer service during normal business hours with your axle serial number they can email a Build Sheet for your axle. When you're talking to them they can tell you if you have 12" brakes along with any other questions, I'm guessing you have 12" brakes.

Sounds like you have it right. You can get additional information from Dexter on your axle assembly by contacting Dexter customer service with the axle serial number, to get a build sheet emailed from them. Here's a video about the tag you posted:

Another way to find brake size is measuring the drum diameter and brake shoe height. Last time I had the drums off for bearing grease repack, seal replacement and brake inspection, measured Ollie's Dexter 5200lb axle brake drum: Edit: There is also a tag attached on the axle from Dexter (serial number also engraved on axle) that can give additional information about your axle, information on one of my axles emailed from Dexter:

Our previous camper had Dometic/Seitz awning style windows that could be opened during light rain, really liked those windows, but they were plexiglass. Talked to Oliver about retrofitting an Oliver, but they are not ready to release information about retrofits, yet. Just looking and learning for now. 🙂

Windows in our LE2 have this ID tag inside of the window frame. Believe our rear window in our 2015 LE2 is different size compared to current LE2 rear windows. Please let me know if I have this wrong. In the following video at the 3:05 mark he shows how to identify the existing window to be replaced using the above ID tag when contacting Lippert, Oliver told me my windows were Lippert 8800 windows. Really like the Awning style glass windows that open 90 degrees.

Wow, well thought out and excellent quality work, too!