rideandfly
-
Posts
1,737 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
58
Posts posted by rideandfly
-
-
4 hours ago, Mountainman198 said:
Yes. While I.D. Remains the same as stock, the bushing wall thickness on the Alcan is greater than the dexter ( Alcan is bottom in attached photo while stock dexter-supplied spring is on top).
Thanks, this is another plus for Alcan over Dexter springs.
When I installed the Dexter EZ-Flex system on Ollie several years ago, I did not like how delicate the Dexter bronze bushings were in the springs.
-
3
-
-
Question, are the Alcan wet pin bronze bushings (assume bronze) thicker (larger OD) than the Dexter bronze bushings? The Dexter bronze bushings are so delicate, during installation in the springs, it was easy to damage them. I may have missed this point in this thread.
Installing the bronze bushing on a Dexter 5 leaf spring coated with castor oil:
-
1
-
-
Mike,
Good to hear you and your family are OK.
We have been following this tragic storm aftermath closely. So sad to hear about this after our recent hurricane in NC. One of the charities we like are normally on the ground quickly in disaster situations like this one.
Will do on the thoughts and prayers for everyone in the area.
-
1
-
11
-
-
9 hours ago, Patriot said:
I suppose you could replace the plywood floor with treated or marine grade plywood to forgo delamination of the flooring for use in a wet environment. If you never plan to use the Metaltech to wash your Oliver this may not be an issue.
The second concern is portability, set up, and naturally take down and storage of the Metaltech (tuber vid). It’s quite heavy and cumbersome and not nearly as light weight and portable as the Little Giant ladder and plank system.
Please note! This post is not meant to start a scaffold war… ✌🏻😄.
Patriot 🇺🇸
Agree, I'm keeping the Metaltech in the airplane hangar with Ollie and the Vagabond to keep them out of the weather. To transport it used a trailer to keep it in one piece. I had it in the garage for a while with a table underneath, Debbie did not have any trouble with it, but when I put things on the table occasionally bumped my head, glad I'm hardheaded. 🙃
That's what I like about this forum, for folks that may be buying a scaffold, this lets them know real life application of a product, good or bad.
Bottom line working off of a scaffold on Ollie is great for increased safety, ease and faster than working off of a ladder. 🙂
-
4
-
-
3 hours ago, Patriot said:
Bill,
Thanks! I bet your Oliver looks amazing! Ladders no more! 😊👍🏻
David
Best it's ever looked in the 9 years we have owned it. Agree, ladders no more!
-
2
-
-
10 minutes ago, jd1923 said:
Fits perfectly in your hanger! Jus to bring attention to another option for those reading...
I purchased two sets of this scaffolding, thanks to @Ronbrink when last year The Depot had them online at a "Special Buy" price! 🤣
But, no way in the world am I getting up there to wash and wax, to make our hull pretty! 🤣
This is the photo where I got the idea to buy the identical scaffold from Home Depot while on sale, thanks to you and @Ronbrink. I have some other jobs in mind for the scaffold, but have to admit, our Ollie is very purdy after after waxing, probably the best it's ever looked since buying it used in 2016.
-
2
-
1
-
-
David,
Very Nice setup! The Little Giant fits perfectly in the "XPLOR" hangar.
I just used a scaffold for the first time waxing the top of Ollie down to the top of the windows, it was so much safer, easier and faster than hanging off of a ladder.
-
2
-
-
Happy 4th of July to Everyone Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are spending our time waxing Ollie in the shade today! Like the scaffold folks here mentioned, bought it on sale at Home Depot and working great!
-
10
-
1
-
-
10 hours ago, Snackchaser said:
Here's an easy way to provide DC power to the Starlink Mini Router which requires 9 VDC, 1.6 amps. I tested it for several hours today and it worked well.
Anker #323 cigarette lighter style car charger with USB-C outlet. 9 VDC at 52.5 watts (5.8 amps):
USB-C to 3.5 mm barrel connector cord:
Cheers, Geoff
Like always, appreciate the information!
-
4
-
-
2 hours ago, Tideline77 said:
Thanks for that info
the Timbren is on my list of possibilities
are you happy with the Timbren setup ?
The Timbren system is low cost and easy to install, but it's sometimes tricky to have air gap between the Timbren rubber blocks when Ollie is not connected (see my previous post on first page). If the bed is loaded when camping and Ollie is disconnected, it's still possible for the Timbren blocks to be contacting the rear differential giving a firm ride if the load in the bed is heavy.
In our case, without Ollie connected with our normal camping gear load in the bed, there is air gap between the Timbren blocks and rear differential giving a nice ride. With rear differential airbag systems, you can let air out of the bags with Ollie disconnected to give a smoother ride.
As mentioned above a WDH needs to be used with a TV/Ollie rig when required by the TV operators manual and stated on some trailer hitches. We keep a close eye on our actual ready to camp TV & Ollie weighs using CAT scales to comply with TV/Ollie requirements.
-
2
-
-
Robert,
When I used Firestone rear differential air bags at about 30PSI, did not have much TV rear end sag towing Ollie. It was a firm ride while towing, but when not towing decreasing the air pressure to about 5PSI gave a nice unloaded ride. I have not used the RAS system.
I'm currently using the Timbren rear differential system towing Ollie, but believe many folks here have had good results using rear differential air bags because of flexibility given by adjusting air bag pressure when towing or empty.
Some folks use onboard air compressor for the rear differential airbag systems, but I mounted the rear license plate with left & right airbag valves and found that air pressure could be easily increased with a simple bicycle air pump.
-
5
-
-
12 minutes ago, CRM said:
Yep, and I've triple checked it. Hull 45 was the last trailer sold prior to the shutdown and was built with leftover 5200lb axles used on the LE1's. There aren't any of those on the list but I'd bet all of those early models have the same measurements.
Agree, only axles with SC 50" on the list so far are 2014, 2015, & 2016 LE2s.
-
1
-
-
On 6/21/2025 at 12:09 PM, jd1923 said:
I believe OTT welded the axles saddles (not sure of correct term?) +/- 1/4 to the steel subframe (welded to inside or outside edge of the frame). It's just as crazy that OTT did this as the fact that Dexter would have both 50" and 50.5" axles in their catalog!
What's interesting on the above list 2010 #45 LE2 has 50.5" axles.
-
1
-
-
Geoff,
Appreciate the information!!!!!!
I'm going to get the Starlink Mini Router 12V power supply, too.
Thanks,
Bill
-
2
-
-
Geoff,
Thanks for the info, look forward to your Mini Router camping report.
We were just camping where they did not have shore power. Currently use an Anker battery to power the Mini dish when away from shore power and recharge Anker during the day with a USB to USB-C cable from our 12V system since our Ollie does not have an inverter and factory installed solar, we use a solar suitcase.
Since the Mini Router has USB-C like the Anker battery, I could power it with the cable I use to recharge the Anker battery when away from shore power, if I'm understanding this correctly.
Thanks,
Bill
-
3
-
-
7 hours ago, Patriot said:
Great looking rig Bill! Nothing like our NC Blue Ridge Mtns! Blessed to live here!
David, we agree!!!!!!! Believe many areas on the BRP will reopen by the end of the year! 🙂
-
3
-
-
Doughton Park NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We head to the BRP to beat the heat this time of year. After the hurricane last year, many areas are still closed, but repairs are being made and areas slowing reopening.
No electricity or water at the campsites but Ollie handles it fine with a portable solar panel.
Directions to Doughton Park, take Rt. 21 to the BRP to the Park.
Doughton Park Picnic Area:
Air Bellows Overlook:
-
2
-
6
-
2
-
-
Here's a couple older Rally photos:
This was an Oliver Rally in TN during 2016 or 2017, not too far from the Oliver factory.
This was the first Rally at Lake Guntersville SP:
-
1
-
6
-
-
Here's some stock Tundra HP/Torque differences.
2006 Tundra 4.7L: 271HP@ 5400RPM 313 FT/LBS @ 3400RPM
2020 Tundra 5.7L: 381HP @ 5600RPM 401FT/LBs torque @ 3600RPM
2022 Tundra 3.4L twin turbo/non-hybrid: 389HP @ 5200 RPM 479 FT/LBS @ 2400 RPM
I have not towed with the 4.7L engine, it has lower HP/Torque compared to the two later Tundra engines. The 5.7L and 3.4L Tundra towed Ollie fine for us.
https://www.autopadre.com/horsepower-and-torque/toyota-tundra
-
4
-
-
Happy Flag Day!!!!!!!!!
-
6
-
-
13 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:
Not sure if everyone will be able to open this link, it’s an OTT post on LinkedIn about their new windows.
9 hours ago, Patriot said:A cool teaser Mike, that clip is also on the Oliver FB page. I learned yesterday from Oliver Service, the new tilt out or “awning style’ windows are manufactured by Lippert, and are tinted bonded/insulated glass. The really good news according to service is the new style windows will allow for a retrofit on existing Olivers. Pricing has yet to be determined.
They are really sharp looking for sure!Nice.
In a previous camper we had windows that could be opened while it was raining, they were very nice, but I like the glass windows Oliver is using even better. Believe some of our windows in #75 might be a different size than late model Ollies, but really like the looks of the new windows.
-
2
-
-
Mike,
Beautiful installation.
I have been wondering what I would do if our 10 year old Dometic three way quits, your installation is a good one. Went back looking over the information shared by Try2Relax, MountainOliver, Geronimo John, Ty J and rideadeuce, really appreciate their post, too.
Thanks for posting!
-
2
-
-
3 hours ago, MAX Burner said:
16MAY25 -- 0634, Casablanca settled in at Pancho Villa SP near La Paloma, Old Mexico.... Magnus pulling the first watch:
What a neat looking campsite! Hope everyone has a great time!!!!!!!!!
-
1
-
1
-
-
3 hours ago, ScubaRx said:
It does sound as if you’ve had good luck with eTrailer. I wish my only experience with them had been as good. I ordered a bread new Maxxfan from them because it was a few dollars cheaper than Amazon.
My MaxxFan came from Amazon without issues.
Question, on your disc brake installation, was the electric over hydraulic actuator from Dexter?
I just found your reply to John Davies with information on disc brake parts needed for upgrade during 2015:
Disconnecting Tow Vehicle charging circuit to the Ollie?
in Mechanical & Technical Tips
Posted · Edited by rideandfly
Another way, disconnected the wire connected to the Aux 12V power pin in the trailer’s plug in Mike’s 7 pin diagram. The wire connected to the Aux 12V power pin on my Ollie was black, but highly recommend testing with a Volt meter to be sure it’s the 12V hot before disconnecting. I used electrical tape to prevent hot wire from contacting other pins or if you have heat shrink, it makes a nice job.