rideandfly

SeaDawg, We reduced our batteries from 2 AGMs weighing 134 pounds to 1 lithium weighing 31 pounds. We just returned from a three night camping trip at a COE campground with electric and water at the site. Turned the onboard 12V battery charger off when we arrived and did not turn it back on until the morning we headed home. We operated lights, TV, everything that runs off of 12V and the lithium battery was down to 50% on the morning of departure. Normally it takes about an hour to charge the lithium battery from 70% to 100% with the onboard PD 4045 charger powered by shore power or a Honda 2000 gen-set. We have the Dometic three way refrigerator. Only operate it on gas or 120V. If we had a compressor refrigerator, would probably want at least two 100AH lithium batteries, for poor solar days. That modification might gain weight, something I don’t want to do, keeping Ollie’s weight low. Guessing the compressor refrigerator is lighter than the Dometic 3 way refrigerator. Experimenting right now with charging the 100AH lithium with two 100W suitcase solar panels. May buy a MPPT charge controller next. Will see! Thanks!

Marty, In addition to what was said above, we had two 100AH AGM batteries weighing in at 67 pounds each replacing them with one 100AH Battleborn lithium weighing in at 31 pounds to do the same job as the previous batteries. This change reduced battery weight with improved battery performance with faster charging and can discharge the Battleborn well below 50% as discussed above. https://www.batteriesplus.com/product-details/marine_rv/battery/duracell-ultra/sli27magmdc https://battlebornbatteries.com/product/12v-lifepo4-deep-cycle-battery/ Very pleased with the Battleborn 100AH battery performance.

Beautiful! We hope to camp in Michigan next year!

Here’s our favorite campsite at COE Bandit’s Roost campground Wilkesboro, NC, site # 28. This site is hard to get, someone must have canceled, allowing us to camp on it earlier this week. It’s been 70’s during the day and upper 40’s at night. The Blue Ridge Parkway is not too far away for a day drive, too. 🙂 Blue Ridge Parkway NC

There are not many good “solar” sites in A (RV) loop at Mt Pisgah. Some sites can be reserved and some cannot. We normally camp in the summer when we’re looking for shade, but sites A10 and A15 look like better solar sites. The map previously posted should indicate if the site can be reserved. We’re visiting the lower elevation part of the BRP around Doughton Park NC today.

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This small level has worked well for a few years, believe there was an adhesive on the bottom. Used a 1' spirit level to check it a few weeks ago, still working fine. https://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Level-Tool-125-Cross/dp/B000LDETSU/ref=psdc_4989299011_t3_B01N704G45 https://www.johnsonlevel.com/News/SpiritLevelInformation

Added an additional 100W Renogy solar suitcase making two total 100W solar suitcases. Currently using a Renogy PWM charge controller. Decided to increase solar port capacity from 10 Amps to 20 Amps. Original Furrion 10 Amp solar port: Installing Zamp 20 Amp solar port in existing Furrion unit: Next modification will probably be installation of a Victron or Renogy MPPT charge controller.

Sounds good being able to monitor transmission oil temps. Etrailer has oil coolers available for the 2019 5.7l Tundra. It would not be difficult installation for DIY or a local shop. Personally, I would install one if our Tundra did not have one installed. https://www.etrailer.com/tran-2019_Toyota_Tundra.htm?style=5.7L+V8+Engine

Agree, every truck should weigh listed curb weight before modifications. Surprised me how conservative our Toyota payload weight was after adding about 150 pounds of accessories finding the available Tundra payload is 150 pounds above listed 1400 pound payload after adding accessories. Here’s the camping gear we carry in the Tundra on trips, not seen in photo are two sets of golf clubs (one half set) and Honda 2000 gen-set. We try to only take gear that’s needed for trips, but glad we have the capacity to take our golf gear, too. 🙂

Forgot about having this Brother label maker, it may not last long, will see:

Here's latest CAT scale results for our 2022 SR5 2WD Crew Cab Tundra's new curb weight after installing accessories. I did not document accessory weights during installation. Installed Toyota side rails, Toyota folding hard bed cover, Toyota bed mat, Toyota Mud guards, and Timbren SES rear suspension kit. Weighed the Tundra with all contents removed, accessories installed, full 32 gallon fuel tank, and no occupants. Original rear differential jounce blocks: Timbren rear differential SES suspension system: Original payload of 1400 pounds from Toyota: Subtract new Curb weight from GVW to learn new payload. Very surprised by the results: GVW 6990 pounds - New Curb weight 5440 pounds = 1550 pounds. Toyota was very conservative with the payload weight of this vehicle, I'm sticking with listed 1400 pound original payload. Reading Truck on payload and towing capacities: https://www.readingtruck.com/calculating-your-trucks-maximum-payload-and-towing-capacity New Curb Weight:

dewdev, After finishing the installation, thought the same thing. Will post if I come up with a nice looking way to make the change! Thanks!

Fine looking rig!!!!!!!

We enjoy camping at Mt Pisgah, too. Doubt if we will be camping there for the rest of this year, but will head back next May! Hopefully will meet other Ollie campers there next May! Met another fine Ollie owner there earlier this summer!

John and Kim, Thanks for your post! We must have been camping when you made this post. Already made the Solar port modification increasing the 10 amp port to 20 amp port before seeing your post today. Renogy website covering solar panel wiring, parallel, series, or parallel/series system. https://www.renogy.com/learn-series-and-parallel/ Renogy recommends wiring the solar panels parallel when using PMW charge controller to maintain output voltage for the controller to work in high efficiently. I see now why SeaDawg was asking if I was wiring the panels in series with a MPPT controller, we have a PMW controller, Voyager 20 amp waterproof controller seen on the Renogy website, I’m learning daily! Here’s the original 10 amp Furrion solar port. Purchased a 20 amp Zamp solar port and modified it to fit the Furrion solar port. Used a belt sander to reduce the outside diameter of the Zamp port down to 1.70”. Made a rubber gasket to seal between the Zamp port and Furrion housing. Drilled four holes through the rubber gasket, and Furrion housing using the Zamp port’s existing holes as a template. Used a 1 1/8” or 29mm hole saw to drill through the Furrion housing so the Zamp port would fit. Wanted the original Furrion lid gasket to seal the Zamp port properly: Finished solar port:

Talked to this Ford dealer in Iowa before buying the Tundra and he will order a F150 or Ranger or Maverick for 3% under MSRP. He will also order a F250 for 2% under MSRP. Last time I talked to him was late 2021. Granger Ford https://www.grangerford.com/ Contact Zach 1 - Our documentation fee is $180. 2 - There are NO mandatory add ons. 3 - There is a Non-Refundable $1000 deposit due at order. 4 - We will get you an electronic signature document with options, pricing, and details for your signature before placing the order. 5 - We do not participate in courtesy deliveries to other dealerships. 6 - We do accept trades! Because of the volatile trade market we can give you a trade value 30 days from delivery. Found this information on the Ford Ranger Forum last year: https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/3-under-invoice-2022-ford-ranger-order.16068/

Sorry to hear about your Tundra's transmission troubles. I'm not sure about the 2019 Tundra, but the 2020 and 2021 did not have transmission oil coolers from what I read. Some techs gave you terrible advice to ignore the warning indicators. Hope the F150 works out for you! 👍 Our 2016 SR5 5.7L Gen2 Tundra (no SC) had a transmission oil cooler and did not have any cooling issues towing our LE2 from NC to many states out west including CO. The new Gen3 2022 Tundra has a transmission oil cooler for the 10 speed transmission with the 3.5L twin turbo V6. Really like this TV towing our LE2. We have been getting 15 1/2MPG in NC & TN. Got our best MPG last week in hilly and flat terrain of 17MPG towing Ollie on 4 lane highways. Found the Tundra is happy towing in 7th gear in hilly terrain & flat terrain on interstates with cruise set @ 61MPH and engine around 2200RPM. Best fuel economy so far not towing is 24.5MPG on a round trip from Charlotte NC to Richmond VA, driving mostly interstates at the posted speed limit.

Here's a copy of the operator's manual for our 2022 Tundra, I highlighted the model code for our Tundra. When I see occupants, feel like I should add driver's weight like the passenger's weights. With 1400 pound load capacity (occupants + luggage), subtract 480 pound LE2 tongue weight, in our case 325 pounds for two passengers leaving 595 pounds for additional gear. Using the CAT scale will not give occupants + luggage weight, but here's my loaded ready to camp CAT scale result with 75 pounds of additional gear to place in the back seat area.

Our LE2 weighs in ready to camp at 4940 pounds with empty black, grey, & fresh water tanks. This weight includes full 6 gallon hot water heater. The reason our LE2 is so light we keep Ollie's spare tire in the truck bed, replaced lead acid batteries with one 100AH (35lb) lithium battery, and replaced LP 20lb tanks with smaller tanks. Our Ollie did not come with factory installed solar. Also load more gear in the TV to keep Ollie's weight low. Some trips we take a gen-set, solar panel, and golf clubs in the TV, normally not all on the same trip. Reason I'm saying this is last year I experimented towing our Ollie with a smaller pickup that was rated to tow more than your Highlander. The test TV V6 normally aspirated engine had slightly more HP & torque than the Highlander. Emergency braking was fine with properly adjusted trailer brake controller (real experience), but because of engine performance we had to get in the slow lane with the tractor trailers going up grades. There had to be more accumulated stress on the engine due to higher RPMs constantly going up grades. The fuel economy was lower than our 1/2 ton 2022 Tundra with 3.5L twin turbo engine towing the same trailer. Our Tundra handles this trailer easily overall compared to the smaller pickup, too. Several folks here use larger trucks towing their LE2s, too. We are happy with the Tundra as a Ollie TV, but I still keep a close eye on rig weights with CAT scales. We like pickup trucks, but if we were going to buy an SUV for towing Ollie, it would be the 2023 Sequoia.

Gas prices in the NC Blue Ridge Mountains was around $3.25 last week. We enjoy seeing leaves change at different elevations on the BRP. Going to get some work done at home until the leaves start changing on the BRP, and we will be exploring again.

Yep, that's interesting about running full tank of regular when oil is changed. Never ran E85 in our 2016 Tundra and our 2022 Tundra is not flex fuel, it uses regular 87 and has 10,000 mile oil/filter change intervals except for 5,000 miles when towing. Finally achieved my 17MPG goal towing on hills and flat-lands yesterday four lanes and interstate, it's happy at 2200RPM towing Ollie around 61MPH in 7th gear with cruise on the interstate. Just washed Ollie, getting ready to put in storage until next adventure! 🙂

About using E85, our last 2016 Toyota Tundra had a 5.7L flex fuel engine. Never used E85 because the oil change intervals could be cut in 1/2 from 5,000 miles to 2,500 miles, I do the maintenance on our vehicles when I run out of free oil changes with new vehicles, did not want the extra work. Here's additional information at about E85: https://tundraheadquarters.com/five-things-you-may-not-know-about-flex-fuel-engines/

Have not seen regular gas that low yet! 👍Best I've found is $3.13 for Regular 87 in NC.

Welcome and Congratulations on your new Ollie and retirement! There are many folks here with vast experience camping in Ollies! We love camping in our Ollie! Bill and Debbie