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rideandfly

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Posts posted by rideandfly

    Weep Holes Dripping

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted · Edited by rideandfly

    When we have condensation between the hulls, have seen more condensation between the hulls at the rear Oliver sign. Have not seen much condensation between the hulls in the area where you see water dripping out.

    • Like 1

    New Tires & Shocks at 50k miles

    in Ollie Modifications

    Posted

    19 hours ago, jd1923 said:

    These OEM Oliver shocks however, seem to go too quickly. Waiting to hear if the Bulldog is truly a different build.

    Galway Girl , hope you don't mind my posting photos of the Bulldog and original Monroe shocks for a physical comparison, we were curious if they were different builds.

     

    Here's the original Monroe shock next to the new Bulldog shock. The rod cover is longer on the Bulldog and rod end of cylinder is built differently, they are different builds.

    IMG_7135-L.jpg

    IMG_7136-L.jpg

    IMG_7143-L.jpg

    IMG_7146-L.jpg

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    New Tires & Shocks at 50k miles

    in Ollie Modifications

    Posted · Edited by rideandfly

    43 minutes ago, Emgmtg said:

    Has anyone had a problem with Discount Tire refusing to mount an LT tire on their Ollie?  My local Discount Tire said for liability reasons they only mount ST tires on travel trailers.  

    Discount Tire replaced our Ollie's LT 16" tires with Cooper LT over two years ago without issues, but John Davies said Discount Tire would not replace his Ollie's tires less than two years ago, assume it was LT tires.

    Here's a 10/22 thread about Oliver changing to 15" Goodyear ST Tires.

     

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    Made in USA leaf springs

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted · Edited by rideandfly

    1 hour ago, jd1923 said:

    The new leaf springs with higher weight rating may be easier on the shocks. Your axles will also be more solid, keeping squarely on the ground more often. The sway of the body with the lighter springs certainly put more sway and stress on the shocks.

    There was a suggestion earlier for perhaps a better replacement brand (or they could be the same part rebranded). Anybody getting the new brand should show a side-by-side picture of the two. If the new brand has the same casting marks, it's the same manufacturer.

    John

    Going to install Bulldog shocks on Ollie next week. Will do on the side by side comparison photo, both shocks are built in China, Monroe and Bulldog shocks.

    https://www.4statetrucks.com/bulldog-hd-shock-absorber-replaces-555001-19-050000007

    Bill

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    Where’s Ollie?

    in Campgrounds & Parks

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Galway Girl said:

    In Homolvi Ruins SP near Winslow AZ.

    Heading toward Disneyland.

    This park has water & electric and baths with showers. An RV dump is available by the exit.   Pix of trailer from site 9.
     

    ‘

     

    IMG_3162.thumb.jpeg.4eebcd05665dad05a7496906ef23950e.jpegIMG_7497.thumb.jpeg.f89fb28323347d79a96349b20c79db16.jpegIMG_7499.thumb.jpeg.13eaf1f9d19372fe4f43580af6730ce3.jpeg
    IMG_7500.thumb.jpeg.3044608abc9edff6057d4e86307ad3c6.jpeg

    We like Homolvi SP AZ, too. Nice area!

    Sunset at Homolivi without photoshop:

    i-cHSdV6c-L.jpg

    We visited during a car show:

    i-nGdK33J-L.jpg

     

    • Like 5
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    Our Annual St George trip and PPA Pickleball Tournament

    in Campgrounds & Parks

    Posted

    1 hour ago, jd1923 said:

    We certainly are Patriot and @rideandfly and thanks for writing well wishes. Today was GREAT! Finally made it to Cedar Breaks NM and what a view. Literally breathless at 10,440 FT! The park is still closed for winter, but you can park at the North View Overlook. Since I've been reporting weather, it was 63 degrees in Parowan and only 43 another 4000 FT higher at the lookout.

    Chris too 100 pictures and I took some too. She got this one of me sitting on the overlook wall. Have proof we was there! Simply amazing! Didn't want to leave, but had to eventually, only had a couple layers and a spring jacket.

    JD at Cedar Break North.jpg

     

     

    Beautiful scenery today!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    41 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

    BTW, it's not advised to tow your Oliver up SR-143. It's a 4K FT climb in 12 miles, and REALLY STEEP the last 2 miles prior to the town of Brian Head. Road signs showed 13% grade and there was a sign going up and another coming down stating "Trailer Towing Not recommended."

    We did see a new-model HD Ram-Cummins pulling a ~7K trailer up as we were heading back down. Our older 4-speed automatic was working hard on this route, even without trailer attached. I had OD off the entire climb and trans temp was 221F when we parked at the top, where 172F is highway normal. The hottest I've seen pulling the Oliver, when hot outside on an Interstate climb was 201F.

    If you ever get in a situation where your trans slips, or if you have a temp reading, it gets too hot, stop and put your trans in neutral (NOT Park) which allows the trans fluid to cycle through the cooler. When in Park, the fluid is sitting still, staying hot much longer. I did this for 5 minutes and the temp dropped over 30 degrees. A transmission performance upgrade is very likely in our future.

    Good tips!

    Thanks for posting this great trip!

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    Insuring your Oliver

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    We use Auto Owners insurance and have increased Ollie's insured value three times, so far. Started out at what we paid for Ollie used in 2016, then with upgrades and continued increasing value, adjust insured value when needed. Never dreamed needing to increase our camper's value when we purchased Ollie. 🙂

    Made in USA leaf springs

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted · Edited by rideandfly

    2 hours ago, rideadeuce said:

    Just ordered the Bulldog shocks from 4StateTrucks.com. I used the code: PT15MAG for 15% off. Maybe it will work for someone else. 

    Best, M

    I used a 5% discount code yesterday, you did much better on the discount! 4StateTrucks.com has an A+ BBB rating, too.

    Picked up a spare 5 leaf spring and Ubolts/nuts for less than $100 today (original 5200lb axles on our Ollie) from the local Dexter distributor since there has not been any reported Ollie failures on these springs, yet. Going to install bronze bushings in it left over from the EZ Flex installation a few years ago.

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    Made in USA leaf springs

    in Mechanical & Technical Tips

    Posted · Edited by rideandfly

    15 hours ago, 2008RN said:

    I finally had a chance to try out the Bulldog HD shocks I put on the Oli.  I put 300 miles on them this last week. Most of it was on small 2 lane roads that had some rough areas.  I did go over a 40 mile stretch that I did last September, It made a world of difference. The trailer did not sway all over like it did before.  I could feel the difference in the drivers seat of how the trailer rode. I truely think the shocks  where pretty much shot when I got the trailer 3 years ago and  it was 10 months old at that time. I remember following the trailer for about 20 miles and you could see the top of the trailer swaying side to side about 4-5" going  down the freeway with small road imperfections.  Now on rough roads the sway is less than 2". 

    The price was comparable to online Monroe shocks.  if the Bulldogs last 4 years, I will be happy and buy them again.

    here is the link to where I bought them:  https://www.4statetrucks.com/bulldog-hd-shock-absorber-replaces-555001-19-050000007

    FYI: At the same time, I replace the the Oliver's shocks, I replaced the original 1999 shocks on the F250 SD with Bilstein 5100 shocks. The truck does ride a little stiffer but handles what little front to back  movement I get on the trailer better.  I did have to nail the brakes really hard this weekend when someone cut in front of me and then slammed on the brakes.   The TV and camper acted as one, and handled great.

    Now I will go for the Alcan springs sometime in the next year, before we start the long cross country trips.

    I was going to place an order for Monroe 555001 shocks about this time last year, but failed to do so.  Just placed an order for a set of Bulldog shocks you referenced in your post. The Bulldog set cost about $150 delivered with tax. Going to buy & keep one spare 5 leaf spring  (matching originals) for 5200lb axles, too.

    Thanks for the info!

     

    • Like 1

    Airstream Anguish… Is it contagious?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    We purchased our LE2 Ollie used eight years ago with no regrets.

    We used to let Oliver do some of the maintenance since they were only a day trip from home, plus we enjoy camping in TN, too. We plan to do most of the maintenance on Ollie in the future except for fiberglass and welding repairs. We had aluminum welding done by a local race car shop recently and with a large lake close by, there are plenty of quality boat maintenance facilities for fiberglass repairs.

    This forum is a valuable resource for repair and upgrade information, too.  Many valuable post have been made here that are needed for current and future Ollie owners making DIY repairs or learning more about one of the best campers ever built!

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