rideandfly

Hidalga, We were hammered when Hurricane Hugo hit us several years ago. Hope Hurricane Matthew goes back to sea! http://www.weather.gov/ilm/HurricaneHugo

Our 2016 Tundra is surprising how sharp it turns. Normally I take the trailer I'm towing to a big parking lot and make 180 turns with steering to the stop with Debbie watching the clearance. Have not done this with the Tundra/Ollie rig, yet. Have the Ollie hitch set at the shortest length. The Tundra/Elite II combo is a sweet towing rig on the road. I like the tow mode and how well engine braking works down grades in the mountains and the tranny stays in a gear nicely going up mountain grades, too. 180 turn in the back yard with tailgate up: Edit: Like the Tundra rear camera, too:

Mike and Elizabeth, congrats on your Ollie!!!!! Looking forward to hearing about your adventures and seeing photos, too!!!!!!!

Yologals, Welcome! Congratulations on your new camping adventure!

Seriously looked at AS trailers, but did not want wood floors. Thought about rebuilding a vintage AS and installing aluminum plank flooring, but we decided to go with the Ollie. Our first camper, Chalet A-Frame, had wood floor rot, it was built before they started installing composite flooring.

John, Welcome!!!!! Looking forward to reading your articles and seeing your photography! We finally settled on a 5.7L Tundra 4x4 with 6.5' bed as a Ollie TV. It's high to load a motorcycle on, but will work it out eventually for a CB500X to ride solo & two up while camping, mostly pavement and some fire roads. It should fit in the bed and close the tailgate, too. Will post about it when I have it worked out. First Bike Build: 1980 CX500D: Vstrom for two up sport touring: Riding Western NC:

John, Good points and Thanks! The 5.7L Tundra double cab Ollie rig is rock solid while towing. Purchased an electronic sway control since Toyota requires a sway control device for trailers over 2000 pounds and not using a WDH since our Ollie comes in under 5000 pounds ready to camp with empty tanks. When the 7 pin plug is connected to the TV the sway control will be operating using a gyroscope to sense sway movement using the trailer brakes to stop the sway, it also uses a GPS. I will mount the unit on the tongue without drilling any holes in the Ollie hitch using existing bolts, will post another thread with installation. This youtube video has additional information about the unit. Purchased our unit on Amazon.

Bill, PM Sent

Bill, The top of the tire cover is 11" including license plate light and I rounded up to the next higher inch using sight when measuring from the side for the overall Ollie length measurement including the tire cover. Hope this helps,

Bill, Came up with 20' 4" from front of LP Gas cover to top/rear of tire cover. The license plate light adds 1 1/2" to that overall dimension. Hope that helps!

Bill, Thanks!!!! I just got back from buying nuts & bolts for the electronic trailer sway control installation for the Ollie. The only reason I bought the electronic sway control is because the Tundra operators manual required a sway control device for any trailer over 2000 pounds. My experience towing the Elite II for about 5000 miles so far has been a stable rig overall with a 4.0L Nissan Frontier and 5.7L Toyota Tundra. Have not towed in wind over 30 to 40MPH so far with the Ollie rig. Installed the Dexter EZ Flex system on the Ollie and only towed with the Tundra since that installation, which is very stable and smooth. I had Timbren rear suspension modification on the Frontier and the ride was very firm when towing the Ollie with the Fronty, but has always been stable with both tow vehicles. It's possible only Toyota has the sway control device requirement before reaching the weight requirement for WDH use. I don't think (not 100% sure) the Frontier had the sway control requirement under the WDH required weight, but it had WDH requirement when towing over 5000 pounds. The Fronty was rated at 6300 pound tow capacity with my Tundra rated at 9800 pound tow capacity in it's configuration from the OEM. I'm sure Toyota is protecting against the worse case towing situation to prevent trailer sway accidents.

Mike, The Ollie has great towing manners and believe you will have a fine towing experience this weekend. It surprised me when reading the 2016 Tundra operators manual and it stated a sway control device was required when towing a trailer over 2000 pounds. Looked at the 2003 Tacoma operators manual and it said the same, have not towed over 2000 pounds with the Tacoma. Already purchased an electronic sway control that mounts on the Ollie hitch, so will read Sage-Anderson posts, too. Will post about the electronic sway control installation on the Ollie in another thread. Thanks!

Hardrock gave me these photos taken at the Oliver factory. This is a Dexter EZ Flex installation on a Elite II on the production line.

We have two Toyota tow vehicles. A 2003 2.4L Toyota Tacoma with Class III hitch and Firestone rear differential air bags, we tow a trailer with motorcycle weighing in under 1500 pounds loaded. We also have a 2016 5.7L 4x4 Toyota Tundra with factory tow package for towing the Ollie. Found this information in both vehicle's operators manuals. The manuals say when towing a trailer of 2000 pounds or more a sway device of adequate capacity must be used. In the case of the Tundra, it came equipped with a Toyota sway control system that uses the Tundra's brakes to reduce sway, but the manual also said the sway system may not be adequate to control all trailer sway situations. Assume many modern WDH systems also have sway control devices. Our Ollie comes in at 4950 pounds ready to camp with empty water tanks, full LP tanks, and full water heater tank. Our Ollie tows fine behind the Tundra without WDH and sway device. The Tundra requires WDH when towing a trailer over 5000 pounds. Purchased an Electronic Sway Control device for the Ollie that uses trailer braking when sway is detected when towing with the Tundra. Will post installation in another thread. Are there other vehicles approved for towing that have a sway control device requirement?

Great report and photos. Excellent looking meal, too!!!!!

Coy, You're right! Here's a few more. Space Camp: Like these tires: AL I65 Welcome Center:

Buzzy, Thanks! They were giving away standard Ollie t-shirts. Good idea having special Ollie t-shirts for Ollie gatherings!

Bill, Thanks! Yep, they call it ORR (Oliver Rocket Rig). PM sent! Airstream Quarantine Facility:

Last May we won a free stay (door prize) at Riverbend Campground, Hiawassee GA while attending an Egg rally. Will not be attending the rally during 2017, but still wanted to use the free pass. Decided to stay there while en-route to the first Oliver Fall Gathering earlier this month. Will post additional photos taken during the first Oliver Fall Gathering. After the Ollie gathering we headed to AL and camped at a friend's home. During that stay we spent a complete day at the US Space and Rocket Center AL. On the way home we stayed at Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground TN. http://www.riverbendcamping.com/ https://www.thousandtrails.com/tennessee/natchez-trace-rv-campground/ http://rocketcenter.com/ https://www.cmtrails.com/ Like always, I take too many photos, so here's a few: Riverbend Campground: Oliver Fall Gathering: Natchez Trace in AL crossing the TN River: Davidson Rocket Center AL: Ollie Rocket Rig Display:

John, The set worked OK, but is bulky. Have not found anything else to use for this type of job, yet. Learned about the kit reading on the following RV.net thread for Dexter EZ Flex installations. Used it a couple times so far. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21609645.cfm

Also used a Harbor Freight ball joint service kit to press out a couple of old bolts and press in some new bolts, had this kit from another project: http://www.harborfreight.com/ball-joint-service-kit-for-2wd-and-4wd-vehicles-60827.html

Dave, The kit came with recommended torque values instructions, like Bwright mentioned and a torque wrench was used. The nuts are self locking, but when we installed a couple of lock nuts and removed them, used Blue thread locker on the nuts during re-installation to be safe. Left the instructions at AL where we did the job. Purchased 45 degree fittings from a Tractor Supply Store. http://www.dexteraxle.com/inc/sdetail/3902 Bill, Sharp eye, the vise was in rough shape, but it was the only one available where we did the job. Took one Ollie rig photo before leaving Davidson Rocket Center AL:

Bill and John, Thanks!!!!! Made the stand out of scrap wood and it works great. Made it easy to grease the Ollie!

Here's a Dexter Suspension Kit upgrade with bronze bushings and wet pins on the single axle 2015 Legacy Elite. Old parts removed, less a few nylon bushings. The pins and bushings removed were in good condition. Removed the straight grease fittings and installed 45 degree fittings: Installing bronze bushings: One hand grease gun stand:

Thanks, Camping in the Ollie in AL as I reply, it's holding up well!!!!