rideandfly
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Posts posted by rideandfly
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Debbie & I just returned from a camping trip at the Army Corps of Engineers "Bandits Roost Campground" at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir close to Wilkesboro NC. We stayed on one of our favorite sites there, #28. This campground is a great place for kayaking, power boating, fishing, with many other activities in the area, too.
Here's a few photos:
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Also looking forward to your Ollie adventure. Looking forward to hearing about the trip!!!!!!!!!
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Learned more about towing the 2015 Oliver Legacy Elite II with our 2013 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab with 4.0L and automatic transmission.
Purchased the Ollie in MO earlier this month and towed it home over 600 miles with the Frontier. We got 14.5MPG at 60MPH on I40 through TN & NC mountains. At 60MPH the Frontier indicates 2150RPM with overdrive off. Found a 3" lift ball mount is needed to keep the Ollie level, on our stock 2WD Frontier. The 3" lift ball mount measures 21" from the ground to top of ball before connecting to the Ollie. Originally ordered a set of Firestone rear differential air bags, but they were back ordered, so placed an order for Timbren rear differential rubber suspension enhancement. Did have some bounce on rougher roads, Timbrens should reduce or get rid of bounce, will see.
http://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Nissan/Frontier/2013/TTORTUN4L.html?vehicleid=2013306607
Had one car to pull out in front of us during the trip home and the rig performed an emergency stop nicely. Really like the brakes on the Ollie and how stable it is while towing on the interstate passing or being passed by tractor trailers. Did not use WDH or sway bar, and probably will not use them in the future with this rig.
Weighed the Oliver & Nissan Frontier at the local county landfill, have not been on a CAT scale, yet. Included some of the Frontier capacities with Class IV hitch & ball mount:
2013 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4.oL
GVWR 5730 pounds
GCWR 11,135 pounds
Maximum tow capacity 6300 pounds WDH hitch recommended over 5000 pounds
Maximum Tongue Weight 630 pounds
Scale Results:
Frontier ready to camp with two occupants 4860 pounds
Our Legacy Elite II ready to camp with empty tanks including tongue weight 4940 pounds
Frontier & Ollie Rig 9800 pounds
Our Legacy Elite II Tongue Weight ready to camp with empty tanks 420 pounds
Our Legacy Elite II tandem axle weights ready to camp 4520 pounds
Frontier ready to camp with two occupants and 420 pounds of tongue weight added 5280 pounds
Frontier with 3" lift ball mount and no rear suspension modifications added yet:
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This discussion got me wondering about our Elite II weight. Visited the county land fill today where they have scales to weigh trucks, no charge to weigh. :)
Our 2015 Elite II standard twin bed model options:
Fiber Granite Counter tops, reading lights, propane connection for grill.
Customer added: AB 6" Memory Foam Mattresses with 4" memory foam toppers (very comfortable).
Checked the VIN load capacity (from Oliver) and it's 2140 pounds. Ollie GVW 7000lbs - 2140lbs = empty Ollie weighed in at 4860 pounds at the factory, assumed.
Weighed Tow Vehicle & Ollie ready to go camping for a weekend outing, without coffee maker (need coffee) & food weights. Fresh, grey, and black water tanks empty.
Scale results:
Tow vehicle (TV) with two occupants and camping gear scale results: 4860 pounds
Combined TV and Ollie scale results: 9800 pounds
Ollie axles weighed while connected to TV scale results: 4520 pounds
Rig weight 9800lbs - 4860lbs TV weight = 4940 pounds Ollie weight ready to camp
Ollie weight 4940lbs - 4520lbs axles weight = 420 pounds Tongue weight ready to camp
TV weight 4860lbs + 420lb tongue weight = 5280 pounds TV weight with two souls on board
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Bill,
That's nice looking job on the block.
We're busy getting our Ollie ready for camping in the NC mountains. Once the pickup truck rear suspension upgrade arrives later this week (I hope) & it's installed, will weigh the camper & pickup at local scales, then will start camping!!!!!!
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We are new Oliver owners.
The previous owner built two wood rear jack blocks covered with fiberglass possibly filled with foam block keeping weight to a minimum, the blocks are light, (he's a fiberglass aircraft builder) & cut one wood block jack block for the front jack. These items came with the "new to us" Ollie.
Front jack block:
Rear jack block:Rear jack block:
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Yep, Like the new forum!!!!!!!
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Vector,
Believe the Nissan XD Titan would be a strong TV! Used to (retired) install Cummins diesels in several industrial applications with fine results. Just returned from southern MO where we purchased our "new to us" 2015 Elite II! We enjoy playing golf, too!!!!!
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Debbie & I scheduled a plant tour for last Thursday, 4/14. We also reserved a room at Fall Hollow Campground, B&B, Restaurant the previous night and really enjoyed our stay meeting Noel & Sheri, Fall Hollow Owners. Fall Hollow would be a great place to have a future Egg Gathering, too!
Jason gave us a fine tour and answered all of our questions. Before retirement, used to work in a large manufacturing and rebuild facility for industrial equipment. The folks on the plant floor were very friendly, work areas were organized, and appreciate how the Oliver team is looking to the future continuously improving an already great product.
After we scheduled the tour, foxcook put his 2015 Elite II up for sale in the classified section here. We decided to go on the plant tour and take a look at foxcook's Elite II in MO later that afternoon, 4/14.
We plan to camp and explore the Natchez Trace Parkway during our next visit to Fall Hollow TN!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace_Parkway
Where the tour starts:
Tankless Water Heater Option:
The trip to MO and camping trip back home to NC with the (new to us) Elite II and progress on setting up the rear suspension on the Frontier is at least one or two more threads!
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We went on a plant tour 4/14, here's a few more close to completion inside the plant:
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Like the windows on the Barefoot Caravan camper.
We currently have Dometic C5 windows on our camper and love them. The windows on their camper
look like Dometic C5 or C7 windows.
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We're currently considering a new tow vehicle, 2016 5.7L Tundra, but looks like we need to include the F-150 3.5EB for consideration, too. We want to buy a larger TV this summer before purchasing a Oliver Legacy Elite II later this year. Plan to tow the Oliver all over the lower 48.
Currently tow with a 2013 Nissan 261HP 4.0L V6 towing a 2000lb LivinLite CampLite travel trailer.
Also tow with a 2003 Tacoma 2.4L 4 cylinder. Tow low profile trailers up to 1500lbs in the eastern US with this TV.
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Here's another place to visit between Asheville & Boone NC, not far from the BRP and Linville Falls Trailer Lodge Campground, took these shots last week from Wisemans View NC and Old NC 105:
Linville Gorge NC (Grand Canyon of the East):
Shortoff Mountain NC, part of Linville Gorge:
Hawksbill Mountain, part of Linville Gorge:
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We enjoy camping at Pisgah Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) during the summer to get out of the heat in the lower elevations. They don't have electricity on the sites, but have nice showers.
Please forgive me for taking too many photos.
Taken from the BRP while camping at Mt. Pisgah:
Shrimp on the Barbi at Mt. Pisgah:
Also enjoy camping at a privately owned campground close to Linville Falls NC. Their rest rooms/showers are very clean and most sites are shady.
Linville Falls NC:
Grandfather Mountain NC:
If you stop in Blowing Rock NC, this is a nice place to visit, too:
Christa's make fresh bread daily, but not open on Sunday. Located at intersection of NC Rt. 181 & BRP, between Linville Falls and Boone.
Stone Mountain SP NC at Roaring Gap is another nice campground:
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The Fronty with 4.0L has 261HP and torque @ 281 lb-ft.
The Tundra 5.7L has 381HP and 401 lb-ft of torque.
The Touareg has 406 lbs-ft of torque, very impressive! My guess is the Touareg diesel is running closer to max torque RPM (probably lower RPM) at tow cruise compared to the Tundra gas 5.7L at tow cruise. Just a guess.
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Thanks, Don!
Looked up the 2015 VW Touareg TDI online, and it looks like strong TV!!!!!!
All I need now is some Gold Bullion?
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We decided to purchase a new Legacy Elite II later this year.
We currently tow a 2000lb LivinLite CampLite 11 TT with a 2013 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4.0L 262HP with 6300lb max tow capacity and 630lb max tongue weight. The Frontier handles the CL11 easily. We camp all over the nation and towed the CL11 on steep grades out west to almost 10,000', and happy we had the Frontier to tow the lightweight camper on steep grades. It really surprised us how the Frontier had to work on steep grades. We have not towed to the highest elevations in western US, yet.
We currently own a 1st generation 2003 Toyota Tacoma with 2.4L 142HP 4 cylinder and manual tranny. We like the durability of our Tacoma. After our positive experience with the Tacoma, we're considering a Toyota Tundra with 5.7L gas engine, 10100lb tow capacity, 381HP to tow the Oliver Legacy Elite II with out west.
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routlaw,
Will be taking Rt. 2 across Montana camping two nights @ ACE Downstream Fort Peck Campground before heading to Glacier NP. Heading down to Buffalo Bill SP WY, west of Cody, on the trip home.
Appreciate the offer and would like to see the Elite II! Can PM dates if it sounds like we will be passing through your area.
Thanks!
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Stan,
Will be camping in 12 northern states while visiting Glacier NP in Montana & Canada.
Really Appreciate the offer, will take you up on the offer during 2016 when we pass through your area while camping!
Debbie has many places to visit/camp at in the lower 48 during future years!
Thanks!
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The first Oliver we had the privilege of seeing was at Mount Pisgah Campground NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway during the summer of 2010. A couple from Florida gave us a tour and we thought this camper was beautiful inside & out. The Oliver is similar to our ski boat with white fiberglass finished interior.
We want to purchase a new camper during 2016. Currently camping with an all aluminum CampLite Travel Trailer. Plan to visit the Oliver Manufacturing Plant during this fall after a 5 week camping trip out west this summer.
Our current TV would work nicely with a Legacy Elite! We look forward to seeing and learning more about the Legacy Elite this fall!
Bill & Debbie
Bandits Roost Campground Wilkesboro NC
in Campgrounds & Parks
Posted
Buzzy,
Thanks!
We camp at Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds around the nation every opportunity we have.There were many folks out walking their dogs during our stay! We had water & electricity at our site. Campers receive a discount when 62 or older with discount cards.
http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/canyon/Recreation/Passes.asp#Golden