topgun2

Well - CalMark covers were originally Sunbrella material. This material is relatively heavy but has been in use for a number of years. Within the past couple of years CalMark changed to using Weathermax material. This is lighter in weight as compared to Sunbrella and I would assume that it both wears and protects at least as well. There are a bunch of opinions about which is better on the boating forums - simply "google" "which is better Sunbrella or Weathermax?" Certainly time will give us the real answer. From my experience I can tell you that it will be MUCH easier to place the Weathermax cover on an Elite II. Just getting the Sunbrella cover onto the roof is almost too much for one person. Bill

At this point it would appear that you are on the right track in getting to the bottom of your troubles. This tech should be able to tell you fairly quickly if you need to replace - anything. If you have not already done so - turn off your solar panels or put something (a moving blanket or opaque tarp) over the panels so that they will not be generating any power. This is for your protection and would help prevent any "shorts" that could cause a fire. I'd also unplug from shore power unless you have to have power for some reason. The "key" to understanding electricity in your camper is to understand each of the separate and combined systems that potentially provide power to it. Your batteries can be thought of as the heart of the system with BOTH the solar panels and the shore power providing energy that is stored in those batteries. Power (electricity) continues to come into the camper via either and/or both systems unless one or the other or both are disabled in some way. Shore power is the easiest in that if you unplug from a shore power outlet - that stops the electricity from entering the camper/batteries from that source. The solar panels will generate electricity as long as they are getting light - yes, they will produce electricity even when indoors and the building's lights are on. If you have one of the big red solar disconnect switches then it can be used to "turn off" the solar panels - note here that this switch really doesn't turn off the solar panels but only stops the current from proceeding any further down the line (wires) - reread the previous sentence about panels producing electricity. So, shore power provides electricity to your batteries and solar power provides electricity to your batteries and (in most circumstances) your tow vehicle can provide electricity to your batteries. These sources are all "controlled" individually - solar controller adjusts voltage and amount of current from the solar panels, your vehicle has a voltage regulator and your camper has a manager for all of these sources to include shore power - someone (something has to be the "traffic cop") has to manage things so that neither too much nor too little is given to your batteries and/or is used by you such that you potentially overload the wiring in your camper (very much like the circuit breakers in your house). Try to understand one system at a time and it should be easier. And, in any case where you are forced to work with electricity in the camper, be sure to remember that you have at least two if not three sources that will need to be disabled prior to any work or you risk unpleasant things happening. When in doubt - get advice BEFORE proceeding! As you are presently doing with your tech. Bill

WOW - you are really trying to test my memory! It has been a couple of years since I had the microwave out and in - but - as I remember it - I pulled the rubber mat out of the cabinet above the microwave, got the plug through the hole on the inside of the microwave cabinet and then gently pulling on the cord while moving the cord back and forth, I found that there was one spot that allowed me to get that plug up into the upper cabinet. Note - I did not have to force it but it was snug. In reversing the process I basically took a wire coat hanger, again through the hole in the microwave cabinet, up through the "slot", wrapped the new microwave cord and coat hanger together and brought the cord back down into the microwave cabinet. Hopefully that will get you where you need to be. Bill

There are a bunch of "pro's and con's" concerning the EZ Lube feature. Bottom line is - yes - there is no easy way to properly grease bearings and that certainly includes the EZ Lube. Once you know how to do the job - it really isn't very difficult. BUT - it is always very messy! One can grease those zerks without jacking up the camper at all - at least if one is your size 😇. It is a little tight and you have to learn to move like a snake, but, knowing that the camper isn't going to fall on you helps a bunch with the "peace of mind". No easy way of getting the grease COMPLETELY in and around all of those little bearings. I still use the tried and true hand packing method. Once you get past the idea of how long its going to take to get your hands degreased, its not so bad. Besides, for the next day or so your hands will be soooooo soft and smooth (assuming that you're not wearing gloves). Yep! I've always felt that now that you know how these things work and how the job is supposed to be done you are in a much better position to know when and/or if things are not "right" - " the way that they should be". Knowledge is a great thing - it is a shame that sometimes it is so difficult/messy to earn/learn. You should take great pride in the fact that you tackled this job and now "know". In the immortal words of "Ice", "you (Topgun) can be my wingman anytime". Bill

HERE is that Forum thread that I mentioned above. The RAM mount that comes off the Built-right is solid as a rock. Certainly this same type of system for mounting could also be used for the small GPS. Bill

p.s. If you are really interested in this Built-right mount, there area couple of threads here on the Forum about it and how to install it. Bill

I'm guessing that your 2017 Ford Expedition has a dashboard design that is very similar to my 2017 Ford F-150. If that is the case - I mounted my TPMS on the driver's side "A" pillar (top) and dash (bottom). The Garmin is mounted via the rack detailed below. My cell phone is in a cup holder mount and my tablet resides on the large arm rest that is between the seats. The radar detector is suspended from the headliner and the dashcam is behind the rearview mirror while the Garmin InReach Mini also resides just behind the rack that holds the Garmin GPS. All of this is without obstructing the view out of the windshield and/or the instruments on the dash or controls. Before I had the 890, my old 2797 (5x7 inch screen) was simply mounted on a "bean bag mount" and placed in that tray where I now have the rack.

To make absolutely certain - I'd ask Jason Essary (Oliver Service Dept). Bill

I personally think that this is a good rule to follow even if you have the "standard", "old style", "regular" bearings. Bill

Looks good - Mike. Given that I often travel solo your solution would be a bit of a reach for me. However, this mount solves the "problem" with your truck. Bill p.s. for those that have Garmin GPS devices, InReach Mini and perhaps other - but - specifically the 890: there is a current map and software upgrade available

A moderator is not necessary (for just about anything according to my wife 😁). I simply get a copy of the picture and save it to my computer. I then go to my computer "picture" files, open that recently saved picture and click on "edit". Once my edit program opens with the picture, one of the options is to "rotate" the picture. I rotate it to the position I want and then left clock on save. Then it is back to the Forum and I click on the three dots (hamburger) in the upper right hand corner of the post - the same place you used to delete your original picture. Then all I do is click "choose files" to add the corrected picture to the original post and click on "save". Other than trying to remember to go back into my picture files every so often in order to clean out pictures that are not mine - it really isn't a big deal. Bill

Is that the right way up? Bill

NO, No, No! Think of it as a "dumb waiter" so that the pizza and beer delivery person can simply drop it off and you can access dinner and beverage directly from the interior. No more opening the door, no more running out into the rain for the essentials of life.😁

If inside electric is available then I would simply put the batteries on a smart charger (battery minder). Remember to go over to the Ollie every few weeks to make sure that you are still good on fluid levels in the batteries - of course this assumes that your batteries are flooded wet cell batteries. If they are AGM's then they take care of themselves regarding fluid. If you are doing the above then turning things like your propane/co2 detector off is not necessary - they don't really draw all that much current. However, if you decide to NOT use the smart charger then I'd take the fuse out of the propane/co2 detector Its located right behind the detector under the dinette seat), and disconnect (via the two main fuses) the rest of the 12 volt current in the Ollie. Bill

Do I sense some potty humor "leaking" in here?😇

Of course not - he's over at the Grand Canyon for 15 minutes!☺️ The truck is in camo but the Ollie sure does stand out. Still looks like a great rig! Have fun over at the Ollie shop and try to not spend too much money. After all - that $15 saved will only go so far. Did I see that you are not going to hang around for the Rally? If you do get there - please look me up. Bill

Unfortunately the last I heard, Matteo (sp?) is no longer with the company. Hopefully Micro-air will have another employee attend our Rally in the future and it would certainly be nice if the new employee is as helpful, kind and hard working as Matteo. Bill

Nice photos! I'd send that first shot with your Ollie in to Matt Duncan for possible publication by Oliver. Those slot canyons are cool too! Bill

Sounds to me like you are doing pretty good so far. Any idea, yet, of why it seized in the first place? Certainly you don't want to get in a position of where you throw the piston through the side of the engine 😵

Assuming that you used a mild bleach solution when you sanitized your system and only left it in the hot water tank overnight - it is highly likely that you have no permanent damage to your system (and tank). If I were in your shoes, I'd only make sure that the tank is thoroughly flushed. Actually - to over do it a bit - I'd probably pull the anode rod and flush the tank with one of THESE. Bill

Let me see - wind, rain, hail, sand, dirt, bugs, gloom of night, harsh sun, tree sap, repeat (not necessarily in that order) - what could go wrong? "harsh chemicals" - define please. For what its worth, I don't usually consider anything that I can leave my unprotected hand in for an hour unduly "harsh". But, then again, you should see my hands 😁. "power washer" - do they mean that poor pathetic electric power washer or the 5,000 psi job that will take your skin off? In any case - is it ever wise to use a power washer of virtually any sort on electrical equipment? I wash my solar panels with the same stuff I use for the rest of the Ollie and for my cars and for my truck. I don't see any difference. But, then again, my eyes are getting to be a lot like my hands 😇. Bill

RTV silicone is a type of silicone that cures at room temperature (see it HERE). Bill

I'd add to my comment above that I took the Oliver specific pages and placed each one in a protective sleeve so that they would not become worn and/or the holes for the binder would become torn. An added benefit of this was that I could simply slip any additional notes or changes in specifications right in with the original. Bill

I'm a BIG fan of this size tank. When there isn't a dump station I can get it to a toilet and given its size I'm able to lift it to dump the contents into the toilet. Of course one can do the same thing with a larger tote if they are careful about how much "stuff" they put in there. Bill

Don't forget to take a camera with you and use it! These are individualized guided tours. However, do not be hesitant or afraid to ask to see something in more detail, touch it, walk over to get a closer look at it, etc. Certainly get your monies worth. With regards to the wet bath - think about exactly how much time you spend in the bath versus what that square footage of space costs in terms of not only money but in terms of square footage value to you. When I'm camping/boondocking in the Western States I most often shower outside and use a solar shower. This saves on propane (the sun heats the water) and grey water tank space. Let alone giving me all the room I could ever ask for!😃 Bill