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Everything posted by topgun2
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Campo Alto - Cerro Noroeste - aka Mt. Able, CA
topgun2 replied to Dave Mazone's topic in Campgrounds & Parks
Nice camp and pics - but - I just have to ask - what does the pup weigh? Bill -
1st question - nope, you are good to go. Over time, dirt and grime will tend to collect in those chips and you might notice them more. 2nd question - Kind of like fixing paint chip on a car or truck. I've never been very good at it such that the "touch-up paint" doesn't show. One of the big problems in doing chip fix is getting the correct color - yes all Olivers are white but they are not all the same white. Or, you can wear those chips with pride. Kind of like a hard earned patina. 😉 Bill
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SeaDawg is presently "on the road", so, it just might be awhile before she can reply. At this point - I'd re-read what JED, Frank C and MountainOliver had to say nd either call it a day or add that additional ground. Bill
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Yes, unless they've changed it (I don't think they have), Oliver uses Progressive surge protection. Progressive also makes models that are external to the RV and some people have used these external protectors either because they do not have the internal one that Oliver now uses or because they believe having two will give them more protection. Bill
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I really liked Hungry Mother when I stayed there a few years ago. If you've never done it are are a car/racing person at all then a short trip over to the Bristol Motor Speedway and a tour is very interesting and not very expensive. Bill
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I do not remember what the price is but I think that Technorv.com has water pressure regulators on sale presently. Bill edit : HERE IT IS $23.99 It comes pre-set for 45 psi but it is adjustable up to 160 psi.
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Certainly noting wrong with those split logs and the rubber chocks at HF do go on sale several times a year for under $6.00. A number of owners claim to always check the power pedestal prior to plugging in anything with at least one of THESE outlet testers or a multi-meter. But, I must confess, I do not. Perhaps this is being lazy but I believe that the Oliver surge/circuit protector will take care of me and the electronics in the Oliver. Also it is because I rarely am at a place where there are pedestals - I boondock most of the time. Bill
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I always have 4 chocks with me. While I use the Andersen leveling system if I need to level from side to side, I still have the extra set of chocks. This is in case I'm on what appears to be "level" ground or if I need to unhitch and leave the Ollie somewhere without regards to using it for sleeping. I feel a bit "safer" if all four wheels are chocked in some manner at all times while not hitched. I even get nervous when dropping off my Ollie at the Oliver Service Department - it is on a concrete drive and very level and none of the Olivers there are chocked. But, habit is a hard thing to deal with particularly when it comes to my baby. While on the road I take two of the heavy rubber chocks (like THESE), my Andersens (like THESE), and a set of plastic chocks (like THESE). I virtually always use the rubber chocks but due to how heavy they are and the lack of use on the plastic ones I don't feel the need to always carry another set of the rubber ones. However, the rubber chocks will last much longer than the plastic ones. Bill p.s. in a pinch - don't forget about what resources that might be found around you - scrap pieces of wood, rocks, etc. can all be used as chocks
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Have I killed our Blue Sky Energy MPPT PV charge controller?
topgun2 replied to MAG's topic in Mechanical & Technical Tips
like your body - ouch! 😬 -
Electrical: no 110v whole boondocking
topgun2 replied to VBistro's topic in Mechanical & Technical Tips
No trouble - glad you got the "issue" figured out. Many times "issues" can be solved in being able to see the forest for the trees or the trees for the forest. We get so involved in the bottom line problem that we simply do not step back and think through the events or systems that are involved and then take a step by step approach to get to the end. Certainly I'm as guilty of this as anyone! Bill -
Have I killed our Blue Sky Energy MPPT PV charge controller?
topgun2 replied to MAG's topic in Mechanical & Technical Tips
If it was me, I'd not risk leaving the batteries stored in the Oliver. If those batteries leak it will cause one heck of a mess and expense in getting that cleaned up. With the winter temps you are looking at, hopefully there is a place where you can store the batteries (out of the Oliver) where they will not be hurt by zero degree temps. If there isn't such a place then I'd either give them away or trash them, find a neighbor who would be willing to store them for me, or (if you are driving) take them with you. Good luck! Bill -
Liana - Given your hull number I suspect that you have the "touch" lights (i.e. you touch or push them to turn them on)? If this is the case then about all you can do is get replacements from Service. Bill
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Two big thumbs up on that TPMS! Good for you! Bill
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Electrical: no 110v whole boondocking
topgun2 replied to VBistro's topic in Mechanical & Technical Tips
OK - great - we are making progress! I agree with bhncb - the inverter is actually working and producing AC (alternating current or 120 volts). The GFCI he mentions is the next thing in the line to check. Easy to do if you have one of THESE or THESE. Lacking a tester then about all you can do is "trip" the GFCI and then reset the GFCI. This is done via the two buttons located on the front of the GFCI outlet. Make sure that you do this a couple of times - you should hear the GFCI "click" when you test it. Bill Bill -
Electrical: no 110v whole boondocking
topgun2 replied to VBistro's topic in Mechanical & Technical Tips
I apologize if I missed the fact that you are boondocking - of course there is no power pedestal. This actually makes things a bit simpler. The transfer switch should have nothing to do with your issues. However, the inverter is central to getting you from 12 volts to the 120 volts you are looking for. As far as I know, the surge suppressor doesn't come into play when you are using the inverter. Therefore it would be normal for it to be blank. I assume that you have tried to turn on your inverter via the remote switch. But, have you tried turning it on via the "on/off" switch located on the inverter itself? -
Most of these things are really not "necessary" for you to enjoy your Oliver. However, they do make the experience more relaxing and or easier or safer than it would be without them. They tend to save you time, energy, worry and simply make the whole camping/traveling experience more enjoyable because you spend less time working, thinking, worrying and more time doing what you really want to do. It will not be long now and your delivery will pass you by as if being played in triple fast speed. Try to resist buying anything but what you feel is necessary and then add later depending on your style of travel and camping. Bill
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Electrical: no 110v whole boondocking
topgun2 replied to VBistro's topic in Mechanical & Technical Tips
I'm a bit surprised that one of our more qualified electrical members hasn't chimed in on your initial question with help. There are a number of reasons that are possible for your problem. If you simply move the slide switch in your picture to the "bypass" position then you will feed electricity directly from the campground pedestal to your Ollie without protection. If you decide to try this then I'd suggest that you turn off everything that you can - i.e. run the fridge on Propane, turn off the solar panels, turn off the air conditioner, unplug the microwave, and even turn off the furnace so that if there is a "problem" with the electricity being provided via that pedestal you don't ruin something and/or compound the issues you may be having. Have you checked the pedestal for polarity, grounding, voltage regularity, etc.? Have you checked your shore power cable - connections ends and for signs of wear? Bill -
Just goes to show how lazy I really am! My six inch by 11 inch wood blocks are either placed on their sides (6 inches) on on their ends (11 inches) depending on how much room I have. Certainly as Mike points out - the less you have to extend the on-board jacks , the better - whether that be for leveling or for changing a tire. Bill
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Actually it was JED above that suggested the Lego blocks and they are good to have on board. Having said this - I've only actually used my legos one time in the last seven years! Bill
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Most travel trailers do not have disk brakes. There are several members of this Forum that consider our drum style brakes to be "garbage". However, over the years these drums and brakes have done the job in a simple, cost effective manner without major difficulty. If one keeps them clean and in good repair they should give you years of trouble free service. Having said this - there is little question that disk brakes perform better over a higher range of conditions as opposed to drum brakes. But, RV's are not sport cars or airplanes. Nor are they normally subjected to the same kinds of wear and tear as even our daily drivers. Bill
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Depending on the situation - a single Andersen leveler may or may not be enough to get that tire off the ground. Therefore, Frank C's suggestion of carrying some form of "blocks"* (certainly these can be "lego" style that JD mentions)** in order to take lateral "pressure" off the onboard jack is worth considering. Also, as per Frank C - keep the Ollie attached to your tow vehicle and clock the opposite side. Try to find as level a spot to do the repair as possible - most roads and their shoulders are sloped such that if the flat tire is on the curbside it will require you to lift more weight than necessary. Finally, if there is any doubt then call for help. The couple of hours that you might save by doing the job yourself is simply not worth the possible negative outcomes. Bill *I carry both wood blocks and lego style blocks. The wood blocks can be had free either around your own workshop or by "scrounging". ** note - these lego style blocks can also be used for help in leveling the tongue when the throw of that jack is simply not long enough to get your Ollie level from front to back. Or when the Andersen's need a bit of extra help. Or when your outside grill can't find a level spot. Or when .....
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Unless someone here has the specific details as to which hulls got which axles at which time - there are a few Ollies that received axles other than the 3,500 pound ones that are the norm - I'd suggest a call to the Service Department. They can look up your specific build and tell you what you have. Bill
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The Ford F-150 Lightning Barely Made It 80 Miles With a Trailer
topgun2 replied to Sak's topic in Towing an Oliver
This whole sub-topic about battery fires is no joke! I had a laptop charging in my office here at home and at about 10:30 pm I heard what sounded like a 22 rifle going off. I rushed down the hall from the master bedroom to find that the individual cells of the lithium laptop battery were exploding and about 30% of the office was on fire. Thankfully I was able to unplug the charger and we had a fire extinguisher handy to get the fire out. Yes, insurance covered the damage (minus my deductible of course) but it took the better part of six months to get things back to normal. I no longer leave my laptop, or any other re-chargeable battery unattended. Bill -
Elite I bed across the back and adding some color
topgun2 replied to Ron and Phyllis's topic in Ollie Modifications
Many of these "locking mechanisms" are adjustable as to the length of the rod that holds the metal tab which slides onto that thicker block you installed. Pictures certainly would help us determine if this could be done in your case. Bill -
Or, try: winter + camping If you don't think that it will get below the mid to high 20's overnight then I'd not do anything different with regards to the Ollie. For temps below that there are various "degrees" of prevention that you can take to include keeping access doors open so heat gets to the area between the hulls, actually placing heaters between the hulls, placing temp sensors between the hulls that have an alarm function in the event it gets below freezing there, etc. Have a good time in any case! Bill
