John E Davies

If a trailer manufacturer installs a system capable of lifting the entire trailer off the ground, then they are jacks, not stabilizers, regardless of what the oral or written instructions call them. Altering the manual does not change this fact. It’s about DESIGN CAPABILITIES, not INTENT. No equipment company will recommend that their equipment is safe for working under the trailer or doing maintenance around the wheels and axles. On every car and floor jack sold here, there are prominent safety warnings about securing the load with FIXED floor stands, not another service jack, before removing a wheel or crawling under a raised vehicle. Service jack failures, bloody injury and death are common news stories. The jack manufacturer, and also common terminology for as long as trailers have existed, calls the units “tongue jacks”, they are designed for lifting the rated load completely off the ground. The original Oliver concept and advertising was based on the idea that you can park, level your trailer and be camping in minutes, wihout having to fuss around with ramps or stacked pads under the tires like in the Bad Old Days, pre-Oliver. Owners seldom completely read the Owners Manual, it is silly to assume that a vague warning buried in a hundred page book will be sufficient, especially for the second owner, or ones decades from now. The next time you get in your car, look up at the airbag and other safety warning stickers on the visor. This is what Oliver needs to do. If Oliver wants to truly cover itself legally, they must issue a Safety Bulletin and send every single owner large yellow warning placards to be installed beside the switches, and beside each rear jack, stating clearly: “The three permanent jacks are not to be used for servicing the frame or for removing a wheel. To avoid death or serious injury, always place additional fixed steel support stands under the steel subframe and tongue during such maintenance. When extending the jacks, ensure that their base pads are placed on firm level surfaces and the units are not subjected to side loads. Do not remove this sticker.” I will continue to use the jacks for short term lifting tires off the ground, in a safe and level environment, and also for carefully removing wheels, but I won’t crawl around under the trailer without extra supports, no way.... For those of you without TPMS, here is a great reason to invest in a pressure warning system. It gives you enough advance notice that you can hopefully get off the highway and find a solid level spot to raise the trailer, instead of trying to use the sloped gravel shoulder of a freeway. I am a firm believer in TPMS and I believe it should be standard equipment on every RV. John Davies Spokane WA

Cool, but it is a bit slow and clunky. Is there any way to generate and download detailed maps of a region, say in a 1 GB batch? They are standard "image" type maps. The pdfs are quite usable, and look just like the paper NFS maps. But they are raster data, not vector. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKdRiHezuk0 John Davies Spokane WA

Reed, your comments are 100% valid - a pay for use app is not needed for many folks, but those free apps do usually depend on being able to stream the data, or you have to spend the time and hassle before the trip caching it, which is a serious pain in the butt. For example, the very latest Google Terrain maps are stunning compared to the previous version, but you cannot download them like their road maps. If you could, then they would be very useful for off grid travel. When I travel on major highways in the middle of WA, other than the Interstates, I usually have major cellular dead zones. I need downloaded data. GAIA free comes with only a crippled low detail topo base map with no road labels. In reality the only use for it is to provide additional side coverage where the higher level map coverage quits. The standard membership gives you many different map types, most of which are downloadable. Overnight I downloaded 26 gb of NFS 2016 maps, which are kept current, unlike my huge outdated stack of paper ones. For me, this is huge...., since I am always exploring new forests and don’t like the hassle of buying new maps or driving without. The premium version adds MUMs (NFS motor use info), POIs, hunting boundaries, extra detail topo lines, etc, etc, plus the ability to layer up to five different maps, for example, POIs and Private Land Ownership info layered over USGS topo maps. Creating a route is really easy online or on your device, it snaps to the road, track or trail, the labels are dynamic (change size and angle as you zoom and rotate) and all your waypoint, route and track data is automatically backed up to the Cloud. Plus it is syncced to any other devices. If you really like the app you can get a five year membership and it is only $25 annually for the highest level - I think that is very reasonable. I have been happily using Motion X GPS HD for many years. It has similar capabilities, but GAIA is way, WAY more complete, refined and elegant. I expect I will migrate all my old waypoints to this new app and stop using MotionX. Again, most casual campers don’t need the full capabilities of GAIA, but a free subscription can show them if it can be useful. Free is always good. John Davies Spokane WA

Is this from personal experience or anecdotal? Maybe they are trying to keep out stick and staple junk trailers, but I don’t understand the rationale behind banning an Ollie. In years past there have been plenty of non-hard-core rigs. BTW I have a very nice men’s Medium EarthRoamer shirt if anyone wants to borrow it to sneak into the Flagstaff event. The NW Overland group will welcome yourOllie here in Washington if you care to drive north a little ways.... LOL. John Davies Spokane WA

GAIA is a wonderful resource for those who venture off pavement for any type of activity..... this article is a great review and at the bottom you will find a link to a free 90 day subscription. Note, they say it is a Premium version, but when I redeemed it I got the Standard one. Still a nice deal, a good software “test drive”. https://www.4xoverlandadventures.com/navigation-app-choice-gaia-gps/ John Davies Spokane WA

Here is a good thread, I won’t bother highlighting the points made there. http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=67545.0 One issue with an Ollie is the high frame clearance. Jacking the frame requires a floor jack with LOTS of lift, or lots of blocks placed on top of it’s pad. An extended reach bottle jack might be OK but requires lots of spacers underneath. Jacking under a spring pad is better IMO because it is so close to the ground and a very strong jack point, and it eliminates a bunch of loose stuff that might slip out and cause an accident. You do need to watch for the spring equalizer flipping over with just one tire off the ground. This cannot happen if both are raised by using the onboard jacks. John Davies Spokane WA

That Ollie on the FUSO Canter is strange indeed..... Here is a 360 degree panorama from the Dirty Face dual sport ride in June 2007, the last time I was up high in that area. This is Sugerloaf Lookout, at 6500 ft it is one of the highest points in the relatively low mountains of this area. The Cascades are in the distance. They are way higher, up to 14,000 ft, and they never lose all their snow. Open in a new tab and zoom in. That lookout is most likely included in one of the easy trail rides of the NW Overland Expo. The main forest roads are bumpy but not a challenge like some of the secondary tracks that require high ground clearance and aggressive tires.. I can post some more pics if somebody asks.... John Davies Spokane WA

Update.... this has been working really well and I appreciate the ease of getting the trailer close to level just by driving back and forth a few feet. An extra body outside is useful for levelling front to back, but even if you are alone it is helpful to get the best location to park. If a site is fairly level, you often can get the trailer aligned in both directions without ever using the jacks. If the terrain is sloping, look for a site that slopes downward from the entry. Then you can use the rear jacks only to level and raise the back, leaving the hitch connected to the truck. This saves time and fussing twice since you can just drive off the next morning. .... Remembering that your rear jacks are deployed, of course! A short piece of red surveyors tape draped around the top of the front jack, or from the top of your steering wheel, will remind you, if you are the forgetful sort like me... driving away with any of the jacks down would be bad and very embarassing. John Davies Spokane WA

From the OE West website: “WHY OVERLAND EXPO? One word: Community. Of all the comments we get raving about the quality of classes, instructors, and vendors, one impression strikes people the hardest, and that is the people who come to learn, to teach, and to share. The Overland Expo has become a mandatory calendar event for travelers from all over the world, many of whom schedule trans-continental journeys to coincide with a West or East Expo, to see old friends and meet new ones. Those new to overlanding tell us again and again how welcomed they feel by this community whose reason for being, after all, is to explore, learn new things, and meet new people. It’s why our motto is: Overland Expo—where adventure begins and frindships last.” For someone living in an area with abundant offroad recreation and minimal actual boondocking experience, it is a fantastic way to get educated, learn basic skills, and get acquainted with the overlanding community. Finally, just wandering around looking at all the cool stuff is amazing and lots of fun... John Davies Spokane Wa

The folks who buy the really high end overland rigs like the Earth Roamers are definitely rich, tho there are plenty of young DINKs - Double Income, No Kids - with lots of cash invested in accessories for their 20 year old Land Cruiser. It is very easy to sink $30k into a $10k vehicle and still not be quite “finished”. Then there are the people who just want to travel and explore and a stock 4wd Vanagon or a Silverado with a camper top may suit them fine. The motorcyclsts fill out the rest of the spectrum on their Dual Sport or Adventure bikes. Some travel the world, most just pretend and limit their trips to the local area. You do see kids and dogs at these rallies, but mostly it is couples of all ages. If you are interested, consider visiting Flagstaff at the end of May..... this is the best event in the country, by far. It’s an easy two day trip from Colorado Springs.... https://www.overlandexpo.com/west John Davies Spokane WA

Location is Plain, Washington, near Leavenworth, about two hours NE of Seattle, four hours west of Spokane. It’s a very pretty mountain valley (1800 ft elevation) surrounded by 6000 ft mountains, lakes, waterfalls, endless National Forest roads, and even wineries around nearby Wenatchee. There are portable toilets, but no hookups or potable water taps. The venue is located on a very large grassy field, freshly mowed. A small general store with gas and groceries is within walking distance. https://www.google.com/maps/place/18899-18701+Chumstick+Hwy,+Leavenworth,+WA+98826/@47.7614394,-120.6567033,19z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x549baa6f13116dab:0x7a03ade9ae415230?hl=en I plan to camp with my wife and Labradoodles at least two of the three nights, We have been once before to this particular event, and it was a hoot, but only if you are moderately interested in overlanding and 4wd travel. It is similar to the amazing Overland Expo West in Arizona (we visited that one twice) but on a much smaller scale, and without the desert flavor or heat. http://www.nwoverlandrally.com/home.html Early (discounted) registration is open through March 31, cost is $240 for a full event family pass (including all kids under 18), plus a 20x20’ camping spot, plus an extra 20x20 one for your Ollie, if you feel you need the room.... which you probably do. That includes access to all events, parties, discussions, movies, vendor displays, technical classes, and organised trail rides for drivers of all experience levels and all 4wd vehicles, stock to heavily modified. Plus they give away a bunch of cool Overland swag every evening at the communal bonfire. http://www.nwoverlandrally.com/register.html I will ask for a pair of tandem spots so I easily park and fit Mouse, the deployed awning, my Cruiser plus maybe a tent for my son if he decides to drive up from Seattle. If any Ollie owners, both local or “passing through”, want to attend, you would be most welcome! Just be prepared to be mobbed by interested visitors. The folks who attend these events really appreciate high tech and high quality construction. I could find out from the organisers if we could reserve a single patch of the field for several Olivers. I just need to know pretty soon. Otherwise we would be spread at random in a very large field... Comments? Anybody interested? https://expeditionportal.com/the-vehicles-of-nw-overland-rally-2017/ For pics and videos, Google NW Overland Rally. Thanks for reading. John Davies Spokane WA

It’s good to know the current factory advice, but in my Owners Manual it specifically discusses raising one side off the ground with the jack(s) to change a flat. While I like him and he has been helpful in the past, I don’t exactly trust Jason’s comments 100% since he has told me stuff before that was flat out incorrect. As the saying goes, “trust but verify”..... I would like to see some solid reference material about this, including WHY you should not jack an axle. John Davies Spokane WA

You must blow out each and every outside water connection, not just the city water line. Even if you have not personally used the other ones there wll be undoubtedly be some residual water trapped in those other circuits. Don’t forget to drain the hot water heater, not just bypass it.... John Davies Spokane WA

1 year warranty and that includes damage from moisture. Just contact us with any issues...we're pretty easy to work with. Thank you! That sounds good. John Davies Spokane WA

Their customer service seems to be quick and responsive.... We now have newly designed sensors that provide great protection from the elements. This is done by the design of the sensor and a rubber gasket around the perimeter of the sensor. We addressed the areas where moisture was entering the sensors and modified the sensors and added the gasket. The only we can think to enclose the sensor in a protective fashion and have them still operate might possibly be in a cellophane bag. You might have to do a little trial an error to make sure this would work. I might give one a test. I did ask about the warranty and if it included damage from water intrusion. The fact that they took steps to fix a serious design flaw is good. OTH they screwed it up in the first place which is never a good thing.... I wonder why they did not consider weather proofing from the very start? John Davies Spokane WA

You really only need one sender, put it under the bottle that is being used, use the app, set the valve to Auto, then when that tank gets to empty it will switch over and you will know to refill the empty one. A sensor is $45 at Amazon. However, I see nothing about water resistance. From this video it appears that it will leak like a sieve - it snaps together like a car key fob. I sure don't see a case seal, and the electronics are completely unprotected by any sort of potting compound. I think the display looks really tacky, I would hate for that to be visible on the wall of my trailer, maybe inside the closet above the sewer vent lines.... but I would just use the App. I sent an email to the manufacturer: "My trailer has two bottles that are completely exposed at the bottom to road spray and fluids from washing. Is there a way to waterproof the sensors? Could they be enclosed in some sort of container and still function? How do they deal with lots of condensation dripping onto them from the tank as it is being used? Your product info does not address this issue, please advise." I am putting one sensor in my Wish List and I will await further feedback about how the sensor will survive an external wet environment. For an enclosed motorhome application, I bet it would be neat. John Davies Spokane WA

Use a hydraulic jack directly under the spring mount pad on the axle, with a large block or rubber pad on the road surface. If the ground is really soft, then you have to get creative. I carry a hilift jack habitually as well as the OEM mechanical jack in my TV. Plus one of these. https://www.amazon.com/Hi-Lift-Jack-ORB-Off-Road-Base/dp/B00042KJQ4 I don’t expect to be able to use the hilift on the Ollie, though it would work quite well on the back bumper, it is more for extracting the truck. No matter how well you think things through and prepare by buying “stuff”, like pads, jacks, spare suspension parts, or an air compressor, one day you may get into a situation you can’t handle by yourself.... the idea is the reduce the odds of that happening as much as you can. John Davies Spokane WA

If you think the three jacks are not strong enough to support the entire rig off the ground, then jack the frame close to the steel suspension subframe. Support the frame with tall jack stands. Dexter does not recommend jacking under the axles, I don’t know the reason. Maybe due to risk of slipping. I use the built-in jacks to raise all four tires off the ground, indoors on LEVEL concrete, without any issues or worries. Would I do it outside in a strong crosswind? Probably not. I do not recall any owner complaining of jack failure, but there may be unreported cases. I don’t think the jacks are straining when doing a full lift. If they were overloaded the fuses would pop. John Davies Spokane WA

David, thanks for the info. I have used Camelx3 for several years and it has been very useful. Sometimes I see by the chart that there are periodic price drops and I use the “email me” feature to let me know ASAP when the price reaches my target number. This is very cool! I was unaware of Fakespot. That also will be very helpful. I have encountered those fake reviews and I noticed that they all had similar posting date and they often all had the same fractured English, indicating that “Robert” is really an “Engrish” speaker. LOL. Has anyone found a site that helps you to distinguish COUNTERFEIT products? This is also a huge problem and you can easily be sucked in by a too-good-to-be-true price. For example, there are counterfeit Leupold optics that look like the real thing, including packaging, but they are dross, so when they break and you ship them in for warranty repair, all you get back is your busted fake scope, lost shipping costs, and lots of bad news. John Davies Spokane WA

This one? http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/screen-door-guard/ John Davies Spokane WA

I can’t edit at all, from my iPad. Immediately after posting, there is no Edit button. I wanted to add that the new Search took 15 seconds, the old version 6 seconds. John Davies Spokane WA

That new Search is great, it no longer loads the entire post plus imbedded pictures plus all the stuff at the bottom. It shows just a couple of lines of title and text, enough to show what it is about. The list is much easier to scroll through. It does however seem very slow to show results. Can it be speeded up? John Davies Spokane WA

This is not yet ready for sale yet, but it sounds great. I think it would be very worthwhile as an alert device for an Ollie that is parked off site. You could immediately call the storage facility manager or the cops if needed..... Or while you are camping, you would have peace of mind about the trailer’s security and could rush back if there is an alert, or call the camp host. http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2018/02/jeremy-s/gear-review-simtek-duo-portable-security-sensor/ It does require a cell signal.... Comments? John Davies Spokane WA

I’m glad it is back. Can you tell us some of the changes? Search is not working right, I sent you a PM. The following is a test of the picture posting function. Can anyone guess what these stainless hanger brackets are for? John Davies Spokane WA

Don, thanks for the info and pics. We picked July so that snow will hopefully not be an issue. Normally I would go to the SW in late Spring, but 13,000 ft dirt passes present special challenges, especially on those north facing slopes..... We rented a Wrangler in 2008. It was fun but the ones you get at the rental stores are base models with wrong axle gearing and dinky tires. It made it up a “Difficult” rated section of the Loop without a scrape or grinding the belly. The problem is that they are underpowered, noisy, dirty and cold. Plus expensive.... My Land Cruiser 200 will go on most of those trails without any worries and it is comfy and warm. Plus we can stop and tent camp one night if we feel like it. Having a rental makes it more stressful in terms of having to return it by a certain time. OTH we will be going alone, so we will be sticking to the most popular tourist trails, avoiding the “body damage likely” ones for sure. Like Poughkeepsie Gulch .... ..... Fun starts at 6:00. Black Bear into Telluride: ... .... watch 8:00 to 10:00 especially. From my past experiences in Colorado the rating scale for trails is biased to scare folks who have never used 4Low. Like your typical vacationing family from Europe that wants a Western adventure. As long as the weather is dry, these EASIER routes are usually neither hard to navigate nor dangerous, though body damage can indeed happen. They can be very bumpy at times and you should air down to 20 psi before starting off, and go very slow. Not a big deal if you have oversized tires and ten inches of ground clearance. As you know, the scenery is stunning beyond words. I am a sucker for well preserved ghost towns and mining relics and this area is riddled with them. For those younger folks considering a visit, a small ATV or a dual sport motorcycle makes a lot more sense if you don’t mind the weather exposure and dust. They navigate these trails way more easily and much, much faster than a full sized Jeep crawling along in Low. You can do 200 miles a day on a plated dirt bike over trails that a Jeep would struggle to do 25 to 50 miles in the same time period. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous: .... John Davies Spokane WA