John E Davies

There is always this option: LOL, I need a new floor jack anyway, mine is getting tired. John Davies Spokane WA

I have no problems backing into my RV bay using the truck but sometimes I just want to shift Mouse a little without hitching up and losing all the relatively warm air into the winter outside. The floor is smooth and level concrete. I kinda like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSN2EWD/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_3_w But it is really bulky and would take up a lot of storage space when not in use, and how hard is it to push a 6000 lb tandem by hand anyway...? The Trailer Valet is way more expensive but it looks as if it would work great, even with the nearly 24 inch ball height of an Ollie. https://www.trailervalet.com Max load rating is less but it is obviously a well built tool and i could use my 20 volt driver to crank it. Plus it has a geared crank system the applies a brake when you release the handle, which the other one does not have. I don't want to blow out my back or get hurt, or damage the trailer..... Any user comments or suggestions? Pictures are always welcome. Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

Slow Blow fuses - any decent auto parts store can get these for you though they may not be hanging on the shelf with all the plastic ATM blade fuses. They are decidedly "old school" and no longer used in cars. I bought a Bussman 5 pack at NAPA - I ordered by phone at 900AM and it was at the store ready for pickup at noon. Any large NAPA warehouse store will have them on the shelf. Larger cities have warehouses, small town NAPA stores have to get their stuff shipped in from somewhere else. John Davies Spokane WA

I’ll chip in here. I hated Fall Hollow, it is simply gross that they have holes in the ground to hook up your fresh water, near the sewer pipes. Fresh water taps should always be elevated on risers well away from the dump pipes so that spilled sewage cannot possibe seep into them. I honestly don’t understand how such a gross code violation could be permitted to exist. From their appearance they have been like this for a very long time. There are a number of wonderful State Parks in the area. Henry Horton east of Columbia is very nice. I definitely recommend that you have your trailer delivered in 100% functional condition. You can test the systems locally over a few days to make sure they all work, and you can get stuff fixed before heading home. They or you can winterize it if you feel it to be necessary. John Davies Spokane WA

GJ, you mistyped your model year, the 5.7 was not available until 2008. Plus, are you sure about the 1300 lb max tongue weight you quoted? That seems awfully high. My 200 has a max of 850. John Davies Spokane Wa

GeronimoJohn, welcome to the forum. Everybody defines “offroad” differently. If you mean true off road vs off pavement, then you need to rethink your trailer or TV choice. For maintained forest service roads there would be no problem with your choices other than the inherent difficulties of manuevering a 24 ft tandem in tight places. These difficulties are significantly harder than for a shorter single axle trailer. The Anderson does limit articulation badly, and that is where you will have trouble once you get onto those washed out secondary forest roads and high mountain passes with their ledgy sections and creek crossings. You have to relieve the load on the chains (not remove them entirely) and then you have some motion, but in no way will the connection move around like a true offroad coupler. I originally hoped to find a campung solution that would let me go anywhere but in the end I realized that stopping before the roads got nasty, dropping the trailer in a civilized campground, then proceeding to explore the back county in my 200 was a better choice. Less risk of getting stuck, damaged or rolled down an embankment. Is your Sequoia stock? If yes, then you definitely 100% need the Anderson. If modified, then maybe you would be OK if you are lifted with stiffer suspension and oversized LT tires, and it might work fine with a dead weight hitch or Lock N Roll type hitch. Maybe. The short wheelbase is still a liability. If you bought an Elite then there would be no worries and no need for the Anderson. If you bought a long wheelbase pickup, then you could maybe haul the bigger trailer without the Anderson. My 200 has stock suspension but 10 ply tires. No way would I consider not using the Anderson, except for dead slow maneuvering. John Davies Spokane WA

Dometic bought Atwood a few years ago. Originally it was designed "for the outback" in Oz and units were imported here. This is their webpage, it does send you to Dometic also. http://www.atwoodmobile.com/air-conditioners/rv-air-conditioners.asp John Davies Spokane WA

I have it selected in my account profile but I never receive them. They are not going into my SPAM folder. I missed a bunch of messages since I seldom go to that page to look. It is embarrassing to see ones from 3 months ago that I missed. Is there something else I can do to guarantee that I will get notified? Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

Mark, I love the pic. Does your dog often sit with his butt in a snowbank? John Davies Spokane WA

Mark, with this forum it is ESPECIALLY important to create a long post using Word or some other app, then submit it. I have lost count of how many posts have disappeared. The problem comes and goes depending on the latest system update, but it is extremely frustrating and it made me so wary that I never attempt to write over a couple of hundred words without saving it on my desktop for a while.... Maybe you could consider starting a new thread about maintained NFS and scenic boon-docking spots around your area. I for one am always interested in learning new places to visit, especially in western and central MT. I have lots of cool spots waypointed, but unfortunately many are completely inaccessible with an Ollie in tow. I would love a list of "tweeners" that are accessible by gravel or ranch roads yet not too rough or dangerous. The last thing I want is to have to back up down a twisty forest road.... Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

Another thought.... two doors are convenient but the second door doubles the cost and it destroys the ability to use that wall for storage. If you have abundant storage elsewhere it is a non-issue, but I needed to be able to use the far end of the bay for shop/ power equipment and shelving. Plus two big doors will always be way more be drafty in windy conditions - even the best doors leak a little air around the seals. If you plan to heat it, one door is preferred. My bay is well insulated, and if I keep it closed up I can heat the inside to 50 degrees F with an outside average of 30 degrees using a 1500 watt electric space heater! .... However it does take two days to warm up;) A single tall high end door with opener would be better than two cheaper ones, IMHO. As long as your approach for backing is OK. With a backup camera on the trailer reversing is fairly painless. John Davies Spokane WA

A roll up requires about 2 ft, max, of ceiling clearance for the door and rails. A commercial side mounted opener does not add any obstruction in the middle. You can’t use a cheap residential opener on a very tall door. This is similar to mine. I can snap some pics of the rails and opener if anyone wants to see them. Here’s the outside. The outside of the bay is set back from the garage, the main approach to the house is from the left, and with the high roofline of the main structure the bay is almost completely hidden from view until you get near the front. This is a 14’ tall door. John Davies Spokane WA

Also, sloshing liquid can close the safety valve so that the bottle will not accept gas at a refill station. This has happened to me - I carried two bottles on their sides and only one could be filled., After driving around a while with the bottles upright, the second one would accept gas. I hate propane - it is not as user friendly as it is advertised to be. It blows up cars and RVs too, every now and then. ... https://jalopnik.com/sometimes-cars-do-explode-like-in-the-movies-1821915406 John Davies Spokane WA

About 9'6" height for ours, it depends entirely on the height of the AC shroud (Mouse has an Atwood Air Command 9500. I would not build with less than 12 feet clearance. 14' is a little better for resale value, since any RV will fit. Our attached 16 x 43 foot bay has a 12 W x 14 T commercial (insulated) door. John Davies Spokane WA

Randy, do you have a storage rack for your small bottles? Pictures? Some folks may be unaware that they must always be transported upright. John Davies Spokane WA

Yes, it was a special order, I do not know if they will still do this. It is a very quiet unit. John Davies Spokane WA

Just a comment about running the AC: the Air Command smaller unit (9500, no heat strip) runs fine off my Yamaha 2400 generator with no soft start needed. The big Air Command is more appropriate for really heavy (hot/ humid climate) use but it may not reliably start on that sized genny without Soft Start. As always, the Surge Suppressor remote display is very useful in monitoring starting and running loads in amps.The Yamaha is rated for 19 amps continuous, if I remember correctly, but it easily will handle a short 30 to 40 amp surge. The 9500 Air Command unit requires about 11 amps continuous once the compressor is running. This gives a good reserve for powering the converter or other light current devices (NOT the microwave). From what I have read about the older Hondas, they do not have nearly as high a surge rating, though that may be corrected in the new 2200 watt model. The Yamaha 2400 is a stellar choice for a powerful RV generator and it also has enough capacity to power much of your home in a long term emergency. It is also very easy to work on. http://www.rvstealsanddeals.com/check-out--Yamaha-2400-Generator John Davies Spokane WA

Alison ... So do I. Please take no offense, but you need understand that towing any travel trailer in the high mountains in mid-winter is highly dangerous and very hard on the trailer itself, especially in states that use chemical deicers or salt. Sure you see all sorts of brakeless snowmobile trailers up in the passes, but they are corroded and blasted by sand and they sure don’t weigh three tons and cost $60k. A truck camper or a 4wd motorhome makes much more sense if you plan to travel and camp in the snow. Olivers are four season, but that means they are suitable for freezing weather, not for hazardous winter driving conditions. It’s often difficult in mild weather to find a safe place to pull off the road or to turn around. When the shoulders are bermed with packed snow, it could be impossible. You have good brakes on your Ollie, but when the roads are icy there is no way they will be safe. You will have to back way off on their power to prevent them from locking up, then how do you stop it? You can’t..... and how do you maneuver and back up in your typical parking area with no traction? If you insist on towing in winter, be prepared to see lots of damage to your trailer and the resale value will be greatly diminished. I am not even sure your RV insurance would accept a claim under such conditions ... it would be considered extreme or unusual use. Just as off highway damage is not covered. This is wonderful in a 4wd pickup camper, with a travel trailer it is just deadly..... Please think about this. John Davies Spokane WA

Congratulations! This is a great time to order since you won’t be constantly staring out the window wishing you were camping. I love your forum name and especially your avitar, for the non- boaters here, would you care to explain? I think Rumline is a stellar name for your new Ollie, Sales can have a graphic made for you to pick up at delivery; you need to send them a high resolution picture with “print size” info. I used an online vinyl boat name website, found a font I liked, and generated mine. Easy. ”Necro-post” - I love it! John Davies Spokane WA

This is the reason it is so important when winterizing to blow out/ and or flush with antifreeze those two lines. Just draining the shower hose isn't enough, as you found out.... John Davies Spokane WA

Those are scuppers, and yes there are a few under there. I haven't counted them ;) The little stainless covers prevent road spray from driving up into the holes and perhaps also add a little venturi type suction to encourage moisture to dribble out. They would not stop insect entry! John Davies Spokane WA

This page works great for keeping track of Amazon prices, you can see price trends and set an alert level for an item, so it will send an email when the price comes down. https://camelcamelcamel.com/Instant-Pot-Mini-Programmable-Pressure/product/B06Y1YD5W7 John Davies Spokane WA

Nice, do you mind sharing the cost of the welding work? I don’t carry bikes, but I can easily imagine a cargo shelf on top of those rails.... Thanks, John Davies Spokane WA

Refer back to this thread from last year: http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/western-fires/ John Davies Spokane WA

I don't know the south part of the state really well and I am no fisherman, but I need to know ... Do you like: Ghost towns Hot springs Mining relics Lookout towers Backcountry (4wd) routes) I'll post a few links to get started and you can reply if your are interested in this stuff or not. Steam dredge/ museum (near Stanley ID): http://yankeeforkdredge.com Elk City Wagon Road (Grangeville area) https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_055711.pdf Lolo Motorway (west of Lolo Pass, between Grangeville and Missoula. Lolo Hot Springs is just east of the summit, nice commercial operation) http://www.idahostateatv.org/publications/Driving_the_Lolo_Motorway.pdf Magruder Road Corridor (Elk City ID to Darby MT, best done in two days, REMOTE, bring extra gas, lifted 4wd recommended) https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_055707.pdf Public hot springs site: http://www.idahohotsprings.com/hot_springs/public-idaho-hot-springs-map.htm Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes mountain bike path (Near Avery and Wallace ID up north, LOTS of trestles, tunnels) http://wallace-id.com/CdA_trail/ EDIT: I meant this one, the Route of the Hiawatha: http://www.ridethehiawatha.com/the-trail Custer Motorway Adventure Road (near Challis ID) https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/ibt/site.aspx?id=EC18 Ghost Town info: http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/htme/map.htm Twin Peaks Lookout (west of Challis ID, at 10,300 ft this is the highest active station in the Northwest,) https://idaholookouts.weebly.com/twin-peaks.html If your TV is stock you won't be able to do the serious back country routes, but with a lift and bigger tires you should be OK. There won't be any residual snow anywhere. Remember that fires are the huge factor here in mid-summer and you should always have a planned escape route, don't drive and camp 30 miles back on a remote dead end forest road. If the smoke gets really bad you should have a planned alternative area to visit, further upwind. Sometimes it gets so bad you just want to get away entirely. You should try to check in every day that you have an Internet connection to see what is cooking: http://www.idahofireinfo.com Dust is always a big problem when camping in Idaho, try to find spots away from and upwind from the dirt access roads. Other than the dust, Idaho forest roads are normally well maintained regular gravel. In MT you may find some that are covered in big, sharp ballast and they will eat your sidewalls. 10 ply All-Terrain or Mud tires are highly recommended, or be prepared to deal with flats. 6 Ply tires are not good here, you will worry yourself sick about it. Sometimes it is many hours to services. Make sure your trailer brakes are working well, there are a lot of steep grades here. Always travel the back country with at least basic recovery gear, survival supplies and a gps locator or similar. Don't drive on secondary forest roads or ranch roads during or immediately after a heavy rain - while rare, a storm can make dirt roads impassible for a few hours until they dry out. Bears: yes, both black and brown, bring protection, the big loud kind. But you are way more likely to encounter moose, and they are much more unpredictable. Just because you are outside their "area" doesn't mean you might not see a grizzly, or their huge tracks. Grizzly map: You might want to PM MontanaOliver and ask him to join this thread with some suggestions, he lives in Missoula and knows that area well. I don't know if he is a fisherman.... Sorry I can't offer specific RV camping advice since all my experience has been dirt biking, overlanding and tent camping up until last spring. A final caution, Idaho is the "Land of the Decreasing Radius Turns", so be very wary while driving along twisty river gorges. I like to zoom in my gps to 0.3 miles in those conditions so I don't get surprised by a dangerous curve. John Davies Spokane WA