John E Davies

Bravo for Oliver! But I find this very ironic because I planned to visit OE PNW in Redmond OR, I wanted to camp there at the venue. But the rules say I can’t because the LE2 is not an “overland” trailer and the sites are short... The first part I actually agree with 100%. Does this mean that Oliver will finally install a decent rough road suspension like a Timbren or at least offer that option? Needless to say I did not attend. “Rustic, festival-style camping is available to all on-site campers. Access is open to overland vehicles only; no hookups; no vehicles over 35 feet, no large trailers; see vehicle restrictions. “ BTW I did rough camp (in a grassy field) for three nights at the NW Overland Rally in WA and it was a very rewarding experience. Sitting around the bonfire listening to speakers and getting swag was fun. I had to unhitch and park right beside the trailer, taking two 30 foot spots… the lot assistants had no issue with that. I even got my wife interested enough to drive the off-road course in the LC200, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Don, do you have pics to post? I read on Expedition Portal that it was hot, dusty and no shade? Was that a problem? John Davies Spokane WA

winter, coldest season of the year, between autumn and spring; the name comes from an old Germanic word that means “time of water” and refers to the rain and snow of winter in middle and high latitudes. In the Northern Hemisphere it is commonly regarded as extending from the winter solstice (year’s shortest day), December 21 or 22, to the vernal equinox (day and night equal in length), March 20 or 21, and in the Southern Hemisphere from June 21 or 22 to September 22 or 23. The low temperatures associated with winter occur only in middle and high latitudes; in equatorial regions, temperatures are almost uniformly high throughout the year. For physical causes of the seasons, see season. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4397640/ https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips https://www.winterparkresort.com/discover/winter https://www.cmaquarium.org/animals/dolphins/winter/ Pick a subject…… I hope nothing happened to the OP, he joined twenty months ago, this, his first ever post, stopped after the first word…. should we try for a welfare check? John Davies Spokane WA

WOW, can you please post this information on that thread? https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2066-how-to-install-safeties-on-the-solar-panel-mount-knobs-important/ This is the first time I ever heard of a panel actually coming off and damaging stuff. Do you know how Oliver Service reacted to this? I REALLY think this should be a Service Bulletin to at least warn owners to check them, or better yet, to secure them properly so they can never loosen.... John Davies Spokane WA

I guess that is good, but I am not sure why it is needed for a battery....? My Victron items (solar controller and smart bus) have this feature but I use the default one (all zeros). Am I am leaving myself open to somebody in the next campsite hijacking my system? More importantly, has this ever actually happened, to anybody? Can a hacker access my phone apps through that "back door"? Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

The picture that they currently use for the solar option shows no safeties that I can see. Do the newest brackets still look like this? Maybe a brand new owner with the new panels could take and post a pic on that thread to bring it up to date. John Davies Spokane WA

"According to our legal department, it was to prevent the liability of an untrained owner working on their coach and having an accident. I did not believe that, but thought that it was a way to protect the dealer relationship and get people to go to the dealer. I’m not sure what year it started; however, all Winnebago documentation is available on line going back to mid-1990 models. They also have detailed lists of parts and part numbers that are also accessible through the website." https://www.rvtravel.com/ask-dave-schematics-for-rig-rvdt-1734/ There are endless discussions about this on RV forums, like this one: https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f218/are-there-wiring-diagrams-available-200273.html Oliver has used the 'liability" excuse more than once, along with a host of others such as "there are not any diagrams." So far there has never been an official reason given, meaning put in words on their website. John Davies Spokane WA

Unfortunately very few people really understand their equipment…. The specifications data is usually way at the end of the owners manual. If somebody was going to install it themselves, they would most likely see it shown on the product brochure. PEAK efficiency is 91%. Full load (AKA running the air conditioner) is 86% or higher. That wasted energy is discharged as heat by the inverter. It ends up under the bed and unless Oliver has changed their method, there is no way for that heat to be dissipated. In summer that means the inverter runs less efficiently because it requires adequate airflow for proper cooling. It is really educational, and more than a little sobering, to watch the remote display of my Victron battery monitor, which shows the DC amps being used while inverting. My older 2000w unit draws close to 120 amps when operating the microwave. I refer to that appliance as the “Battery Killer” 😬, which irritates my wife because she loves it. But as the one who has to watch the battery condition (State of Charge) and drag out the generator if needed, it matters a lot more to me. John Davies Spokane WA

I tilt mine one hole lower to the left (street side) so water will tend to run off instead of pooling. The other side is in the top holes. No worries at all doing this. But you do need to drill the knobs and install “safety” ties. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2066-how-to-install-safeties-on-the-solar-panel-mount-knobs-important/ Nobody tilts their panels toward the sun, unless perhaps you are at one spot for a month. And that would require long extension arms. And that only works if you do not have two awnings. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2791-how-to-solar-panel-extension-arms/ John Davies Spokane WA

The inReach keeps trying if it can’t connect to send or receive a message, but the tracking, not so much. I had an old SPOT that I used when riding my dual sport bike, in case I crashed and ended up unconscious in a ditch, my wife would have some clue as to my location. In open terrain it would send one track point every ten minutes, regular as a clock. When in dense woods and valleys, sometimes there would be four or five missed track points. But that device was not as smart as the inReach. And the inReach plans were way more affordable a few years ago. The newest SPOTs have two way communication like the inReach, and flexible plans too. I have never used one. https://www.findmespot.com/en-us/products-services/spot-x John Davies Spokane WA

I think I will get this overland spec work light, it is 1600 lumens and dimmable. It will be way more versatile for me, I can use it if the truck breaks down at night for example. It comes with an 18 foot power cord with a round cigarette plug on the end. https://www.lightforce.com/en_us/flexlight Video Review Lightforce Flex Light I can also use it with my Viking jump start battery, it has a 6 amp 12 volt adapter cord: Or I can plug it into my long charge cable for the ARB fridge, which I rarely use, that goes into the Ollie solar port, or I can power it off an extension cord and the Ollie inverter using a power adapter. Lightforce is an Australian company and their lighting products are tested in the outback and of VERY stellar quality. John Davies Spokane WA

jdmmtx, 100 lumens seems really low, do you use the lights inside the Clam? I am guessing you can’t read by them (like the pic of the guy in his all white tent or bed sheet 😬 holding a book) but do they give enough illumination in that bigger space? I already have a pop open LED lantern for the middle, maybe the string lights would be helpful around the perimeter of the ceiling? John Davies Spokane WA

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2978-2020-jeep-gladiator-30-turbodiesel-tow-rating/ https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6130-towing-with-a-jeep-gladiator/ https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6991-jeep-gladiator-ecodiesel/ Maybe a mod can combine these threads into a Gladiator Towing thread so everything is in one spot….. John Davies Spokane WA

Yes and no. IF you add an LED light bar for your turn and brake lights (see the lower pic) it would be fine, but it is a pretty dirty area back there. The other end of the bag is a lot skinnier. The bag will work if you have the receiver option, or build your own rack, but you cannot strap it to the bumper itself and use your waste hose too…. John Davies Spokane WS

I have not yet used my brand new Clam, but FYI the early versions did not have a rain flap at the top, the new ones do, each one overlaps the side panel by about three inches and is secured by velcro. I do not expect much water leakage, and if there is I doubt ir will affect the usability. Except for the big issue of trying to get out the door with a waterfall pouring off that opening..,😳 I only bought three side panels and my Clam has five plus the door. If I use it much in cold weather I will buy another set of three. Note to self: have a brolly inside the Clam when it is raining. John Davies Spokane WA

No wings, but this: John Davies Spokane WA

Let’s make very sure that everyone is aware that yours has a single axle, with 5000 pound GVWR, and those all need much more air (at their maximum towing weight) than the tandem axle model does. I would be running 60 to 65 with LT tires…. This thread is for LE2 tires. 😁 John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks for posting! That looks like a great panel, I would have bought it over my big heavy Renogy one if it had been available, most flexible panels have been very costly in the past. Prop it up at an angle directly facing the sun and you will get a little more power. I believe these panels are more delicate so use care when cleaning and handling them. You can easily mod the wires so you can put the panel further away and still get full amperage at the batteries. This is my 100 watt panel 40 feet away tilted in full sun: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5478-how-to-remote-mount-the-controller-of-a-suitcase-solar-panel-not-inside-the-trailer/ Changing the controller to a high quality more efficient MPPT one will help also, but it isn’t really cost effective if you can just physically shift the panel around to follow the sun. (Tho the price of no-name ones is getting down to around $20😳) Please post some follow up reports. John Davies Spokane WA

I think it is entirely up to what state you are in and the mood of the cop who bothers to pull you over. Don’t speed or do anything foolish and you won’t get stopped. Probably. When we picked up “Mouse” I noticed that there was not a temporary tag with all the paperwork, Anita said the worker who usually does that was not in the office. Which sounded a little odd. So with nothing on the back the Ollie, we drove about 4000 miles over four weeks and never had a problem. I had all the paperwork close at hand in the truck, just in case. Don’t worry about it. But cross your fingers for luck. https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/traffic/rules-of-the-road/article252969398.html John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks, that is a terrific overview. One thing to mention … he talks about the tire placard, in his case it is for a ST 8 ply tire that originally came on his Airstream, so it shows a pressure of 65 psi. Which is also the max for any Load D 8 ply standard size tire…. . Only by referring to the manufacturer’s load chart was he able to determine the ideal pressure for his new set of LT 10 ply tires. He decided on 67 psi for his 9000 pound AS. The Ollie Placard is for 10 ply Load E and 80 psi. I think Oliver should have a video just like this one, and ALSO tell us the correct pressure for the two trailers at their 5000 and 7000 lb max GVWs. And at lower weights! Just give us the proper chart(s). John Davies Spokane WA

Search doesn't do much usually, but in this case it gets a bunch of hits: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/search/?q=TPMS&quick=1 https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2482-review-tire-traker-tt-500-tpms/ After more than four years I still like it. I "flick" each transmitter in the morning before I leave camp to wake them up, that way the monitor will show the current cold pressure, not the hot pressure from the last time it was on. This is not possible with internal automotive type sensors. They will show you the correct pressure as you drive away, after a minute or so. Be sure to add one to the spare tire also. Install a short spare tire extension air hose and you won't have to remove the tire to add air. Definitely buy a TPMS, you will be much less stressed on the road, especially when you are far from services. John Davies Spokane WA

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/3627-glacier-national-park-post-season/ John Davies Spokane WA

EDIT 10/02/22 This thread is for LE2 tandem axle only! Here is a related poll and thread for the smaller single axle trailer …. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/7376-elite-1-tire-pressures-poll-for-current-model-elite-1-only-with-lt-tires/ Everybody seems to be VERY confused about proper tire pressures. This has been an ongoing issue for as long as I have been on the forum, 7 YEARS. and with the proliferation of new hulls, it appears to be getting even worse. I actually started a service ticket long ago asking Oliver to include a Tire Pressure Load Chart, so we can accurately determine what is the right amount of air to carry the load. The sidewall pressure is the maximum the tire can take, not the correct pressure for the Oliver load! This has not yet happened, here is the one I made for the older tires (I run mine at 42 psi, with an approximate 6000 pound trailer weight.): From the 2022 Owners Manual Here is the Tire Placard from Hull 218 IF YOUR PLACARD IS DIFFERENT FROM THIS PLEASE POST A PICTURE. Please consider contacting Oliver with a new service ticket complaining about the continued lack of guidance. VERBAL recommendations given at DELIVERY vary wildly, are unreliable and should be received with a heavy dose of skepticism. 😳 Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

42 to 45 psi. 50 at the very most. 80 psi is the maximum that the tire can take, it is not at all appropriate for a little trailer; running double the ideal inflation pressure will beat up the frame, hull and your personal belongings😳 Have you been finding stuff shaken up, rearranged, and or lying on the floor? Does your television fall down? BTW, Did you ever get a tire inflator? You started a thread asking about it and sort of dropped out. John Davies Spokane WA

Don’t keep driving around with it busted, remove the TV from the mount ASAP, or you will have just a scattered pile of scrap plastic and wires.😳 John Davies Spokane WA

Dennis Dillon Ram in Caldwell ID (Boise) does most of its business with folks who buy and fly, they have a regular shuttle service to the airport, and they post all their prices as well as the window sticker. In better days, they would show a new Ram HD Laramie with $12,000 off MSRP. Those days are gone, I looked yesterday and they have lots of diesel trucks, just one gasser, a Power Wagon. The 2500s are at MSRP plus a $4000 discount if you finance through the dealership. My local Ram dealer has an Order now and pay invoice deal. I have no idea how long it takes to actually get a truck this way😳 There are some deals out there, maybe not in Texas. We bought a new 2022 Acura RDX PMC Edition last November, it is a limited run of just 200 cars. My dealer could not get one, in Seattle/ Portland there were four. Three dealers had them marked up at least $10,000 (20%), plus they had added extra cost “packages.”. We found one at MSRP at an independent Acura dealer in north Seattle. “We are a family run dealership, we never charge over MSRP.” So we bought that one. It pays to check around. Don’t necessarily buy from the closest dealer! I have bought two used cars long distance, one from Colorado and one from South Dakota, and drove each one home. It makes for a great road trip. John Davies Spokane WA