John E Davies

I use a Hobie 16 main sheet tackle (Harken) to suspend a 50 pound Yakima box, no worries at all and it looks cool with blue line, but I would not trust any rope setup with a 250 pound canopy. This works great for 170 pounds of Maggiolina RTT plus steel crossbars. It is rated for 250 pounds. https://www.amazon.com/Racor-PHL-1R-HeavyLift-4-Foot-Cable-Lifted/dp/B0009I8AO6/ref=sr_1_1?m=A2EJCTH67GJMT3&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1542837300 It is discontinued but still available for a while. Buy 2! $49! I have no idea about shipping, the box is not big but it is pretty heavy. I bought mine new in box on Craigslist for $120… https://www.classicdiscountstore.shop/products/racor-ceiling-storage-lift-phl-1r I used the two spreader bars but not the actual platform. I also tossed the ceiling attach hardware ( tiny screws), drilled out the 8 holes, and used 1/4” lag bolts going directly into studs. Once lifted for the off season, criss cross the cargo with 1” nylon straps. Those go into FORGED closed eye 3/8” eyebolts in studs. Open eyed bolts could, well, open if a heavy load is dropped onto them suddenly. Probably overkill, but I sleep a lot better knowing a $5k tent is not going to drop onto a $40 k Land Cruiser…. This is temporary strapping for short term, I was reworking the attach hardware… and needed the truck bars out of the way. Normally the bars will stay attached all the time. John Davies Spokane WA

This is a great article on the high country around Durango/ Ouray/ Tellurude. https://expeditionportal.com/colorados-million-dollar-highway/ Be prepared for snow at any time up there! John Davies Spokane WA

That is scary wiring that the tech removed, BTW the wires should be run along the back side of the axle tubes, not the top or front. That way errant stones won’t cut or crush your pretty new wires. I personally would install split loom over them, but that is a personal choice. I bet the brakes work great now. John Davies Spokane WA

Before you waste more money, make sure the mounting bolts for all three jack are tight. They DO loosen over time, the front especially. If the hardware is loose the trailer is going to move around. worst case scenario, a jack will bind and won’t operate. The front is held on with three small bolts, that seems a little shady to me. The rears have big 1/2” bolts, the correct torque is 43 foot pounds if I recall correctly. The rears also have some bolts inside that you should check, but I don’t think they are the problem, it is the looooong ones that go through the frame that loosen, sometimes dramatically…! John Davies Spokane WA

I would look for used or reman Power Wagon 17”x8” wheels, for example: They are forged and very high quality. a lot of PW owners change them for some odd reason. If you buy used, a local wheel shop can refinish them for you, one near me said $100 each. Of course that depends on condition, that is for ones that are very clean and straight. I would pick a size close to a PW of your vintage, don’t go larger unless you need the clearance. What is your intent in terms of roads? Do you need an All Terrain or more aggressive? Your Cummins will eat tires if you are not careful in your choice. You have a four speed auto? Be VERY careful about changing the overall gearing, it can move the engine rpm’s out of the sweet spot that gives those wonderful mpgs.. Power Wagon Registry Wheels OEM vs Aftermarket My 2006 Ram 5.9 had stock alloys and stock sized tires. I put on Cooper AT3 LTs and was reasonably happy with them. John Davies Spokane WA

That is a nice video. This article reflects the other side of that shiny coin: https://tex.org/why-federal-and-state-owned-land-is-so-rare-in-texas/ The bottom line started when the early Country of, then the State of Texas, essentially used land as a resource to sell to keep the government operating. I am glad they are playing catch-up. John Davies Spokane WA

If I close my eyes, I can imagine an Ollie in that spot…. I think I will call this trailer “Mousie”. John Davies Spokane WA

No play in mine at that location: There is a bigger one up front holding down the front of the bed. It dumps. I had a couple of Destaco clamps holding down the lid on my old off road trailer. You need to size them by available space (dimensions) and the anticipated load. https://www.destaco.com/clamping/manual.html John Davies Spokane WA

EDIT 10/14/23. I returned the trailer due to multiple issues, a new thread with pics, commentary and videos is here: https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/apogee-adapt-x-folding-utility-trailer-cool-design-big-fail-in-the-execution.241264/ I won't be adding any more content here, but I will be happy to discuss. JD _______________________ New aluminum folding trailer. The sides are reflecting the dark ground, they are shiny silver. https://apogeetrailers.com/folding-aluminum-trailers/ https://www.etrailer.com/tv-review-apogee-adapt-x-300-folding-utility-trailer-at44fr.aspx I found it for $2000 off MSRP, paid $3388 out the door (no sales tax in OR, I have to pay that when I register it in WA. I love the design and the build quality and the attention to details, but holy cow, it is sure noisy on lumpy pavement. It sounds as if it is going to explode, even with 450 pounds of ballast. I use a hitch quieter on the ball mount, I tightened the coupler nut and put nylon ties onto every little rattly part like the pivot pins. They do not mention this in the fancy marketing material. This is a really rare trailer in the USA, I think they are not selling a lot, eTrailer.com USED to carry them, but no longer does. Mine is a 2022, I have not seen any 2023 models listed except in the Home Country, Canada. I guess more Canadians need the folding feature for winter storage, plus they are a little cheaper there too. I have not read any user reviews except for a couple of “Gee I really like this.” And “Gee this is really cool, my ATV fits fine!” This thread will change that. I will post lots of pics and info as I learn more. Fixed their home page: I do not intend to carry a 2000 pound ATV all the time, this is for box store and landscaping trips. I do not want this to turn into another bottomless pit of mods, like “Mouse”, but was considering adding this. It uses the existing axle and hubs, unlike their Independent suspension version. Timbren Silent Ride 3500 lbs I am concerned that the rubber dampers may be too stiff, the trailer has a max payload of 2300 pounds but normally will be less than 1000. If the dampers from the smaller 2000 pound kit can be swapped in easily, that would be a possible solution. Does anyone have direct experience with this Silent Ride system? I just got home yesterday afternoon, 700 mile round trip to the dealer in two days, and I am a bit wiped. I could do that a lot easier when I was 30… I need to do some crawling around and measuring. John Davies Spokane WA

For the wires, take a look at this thread: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5271-how-to-junction-box-for-the-7-wire-trailer-harness-under-the-front-dinette-seat/ John Davies Spokane WA

I specifically requested that Hull 218 have them facing inward. This was in 2017…. John Davies Spokane WA

Battle Born factory seconds with 5 year warranty, 25% off. WHAT IS A B-STOCK BATTERY? At Battle Born Batteries, we use only the highest-grade materials and premium UL-listed battery cells, and we test each product and cell individually to ensure they meet our quality and control standards. At times, we build or acquire products that, although still possess a very high quality, fall just short of our highest and strictest expectations either cosmetically or in testing. But Battle Born B-Stock Batteries still possess the same high-quality performance as our traditional Battle Born LiFePO4 batteries and are backed by a 5-Year Limited Warranty. Limited Supply Remaining❗ Don't let the savings run out on you! Save on all B-STOCK BATTERIES this Labor Day weekend. Inventory is limited ... so get your hands on B-STOCK Battle Born Batteries while they last! One caution!!! Do not buy one or two and then plan to add another new one, or replace a failed one, a few years later, they may not work well together. They all should have close to the same duty cycles and capacities. It’s like an AWD car, the tires should all be close to the same diameter. John Davies Spokane WA

This is way too much grease. Usually there will be more at one side of the bushing than on the other, but once you see any on that second side, stop. Somebody anal will wipe all that grease off anyway with rags. The more you apply, the more you have to wipe off, if you decide to… The oil separates from the waxy carrier and dribbles all over. It doesn’t hurt the steel parts, other than looking messy, but the rubber cushions of the EZ Flex should not stay oil soaked. Bravo for doing this yourself! It is important to also INSPECT everything while you are greasing. This means going underneath. That lets you find a problem early, for example a blown shock or cracked spring, or worn bushings from lack of grease, or impact damage from a big rock, before it turns into a major headache at the side of some remote highway. You should also check all the hardware for tightness periodically. With a brand new trailer you will definitely find loose u-bolt nuts, and possibly a few loose suspension ones. And the jack hardware always seems to get loose! John Davies Spokane WA

A couple of screen captures: There is an animated diagram at the following link if you want to see this in action: https://mechanicalelements.com/suspension-equalizer-link-action/ You do not have to completely understand the engineering of all the parts of your Ollie! It is OK to use a Sharpie to add a note on the frame: “Up is normal”. I added a note in the bath for the grey tank vent (isolation) valve: “Push in for travel”. I also added labels and arrows showing water flow direction for the fresh water valves. More information is always better than less. Most of the mature Ollie owners sooner or later have senior moments. 😉 John Davies Spokane WA

I personally would steer VERY clear of any trailer that looks like that, there has to be all sorts of hidden corrosion that you don’t know about, until later. A lot of Pacific Coast beaches are very toxic for all vehicles due to sea fog, the wide flat sandy beaches dry out at low tide and the prevailing westerly winds blow it across everything in its path on the shore. I was at Tillium Beach OR, there were a couple of days like that, there were dried salt crystals on the truck and trailer, and the ebike rusted badly in a couple of areas. There are plenty of other Ollies to choose from that won’t make you wince when you look underneath. Here is Hull 218, I just sold it a couple of months ago. 25,000 miles towing, stored indoors always. Look for one that hasn’t been towed in winter, the caustic mag chloride and brine deicers are nasty indeed. Don’t worry about u bolt rust, they all do that within a month, they are raw steel. Just spray penetrating oil on the threads every other year. John Davies Spokane WA

Sad day, my wife and are huge Buffet fans - the only live music concert I have ever attended was one of his in Nashville about 1979 with my soon bride to be. I am so glad that he lived a long productive life. His voice went away in his later years, but in the video above this post it is still very sweet and pure. He had great eyes and a great smile. very charismatic, especially at a live venue. This news ruined my day…. John Davies Spokane WA

It is a bad sign that the factory continues to use a plain nut and lock washer in this location. It is a sign of corporate penny pinching, because those two parts are marginally cheaper than one self locking nut. A plain nut that is not fully tightened WILL loosen. An improperly torqued nylock nut may not be ideal, but it will never loosen further. Are the later hulls still lacking adequate insulation under the sink? If you camp in chilly conditions, you should add some there to protect the fresh water lines and sink trap. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/9039-how-to-bath-sink-compartment-mods-duct-rework-insulation-disconnect-flush-line/ John Davies Spokane WA

Humans are for the most part idiots and they will always tend to ignore the bad lessons learned in the past, in favor of decisions that yield immediate rewards… this is the reason wars happen over and over. It is illogical to expect a different outcome when you repeat an action that history has shown to have unfortunate results. I have no desire to buy an electric car, but I am very curious to see how that works out, with car dealers refusing to inventory new units, tens of thousands of cars remaining unsold, and fears about lost revenue from the Service departments, how is this going to play out? https://www.topspeed.com/uncomfortable-truths-about-owning-electric-car/#evs-generate-some-environmental-problems I believe that Oliver buyers for the most part are affluent enough to not mind paying “too much” for a trailer. But if the quality, service and content plummets, that will no longer be the case. Thanks for the detailed analysis, I agree and am very saddened by this news. I truly hope it ends well for Oliver. John Davies Spokane WA

Yikes: I call that sophisticated monkey motion: far FAR too complicated for the end result. (Like drum brakes vs disc brakes.) This is the complete opposite of low maintenance. You still have all those grease fittings to worry about, plus the complexity of the airbag equalizers, and the possibility of leaks or stone damage from debris spit out by the tow vehicle’s rear tires. John Davies Spokane WA

Don’t stress out over a non-issue, these LE2 trailers tow perfectly well with light tongues. as long as your suspension is tight and your tires are in good shape and inflated, nothing bad will happen. The Aussies run their caravans with very light TW. The 10-12% is a USA rule of thumb for SOB stick and staple trailers with boxey, rickety bodies, sagging worn-out suspensions, feeble frames and bald tires. One configuration of “Mouse” had a 480 pound TW, it was completely fine. John Davies Spokane WA

Mark your calendars, the day this network becomes official indicates the death of an un-matchable independent brand. I hope there are very firm stipulations to prevent price manipulations by the clueless dealer sales droids. If dealers can set prices, it will destroy the stellar resale value of existing Hulls. I have some personal experience with a local “premium” dealer, RnR RV Superstore, I sure hope they are not in the new network ;( They do indeed have a fine glitzy indoor super showroom, they took over a defunct Fred Meyer box store. I guess that would be good for showing an Ollie… Sad times ahead! IMHO of course. John Davies Spokane WA

Try this: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2202-how-to-fix-and-flip-your-blinds/ Once fixed, they should never fall off, unless you are running more than 45 psi in the tires. Mine never shifted over six years. No guarantees if you run the tires hard!! John Davies Spokane WA

You can back off on the Auto Adjust brake adjuster arms, you inset a long thin screwdriver into the oval opening and lift the arm up, then adjust the star wheel.with a brake adjuster tool or flat blade screwdriver. I do NOT recommend this !! The steel cable that attaches to the arm can possibly lift off of the pulley groove , since there is no retainer to keep it in place. If the cable gets off the pulley the adjuster will no longer operate, and there could be weird dragging noises. I am not saying this is your problem, but it is a very good possibility, especially if a tech did it in an attempt to fix it. These brakes come with no lubricant in the adjuster pulley shaft or the upper attach point, they can and will bind! https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2778-brakes-auto-adjust-vs-manual-adjust-what-are-the-differences/ There are soooo many bad design flaws in these brakes, the only solution is to put manual ones on, adjust them to about 6 or 8 clicks from binding, and check them every 3000 miles. Or install disk brakes. John Davies Spokane WA

You are 100% correct. The controller feeds power to a just single wire and ground circuit. Here is the front wire: And a single brake wire: John Davies Spokane WA

Dexter runs the wires through the steel axle, so they will eventually wear through the insulation and and short out, a fix is to run new ones thusly on the BACK side of the tubes (for stone protection): https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2685-how-to-brake-wiring-is-undersized-some-answers-and-partial-solution/ These Auto Adjust brakes are cr@p, if you do have to replace them , consider installing the cheaper and way more reliable manual adjust version. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2778-brakes-auto-adjust-vs-manual-adjust-what-are-the-differences/ John Davies Spokane WA