John E Davies

Welcome to the forum, I'll let others answer your questions. I would like to comment that I think you will miss the ease of maneuvering and finding a campsite if you buy the bigger trailer. Since you want to stay "primitive" it really does make things harder. We just spent two weeks in the Basin and Range area of NV and there were MANY times I wished for a smaller footprint! We also had to pass up a lot of great spots, because we just couldn't fit. Including in Great Basin National Park. This one at Steens Mountain OR (BLM) worked: You are correct, your LC200 will tow the LE2, but it will definitely work much harder, especially on long grades, and you must use the Andersen hitch. The LC200 has a short 120 inch wheelbase, and IMHO it really is better matched with a lighter trailer and perhaps an off-road coupler. Plus the towing mpgs are horrendous, especially if you add tougher LT tires and some accessories. The smaller trailer will not require so much wasted fuel and it will extend your cruising range a little. My truck with mud tires, snorkel, roof rack and cargo carrier rarely gets 10 mpg in the West, towing 6000 pounds. We paid an enormous amount for gas on this short trip.Fortunately, free stays in public lands and Harvest Host/ Boondockers Welcome sites helped to offset that. I can't imagine how costly it would be to tow with a Land Cruiser and stay at resorts ;( Oliver has suspended production of the LE for a major redesign, it will be interesting to see if they do some really cool stuff like independent suspension and disk brakes. We can only hope. We need more Land Cruisers! John Davies Spokane WA

I was perusing the FAQ section here: ... https://olivertraveltrailers.com/travel-trailers/frequently-asked-questions/. and read their "What kind of insulation" statement ( I added the bold: "There are three ways to transfer heat: Conduction (through a solid material), Convection (through air space) and Radiant (reflective heat transmission.) The Oliver uses materials and construction techniques to take advantage of all three. The fiberglass hulls provide conductive insulation while the built in air gap between the inner and outer hull provide convective protection just like you would find in a double sided insulated cup. The Oliver is fully insulated between the exterior and interior shells with an insulated double-sided radiant barrier, which is best described as follows: "Reflective aluminum foil on each side of a 5mm (13/64 inch) polyethylene bubble center." "*Polyethylene Bubble + Radiant barrier + Vapor Barrier + Air Gap Barrier". This unique material provides a combination of radiant, convective and conductive protection. The foil radiates heat back into the camper in the winter or away from the camper in the summer. The foam insulation is infused with billions of tiny air bubbles that provide convective protection while the foam itself provides conductive protection. At only 13/64" thick this powerful product provides an R16 insulation rating. You would need approximately 4 3/4" of standard fiberglass batt insulation to equal this performance. The insulation we use serves as a radiant, vapor and air barrier making camping in any temperature a pleasurable experience." I don't know the brand they use, but I searched for that description, which seems to be cut and pasted directly with quotes from here, which states R8: ... https://www.usenergyproducts.com/collections/reflective-sealer-foam-core-1 Oliver says it has an R16 value, that manufacturer says R8, and I have a really hard time accepting either figure, since Reflectix has this VERY confusing chart: That chart says you need 9.5" gap to get to R16! And a thin Cathedral ceiling with 0.75" gap in a Northern winter is just R1. Basically a single layer of Reflectix with NO air gap has an R1 value. ;( and sticking another layer directly on top of an existing one doesn't do anything at all to increase it. The physical gap is the key, and the bigger the better. I think the Oliver description is misleading in the extreme, I hesitate to call it BS, but I really doubt the combined R16 value for the little 1 inch gap between inner and outer hulls. And they don't mention all the areas that do NOT have a protective gap against extreme temperatures, like the over and under storage cabinets, battery box and rear cargo area. Those spaces ARE the gap, they do keep the heat or cold out of the cabin, sort of, but it is also why they get so darned cold or hot inside. So your water valves freeze or your batteries overheat. I have been adding 1 inch slabs of Dow Corning R5 rigid foam board ... The Pink Stuff ... into those areas wherever I can reach, especially near water lines that run along the inside of the outer wall.. Any comments? John Davies Spokane WA

My wife took this with her iPhone 11, no retouching at all except a very slight adjustment of the Brilliance. South central Washington Palouse wheat fields on a WA 127 pass between Dayton and Dusty, the day after a bunch of rain. We had a delayed cold and dry Spring, then it got warm and very wet and the fields just exploded. I have lived here for nearly two decades, have driven through this area many times, and have never seen it so lush and vibrant. The stems are about four feet high and no irrigation is used. Look closely for a couple of cool “Easter eggs”. John Davies Spokane WA

Pump failures are not uncommon, and if yours is defective from the factory, the failure could be right away. Mine quit unexpectedly but it took five years…. Do you have a volt meter (VOM tester) and do you know how to do very basic electrical troubleshooting? If not, maybe this would be a good starting point for you to learn how. John Davies Spokane WA

Forgot… the smaller trailer will save you approximately 250 pounds for payload, the TW is “about” 200 less, and the Andersen is a little over 50. Plus you could install an off-road coupler, a ball hitch is very limited for uneven terrain. John Davies Spokane WA

FYI the Tundra comes with much better axle ring and pinions for towing, 4.30 ratio. The Land Cruisers and Sequoias have taller gears (my 2013 LC200 is 3.90, later ones are 3.03 😳) and they will struggle more in the mountains. Your Tundra will do fine in that respect. I would love to put two sets of Tundra gears in my truck, but $$$$$. John Davies Spokane WA

Are you going to be by yourself? and what tow vehicle? If solo, I suggest the smaller Elite since it is easier and cheaper to lift, much MUCH easier and cheaper to add disk brakes to (there are no bolt on, plug and play kits for the LE2, you have to install heavier axles), has stouter axle and bearings, and is significantly more maneuverable. The 4.5 feet shorter length will fit into lots more primitive campsites. The wheels are strong. The tires that come are adequate high mileage LT Load E Cooper somethings. Earlier trailers had Michelin LTX. Neither will be a problem with typical groomed gravel roads, but a more robust tread has better sidewall cut resistance for sharp ballast roads like the drive to Kennecott. I would install a set of slightly larger 30” outside diameter robust off road tires, including the spare, and then not worry about it again. A bigger tire will not fit under that spare cover, but you can remove that entirely if you like. You would have to relocate the license plate bracket and light. The suspension is OK on either, but both definitely could be improved. The LE2 suspension flexes nicely but has around an inch of up travel before the axle ubolts hit the frame. BANG. 😳 I haven’t made it to AK yet, but have been through western BC and YT as far as White Horse, and driven the Stewart/ Cassiar in the rain. These trailers need significant rock protection unless you just don’t care about gelcoat damage and blasted frame and axles. There are a lot of threads on this subject. If I were flying solo, I definitely would prefer the LE over the LE2! It would be a great match for my Land Cruiser 200, which is a little overwhelmed by the bigger trailer, and I could eliminate that pesky PITA Andersen hitch. BTW, I used to occasionally do engine work on Turbo Beavers and Twin Otters in Seattle. I really hated working on float planes! Especially outside. Cool aircraft tho. I used to live near Lake Union and enjoyed watching them take off through the horde of sailboats and paddlers. Balls of steel! 😬 John Davies Spokane WA

Andersen Customer Service replied promptly, he first asked if the turnbuckles were going to be used for adjusting chain tension. I replied, no, they were just for adding slack to ease getting the whaletail installed, then the turnbuckles would be reset to the previous position(s) before lowering the tongue back down. The NUTS would be used for setting tension. He replied: “The minimum weight rating would be 2,100 lbs ” And he did not say, “Don’t do this”, which is encouraging. And he did not mention adding a safety pin of any kind. So a smaller one would be technically OK but the bigger one would fit better because of the large size of the Andersen chain links. That open ended one I showed earlier has a 3/8” diameter bolt at each end and very long “jaws”, it should work fine. I ordered two for $30 and will see how they work out. With a 3500 pound working load limit, they will give a 50% safety factor over the minimum stated by Andersen. I will add to this helpful thread with pics if they do, or if they don’t😬 Indusco 93900241 Hot Dipped Drop Forged Galvanized Steel Jaw and Jaw Turnbuckle, 3500 lbs Working Load Limit, 5/8" Threaded Diameter x 6" Take Up, 15-1/2" Length Buyer beware - the price for a two pack was higher than selecting one and adding two of those to the Amazon cart. A good reason to buy these over no name China made ones: Support your local sailing ship supplier. These may be fabricated overseas, but the QC is probably a lot better. “In the early 1900's, Indusco Wire Rope & Fittings was in the Port of Baltimore. No matter the season, when the square-riggers, coastal traders and bay boats of the day arrived in the harbor, Indusco Wire Rope & Fittings would be there to greet them. Indusco brings the same commitment of dependability and service years later. In addition to serving the marine industry, Indusco Wire Rope & Fittings also supplies high quality products to industrial suppliers, contractors, mining companies, logging operations, transportation companies, farms and military operations throughout the world. Indusco Wire Rope & Fittings has become America's fabricator and supplier of wire rope and rigging gear.“ John Davies Spokane WA

As long as you pour a gallon of fresh water into the tank after emptying it, that will be fine. But urine does in fact do gross things as it dries, it turns to hard yellow crusty deposits which are not super easy to remove. I use hot water with a strong dose of laundry detergent, and let the tank sit. Cleaning out that yellow gunk from a small PEX line will be a lot harder. Rinsing each time with a couple of squirts of vinegar will help. I was an A & P tech for many years, if I encountered a mess in a pilot relief tube or the outside venturi, where it dumps urine (hopefully) into the air, I told the owner/ pilot to deal with it, or an unfortunate minimum wage line boy. Urine deposits can mess up an airplane skin. This has been discussed several times, go over those older threads and then go ahead if you still want to. Just don’t do anything that can’t easily be reversed in case you or a future owner doesn’t like the results. John Davies Spokane WA

It will technically accept a 1.5 to 2” adapter but it is not rated for that. Plus typically the reducer drops the load capacity by 50%. The receiver is made entirely of aluminum, which is not great. And most 2” bike racks are not “RV rated” anyway, they won’t withstand the sometimes violent motion at the back of a trailer bouncing down a rough freeway or back road.. Some owners have modified the factory receiver to accept a standard 2” rack or even built a custom setup. But as delivered, your Ollie won’t work with your 2” one.. You can complain to Sales about it😤 What make and model bike rack do you have? How heavy are the bikes? If they are a couple of sub-20 pound road bikes, maybe that reducer will be OK. Two ebikes, nope. I see your are in Bellingham, please add your tow vehicle and trailer info to a signature. And feel free to PM me if you happen to be returning through Spokane this summer.. John Davies Spokane WA

There are a bunch of cons to this mod. I personally would rather visit a toilet or outhouse every three days with that little tank, dump it and return, than deal with dumping and rinsing the big black tank, which requires a sewer connection. I routinely dump my grey water at home into the gravel, or when boondocking in the desert, into a sage brush. With the Natures Head you do NOT need to stop at dump stations for your human waste, why make that more complicated? You will still need to use a station for your grey tank sometimes, but that is so much less nasty when it is just fresh water with a small amount of soap in it.I suggest a second tank and cap, and call it good. https://store.natureshead.net/p/28-Nature-s-Head-Extra-Liquids-Bottle.aspx John Davies Spokane WA

It is a standard type, but check the pressure and temp rating on it to be sure. A Camco tool works great for removal, and you can also use it in your home water heater. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003VB15MC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title There may be nothing wrong with yours, remove it and soak it in vinegar for a couple hours with the lever open to remove hard deposits. That might cure the slow drip. John Davies Spokane WA

Power (Watts) = Volts x Amps. Power remains fixed, it is a result of internal resistance and other factors in the loads. So if volts drop, the amps increase. Neither of those is good, which is why the surge protector has both upper and lower limits. Higher end airplanes have 24 volt DC systems, it allows for much smaller gauge and lighter weight wires because with twice the volts, you get half the amps. And a 6 volt golf cart, as another example, has massive wires. John Davies Spokane WA

Ours goes upside down on top of that fragile turntable spider thing, resting on an old towel that is folded up around the corners. A plastic Camco dish drainer and a box of Kleenex lie on that to keep it steady, though if the door ever opened of course it all would come out. Check your tire pressures, unless you just forgot to latch the door, something else is probably wrong! 42 to 45 psi for an LE2, NOT 50 60 or 80 especially for nasty pavement or gravel. For ugly low speed and really rough roads drop it by 10 pounds. (You definitely do need a TPMS when running lower AKA correct pressures. Last trip we had around 50 miles of straight flat (small) washboard gravel ranch roads, cruising speed when possible was 35 to 40 mph and nothing shook loose inside the Ollie. But you have to pack your gear so it can’t move around, especially in the overhead cabinets and in drawers, which should be strapped closed. When you get a chance, please try reposting pictures, the first one is lost in space. Enjoy your trip, get to Kennecott copper mine if you are into old ghost towns and equipment. White Horse is worth a couple of days. How are the fuel prices in BC and AK? (Woah, stupid Autocorrect changed fuel to girl!) John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks for the info. If you drill a hole inside the body, there is not any load on the threaded rod there. Only the area that contacts the female threads, and the area under tension, would be affected. That inner section has zero load on it. I sent an email to Andersen Customer Service asking about this, most likely they will say do not do this, you’ll shoot yer eye out! but maybe not. If they reply I will post a followup. John Davies Spokane WA

Bravo, very nice, and what a great description. I have a couple of comments, since I can’t seem to leave the back end of “Mouse” alone. Using wood for mocking up is a neat idea. Did you write the actual dimensions on the pieces before dropping them off at the machine shop? The shop needs quite precise measurements. Relying on your holes in wood might not be precise enough. Drain holes? This can be a super wet part of the trailer, each part needs two openings, at a minimum, for water to escape. (I leave my parts wide open and simply blast them with water when washing the trailer.) A little moisture will naturally escape from the bolt holes, even with the hardware in place, but those will eventually plug up with debris and corrosion. A hole at each end of each cross beam allows water to egress regardless of the angle of the trailer. And do not forget to add some to the Ollie bumper, the factory does not drill any! Be prepared for water to flow out onto your drill, so drop the bumper down first. I really like your annotated images. That is very easy to do with an iMac or iPhone, I don’t have a clue how you would do it with a PC or SOB phone. What did you use? Thanks for posting such an informative thread. I think members should be aware of how much work is involved in doing an article like this. John Davies Spokane WA

You can use any decent chassis grease, but IMHO the very best is Redline CV-2, for suspension zerks as well as wheel bearings and jack gearboxes. John Davies Spokane WA.

Cool do you have a link or did you source them locally? Size? Do they loosen at all when towing? You could drill a hole in the free end (inside the opening) on each turnbuckle for a safety pin. FYi these are available with built-in clevises, so you can get rid of those four shackles, eliminating that many wear/ failure points. I am not sure what is the appropriate rating, can you comment? John Davies Spokane WA

I suggested that to the wife, and it was firmly refused. There were three rigs out there, one was even with a trailer. It had rained recently enough that I was not comfortable with the idea myself. Who knows what evil lurks beneath that white surface….? I would be willing to try in August, if the heat or wildfire smoke wasn’t too bad. John Davies Spokane WA

They should sail out at a about a 45 degree angle to the ground at speed, so the debris will bounce down and not back at the truck (and onto the bumper, tailgate and lights!). This is how the Aussies do it, it is even described that way in their Rock Tamers supplement to the manual. And yes, most unfortunately, rooster tails of gravel happen when the flaps are cut too tall, so they contact the surface over dips. I tried RTs on the trip home from Hohenwald (4000 miles) and decided they were not at all adequate for my needs. https://www.clearviewaccessories.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/RT_MANUAL.pdf Why RT USA doesn’t include this info is baffling! it is not like the Aussies have the only gravel in the world. FYI I made my own bumper inserts using the two 3 inch strips I cut off the bottom, that helped significantly! We just did about 3 miles of of rough double track (roughly “graded” by a tractor), 45 miles of two lane gravel ranch roads, with another 15 tomorrow, near Steens Mountain OR. Lots of dust, lots of washboard, at up to 40 mph (the Ollie rides smoothly at that speed). No stone damage. All the chaos is channeled by the Stone Stomper mesh fabric underneath the tongue and frame, towards the three sets of rubber flaps. 42 psi in the truck and Ollie tires, nothing came loose or broke in either. No blown shacks 😳 John Davies Spokane WA

We were in Great Basin NP and the Ely/ Elko areas while all that was going on This pic shows why an occasional Internet connection is so invaluable. We were starting back to Spokane, which is more or less due north from there. Hmmmm…. Do we drive to Boise then west, or cut west and go north through Oregon? What an easy answer! We did ride out the worst of the wind and rain for two nights in Elko at the very lovely and affordable Iron Horse RV Resort, $45 per night full hookups. When we left Monday morning heading WEST, there was fresh snow on all the taller mountains. I am sure the high points in Great Basin got hammered. Spring camping in the West has its challenges. But the air is so very clean this time of year. John Davies Spokane WA

I am getting close to replacing my tires due to their age, I was wondering about larger diameter ones to gain a little extra ground clearance. Has anyone done this, how large can we go? How wide? Any issues with rubbing under the wheel well? I do not care about the spare tire cover not fitting, “Mouse” does not have one. My Michelin LTX M&S2 225/75R16 were 29.2” OD, 8.8” wide when new. Thanks for any comments. John Davies Spokane WA

I really feel for those with TVs that require Premium, or those who perhaps supercharged their “Regular burning” one and now need a much higher octane fuel. How do you deal with those very remote Mom and Pop general stores that only have diesel and 87 octane? Does anyone use an octane booster with lower octane fuel? How is that working for you? What brand? John Davies Spokane WA

We have been cruising around southern ID, down to Great Basin NP (east central NV), then back up through northwest NV and southeast OR. Prices were typically $4.79 to $5.39 for Regular 85 or 87 octane. We are now at Steens Mountain / Alvord Desert, a VERY remote arid corner of the state, so remote most Oregomers have never been there and many don’t even know it exists😬 So remote you have to fill up whenever you find a functional gas station, when your Land Cruiser is burning it at a rate of 9.3 mpg, with only a 25 gallon tank😳 Fields Station: Topped her up, 13 gallons for $94 - @ $7.40 per gallon: The shakes are truly wonderful, and the small one costs a little less than a gallon of gas. But WAIT, THERE’S MORE! Their Premium grade ethanol free pump across the lot, which their local guy called “aviation fuel” @ $8.95 per gallon: I have always accepted the fact that my truck is a gas hog, but I may have to park “Mouse” this season, or limit the trips to some local COE campgrounds within an hour’s drive. We drove 4500 miles up into BC and Yukon last August and the prices were way cheaper. This doesn’t look like Oregon… John Davies Spokane WA

Three miles of dusty washboard 8% gravel road to get to Great Basin NP Baker Creek Campground….. No grease leaks! I seal the mating surface between the cap and the hub with a skim of clear RTV silicone sealant. The new bike rack works great: Obligatory Land Cruiser covered in dust pic, following almost 50 miles of dust up Snake Creek Canyon (south GBNP). I didn’t try to take the trailer on that one, John Davies Spokane WA