John E Davies

I suggest that you open a service ticket. It is possible that an incorrect fuse was installed in your trailer, that is something to verify. Oliver could have changed how they wire this circuit - the older trailers for sure were 10 amps max. My Furion (round) receptacle itself has a 10 amp limit as per the manufacturer. If Oliver installed an appropriate heavier socket and bigger wires, then the 10 amp fuse might be a simple production line mistake (this is not uncommon). If they tell you to put a 15 amp one in there, I would believe them. One big problem is that for the last three model years Oliver has stopped supplying detailed electrical diagrams. So we really have no clue what is going into these trailers, in terms of wire size and how they are routed through the trailer. You could complain bitterly about that, if enough buyers complain, maybe we will get back those very useful diagrams. Good luck, please post a followup. John Davies Spokane WA

The purpose of a fuse is to blow from too much current and to protect the receptacle and the trailer wires from burning up, you are overloading the circuit! You have three options. Stop using that large panel immediately, replace it with one that is about 150 watts or less. Or Use the suppled alligator clips and connect the panel output wires directly to your batteries. This assumes that your suitcase includes a charge controller! Some do not - never connect unregulated solar panels to your batteries! Or Rewire the trailer connection with a suitable (higher amperage) socket, 20 amp fuse and larger (heavier gauge) wires. Be safe, please do not set fire to your trailer! John Davies Spokane WA

John, consider the bigger Ecoboost, it will give you a lot more reserve power at high altitudes. John Davies Spokane WA

Do you mind explaining that? Are you afraid of fire? Theft? John Davies Spokane WA

Most trailers have their batteries there, have you thought about why Ollies are different? Because tongue mounted weight negatively affects stability and it loads down the back of the tow vehicle. . They chose rock solid, no sway towing performance over everything else. With the newer lithium batteries the effect is considerably reduced, but 300 pounds of lead acid batteries was the norm when the LE2 was first designed. I think the lithiums should become standard, then they could locate them in an even better spot, inside the cabin at floor level. John Davies Spokane WA

You can use the “crawl space” between the awning and the center bulge of the roof easily, IF you raise up the solar panel to give extra room. A foam “eggcrate” camping pad cut in half lengthwise provides padding and a completely not-slip work surface. Be sure to tie your access ladder to the awning so that you are not stranded up there if it falls over. This will only work if you have a single awning, for obvious reasons: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2791-how-to-solar-panel-extension-arms/ John Davies Spokane WA

Without the Auto feature, there is a regular pull handle in the bathroom wall down low, You push it IN for travel (closed), OUT for camping (open). It operates a waste valve just like the other two ones in back. It actually opens and closes the grey tank vent, to allow it to work correctly. Is it worth $300 to not do it by hand? Only you can answer that. I would rather buy something actually useful with the money. Like a TPMS system John Davies Spokane WA

Here is an interesting warning chart that I have never seen for a jack, this is part of the IMAYCC owners manual. I changed the metric height to inches. I don't quite know how to interpret it, there is no Capacity figure for the lower part of the Y axis, other than the "0" that is in the corner for both axes.... Does this mean that the jack can support zero weight when fully collapsed? What is the capacity at say 10"? Maybe this is why some of these scissors jacks collapse, you exceeded the zero weight capacity. 😉 I think I will contact the manufacturer on Amazon to see if they reply. BTW, a hydraulic jack rated at 3 tons would support 3 tons anywhere in its range of travel.... John Davies Spokane WA

Your sensor reads the wheel temp, near the outside. If a tire deflates that pressure will drop rapidly and it will alert you in time. A hot hub or drum is located far away from that sensor, so maybe you would see a slight rise in temperature, but there is so much metal in between that it would take a long time to heat up the sensor. The TPMS is mainly helpful to see if one tire has gone flat, or if all of them are overheating because the pressure is set too low, but I would not count on one for brake or hub problems. Your fingers or a temp gun is way more precise. John Davies Spokane WA

Some pics. first is my new Acura OEM jack, it is fairly thin steel but has rolled edges and rolled “gear” teeth and grooves in the sides. All help to increase durability and strength. It has a black paint finish. Here is the one from my 1998 Lexus, it actually has separate teeth/ gears, the parts are cad plated and the drive rod is stainless: Both are about the same size and weight, and both operate very smoothly and feel pretty well put together. Here is the IMAYCC one from Amazon: It is definitely stouter, with a larger foot, but they are relying on thicker steel for strength, there are no reinforcing rolls or ridges. It works OK, but it is stiff, a little bit kludgey, and definitely feels like a cheap tool. I decided to keep it as a extra or quick access jack, it fits very neatly on the shelf beside my jack stands, it will be much easier than dragging out my monster floor jack, which works great, but it is overkill sometimes. John Davies Spokane WA

I would like to mention one important aspect of electric trailer brakes….. as the driver YOU are responsible for making sure they are working and are set correctly, You, not the Oliver tech that adjusted your hitch, or some guy on the Internet who told you to set the controller to some arbitrary number….. The trailer brake performance varies dramatically between the time they are brand new and not seated, and when they are working at maximum effectiveness. You should drive at about 15 or 20 mph on a loose surface and adjust the gain (the current or voltage, depending on what your unit shows) so that when you fully operate the manual lever with your finger, the tires just barely skid. That will get you close to the right setting, then adjust a little up or down as needed until the trailer “feels right”. That takes some time and experience, once you get it right the trailer should share the work but not drag or jerk the TV. There are also other adjustments, Tekonsha calls theirs “Boost”, that affect how quickly or aggressively the brakes are operated, try some different settings to see what happens. So, bottom line, play around with all the adjustments and try to find the sweet spot. A rain slick surface or gravel will require you to back off on the gain, or the tires will skid. Remember to bump the power back up when you get back onto dry pavement. And at least once daily on a long trip, check your trailer brake drums for overheating, they should be warm after a steep descent, but not skin blistering hot. Or stone cold, that indicates they aren’t working. And all two or four should be reasonably close to each other. If one brake is doing all the work, it will burn up. If the temperatures aren’t fairly similar, you should have a tech check them out ASAP to figure out why….. maybe you have a bearing that is failing and running hot. It’s better to discover that in a well lit, heated garage that by the side of some deserted back road in foul weather. Learn to routinely observe your trailer tires in the TV side mirrors when turning and slowing, for example, maneuvering in a big parking lot, that will teach you a lot about how the brakes are working. John Davies Spokane WA

If I were traveling solo, I would prefer the smaller trailer. It is much easier to maneuver, especially if you don’t have an outside spotter. In the Pacific NW many of the old National, state and county campgrounds are heavily treed and out-of-level with really cramped sites, intended for tents or small self contained RVs. I get frustrated cruising through them, “Too short, too tight an entry, too much brush in the way, too steep!” If you will be primarily boondocking in the desert or in the east, or in commercial CGs and resorts, no worries get the LE2 and enjoy the extra space... If you like USFS camping, and seek out gravel roads, buy the littler one. John Davies Spokane WA

David, these controllers are very efficient, around 98%, but I would not ignore the cooling issue. They specifically say that you need a few inches of clearance at the top and bottom for airflow. The problem with mounting one in a dead end compartment like where the Zamp one is located, or under the bed, is that the whole area heats up, especially if you put it next to the inverter, which gets toasty. Did you see this thread? https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5329-how-to-victron-mppt-solar-charge-controller-underneath-the-street-side-bed/ You will definitely get a little better charging performance by installing an MPPT unit, but the cost/ benefit ratio isn’t that great. You would probably be better off getting a 100+ watt portable suitcase panel, and if that proves to be inadequate, then you can consider changing the main controller to a more efficient one. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5478-how-to-remote-mount-the-controller-of-a-suitcase-solar-panel-not-inside-the-trailer/ John Davies Spokane WA

Something light and easy to tow, high quality build, enclosed cockpit, minimal maintenance, good fuel economy, and the ability to sleep in over a long weekend….. Cuddy cabin power boats have long fallen out of favor, everybody wants a bow rider so you can carry six people up front. This would be my choice, I happened to see one pop up on the local Craigslist. https://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/d/coeur-alene-2008-ranger-tugs-r21-ec/7448106603.html These are realllllly small cruisers. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ItUUGAY0f8U&feature=emb_imp_woyt I have been in love with Ranger tugs for many years, but in reality this one is a mite too small for a normal sized person. What would you replace your Ollie with? John Davies Spokane WA

Snake Eyes, I know that you don’t want to tell us the make and model, and that frankly is a little odd to me, but it really does matter. A turbo vs non-turbo, gas vs diesel …. the weight specs are important but so is the torque output and where in the rpms it occurs. A lot of naturally aspirated gas engines may look good on paper, but the reality is that the power happens high up, so under difficult towing conditions you find that you are struggling in low gears with the engine screaming. Even if it isn’t bad for the engine, it is bad for the occupants, and it is a very stressful way to travel. Also, the advertised tow ratings always have an asterisk - Here is the * for the Ranger: What that means is, the vehicle can easily pull a small boat to the lake, but put a tall and wide travel trailer behind it and add a 20 mph headwind, and suddenly you find that you don’t have enough truck. Note that the limit includes the tow vehicle itself! John Davies Spokane WA

That Plexus looks really super, but the price is hard to swallow - most epoxies have a relatively short shelf life, so once opened it may not last very long. The JB Weld in the big size is affordable and I have used two year old product without any issues. Plus it works very well on non plastic parts. The fuel access door on my car popped free from the hinge, I glued it back successfully, that saved me having to buy a used door and having it painted by a body shop. I am a JB Weld Fan Boy. John Davies Spokane WA

PS, when you encounter a part that has popped completely free like that, it usually indicates poor prep work, either the parts were not roughed up or not cleaned well enough, or both. Or perhaps a bad lot of epoxy…. So yes, fill out a service ticket so they can keep track of stuff like this and maybe take corrective action at the factory. John Davies Spokane WA

Any good 2 part epoxy, sand both parts with rough paper, clean with alcohol, glue and clamp overnight. I think the factory uses clear epoxy all over the trailer; JB Weld is better IMHO but it is visible (dark grey). I suggest that you buy the big size in case you find any other spots that need repair. https://www.amazon.com/J-B-Weld-8281-Professional-Reinforced/dp/B014OVHAOY/ref=asc_df_B014OVHAOY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312344907964&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14474563900679479226&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033787&hvtargid=pla-434928186381&psc=1 John Davies Spokane WA

Welcome to the forum. By far most LE2s sold are the Twin version, so that tells you something. How tall are you? At just under 6 feet, I sure would not be happy with a Twin if I were much taller, in terms of leg room. John Davies Spokane WA

It is legal to carry a handgun in the Park, as long as YOU are legal to do so in the state of Montana, but if you have to fire it, you will be prosecuted. It is illegal to kill a grizzly. Spray first, if that doesn't work, then consider the weapon. And it had better be a big one. As an example of the trouble you get into, watch the episode of Yellowstone where one of the hands has to shoot one. https://outsider.com/news/yellowstone-tv/yellowstone-tv-unforgettable-rip-wheeler-scene-based-several-real-accounts/ John Davies Spokane WA

Wow, that is cool, gear reduction, does it take a bunch of cranks to get it extended? Maybe make an adapter for a power driver? Have you considered getting the Agile saddle (curved) adapter so you can lift an axle tube? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Quick-Products-1-2-in-Scissor-Jack-Adapter-QP-SJA/306535553 I got my Amazon one, but I am waiting before I post pics, I was finally able to locate a spare tire kit for my Acura which includes an OEM jack, and I want to do a side by side pic like yours. It is nowhere as stout or classy as the Hummer version. I might end up returning it. John Davies Spokane WA

I used to have a Ram, I don’t recall perfectly, but I think when you register your truck at the Ram owners website, you can view the window sticker and detailed specs for your truck. https://www.mopar.com/en-us/my-vehicle/dashboard/details.html That 8 speed transmission has a really low first gear, almost 5:1, that will be great for getting the Ollie started from a stop. That won’t help going up highway grades, but it will be most excellent at low speeds. My LC200 6 speed in contrast has a 3.3 :1 ratio for first gear 😤 John Davies Spokane WA

4.10 for sure, but even that is not the best if you have oversized tires. The current Power Wagon comes with 4.10s and 33” tires (2010 and earlier have 4.56!). Tundras come with 4.30s and that would be a better choice for a Hemi for lots of towing. My Land Cruiser has 3.90 gears and 33” LT tires, and it struggles, the 5.7 Toyota engine has peak torque at 2800 rpm, and falls flat below that. What are the ones in your truck? Are you thinking of changing them? That is a very expensive job with a very long payback, if any. I was quoted $4000 to install new Tundra gears. Edit, the stock Ram 6.4 truck engine torque peaks at 4000, that seems really high for a work truck. An aftermarket chip to increase the mid-range power would help, but, I personally wouldn’t do that while under warranty. John Davies Spokane WA

FYI, most Glacier campsites are way too small for an LE2, or too difficult to get into due to trees or brush. This thread might be helpful. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/3627-glacier-national-park-post-season/#comment-35915 I didn’t watch that long video, do they discuss the parking problems at viewpoints and trailheads? That has been an enormous hassle, you get up into the mountains “early”, like 8:00 AM, and ALL the (very limited) parking everywhere is already jammed with hikers who got there several hours before you did. So you end up driving past all those glorious views, and you will swear a lot. Unless this has been fixed by the vehicle ticket system, I won’t ever be returning. An alternative is a bus tour, those things are amazing. I don’t see how the drivers get them past the rock cliff faces. John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks Bill, have you thought about adding this detector, to keep track of carbon monoxide actual levels, since you routinely burn propane indoors as your primary heat source? If the number ever gets over 70 parts per million, you might be risking your long term health. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6528-best-location-to-install-an-additional-carbon-monoxide-detector/ At least as a temporary measure, to evaluate how well your ventilation is working. As I mentioned there, the one in my garage spikes if I run a car engine nearby, but it hasn’t triggered the alarm sound. John Davies Spokane WA