John E Davies

Bump an old thread. John Davies Spokane WA

Bumping an old thread, in time for pollen and wildfire smoke season….. Amazon has these for a great price, for the last year they have been unavailable or way expensive. This Medium unit (with one filter element) is appropriate for either Ollie, the Large one (with two elements) is better for a large home bedroom. I have both. Honeywell HPA104 HEPA Air Purifier, Medium Room (155 sq. ft), White $123 Filters, plenty good and less cost than the Honeywell ones: Altec Filters HEPA Premium Quality Replacement Filters Compatible with HPA200 Filter R Air Purifier, 2 Pack Fits HPA090, HPA100, HPA200, HPA300 HW HRF-R2 (HRF-R2 2 Pack) $22 Fette Filter Pack of 2 Carbon Pre-Filter Rolls | Compatible with Honeywell HRF-AP1, Filter A – Makes Up To 8 Air Filters Each Roll $20 These carbon filters can last a loooong time, instead of tossing them when they are dirty, vacuum and reinstall. The main filter HEPA element needs changing annually IF you run the unit all the time See also https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5790-how-to-window-dust-pollen-smoke-filter/ . The Honeywell filter and the window filters worked great last summer when we were trapped for a couple of days in southern BC, the smoke was so bad that ash settled on everything. The inside of the trailer stayed clean. Breathe well. John Davies Spokane WA

I forgot to ask, this is off topic a whole lot, how is the grass holding up at the Oliver CG? It looks pretty bad in your pic; from images posted last summer it appears that the contractor laid down and compacted a huge gravel parking lot, then put sod directly on top of that to delineate the campsites.. 😳 Zoom in and study the grass, I think the first time somebody tries to mow it, the sod is going to lift up into the mower deck. It appears to be a “low bid” job… Also I quite like your wheels, I am looking for a set of Acura takeoffs like yours. Now back to your towing thread. John Davies Spokane WA

How are the brakes, are they working properly yet? Have you tried a really hard stop? Got TPMS? I am glad this has worked out so well, but you should slow down. A tire failure on a single axle trailer at 75 mph is going to be horrendous. Have you considered an OBD2 monitor so you can see what is happening inside the engine, CVT and alternator? https://www.scangauge.com/x-gauge-commands/2019-subaru-ascent/ How is the trailer charging, is that working? Does Reset have lithiums? I have owned a couple of older Roos and I would be extra extra cautious about your engine and drivetrain durability, be very aggressive about fluid changes and I suggest full synthetics, if the Subaru OEM ones are not that type. My sister tows a 1200 pound braked teardrop trailer with a 2015 Forester CVT, without paddle shifters. I am waiting for a report that she has crashed going down some steep Oregon grade. Do you use yours at all? How well do they help? Is there a Tow/ Haul setting? Subaru trannies are fairly reliable, better than the old automatics, but they are not repairable, they have to be replaced. And out of warranty that is going to be $$$: https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2015-transmission-cvt-failure-report.808670/ Sorry for all the questions, you are a pioneer here, I think, with your Subaru. Please post pictures! I fixed the one you posted earlier. Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

FYI many owners end up removing that fat black rubber rain seal between the awning and the hull, because it traps water, leaves, needles and dirt up top. It makes a real mess and it is hard to clean. I removed my single seal the day after I got the trailer home. If you never park under trees, you may be happy with it. John Davies Spokane WA

Anita is great, she was our rep in 2016. Start a new thread asking for advice about the second awning, add a Poll to make it more meaningful. But with only a day left, maybe you will have to do the coin toss. But if you do choose that second one, and decide a little later to delete it, I bet that could be done. John Davies Spokane WA

That sounds like a winner to me. I am not sure if you have considered one thing, you shouldn't’ put any high current switch or connector too close to the propane tanks. The switch itself will arc internally if operated while there is a heavy load, so you should plan to always turn off the load (or the dc to dc charger) before switching or disconnecting the Anderson connectors, to reduce arcing, which can eventually damage parts. Or blow you up 😳 For the charger, shut down the engine, then disconnect, not the other way round. In other words, when unhitching don’t just yank the Anderson cord with the engine going. What brand of charger? My Redarc one applies power “gracefully” - it monitors the TV voltage for a second or two, then connects to the battery bank. Do you plan to do the work yourself? Do you have the Anderson parts kit and their crimper? Please post a thread with pics. This is cool. I love this stuff. John Davies Spokane WA

So that is where mine went! 🤨Hull 218 had no fuse at all…. John Davies Spokane WA

Try GAIA Premium, that lets you download all sorts of maps and layers for when the cell signal disappears. It has a fairly steep learning curve, but once you figure out the basics, it works great. Buy from their website to save 10% compared to the App Store. https://www.gaiagps.com/membership/?COUP=10OFFFIRSTYEAR Pocket Earth Pro, I think I mentioned that somewhere already, I love it for just routine “road atlas” type navigation, it gives great situational awareness for what the terrain is like beyond your truck’s OEM nav screen, or an aftermarket GPs with road maps, which might just show a line on a grey background…... Here are a couple of screen captures at different zoom levels. These are all downloaded maps, they work anywhere. John Davies Spokane WA

We need pictures. Did you say a lot of bad words, and how much was the repair? Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

Yes, it slips in the gap and you pump up the bladder to make it lock in place. Did you look at that Acura link? There is more info and pics there and a product link. I didn't feel like repeating myself here 😉 FYI, I already had the adjustable arm and the tablet mount, anything like this will be extra cost, all use a standard 1" ball. John Davies Spokane WA

I thought this might interest some owners who are understandably reluctant to drill holes or bolt down hard brackets. My Land Cruiser has a hard mount for my iPad Mini 4,, but my wife vetoed that for her new RDX, so I got the portable one. I won't say much more, just a couple of pics and then a link to another forum for the details. https://acurazine.com/forums/third-generation-rdx-2019-454/ram-tough-wedge-ipad-2022-rdx-998292/ John Davies Spokane WA

Albert, this is a common conundrum. I no longer hike much due to some physical issues, so a handheld GPS doesn't matter to me since I just take easy tourist paths - "Oh what a pretty view!" - , nothing at all rugged or wild. I rely on an iPad Mini loaded with aftermarket nav apps such as GAIA and Pocket Earth Pro to get the truck where I want it, I think that is a great option for overlanders who are often in the boonies, exploring remote forest and ranch roads. The USFS maps and their MVUM layer (Motor Vehicle Use Maps - where your vehicle can legally go) are very good. If I had to pick one for hiking, it would be in addition to the iPad, and it would fit on my wrist. Look at running/ hiking wrist units to see if any would suit you. John Davies Spokane WA

I don’t know much about the 750i Montana, but you should consider keeping your primary nav device separate from your satellite communicator. My inReach Explorer (no gps) has a one month battery life on standby, the 750i is 18 hours in gps mode. Do you see the basic problem? If you get stranded in the wilderness, the last thing you want is a dead battery. The inReach is built to a higher standard in terms of ruggedness. You can deal with the lack of a qwerty keyboard by tying it to your phone using the Earthmate app, which works fine, or just make do with the unit’s basic one. Preset messages stored on the website make sending routine check in messages easy - even “broken down, no injuries, send tow truck” - it is only when you have to talk to SAR that do you need to be able to type in details. I use my inReach three times daily on trips when there is no cell, in the morning when hitting the road, at a lunch stop, and when retiring for the night; all are my pre-loaded messages that cost nothing. John Davies Spokane WA

They are separate systems, but they do interact gracefully. The converter (charger) voltage is high enough that the solar sees the batteries as charged, so nothing happens from the roof. Disconnect shore power, the voltage drops, and the solar picks up automatically. Everything is based on the battery voltage. You don’t have to worry about any of it. John Davies Spokane WA

If you happen to know anyone who might be interested, I would really appreciate your passing on the link. As a reward, you will get my immediate thanks and undying gratitude, a place to park your Ollie in my back yard for at least three or four days, and a couple of dozen doughnuts, your choice of flavor….. 1998 Lexus Sc400 for sale Cars and Bids auction It is “No Reserve”, which is a bit of a gamble, but that is supposed to stir up more bidding interest. Wish me luck. Thanks, John Davies Spokane WA

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