John E Davies

That is a very cool specialty tool. I have used torque multipliers in the past, big ones, for really heavy applications. The problem with this one is that it only does one thing, wheel nuts. I much prefer carrying a battery powered impact gun, it will zip off the lug nuts easily, and has lots of other uses, like those pesky rusted suspension bolts…. I also carry a drill/ driver, and the two tools fit neatly into the plastic Dewalt box, with room for extra batteries, bits and so on. John Davies Spokane WA

I think this would be OK, but verify the wire sizes visually! As I mentioned in another thread, I found an undersized wire inside the hull. If I had not discovered and fixed that, there could have been an electrical melt down. Mine definitely were not 10 AWG! https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5271-how-to-junction-box-for-the-7-wire-trailer-harness-under-the-front-dinette-seat/ I am a little concerned about the Victron environmental specs, specifically the “Humidity - Max 95% Non-condensing”. Depending on your location, that may be exceeded often. If you are in the arid West, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I have seen these chargers installed in high end expedition campers, so it may not matter. One thing I like about the Redarc one is that it is fully waterproof, you could even hang it below the hull. Maybe an email to Victron USA about the humidity limit might be advisable. You also need to consider waste heat management, can you find a spot where there will be adequate airflow? As delivered, all the Ollie electronics bays are very poorly vented. You should plan on adding vent holes. Take a look here: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5301-how-to-lithium-battery-powered-vent-system/ If you proceed with this project, please start a new thread with pictures. We all love pics. John Davies Spokane WA

Is your Ollie level or just a little nose high when towing? If it is nose down, that makes things a lot harder, all the time. Most dump stations that I encounter have a distinct grade down and to the left, so you can position the trailer so it drains naturally. I have a big ball level on the front of the hull, I can watch it in the rear view mirror to see if the trailer is leaning properly. And of course, it works great for getting the trailer as level as possibly on the campsite slab. I highly recommend this mod: … https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2082-how-to-install-a-big-bubble-level-no-drilling/ John Davies Spokane WA

Reflectix is weird stuff, the R value is only 1 for a thin layer. Doubling it only increases the R value to 1.1. If you can make a space between the layers, the value will be higher. That is why it works when applied to the two Ollie hull halves, with the big gap between them. OTH a 1” piece of the pink rigid foam board is R5. https://www.reflectixinc.com/about-reflectix/what-about-r-values/ If you want better insulation for the basement you should put rigid foam on the outside door, and also put something in the shower cavity, A nice “future Ollie feature” would be vacuum molded insulated access and battery doors, with an inch of foam sandwiched by fiberglass panels. It would intrude very slightly into the cargo area, but would greatly reduce cold air infiltration. And it would not be butt ugly like my battery door mod. John Davies Spokane WA

The electric element in the standard water heater cannot be operated by the inverter, at least in my trailer, Hull 218. In regards to leaving the outside 120 volt switch on all the time, and using the inside circuit breaker instead….. that will work fine, until the day you drain the tank and in a senior moment you flip on that breaker. Without water around it, the heating element will burn out in seconds. I keep the HWH switch off at all times, unless I am actually using that mode. I would rather go outside in the weather than disable the unit through a brain fart. If you do operate your unit this way, then I suggest that you buy a spare element and the tool to replace it. John Davies Spokane WA

I think your Ascent will be just adequate for your Ollie if you are very careful about how much stuff you carry, Car and Driver was not impressed with it, the engine struggled and gave single digit mileage on flat terrain. Do you already own the Ascent? Have you researched these issues? “We previously put the Ascent's 5000-pound towing capacity to work hauling a girthy enclosed snowmobile trailer. More recently, staff editor Drew Dorian tugged an Airstream Caravel travel trailer to Michigan's beachy west coast. Though the Subaru towed the luxurious tin can without much drama, pulling the bluff-faced Airstream on the highway worked the Ascent's turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four like a pack mule. With the continuously variable transmission unable to employ its higher virtual ratios, the Ascent guzzled premium gasoline to the tune of 9 mpg. Nevertheless, Dorian commended the Subaru's highway stability with a trailer in tow, but only after disabling the hyperactive lane-keeping assist. When that system is activated, the Ascent has a tendency to stray between the lines, causing the Airstream to wag behind the ute like a dog's tail. Dorian also complimented the cargo hold's ample space and its ability to swallow a weekend's worth of camping supplies. “ https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a25735016/2019-subaru-ascent-reliability-maintenance/ I hope I don’t sound too negative, but IMHO the Ascent and the LE is not a good match for low altitude, and will probably be downright unpleasant in the high mountains.. John Davies Spokane WA

If you love mountains but don’t want to beat up your body….. this is spectacular. Route of the Hiawatha Turns 20 (News story 2018) https://www.ridethehiawatha.com/the-trail Class 1 pedal assist ebikes are now allowed, but none with a hand throttle. I rode the trail once on a mountain bike, but spent six summers on a dual sport motorcycle exploring this wonderful area. I am a sucker for trestles, tunnels, and steam history. John Davies Spokane WA

I can’t answer your question, but I do suggest that you calculate how much energy is consumed over a week or more at home, then you can calculate an average daily figure. Once you have that number, somebody here can help you figure out how long the Ollie’s lithiums will last. There are endless choices for an energy/ watt meter, I have this one and it works fine. Poniie PN2000 Plug-in Kilowatt Electricity Usage Monitor Electrical Power Consumption Watt Meter Tester w/Extension Cord https://truckersinsider.com/how-many-watts-does-a-cpap-use/ John Davies Spokane WA

https://pjammcycling.com/climb/227.Beartooth%20Pass%20South GTTS is steeper, but a mile lower in elevation, so that is probably the biggest factor. If I were to attempt to cycle any of these roads, which ain’t EVER going to happen, it would be with electric assist and really good hydraulic disk brakes. And an oxygen cylinder. 😳 How long is your upcoming tour? You must be pretty fit. John Davies Spokane WA

Yes. 😬 In other words, I don’t know. I suspect that it doesn’t matter, and I wouldn’t be too concerned about it. I bet the manufacturer isn’t either, and they surely have engineers who know. John Davies Spokane WA

Be safe: When towing, when in doubt, stay an extra day or even three. Don’t push your luck. Post pictures please! John Davies Spokane WA

I haven’t done that road, but have done similar very high up (11,000 feet) and twisty roads, like the Million Dollar Hwy at Ouray. I think it depends mostly on your tow vehicle. A big HD turbo diesel, no worries. A Land Cruiser like mine, worries, definitely. I have on occasion dropped down into 4 Low when towing up super steep hairpin turns, and that was a HUGE help, especially for greatly reducing the transmission temperature, but I am not aware of any other tow vehicle that can do that without risking drivetrain damage. If you have a nervous copilot, then it might be best to leave the Ollie at base camp. Also, that is a very popular route in the summer for sports cars and bike clubs, make sure there is not a 3000 rider Harley tour going the same day as you….. I love that part of Yellowstone, Chief Joseph Hwy headed east is also stunning. Hard lock haipin turns and a 65 mph speed limit! EDIT, Bill beat me by 4 minutes, darn it. This is simply luscious: https://www.visityellowstonecountry.com/photos-that-prove-that-the-beartooth-highway-is-the-most-beautiful-drive-in-america?slide=1 John Davies Spokane WA

One last comment, make sure you have fresh All Season tires on your X5, preferably ones that are decent in winter conditions. All Summer and most A/S tires perform very poorly below about 40 degrees F, so towing in frigid weather becomes more hazardous! If your tires are older than three years, be very cautious, because they do age harden and become skittish. John Davies Spokane WA

Don, your plan sounds fine, but you omitted to mention if you have a generator. You need one anyway, for air conditioning in summer, but it also gives you a reliable 120 volt backup if the campground grid fails. So if you experience a double whammy, like a furnace failure and a grid failure, you still have a source of power, battery charging and at least a little heat. If you didn’t already get the Mopeka tank rings (spacers), order a pair, they give more clearance under the bottles and also keep the steel of the bottles and of the mount itself from rusting. These are stout and well made. Mopeka Tank Halo Just to be safe, do not count on buying RV antifreeze in Howenwald. The current weird COVID/ weather supply issues make it prudent to get some now. John Davies Spokane WA

Very possible, and works quite well. 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

Thanks Andy. I missed that detail in the material list, but it should also be obvious from the pics, both the support arms and the cross beam are 1/4”. I have edited the list. John Davies Spokane WA

Bumping an old thread, did this start-up endeavor fail? I am sure that there are still many interested Ollie owners. John Davies Spokane WA

Bill, how are your Hydrollers holding up? They get very mixed reviews for durability and build quality. Do they tolerate uneven surfaces? That is a lot of weight to have lurching around with a flimsy plastic handle. https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Hydroller-Wheeled-Container/product-reviews/B001QC78GK?reviewerType=all_reviews John Davies Spokane WA

Search for old threads about converting the (unused !) black tank to fresh water storage, that would be the most elegant way to get an out-of-the way 15 gallons, and it would gravity feed into the fresh tank. I haven’t heard of anyone actually doing this mod, but it is one that I would definitely do, if I needed that much water. You also have to worry about the grey tank backing up, but if you are camping in south Idaho, I expect that you could water some sagebrush with gray water using a garden hose, to make room for the extra volume coming from the black tank. Or just use a buddy tank to store the gray water. This will get you started. …. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2930-merging-gray-and-black-tanks/ John Davies Spokane WA

https://www.exaeris.com/ “The portable device will weigh around 30 pounds and sell for less than $2,000, the pair told us. It will adapt to any power supply, from an outlet to solar power to battery, thanks to the miniaturized technology within, which will require very little power — equivalent to running a few incandescent lightbulbs all day long, ” https://www.digitaltrends.com/news/exaeris-acquatap-world-water-crisis-ces-2021/ That is pretty vague, but a 24 hour long draw to produce “up to” 5 gallons will be hard on an RV charging and battery system. Boondockers will need bigger solar and an extra large battery bank. I’ll let somebody else run the math. This concept doesn’t interest me. John Davies Spokane WA

What size wheels and tires? What fits an LE2 3500 pound axle with the (non-standard) 6 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern to give the needed drop and clear the brake drums? Even a dinky 155/60R15 tire is still about 22.5”, compared to 28.5” for an Ollie tire, or 6” smaller overall. That would lower the trailer 3”, not enough. Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

Switching to smaller diameter tires would be OK for the small Ollie, for long term storage (winter), but I would never consider it for an LE2, that would be a real pain after about, oh the third time. Changing 10 ply truck tires is a messy, sweaty job even in the best of conditions. If it were raining and cold, ….. 😤 Camping is supposed to be fun. But OTH I can’t see any way to gain 5” with just a change in tire size. If you deflated them to 5 psi, perhaps, but then if you have to make a sharp turn, the tandem axles means you risk popping one or more of the tire beads, and suddenly you have to deal with completely flat tires, maybe with sidewall and wheel damage. Talk about a deflating experience! Maybe that last part is far fetched, but it would make a good video for YouTube. Weird stuff like this does happen. It’s best to “Keep It Simple, Stupid”. I have a prominent KISS sticker on my tool cabinet in the garage, mounted upside down, as a daily reminder of past days that did not go as I intended them to go… John Davies Spokane WA

Plan C would be to buy the LE1 which is 6” shorter…… But I personally would fix the garage. There are plenty of low profile vents with fans, just pick a 14” x 14” one that doesn’t have that big rain cover. That really sticks up high. Here is one …. https://www.airxcel.com/rv/maxxair/products/fans/maxxfan-low-profile John Davies Spokane WA

Forgot this, your BVM-712 will show charging amps from the portable panel, as long as the wires are connected to the positive and negative buses, not right to the batteries, but you won’t be able to see actual details, just for that device, except by looking at the Zamp control display. You COULD easily replace the Zamp control with a Victron MPPT one, as CnC suggests above, and that way it will network with your monitor, so you can use the Victron Connect app to see all those cool functions of your portable panel, just like the ones on the roof. This one is in my WishList, I just haven’t got to that project yet😬 Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 100V 20 amp 12/24/48-Volt Solar Charge Controller (Bluetooth) FYI, https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5329-how-to-victron-mppt-solar-charge-controller-underneath-the-street-side-bed/ If you decide to buy the Victron unit, then order a solar panel without the onboard unit, that will save some money right there. BUT you won’t be able to use the panel as a stand-alone charger, for example, to charge the battery in your truck when you are away from the Ollie. That is why I modified my Zamp with Anderson connectors, so I could use it both ways. John Davies Spokane WA

i recommend this basic heat-only thermostat, it works well, has a very small dead band (temperature swing) and looks very nice. My Ollie came with an Air Command AC and that isn’t compatible with the fancy stat, so Oliver installed a clunky mercury switch type one, that failed after three years. This one has been working great since then. I don’t care about programmable features, the first one up in the morning gets to raise the temperature. Emerson 1E78-140 Non-Programmable Heat Only Thermostat for Single-Stage Systems 1: Zamp SAE style connecters are junk IMHO, they are not waterproof, so you can get corrosion problems, and they use an oddball reverse polarity design. This is basically the same type as the (horrible) flat 4 pin trailer connectors that fail so often. I would replace any Zamp ones with standard solar PV connectors like this or else with Anderson Power Poles. That is what I did to my 100 watt Zamp suitcase panel. ….. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5478-how-to-remote-mount-the-controller-of-a-suitcase-solar-panel-not-inside-the-trailer/ I like my 100 watt panel, that 140 watt one will be good too, but these are quite heavy and bulky. Make sure you have a place to store it, preferably in its case on end, not flat. Zamp has newer panels that are way lighter and less bulky, but they are super expensive. I have a Furion port, and it works fine but is a PITA to install on a cable, it has to be soldered and that is quite difficult with 10 AWG wires! And it is limited to 10 amps. If I had to do it again I would probably install this port: All of these PowerPole parts are very high quality and reliable, don’t require soldering, carry a high current and are self cleaning as you plug them together. This is the system that ham radio operators love. They are NOT waterproof, if you camp ofter in a rainy climate, they would not be as good a choice IMHO. (But in rainy weather you will probably just store the panel away, as I do.) 2: solar port location is best as close to the batteries as possible, but ChrisMI’s suggestion is a good one too, especially if you are already swapping out the panel connectors. If you plan to add a DC to DC charger at the truck, then go WAY big on cable size, like 00. That way you can run a big charger, 30 + amps. 3 - hook the port cables directly to your battery positive and negative buses, with a 10 amp inline fuse or resettable circuit breaker in the positive wire. Use 10AWG or bigger wire, even if the port is close by. The solar charger doesn’t have to “interact” with any of the other systems, that happens automatically anyway, based on battery voltage. I hope this helps. John Davies Spokane WA