John E Davies

Brian, I am glad you got it figured out. During normal usage there will always be some appliance operating to bleed off pressure so that the flag will switch to red. Your situation was not really how it was designed to operate. Some of us only open one bottle at a time, so that when the gas runs out it is very obvious, because all the appliances quit working, but that is risky for your fridge contents and you might have to run out at 2:00 am in your jammies to switch on the other bottle. OTH running out completely might be far worse if it is below freezing outside… John Davies Spokane WA

I just reinstalled the pretty stainless screws into the holes at that time, it looked OK, but eventually I mounted my Caframo fan there, which hides everything … https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/3305-how-to-caframo-sirocco-ii-12-volt-marine-cabin-fan/. John Davies Spokane WA

IMHO that is a really lame solution from the factory, it dodges the "charging while towing" issue entirely. Do they even tell the new owners this when they take delivery of their new $80,000 trailer? My guess is, probably not.... especially since they will no longer give you any wiring diagrams, just thirteen BLANK pages! It is also NOT mentioned in the lithium section of the Owners Manual! John Davies Spokane WA

Your early hull requires a new board if you want to use your Progressive Dynamics converter, unless a previous owner already replaced it with a “lithium capable” one. I really like the Victron MPPT solar units because they are smart and will network with the Smart Shunt, so you can see both on the same great app. While the temp probe is not used for charging, it is indeed very useful for keeping track of the temperature inside the battery box. Yes you will have a big hole above the radio when you remove the Zamp, I mounted an iPad Mini there. Keep the 2000 watt inverter you already have, it will work fine as long as you have another source for charging, using the PD unit. I dislike having all your eggs in one basket - with an inverter/ charger, if it fails you lose your shore power charging AND your inverter capability. My experience with the inverter in my trailer is that they are not very robust. When you change to lithiums you lose the ability to get a complete charge from the tow vehicle, some truck makes are worse than others. If this matters to you (and it should IMHO) then you must install something like a Redarc DC to DC 11 amp Charger inside the Ollie, or make expensive mods to the TV itself. Some modern trucks with smart alternators and or hybrid assist have issues with current draining back into the truck when parked, and they need a device to isolate the two systems. Look at my solar threads if you haven't already. John Davies Spokane WA

Before you get too excited, try a vinegar flush of your entire water system, it is mild acetic acid and will dissolve any hard deposits and MIGHT restore things to normal. You need a 50/50 mixture of common vinegar and water, enough total to fill the water heater plus a couple of gallons more, I use 4 gallons of vinegar from Walmart. You don't need to treat the fresh tank itself. Use the winterization port to pump the mixture everywhere, including the outside shower, let it sit for four hours, drain the tank and HTW, and flush really well. Don't do this over nice concrete as it will leave a stain. If you also want to treat the three other outside check valves, you will have to inject the mixture with a hand pump. CAUTION: I don't know about the Truma heater, check to see if this is OK! They do have their own decalcification chemical. I haven't had the vanity cover off yet, it isn't hard to remove. Try the flush first, you may not need to do any more.... John Davies Spokane WA

This is off topic, I sure do like your Foy table top, do you know what kind of finish is on it and if it needs any special care? I have his cutting board. They are very attractive enhancements. I am glad you got your set working. I remained in the background with your TV troubleshooting, because my older unit and the mount are wrapped in plastic and have been sitting on a garage shelf since the day after I got home from delivery. 😃 John Davies Spokane WA

FYI the dozen (in an LE2) stainless steel “scupper” drains in the belly have screens on top, to prevent critters from climbing in. But double check anyway. It’s not just rodents you need to be wary of, wasps build nests wherever they can get, and they especially are attracted to propane, they can really mess up your appliances if they are unprotected. John Davies Spokane WA

Try this one. It is specific for my trailer so you need to alter it as needed for your equipment. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2094-my-tow-camp-checklist/ John Davies Spokane WA

It sounds like a failed controller. That isn’t common, but it could happen. It may have been working fine at delivery. I would not get too upset, let Oliver work with you and an RV tech, ask them if they will pay for a mobile one so you don’t have to go to a dealer. It is much less stressful to have the tech come to you. Do you have a digital voltmeter and the skill to do some simple testing? It is easy enough to see if there is power coming in from the roof, and you can electrically check the wiring from there to the batteries. It will only take a couple of minutes. If all that checks out, including the fuses, then the controller is bad. The wiring is actually VERY simple for these units. This is a generic one, not for your hull: John Davies Spokane WA

There is no reason you can’t test it, just don’t plug in. You don’t need shore power as long as you don’t require the AC. I never plug in unless I am forced to by excessive heat or low batteries. John Davies Spokane WA

LOL, that is interesting information, thanks. I updated this thread with some weight numbers. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5542-has-anyone-considered-down-sizing-the-le2-wheels-and-tires-to-15”-with-5-on-45”-lug-bolt-pattern/?tab=comments#comment-58171 I don't think I would get rid of a perfectly good pair of big axles, since putting disks onto them would be plug and play with the factory wheels, but they are definitely heavier. John Davies Spokane WA

As a Who Cares update, I did some researching of weights for different configurations. BRAKES Electric drum 10 x 2 1/4” Drum with bearings 48 lbs pair Brake assembly manual adjust 22 lbs pr 70 lbs per axle, 140 lbs total Electric drum 12x2” Drum with bearings 60 lbs pr Brake assembly manual adjust 32 lbs pr 92 pounds per axle, 184 pounds total Disk brake 10” slip on 5 on 4.5” Kodiak 38 lbs pr Idler hub (Dexter) with bearings 22 lbs pr 60 lbs per axle, 120 lbs total Plus actuator, etc 137 lbs Disk brake kit 12” slip on 6 on 5.5” Kodiak 58 lbs pr Idler hub (Dexter) with bearings 26 lbs pr 84 lbs per axle, 168 lbs total Plus actuator, etc 185 lbs Hydrastar electric over hydraulic actuator 12 lbs Wiring, plumbing, hoses, fluid, mounting plate 5 lbs (guess) 17 lbs total AXLES 3500 ? lbs each 5200 ? lbs each GUESS 10 lbs each heavier, 20 lbs total TIRES Michelin LTX M&S 225/75R16 Load E Discontinued 29.4” OD, section width 8.8”, max load 2680 lbs at 80 psi, 6-7” rim, 38 lbs, 5 tires 190 lbs Generic 235/75R15 Load D, 34 lbs, 5 tires 170 lbs WHEELS aluminum generic 16x6, 6 on 5.5” 20 lbs, 5 wheels 100 lbs 15x7, 5 on 4.5” 18 lbs, 5 wheels 90 lbs, 10 lbs lighter So there you go, bigger is heavier.... a 10inch disk setup would be about the same weight as a 10 inch drum setup (it is actually a lot lighter but the weight of the actuator and hydraulic parts brings it back up), and it is about 60 pounds lighter than a 12 inch disk one. Not counting the weight of wheels and tires. Note that this is unsprung weight, which should be kept as low as possible. Going from 10" drums to 10' disks would remove 10 pounds of unsprung weight, per axle, and the lighter wheels/ tires would reduce that by another 12 pounds. A 22 pound total reduction in moving mass per axle would really reduce stresses on the spindles, bearings and shocks, and allow the tires to deal with holes and bumps more easily. (Plus you won't have the same problem trying to avoid brake lockup because your 12" system is really way too big for the load carried.) FYI I once had a 4 x 6 foot aluminum offroad utility trailer, I had it built with a 3500 pound axle with 10"electric brakes. Under a full load of mulch or lumber they were fine, but when it was lightly loaded with a few hundred pounds of camping gear they always were problematic, so I normally did not use them at all. Big brakes on a light trailer are not great. John Davies Spokane WA

? Unless he upgraded them to install disks, the LE2 has always had 3500 pound axles, to the best of my knowledge. I don't know the actual bare axle weights, but the brake parts and hubs alone are 44 pounds heavier (all four) for the big axles. I am sure the bigger axles are quite a bit heavier, maybe add another 20 pounds for two of those. Overkill indeed. John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks, my many iPhones bend the image some but have never taken pics with that fish bowl look and I was confused. I thought maybe my converting the original files did something to them John Davies Spokane WA

I reposted your pictures. They look very distorted, were the originals like this? John Davies Spokane WA

I had a stunning 2000 9-5 Aero Wagon in black, I loved that car even though it was totally useless in winter, even with great Nokian winter tires. I kept it until my wife shut off the engine at 70 mph on the highway by reaching around behind the seat and dragging her purse strap across the center console, turning off the ignition! I got it restarted in a few seconds but I nearly soiled myself. “Saab Safety” is a complete illusion. I do agree with Overland’s comment about too many buttons, the Saab was nifty and a pure joy to operate on dry pavement, but the eventual replacement for the 9-5 was a 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6 speed with vast arrays of identical small buttons in rows. At least it had voice control, sort of, that was neither intuitive nor effective. My Land Cruiser has buttons all over, some are blocked by the gear shift when you are driving (though they are perfectly fine when you in Park), so you have to crane your head to see if you are punching the Power button or the seat heater. Six are on the far LEFT side, completely hidden by the steering wheel. “Why did my mirrors retract, I was trying to engage the diff lock. Darn it I hit the headlight washers, there is water all over the windshield! Oh wait, no I turned off the airbags, or was that the proximity sensor switch???” For the best built vehicle on the planet, the ergos of the cockpit are horrible… and the gauges have chrome trim rings that reflect in the side glass at night. I will keep it until it dies or I die, regardless. Maybe a glass screen is the answer, do they reflect sunlight and stuff inside the truck, and show all the fingerprints? At least with a portable nav screen you can point it to where it doesn’t reflect your passenger’s brightly colored shirt…. I would really hate to be stuck with factory navigation, but I guess I could use CarPlay to stream my good apps. Gee! I wish cars still used hand cranks to start the engine, those were great times🤪 John Davies Spokane WA

Just checking, I was talking about the huge flat glass display, not the actual truck….. which I think looks as attractive as any recent F150. If you do love that display, well, OK. No worries. John Davies Spokane WA

I am not so sure about the frunk; gas and diesel engines are designed to do weird stuff during frontal collisions, to keep the driver and front sear passengers alive. I would not feel warm and fuzzy about having a loose heavy mass in there, like tools, ammo or cast iron pots. There is no telling where it might end up, but maybe Ford has figured that out? Maybe there is a Frunk Airbag in that “firewall” to stop any penetrations that might amputate your legs. Never mind, in looking at the cutaway, there is a big e motor there. John Davies Spokane WA

I am not a fan of vast vertical glass displays, maybe I could get used to it, I think this is beyond ugly…. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-9598583/Ford-unveils-40-000-F-150-Lightning-electric-pick-truck.html John Davies Spokane WA

Wow, that is pretty cool. Can the camera itself be adjusted vertically? Never mind, found a pic: John Davies Spokane WA

Earlier hulls did have this problem, eventually the factory started added an extra latch at the back of each drawer. This mod will keep your drawers solidly in place regardless of how choppy the road gets. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2151-how-to-galley-drawer-travel-straps John Davies Spokane WA

I’m not following you about the “no storage under the dinette”. The LE2 has ample space, the rear cover is screwed down and says not for storage, that is very simple to fix. Remove the screws, throw them far away, and use that area carefully for storage of DRY bath towels and similar soft non conducting items, and keep them away from any electronics. This is not Oliver Approved. That decal is there because there is 120 volts AC wiring. The front area has ample space. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5272-how-to-flat-foam-storage-tray-for-the-front-dinette-seat-compartment/ For the LE2 you do need to get the mattress out of the way to access the water valves, but you can simply rotate a Twin one up 90 degrees and leave it propped against the window. We have 10” tall ones and this does work. Or you can cut a hole in the wall underneath the bed and install a swing open marine hatch, and leave the bedding undisturbed. Keep in mind, those valves are normally not needed in any way when travelling, except if you want to refill your tank using the rear boondocking port. At all other times, you won’t need to get under there. There is no easier method to transfer water, the below floor tank has no high-up fill opening like your Casita and most stick and staple ones. Water has to be sucked in using the pump. It sounds as if you have a lot of deposits, the vinegar flush with several hours sit time should fix that. Don’t forget to include the hot water heater, it really gets crusty. Don’t do this over concrete, it will etch the surface and leave a bright area It is harmless but unsightly. Please clarify your model, add that info and your tow vehicle as a signature to appear after your posts, to prevent confusion. John Davies Spokane WA

I don’t understand all the hate for 3M 4000 UV, I use it by preference and don’t find it too hard to get off. You do need to shear it with a thin FLEXIBLE stainless putty knife and hammer, once that is broken free the rest comes off fine with plastic scrapers and a good solvent. I OTH do hate butyl tape. So there. John Davies Spokane WA

I don’t recall an Oliver bulletin about this, but there was a short video, it basically said remove the top and daub some more grease inside. It really needs a little more attention than that. My “grease” was more akin to chilled Play-Doh, and it was contaminated with steel particles from the dry gears: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/4094-how-to-vip-3000-electric-stabilizer-jack-service/ I do recommend that you buy several new gaskets to have on hand, BEFORE you start, one of mine tore. And be sure to check the attach bolts at the frame, they do loosen. John Davies Spokane WA

Bill, forced induction on a small 4 or 6 cylinder gas engine gives you the power of a big V8 gas engine, but you can’t fight physics. Work out (dragging that big load) requires the same work in (burning the same amount of fuel). Only a turbo diesel engine gets better mileage than an equivalent gas one, because the fuel has more energy and also because a diesel will happily run under a heavy load all day long at under 2000 rpm. High rpms kill fuel mileage. What rpms do you see with your truck when towing, and when cruising empty? FYI I read a road test of the Ram TRX which has a supercharged 6.4 liter Hellcat engine, detuned to “only” 650 ft lbs of torque... They got single digit mileage, and their very best was around 11 mph on the freeway, both with the bed empty😜 Here is an interesting article on the Godzilla 7.3 gas engine, and how it was built for best fuel economy in a big truck doing heavy work. It makes great power at low rpm, right off idle, very like a diesel, with a flat torque curve, but without turbos. Or overhead camshafts …. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/amp26306469/ford-super-duty-73-v8-engine-details-specs/ John Davies Spokane WA