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Steve Morris

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Everything posted by Steve Morris

  1. Is this documented somewhere? I’ve only skimmed the manual, and didn’t think there was a dehumidify mode. Thanks!
  2. I mounted my LevelMate Pro+ in the corner, above the main switch panel. I piggybacked off of the street-side awning switch. The top (negative) and bottom (positive) wires are always hot. I tried following the manual as to how to use wire it permanently, using the white and black wires in a USB cord. But after a few hours fiddling, and cutting up two different USB cords, I could *not* get 12V DC to the unit. I did find a pair of wires that deliver 12V, but they were not the two that connect with the micro USB plug on the printed circuit board. Frustrating! I ended up gutting a USB plug that fits in a lighter socket, soldering the positive and negative wires onto the appropriate terminals, then used heat-shrink tubing to encapsulate the assembly, including the USB-A plug. I connected the two wires to the awning switch, plugged the other end of the USB cord into the LevelMate, and good to go! (The LevelMate is level. The perspective of the photo throws it off) Plenty of room for more wires... 🤪
  3. It's likely the same as Ohio, but what's happening here is that people reserve the full two weeks before the date they actually want, then cancel at the last minute without penalty. So those of us who want to camp midweek only see full campgrounds on reserveohio.com
  4. Not quite a DIY Modification, so I'll put this here in General Discussion. Mods, feel free to move as needed. At-Home Macerator Pump Setup Based on several posts and YouTube videos, I put together a reasonably inexpensive home macerator setup to dump our gray and black tanks into our septic tank. I know large quantities from the black tank are not recommended for a septic system, but the Oliver’s small tank shouldn’t be a problem. Plus, it is usually only whatever use occurs on our overnight boondocking drives home. Components: Kitvance RV 12V Macerator Pump Kit - $126.97 as of June 1, 2023. It did’t want to start when I tested teh motor before hooking it up to the trailer. But a couple of turns manually (with the power disconnected) got it going. This concerned me, but in testing, it seems to run okay, and is less than half the price of a JetFlow, with better reviews. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W5NMGMS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details Valterra 10” Sewer Drain Extension $13.13 - To extend the fixed sewer connection outside of the bumper. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00303XGKU?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details Valterra Twist-On Waste Valve $18.91 - Because I want to have an emergency shutoff if something starts leaking downstream… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BGHYJS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details Valterra 45° Clear Sewer Adaptor $15.53 - This is NOT the one shown in the photo. That’s the fancy Camco one with swivel connectors. This was the only failure to the entire setup. It leaked around both ends of the translucent (not clear like I thought I ordered) tubing. That one is going back to Amazon… (Returned - not surprisingly, they didn’t want it back.) https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T1026-1-ClearView-Hose-Adapter/dp/B000NCS7GE/ref=pd_bxgy_vft_none_img_sccl_1/135-4765513-9824152?pd_rd_w=YlcHp&content-id=amzn1.sym.26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_p=26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_r=DQQXVYARJ409X8BAT0C3&pd_rd_wg=0Yol3&pd_rd_r=2e06d500-19c7-4cc0-a074-95b6863b7d68&pd_rd_i=B000NCS7GE&psc=1 Harbor Freight Greenwood 50’ X 3/4” Contractor Garden Hose $24.99. I wanted a 3/4” hose to minimize back-pressure in the pump. And 50’ just reaches our septic tank from the driveway. They also sell a 75’ version. https://www.harborfreight.com/lawn-garden/gardening-garden-tools/garden-hoses-nozzles-connectors/50-ft-x-34-in-contractor-garden-hose-63335.html Total Cost: $199.53 plus tax. The included power cord with inline switch assumes the use of a cigarette 12V outlet. I used the included alligator clip adaptor on a spare deep-cycle 12V battery in my garage, as the cables do not reach the battery bay. I’ll make a heavier-duty harness with switch to replace the one that came with the kit, but actually, the included bits never got hot or seemed undersized. The pump ran quietly and never even got warm, let alone hot. This was on an 80° day in the shade, and it ran for several minutes straight. I did not time how long it took to drain. I had the nose of the trailer elevated a lot, and filled both tanks completely. Then flushed the black tank three times, even though it ran clear by the second flush. The only leakage was around the Camco 45° swivel. The entire process was easy and clean. This is intended as an at-home system, but I can see the advantages of making it into a kit to take along if space allows. Our first time using a public waste dump had a 6” deep, 15’ diameter puddle around the drain pipe, due to heavy rain. I’d rather not repeat that mess! With this system, I could park a distance away and pump do the pipe without everything hanging into the water. So far, I call this project a success! IMG_9250.mov This is what grows on top of the septic tank. It's well fed! 🙂
  5. This is what I ordered. Less than half the price of the FlowJet, and fewer percentage of one and two star reviews. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W5NMGMS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_detailsI was also looking at this one, but figured I'd have another $30 in needed parts, so I bough the kit. I have a 10" extension and a gate valve to add to the trailer's dump port. Then I'll hang the 45° fitting and the macerator. This will put it in a downward angle to minimize air getting into the pump. I just got home from helping a friend put his sailboat in for the year, so haven't tried dumping yet. I did plug it in and it wouldn't start, so that's not a good indicator. I rotated by hand and then it did. I'll try it out with clean water to see if it needs returned... Harbor Freight has a 3/4" contractor grade 50' hose I’ll pick up tomorrow to reach the septic tank. This is intended for home use only for now. I saw some uphill dump pipes at the rally, but I don't know how common that it.
  6. We were there on a slow day. We went through the tasting line three times. 😂
  7. Thanks for the details, Art! The flow meter is a clever idea. I have an inexpensive macerator pump arriving today, so that I can more efficiently clean the system at home. I've wondered how many times the tank needed flushed to be reasonably clean. I'm getting a clear 45° connector, too, so now I'll be able to observe when it is clear.
  8. After first hearing the late, great Michael Hedges play a harp guitar on a 1980’s episode of “Live from Wolftrap”, I was hooked on the unique sound! Or acoustic
  9. I'm just relaying what the owner of said vehicle reported on iH8MUD.Someone here said their bill on a Prius was over $4000, and that's only one catalytic converter.
  10. I installed Firestone airbags in the coils on the Land Cruiser, as did most of the other LC owners here. Minimum is 5PSI to avoid pinching. I started at 12PSI, and ended up at 15 PSI. Increasing the tow vehicle's tire pressure from the recommended 32 PSI to 36 PSI front and 39 PSI rear helped, too. As noted, supporting the rear of the vehicle, either with airbags or helper springs, does *not* increase the legal capacity of the vehicle. In my case, I removed a 40 pound roof basket and 100 pound second row seat to help augment the LC's 1440 pound load capacity. But as anyone at the rally can tell you, I probably had way more junk in the back than needed, so who knows where I was in real loading. (I basically took everything from my Hiker squaredrop (square teardrop trailer) and put it in the back of the LC.)
  11. Reading this thread for the first time, it doesn't look like @LongStride related the outcome. In later threads, he notes having a tonneau cover and leveling the trailer. Doesn't mention a new or refurbished vehicle, though. Hey Mike, what's the rest of the story for those of us coming in late? Regarding catalytic converter theft, the Land Cruiser doesn't make any lists due to the low sales volume. but theft by percentage is quite high according to State Farm, due to the Land Cruiser having four catalytic converters. Last year a guy on the Cruiser forum had two stolen 2000 miles from home. He ended up having the vehicle trucked home because replacements are another of the zillion things with long lead times. The bill for parts was $4200 plus six hours of labor.
  12. Correct. All I see is "IMG_1178.jpg"
  13. I'm viewing on an Apple iMac using Safari, all the current updates. I can't see img_1178.jpg Same on an old iPhone XS. So I'm thinking you're right.
  14. I didn't take a single photo all week! I finally grabbed the camera Monday morning before we left, so here are a few from G loop. The sunset photo was Deb's phone on Wednesday evening.
  15. Kathy, how are you heating in colder weather? We used a small ceramic heater while parked in the driveway when we were learning how to use the trailer, but that left the bathroom cold, even with the door open.
  16. BTW, I’ve already started gathering names/site number/state/hull number for next year. 😉
  17. Thank you, Chris. I was genuinely surprised at how many people we saw using the list! I’m glad that it came in handy. It was funny, because when I’d handout a contact card, invariably, the response would be “Oh, you’re the list guy” or “ Oh, you’re Curiously! I loved the story” We met so many wonderful people and already look forward to next year. You’ll again find us on G23. We’ve also made plans with several Ohio, Indiana, and at least one Illinois owners to get together in Indiana late September or early October. Thank you all for making our first rally so memorable! Steve and Deb
  18. #7 posted a photo on one of the Facebook groups in reply to JellyBean's photo. It is owned by Tony Hodgson
  19. I was going to do that as well, based on a history with boats. I can NOT get Street and Curb straight in my head! I think Driver and Passenger from off-roading. I ended up putting C and S on the tags, but in my mind, it stands for "Camping side" and Sewer side" 🤣
  20. AB Lifestyles Road Ready sheets for the Oliver are $139 for both sets. https://www.ablifestyles.net/road-ready-rv-sheet-set/
  21. In our Hiker squaredrop, we had a 6" queen tri-fold mattress. It was a snug fit in the trailer, leaving no circulation under the mattress, and pushed the bottoms of the doors out slightly. So I used an electric turkey knife and trimmed 4" from one end and 3" from the width. The queen fitted sheet (which are made for today's seemingly 24" thick mattresses) now fit so loose, it might as well not have been fitted. So we ordered a set of Allyson's AB Lifestyle Road Ready RV sheets in a custom size to fit the modified 6" mattress. What a wonderful buying experience and such well fitting comfy sheets! Needless to say, when we ordered the Oliver, we promptly ordered a set of sheets from Allyson as well!
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