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JDAstroPhoto

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Everything posted by JDAstroPhoto

  1. I was wondering if anyone has looked at, or tried, the auto-level air suspension? With 700 - 800 lbs of tongue weight on a Single Axle 3500, I was wondering how many inches the LEII pushed the tail down (No Weight Distribution Hitch). Enough that it tilts the headlights up? "The auto-level rear air suspension delivers a smooth, comfortable ride with automatic load-leveling in response to pressure from a trailer hitch or due to shifting cargo or changes in road camber. The driver can also adjust the suspension height with a push of a button to make connecting and disconnecting a trailer even easier."
  2. Yes, I actually already have a newer SUV 1/2 ton with the tow package. The numbers actually work, but they are close to the edge and I am not really that comfortable with them. I entertained the idea of the smaller LE with my 1/2 ton SUV, but in the end I concluded I really wanted the LEII. I also would prefer not to use the Weight Distribution Hitch. I also think the shorter wheelbase is going to make it a little twitchy on the road. So I talked myself into more capable tow vehicle with a longer wheelbase. I really appreciate all the responses, it is very helpful.
  3. Thank-you so much for taking the time to write that up. I know, I know, I did the analysis in 1990 on the Cummins Engine when I was looking for a truck, and even back then it was more than 100,000 miles before you broke even. So I never pulled the trigger. Now it is over double that, so you will never break even. But that engine, the sound, the torque, it is really something. You mentioned 10 grand, it's more like 12 grand for the HO and Aisin Trans. Believe me, I've been trying to talk myself out of the engine for 2 weeks, but I can't seem to do it.
  4. That's interesting. The 640 Ah batteries from Lithionics weight 136 lbs. AGMs are about 40 lbs each. So 160 lbs. So the Lithium batteries actually weigh less. So since yours had all the options, then where did all the weight come from? The DC fridge has to be lighter than the 3 way fridge. 570 lbs is a significant amount. The Dexter suspension?
  5. Thanks, no it will not be garaged. 100% of the time outdoors.
  6. I've had my heart set on a Ram 3500 Cummins HO with the Aisin transmission for a while now, but haven't pulled the trigger on the truck or the LEII yet. On the truck side I've been debating the following: Dually - Dual Axle (DA) vs Single Axle (SA) Crew Cab versus Mega Cab. 6'4" Box versus 8' Box There are three important caveats, You can only get the Mega Cab with the 6'4 box You can only get the 50 gallon Diesel tank with the 8' box. The 6'4" box comes with the standard 30 Gallon Tank. You can only get the Mega Cab starting with the Laramie trim, there are 2 lessor trim packages which could save $ Lengths: Crew 6'4"box- 19.75' wheelbase 149.5" Crew 8' box - 21.73' wheelbase 169.5" Mega 6'4" box - 20.82' wheelbase 160.5" I was leaning towards the single axle Mega Cab with the 6'4" box, but that requires at least the Laramie trim package, which I don't necessarily want. Also I really would like that 50 gallon tank, which puts me back to the Crew and 8' box which allows me to save some money and get back to the Tradesman trim. Having said all that, 90% of the time, there will only be 2 people in the truck and the Mega Cab really only benefits back seaters. Unless of course you put the seats down and use it as a flat space for storage. I wanted to see what you experienced Oliver haulers thought about these options. Any opinion on the wheelbase differences on towing or driving around town? Or is the 149.5" wheelbase already so long adding another 20" isn't going to make much difference in towing. DA vs SA, I am leaning toward SA mainly because of the rear width size during non-towing everyday driving. However, I would also appreciate any opinions on this as well. Any thoughts on the 6'4" box vs 8' box, in terms of running out of space? Everyday driving? U-turns, etc.
  7. Craig, Thanks for that link, very informative. I am currently in the market for a tow vehicle and a LEII, so as I stated in another post, I am doing some sizing analysis. For the tow vehicle the trucks offer a 2 alternator option, with the second alternator coming in at 220 amps for 440 amps total. Presuming the first alternator covers all the needs of the truck, then I would have an entire alternator with 12v 220 amps to refill the lithium batteries. On the 2023 LEII the Victron charger is set to 12v 150 amp bulk charge. The bulk charge time for the 12v 640Ah batteries is about 4 hours. If I could get 12v 150amps from the alternator system for a DC/DC charging, then I would not need a 3,000 watt generator plus gas. I could just run the Diesel truck for 4 hours. From what I've been reading the Ram Cummins Diesel burns about 1 gallon every 3 hours at idle, 0.33 gallons/hour. So for 1.3 gallons of Diesel I could bulk charge the Lithium batteries that were almost empty. That is presuming, of course, at idle the 440 amp alternators have 150 amps to spare at idle. The new Honda EU3200i is rated at 3.3 hr. @ rated load, 8.6 hrs @ 1/4 load. 150 amps *12 = 1800 watts. That's about 56% of rated power. It looks like that is somewhere around 5.5 hours per tank which is 1.2 gallons or 0.218 gallons/hour at 1800 watt load. For 4 hours = 0.87 gallons The difference isn't as much as you might think intuitively. Ram Cummins Diesel at idle 1.3 gallons, Honda EU3200i about 0.87 gallons at 1800 watt load. ************************ The other interesting option is to DC/AC convert about 3,000 watts and plug it in to the 120v 30amp trailer. Then you could charge the batteries and run the A/C in the trailer at the same time. 1800 watts for the bulk charging and 1200 watts for the A/C. That's presuming that the 440 amp alternators have 250 amps to spare at idle. That would be more efficient than running the Honda EU3200i, since it would be at rated load which is 0.36 gal/hour or 1.45 gallons for 4 hours. 1.3 gallons of Diesel for 4 hours for the Cummins.
  8. A couple of days ago Jason did a walkthrough of a 2023 trailer on YouTube, he did it live, and I happen to catch it Live. I only watched the beginning of it, because I was busy and was going to watch it later. It, however, never got posted. Since I am in the market for both a Tow Vehicle and a LEII, I am doing some sizing analysis. I did see enough of the trailer, to basically conclude it is loaded with all the Oliver options, this includes the Platinum Lithium package. During the video he showed the tire and loading information sticker on the side of the trailer. I screen grabbed it, because I want to use that information for my vehicle sizing. Hence this post, these trailers are gaining significant weight from the factory. I attached the screen grab, but since it contained the VIN number, for the future owner privacy, I decided to blank the VIN number out. On the website the LEII trailer weight (Dry) is listed as 4,900 lbs and 490 tongue weight (10%) This trailer is coming in at 7,000 lbs - 1,530 lbs = 5,470 lbs If we go with full tanks for sizing purposes: 32 gallons fresh water + 32 gallon gray + 15 gallon black = 79 gallons, 79 gallons * 8.34lbs/gal (fresh water weight) = 659 lbs Therefore with tanks full and the trailer completely empty the "loaded options" full wet trailer is sitting at 6,129 lbs. At 10% tongue weight that is 613 lbs, 12% 735 lbs. Realistically I think it would be easy to add 500 lbs of "things" into the trailer. That fattens things up to about 6,629 lbs, 10% tongue weight 663, 12% tongue 795 lbs. Add a generator and some gas in the aluminum basket at 75 lbs and with12% tongue weight you could be sitting at 870 lbs tongue weight. I wanted to post this because I've read many posts from experienced Oliver owners that talk about Oliver trailer weight gain. It really hits you, however, when you actually see the 2023 tire and loading information first hand.
  9. Does the 7-Pin connector from the Tow Vehicle charge the Lithium Batteries on the 2023 Oliver when the Tow Vehicle engine and alternator are running? If so does anyone know the charge rate? I believe the maximum charge rate on the 2023 charge controller at 12v is 150 amps. For example, if I had a dual alternator system on my Tow Vehicle with a 12v 440 amp output, how much would the charge controller pull through the 7-pin connector. If available will it pull the full 12v 150 amps to charge the Lithium Platinum package batteries? My guess is the wiring is not big enough gauge and therefore there is not enough copper to hand that much amperage, but does anyone know what Oliver has set the 12v amperage limit at from the 7-pin connector? Thanks
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