jd1923

Looks like a battery-operated Leaf Blower. I have a Dewalt model along with us on every trip! Blow the dirt of the vehicles after washboard roads, get the dirt, the pine needles and dog hair off the camping mat... Gotta have one! 🤣

In 3 cargo trailers I’ve owned, the breakaway had its own small independent battery and the Black wire was used to power interior lights when hitched.

You'll have to follow the 7-way connector cable, front to rear and see where they split the cable into the 7 separate wires, looking for the black wire. Let us know on both ends, are they using fuses or breakers? I forget if there was anything under the streetside bed when I disconnected the black wire on ours 2 years ago. I insulated the end of that wire and tucked it away in a dry spot off the floor.

Update: What Robert had written last week was in the back of my head, but forgotten when I made the Amazon Used purchase not first checking the Dometic website. Yesterday, Amazon notified me that my order was being delay allowing for easy cancellation. This happens more often on their used items that could be located in some remote warehouse. I canceled quickly and thought to rethink this purchase decision. I started to notice the different Dometic models, CFX2, CFX3 and CFX5 and found this paper: https://www.frigolab.eu/gb/blog/news/differences-between-the-dometic-cfx2-cfx3-and-cfx5-portable-fridges It convinced me to purchase the CFX5 model. I tried ordering on Dometic.com and their checkout would not accept payment. Tried 2 credit cards and PayPal which all failed. Then I found the same sale for a new CFX5 45L on Amazon, same 20% off. https://www.dometic.com/en-us/outdoor/coolers/electric-coolers/cfx5-45-electric-cooler--374706 The CFX5 55LIM comes with an Icemaker, interestingly, but at 1" longer and 2" wider it would not fit in the location I'm thinking of. The dual-zone 75L is priced very well while on sale! It's too big for our needs and where I need to mount it. I would make room if we made long trips often, had the need. https://www.dometic.com/en-us/outdoor/coolers/electric-coolers/cfx5/07-0703-070328-070328006-369003?v=97000050757

Thank you Jim, yes this is great. Won't the same wirings for our hull, but the 2016 OTT User Manual did not have any of these drawings. Looking at the full page, the B5 is under the curbside bed as Geoff and I expected.

For sure, soon to be 28 pages! We cannot make purchase decisions for OTT. But we can make our personal choices. 😂 Made in USA products are scarce, due to decades of bad politics. I'll do what I can within our means to "put our money where my mouth is!" Gonna love my Alcan springs when I received the D52 axles and work the installation. To bad Alcan doesn't make axles. I'd pay 50% more for theirs over Dexter! I observed care and respect at Alcan Springs, in their efficient operation, local following and now a national customer base, a family-oriented business. Hard to say that about Dexter and Dometic, Lippert, Camco... and the many large RV suppliers. I've never been one to care about warranties. I buy used and with the money saved, I'm self-insured. I purchase what I need in parts and make my own repairs. Why do some think OTT owes us something more than a few years after purchase? They don't. I have all I'll ever need from them. They built a good travel trailer which keeps getting better in well considered mods and sweat-equity. Anybody here ever have fun with a warranty claim? Isn't it a lot like working with an insurance adjuster and as painful as a root canal! 🤣

@Jim and Frances, thanks for providing this picture, I had not seen it before. I'd wish Oliver would not use "Loose fuses." Better to install a larger panel for all DC fuses, labeled and easily found in one location. They don't do this in automotive manufacturing. Instead modern automobiles have 2-3 fuse panels. What is really troublesome is two fuses on the same circuit, though I have argued with others here to their value. IMO it's a bad design where you can check a fuse, find it's good and unbeknownst to you, they hid another fuse somewhere down the circuit. I believe you are correct in that the "Charge Line" is the Black wire from the 7-pin hitch harness. The graphic shows the B4 location, meaning there should be a fuse up front likely outside under the doghouse. Your picture does not show the B5 location which I would guess is under the streetside bed where the charge line connects to the rear +bus. So as I mentioned this line looks to be fused on both sides. BTW, Oliver disconnects this charge line for LiFePO4 installations. I believe the only valid purpose for the Black wire on this harness is for cargo trailers that do not onboard batteries needing 12V+ to power accessories, mainly interior lighting. Unless you're one of the cool guys who jump that line to power the trailer marker lights when off hitch. 🤣 If you have the full PDF file of this graphic, could you please attach it here. I save every Oliver schematic and drawing that others have posted. Thanks

I always thought that it we had a blackout or local crisis, God forbid a forest fire (we live in the Prescott NF) that we could get in the Oliver and relatively quickly get to safety! Those of you in hurricane climates should certainly understand the idea! We keep ours as many of you do, 95% ready for the next trip. We start the fridge, stock the pantry, pack clothes, fill the TV with grill and lawn chairs, all kept in one area of a shed, and we're ready to go in little time. So we just got back from a 5-week trip, washed and parked the Oliver Saturday. Were out for the day yesterday and when we returned the house felt hot. Later is was apparent our home A/C was not cooling, thermostat set at 77F was 83F actual. We didn't sleep well last night, opened the windows where at our elevation we got down to 75 hours after the blazing Arizona sun had set! Called for service and the best they could do is Wednesday afternoon. We plugged in the Ollie this afternoon. We are back to camping the next two nights on the edge of our property! 😂

When changing a tire lift ONLY the side needing changing. First have the jack up as high to the body as possible and have the space filled with blocks of some type. Doing this, you should be able to get both tires on one side several inches off the ground but only go high enough to remove the wheel. I remember John E Davies wrote a post on the shackle flip years ago which made me aware of it. I believe he had a way to flip it back in the shop, but the simple way is to slowly on an angle tow your Oliver up a curb on the affected side. The other side can just go up the driveway. Service station entrances work well for this. The flipped shackle should flip back. If it doesn't, try again. The one time it happened to me it flipped right back first try. You will hear it and see the leaf springs sitting straight again.

The $1700 cited included new HD shackles and wet bolts, tax on parts and reasonable installation labor. The cost of 4 Alcan leaf springs alone is $600 (plus tax in CO or shipping out of state). Made-in-USA is priceless! Personally, I must buy Made-in-USA, never China if there is ANY possible alternative, even when double the cost. We were T-shirt shopping in SW CO recently. If the label stated made in China, nope not a possibility (any other country OK). Wondering do the PR4s have the same "sheer point" as the PR4Bs? You get for what you pay for. GJ, love ya buddy, but you are alone in your purchase decision vs reports say near 100 Oliver owners have gone with Alcan. It's good to be different though. It's usually me, but not this time! 🤣

I have one of these, an older aluminum version. I tested it on the Oliver when I first got our Oliver. It will work, but the Oliver has an issue with the shackles flipping and this occurred using this jack. I had to tow the Oliver over a service station curb to flip the chackle back, hearing a LOUD BANG and then I know the shackle flipped back to the correct position. Just us your onboard stabilizer jack to change a tire! And get one of the bottle jack/stand combo units shown if you want to work real service like changing a leaf spring. To change a leaf spring on the road, I would use the onboard stabilizer jack to lift the tire off the ground and remove the wheel. Then I would use the combo jack to hold the axle, lift and lower it as need to take the weight off the springs as need for removal and replacement.

Thank you for this reminder. I'm going to wait and as you said before, our "design as we go" principle. I have to get it, test it, and determine the best location for it in the truck bed. I want to secure it so that it does not move while towing and then see about cover or protection. Maybe the Dometic cover or something else, as mine will be out in the elements while yours sits in your van while towing. You move yours in and out of the van and I'm thinking of one position in the bed TBD.

I would need to mount it in the bed over a frame segment so it can be properly secured. Agreed, thinking of distance to the LP tanks, it would require good arm reach which this product has. Yes, truck mounted I can use this for other needs and the strap you suggested would help for some cargo. Got this on my later this summer list (I got D52 axles and Alcan springs coming soon which is a first priority)!

Bad bridge seams and potholes towing over 60+ MPH are harder on springs vs. washboard roads at 15 MPH. We run 45 PSI in the Oliver tires for highway and if we're just going local on dirt roads I reduce to 40 PSI. 2022 and newer means 3 years or less use, so it makes sense less known failures. Also, many owners are not on these forums. There are likely more. The other factor is that the D52 axle, proving a more substantial base may help to cushion the lighter springs. I'm riding our original 10-year-old 3500 LB rated springs, so ever since March of 2024 when this thread started, I purchased and carry a spare pair of leaf springs and 4 new U-bolts. I was not ready at the time to work an upgrade. It's one thing to have a roadside failure that any trailer shop can service for you, but they won't have the correct parts in stock! I just made the upgrade choice. Visited Alcan on our trip 2 weeks ago. I purchased new leaf springs, rated at 2750 LBS each, 5500 per axle. Also purchased and their HP parts, HD shackles and new wet bolts, under $1100 in parts (plus tax or ship costs). Our axles were the shorter 50" one some older hulls vs. the common 50.5" which they stock. They special ordered axles for me, cost about $2000. No idea on labor since I do all of our auto service work. I'll have a backup pair of the new 3500 LB axles for sale and given how expensive trailers are, the high demand here in Arizona, and that many people out here build home-made trailers, I figure I can sell the entire dual-axle setup for near $1000 locally. It's a great setup for a flatbed ATV trailer! My net cost should come out pretty good, doing the work myself and selling the used parts. Alcan has a whole pile, a dedicated boneyard, of Oliver axles on their property! 🤣 Once I have the HD Alcan set installed on brand new 5200 LB axles, I will not worry about maintenance given the Nev-R Lube bearings, lube the wet bolts every year or two. No need to carry spare leaf springs anymore, given how they are over-engineered. I am looking into a pair of spare hubs/drums with Nev-R Lube bearings installed which could be changed on the road as easy as changing a flat tire!

Come on, we all have 3 onboard jacks! (yes, use them). I'm with GJ, in the carry what I need category. 1 bottle jack, 1 jack stand is what I carry. Use the onboard jacks for a simple tire change. Use the bottle jack to lift and jack stand to hold an axle. Also have the required 1/2"-drive socket sizes for U-bolts, wet bolts, etc., 1/2" breaker bar and HD cheater for disassembly! If you have 1750 rated springs, don't be without a spare pair of leaf springs and a 4-pack of U-bolts. This what I carry, nothing more or less. Ken has all the tools, but soon he won't have to work on that Oliver suspension for a long, long time! 🤣

I concur with CRM. Lucky you and owners of newer hulls (OTT finally) and given you took this pic of your axles, you have the D52, 5200 LB-rated axles with 12” brakes. The 3500 rating is the spring weight rating. Many of these have failed, but for $1K in parts costs you can upgrade to Alcan 5500 LB (2750 each) 4 new leaf springs and all HD shackles and wet bolts required. Wish we were so lucky. Many older hull hulls have the 3500 axles AND the 2 x 1750 LB springs. I just spent $3K+ to upgrade all, yet there are other viable opinions to leave well enough alone. I’ve done that for 2 years but have a new pair of 3500 springs on board for possible roadside repair. Best wishes, JD

Good observation and thinking here! Your are correct. Use a few greased washers too, so not to deform the nut. Our Oliver makes all kinds of noises just leveling, Been meaning to ask about that. Regardless, READ the OTT Manual I quoted above and forget what the OTT Legal Department states in writing! All lawyers and politicians lie, that’s what they’re paid for. Also, an 8-lug 9/16” or 14mm lug may take 140 lb-ft, I prefer 120 is enough! Your 6-bolt rims, studs 1/2” or 13mm take 90, not 100 lb-ft, so not to break the stud! 🤣

If you do not have these tools, just buy the one our friend David has recommended, time and time again. Wish I had one, but I have countless old jacks and jack stands. Instead, I carry a bottle jack and jack stand in the TV and every truck I've ever owned. If it was me, somebody needing a jack, I'd buy one of these for safety purposes and go ahead and buy two if you ever plan to work maintenance on your Oliver! This combo tool was not available when we were younger. Enough said! 🤣

Very well said, my friend Ron. Me too, that's our style! It creates the best final outcomes when doing a personal one-off design. You have laid out so much great information in this thread to which many of us can learn. I had a Dodge Van 2500 Series back in the 90s. No way the Van-life thing, but we took it on great family trips to Florida and Colorado (from IL). We had so much fun and a 2500 series van drives well down the road! When we met at the Texas Rally, I looked at your hoist and I didn't see that I would not need one. Not anymore! I'm thinking of a truck mounted crane-hoist, mine got to be 12VDC vs. the piston hand crank. Mounted in the back of the truck bed, I would use it to lift the 30# LP tanks and also the HD fire ring I have constructed. First I added 10# of egg-shaped lava rocks that truly hold heat, not the cr@p that comes with these products. Then I added a fire-rated surround that focuses the heat and protects again the Winds of the West. Love this great campsite tool (see pic) and with the low grate pictured, and a taller stand for slow-cooking, using skillet or Lodge Dutch Oven, you can cook almost anything that does not splatter grease. Needless to say, this thing is heavy! On our recent 5-week trip, it was a bee-ach to lift out of the basket! Looking for your advice. Looking at products on Amazon which seem to be overkill, but maybe not. Perhaps this is right product as-is or with some modification in height and arm length. Let me know what you think. 😂 https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Truck-Mounted-Wireless-Electric-Painted/dp/B0899QCBP7/?th=1

So, I bit the bullet on a Dometic unit. Thinking through our needs of quality, size and efficiencies and other factors, I decided on a 45L single-zone unit, since most quality built dual-zone units are too big for us at 75L. I didn't want wheels and pull handles and light plastics, as it will be mounted in one position and I will create a 24x7 12VDC connection for it (an installation post will be coming). I figured it would normally be set to fridge temps. The bottom of the entire deep section could be for drinking water and we'll get a half-height basket for produce or bulky fridge items to sit on top. But say we ran into a farm deal on the road and purchase a bulk of frozen meats. We could lower it to freezing temps and go back to just having less cold water in the Oliver fridge. It will be a learning curve. We got the Dometic CFX2 45L model. The 28x18" footprint will nicely fit rear of our 8' truck bed next to our Napoleon dual-burner grill, for a tailgate party! 🤣 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DF7Z3MBQ?ref=fed_asin_title&th=1 Another deciding factor was saving $160 on Amazon Used - Like New condition, defined as "Looks and functions as if it were new. Minor packaging damage observed during inspection." I've purchased 40+ Amazon Used items and have only had to return 3-4 items (<10%) when instead of used, they came prior-purchaser abused! $719 a good price vs. the $880 list! Thanks to @Tideline77 and @Tom and Doreen for your feedback!

Yep, the 4.10 rear is not exactly environmentally friendly... It will plow up a hill though!🤣

That’s awesome! I like the integrated stairs. Looks too big to fit under a standard garage door though, but would be great for those with a BIG Ollie Barn! Me too! @Ronbrink also mention keeping the MetalTech together as a rolling unit. I keep one 6-ft-tall section always assembled as shown in my picture above. The way I setup this one it fits tightly around the Oliver doghouse and I could reach everything in front of the solar panels. In my garage, I can park the nose of a smaller vehicle inside of it, so it takes up little extra room. I purchased a second setup which can add to make a 12 ft height. At that height, mount guard rails squared at the top and add outriggers for the security of a wider stance. I will do this when I finally take the plunge to replace our A/C! I also purchased the $40 shelf Ron showed. Haven't needed a fan up there but it holds tools nicely too! We now have 3 viable options for a variety of needs!

Yeah, go figure! Yours is a beast!

Thank you @Patriot, a very helpful post and now two great options!

If only there was more time in the day and my old bones and muscles could work the 10-hour days I was long used to! I’ll save my time and strength for when in August I install D52 axles and Alcan springs. Some of us contract repair work and mods, and I job out body and detail work. I don’t have the attention span for it, I’d likely make it worse! 🤣