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Everything posted by jd1923
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Changing tires in the wild - lessons learned
jd1923 replied to John and Jodi's topic in General Discussion
Nice to meet you Jamie and Sandi! (virtually of course) It would be great to visit Maine in our Oliver! Your home state is the only state in the 48 CONUS states I have not yet traveled! @Jamie Peghiny I'm with you on everything you wrote, except we are Amazon junkies for speed of delivery and ease of returns. However, I've been on eBay since August 2002, long before Amazon was started! Checkout jdokos1 on ebay where my feedback hit a perfect #1000 and 100%. I started back in 2002 selling old car parts from classic cars I parted. Recently on eBay I purchased Norcold exterior fridge vents a new pair at $35 each, about 1/2 the cost from the regular parts dealers. Last summer, I purchased a new Barker VIP3000 jack for the front of the Oliver. It was a one-off NIB item. Seller accepted Offer at $200 which was an amazing deal. eBay is now easier on returns where they supply a return ship label, often at no cost to the buyer (likely to better compete with Amazon). However, don't buy Timken bearings on eBay or Amazon. They will be knock-offs. I purchased a complete Toyota rebuild kit to replace the timing belt on a T100 truck. When it came there were 10+ parts all in Toyota package. When I looked at the casting of the water pump and the issues with other parts I realized these parts were faked! Wow, did they look real at first. eBay helped with an immediate refund and soon that seller was banned. I would buy lug nuts from this highly rated Seller if they reply with a good answer. I always "Contact Seller" first and only buy from Sellers that reply promptly. eBay and Amazon both have items you cannot easily find anywhere else. I have restored a half dozen classic cars and 3 motorcycles purchasing NOS parts on eBay! Welcome to The Forum and best wishes to you traveling in your new Oliver. Come see us in the SW this winter or next. There are always a lot of us at Quartzsite AZ (Jan-Feb). There should be a Forum post started on that soon! We'll coast down the mountain to meet other Oliver Owners this winter in the great valley of the SW, the warmest part of the USA! 😎 -
My first rule with technology is keep things simple and go with defaults in configuration! That being said, Ron and some others, I believe it was @Treasure Coast Vault who first installed the Pioneer Inverter A/C, and both have positive results with this thermostat/power on/off control product. I'm working on a Turbro Inverter A/C install. My plan again is to go with installing this product by defaults without additional complication. I have already installed a simple Honeywell heat-only thermostat, it works well. I do not believe I would need this product since humidity is not generally a concern in the Southwest. Love the input though! Thank you @Ronbrink!
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Yes, your conclusion makes sense! Perhaps one more try will work... 😎 A 15 or 20A ATS can be used with an inverter when the inverter does not have a built-in ATS. It is used to switch between shore power and inverted power for a 15 or 20A circuit. Our Victron has a built-in ATS but the 2KW Xantrex inverter OTT originally installed did not (see pic, ATS in middle). An external 15A ATS was added to switch all circuits except A/C to use shore power when present or inverted power when not. Some Oliver owners added the 20 KISEA ATS to add switching for the A/C circuit. The picture below shows the KISEA I installed for literally a few days before I decided on the Victron upgrade. Both ATS in the picture would switch between shore or inverted power. The KISEA for the A/C circuit and the OTT installed Xantrex ATS to switch the other circuits (microwave, outlets, etc.). These are NOT the main 30A ATS which is as follows: The main ATS installed in most RVs is the PD5100 a 30A ATS. These must be/always are 30A, used mainly to switch between shore power and generator. On the Oliver it switches between the side and front 120VAC 30A Furrion shore power inlets.
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Changing tires in the wild - lessons learned
jd1923 replied to John and Jodi's topic in General Discussion
If they are truly Gorilla brand or McGard (another good brand I've used) then they're good. What @Geronimo John is referring to is that there are a lot of China made knock-offs on eBay (Amazon too for that matter). Instead buy from Summit Racing or eTrailer or another reliable and authorized reseller. This eBay seller has Feedback number at 9850 and 99.8% rating, likely their parts are good, but who knows. @Jamie Peghiny I believe the lug nuts you found is the correct size and shape but cannot be certain w/o a forum signature with your hull#, etc. -
For certain, it’s nothing you did! 9 times out of 10, Amazon used is like new with damaged packaging. 1 of 10 times you get an item used and damaged by the previous Amazon customer! Just exchange it. I’ve purchased well over 50 Amazon used items through the years and 90% of the time they’re a great bargain. Like my Engage pickleball paddle, $220 new, $160 Like New from the ‘Engage’ store on Amazon. It came new but not in retail packaging, OMG, I can’t have that! I ordered this same humidifier Amazon used Like New at $79 (vs $136, for a $57 or 42% off savings!) and it arrived today. It looks perfect, except a prior owner wrote something in pencil on the instruction booklet. I’ll let you know when I get a chance to test it. To test it, I’ll have to hang a couple wet towels in the Oliver to create some humidity! RH today in Prescott was 20%! 😎 We will use this tool rarely but should keep it on the closet floor for when traveling east!
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The KISEA ATS is used when you have a 2KW inverter that has NO internal ATS (as all modern, capable 3KW inverters have). This variety of ATS allows you to switch between main inverter circuits and add an A/C circuit. Search for keyword ‘KISEA’ and the story we be told, in several forum posts. The ATS required to decipher two (2) shore power inputs, is the PD5100, or variation. It’s ALWAYS the PD5100 a 30A ATS! 😎
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So, you can replace it or simply bypass the ATS. For us, we only use the Shore Power connection streetside. Our PD5100 ATS was about to falter last year and ahead of a major trip, and instead of replacing it, the decision I made was to bypass the ATS! Do this if you are not a generator guy (which is truly against my religion, given the current art of LiFePO4 and inverter technology). I do not need the front Shore Power connection and hence, I do not need an ATS! Less stuff, less cr@p to go wrong! 😎 Note top-right in the picture where you see the interior side of the main shore inlet. Normally, this cable goes to the ATS (large box on the left). The ATS will have two (2) incoming shore power connections and one out to the power panel. KI most RVs the ATs switches as needed between Shore Power and an onboard generator. I rewired ours to bypass the ATS, now wired directly to the EMS (wire it directly to the 120VAC power panel if your older hull does not have an EMS). I left the other cables in place to revert if ever necessary, but never again will I have to worry about the ATS as wired (or spend another $140 to replace it). I have replaced the PD5100 ATS in every (3 of 3) RVs we have owned! It is the nature of the beast! 🤣
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We entered from the east, Hwy AZ-87 to Cline Cabin Rd to FS 124 then 401. Dirt as soon as you leave AZ-87 and it's a long way to Four Peaks. We drove about 6 miles to where we camped. This route and the one via El Oso Rd both go all the way to the wilderness area. It would take a good 2 hours on dirt to go the whole way! "The Rolls OHV Area" is on this route which was fine for an overnight, but even though we did dirt riding for 20 years, I do NOT like to camp with engine noises and the dirt in the air the OHV creates! Perhaps El OSO is better? It's a shorter run off AZ Hwy-188.
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Let us know if you have questions getting ready to install! Good upgrade for you! 😂
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Thank you so much @Roger and @rideandfly! I just bought one Amazon used “Like New” for $79! (they have more available at this price.)
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Roger, were you able to confirm this after purchase. The Amazon listing does not state "compressor" anywhere on the page. Thank you, JD
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I meant ATS, not EMS. You wrote "tapping on the transfer relay make the power go on and off." The ATS can short out and fail often! I have replaced these on 2 RVs in the last 6 years. You can open the box and tighten all lugs which may work. Or you can bypass it. Ours burnt out recently. I could have replaced it but i bypassed it connecting only the streetside 30A outlet, since we do not run a generator and never use the front 30A port. I am assuming you have two (2) shore power inlets (side hull just front of the battery bay and up front behind the basket in front of the LP tanks), otherwise you do not have a shore power ATS. Ours looks like this and your hull is of same generation. The ATS has two (2) incoming 10/3 cables and one outgoing connected to the 120VAC power panel. You can bypass the ATS using wire nuts to connect the hot/black, neutral/white and ground/green wires together. If this is not applicable or does not work... Do you have an inverter? Make sure it is powered on and test again. Is the main 30A breaker in the power panel and/or other breakers tripped? I'll stay online for awhile tonight if you need more help. Best wishes, JD
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Boondocking on FR 401, east of AZ-87 (Beeline Hwy Mesa to Payson), with amazing views of the Four Peaks Wilderness due east! It only took me a week to get ‘er dirty after polishing and ceramic coating, serious washboards getting here! Dirt not sticking like before though. Too much an OHV location, but as the sun sets early they’re already gone for the day! Quiet and truly majestic and should be a great night for star-gazing!
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Yes, YES certainly! (Now you'll get at least 3x feedback on this question!) It's the lowest cost addition (~$600 in parts) you can do to create Ah, increase SOC while towing! We boondock often, lots of short stays, and when you're going from dry camp to dry you can always count on gaining considerable power. Our 320W rooftop solar is about breakeven running our fridge on DC (10 Ah on average in the sunny SW). With our Victron Orion XS 50A charger (get this model) we get +40 Ah every hour towing! Here is info on my installation and performance results:
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These are bad numbers, so I would conclude your furnace needs some sort of maintenance. An easy task is to remove the exterior panel and LP vent. Make sure all is clean and there are no flow obstructions. Fire it up for a minute with vent off and see if you can observe the burner in action for a clean blue flame. Check for any documented manufacturer's troubleshooting steps. I say these are bad numbers in comparison to our Atwood furnace. We left camp for a long dinner with friends last night. Since we left our dog in the cabin alone, for safety reasons, I turned off the HWH and furnace and the LP at the tanks. When we returned it was 57F in the cabin (outside was 49F and windy). I turned the thermostat up to 66F and although I did not time it, it seemed like 20 to 30 minutes max and the cabin was up to 65F. I do not have a proper instrument to measure air temp, but I placed a meat thermometer in the main duct. It started at 119F and stepped up to 172F! After I heard the gas shut off, the temp dropped back down at a similar rate. I also have an infrared temp gun which measures surface temps. The inside of the duct measured in the 140s. Our furnace works better than new with ducting changes I've made, and given the numbers, yours seems to be in need service! Hope this helps and please let us know what you find out! JD
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(Post deleted after noticing I was answering an old post.)
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I'm with Bill and Mike on this one (except for the bubble levels thing)! I prefer to have all 3 jack controls in one location and the best possible location for all 3 is up front, right where they're installed! I back into our spot with the LevelMatePRO App ON (hardwired and always powered ON) to get as close to level as possible. We use the Andersen Rapid Jacks on one side when needed and then place the 8" round Andersen Blocks under the rear jacks. Next I'll place some sum of 1" blocks up front to achieve the best height. First I'll get the rear jacks to just touch (often in lieu of wheel chocks when the campsite is mostly level). I don't need to see them, I just listen to the motor, use your ears instead of your eyes! The motor will change pitch, just start to grind, when contact is made (first I turn off our noisy old diesel)! Then lift the front jack to release from the TV hitch, bring up the rears a little more and finish level using the LevelMatePRO App. We like to have the front up 0.5" and level side-to-side. No way you can be this exacting with a bubble level and the LevelMate can be used starting from the driver's seat! Adding the LevelMatePRO will be something you'll never regret! Get the PRO model which can be hardwired, easiest to mount under rear dinette seat (see pic). Add this great accessory, train your ears, and leave the switches alone! 😎
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Alcan spring kit sprung stiffer or is it bad roads?
jd1923 replied to taylor.coyote's topic in Ollie Modifications
Our much older 2500 series truck was borderline in needing the Andersen WDH. I’ve used it since the manual says to do so over 5K trailer weight and it towed much more smoothly! New Alcans, new 5200 lb axles and we had a few items bounce around. Hanging clothes came off the closet rod, a kitchen drawer opened (never before) and stuff in the attic certainly bounced around! Nothing during a second trip and we only have 1000 miles since. This trip, I went without the Andersen WDH. Descending from Prescott at 5400 ft to The Valley, a 4000+ ft descent, more than most of us do day-to-day, our rig drove like a train on rails! I believe the Oliver suspension is now taking care of itself, very lightly affecting the tow vehicle. Secure the items that bounced around and set correct tire pressure! 55 PSI is only correct if you are carrying about 8,000 LBS GTW! We run at 45 PSI.😎 -
We had the KTT mattresses which on our very first trip seemed uncomfortable, too soft and too difficult just to sit up in bed to watch TV. We have Brooklyn Bedding and home and went with two of these" https://rvmattress.com/products/brooklyn-wanderlust-memory-foam/rv-bunk-30x75-12-inch I went with the 12" for its 3 layers of foam and medium firmness. They are very heavy and 12" is really too tall! Added Bonus: at this height our old dog Charley can't jump up on the beds anymore! (He has his own bed.) We opened the stitching on a corner seam and with an insulation knife cut a 14" radius to fit. They have the 30x75" size in several mattress heights. As far as lifting beds. Stop doing that! We use our boondocking port almost every time out. When I'm ready outside, Chris just throws two switches under the bed to refill the FWT from the backup water tank in the bed of our truck! OTT should read the below post for new design ideas, but who cares about what comes in a new Oliver anyway? Not me, now that this has been corrected!
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I upgraded ours to the 2 5/16" ball with new cone earlier this year. After upgrading to Alcan Springs, I do not feel the need for a WDH anymore! It's like since the Oliver suspension is holding its own, not porpoising up and down, we're now towing smoothly without it! Anybody need a full setup like new? Likely there are a few sitting in Oliver garages! Still pretty much necessary for many 1/2-ton trucks.
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Did you coat this yourself or did you have a local dealer service the coating? Looks like it requires special equipment. We just got our Oliver polished and ceramic coated and it looks better than ever up front and all over. However, we off-road with a Lexus GX470. Had it painted a couple years ago and it looks great except the LARGE plastic front bumper has gotten scratched up, paint pealing only on the plastic from off-road use and pressure-washing. A black vortex coating may be the answer! I would remove the bumper to get it sanded and coated properly.
