jd1923

Derek, looks like you’re going to Make that decision this week. They did 15% last year too for Black Friday. Buy from renewable to save sales tax also.

Ron, I believe it was you who first made me aware of this product. Instead of the safety upper, I bought two scaffolds at this price which are stackable or put them in tandem for a 12’ walkway. This will help with house painting too outside and above stairwells. Got the tool shelf too and 14” outriggers for greater stability. Nice set and with a 10% OFF coupon in my email, everything was under $500 plus tax. If you don’t have one, apply for a Depot card for the same 10%. I have two weeks off now. This will all be delivered for free by end of next week. The following week I will finally wash the Oliver after two roadtrips and then will replace the bathroom exhaust fan and remove the large Winegard Dish bug-catcher up top!

Some of you have the Metaltech scaffolding. If not, now's the time! I'm glad I did not pull the trigger before. Check out the sale at Depot. At this price, I may get two to stack since the 39" extension and other accessories are double this price point! MetalTech Safeclimb 6 ft. Baker Scaffold with Platform and Included Trap Door, 1250 lbs. Load Capacity I-CISCH1 - The Home Depot

When you read the attached post, almost everybody is suggesting the cracks come from wind causing the door to bang, my belief too. Most who have these cracks do not have the friction hinges. Also, the cracks that @Steve-Gwenne, @Mike and Carol and I and several others have are NOT the same that @Galway Girl is showing where the laminate has pulled out of the frame. It appears that @mossemi may also have the more extreme issue but we have not seen a picture. Our cracks are minor, most are straight horizontal lines that look like stress cracks that follow the structure of the surface. Like Mike wrote, we will be living with ours. The cracks in our door have likely been there for years, and after 9 months use of the Lippert product they have not gotten worse. I've had RV doors almost pull my arm out of its shoulder socket, gotten several bruises, heard too many LOUD bangs, not anymore! Yes, it takes a little push, but I do love how the door stays open exactly to the angle I've opened it.

One thing I noted at the Texas Rally is that every hull in our loop had MUCH brighter outside courtesy lights, likely twice as bright. Glad ours are dim in comparison and after 9 years all are still working, hope not to have to replace them. Anybody know the replacement part for the two entrance lights? There is also a pair on the streetside. I would like to install one on the rear, over the window just as the side lights are mounted above the window. I would also like one in front over the doghouse, both on separate switches that I can access from outdoors.

Yeah, I see now that your picture is with the door open screen closed and mine with the screen open with the door. We have the hairline cracks like many, and were present before the friction hinges were added and have not changed. The door on ours is 9 years old now. You can see the cracks behind the screen in my photo. If anything, friction hinges should help the door since it does not fly open and bang the hull in the wind like it used to. I installed ours in February, the day they arrived, a 15-minute install. The pair of friction hinges fill the gaps between the original hinges so that there is a hinge mount every 3-4" down the entire door frame. It adds reinforcement. Best $15 spent on our Oliver! We traveled 7 weeks since then and all the work I did this summer I opened the door and closed the door so many times since. The friction hinges cannot be the issue. The damage on Craig's door shows the laminate pulling out of the frame for likely some other reason.

BTW, love our friction hinges. Travel to Texas and back heavy winds at many locations and the door did not bang once, usually would not move an inch!

See this post (end of page 2) for probable cause -

Maybe you installed the wrong kit for your door or installed it in the wrong orientation. The one extra-large hinge bracket with the two screws sticking more than a 1/4" into the door jamb area is likely the cause of your door failure. Note the Lippert Friction Hinge installed in our Oliver entrance door. The rivets show the original hinges, and the screws are on the friction hinges. Nothing in the door jamb like yours right at the point of door failure.

If you feel 460AH is enough for your camping lifestyle then yes. Glad we have the 600AH for less worry, though we would have been fine with 460 during our recent 3 1/2 week trip to Texas using more LP at times, less battery. When we upgrade our A/C to an efficient system and desire to run more hours A/C on inverter, I may add that good deal Epoch 460AH battery, installed under the pantry to get to 1060AH total!!! (Maybe 2026?)

Wow, the season is just starting! Are you really going to hang there for 2-3 months? (I do understand you are escaping the winter of the great north.) Highs in Prescott will be in the 60s this week, lows close to freezing. Quartzsite forecast is highs in the mid 70s, lows in the mid 40s. It's a bit colder than usual now after being abnormally high many times since summer. Hoping some 80s temps for you soon which should be coming. Best wishes!

Ran across this today. Too bad he did not compare the Epoch Essentails (vs. the high end model with Victron comms) which is more basic like the LiTime battery. He does a good objective comparison:

@Tideline77 btw congrats on your lightly-used 2022. June of 2023, we found a 2016 obviously a bit more used. Of course, you'll need a small Weber or other brand grill. We love our LP fire ring. I never want to start a real fire anymore and you rarely can in the SW. We add a cooking grate on our fire ring to cook bake potatoes or veggies, anything but animal fats. Why not keep yourself warm while cooking! We keep ours in the front generator basket: Heininger Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit 5995 - The Home Depot You must remove the regulators on LP devices to run off the Oliver tanks. I purchased an extra 12' LP line and a Y-connector to attach both grill and fire ring. Strongly suggest these Anderson products. I use two 8" rounds for the rear levelers but use the stackable 1" blocks for the front since to level sometimes I need 3" and sometimes up to 15". And the dual wheel ramps will nicely add 4" to the low side in a minute! Andersen Hitches Trailer Jack Block (3608) with Magnets, Red, 1 per Pack, Plastic - Walmart.com Andersen Hitches Camper Leveler (3604) | up to 30,000 lbs | Red | 1 per Pack - Walmart.com MUST HAVE ITEM! I get level most times without leaving the driver's seat. Chris places the Anderson levelers while I'm backing up, reading heights from the app: Amazon.com: LevelMatePRO LogicBlue Technology - Wireless RV Leveling System, Bluetooth Leveler for Campers, Must-have Accessory for Travel Trailers, Effortless Setup for Phones with App : Automotive There also is a similar product made by Beech Lane of North Carolina, though I prefer the LevelMate App.

Thanks Robert & Ying! I have seen that video before. Like that guy. You can learn a lot about engines and engine care by watching his videos. He is soooo good at tear down which I have done on some old cars, but much more slowly! Yes, we have the 2nd Gen Cummins 5.9, only 165K miles now which is only a baby for the Cummins (especially one that is 24 years old). We have extra available GVWR since ours is a 2WD which weighs less and a long bed which takes more weight. My numbers show a 1/2 ton truck is adequate if careful with your extras. It appears you are well versed in GVWR and trailer capacity. Re the comment above on extra pedestal mount EMS... When you find the previous thread, you'll see I'm against that, yet most Oliver Owners are in favor. The onboard PI EMS is all you need. Ours and the older hulls did not have one, so I installed the OEM model. I put the display in the Oliver trunk where I keep the shore power cord. If present, I can read an error code immediately and disconnect if needed. It will not get damaged but just do its job and send an error code (rare occasion). If you use a redundant EMS, you're just wasting money spent on the internal EMS. It's not just the few pounds of weight for me, it's the hassle of extra electric devices, water filters, antennas, and so much more that others carry. One of the fun parts of campsites (prefer boondocking) is watching all the rigmarole that RV'ers go through in their campsite setup! 🤣

Last summer after our first Oliver camp, when we returned I drove our rig to the Prescott “Solid Waste Division.” No Cat Scales anywhere near our mountain county, 50 miles from any Interstate. I go there often to recycle engine oil and antifreeze. Just told the attendant the same, took a pic of the weight readout each time. Full rig was 13,220 lbs. When we got home, I told Chris, we’ll unload tomorrow. Went back the next day, tow vehicle only. Chris and our dog Charley was not with me next day so adding their approx weight and water used in the Oliver, the TV loaded came to 7,220 lbs. Net weight was only 6,000 lbs for the Oliver, fresh tank full. I was so happy. We’ve added another 400+/- lbs to the Oliver yet still very good on GTWR. Our TV GVWR is 8,800 Lbs which gives us 1,580 available lbs. We’ve added some there too but still have 600 lbs available in the Oliver and 1200 in the TV. We also have 35-gal fresh tank full in the TV! Everything runs nicely, tows up steep mountain roads with OD off smoothly at 55-60 MPH, happy with that. It’s an older diesel. We had a Class-C and we were always fighting the 14,000 GVWR.

Less is more, IMO. Go on a couple short local trips. Make notes of things you wish you had. Things you have you and didn’t use remove when you get home. Bothers me to buy gadgets that don’t get used. Recent trip to Texas, realized we needed a fly-swatter (not necessary in AZ). Stopped by Walmart and spent $1.49 plus tax. All you need to get started are your basic bathroom and kitchen needs. Also with merely a half ton truck and rather small engine, weight really matters, unless you’re not ever traveling in the mountains! 🤣 I would keep your Oliver under 6400 lbs. We do so and we have a 3/4 ton TV. Understand your truck GVWR and stay well under. Again, less is more!

Spent the day in Apache Junction with friends. The friends included the man who hired me at Motorola in 1989! Got back to camp and noticed another Oliver! Spent the evening with Gary (Hull #1200) from Colorado. A great ending of our weekend trip. Back home to Prescott tomorrow. Thinking of a short stop in Scottsdale for pickleball and lunch.

Full Moon over the Supertitions…

Mike, I knew you would recognize the picture without introduction (rustic campsite 131).

Lost Dutchman campground at the Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction AZ, far east Phoenix Valley! https://www.visitphoenix.com/sonoran-desert/parks/superstition-mountains/ https://azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman/

Many of you know this spot! Just down for the weekend!

Battleborn was a leader, prospective customers thinking Made in USA, yet all LiFePO4 cells are made in China. Base your decision on cost and if 200AH is enough save $$$ on a LiTime 230 AH for $480! In your position, I would spend $1300 less 10% off an Epoch 420 and never worry about your SOC! $480 to $1170. Battleborn will catch up on the times. It’s not 2019 anymore. The temp sensor is only required for lead acid. I learned that when configuring our Victron MP2 inverter. Delete it. Battery disconnect, if you desire one for storage purposes, I went without, can be before or after the shunt since it does not draw current. Whatever is mechanically easier in your installation. It’s late tonight and after work today I towed our Oliver from home to Lost Dutchman for the weekend. Heavy Phoenix traffic and a stop at AJ’s for steaks, burgers and dessert, we pulled in after dark. I’m tired so let me know if you want feedback on your drawing. I LOVE an ol’ school schematic. I’ve drawn many too, though tonight did not review yours. Best to you Dave! JD

Not on tow vehicles! Anybody with an F250/350 have this Bosch system? How about a new model Dodge Ram or those here with the GMC Duramax and 10-speed Allison. If any Oliver Owners reply with a Yes, then I will do “a little homework.” I would say, if the Audi Q7 has such ignition system it is NOT a proper tow vehicle. Not one I would use to tow in the mountains where we live! Bad enough a small car turns engine off at a stoplight (green deal cr@p). My truck, and any truck I will own, does not and will not cut fuel and ignition when I’m descending an 8% grade, no way! Smoke, reburn of fuel forced by engine turning in gear downhill, due to no ignition current, wow bad situation. Towing with a car designed for suburban driving! I could tow better with our GX470 but prefer an old-school diesel for power, control and safety! 🤣