TimD

I will get to that next time we have the rack on the trailer. Might be a while. Thanks Tim

As mounted the rear compartment / bumper clears the back of the receiver by about 1". 😀 The receiver has a raised surround about 3/16" high, so I positioned the receiver far enough aft so that the raised portion is not atop the beam. It would be possible to move the receiver forward, but not by much, in which case it might or might not interfere with the rear compartment / bumper swing. Thanks! Tim

Our 2021 OEII came with a 2" hitch mount rack receiver but the installation was (in my view and with respect to a lot of other good work done by the prior owner of our trailer) not quite up to 'factory standard'. In fact the U-bolt-based attachment method distorted the receiver shape just enough to make installation, and especially removal, of our 1Up hitch rack next to impossible. So I sought to improve upon it. After some research I settled on a receiver ostensibly designed for use on certain Lexus GX460 models: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRKR1Q4X Drilling and attachment was straightforward given a drill press, a decent 1/2" bit, appropriate measuring tools, and a center punch. The aluminum is relatively soft and drilling oil was not used. I have not been able to get all the chips out of the interior, but did not try too hard to remove an end cap and access the box section beam interior that way. The hardware is 3 1/2" x 1/2" stainless with stainless and yellow zinc washers. We have not tested the setup on the road yet, but static fitment went fine. The receiver and backing plate are fairly heavy; according to the retailer, about 10 pounds. This item is designed for towing, when attached to a GX460; it is likely overkill for this application, but that's OK by me. A side benefit is the receiver has safety chain mounts through which a cable lock could be passed. I discussed this with Jason and he indicated the factory were considering offering a 2" receiver option moving forward. Our bike rack is 2", our cars and TV have 2" receivers, and use of an adapter was not appealing to me. In hindsight I might have painted it white, or silver 😀 Enjoy! Tim

Will do, thank you. Tim

Prior to setting out on our first trip (OE2 #701) I read up on the Andersen WD / AS hitch and the stability control in our 2019 F-150. As is here, there is a broad range of opinion out there in cyberspace on whether TV sway control should be enabled or disabled when towing with the Andersen WD/AS hitch (or any anti-sway hitch, for that matter). Driving north on the southern end of the Garden State Parkway this week, though open marshlands and with west winds gusting to 35 MPH, we experimented with turning the F-150 stability control off and on. My wife and I both felt the rig was noticeably, but not much, more stable and easier to drive with the truck's stability control system switched off. Apart from the wind, weather conditions were sunny and dry; had the road been wet we probably would have left the system on. It would be interesting to grease the AS cone and eliminate or reduce the AS function of the Andersen hitch. Via height measurements we have confirmed the WD function transfers weight to the front axle and would want to retain that function. YMMV. Best Tim

I should add that I'm not on Facebook. Thanks!

Hi, new folks, hull 701, just back from our first trip, Eastern MA to central Florida and back, 3 weeks. Enjoyable. We have a couple of Oliver-branded items we are unlikely to use and would like to give away (FTAGH). Given the Classifieds are closed, is there a permissible way to do this? Thank you, best Tim