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Hey Gregg, I might have a fix for you! First idea, if you truly have antifreeze ALL the way up to the pump, perhaps all you need to do is crack the cold side valve at the sink faucet allowing air in the line after the pump to escape. This simple fix would be great, but perhaps more priming is required. During April, our son was camping in the Oliver when he ran the fresh water tank down very low, leaving only air in the pump lines. We came out for dinner and I expected I could refill the fresh tank from my 35-gal aux tank on the pickup bed. It would not pump even though our truck was a bit uphill and I had the hose primed to the inlet. First time ever this had occurred. When Chris and I camp, we refill asap after hearing the pump take a little air, that gurgling sound. Both the Winterization and Boondocking valve configurations, pull from the RR water inlet using the water pump to suction. In either configuration the water pump may need to be primed. I brought the trailer home next morning. Good thing he was camped only 12 miles away! Connect a pressurized garden hose to the rear inlet. Turn the hose ON, turn your water pump ON and open the cold valve on the kitchen sink faucet. The air will expel out of the faucet and once you have a steady flow of water the line is bled. Close the faucet valve, remove the hose and replace it with your antifreeze line to continue winterization. Give it a try. This should do it! 😂 I have a simple hand pump that I've used to sanitize the City and Fresh water lines. Going forward we'll travel with this pump as it could be used to prime the water pump when a live garden hose is not available. 😎

In winterization mode... yes I checked and re-checked... the pump operates but does not pull anti-freeze to the kitchen and bathroom sinks. I checked all fittings around the pump to make sure they were tight and antifreeze did make it to the pump... but it seems not beyond. Any ideas? Will cross post to the FB page as well. Thanks, Scotty

@Geronimo John I'm just glad to be of service in some small way. Mossey

Yes, "sane and fit!" For 6 years, we had 13 acres in Loudoun County VA and that was real work. We had a few black angus for land use, a couple of horses, our yellow lab and a barn cat that came with the property. I mowed the pasture twice a year to keep the weeds down and from spring through summer the area around the home had to be mowed every 5 days. Waiting a week, the grass would get too long in the N VA climate! Clearing/repairing the thousands of feet of fence line was never ending. When we put the property on the market, Chris and I did yardwork everyday, all day long. We didn't want a prospective buyer to realize how much work it was. It presented nicely without a blade of grass out of place! We returned to visit friends two years later. The property was in shambles, everything needed mowing and trimming. Some of us are responsible, some even enjoy work and others may not be either. 🤣 Here we're only on 3/4 acres, but with 35 mature pinion pines, scrub oak and local weeds growing rampantly with the late summer monsoons. We're about halfway done with our fall clean-up but we could do a major trimming in the winter. Could you request installation of Alcan Springs? OTT stocks them for the Apex. The more you get included, the less you'll have to do after delivery. Besides 1750# spring failure, the heavier springs greatly improve towing. Russel, we certainly agree on this! Bringing a contractor in the trades on our property is a rare case and when I do, all I do is worry. Bringing one of our vehicles in for service is just as rare. I used to be afraid of carbs and fuel injection but not after working on them. After purchase of our older TV, I wasted $692 on two service visits to get the A/C repaired. Of course it took two visits and you would think afterwards it should be fixed, but not! Each time the A/C cooled for only a couple of months. March 2026 after watching a few YouTube videos, I bought the gauges, a vacuum pump, installed a new compressor, dryer and condenser (all parts for total A/C restoration $478) and now we're COLD! Purchased $156 in tools and $42 in refrigerant. An entire NEW A/C system costs less with my labor than two lame service visits. Wish I had saved that $$$! Then I recharged Chris' Lexus GX470 before the summer. Watched the ChrisFix video again for review and in just an hour using two cans of R134a ($28) the GX now also blows COLD. Tools were paid for, knowledge is now engrained. Next spring we'll get the A/C working on Adam's '97 T100! 😎

Chris: Wow, lots of ideas for better boondocking experiences and "coolness" factor. From my perspective two items I would not want: A. I near zero skill at painting anything. So the black painted front basket, rear bumper and other items for me would become eyesores as they age. B. Also the tires: They are rock chuckers that WILL significantly damage the fiberglass hull. To me their benefit (Good mud traction) is important for many of us, but much less so for a trailer. Look cool, but to me not worth the damage they WILL cause to the hull. On the other hand, there are many items that are standout improvements for serious boondockers. Thanks for taking the time to post about this new model. GJ

From JD's posts and others about this product I have to agree that this appears to be a great option. Worth a look by many owners. However, as I have previously stated, for those with limited headroom for storage of our OE2's, the Chill Cube's extra 5 1/2" height above what most slim line units have can be a deal killing concern. In 2019 I saw an RV try to pass under an old railroad bridge where an asphault overlay had been done, but the posted bridge clearance had not been updated. He cleared off several items on his roof. At the time I thought the driver was an idiot and his mistake was sadly funny. But when I stopped and helped him measure the actual clearance, I became a witness in his insurance report. Not so funny after all. With my tall telestep ladder he "rattle canned" paint sprayed out the wrong height posted. Suspect the RR got the bill for repairs. But he had to suffer for some time without his two AC's, antenna, and exhaust fan. What a PITA for his family. So if increasing the height of anything on your roof, please re-adjust your bridge clearance alert as well. My personal alert is anytime I see a posted clearance of 10 feet 0 inches (or less), I stop and slow walk the passage. So knowing what your trailer's actual clearance minimum is a smart idea! GJ

Yep! GJ

Mike: Many thanks for the above web site info. WOW GJ

How about a 40-gal tank that's only 18" tall? https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=167746&catid=599 This company also makes flat tanks, like the Oliver! They come in so many sizes and custom sizes and hose fitting selections. Plan to the available area in your bed. You could also plan for two smaller tanks in odd spaces that would be hard to store other gear. https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=127750&catid=960

And that is why I have a small farm - manual labor keeps me sane, and fit! I love the beach - but only if it has really good surf, sitting on the beach not for me. Strange, we may be, but if you think about it, we are just guys who don't accept the status quo as we find it. It is weird to me that one doesn't do all their own labor and explore new to you things. I just returned to the forum so - As for the sharp minded John E Davies, I was sad to see he had left the Oliver family. I enjoyed his posts, the sharp "wit" and all his mods - I did a few mods, used a few product's he suggested. We will have a new EII in March, and I do not plan to make any major changes - a few additions - but not to the core unit. I really find the issues with the leaf springs interesting - I'll keep them in mind each time I do my fuel stop inspections - as I always did.

Exactly! I want a camper thats easy to maintain and use, always ready to go. My wife wants safety (I mentioned that the stock Oliver springs have been known to break and she’s like “GET THE ALCAN!” 😅) Anyhow on the tank, dang it, specs say it’s 23’ tall (total including top cap?) but I have a hard tonneau which is 21” realistically … I really like this solution but its just a tad too tall.

For those smart enough not to have Facebook, this is what I just posted in the Oliver Trailer Owners Group. This is primarily for Alabama and Georgia, for now, but if you wish to fill out the form and you're from another state, feel free. At last week's Oliver rally, there was a surprise micro rally planning session and folks chosen to help lead discussions. I represent AL & GA, and there were no folks in the Lodge from these states at the time of the meeting. I've put together a form to help collect ideas and to see who may want to host or co-host a MICRO rally for Olivers. These questions are from Aaron's leader form. Once collected, the information will go straight to Aaron at Oliver Travel Trailers to give him an idea of the level of participation, as well as myself and other regional/state micro rally leaders. Other states were somewhat covered, but there was limited face-to-face participation due to short notice. Thanks to everyone for the ideas and participation in advance. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUJkiNwegGFxkH6nfIF-tvy5a5fDq5koYCRWMXSwhZvezmdg/viewform

Indeed - Nancy got her reward! It should be noted that Aaron, Jason, and even Scott Oliver thought that Nancy's art was wonderful. Laughs all around. Bill

@Geronimo John Check out https://www.mouser.com/en/c/?q=Round rocker switches. Be sure to pull your old switch and compare the measurements with the website information. Mossey This is an example of their data sheets.

GJ vs AI, decisions, decisions!

Tried resetting the CP several times with power down between tries and the A/C is still not showing on the CP. Next step is to check the wiring. 😬

I'm beginning to look more seriously at what my next set of OE2 tires should be. Spent lots of time on the "Tire Finder" and Road and Track only to be disappointed. Their trailer tire selection info was pretty limited. Got to thinking further and recalled that a long time ago, a member indicated that he was using ribbed tires on his Oliver Trailer. So to the AI rabbit hole I went. I stated that I wanted a tire like my 2019 OTT OEM Michelin Defenders. They have lasted 9 seasons and at 50,000 miles are in great shape with zero problems. I added that it is important to me that they not toss rocks. The results are outlined in the attachment under "Option One". The more I thought about it, I decided to load up AI with my full wish list of attributes and fired it off for it to chew further. The AI response to this list provided in the attachment under "Option 2". The attachment is provided for your reading enjoyment and comment. What do you think about using ribbed tires on our OE2's? But more importantly to plant the seed for interested owner's to modify the list with YOUR style of use and requirements. Then to share them for us all to consider further. GJ OE2 TIRES RIBBED or LT.docx

Here is a good E-rated one that I am considering for my TV next year or so:

Yeah but, I believe this related thread has shown a plugged screen can lead to a worse outcome. Not yet proven until @Rivernerd investigates further but the only way I see the fresh water tank can be pressurized is if the overflow is somehow plugged!

Very happy with the chill cube. Here is my post on Johns thread for the Furrion: Heat Pump update At the Oliver Rally in Lake Guntersville we had great weather. Daytime in the mid 70's so no opportunity to test the a/c. But at night the temps went down to mid / high 40's. Ran the heat pump every night set at 68 degrees. It would cycle on and off through the night... When it first started it was louder (about 47db) then it settled down to a very quiet purr (about 38db). I ran it up to 73-74 and it came on strong and warm still about 47db. Easy to live with. Can carry on a conversation even at its loudest. Very happy with the unit. My wife, Donna, is very sensitive to propane smell and reported a slight headache when we woke after using the propane heat. During the rally, she said there was no headache at all and she loves the heat pump. I am certain that after the 900ah upgrade we will be using the chill cube pretty exclusively for heat and a/c. It does remain to be seen how the condensate issue does in the East during a hot summer. You'll have to wait on that report. Scotty

Heat Pump update At the Oliver Rally in Lake Guntersville we had great weather. Daytime in the mid 70's so no opportunity to test the a/c. But at night the temps went down to mid / high 40's. Ran the heat pump every night set at 68 degrees. It would cycle on and off through the night... When it first started it was louder (about 47db) then it settled down to a very quiet purr (about 38db). I ran it up to 73-74 and it came on strong and warm still about 47db. Easy to live with. Can carry on a conversation even at its loudest. Very happy with the unit. My wife, Donna, is very sensitive to propane smell and reported a slight headache when we woke after using the propane heat. During the rally, she said there was no headache at all and she loves the heat pump. I am certain that after the 900ah upgrade we will be using the chill cube pretty exclusively for heat and a/c. It does remain to be seen how the condensate issue does in the East during a hot summer. You'll have to wait on that report. Scotty

For those who could not make it to the rally. Here are some Apex shots up close. I had very little time to slow down at the rally and dig in deep into the Apex, but here are some very quick shots under the dinette and driver's side bunk, dust and all. Also attaching some exterior pics, including the single 48v Ecoflow battery. Sorry I don't have better info. EchoFlow 48v Battery https://us.ecoflow.com/products/lfp-battery-for-48v-system?variant=40520684765257

🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣! This depends on you! But given you have a thread titled "Dan's Mods" means it's in your nature (as an engineer), like mine, respect. But truly half of Oliver owners have not modified or upgraded anything, and that’s OK too, some on this forum and many not. Some still hanging onto AGM lead acid batteries and that awful TV, their ducts half blowing air, manual water valves under beds, the basic RV microwave, 1750 LB springs with a known high failure rate and that freight-train Dometic A/C. You can decide to live with it all, or not. "a Gold mine" thank you, I like that! I learn by doing and I've worked my entire life. I'm here to learn first and then help where I can. Just 3 1/2 years ago I had no idea, "What's an Oliver?" I now know it well, learned by tearing down, rebuilding every onboard system. But seriously, I want, we need a fully capable camper. It's unsafe to have an unreliable camper when 100+ miles away from services off-grid. In our 198 Oliver overnights, not one repair was made while traveling (presently knocking on my forehead and other hardwoods within reach). We did have a bathroom water pump switch issue last outing, but since it happened on our last night out, I decided to fix it the next week at home. I could have, should have secured this wiring when I was in the vanity for other maintenance. Every other week someone on this forum has an issue while traveling; no hot water, no heat, no 12VDC, fridge not cooling... There's about a dozen of us here who provide help to other members and we're happy to do so. Three years ago, I was asking for Oliver advice. I spent a full 2 years in upgrade work. At first, I had no idea where to start except the lame TV was a glaring need. Got most of my ideas here on the Forum, reading about other inverter or A/C upgrades. In 2023, I started by reading everything the great John E. Davies posted. He was still on our Forum for about 6 months after I joined so there was some time for discussion. Three years later, I've done many more upgrades than he, for sure and I'm about done! We have the electrical, mechanical, HVAC and plumbing systems we need, a newly replaced 10K suspension system and a full exterior restoration. Our TV is also restored and in good maintenance. I travel in our Oliver to get away and in doing so, I force myself to take some time off. If I'm home, I'm working. My Oliver to-do list is down to scratch, so I'm back to working on our house and property (new kitchen sink soon, a stone masonry repair, new 14-step deck staircase with hand-cut stringers, and yardwork). The real list never ends. Call me strange, but I enjoy yardwork and repair work. I'd go crazy laying at the beach (Chris too) or sitting in a lawn chair reading a novel. Only manual labor allows my mind to rest (or dumb TV shows)! 😎 "When will it end?" Given you started with a well-optioned 2026 and you've already coated the exterior and worked some upgrades, your path should be much shorter than mine. Some guys always have "the long list" but it doesn't have to be! I read re your music, your desire for better lighting and drinking water, and my guess is there's much more to come as you turn your imagination to reality. You're now the one giving the rest of us good ideas. Please keep doing it. Give it a year or two with more of your hard work! 😂

I wonder if this is what happened in @Rivernerd's case, where the fresh tank pressurized? Same with our 2022.

Posted an error on original posting. You can start reserving sites NOVEMBER 5.