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Agreed its the same old chick dressed up in a different skirt, nothing really of substance here that one couldn't implement themselves and many or most of us have already such as the Bulldog shocks, LT off road tires etc. It preposterous they are promoting this as an off grid off road travel trailer yet still using the basic old leaf spring dexter axles rather than an independent suspension. The least they could have done was adopt the Curt independent suspension as so many others have for a better off road experience. Then there is the same old (mostly) bulldog hitch rather than a full articulating hitch. The gravel road they test drove this thing on is joke. This might be off road for back east but it sure isn't out west. And what on earth is the point of going off grid just to set in your camper and run the air conditioner just because you can. People out in this neck of the woods who choose to go off grid and off road are certainly not setting around knitting, watching tv in an air-conditioned camper. What happens when that solar awning jams, or gets off center and will not retract properly. The 48 volt system seems a bit weird too. There are thousands of more ruggedly built campers than this for off road and over landing that do not use a 48 volt system and get by fine with a tried and true 12 volt system. What happens is you have issues with that system in the middle of nowhere? The interior is certainly nice and at least theoretically love the new windows and shades but thats about it. All the black isn't appealing to me, might be to others. Not sure who is in charge of marketing at Oliver but man oh man this is making much ado about nothing. By no stretch of the imagination is this an off grid/off road camper any more than my old 2015 model is with some modifications. They really need to rethink this before releasing it to the public in its current configuration. Not impressed.

That was us. We were heading home to Woolwich, ME from Campobello Island in New Brunswick. Just set up an account so I could reply.

So long as your keys for your manual lock are always in you’re pocket, you’re golden. I never have to carry a key. Even when the lock “failed” it didn’t fail in a catastrophic way. We got the keyless lock as part of the electronics package. Honestly, the lock is the only thing in that package I’d buy again. We never use the backup camera, the cell booster is a joke, and the “auto-vent” isn’t really “auto”. I guess if someone wanted to be truly “manual”, they’d still have a knob on the dash for the choke, you could makes the same argument for that. Automatic chokes would frequently fail open or closed - causing a no start/hard start - or flooding. Maybe even a lever on the steering column for spark advance. (Let’s see how many know that reference!) Like I said - I’d gladly deal with the RVLock failing every six months than to have to put up with windows that can’t be opened - even a crack - when it rains - and leak even when they’re closed. It’s all a matter of scale. I can deal with RVLock via email and they do the right thing. Of the things that vex me about the Oliver - the RVLock barely merits a mention. I only bring it up because we’ve all agreed the windows inhale deeply and with great force, and the Dometic A/C is like putting a class D fluorescent ballast in a library.

Just been daydreaming about the subject and wondering about alternatives. I’m definitely with @jd1923 as far as 7’ v 8’ width. Extra room comes with a price and I don’t want anything wider. I don’t find the 7’ width confining or anything. I’m feeling like the Oliver “bones” is really about all it has going for it. If I were modification happy, I could see myself changing a LOT of things. (Like everything we all ***** about here - and a few more of my own.) I guess when we park in one place for four months this winter (Texas) I’ll see how I feel about reworking some things. Not sure I want to spend the $$$ it will take to remedy the Window and A/C woes - much less rework the heating and hot water systems to make sense.

And you are a forgiving person. For me the first call is pressure, and I certainly wouldn't bother with the second, let alone a 3rd or 4th call! Earlier this year, I purchased a Fairview LP regulator. It failed in two weeks camping. I asked around and found out Fairview is not considered the better make. I could have done a warranty claim for the $50 I spent, but not worth my effort. Why, because I would get the lesser product replaced after all the time and hassle. So I purchased a Marshall Excelsior regulator, spent new money for the more reliable product. Happy I spent $60 on a new manual lock. I could have spent triple for keyless with all the issues cited in this and other threads. I expect the manual door lock to be out-of-sight, out-of-mind, for another 10 years. 😎

Yes, but it’s a no-pressure kind of situation. I already have my “spare” RVLock installed, which I’ll just cycle out when the new one arrives. It’s either that, or toss out an item that still has life to it. Besides, I have so many spare parts I can keep these things going for years! As for our least favorite things - if EVERYTHING went smoothly ALL the time - we’d get bored. If only my leaky windows and LOUD A/C were so easily fixed - and at no cost to me - I’d be a happy camper. Actually, I’ve come to realize that -everything- that you own - car, home, board, trailer - requires maintenance, repairs, cleaning, etc, etc, etc. To avoid all of that - you’d have to live in a cave. (Aw nuts - I have to haul firewood and keep these things sabretooth tigers away?!)

The thing that gets me most is the tires. “Aggressive tread” for sure. Maybe they make sense, but they look like what you’d use if the trailer wheels were actually used to propel the thing. I suppose if you’re braking down a muddy hill they come in handy. Im not one easily impressed by trim and accents. But, seeing all the bright orange and lime green sports cars on the road these days, I guess I’m the old guy who’s behind the times.

Yup, and why on earth did Oliver switch from the MaxxAir fan with cover to that weird brand name fan without a cover? 🤷‍♂️ The issue is that the new fan will close in wet weather, so there’s no vent option while cooking in the rain. The MaxxAir with cover could stay open in wet weather, which would pair perfectly with the new awning windows that also stay open when it rains!

Calls to Customer Service or Tech Support, filing warranty claims, submitting Service Tickets… Are Quite the Opposite from the song line in The Sound of Music, “these are some of my favorite things!” 🤣 So, when the new one fails, are you going to go through this again?

Aside from the 48volt electrical system and a few accessory changes, the main changes seem to be cosmetic - black trim and such.

Well, I appear to have spoken too soon. We’ve had several days of torrential rain and some pretty intense thunderstorms with high winds and flood warnings here in Starbuck, MN. Through the first few deluges it seemed we were all set. Last night - another wave of storms came through and I’m seeing a trickle of water now and then. It’s coming from between the frame of the window and the inner shell of of camper body - so it’s not filling and overflowing the track. It’s leaking out the bottom of the track. Perhaps the repair I did to the window stop screw wasn’t sufficient, or perhaps that screw holding the center muntin in through the bottom of the window frame is the culprit. Either way, I’m getting a little fed up with the lack of care that goes into building at $65,000 (at the time) trailer. It’s making it very difficult to answer the question: “So, how do you like your Oliver?” when people approach us at campgrounds…..

@Martin White I sent you a private message with a few links and I hope that helps. You should see a notification about a 'new private message' near upper right corner (on my computer, that is where my notifications show up).

Well, RVLock sent out the parts of the lock that they thought would fix my problem. (Only partial retraction of the deadbolt when unlocking) They sent out pretty much all of the electronic parts: logic board, keypad, speaker board, as well as a new gasket. I explained that I would think it would be the mechanical parts, but they said that these were the parts that usually go bad, so we’d “try this first”. Im not stranger to home repairs - so I can pretty much dig into anything without too much concern a and I had “teched” this lock once already. Unfortunately, one of the screws that hold the keypad in was fused into the lock body. It snapped off upon trying to remove it. If that wasn’t bad enough, another screw adjacent to the snapped off one had no threads left in the body. One bad screw on the keypad would have been an iffy repair IMHO. Two would be a sure failure quickly - as every time you pressed a button on the lock the keypad would flex and eventually break. I contacted our person at RVLock and told them the above. Without a hesitation, they are sending me out a new lock. No charge. No shipping. Even making sure it has the same key code as our existing lock. So - if the product has issues - but the customer service is stellar - is that better it worse than a product that fails less often - cut getting CS is like pulling teeth?

That's always a fun moment! I haven't seen that one myself, but with a unique plate like "LAND HO," there's a good chance the owner is on the forum. Hopefully they spot your post and say hello. Safe travels!

Update! I contacted Jason Essary per Topgun2's advice and we have a path forward. Oliver will be rewiring our Legacy Elite so that the induction stove top will run through our inverter. I have decided to keep our 2000w inverter as OTT indicates that is part of the build as designed. I was aware that my unit was equipped with this inverter when I made my order. They will also be adding an omni directional antenna which was on my build order but was not put on my unit. It is something that we have often used and prefer that it is installed. Finally, they will fix the lettering on the side of my unit given it is badged as a Legacy Elite II but is actually a Legacy Elite. That is an easy fix. My hat is off to Jason Essary for getting this hammered out so quickly. I called at noon, got his email, sent him an email, and had a resolution by mid afternoon. Great response. Sales will cover the costs of this service. I am now just waiting on a service date and plan to travel to the OTT facility for the service. Thank you to everyone on this forum. Your advice and support has been great! I know I will have more questions in the future and hopefully can pay back by helping others someday as well. Onward to explore this amazing country😊! Lamar

Pete, Ron does great work at Boerne RV! Our go-to shop as well. Mike

To all single axle Ollie owners, have you ever needed to have the black tank dump valve replaced? How much fun was that?! There is virtually NO room underneath to wrangle a wrench into in order to remove the bottom bolt. I’ve owned The Wonder Egg for 18 years now and it seems about every 9 years, the black tank dump valve begins to seep “water”. The first time I took it to my local, reliable, RV repair shop, Boerne RV, the technician stated that job was so difficult he almost quit being an RV tech! Well, here it is, 9 years later and I just had Beorne RV replace that *!%#! Valve again, I told them to feel free to make any modification to the trailer to simplify the process. Here’s the brilliant idea they came up with . . . A sealed, water-tight exterior access panel directly underneath the valve.

I installed the friction hinges a couple of years ago. Liked the operation but uninstalled after watching the door flex more than I was comfortable with.

Not sure how to add a forum signature. Not sure I understand how to use this site for searches either. Oh well. Will keep trying. Thanks again

Glad you’re enjoying your “vintage” Oliver! Over time, you’ll be replacing and upgrading items as they wear out. There are a couple of backflow valves to watch, the one at the back of the trailer and one on the black tank flush line. The sail switch is one thing I’ve never done, our furnace keeps chugging away. The front cover did fall off once creating lots of heat under the bed but nothing coming out of the vents! Keep us posted on your maintenance and upgrades - Mike

A bit of rain last night with a low temp of 51 degrees at Lower Sunshine Reservoir just outside Meteetse, WY.

Many plastics exposed to the sun for long durations will harden, shrink a bit, and then when stressed crack. Could those doors cracking be more sun exposed than others not cracking? ???? GJ

Thank you very much, Martin & Linda! New Oliver and new Forum Members for a month now - Congratulations! 😂 A lot like us 3 years ago. Our 2016 was 7 years old at the time as your 2019 is today. Keep working your required maintenance, fix or mod your top-of-list items and very soon enjoy some travel and good camping! 😎 We keep improving our Oliver way-of-life with several major modifications and all the many little things, while getting away 180 overnights so far! This cosmetic restoration and our new Chill Cube A/C were our last big projects. Please add a simple forum signature when you get a chance. Search here and ask questions re your "heater" (furnace or HWH?). You may be on the right track thinking "sail switch" but of course first make sure you're getting LP and 12VDC. Welcome, thanks again and best wishes, JD

You are 💯correct on the stamping of the hitch sleeve being different on each coupler during BD’s production. This has to be accounted for and calculated when drilling new holes for a proper fit. My buddy who is a machinist measured each of the 1/2” coupler holes individually and then transferred and dialed in those exact measurements onto the new 2 5/16 coupler. He totally nailed and fit was better than factory. An inside pic of how different the couplers actually are. Pic of the bottom of the 2” coupler on the left and the new 2 5/16 coupler on the right. You cannot see the difference in the sleeve fold, but it’s not the same and thus requires exact measurement of each hole prior to drilling for proper precise alignment and fitment on the tongue. My buddies tools of the trade and his knowledge were invaluable today.