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The steps on our Oliver have always been loud when being lowered or raised. I have taken some “steps” that have made them quieter. And before you ask, no, I don’t have before and after noise level analytical data. I just know that they are quieter. 1. I draw filed the top and bottom of both slots. This picture after a couple of draw passes with a file shows the roughness left by the machining process. The bright spots are the high spots of the rough surface. I suspect that one side of the slot was smoother than the other due to the direction of rotation of the cutting tool. Picture of the bottom of the right side slot after several passes using a draw file technique. Be sure to keep the swarf cleaned out of the file. There is a light shining on the surface. It is much smoother. I then applied some silicone lubricant to both sides of each slot and allowed it to dry. 2. I next reassembled the steps and placed (6) rubber bushings on the stainless steel rod to dampen the vibrations that the rod made when being drawn through the slot in the aluminum sides. 3. I also replaced the aluminum spacers on each side with polypropylene spacers. 4. I removed the female half of the sex bolts that act as the pivot for the lower step. I used a T50 torx bit but I think it is actually the next size larger. I applied silicone lubricant to the inside of the hole in the step side and to the outside of the binding barrel and allowed it to dry before reassembling. I will probably drill those holes out to receive Oilite bushings this winter but this will suffice for now. Material used. The rubber bushings are actually 1/2” ID x 2” OD x 2” long. The holes aren’t perfectly centered but I didn’t need for them to be. I chose 2” OD so that they would clear other parts of the step assembly. You will have to lubricate the step rod and the hole in the bushings to be able to assemble them. The polypropylene spacers came from McMaster Carr. Be sure to use a dry silicone lubricant instead of grease. The grease will retain grit picked up off the road. Bill

UPDATE: I scheduled time with First Responder Mobile RV Repair -- the owner is Darrel Kehne. He's retired from the Collier County Sheriff's Office and he and his wife have owned various rigs. He trained with the RV school in Texas last summer (his certifications are on his website). He was extremely nice to work with, very efficient with his time and resolved a number of outstanding items for me. He had heard of Oliver, but had not seen one before. I suggested he come to the rally in October. :) I recommend him, for anyone in this area of Southwest Florida. https://www.firstrespondermobilervrepair.com/ (note, there are a few businesses with this name, in other places...)

If you are invested in the Milwaukee ecosystem, pretty handy tool for camping and more! Not as strong or pinpoint as canned air in some cases but handy nonetheless. https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/details/m18-brushless-precision-blower/0887-20

So, I had the one overnight mentioned above, where the Chill Cube made the cabin much colder than the set temp. This was a one-off, not experienced again. I had it on AUTO MODE and AUTO FAN that time. I noticed it switched itself to DRY MODE during the night. We were in the desert valley at 20% RH outside and a very comfortable 40% RH inside. When we got home, I ran the Chill Cube 24x7 for 8 days and nights unplugged, on batteries/inverter only! This time I set to COOL MODE, fan in AUTO MODE. The cabin started at 90F and it was 88F outside. I set temp on the Chill Cube at 76F and the Chill Cube kept the cabin at 76F daily for most of the week, got down to 74 on day 7 and 72 on day 8, as ambient temps got lower. I ended the test after 8 days, since it got cold again up here again (highs low 70s, lows high 40s). We're having a wonderful long spring in the AZ High Country! In the first 24 hour period, we used 60 Ah. This would be -10% SOC only for those of you with 600 Ah. Day two was about the same. Ambient temps lowered a little and on Day 3 we ONLY used net -15 Ah! These numbers include the 320W rooftop solar adding about 12 Ah every sunny hour of the day. The next few days were the same, only using about -2% SOC per day. I believe the Chill Cube will get colder than set temp ONLY when A/C is not really needed, like overnight in the desert where it gets cool outside. Next time when sleeping on a cooler night I should just turn it off. Our lovely spring temps will end soon. I'll run a similar test in 60-90 days when it gets very hot even at high elevation. Last 3 summers, I had the Oliver plugged in with the Dometic P2 set at 80F. It would run nonstop during afternoons with near 100F highs. Without A/C the Oliver could get to over 110F sitting in the sun outdoors, not good. We could hear the LOUD P2 from our deck 100 ft away. Last week while the Chill Cube was running, I thought once Chris had turned it off. I was outside walking around and behind the Oliver and I could not hear the A/C running at all! When I entered the cabin, I could hear the Chill Cube on its very lowest fan setting. In Auto FAN it will run slower than the LOW FAN setting, very low and quiet! 😎

That's the approach I plan to take for Alaska.

Last time I checked, taking the Oliver on the ferry added over $10K. Plus your dogs have to stay inside the trailer and you can't. Other than all that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Always! Are you going to be at the Owner's Rally in October? Thanks. Bill

That's great! I was excited when we finally completed my map. Now, I just want to revisit what we couldn't/didn't have time for . I've logged time in all 50. Not the Oliver in Hawaii or Alaska. When my grandson is old enough for preschool, we will be on the road again. In the meantime, treasured memories, as im sure you have.

Anyone need a set of twin fitted sheets?

We flew to Anchorage and rented a Class C motorhome from Great Alaskan Holidays. The motorhome was in fantastic shape (current model year) and came equipped with everything we needed except food and some odds and ends (hatchet, bear spray, firewood, etc.). We had it for 11 days and saw Seward, Homer, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, and everything in between. Stayed everywhere from commercial campgrounds to a night in a roadside pullout. Lots of wildlife (had a moose in our campsite), incredible scenery (the drive from Anchorage to Seward is stunning). Fantastic trip. If you want to RV Alaska but can't/won't take your Oliver there, I can't recommend Great Alaskan Holidays enough. Best trip we ever took. Great Alaskan Holidays https://share.google/KQoSc0xsFRph2wLCU

Camping (Boondocking) northern Minnesota? Check out Kenny! https://youtube.com/@kennyofalltrades?si=6CfmBy2YHWxDcnbk

Probably the single most useful thing I got, maybe these are already know to the community Antimbee Transparent Heavy Duty Clear Suction Cups https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B67TRPMX Incredibly handy to be able to slap these on any nearby wall. Most you find are heavy duty but the fit with the decor perfectly For example as a towel dry

Good point and fortunately it turns out it’s all 12V except the 24V floor lights. I’m with you, additionally my piano is 12V so I’m on a mission to convert everything to simplify the wiring

I’ll be watching! I’ve got a preliminary route planned out in my head which includes the above in reverse order. It’s going to be another year or two before we can resume our long trips, though. Mike

Excellent, John!! Fall is a perfect time to go, we did that last fall. Take a Picture Rocks Cruise if you get a chance. Camping can be sketchy up that way late in the season as the campgrounds shut down around mid October. Lots to do up that way. Visiting the Sault Ste. Maire lock was fun. Love'ed that trip.

Take the Oliver with you! https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/route.shtml https://www.alaskaferry.com/FerrySchedules/ShippingVehiclesToFromAlaska

If you do a cruise, definitely consider one with a land portion at one end or the other. In 2006, we took Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas from Vancouver, BC. From there we spend the next seven days sailing northward along the coast of Canada and Alaska. We stopped in Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Hoonah, finally to dock in Seward Alaska. I wasn't a fan of this portion, because everywhere we stopped, 2500 people got off the ship to see the same few sites. These days, that would be 5000 or so at each port. From Seward, we flew to Fairbanks, and spent the next six days on railcars heading south to Anchorage, through some of the most beautiful landscape I've ever seen! Each night was spent at a wonderful lodge or mountain hotel. This was my favorite portion of the Cruise/Tour, and the part that I'd like to do again. Finally, from Anchorage, we flew back to Ohio

Watch for our fall trip, Michigan, Michigan UP, Minnesota ( North shore of Lake Superior, and Wisconsin on Lake Superior

I admit I was getting nutty about the ticks, in northern Mississippi I got one on the back of m6 thigh, it was a tiny one about twice the size of a flea. 5he bite spot healed up quickly but they say it can be 30 days before illness symptoms show Alpha Gal disease , Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever With Alpha Gal syndrome your immune system reacts and you develop allergies to red meat no beef, no pork i spoke with a local rancher and there is another tick disease that actually kill cattle

Maybe an Alaskan Cruise😊

Not with the Oliver, maybe a cruise🙃

8/10/14 to 5/15/26. I wish I had kept total mileage. Need to check computer when I get home. Started logging Out/In mileage at some point. I will check.😊

@Tideline77Understand about needing a suit, completely. My Sister in Law was extremely sick a week ago until she was diagnosed & treated for Lyme disease from a tick bite, now she is finally returning home from the hospital. She is a bee keeper. Edit: We were camping when I got Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever from a tick bite, we saw the symptoms and I received early treatment! 🙂

Fumble finger post….. sorry

In the Rolla area We went way out in the woods to visit the pioneer cemetery of my ancestors that settled in Phelps County, Mo and visited the house my Great Great Great Grandfather built in 1832. ( permission from the owner ) their house is supposed to be the oldest registered historic home in the State of Missouri I wore the tyvek suit and muck boots for tick bite prevention as this area is crawling with ticks