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We went to a big box lumber place (Lowe's maybe?) And bought this piece. It is designed to fit on the top of a rolling Husky tool box. It slides over the sink easily. We left ours snug where it goes over the faucet, this keeps it from "drifting" while we travel. It stayed snug when a drawer didn't. We trimmed the length a little, used a hole saw in the drill, and made two cuts. Simple, works well, adds usable counter space, and hides dirty dishes.

On 09-20-2017, 08:14 AM I posted “We put a deposit on a 2018 Sport 16 and will be taking delivery around November 1. After months of research and looking firsthand at many brands including the LGMax, T@B 320's, T@B400, Eggcamper, and the Armadillo, the final decision came down between the Oliver Elite 18.5 and this Airstream Sport 16. More to come later as we actually use it and can add something other than fantasy and hope.” Surprise development!!! In my joy and need for sharing good news with my friend in the neighborhood, I was informed that I would not legally be allowed to park my Sport 16 in the driveway when not traveling. Seems it is a violation of a Melbourne city ordinance. Because of all the Florida native trees we had planted on our property there would be no way around this predicament. That bit of news changed everything so I quickly cancelled my order for the new Sport 16 as I was not ready to make such a drastic life change, if at all possible, that I was not prepared for. Considering we would have to move if we wanted a trailer as much as we thought we did I began to research again the differences between the remaining two trailers on our list. Because I had previously rejected the Sport 16 I decided to go back over the reasons why and all the posts I had read and saved regarding it. The last thing I wanted was to spend my valuable time returning again and again to the dealership to have my Airstream repaired or critical items replaced. The quality control issues became again a major problem for me and the disagreeable price of the Oliver Elite 18.5 became more justified. The fact that I would have to spend a great deal of time boon docking the Ollie appeared to be the better choice due to its more durable construction and ground clearance. Knowing the Ollie was first designed by serious hunters and fishermen desiring a more robust life of sport in Canada and Alaska made me believe again that the Ollie was the one. The fact that we would have to leave our home and basically start over insisted we have a trailer we could live with, and, in. As much as we preferred the comfort and design of the interior of the Airstream Sport 16 we came to believe it was more a cosmetic thing like lipstick, and the AS Sport 16 certainly had to be minimally constructed due to its price being $15,000 less than the Ollie, not to mention it being sold through dealerships who also need to make a profit. It became a scary proposition to own this Airstream and rely on its performance to keep us on the road. I contacted Oliver again and had my quote updated to a 2018 model. My wife and I looked over everything and made the changes we felt were necessary on the Ollie to basically become full-time RV’rs, at least for the time being. We decided we would put our home up for sale this coming January and hope to close on it as near to the delivery date as possible. The Ollie we ordered is supposed to be ready sometime in late February or early March. In the meantime we are pursuing plans to build a climate-controlled storage garage and driveway on one of our vacant lots in Apalachicola. This would provide us a place to store our belongings safely and give us a place to park our rig when we required a needed break from the road or maybe take a trip by air somewhere. Won't need sewer as we are installing a composting toilet in the Oliver. Electric and water hookups for sure. Driveway will be for Ollie and the storage/garage for our personal belongings as well as a den for a work desk, computer, printer, books, and a 42" TV if we need to watch something we believe we are missing. Trying to make life simple enough to make wiser decisions regarding where to eventually live, so no additional setups will be required in other states. We also added a small 1100 sf home on the plat plan for planning and zoning approval just in case. The construction quote has not come in as yet, but we are confident it will all work out. If not, I suppose we would have to temporarily put our stuff in a commercial storage facility until a better plan can be made. Regardless, it looks like we will become the nomads we have always felt we really are. Next summer we plan on traveling with our new Ollie up to our cabin in northern Michigan and finally selling this sacred and beloved sanctuary as the Ollie takes its place as our cabin on wheels. The weather here on the east coast of Florida has become a hindrance. I had no idea my new trees would become such a problem of stewardship. It is disconcerting and defeating to have to keep staking up my babies due to two years of enormous amounts of rain and wildly erratic winds. It was a mistake to have created this latest sanctuary, and again we put too much money and time into it. But that is what we do and it is doubtful we will ever change. The buildings and infrastructure proposed for our lot in Apalachicola will most likely result in the same act of foolishness, but we hate cheap and refuse to partake in it, especially if we know beforehand the truth about the product. The Ollie should give us a reliable home to travel in for what remains of our lives. Adventure awaits, and we shall attempt again to charge the fire.

I believe it was a 1 1/2". I used a small square against the outside wall up against the faucet. I then measured to the refrigerator wall, both to the square and to the faucet. I remember I measured three times and cut once. I got lucky. If I was to do again I might make a cardboard template?

The blind are not secure and you may find one lying on the bed or floor, and it is due to improper installation of the steel brackets. On my trailer, in many cases the bracket did not sit flush and parallel with the others. This is due to the hole in the hard spacer being drilled too small. The hole must be bigger than the screw diameter, so that the screw will pull everything into position. You need to remove all the brackets and open up the spacer holes. Removing the blind frame is simple, grab at the top and bottom and pull hard toward you. When reinstalling, center the frame in the window (left to right), align the bottom brackets with the slot in the plastic, and smack the area at each bracket with your fist. Then do the top side. When the brackets are parallel and aligned, the frame will go on easily and it should stay in place. You can tweek a bracket by bending the two ears, if you find a loose one. Before: After: SAFETY NOTE: when removing a bracket with a power driver, keep your fingers away from the part since it will spin and might slice your fingers! If you want to make your blinds more functional, flip them 180 degrees, so that the dark section is on the bottom. As postioned by the factory: Rotated, now you can tow with the blinds down and the lighter shades will let lots of light into the interior: And you can raise the lower section a few inches for privacy when camping: It's easy to try this configuration and switch back if you don't like it. Now we can talk about the ugly frame color..... John Davies Spokane WA

2015 Oliver Elite II 12 VDC “NEGATIVE” Connection Issue After replacing the battery tray and the stiff wiring going to the batteries in our 2015 Oliver Elite II trailer; I checked out the trailer electrical system. I discover that the trailers on board battery negative was never bonded to the negative coming from the tow vehicle. Because the two negatives were never connected together it created two problems. First the tow vehicle would never charge the trailers on board batteries. Second the trailer brakes negative lead was connected to the trailers on board battery negative buss bar. Second the trailer brakes were obtaining the negative connection only through the trailer ball when connected to the tow vehicle. The tow vehicle’s negative lead was only connected to the exterior lights on the trailer (marker lights, turn signals and back up lights). Up until the past two months our trips have been a max of a day or two travels. During July and August we travel throughout the west, after the first couple of weeks I started logging the start of the days battery voltage and then logging the end of the travel days battery voltage and all of the time it was about ½ a volt lower at the end of the day (we don’t have solar); for all of the other travel trailers we have owned the tow vehicle would keep the trailers on board batteries charged. I have bonded the two negative systems together, which has corrected both issues. I located several pictures of wiring diagrams that Robert Partee – Oliver TT Sales Manager at the time we purchased our trailer gave us. The pictures were so bad you could not read anything. After blowing up the pictures, there was one of the tow vehicle cable and how it routed throughout the trailer and it did not show any connection between the two 12 VDC negative systems. Also it did show that the brakes negative lead was connected to the trailers on board battery negative buss bar; as I described above. I have discussed this issue with Richie Carroll at Oliver Travel Trailers. There is a simple test you can perform to see if your trailers tow vehicle 12 VDC negative lead is connected to the trailers on board battery negative buss. Using a multiple meter at the tongue of your trailer and the cable that connects to your tow vehicle; connect one lead from the multiple meter to a metal point on the trailer and the other multiple meter lead on the ground terminal of the trailer cable. If the two systems are connected together you will read a shorted connection; if not your meter will show an open connection. If you obtain an open connection, I suggest you correct the issue.

Our lives are somewhat parallel. We live in Lakeland & will not be allowed to store our Ollie at home when we get it, which is also February or March of 2018. We've gone back & forth on selling our home & moving north, closer to family & four seasons - and to not have to spend two days of any trip out of the state leaving & coming home - but we both have such deep roots here ... I hope you continue to share how your adventure goes! Chris

Thank you for sharing Sandy's story. You bared a part of your soul to complete strangers & gave us a riveting glimpse into a world very few of us would ever experience. I have so many thoughts and questions that I don't know where to begin; however, for now, in honor of Sandy & in reference to this thread: http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/a-group-of-olivers/ I want to change my vote to a "Band" of Olivers. Chris

My version of Disk Brake Porn Dexter D52 axles Nev-R-Lube bearings 12 inch 4 piston disk brakes

Even though it’s saturday, call Ritchie. His cell number is on his card (931) 306-9232. When we picked up he said to call him anytime. Good luck! -Angela.

We have hull#219, it has continuity at the plug and is charging. You may get a full 14 volts to your trl but not necessarily, it depends on you tow vehicles wiring.

John, It's a very simple test. Unplug from shore power and note the voltage. Back the TV up close to the trailer, but don't connect the hitch. Plug in the umbilical and start the tow vehicle engine. Look at the trailer volt meter and see if it begins to climb. If it is charging you are good to go. If not, find the negative buss under the rear dinette seat and see if it has a white ground wire attached. There should also be a white ground wire going from the buss to the frame grounding lug which is only about 7 inches away and can be a bit hard to locate. If you have no obvious negative wire connected from the buss to the umbilical, see if you can find the end of the umbilical under the front dinette seat and locate the white wire in that cable. That is the one that should go to the negative buss. You can also make a temporary fix by connecting another white wire inside the male plug and routing it to a connection on the frame, maybe a hitch bolt, for instance. Then, if it still doesn't charge, connect a wire from the frame lug to the buss under the rear seat. Mine was easy (#92) as I had access to the umbilical and was able to extend the white ground wire to the bus, but Reed's (#200) was more difficult and we had to make a temporary fix from the plug to the frame. Once connected and charging, the voltage should slowly climb to 14 volts on the meter. Then back on the internal charger while plugged to shore, the voltage should drop to 13.2. Completely disconnected from the TV and shore, the voltage should drop to 12.6 or lower with loads. Let us know what you find.

At the risk of going off the rails here with a story unrelated to Oliver trailers, I will tell you that I met a woman whose father, as a boy, had a coyote. I anxiously asked her to get more information and get back to me about his experiences. After a few weeks, I saw her again and asked her about it. Her disappointing response was that she couldn't get anything from him as he didn't want to talk about it. Why? I asked. What's up? After a bit of probing, the answer became clear. He was in his 90s then and his mind was clear. It had been about 80 years since his experiences with that dog and he remembered it well. The problem was that it was so painful for him that he refused to revisit it. I was silenced and will never forget that response, mainly because I understand it completely and it's the same for me in the intensity. I'll openly talk about it, but for at least two years I could not do so without my voice breaking and having to stop to regain my composure. Even writing this I feel that emotional, physical grip. An unsatisfiable dilemma. The outcome I want, to live, learn and play with her as I would and do with my other dogs, can never be realized. She did no harm, but must be locked away. She is the most interesting and fun dog ever, but can't come home. She could do immeasurable good for her species, but precious few will ever know she lived. And finally, as my years slip by and someday someone asks me about a coyote I used to knew, what will I say that really conveys the story in a way that is worthy of telling? This is where I'm stumped: The combination of an independent and highly intelligent friend from the wild, that completely accepted us as her family, while being playful, inventive and responsive, and while living a very tenuous life, is incredibly powerful. She was and is, all in, full of life, emotional, loyal, fun loving, independent and completely oblivious to the dangers that could cost her her life at any moment. Dangers that domestic dogs don't face. She lives in the moment and yet plays games and has habits that reveal a much deeper understanding than I ever expected. My fear of losing her in a stupid way was a strong driver in my efforts to secure her future and protect her. I, at once, played openly and joyously with her and watched very carefully for ways to help her. All while studying her, learning from her, writing about her and sharing my experiences of living with her. Sharing in a way, hopefully, that would never jeopardized her, but would reveal her goodness and value. We've settled on an difficult compromise. She is safe. She is emotionally and physically cared for. Has medical care when needed. She has been given the opportunity to select a mate and found the perfect one amongst the offerings. She has chances to interact with her keepers and volunteers who are also amazed by her and spend time with her. But she will never run free, singing her song into the night as she prances with her siblings and pals. She will never have pups. She will never live the life of a wild coyote. She is physically perfect, but she is generally understood to be disabled in that she has never demonstrated affective hunting and she is not afraid of people, only cautious with them at first. So therefore, she cannot be released and will live her life in a sanctuary. As an ambassador, she is amazing. The folks that care for her have never seen anything like it. First, she is incredibly healthy because we figured out what she needed for nourishment and supplied it in abundance. Wild rabbit is her favorite. Second, she has never been under stress, so she is mentally stable. Third, she is used to people and after a short standoff, will climb right up into your lap. Imagine being able to sit and pet a coyote, or have one in your lap, or have one challenge you to a game, or walk with you, or come and get you in the morning to begin another fun filled day. While reading the story, listen to the firsthand experiences of some of the caring writers about their love of their dogs. Notice the knee-jerk hate of coyotes that drives some of the posters who are unable to learn from what is right in front of them. And the real experiences that have lead to others hating them for good reason. Understand why Sandy could have been taken at any moment by a bullet or a county official. Sandy's story was never meant to convince the reader that all coyotes are harmless or friendly, but it is intended to show there is a lot more to these dogs than is generally understood. To show the good that is never seen. To reveal some of the intelligence that underlies their famous "trickster" behavior. To report on the development of a tiny pup from a couple of days old and nearly frozen, to a mature dog. She has eyes so powerful that they see intention in those around her because she sees subtlety and studies it. I've been breaking new ground, trying to show how much more there is to these fascinating song dogs than what is commonly perceived. During it all, and over the last 5 1/2 years, she has never been dangerous. A lot of eyes have been opened. Nobody who has ever met her, has forgotten the experience. Here is one of my favorite questions: "what is the difference between a coyote and a domestic dog?"

John Sandy reminds me so much of our white Timber Wolf we had back in the late 80's and early 90's. Her name was Marabou and she was an amazing animal to own. She rarely barked but did she ever love to howl. We would often have a "group" howl. It got to the point that all it took to get her started was to pucker my lips, close my eyes and throw my head back. Seeing Sandy has brought back many fond memories.