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Regarding your comment on chocks... “There are those that have and those that will”. Ways to keep from being one of those is. 1.) The CHOCKS sign is good. 2.) I flew for years using checklist. There is a good reason too; regardless of how many times you've done something, one day you’ll likely forget a critcal step. 3.) Take your time and pause between steps and think about what you are about to do. The times I’ve run in to trouble I was rushing. Usually due to setting up or hooking up in nasty weather. When the trailer is sloped downhill from the TV, keep the safety cables and emergency brake cable attached as you are raising the tongue off the ball. Once you know the chocks are holding you can remove the cables. Just remember to remove the cables before you move the TV. Suggest you do it as soon as you know the trailer is stable and before you leave the area of the tongue. - Randy

If I am interrupted by someone while connecting or disconnecting I ask them to wait. Unless of course the person interrupting is Donna........ then I write myself a note as to where I was. ;-) Checklists are good too. I usually will run through them at the end to make sure I have not forgotten anything. One habit I got into early was to do a walk around when I was done. If getting ready to leave I would include the TV too. I start at the driver front tire and walk toward the trailer. I check everything on the walk around, all the safety pins, the latches, levelers, hose connections, tires etc. I figure it’s a good habit to get into and I usually find something not to my liking. The little stoppers for the hose connections are a favorite to forget. You wrap up the hose and then forget to go back for the stopper. Happy Holidays All Safe travels Scotty

Randy - A big YES to all of those but especially number three. It seems that when I'm breaking camp someone interrupts me (usually wanting to know something about the Oliver) and then I'm in a hurry to get out of Dodge. I have to remind myself to slow down, relax, and get back to business - the potential "costs" of not doing that are simply too large. Bill

Mike, I don’t even want to hear it! Ha,ha! We’ve got about 8 inches with at least 4-6 more to come here in central VA. We should have gone to south central Texas! I understand that it’s always nice and warm there.

When I got my first boat trailer (about age 15) I made the same mistake of not chocking the trailer wheels before unhitching. Nice hole in that garage door that my Dad sure wasn't happy about and I got to fix. Since then I've always placed a sign on the tongue that says "CHOCKS". Bill

Your camping location is very close to Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. A friend of ours is on a 3 month camp/work assignment there. Enjoy your Oliver.

Regarding scratching legs, does your hypervent stick up above the lip of fiberglass that holds the mattress in? Mine is only an inch or so thick and does not stick up/out to where scratching legs would be a problem. But yes the cut edges of a DIY job are sharp. I first used duct tape to enclose the cut edge, and then later when I had time, melted them slightly with a heat gun. That dulled the sharpness. I did not have any issues with scracthing occupants, but my bedding did catch on the sharp edges at first. If I hadn't done the duct tape immediately I'm sure I would have torn a sheet at some point. I think you're right about needing to keep the loop material exposed so air can circulate. That's what we do and we have had no problem with condensation, even with three people and two dogs inside with the outside temp in the 20s.

Re: chocking wheels. You learned your lesson, you must always ALWAYS firmly chock both sides of the axle whenever disconnecting the hitch, regardless of how level the ground looks. Kick the chocks in tight with your foot. Especially with a single axle trailer, there is nothing to stop the trailer from pivoting around except a little friction between the front jack and whatever surface it is resting on... With a tandem that is less likely. But the same rule applies. Once the rear stabilizers are down it should not move. Maybe. I suggest that you check the three bolts holding the front jack to the a-frame. A big jolt like that can loosen stuff and also damage the gearing inside. Any unusual noises when you operate it? Nice pics. I am waiting for the snow pictures.... where was your campsite? Pretty setting. John Davies Spokane WA

Donna and I are on our maiden voyage camping weekend. Our intention is learning how to operate everything on our Ollie. Lesson 1 - chock trailer wheels after leveling before unhitching from car. The darn thing rolls and causes front jack to fall off support and drop to ground. Thankfully no harm done. Lesson 2 - make sure propane valve is completely open. Even though furnace and stove burners worked, we couldn’t get our Truma water heater to come on. When we figured out what the error codes meant, I discovered it was a lack of gas pressure. It took 25 gallons of grey water trying though. Lesson 3 - switches for side levelers are outside in the front. Silly me?.

Cedarforks - This past May most of the attendees were located at sites nearer the lake, but, those seeking shade were more towards the top of the hill - closer to the registration building. A bicycle is helpful but not necessary since for even those camped all the way to the right (as you look at the lake) it is just a few hundred yards to get to the pavilion where breakfast is served, the vendors are located, and most of the presentations are held. In addition, there is plenty of parking at all sites where events are being held. Bill