Leaderboard

We like to keep our bathroom window open as much as possible for ventilation. I did two things to reduce the likelihood of rain getting in and let us have ventilation even when it is raining. They have worked out pretty well. The first was to mount a "port visor" over the bathroom window. These are made for boats to go over portholes and keep rainwater from running off the deck and into portholes on the cabin sides. This resulted in a substantial improvement, mostly in keeping rainwater coming off the roof from streaming in. But I still wanted more rain protection. So I trimmed an old automobile side window rain deflector to the width of the window and mounted it with two-sided tape onto the bottom of the upper fixed window. Now, unless it is blowing a whole gale we can leave the bathroom window open without having to worry about rain. Each piece has stayed on with no trouble over the last two years of travel. Pictures attached below. Port visors are available at "SeaworthyGoods.com", and side window deflectors from Weathertech or your local auto parts store. Just make sure you get a piece that has enough "straight" for the width of the bathroom window. Best regards to all. John Shkor, SailorsAshore

Don, have you been to Big Bend before? We were just there this past November and camped at the Chisos Basin Campground. We were towing with a Tundra 5.7. I don’t know how heavy your camper is but, it is a tough pull up there with a couple of tight turns that require you to go almost dead slow around. There are a couple signs and a warning on the map that say you shouldn’t take a camper longer than 20ft and 24ft for an RV (I think those are the dimensions). We made it but it is tight. The road is closed and a police escort is used to get the campground hosts’ campers up there. As a suggestion, drop your camper off at the bottom and drive up just to see and check the campground for open sites. I think there are a limited number of sites suitable for the LEII. Most sites are for tents. We were lucky and got the last camper suitable site across from the dump station. Although we did not stay there, we thought that the Cottonwood Campground area was very quaint. Next time we go we’ll stay here. Have fun it’s absolutely gorgeous everywhere there! We were thinking of going to the Big Bend state park on our way home from Quartzsite. Don’t know what our timing will be but may bump into you.

You definitely do not need a gun at Big Bend. That's silly. The hairpin going into Chisos is tight, but doable. The hiking there is the best, but the camping is better out in the park. If you're at all adventurous with your trailer, there are plenty of backcountry sites that you can get to with a 2WD and your Oliver. You might check with the backcountry office when you arrive to see what's available and if you want, scout them out with just your truck before committing. We usually go right after Christmas, when there are people camped outside the office to get spots, but when you're there you should have a good choice. Generally the roads are bumpy but if you stay off the designated 4x4 trails, then no problem - just some long drives to get to some of them. Last time there, we camped at the gravel pit - not great scenery, but you're right on the Rio Grande. Our favorite spots are along Pine Canyon and Glen Springs road. A handful of spots there are far enough in to feel secluded yet don't take half an hour plus to get back to the main road. Pay attention to your gas while you drive around. It's a big park so don't let yourself get too low. There's a good roadside BBQ spot in Terlingua if you get tired of camp food. Boquillas entry is open again, if you want to take your passport. There's really not much to do there but eat some average TexMex, but it's a poor town and they appreciate the patronage. If you've got a telescope, it's worth packing it - the night sky is pitch black in the backcountry.

We use standard twin sheets. The bottom fitted sheet is a little too big and we use those elastic straps that connect to the sheets under the mattress which provides a nice tight fit. For the top sheet, it's no big deal - just a little more to tuck in. We have standard twin blankets that also tuck in nicely. For the top quilt, Carol did cut off some material and hemmed the edge. We also have a queen bed at home and find the narrow twin beds fine while on the road and camping. We got the 6" optional mattress and have a 2" foam topper on that. We've had some of our best sleep on our Oliver twins. Mike

Any Oliver owners traveling to Big Bend National Park? I'll be at the Chisos Basin Campground in late-February/early-March. I plan to move on to Big Bend Ranch State Park and points west after that. Hiking and mountain biking. Would love to say hello if you plan to be there.

hello john from Michigan. I picked up my Oliver Legacy II in December and enjoying my Oliver in Florida RV camp site for the next three months. I've had a couple of minor problems but the forum has help me solve the problems. thanks

The OTT Sales, Delivery Team and Service staff are all very helpful, and I give them high marks. However, I suspect that most prospective OTT Owners spent far more time here on this Forum getting the info they need and want. I know this to be the case for me last winter and spring. This forum and the "Oliver University" (Located under the Travel Trailers tab), provided answers to my questions that can't possibly be covered in a brochure or sales web site. The OTT forum is graced to have eight designated "Moderators", and several hundred owners that give their time to share experiences and knowledge from an owner's perspective. None of us get paid to do so, it is simply the nature of our owners to willingly want to help out new and future owners. In one respect, I think that the owners take as much pride in our trailers as does the OTT team does in making them. To this owner, one of the aspects of the OTT Forum that is most valuable is the depth of experience that our fellow owners have. We may not all agree on everything, but odds are the person asking the question, and many of us newer owners as well, will get several wise and usable responses to a question. In reality, to just about any question imaginable. I know that this has been my experience and hope that it is yours as well. So, welcome to our forum and ask away. I think you will be amazed!

Is this for security? I guess the easiest place would be at the DC bus bar. Looking at your other post, you could do some 30A DC breakers there and accomplish both things at once. If you wanted something easy to get to, but still hard to find, you could drill through the inner hull there and mount the breakers under the lip for the bed. Then you could just reach under and flip them, yet they'd be out of sight.

Wish I were there....it is miserably cold and wet here. If you use the GAIA nav app, they just added the National Geographic Trails maps for BB. It is available for Premium members. These maps are most excellent, I use them whenever they are available for my location. The app is stellar also, the best out there for back country where there is no cellular. As an aside they also added an excellent USFS Roads and Trails overlay, which shows all the large and small tracks in the National Forests. Click the trail and a popup tells you its status, conditions, material (gravel or “natural”) and width. Very cool, much better than the USFS MVUMs, and updated every three months. This summer they are also going to release an update that will allow you to overlay wierd user downloaded pdf maps, which is the only drawback to the current program. Have fun down there, carry a satellite communicator, carry a gun (snakes and two legged varmints), and watch yer back, https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-border-patrol-big-bend-2017-story.html John Davies Spokane Wa

Unfortunately my Roadtrek is a 2x4. Long story, but let's say I was in a market for a 4x4 and this one was offered to me at a price I could not resist. I was going to tow a 4x4 with gear but surprise - the extended chassis can only tow 5K and my Silverado tips the scales at 5200#. (The standard chassis can tow 7,000#). And the small 4x4s that used to be all over the place have all but disappeared. Yes, we boondock a lot. It's not unusual for us to spend a week out in the woods. I looked at a small Class A with a toad; just doesn't do it for me in terms of logistics, cost, maintenance, etc. We managed to minimize a lot of our stuff to fit all the gear. Plus we've been towing an Airstream Basecamp behind the Silverado when we don't use the Roadtrek, and except for the cramped space (try fitting 200# of dogs into the floor space of a Basecamp!!!) and lack of true 4 season capability that seems to be working for us. And I figure if we can stuff most of our gear into a Basecamp and the bed of the Silverado the Oliver will be vast. :) The Silverado has been about as much 4x4 as we've ever needed. We're not too radical but sometimes we drive a ways into places where an RV would just rack or shake itself into pieces.

Cptdondo, do you regularly boondock? If not a medium sized pusher diesel motorhome with a good offroad toad like a Wrangler Unlimited with roof rack checks most of your buttons. Being able to drive to trailheads really complicates your decision, since even a shortbed HD truck with no camper is a real PITA on those vertical ledgey secondary forest roads and high passes.... every reply you make adds more info that makes things harder. Can you post pics or a link to your custom Roadtrek? I’m assuming you already have the lifted 4wd chassis, is the rig just too low and vulnerable for uneven roads? Do you already have bigger tires and skidplates? Have you considered posting your questons over at Expedition Portal? That sounds like an appropriate forum for your lifestyle. You could go bigger than a dinky 1 ton pickup..... Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

I agree with everything everyone said about the 3/4 ton diesels. We’ve gone through several different tow vehicles and our Silverado 2500HD outperforms them all. You don’t need the one ton truck. The engine, drivetrain, suspension and frame are exactly alike on both the 3/4 ton and the 1 ton trucks. The only difference is an extra rear floating spring leaf to increase your bed capacity for 5th wheel or gooseneck towing. Otherwise the weight ratings are the same for both trucks until you add the dual rear tires. Diesel fuel costs more than gasoline but we’re somewhat making up for it in increased mileage. Get the 3/4 ton diesel and fergetaboutit.

Diesel is basically a 9K-10K investment. That said I felt it was worth it. Our truck is effortless pulling the trailer with 445 HP and 901 ft lbs of torque. 100,000 mile warranty on the drive train of the diesel model. We get better gas milage then the gas model and can go over 500 miles on a tank of fuel while towing, 600 when not towing. The engine exhaust brake makes downhills a breeze and I don't even touch the brakes coming down most mountions. I can pull up a mountain and it barely knows the trailer is there. I have drove pickups for 30 years and this is probably the last one I will buy so I went all the way with it. Plus it's just a really cool truck. ?

Kudo's to you for doing the real math and understanding what they say, not what you want to hear from them. Can you use a 1/2 ton with the right set up i would say yes, but question is what is your traveling style going to be.Here's just a few more things to ponder as you may. My wife and I will go for 2 to 3 months or more and when your going to Alaska it is great to have a large gas tank vs a 24 gallon tank because you sure do not have to stop every 2 or so hours. Traveling across New Foundland is also nice to go for 3 or more hours as well not quite as populated just a thought on what you might want in your truck. Also Truck bed size i would say 6 1/2 foot bed is the right size to think about, if you carry a claim or a quick set up canopy you might need or want that. Sorry and one more thing I would think about is engine braking or Jake brakes sure saves on the transmission and brakes when traveling in the higher mountains, sometimes we have gone down 7 % grades for 8 to 12 miles. On the engine size I would never try anything under a 5.7 unless you never leave Florida or always do short trips. I first pulled with a Ford 5.0 and my buddy a Tundra 5.7 and I was Fred Flinstone when it came to climbing the Mountain passes. You are on the right path and better to think before you make any decisions and you can always go with what got you here first and then decide. Safe travels Thanks Gary

If your cargo weights are a concern which they should be and many overlook. Once you have your rig setup with what you want to carry there are many independent rv people that do rv weighing. They come to you and well worth it all corner are weighed tow vehicle, trailer and both together. Then you'll recieve a welth of info. On your weight limits. I had it done was very impressed. Rv Weighing. Com I would shy away from going to the truck stops and using the weigh scales.

I did this and posted a bunch of pictures at this link: http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/door-window-shutter/page/2/ We’ve been happy with the results. Mike

I don't usually quote myself but with the twin mattress pad, sheets and blanket plus a comforter there are no raised edges, bulges or anything that is not normal looking. It works fine and looks fine. Mike

Why not just buy "non fitted" twin sheet sets?

I found high-quality sheets and mattress pad on Amazon that are for designated as Cot mattresses size (30" x 75") same as Ollie "Twin" beds less the radius angles on the corners. We'll see how they work out. Much cheaper than custom Sheets and Mattress Pad. Mattress Pad $33 each: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JK0YEDU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Sheets 600 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton $57 each: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072L4N5Y7/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 We'll see how they work out. Nice little tip to look for Bedding for Cot Mattress dimensions and more accurate than RV Bunk bed dimensions (who knew)!!!