Leaderboard

We chose Oliver because of quality of build and solid construction; you won't get that anywhere in the RV industry but, Oliver. Simple. We wanted our RV to last our lifetime and considered it an investment rather than a liability. Liability and a money pit is the norm in the RV industry outside of Howenwald. Oliver is a TRUE 4 season RV. The Oliver is a small family owned business that sticks to old fashioned quality and customer service AND they listen to their customers. Some say the Oliver is over engineered. So. Many great features of the Oliver were ideas stemmed from its customers. The Oliver family is also a camping family...what more can you say?

For those who thought the Gladiator would be the answer to a Ram mid-size truck, I think you miss-understood the Jeep way of thinking, It's a Jeep Wrangler with a box on the back, was never intended to be a pickup as we think of pickups. Owing a 2017 Jeep Wrangler and being on the Wrangler Forum that's the way Jeep owner look at it, for them it's just a way to carry more stuff off-road that they can't get it into a 2/4 door Wrangler. For those who want a Ram mid-size pickup I have read that this is in the development process, will it be called a Dakota or something else, who knows. Since this mid-size trucks are doing well in sales I would think they better get it to the assembly line soon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP0hBE1z97k trainman

Just FYI - with every 10 degrees (F) change in air temperature, you can expect a 1 psi change in tire pressure. Obviously, if the temperatures go up so will the tire pressure and if the temperatures go down a drop in psi can be expected. After allowing for this fluctuating air temperature, any additional increase in air pressure above approximately 10% to 15% probably means that your "cold" starting pressure is too low. On the other hand if a tire doesn't increase PSI within about 15 to 20 minutes of driving by approximately 10% to 12% probably means that your "cold" starting pressure is too high. This is certainly not an exact science and depends on so many variables, but at least it is a place to start without simply totally relying on the seat of ones pants. Bill

Overnighting directly across from:

And that is what makes being an Oliver owner feel special - a cut above. Oliver and its customers understand and value each other - all to rare in our current cultural environment.

I am so glad the owner is doing better and recouping in their Ollie Home. I am also so happy to hear that help was available and many stepped up to give aid. Oliver does indeed go above and beyond for their family. Well done to all those who helped an "Ollie sibling".

We love our new Ollie II. Will make it back to MA tomorrow. We already met new Ollie friends (Kevin and Kathy) at David Crockett State Park.

The 2020 Oliver Travel Trailer Owners’ Rally will be held Thursday, May 14 thru Sunday, May 17, 2020. Once again, the Oliver Travel Trailer Owners’ Rally will be held at Lake Guntersville State Park, located in Guntersville, AL The cost for the 2020 rally will be in two parts: the rally registration costs (mostly rally meals), and the campground registration costs. At this time, we are working to lower the rally registration costs. We will announce the costs after we have adaquate sponsorship. We will be working with Oliver and the vendors to have rally sponsorship to reduce attendee costs. We do, however, know that campground cost is going to be $24.00/night (or $14.00/night for a boon docking spot). Camping Reservations –(256) 571-5455 For the 2020 rally, all the Oliver Travel Trailer Owners will need to call the campground and reserve their campsites for the dates that you want. They will ask for a one-night deposit of $24.00 (or $14.00 for boon docking). When you arrive at the campground for the 2020 rally, you will pay for your remaining nights in the campground. And then in a few weeks, when we finalize the rally costs, we will all need to call the Lodge to make rally reservations and pay for the rally costs. We will give you the exact rally costs as soon as we know. Thanks to everyone that attended the 2019 Rally. A big THANKS to all of the great volunteers. Fun was had by all, we learned much from each other and we are now better campers as a result of our rally. I look forward to seeing you next year. More Information and Registration here: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/events/2020-oliver-owners-rally/

On the way home from the Rally one of our members developed a health problem and is currently in a hospital in Chattanooga, TN. Their camper (Elite II) is located in a store parking lot there but needs to be towed to a nearby campground. Is there anyone in that area that is able to give assistance? Bill

We had the Dometic electric awning our Escape. It can be deployed out to any point and then stopped. The problem we had with ours was it would not tilt in the rain so water would pool in the middle and would sag the fabric. It was suppose to have a dump feature but we never saw it work. There were a few that bent the arms from water weight of pooling water. Escape finally put out a notice to only deploy it 3 feet in the rain because at that point the arms would bow up the middle and allow the water to run off. The wind sensor did work but it had to shake for 6 seconds before it would retract. If it was a quick guest of wind it could be a problem. We probably used it more then we do the manual awning but never left it out unless we were siting under it. I am curios to see how they hold up on the Oliver's. My opinion of the new awning is I would get the electric because it does have the retract feature that the manual does not. The electric also has a LED light strip. The new manual awning is the same as the electric and is self supporting and does not have support arms like our older ones do.

When running one Honda EU2000, we can run everything off it (all at once)...TV, laptop, microwave, everything except the AC. Then, because I don't have an Easystart, I need to crank up the other Honda EU2000, running both in tandem to run the AC. I carry two 2000's because they are light; I can run them out of the back of my truck during bad weather (with my hard bed cover down). I was going to go with the Honda 3000 but they are way too heavy for me and probably wouldn't fit into the bed of my truck with the hard cover down. During hot weather, I can usually run between 9 and 12 hours overnight with both generators running for my AC. When not real hot, but just to keep the humidity down, I can go longer on using both generators.

I'm starting to like these guys -

Fwiw, we just replaced our brakes this spring. 11 seasons, around 100,000 miles. But, ours is an Elite. Sherry

Since April 16, 2018 my wife and I (plus big dog) have slept in our 18.5' Elite 100% of the time except for short plane trips to help family or attend function. There have been a couple hotel visits in nearby Tallahassee for doctors. Other than that, every night in the Ollie either on the road or at base camp in Florida. We like the Florida State Parks and get the geezer discount so we generally pay around $12 per night. On the road we find ACoE parks to be the best suited for our needs (They generally have washers and dryers). Those stays average around $12 per night as well due to the senior lifetime geezer pass I paid $9 for. We are heading west in June for the summer and hope to find several boondocking locations, the occasional full hook-up park, and also use our Harvest Hosts membership for quick overnights.

Roughing it along the Snake River SW of Pullman WA, NW of Lewiston ID, on the east bank of the river. There is a nice 9 spot county campground a little north of here (Wawaiwai County Park -no hookups $15) but the free dispersed pullouts along the highway a mile south of there are the best. This one is at Granite Point, a granite dike in the horizontal basalt beds that are so typical of this region. It can be very windy, especially if the direction funnels it along the canyon. There is a train track nearby, we saw two short slow freights in 18 hours. Highway traffic is local, minimal and non-existent at night. There are a few barges making their way along through the locks, and an occasional fisherman. There is a lot of wood debris, sometimes big logs, in these lakes, which are downstream from Hells Canyon .... a sturdy boat is best, like a Duckworth Jet, or you risk prop damage. Just south of the county park is the rowing center for the Washington State University rowing team. There is a public boat launch there and a viewing area so you can watch the training runs and competitions. Our spot got lots of sun once it got above the surrounding hills. I got to test my new flagpole and spinner wind art. I’ll post a separate thread about that. I love these COE lake spots. John Davies Spokane WA

We are over 40K miles. Brakes worked fine coming home from the rally. I will be taking it in next week for bearing repack and will have the brakes checked and adjusted. Last May I had them checked and adjusted and was told the brakes were fine. Mike

I don’t have many miles on “Mouse” , but have used these Dexter brakes for decades. They don’t usually wear out unless you are really hard on them and don’t use your gearing on descents. What happens is that they get bound up from rust and/ or the seals leak, contaminating the linings. That causes violent locking of the wheel, very distressing. The Nev-R -Adjust system is a joke. The seals are pure Chinese junk. There is not much you can do for contaminated linings, if that happens you need to replace both brake assemblies on that axle and use the high quality Timken seals to reduce the likelihood of a future leak. I already replaced the front set with a manually adjusting pair, which are dirt cheap, due to a failed seal. If the other ones go before I get around to getting discs, I will do the same for that axle. I hate electric trailer drum brakes with a passion. Oliver needs to offer an electric over hydraulic disc brake option. BTW at 24k miles you are way past due for an inspection and bearing repack. John Davies Spokane WA

And just think, not an ounce of liability was incurred. That's what helping family (be it personal or extended) is all about. Never turn your back on a person in need, for it may well be you sometime down some lonely forest road...

Update: Our fellow Forum member has been discharged from the hospital, they have obtained a campsite in Chattanooga and are presently resting in their Ollie. A huge THANKS goes out to Rick & Vickie, KountryKamper, and, Oliver Service Department for all the help in marshalling resources and generating options for this situation. It truly is a great "Oliver Family" we all belong to. Bill

Bill I sent you a PM.

Assistance does not necessarily mean towing. There is a pet involved and they are in a strange (to them) city. So, even a friendly face would be of help at this point. Interestingly, just this year I purchased insurance for exactly this kind of emergency. Actually fairly cheap (through Good Sam Club) and one phone call gets me to people that then take care of anything related to the situation. Bill

Headed to the 2019 Rally with my two favorite camping buddies - Karren and Magnum. Sunset on Lake Seminole, FL. [attachment file=Karren and Magnum.jpg]

I have seen one of these Escapes from the outside and thought that they might be somewhat comparable to an Ollie. One glance at the interior (in the photos provided by the link) ends that thought.

Kayrae51 - Nice tow vehicle, but I just can't thank you enough for bringing back the memories of those Can-Am beasts. Unlimited horse power cars! The ground would shake when they started them up - and that was several hundred yards away! Mark Donahue and that Sunoco Porsche or UOP Shadows - WOW! Bill

We were at Elkhart Lake six years ago. A lovely , idyllic little town. An hour north of Milwaukee, two hours southwest of Door county. Check the Elkhart lake website. There is something going on all summer. And, it's beautiful country. Wisconsin is ripe with beautiful campgrounds, state parks, and lakes, rolling hills, and bluffs. If you have even a little time, get off the interstate, and discover the amazing beauty of Wisconsin. Ok, I am partial. Grew up near the border.disclaimer Sherry

West Texas sunset.