Leaderboard

Hey Everybody It was me who developed the health situation-driving home from the rally, I developed a lesion in my stomach and experienced a significant bleed. Apparently a developmental issue-it came out of the blue. I was able to get help, and am now home recovering. It was close. But the real story starts at the rally. The night before we were getting ready to head home, I noticed that my Dexter had 'flipped'. Lee very kindly came over the next morning and fixed the Dexter so we could be on our way. Then, driving home, the medical emergency happened, and I was wisked off to the hospital. This happened right in front of REI in Chattanooga. REI staff rushed out and administered first aid, called EMS, took our cat into their staff break room (where she stayed for several days) and let Kim park our Ollie in their staff lot. I was out of the loop so Kim put a few calls in and the Oliver flood gates opened! We had numerous Ollie people that were arranging services, calling, emailing and even offering to drive for several hours to actually drive our Oliver somewhere. Rick and Vickie Lepore, Topgun2, Tom Polite and many others, including the Oliver Service Department coordinated a 'rescue'. I was patched up at the hospital, released after a few days and we were able to slowly make our way home. I really can't express how much everyone's help and support meant. Please everyone, accept my deep gratitude for helping us. Having an Oliver is certainly special, not in owning an RV, but in being part of a group of people that are so kind. Let me know if there is ever anything that I can do to return the kindness! David

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

With the Rally behind us (what a great time and so nice to see some many of you again and make new friends)I am going into production for cutting boards this weekend. If you been wanting one, I would be happy to add you to this production run. My cutting boards are made from mahogany & maple and are design to stay in place while your trailer is moving. They provide extra counter space, and be used on both side and double as a serving board. I charge $89 plus 2- 3 day USPS shipping to your address or to Oliver for your pick update. I don’t require payment until after you receive my work and take checks or PayPal. All I need is your name, email, phone number & shipping address. Email 48ocean@gmail.com or PM me if your interested. [attachment file=Cutting Board.jpg]

Hurricane season started yesterday. This week, if you live in Florida, saves the sales tax on tarps, flashlights, coolers, weather radios, and portable generators. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/deals-shopping/fl-bz-hurricane-preparedness-tax-free-holiday-20190530-5kptlpvv2nd5vi4hdmpgtadzde-story.html

I think that if you can dream it and make it work then go for it. Everyone has their own idea of what’s best for themselves. What works for me might seem ridiculous to another, and that’s OK. The Oliver is a wonderfully built trailer and the perfect palate for your whatever you can make out of it. Go for it...

I have always thought of an Oliver as a two person trailer for all types of camping on a limited basis, for us it would be too small for full-timing, sure I could do 30 days at a time, but I still want a home base place to recover from time to time. Full-timing just doesn't suit my life style at this point in my life, as far as modifying an Oliver I would pass on that thought, it's too nice as built to ruin it. trainman

Steve, I like your ideas, though personally I think assembling and disassembling the bed up front would be as much if not more trouble than doing the same in the rear. The only advantage is the possibility of sleeping one more, but you'd have to weigh that against the downside of pretty lousy bath access. Have you looked at using the Lagun table option in the back? I'm thinking that you could mount it to the side, far enough forward to set up a double bed in the rear. Then all you have to do at night is push the table over and rearrange the cushions into a bed. If you're set on the front bed, a few people have made the front dinette area into a sofa/daybed like this - making it into a double would just be a matter of designing a support, as you said (sorry, I don't know whose trailer this is): Here's how the king bed setup normally works on the Ollie. Imagine that with a double bed and a Lagun table mounted just forward of the edge of the bed. I think it would work well for you: [attachment file=Screen Shot 2016-12-19 at 2.58.34 PM.jpg] [attachment file=Screen Shot 2016-12-19 at 2.58.18 PM.jpg] If in your drawing you're showing the washer where the pantry normally is, you won't be able to do that. The pantry top and bottom are moulded into the inner shell, and even if you were brave enough to cut it all out (you'd have to be quite a craftsman to make that work), behind that is the battery box and wheel well, the latter of which certainly isn't going anywhere.

There are some good size people who actually do that..w/ a dog. I don't, but everyone has their own space needs. For example, I could only do it, if I played 2 or 3 rounds of golf a week..:) Everybody is different brother.

Fool the thermostat with a bag of frozen vegetables held up to it for a couple of minutes. They have to be organic baby peas or it will not work. It’s right there in the owners booklet. Sheeesh.... Kids these days know nothing. John Davies Spokane WA

On my Elite, I've always found the source to be the galley sink. If the road is rollicking of bumpy enough, I think the p-trap at the sink sloshes the water out and the fumes are able to enter the Ollie. I've always been able to remedy this by pouring water into the sink to refill the trap.

If everything is closed up tight and the tank is full, it will not dump very well. There has to be a big opening for outside air to enter to prevent a vacuum from forming. Some air will go back up through your stinky hose if it isn’t blocked by a drooping section full of water, but that isn’t reliable.... Just always pull the isolation valve forward (opens the vent) and don’t worry about plugging the sinks. The air will come down from the roof. You can always run the faucets for a second afterwards, if you want to make sure there is some water in the traps, and that is the time you can add a few ounces of tank deodorizer. Don’t forget the shower trap, if you don’t use the shower that one may dry out through simple evaporation. John Davies Spokane WA

In the latest issue of FMCA there was an article about who they have teamed up with to offer lithium batteries. Here is the press release FMCA RV Club Introduces New Battery Benefit For Members Cincinnati, Ohio — FMCA, an international association for RV owners, has announced a new partnership with Briter Products, creator and contract manufacturer of Ion-Ready© lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries designed specifically for RV use. Lithium-iron-phosphate batteries have various advantages over conventional lead-acid batteries used in RVs. LiFePO4 batteries have twice the power and are about half the size and weight of lead-acid batteries; have a longer life expectancy; are fast charging; and can be mounted internally or externally in various positions, among other benefits. Briter Products’ Ion-Ready© 12-volt batteries are designed with safety in mind. Each battery is encased in powder-coated steel to ensure durability, whether installed internally or externally. The battery’s cells are protected against vibrations or impact, and mechanical and electrical components provide stable conditions for the charging, storage, and delivery of power. Other safety features include fuse protection between each cell, charge-discharge protection, and internal heat sensing. Internal connections are robotically bolted and torqued rather than soldered. This helps them to withstand road vibrations and prevents problems and safety concerns associated with bad connections, such as short-circuiting. Each battery incorporates an LCD status screen that either is placed on top of the battery or on the side, depending on the model, which allows for installation flexibility. A proprietary battery management system maintains internal cell balance and monitors power, temperature, and charging for enhanced performance and service. With the new partnership, Briter Products is offering FMCA members special member-only pricing on a battery and charger bundle, reduced rates on installation, and the option to purchase an extended warranty for an additional 5 years; each battery comes with a standard 5-year warranty from the date of purchase. To join FMCA, visit www.FMCA.com or call (800) 543-3622 or (513) 474-3622.

Geo keg, my theory on sewage smell in the trailer involves the p trap in the plumbing. You have the same basic system in your home, i’ve found that if I leave open the shower backup valve or the bathroom sink and kitchen sink stoppers when I dump my waste tanks the water in the p traps sometimes gets sucked out. So now when I dump, or travel down the road, all the valves and drains are closed. Steve

I have the Battleborns. The only con is their size. But you can fit four in the Elite II tray if you place them vertically. Also, you’ll find that while technically you can use 100% of their capacity, their voltage drops off a cliff at about 90%. Still, that’s a considerable improvement over lead acid, and from a performance standpoint I have zero complaints. The Lifeline rep at the rally said that they will be introducing a similar product soon. Resellers have a good margin so you might be able to find a better deal. I got mine through Inverter Supply. I would suggest that you upgrade your battery monitor at the same time, since it’s more difficult to judge an LFP’s state of charge from voltage alone. A few of us have the Victron BMV, which are highly rated. If you get their Bluetooth version, then you won’t have to mount anything in the trailer. Simply secure the monitor in the hull and use their phone app.

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.

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