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Hello all! My wife and I recently put a deposit down on an Oliver Elite I with a future deliver date around May of 2021. I know, that's a long way off, but that will put us much closer to my retirement and will keep the Oliver at 2020 pricing. We currently have a Nucamp Tab 320 which is serving us well but anticipate needing a little more room as we plan on traveling across country from our home in Navarre, FL to visit our son in Seattle, WA. Anyway, thanks to all for the useful information we have gathered thus far from this forum and look forward to new posts. Chris & Merrilee

Having received the Dexter recall I rushed out to buy my first ever torque wrench. I thought I got a pretty good deal for $15 from Harbor freight but then received a flyer that it was on sale for one day only for $10. After I sheared off a 3/8 drive extension I now have a new 1/2” universal joint and extension. After making sure everything was tight I decided I would still take it to Bubba's trailer repair and Jerky stand to get it checked out and have some official paperwork for the recall. They decided they wanted it in one of the repair bays so I unhooked and watched my baby hauled off by tractor and backed in missing the side of the concrete block wall by 4 inches. I decided to hang around for a look see. The first guy grabs his impact wrench and starts for the wheel. I pipe up saying that the job does not require taking off the wheels. A second guy shows up after having presumably read the recall instructions and says something in Spanish and there was no more impact wrench wielding. Now the search began for an extension. I offered one out of my tool box but at this point the service manager came over and told me they had a very nice waiting room. I observed from afar and they were done in 30 minutes. Now to drag it out of the bay and hook up. Well the trailer would not come off the ball of the tractor. This led to repeated slamming up and down on the jack. I couldn't believe it. The moral of the story...If you have a good shop for your Oliver, buy them lunch once in a while and leave a good Google review for the rest of us.

Your experience was not unusual. Unfortunately..... For all owners.... If you can use a mobile RV tech, I strongly suggest this approach. You can watch and chat with the tech and you won’t have to see your trailer smack a concrete wall. Just Google “Mobile RV service”, maybe you will find a good one that you can count on for future work. Even with a travel fee, it will probably be less costly than a shop. And certainly less traumatic. John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks to all, we really appreciate the warm welcome! It is amazing how time seems to zip by. We currently are trying to figure out which weekend to travel to Hohenwald, TN for the Oliver factory tour. Its about a 7 hour drive for us so completely doable on a long weekend. We did have an opportunity about 2 months ago to visit with an Oliver owner a few miles down the road to check out his Elite II and I must say it exceeded our expectations. Once we get the Oliver and start our next adventure, our focus will be to boondock as much as possible as we head out west. I've been reading up on it and taking notes to be as prepared as I can. So that means of course getting solar, the Natures Head composting toilet, and possibly converting the black tank to a potable water tank. Anyhow, I don't want to ramble on too much so I'll just say once again thanks to everyone and hope to cross paths with as many of you as we can once we hit the road.

Welcome. Not a long time to wait. Hope the weather is good for your delivery. You asked about chocks. I like the heavy rubber chocks from Harbor Freight, if you have a store nearby. Often on sale at 5.99, with the 20 per cent off coupon, 5 bucks. I'm thinking about the things we take each year, or buy, when we deliver new rvs. Throw rugs. An inside and outside walkoff mats. 2 x 6 cutoffs for leveling. A melitta type pourover cone to make coffee without electricity. A fry pan, a saucepan, a couple good knives, cutting board, aluminum foil and a few plastic bags. A few bits of plates, knives, forks, kitchen utensils, including corkscrew and can opener. A small trash can. Trash bags. A small broom and dust pan. Scrubbies and scrub brush. A notebook, and pens that work. Bedding, including pillows. And a nice warm duvet or quilt. Towels . Meds and hygiene items. A small tool kit, including duct tape, a multitip screwdriver, small socket set. A hatchet. Utility knife. A couple folding chairs to sit outside. Credit cards. Good Sam's roadside insurance card. A couple flashlights . Batteries. Inline water filter. Not a lot of stuff. Maybe take a small electric cube heater, since it's February, depending on your direction of travel, and if you'll have hookups. I'd probably carry a gallon of rv antifreeze, just in case, which you should be able to buy in Hohenwald. But, something I like to keep around in shoulder season. Specifically for the Oliver, a collar lock for the bulldog hitch. Tire pressure monitor system if you have a bit of a distance, or add it ar home . The longer we travel, the less extra stuff I carry. Honestly. The rest I can buy along the way, if we actually need it. We picked up in February 2008. It wasn't warm, but it wasn't freezing cold, either. Driving back to Tampa, via the panhandle, we didn't need a lot. We'll look forward to your photos. Don't overpack, and enjoy the ride. Sherry

Welcome from Hull #(to be determined) We are picking our Ollie up in July so we are in the same boat with just an earlier debarkation date. Erv & Sherry Carter

Welcome Moving into your new Oliver is tent camping on steroids. As with tent camping you bring certain things to make camping comfortable. Oliver supplies you a great starter kit. Bring things that you would use at home. Not to much. You’ll start up loading everything then with experience you’ll use and take less. Lately i have been going to Gander outdoor for rv supplies. There are many Rv supply stores, even Walmart. As with everyone who first starts out its a learning experience. It’s all part of the fun of camping. Good luck with your new Oliver the most important part, have safe travels and enjoy.