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2018 F-150 Platinum - short bed - 3.5 Ecoboost - Max Tow package - FX4 Offroad package - Leer cap. Flat road towing gets around 14 mpg, unhitched getting about 19. We swapped out the stock tires for burly E-rated tires, this made a huge difference in the ride (for the better). 45psi front, 50 back, Olly at 55psi. 1411 lbs official payload is 'just' enough to cover our needs, no extra capacity. CAT scales show 3280 lbs front, 4100 rear, 5740 trailer, 13120 gross weight (trailer with full water, empty gray and black). (This puts us over the 7000 gvw for the truck by 380 lbs... we've since trimmed that down, but still not under) When hitched up, the rear end squats down, but the Anderson helps and certainly makes the whole thing feel MUCH more solid and connected. The Olly tows beautifully. No trace of sway. Never feels like the truck is straining. We've gone up and down some steep grades (over the Tetons, across Death Valley). Always had plenty of power, automatic engine braking helps with descending. Have driven is some very adverse conditions - high winds, snow and ice, high altitude. No problem. Got into some deep moon-dust while towing on a mining road and the 4 wheel drive had no trouble getting us through. Regular mirrors work well, no need for the extended towing mirrors. Trailer blind-spot monitoring works and has helped. Lane-keeping assist works well (though it becomes a nag on straight roads since the truck tracks very well and needs little input from the driver). Never thought auto high-beams and rain-sensing wipers would be useful, but they sure have been. So, final grade would be a "Meets or Exceeds" expectations. If I had it to do over again, I would choose a trim level that had fewer features (heck, we never even open that huge moon roof) in an effort to get back some payload. I've certainly considered moving up to the f-250 for the extra payload buffer (or perhaps the GMC 2500)... but, I don't think it's necessary.

I appreciate your honesty and opinion overland. I guess my problem is I didn't sign up to be an experiment like probably a lot of the early buyers did. I was not compensated in the form of a discount, I purchased a premium priced trailer with no dealer network. I'm sure the early units cost quite a bit less. I guess it just comes down to if it was anything other than a sizeable water leak, it probably would have been annoying but palatable. The other things like step pieces falling off or broken fiberglass trim pieces or the floor bubbling up, etc, etc. can all be forgiven but you still go away not believing that Oliver actually wants to deliver on their message of quality. True or not, that's how it will come across to most buyers like me that have had several RVs and watched them fall apart. That's why this is the first new RV I've ever purchased. Again, I still think it's the best quality RV available but Oliver needs to decide if they want to be a company that moves the needle or just good enough to say they're better than everyone else. They're is a lot of room for improvement and I'm sure I'll still fabricate a bunch of cool stuff and make mods to the design, it just comes down to me not being a good ambassador to the brand which Oliver should care deeply about. If I were them, I'd buyback the unit and resell it. Resale is good enough they could probably still make money. Ok I'm done with this, I don't want it to actually start to sound like complaining or me trying to sour people on the brand. People are smart enough to make their own decisions. Let's assume Oliver fixes all issues as I'm sure they will. If they go above and beyond I will post it here, otherwise, take care.

Ahattar, I don't think I'll join the chorus telling you to cut and run. Two years ago, I was roasting Oliver over a spit for their quality problems, but today I'm getting regularly accused of being a fanboy. I sincerely hope that your path leads in the same direction. I understand all too well how disappointing it can be when you've invested so much time and money into something and have it not turn out the way you expected. And if your trailer is leaking, you have a right to be mad and Oliver should do everything they can to fix it. All I can do is repeat what I posted earlier - Oliver's initial quality is so much better than it was a few years ago; they seem to be on the right track in improving that quality year over year; and, just as they've always done, they do everything possible to fix issues and make their customers happy again when things do go wrong. Everyone who has been on this forum for two or three or (many) more years will back that up. Oliver went from two guys building their own trailer to a small custom shop to a full blown manufacturer in a very short timespan. So yes, they've had and continue to have growing pains. They're not Foxconn. But I think that most people understand that going in and set their expectations accordingly. One thing that makes a big difference from a few years ago, and which I doubt that most newcomers see, is that this forum doesn't paint nearly as rosy a picture of Oliver as it once did. The early owners were definitely in love with their trailers and IMO cut Oliver way too much slack. I remember when a new owner figured out that his plumbing lines couldn't access a third of the water in the tank and the old timers here were like, 'Oh, yeah, that's normal. Didn't we mention that?'. The boom in customers around 2017 changed that. So I think that new buyers get a much more accurate impression of Oliver these days than when I bought mine. That, plus the improvement I've seen over the past few years is what makes me look at this thread and think wow, we've come a long way if a single electrical switch can cause this much of a dust up. But again, I understand your pain and disappointment. All that I would ask is that you keep us informed of what's wrong with your trailer and what Oliver is doing to help. That way we can all get a better picture of how Oliver is doing on their initial quality and if they're still improving or have let things slide a little.

I just purchased a 2020 Tundra and will be picking up my new Ollie in late July. (I Hope). I looked at GMC and Ford. I liked the looks of the Dodge but a 2012 Jeep Rubicon that was the most undependable car I have ever bought prevented me from ever looking at another Dodge. A current friend has a new Dodge and the dealer is trying to fix a truck that has already met Lemon Law requirements. What sold be on my Tundra is that I have a 2011 Lexus 570 that has 215K and has been unbelievably trouble free. The engine is shared by the Tundra. It does lack some of the latest bells and whistles that GMC & Ford offer, but the motor just runs and runs. My cars always seem to have over 200K miles on them before I get something new, so I am accustomed to not having all the latest and greatess. Dependability was my most important factor which is why I guess the reason I am buying an Oliver. So here is my Tundra plug! I would have liked to seen what the 2021 Tundra was like but when my F150 with 267K transmission when out and my wife said "why don't you just go buy a new truck"..... you have to strike why the iron is hot.

I get my chlorine at the pool store. I have also used Purogene with good results. There is an old post recommending a water treatment company that supported RV's that sold Purogene. Searching turns up several posts. Mossey

We don’t drink directly from the tanks, I filter that water through a 1 gallon pitcher type water filter. I just want to shock the system as a precaution, I would prefer the tank supply to be reasonably pure for showering and hand washing. Plus I don’t want stuff growing in the dead end lines through lack of use. Since I started this thread, my wife discovered that Office Depot has regular strength household bleach in stock locally, I bought two gallons online and will just drop in to collect them tomorrow. It pays to check non-traditional sources sometimes, for when the big box stores have been “cleaned out”, so to speak. John Davies Spokane WA

A word of caution about liquid chlorine from the pool stores. It is usually in the 8 to 10% concentration of chlorine. Where as Clorox is actually sodium hypochlorite with a concentration of 6%. So pool chlorine is stronger, but cheaper. Use it with caution. Mossey

Probably not, but I was miffed when my $70k + Oliver furnace wouldn't work, when my windows leaked (still do), my pos Dometic fridge likes to shut off when on propane, and a few other things that went bump in the night. But, as a tinkerer, I have also made improvements, added things, etc., so at some point, we all get used to the idiosyncrasies of RV ownership. But that doesn't soften the initial disappointment. Sell mine, not, but if this damn national shutdown and location curfew doesn't let up soon, well what's an RV for...

I have used the 3M 08984 for years. It’s good stuff.

Just a friendly reminder - my intent when starting this thread was not to just generally discuss trucks, their features, their reliability, but to grade how your tow vehicle actually pulls your Ollie, preferably under stressful conditions . Cruising flat terrain near sea level is not a real test. How it functions at 100 degrees, 8000 ft and a 30 mph headwind is most meaningful. Or climbing an 18% grade back road with 10 mph switchbacks... Basically, how does your truck perform when the chips are down? Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

Again, nobody expected perfection, just a camper that keeps me as dry as one of my tents! I also don't see this as complaining, more of an informative post so maybe those who do expect perfection now won't. Also, at 600 units, the vast majority is a phrase that might not be useable. The small sample size and almost everyone on this post having some sort of quality control issues might be an alarming statistic. Should be anyway. My $70k

The short answer for me is yes. If I’m not happy with a product I am not inclined to keep it. There are now over 600 Oliver trailers out there. Periodically, someone posts about not being happy because something was wrong when they picked up their new trailer. So, my unscientific conclusion is that most folks are happy. If they have an issue they get it fixed and then go out an enjoy camping. I’ve been very open about the issues I had, how they were fixed, and the reliability since. It’s our own fault, the majority of owners rave about the quality and durability of their Oliver, and rightly so. Potential buyers then believe that they will receive perfection. If your “unhappy complaining” to “happy camping” ratio is skewed toward the “unhappy complaining” side then maybe it’s time to make a change. The vast majority are happy campers. My $.02. Mike

I've read this entire thread. Based on your posts, if I were you, I'd sell that trailer and get me something I could be happy with.

We've used Purogene instead of bleach for years. It's more expensive, but I have some issues with chlorine. But, honestly, if you don't drink from the holding tanks, if I were you, I'd up the concentration of your "expired" bleach, sanitize, refresh, and go camping.

Couple of unscientific thoughts. Have you consider hydrogen peroxide? It is also a very effective disinfectant and bleach. It is available in food grade normally 35% solution and can be ordered online if not available locally and doesn't smell nearly as bad as Chlorox. To that I will also add that most, perhaps all municipal water supplies do have some amount of chlorine added to the supply. To my way of thinking this alone should disinfect most holding tanks. IOW's fill tank and lines let set overnight or for some period, then drain and refill. Under no circumstance we do not drink water from our holding tanks anyway. Too risky no matter what but the main reason is those holding tanks create a terrible taste. The water from them is unpalatable IMHO. We carry additional BPA free 5 gal jugs full of fresh water with us. Two of them last for quite awhile if only using for drinking and cooking. We only use the fresh water holding tank for dishes and showers never food and drink. Hope this helps.

John, If you live in the San Diego, I would be happy to give you some bleach! Andrew

Kind of late to this party but I have enjoyed reading everyone's thought processes regarding these trucks. Yet another option to consider is the F-150 with the Heavy Duty Payload Package (HDPP). The only potential drawback for some is that it is not available above the XLT model. With the Max Trailer Tow option, it comes with the 3.5 ecoboost engine. HDPP gets the payload up to around 2400 lbs. It comes with 18" LT, C load rated tires, along with other desirable upgrades. I also learned recently that Transferflow makes a 50 gallon gas replacement tank for the F-150, so that should help with range! I wish they made one for the F250 as well.... Lots of options for diesel tank upgrades but few for gas. I never knew it could be so hard shopping for a truck! Dave

Yes, they were. From what I see over on Airforums it’s better to buy a used Airstream than a new one. The new ones come from the factory with issues then you’re reliant on your dealer which for some is okay but I see more instances of bad dealer support. Mike

Most of the people on this forum have trucks, and we are part of the small minority who tow an Ollie with an SUV. For us, a truck would not fit into our small garage, and we felt it would not be a good vehicle for our everyday use, such as grocery shopping. We purchased an Audi Q7 SUV. It is the largest vehicle we have ever owned, but it drives wonderfully and has a large cargo area. The Q7 has a 7700 lb towing capacity, and it tows the Ollie like a dream. Plenty of power towing, whether going up hills or when accelerating to enter a freeway.

OK, who else is in their league? Certainly not Airstream, a more premium priced trailer. Not any of the sticks and staples trailers. I know Black Series makes nice trailers, but they aren’t problem free upon delivery and depending on the dealer things may or may not get fixed. Bigfoot? I had a black vent pipe leak when I picked up (4 years ago) and had a couple of overhead doors that wouldn’t stay shut plus a short in my solar controller. Support from Oliver was great. Got all fixed locally paid for by Oliver. It’s been 3.5 years and 50K miles and no issues. Here’s my point - there might be some initial issues but the factory is quick to get them resolved and once resolved the trailer remains problem free even after a lot of miles. The long term durability is tough to match by anyone else in the industry. Unfortunately, folks read these forums and hear testimonials from owners and then expect perfection upon delivery. Mike

ahattar, I am quick to defend the Oliver company because of my experience with them has been extremely positive. Yep, I had a leak from the curb side window and I had one of my lead acid batteries go bad but that is the extent of my problems. And after troubleshooting both issues I found that the common denominator was me, the lazy one. I neglected the widow tracks and allowed the weep slots to become clogged and after a 5" rainfall in 24 hours, there was an overflow into the interior. The battery issue was also a lack of maintenance. And I once bought a mid-seventies AMF Super Glide that was a real prize, but that didn’t stop me from buying a 1980 Tour Glide and a 1996 Road King. I still own a 2000 Road Glide. But I did drive past a HD dealer 3 miles into a 25 mile trip to a dealer that did appreciate my business, but that was my choice. So yes, I am an OTT fan boy, but I also bought into your sales tactics 4 times over a 25 years, so I guess I am a HD fan boy as well. Maybe I should have drank the Kool-Aid Big Red was serving, "where you meet the nicest people". Or maybe I’m just stupid. I’ll leave that for others to judge, not that I give a hoot. And this is my favorite t-shirt these days. Thanks to all for allowing me some of your time, Mossey

This is pure magic. Body shops use it for prepping before painting. I use it for all kinds of jobs, mainly prepping the cars and trailer before applying Rejex - removing sap and tar and any traces of wax. You can get it from a local Auto Body supplier for way less, I bought four quarts a couple of years ago for $12 each. One can lasts a long time. 3M Adhesive Remover John Davies Spokane WA

We don’t like to camp in weather where we have to run the AC. Usually the AC is only used while we’re getting out of the Texas heat to somewhere cooler. Even in the Texas heat, we will go to sleep with the AC on, but sometime after midnight it goes off and the windows get opened with the fan going. My AC will start and run on my 2000W Champion. We don’t do it often. If it’s after dark, I would not want to disturb my boondocking neighbors with the low drone of my generator. The only reason we bring the generator is to charge batteries in the late fall/winter/early spring when the sun decides not to fully expose himself. Mike

I’ve removed the fan blade assembly a dozen times or so for cleaning. I remove and clean the screen even more frequently. A couple of years ago a flock of beetles took up residence between the screen and the fan. I thought that if I turned on the fan at a low speed it might suck them out. WRONG! It was a mess... beetle guts everywhere. When we got home I removed the entire assembly from the trailer. I completely disassembled the fan, cleaned everything, put it back together, climbed back up on top of the trailer and reinstalled it. What I didn’t do was lube anything. I’ll do that this weekend before we go down to the coast next week (Rockport TX).