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Battery day is today. I'm going to log on and see what the news is.

Hey Dave, welcome! You’ll be fine with the Touareg, we’ve also got some Audi Q7 TV’s that work well. We ordered our trailer 5 years ago so I’m not up to date on some of the current options. A lot of the options back then are standard now. There are no options that we ordered that we regret. It was our first trailer and first camping experience, so we were sort of buying blind. Things we’re glad we have are: solar, 4 AGM batteries, cell booster, a couple of extra 110V outlets. We weren’t sure if we would be boondockers, thought we’d be FHU folks. What we found out in our quest to see national parks is that a lot of those campgrounds don’t come with any hook ups! National Park campgrounds and other Corps of Engineer campgrounds, Forest Service and BLM campgrounds are in the most scenic areas often have no hook ups. So, we’ve become prolific boondockers. That is why I’m happy with the solar and extra batteries. Enjoy your factory tour! Mike

Hey Ollie Owners! My name is Lexi Griffin and I work in marketing as an Intern with Matt for Oliver Travel Trailers and I have been looking into spots to add another rally to our roster! So far I have found that the Salt Lake City KOA is a great option and I am looking into the Jellystone Park in Larkspur, CO as well as the RiverRun RV Resort, also in CO. The idea is to have it in the fall, most likely in September time (but so far the weather in CO and WY may be too cold). If you want to suggest a campground, the sites need to have at LEAST 100 RV sites, preferably 150-200 would be best so we can get as many Ollie's together as possible. The weather at the site you recommend shouldn't get too cold or hot for the time that we stay there.

We have not camped as much this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. We recently did a camping trip from Georgia up to our daughters in Illinois. We selected a couple of Harvest Host sites on the trip to stay at that were outstanding. The scenery was beautiful at both places- Casey Jones Distillery in Kentucky and Sullivan Creek Ranch in Alabama. The host were great, limited campers, and the camping spots were level without having to disconnect and setup. If you are looking for isolated or very few campers , you may enjoy staying at a Harvest Host site. You can google them for more information. Hull #421

Finally gave up tent camping and pulled the trigger on 2021 LE II last Friday. Scheduled P/U date is 6/25/21 anyone know how accurate Oliver's time lines are? I will be retiring this November and looking forward to hitting the road next summer. Any tips for a new owner welcome. Thanks All Gary

Thanks Bill. Very much appreciate the thoughtful response. I think the composting toilet appeals to me (okay, appeals is too strong a word) because I can avoid all the black tank and snake heinousness and bypass the lines at the station, in addition to the environmental benefit. But after reading about these things there are certainly some downsides. Creepy compost bugs! I also think my wife will be weirded out by a visible pee jar in the bathroom. I’ll move that to the ‘definitely-maybe-conditional’ column. You make a good use case for the wifi booster. Moved to the ‘maybe-think so-could be-who the heck knows’ column. It’s possible that I have too many columns. Nope, none of this will slow us down. Just trying to be thoughtful about the best feature set for our likely habits. I’m currently all over the place, which is undoubtedly par for the course. I should probably try to find an options thread rather than bury this discussion in a welcome. Dave

Catostrof ... You are comparing apples to oranges. These trailers are only vaguely related. The Kimberley Kruiser is a hardcore off-roader designed for thousands of miles of Australia Outback travel. Here is some reading for you. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/1674-spring-over-axle-lift/ https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/4265-timbren-independent-rubber-suspension/?tab=comments#comment-42548 https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/4105-turn-your-oliver-into-an-aussie-beater-anyone/? Member Raspy sold his LE2 because he wanted better desert road performance. He bought a Black Series (independent tandem axle, big tires and massive clearance) and is very happy with it. Raspy’s profile and posts If that isn’t enough, start a new thread with your concerns. A correctly modified 200 isn’t the problem, the Ollie suspension is the big problem, followed by the coupler. It all depends on how far and how quickly you wish to travel when the potholes appear. For an unmodified Ollie a mile or even five miles at a fast walking pace to access a campground is jarring for trailer and occupants of the TV, but tolerable . 75 miles of ranch roads (Mountain Home ID direct to Jarbidge NV in this case) .... nope, not at all. Take the long, mostly paved detour. Edit... watch the weight. For a 200 with an off-road coupler I would personally be looking for a max trailer weight of 5000 pounds (Elite single axle). It would be a much better choice than the LE2. For a ball coupler you would be OK without the Andersen hitch. Not so much with the LE2... an Andersen is required and it limits motion at the ball. John Davies Spokane WA

You might want to add that it is on the outside of the Ollie - not behind the toilet on the inside 😆.

Greetings all! While not an Ollie owner yet, they have my deposit, and I expect to have a Legacy Elite next June. All I have to do now is nail down the options I think I want; get the Truma or go with the standard 6 gal heater? And what decor package? Decisions, decisions. I'd also like a custom logo on the front ... all I have to do is design one! HA HA. I have a Casita at the moment, which I bought so I wouldn't have to sleep in a mountaineering tent any more, but it will be going to another good home soon. My experience with these trailers is nil next to some of yours, but I lurk a lot and will hopefully learn something ... you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks. My early goal was primarily boondocking, and I still intend to do mostly that, but an occasional campground with full hook-ups and a shower wouldn't be entirely awful. I read about the potential western rally next year and I'm in! I would really enjoy meeting you all and soaking in some of the knowledge and ideas you've used in your Oliver travels. Thanks to all who contribute their knowledge of, and experience with, Olivers. I know I'll learn a lot and maybe one day I'll be able to make a positive contribution. Mike Allen

I received my 2 Hondas last week within 4 days of my order from Northern Tool. The had both the 2200 and the 2200 Bluetooth models which are just out. I ran the Campanion with my Ollie hooked up to the 30 Amp plug in. Using my Bluetooth function the soft start pulled right at 1000 watts starting and then settled down to around 600 or so. (Didn't write it down ). Once the compressor cut off it drew around 300 - 400. The newer model has a magnetic flap that covers the outlets and the fuses have a clue rubber cover now for protection.. There is a UTube video that shows the guy unscrewing the front cover and disconnecting the CO safety device to see if it would still crank if the device failed while out camping. Yes it would crank. Of course this is not advisable but sampling testing to see if the CO would prevent a start. I hope to get my parallel kit in the next day or so and will try that out. Really pleased with the running of the Honda! Also the oil dipstick cap is much larger which benefits adding oil. The Yamaha was also tempting as was the Honda Handi 3000. My final determining factor was weight. I can handle lifting 2 Hondas 2200 but the 75+ pound on some other models was just too much with. a bad back. There are a lot of great models and really you probably could choose several. But after the one failure with the Sam's I just went with Honda. Not sure if grounding was an issue with the A1 from Sams but I was working with Jason on the phone as we tried different things and it was apparent the load rating was not accurate with the actual generator I had purchased.

Mine VIN is down low under the bathroom window. Mossey

Welcome to the forum. The base Oliver is actually a really nice trailer. My first (and probably only) addition would be solar. Not just because I'm a big green energy supporter, but because it's probably the most difficult to retrofit. Even that could be eliminated if Oliver would do pre-wired, instead, since you plan to mostly camp in powered sites Other than that, everything is pretty easy to upgrade, imo. Truma? No. The base water heater is fine. Fibergranite? Not for me, but you'll have to decide. The rest? I'll let others offer their opinions. Sherry

We use the Camco stabilizer jack supports. They work fine for us, too. How about cutting a round piece of plywood like Hardrock mentioned to further distribute load concentration. Wood we use for Ollie storage is painted for durability, too. To help reduce rear jack stabilizer load we also use Camco banana wedge leveling system for rear wheels similar to what like KWRJRPE mentioned. In the reviews for the Camco leveling wedges, some users reported slippage, so we cut out rubber matts for use under wedges to prevent slipping on hard surfaces, working fine so far. It's easy to replace wood when it gets in poor condition, like John and Sherry mentioned.

If you have never done the Trace before from Hohenwald then be sure to head just a couple of miles north. On the east side will be a turnout for a nice little waterfall. However, if you are camped south of Hohenwald I wouldn't bother coming that far back for it. Have a good trip. Note that the camping areas on the Trace may be closed - Meriwether Lewis camping was closed when I was there September 1st. Bill

The short answer to your first question is no, your inverter will not supplement shore power with battery power. As to your second question, the answer is that there’s no distinction between power coming from your solar panels and power coming from your batteries. It’s all part of the same pool of electrons. Think of the 12 volt system like water, with the batteries being a big bucket, and solar and charger power being faucets that you can turn on to fill it. If you want a glass of water you could dip it into the bucket or you could hold it under one of the faucets or do both - it’s all water.

Mike - The Wet Mtn Valley is south central Colorado. If you've ever been to the Great Sand Dunes NP, the valley is just over the Sangre de Cristo mountains that form the eastern boundary of the dunes. The major town in the valley, if you call ~800 permanent residents "major", is Westcliffe, and I live a few miles outside of town. This is the view from my deck. The sand dunes are on the other side of those mountains, kinda to the left. If you ever make it up this way, please let me know. Hope we'll cross paths in the coming year. Mike

We're in

I don't own an Ollie yet, but I will by next June, so I'm in! I don't have any experience with good, or even poor, rally sites, but just let me know when and where, and I'll be there! Thanks Lexi!

What a beautiful campground and a great campsite. I love the nighttime picture with the "yard" lit up. Perfect spot for kayaking!

Criteria for a great Oliver Rally Venue First, THANKS to Lexi, Matt and Oliver for putting together a Western Oliver Rally It is important that we have a venue that promotes socialization and sharing of all things Oliver. It does need to be a venue that promotes sharing of ideas, making new friends and seeing old friends. We have alot we can learn from each other and this is one of the greatest values offered by the rallies, wherever they may occur. Also, human nature and needs dictate we come to gather for dining and sharing. A campground without such resources will be adversely impact the value of the rally for many. I am suggesting some of the criteria we need to measure against when recommending a location for any rally. Full hookups, dining venue and kitchen, dog friendly, 100+ campsites, enclosed facility to allow socialization, open discussions, nearby accommodations, local attractions, cultural events, dining alternatives, shopping, quiet campground, reasonable weather, easy access from across the US, etc. For Oliver to sponsor the rally, sales of new units is a consideration. The rally location should have the ability for those wanting to see an Oliver to purchase; a nearby place to stay that the cost, commute and accommodations are reasonable. As David Stillman pointed out in his post that Lake Guntersville State Park offered such accommodations when he attended the rally to view an Oliver. Each year we have several families that attend the rally to not only see an Oliver for the first time, they want to speak to Oliver owners to learn about the Good (lots of that!) the Bad (very little of this) and the Ugly (no way...Olivers are beautiful) If we are going to recommend a location, I suggest we apply some of this criteria before we post. Oliver staff is supporting this new rally and I think Oliver would appreciate that we do our "Due Diligence" before recommending a rally location. It is not so much for me the location as the journey getting there. I always look forward to the trip. Goodness!!! many of us travel across the US in January to Arizona to camp on the desert with 100,000 other RVers. Getting there and coming home is 3/4 the enjoyment of the venture. Not a rally, definitely !! As a recommendation, please look at this campground to see if it meets the criteria, is a location that offers things you would like to see (google activities in September) and tickles your tastebuds !! Just an example http://www.rt66rvresort.com/

A Oliver Rally in the Western US sounds Great! The Location is not as important to me as much as I want warm, not cold weather and do not want to travel through snow or potential of ice/ snow. Having lived and traveled in the West, I know snow in the Fall is not unusual. I like the idea of Salt Lake City, but not surrounding mountians if weather in the Fall is “Iffy”. When we planned the Lake Guntersville Oliver Rally, much thought was put into the safety and convenience of those traveling long distances. Salt Lake City is easily accessed in the Fall without bad weather. Most people, especially those of us from the Eastern US, should be able to travel there easily. I have a friend that left going west recently to visit some of the national parks in the western US. They returned today saying that the smoke prevented them from seeing much of the western US. The forest fires are much greater this year but heavy smoke from Fall forest fires in the Western US is not unusual in the Fall. 2 years ago we went to Winnipeg, Canada in the Fall and the smoke from Oregon and Washington was really bad in Canada. My point is that Salt Lake City / Utah area should be somewhat “smoke -free”. Having put on the Oliver Rally for years, it will be very important to have someone from the area where the rally will occur. Establishing and maintaining on going relationship with the campground administration is important. As a person that likes to travel, I can see some great side trips going to the rally and returning home. I prefer it to occur very soon after Labor Day. Less traffic on the roads and the national parks would hopefully be less crowded. Utah has spectacular scenery and many places to boondock. We can all make suggestions on great places for a western rally. I think Lexi is really looking for a person to be the front person to organize the rally and therefore have a greater “Say so” where the rally is to occur. I will volunteer to offer support, but someone on the ground near the rally campground is a primary focus at this time. In my humble opinion, coy

Mike, prayers for your Mom. I am going to attend the non-rally and will be in site F-46. We just got back from a month long trip and my better half has given me a hall pass to go solo.. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you.

Or, how about something like this?

There have been discussions here on the forum about a Western US Oliver Rally, as well as communications via private message or email, but nothing has ever come to fruition. Thanks to Lexi for spearheading this effort! We would love to attend a Western US Rally! I think any of these locations would be good. One of the advantages of Lake Guntersville State Park venue is the availability of rental housing for prospective buyers or people waiting for their build. I did not think the SLC KOA had such rentals, but I checked their web site and they do. The websites for Jellystone Park in Larkspur, CO and RiverRun RV Resort in Granby CO indicate that they have rentals. Lake Guntersville State Park also had communal gathering areas, which was great. The SLC KOA lists a Pavilion on their list of amenities, but it is not clear what that is. Jellystone Park lists a Campfire Canteen Restaurant and Bar, and RiverRun lists a Headwaters Tavern, and they could server as gathering spaces. Last year we went to the Inyan Rally, which was held sequentially in two different campgrounds. The first was a State Park where the organizer reserved a picnic pavilion space, and the second was a commercial campground where we congregated at the bar/restaurant every evening, although it was not ours for exclusive use. Lexi is correct that weather and time of year come into consideration. Today, Sept 15, it will be 90° in SLC, but this weekend the high should be 75°, and then 82°-84° next week. While anecdotal weather observations can be useful, I prefer to look at historical weather information. If you don’t know about the weatherbase.com website, I suggest you bookmark it, as it has historical weather information. We try to avoid camping in temperatures where the AC will be needed, and weatherbase is extremely useful. Weatherbase says the average highs in September are: 73° for SLC, 68° for Granby, and 77° for Castle Rock, CO. (Larkspur lacks weather data, and Castle Rock is nearby at similar elevation.) Living in SLC, I can provide some useful information. The Utah State Fair runs for 10 days in September, beginning the Thursday after Labor Day. They are on now, despite Covid-19. The SLC KOA is probably a half mile from the State Fairpark. There are a lot of 4-H families from rural Utah who attend the fair, and I expect the KOA was fully booked many months in advance for the Fair. So the choices are either to avoid the dates of the fair, or to book far in advance. The State Fair is a lot of fun, after all. Two other things about the SLC KOA location. It is directly adjacent to the Jordan River Parkway, a really nice biking and walking trail along the river. Also, SLC has a light rail system, and the SLC KOA is one block from a light rail stop. I was going to suggest Jordanelle State Park, as we have camped there several times, but Overland posted on that while I was writing this. Jordanelle does have an events center, and a small number of cabins for rent. Both the campsites and the cabins are reserved far in advance, particularly for weekend dates. Utah State Parks have a four month reservation window.

Lexi - Thanks so much for getting on this with such a great attitude. Pick a place, pick a date(s) and they WILL COME! Bill

Sounds like you are thinking more mountain west than west coast, but in case the latter is in scope, I'll mention that Fort Stevens State Park is claimed to be the largest campground west of the Mississipi. We were just there and the campground is pleasant, and has access to both a nice beach and also nice park grounds including birding opportunities, some great coastal forest, and a historic fort with old gun battery mounts and so forth. It's right next to a few small towns with multiple nice restaurants and stores for supplies, and also quite close to the small and quaint city of Astoria which has yet more food etc. options as well as a very nice museum. Also, late September turns out to be among the nicest times around there, per locals I've talked with, as there's much less of the will-sapping fog that can blanket the area for days at a time during mid summer.

Please take a moment of silence for those Americans we lost and those that still suffer from this horrific attack on our beautiful country. Thank you for all those who serve and have served in protecting our great nation. Our flag flies at half on this day every year. May God continue to Bless the United States of America. Be Safe Oliver Family. -Patriot

Sold our 1/2 Ton short bed with an ARE bed cap. Bought a Duramax standard bed. Ordered an ARE bed cap for standard bed but it had a long lead time. In the meantime we used 3 Contico tool boxes for storage. Really worked well. I did use a cable to lock the big cooler to the truck. Picture taken on the Washington Island Ferry.

It’s working so far....

But you and I know that the ole Harley dog is worth it. Mossey

You will have a great trip and time. We also stayed ay Mu old Kentucky Home nice little park and close to the Distilleries. Visit as many as you can they are all enjoyable but do visit the big ones of course but do Buffalo Trace really enjoyed the tour have fun they are all near each other and can do 2 or 3 a day easily. Have fun all and enjoy. Thanks Gary

We recently stayed at Casey Jones Distillery in Kentucky through Harvest Host. It was a great experience. Hull#421

1/2" Glass Vinyl Seal Model Number: H109-376 https://www.pellandent.com/RV-Window-Seal

Speaking of BEST practices, we make it a routine task to shut off the water valve at the source every time we leave the Ollie for a hike or whatever just to be safe. Also, I have used an inline filter (at the source valve) every time I connect to the Oliver water system to prevent rust/crap from getting into our lines. So far - so good. Good topic, Cheers

John thanks for this post. I bought one yesterday and am going to configure it like yours I think. I had it at the hydro first. But I have a question. You said in an earlier response the if the gauge changes pressure readings when you turn on water in the trailer, that means the gauge is bad. That is what mine is doing. I set it 50, but when I turn on the water inside or the outside shower, it drops to 45. I am going to exchange it today, but can you clarify if I understand correctly? Also, Jason at Oliver said keeping pressure at 50 to 55 is fine. That they tested them at the factory to 80 but the problem with any higher then 50 to 55 could cause the hot water heater pop off valve to go. With mine set at 50 now, I am very pleased at the increase pressure inside so don’t see a need to go higher. Just thought I would mention it.