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We began our search for a quality trailer with Airstream as it seemed the logical place to start. As I began researching, we were quickly dissuaded by owner reports of poor workmanship with many repairs being necessary right off the lot. I could understand some of these, were we talking about a $15-20K entry level trailer, but not a $75K+ icon. After I reached beyond the beauty of the Airstream interior, I decided one big problem was getting in the way: We weren't willing to pay a premium price for poor quality control and an obvious lack of care for the ultimate owner. My final judgment is that Airstream, after being bought out by Thor, is simply another mass produced trailer sold by a company that is leveraging the longstanding reputation of what was once the ultimate luxury trailer, looking to profit off the buyers thinking they are getting the same product that earned the Airstream it's reputation. In addition, there is the dealer "middleman" who, many times, only cares about making the sale, after which all concern for the satisfaction of the buyer is lost. As luck would have it, we discovered the unknown-to-us Oliver Travel Trailer. Though not for everyone, we feel our Oliver Elite II is hands above any Airstream of comparable (or even higher) cost in regards to beauty, quality, attention to detail, customer satisfaction, service, and resale value. One thing, in particular, that attracted us, was the ability to customize your trailer, adding only options you want and are willing to pay for. Airstream comes standard with many features that we weren't interested in, but had no choice of; thus we would pay for features we didn't particularly want. I think the most amazing difference, however, is doing business with a family that is passionate about the product they build and caring toward their customers. There aren't many places in the commercial world of RV marketing where you will get this kind of treatment.

When I first saw the title of this post, I thought I’m not taking this bait, it screamed trouble to me. It’s kind of like the old Oscar Meyer Wiener commercial when the kids sang "my dog's better than your dog". And it also reminded me of the advice my father gave me "never resist the opportunity to keep you mouth shut". But when it turned funny; I couldn’t help myself. When I bought my Oliver, the previous owner didn’t call it a wet bath, he called it the bidet option and it made sense to me, after all I had never used a bidet. Full disclosure: at our sticks and bricks house, the last one in the shower, gets to clean the shower. Same thing in the Ollie. And somehow that is always me. No big deal, unless I make it one. And if you really want to know how that works out, just let me know. Mossey

As a retired firefighter, and fire origin and cause investigator for more than 40 years, I am somewhat paranoid as to what can cause fires. Candle fires have paid for my Oliver - they can cause fires. For insurance companies, I have investigated many fires caused by candles, for which I have been paid well. A candle has been recalled, https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/ADCO-Recalls-Candles-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Sold-Exclusively-at-Dollar-Tree that can cause a fire. Remember to be fire safe. This candle, and many like it, can get too hot which can cause the glass container to break. When the container breaks, the wax melts, which can cause nearby combustible material to ignite and cause the room (or trailer) to burn and hurt people. Just making sure our Oliver family is aware, and are safe. Most RV fires and personal injuries have been caused by failures in the refrigerator, mostly cured by newer refrigerators - propane refrigerators. The Oliver trailers do not have such refrigerators, that cause fires. Just what items that we might put in our Oliver, or how we use them. I have daughters who like to burn candles, and so do I. Make sure yours are safe. Also be safe with portable heaters.

As always - Oliver owners have great advice - from real world experience. I have always thought the Airstream interiors were attractive and well laid out - livable. But in the end - depending on your intended usage - merely lipstick on a pig. My advice - and expensive - go purchase the Airstream of your choice - live with it - use as you will. You may end up loving it and happy with the purchase. But - Don't spend a year- pulling it - the Airstream - all over the country- trying to boondock in places that are really cool and off the beaten path, only to eventually cozy up to an Oliver in the next site over. And certainly don't ask the occupant about the solar and battery system, the ease of use, towing, and overall satisfaction. Stay in the Airstream - slipstream. you don't need the second guessing. But honestly, I don't care what you purchase. I have enough aggravation with those who keep chasing me down along the road, waiting for me to pull over - so they can look at the Oliver. Airstream owners are the worst - I just feel so bad when they leave muttering to themselves. Happy trails.

We recently sold our Airstream, not due to a lack of satisfaction or suitability, but due to discovering Oliver trailers. A walk thru of an owners LE II while we were camping in our Airstream sealed the deal. Once we were home from the camping trip, the Airstream was listed, and sold within 3 hours. We’re planning options, and looking forward to ownership of a LE II twin.

And it applies here. Thank you John...and others down the line. As for added windows to see the riff raff - it seems we don't camp in similar places. As Jim mentioned, the 4 legged bandits seem to be an issue at times. I appreciate your query Voyager, but as it is an oft repeated inquiry to this forum, sometimes we respond with amusement and fun replies. A wet bath is just that, don't like it, purchase something else, not enough height, similar. However, want to discuss the better options: LI v AGM, v wet cell, solar or not, Truma v suburban water warmer - fine - there is a lot of good experienced answers to be had - for free. Which RV is better - who knows - I like mine, that is all that matters to me. I was serious about the folks following to see the inside. It happens - a lot. More than one AS owner left seriously re-thinking their choice. Happy trails RB - I like taking the bait...... as long as the hook is barbless...

And the Oliver also allows the use of a bike rack between the tow vehicle and the Oliver's tongue jack.

Not to sidetrack the topic into all toilet talk, but can those who don't like the wet bath explain to me exactly what it is that bothers people? It's a genuine question - not trying to be snarky or anything. It's just not something that even crossed my or my wife's mind when we were looking, so I don't really get why it seems to be a big sticking point for other buyers. Is it that you feel like you'll have to dry off the toilet to use it, or you don't want to look at it, or does it just make the bath feel institutional? I'm wondering if the shower curtain that we installed makes the difference for us. Functionally, it does keep the toilet dry and hidden. And it also makes the space just nicer feeling, which I do understand and appreciate. I'm curious if Oliver made a shower curtain standard, and photographed it that way, if people would still feel as strongly about it.

Well, there isn’t any. The extra foot in width and slightly longer length gives the Airstream about 20 extra square feet of space. 20 square feet is literally 10 feet of counter space. So the real question is maybe what has Airstream done with all that extra square footage? And I think the answer is that generally they put it into amenities that, IMO, make the trailer more attractive and ‘livable’ than functional. More seating, more windows, etc. If you want to sit in your trailer and feel like you’re in a living room, then absolutely buy an airstream. But if functionality and practicality are your priorities, then the smaller size and added storage of the Oliver will suit you better. Fridge size is kind of debatable. I mean, Oliver could put in a full height fridge and move the microwave into the cabinets under the stove, but that’s obviously a trade off that many people, including us, wouldn’t like. For me, I’ve found that a 12 volt freezer in the truck negates the need for more fridge space, and is infinitely more useful. Also, looking at the 23’ Airstream, the bath arrangement is pretty odd. It looks like to use the toilet you have to refold the doors to make the room bigger, and it seems redundant to have the bath vanity open to the cabin just a few steps from the kitchen sink. Plus like Susan said, the toilet is like 24” from the bed - convenient maybe, but...awkward.

That means you didn't watch TV at all on your week+ journey home from Hohenwald? Bravo!!! 👍

I kind of abstractly understood this but now that I've towed hull #709 (Elite II) a little bit I'm quite happy with this too. I can see how it will be beneficial in many situations. I've not towed much but the prior trailers I *have* towed were out much wider at the wheels and it took a lot more attention to what was going on behind me while going forward. I'm OK with the bathroom being a very space efficient boat style design. All other things being equal I'd prefer the design aesthetic of the AS but all other things aren't equal. Dirt-road-worthiness (including not having cabinets fall off the wall going over potholes) and 4(ish) season ability were more important to me. It's all tradeoffs, eh?

Thanks also to Ray and Susan, and to everyone else here for their contributions. My wife and I are retired, and we live in remote northwest Montana, wherein hail storms occur, the roads are rough, ground clearance matters, and boondocking is the rule, so the truth is, we've been leaning heavily towards the Oliver LE-II Twin side of things for some weeks now. Do I particularly like the bathroom and shower on the Oliver? Nope. Is the overall comfort factor higher on the Airstream? Yup. But there is little doubt that the Ollie is the best and 'right' decision for us. Now, it's just a matter of identifying the most critical options to be included in the order, and waiting patiently for ten-months until delivery. Thanks again to all. 👍

A falling branch wiped out our backup camera antenna recently. I found this replacement at etrailer.com (p/n PXXHD0006301R fits camera model WVCMS130AP, $21 plus tax and S/H). First experience with that site, fully satisfied with their prompt shipping and protective packaging. Hoping this info may help someone. - Brian

Voyager - sounds like you maybe shouldn't get an Oliver, and an AS may or may not be right for you. As a colleague puts it, "every tool is best for something and worst for something else. When I finally settled on the E2, I had looked at LOTS of floorplans of other trailers including AS, and this was one of the checkmarks in the E2 column for me (whereas others may assess floorplans differently for perfectly valid-for-them reasons). And i see SeaDawg has already made another point I came here to add - the windows. I love that wraparound window on the AS but for the life of me I can't figure out whey it's stuck on the tow hitch end which almost always ends up facing the least scenic side of any of the sites in which I've seen Airstreams camped (except maybe in cramped RV village type campgrounds such as the one right at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon where ANY view you get is just of other RVs... in which case I'd be drawing the blinds anyway and spending most of my waking hourse outside of the camper). I wish there was a bit more window area in the Ollie but not using the A S design which just seems weird!

The airstream globetrotter 23fb is quite pretty. But, it would never work for me. We always seek out campsites with beautiful views, and some solitude. Back in the early days, I often posted photos showing the view from my big rear window, as most of those view campsites are back-in. The globetrotter 23fb devotes the best real estate in the trailer , the entire back end, to the bathroom. Which doesn't even have a tiny window to the view. What would be my view from the big front pano windows, lying in bed? The back of my truck. And that, only if I got up on my elbow, and twisted my neck around, because the twin beds are forced to orient to the wall between the salon and the bedroom by the little hanging cupboards at the foot of the bed. It's really my belief that as design is geared more to people who spend a lot of time in resort style parks. That's all good, and it's been obviously a successful market for them. I'm just not part of that market segment. Btw, "lipstick on a pig," that popular American phrase, has been used by many politicians over the past couple decades. But I don't think the late John McCain was one of them. I won't go into it further here, as we have a policy to avoid politics on our discussions. It keeps things oriented toward camping and trailers. 😉

When I started looking at fiberglass trailers I noticed that wet baths are the norm. I assumed it had to do with smaller footprint as fiberglass models tend to be narrower compared to stick built. The process to build and test a new fiberglass mold seems to be expensive and time consuming and I assume partly why you don’t see as many floorplan options especially in double hulled trailer like Oliver. I have used enough RVs with a wet bath to realize it wasn’t a deal breaker. Sure a dry bath is nice but the time I spend each day in bathroom is tiny and I’d rather have space used elsewhere like a closet for storage. At the end of day just a matter a what qualities matter most and that will drive RV you end up with. Good luck.

I asked for a nice pink and purple hued wavy stripe- it was rejected by my boss. With the current choices- seems perfect - simple choice - no choice.

We ordered the end of August. Our trailer went into production on 12/21/20 and we have a pick up date of 02/15/21. It's getting close!

Since I'm originally from tornado and hail country, Oliver was a natural choice. A number of years ago, our Ollie sat through a big hail storm in North Carolina. We were at dinner at a friend's home, came back to hailstones the size of steely marbles. Deep. Not a ding or dent. I look at Airstreams every year at the Tampa rv supershow. The outfitting and decor is lovely. I remember the George Nelson clock in one a few years ago. (I'm a big fan of George Nelson, Isamu Naguchi, Jens Risom, and honestly most things and designers mcm. You'd certainly know if you walked into my home...lol.) But, in my trailer, and my home, my concern is less about replaceable decor than durability and sustainability. For me, the Ollie is a big win on both.

I'd also add that the upper cabinets are the most difficult to plan for - since the back wall is curved, knowing just the length and height may lead you to assume that something will fit when it won't. I made quite a few trips out to the trailer when we were looking for storage ideas, measuring depth and height to see if things would fit.

Thanks Overland! Some great readings there, and they've helped to answer several of my key questions.

I agree. We use our manual awning a lot. It's easy and simple. I personally would not want a power awning. A choice would be good.

Voyager, I think you may have misinterpreted Russell's remark. I don't think he was referring to Montana or Montanans. You'll find that this forum is a pretty chill place*, so I wouldn't try to read too much into any one post. I'll echo his remark though by saying that I've never encountered any baddies while out camping - whether in the middle of nowhere or in campgrounds. But that would be another topic that's been discussed many times here. *something that we'd like to maintain

There wasn't as of just after Christmas. They were supposed to open a ticket for me so I'd me notified when the fix is available. I haven't seen mail saying it was opened so thanks for the reminder to check with them on that.

Sadly, these alarms are made for RVs that don't last more than 5 years! Maybe the newer monitors will be designed like the smoke alarms that are now installed in homes - with a 10 year sealed battery. Even at that, an Ollie will outlast the monitor 😁

The only thing I miss about the dry-bath is the stand alone shower makes a great closet - which is how we mostly used ours in our Class C motorhome, since large storage compartments were few.

And a deeper clean can always be performed between excursions, provided you aren't a full-timer.

From previous posts I understand that the awning is a 16-foot version of the Girard model GG750. FYI, I called Girard about the two fabric options (standard is a vinyl material; "pro" is a canvassy sunbrella material called "Bravia") -- I was interested in longevity. Longevity, of course, depends on many factors, including sun exposure, humidity, conditions during storage, etc. I was told that the vinyl might last at least 3-6 years with "typical" usage (whatever that means, although the company is in Southern California); Bravia 5-8 or perhaps 10 years. Bravia is breathable; vinyl is less so, and can mildew if stored wet. The vinyl costs $270 + shipping and labor to replace (he said replacement is not all that difficult, and there is a video to help guide the process). The corresponding replacement Bravia material costs $560 + shipping. Thus, a person could go through 2 vinyl replacements and still be ahead over the cost of the Pro model (assuming labor is DIY and free), although the Pro model represents less throw-away material (the Pro model would also include the sensor and light, I suppose). Finally, FWIW, the entire unit (didn't specify standard or Pro) weighs about 80 lbs.

While it's true that sitting on the toilet when showering eliminates tall folks from banging their head on the ceiling, it's also true that many (if not most) travel trailers ≥23-foot, have dry baths with higher ceilings. This is true of Airstream, and it's true for even most of it's budget competitors. As for the "lipstick on a pig" remark, if I'm not mistaken, that's a quote from the late Arizona senator and presidential candidate John McCain, when he was first asked about his perception of Sarah Palin, whom he later chose as his running mate. 👊👊

Well, it answers a different question I had. It sounds to me like an Oliver would be a bad fit for you. Like I said in the beginning - it depends on your needs and priorities and it sounds like you need a larger trailer. I think you'll enjoy the Airstream much more. Best of luck to you!

Our 2021 Girard standard awning is solid colored, no "wavy stripy". But I would say it is more of a dark charcoal hue. I don't see the standard awning listed on the Girard website . . . . only the 2085 which has Sunbrella fabric. Does anyone know what model is standard on the 2021 Oliver?

I love the "lipstick on a pig"!

Great analogy . . . . most Airstreams are more suited to RV resort camping . . . . but, you miss out on a lot by avoiding the other end of the camping spectrum - boondocking, public lands, etc . . . . not to say you can't experience these in an Airstream . . . . but the Basecamp is more suitable, and the closest comparison to an Oliver.

And I always thought it was just me. Not really a big issue for us - ever. You are correct - a really well thought out shower curtain system- makes the difference. I use the KISS principle - a few well placed suction cup thingies, along with the factory rail - keep the dry half dry, and the wet half wet. When done, it is relocated to the front port side cubby corner - and held to dry in place with the bungie suction cup thingies... takes little effort. One of these days I will custom cut the shower curtain and hem it - you know the professional look. Na- just gonna keep enjoying the day.

Thank you for your words of caution. Your warning based on your job experiences are certainly more valuable than the information on the package the candle came in. Sometimes, all we need is a reminder. Mossey

Wider? Yes you will need extension mirrors to help with the added blind spot. Lower? Very low don’t hit speed bumps damage to metal enclosure for black tank. You have to be selective with fuel stops will scrape the under carriage entering some fuel stops. Will bottom out entering most state parks with any type of ruts, longer? Maybe you’ll never notice the difference. Some it up buy an airstream park it an enjoy.

I thought maybe a used AS was the way to go. Some of the ads said the floors had been repaired, or maybe only one or two soft spots. Whoa. Started looking at the floors. All exposed to the elements was particle board. Yuck! Then somebody said what they were charged to polish. Eight hours a foot, times how much an hour? Then an Oliver was mentioned. We researched, visited the factory, ordered new. Only seven foot wide, so can see down both sides with standard mirrors. None of that shaking from extended mirrors. High ground clearance. Can wash and wax with spray on Maquires. Only real downside? People will follow you for miles to get a look at your Oliver!

It took me a couple of days to get used to the bathroom feeling like a compartment and not a room . . . . but I'm ok with it . . . . actually, I love it! It's easy to clean and not situated right next to the bed, as the bathrooms are in some trailers.

It's pretty difficult to build a dry bath in the narrowed footprint of the Oliver. The tradeoff is for a solid reason, though. I'm good, with the trailer readily following the truck tires, on narrow roads. We can easily live with the relative confines of the smaller bath. The bath is minutes a day. The towing path is every trip, and especially helpful on narrow roads and steep dropoffs, so common for us.

Thanks. Found a lot of good information at technomadia. John

Oliver needs to update that comparison page now that Airstream has given up on the Nest.

And/or try THIS. Bill edit - if your new to the Forum simply left click on the underlined word in the sentence above. Good luck with your research and (if you can) be sure to take a look at each model you're considering in person before you make your final decision.

Certainly I agree but sure do wish someone could find a way of keeping all those cows quiet 😆.

Take a look at a few of the topics below - I think they'll give you a good idea of the pros and cons. You'll find that most Oliver owners appreciate Airstreams and will give you honest opinions of what they like and dislike about each. For me, I think that the differences are pretty cut and dry (you'll see a few of my posts in the links), and since they're both great trailers, any preference for one over the other will ultimately come down to personal taste and priorities.

We’ve been members of Harvest Hosts for two camping seasons now in our travels with our Oliver. Well worth the money. It’s been very useful for quick overnight stops on the way to our destinations, and some hosts have had a power hookup available. Some great overnight stops to see things that we otherwise would have missed out on if we had just done the Walmart or Cabela’s parking lot overnight stays. Nowhere near I40 but one example of a great HH stop is the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Museum in New York. This was one of my favorite HH stops. Otherwise a lot of wineries as HH stops. We did get the upgraded membership that includes many golf courses as well. We’ve been planning a trip out west for next year and there are a LOT of HH stops all along I40.

That's definitely a possibility I hadn't considered. I'm more interested in gaining easy access to that breaker as I assume we'll have the remote working some day. That blasted breaker is in a tough spot to get to even with the bed cover off, although I've done it enough now that I can just reach my arm up in there and grope around - hoping to not grab the wrong wire or terminals. 🙂 I use it all the time. Maybe LifeBlue will come up with a way to have the battery stop accepting charge at whatever percentage we want with the internal BCM. Wouldn't that be nice.

The awning was the only color my wife let me pick on our recent order.😶Now I understand why.

All the small side cabinets (4 total) are close to the same size. One over fot and head of bed, two over small dinette area. The measurements are the opening size, roughly in my 2008. There's more space on each side of the opening. That's where packing cubes and fabric separators like Skubb from ikea come in. They can use the space, conforming to the curve of the hull, and keep stuff from jumbling around.

That's great news, Susan. I don't want to hijack the thread, but you may be able to research some old land maps, which were labeled with owners' names. It can be a tedious exercise, but I found many of our family's ancestral farms that way. I'll send you a pm.