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Hi John, Like you, I was worried after reading everything out on the forum before we got our Oliver a few months ago too. Now that we have our trailer (for over 2 months now) and I've had a chance to really give it a workout, a lot of the anxiety was unnecessary. Of course the reality is that there can be things that need to be addressed even on delivery day. This is a "tiny house on wheels", so there's the fiberglass structure, the wheels, suspension and a whole lot of components that have to work together. To help with my anxiety while waiting, I also read other travel trailer forums and it was quite obvious that the issues owners were having with Oliver trailers were MINOR compared to other brands. I also developed a trust in Oliver service from what other owners were saying on the forum. I made a (large) checklist of things to look for and check before I left Hohenwald. I'm happy to report that just about everything mentioned by owners in this forum has been addressed by Oliver over the years. We've had a couple minor issues that have cropped up and I've addressed - no problem so far and Oliver service has been stellar as expected. Nothing has been serious enough to impair our ability to use (and thoroughly enjoy) the trailer and it's luxury. I enjoy fixing the little things that I can as it is helping me learn and become comfortable with our new vacation home. 🙂

Before we found Oliver, we drove to Elkhart and toured every manufacturer. We were in Elkhart for a full week and walked away with a large box of brochures. We attended several large RV shows in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. I toured the Airstream factory in Jackson Center on three occasions. In all this I didn’t see the quality that I was looking for. Being a mechanical design engineer (form follows function) I saw a lot of both design mistakes (personal opinion) and assembly mistakes. The very first time I saw an Oliver I knew that I had found what I was looking for! When we took the plant tour we were even more positive and placed our order that day! Now going on four years of ownership the problems seen are the same as with every other camper manufactured. Oliver is bound by the available appliances which as noted before are not the best quality. Within reason there is no other choice in appliances. Also, for what it’s worth (a lot by the way) Oliver service, overall experience is second to none, period!

Final verdict: the Buff Magic worked. I started out polishing by hand and could see it was working, but after my rotator cuff started aching I used my drill with a buffing pad on it. 👍 I figured I'd finish with my random orbital buffer but I probably won't bother as I can't see any swirl marks or blemishes up close from the first pass. Again, tough to see the real results without moving around and looking at it from different angles in the light, but I tried to capture the same lighting and reflection as the first picture. It does look like the rest of the interior now - new.

I would like to add that a lot of folks may expect “Lexus quality” from an Ollie. That will never be the case. A modern car that is in large part fabricated and assembled by robots will inevitably be a much more precise and reliable machine for years to come. An Ollie is assembled over two months by a large number of individuals, who by their very human nature have strengths and weaknesses, good days and bad. They may get distracted, they may make mistakes. A good quality control program should, and usually does catch those, so they can be corrected. There may be a bad batch of sealant, or something similar that is beyond their control.... And most of the appliances and components like wheel bearings and seals are standard RV stuff, meaning they are cheaply built (“adequate”) and only vaguely efficient or reliable. To get a Lexus RV you have to spend a whole lot more money. But OTH the general Ollie build quality seems to be greatly improved over four years ago, when they were experiencing their first growth spurt, and having to adapt to a much more intense production schedule. A new owner expecting completely trouble free , low maintenance ownership is probably going to be very disappointed. The stellar follow up service and the feeling of being in a close family is very important. It’s a VERY nice RV, and I feel you cannot buy a better one for the money, but in the end it is still an RV. If you were buying a $500,000 Earthcruiser, you should expect close to perfection. But an Ollie’s bones, the hull and frame, are stellar. That is the bottom line. It is always fun to watch the look of stunned disbelief of somebody who really understands metal fabrication when he first squats down and looks at that wonderful frame. His eyes widen, then “Whoa!” John Davies Spokane WA

No matter what any one of this body of owners tells you there will always be that lingering feeling that since we own one we must be in love with it. No matter how much we say that we are unbiased the fact remains that we still own an Oliver. Don't take our word for it - schedule a factory tour and see and feel it for yourself. Or, at the very least, schedule a visit with a current owner near you to take a look. Bill

As much as I always enjoy and I appreciate JD's comments - on a wide range of topic's, I must demure here - somewhat. His comments are spot on in relation to people being human and - despite best intentions, given solid training, proven processes, and perfect parts - people are at best 80% reliable. As to robotic assembly - sure - in todays assembly plants - automation is much more a part of the build - but mainly in heavy process driven areas such as the stamping, body fab and finish - in the assembly areas - robotic assembly is much harder to deploy - for many reasons. Automation is not an Oliver strongpoint. and it is expensive - for small quantities.... . People remain at the core of the process. However, my point - Quality - or more to the point - build to design intent - is a culmination of all the inputs - human and "robotic" which can be measured, controlled, and continually improved - beyond "Lexus" standards. Where Oliver has done a decent (excellent?) job - in an industry rife with shoddy manufacturing quality- they have plenty of room for improvement. Customers deserve the quality level they expect - from a premium Company - charging a premium price. It is not unreasonable for an Oliver RV to meet or exceed design intent -and the expectations of the customer. Inspection processes, (the Oliver system) while valuable, are not the panacea to a quality product. From my on site observations - for Oliver to achieve world class quality results - they must move towards a total system approach - one that was once referred to as TPS - (Toyota Production System) to which every manufacturer of note, has adopted in various measures and given their own moniker. GM, Ford, Nissan, VW, Tesla, etc. - - All have their own - you can graph - over time -industry quality improvements with the adoption of these type systems. Sure - AI, computer simulation - and the electronification of the vehicle are also huge factors in the total. (And many build 50+ per hour at a high FTQ) As Oliver has relied on their service departments to correct issues and keep customers singing their praise - the real money is in getting it right the first time. As production schedules push the process - Oliver will be forced to move in that direction - or expect the eventual decline in overall product satisfaction. At times - Oliver customers experience issues - that simply should not have made it to the customer. It happens. non the less - Oliver remains a top quality RV product. To quote Lee Iacocca - If you can find a better car (RV) , buy it," As someone on the forum has previously commented - were they younger - there is a great opportunity to supply the RV industry with quality and reliable appliances and products. As Thor and Dometic continue to buy up all the independent's - the bane of the reputable RV builders will continue to be with the "parts" they have to build with. I apologize for the length and off topic drivel - this post droned on and on. Moderator - please remove if I'm to far out there. RB

In 2017 I was told by Anita in Sales that they use a local sign company to print all the outside stickers. I won’t be sorry to see the swooshes go away. I deleted them anyway. It’s like removing those pesky badges from a sports car, a pure white Ollie is way faster😬 John Davies Spokane WA

I took the liberty of moving all the comments on velcro types to a new thread. Since many of us use Velcro (and other hook and loop fasteners), I thought it might need a stand alone thread. Velcro comments continue here:

Some of those manufacturers really need to reassess their supply models for the USA. I considered retrofitting an Alde heating system in my Ollie, but you cannot buy individual parts, it is for OEM RV builders only. How insanely stupid is that? I guess they are protecting their reputation and warranty. Too bad. John Davies Spokane WA

And I'd like to add . . . . after you have taken the Oliver factory tour (or watch the video here and other Youtube videos) and experienced an owner tour, visit several RV dealerships and do an in-depth comparison: Don't let the "skin deep" beauty influence your comparison Get below the surface and see how much "care" goes into building the other brands Open cupboards and drawers Inspect the wiring, plumbing and other mechanical construction Crawl underneath and take a look Bounce up and down on the entry step . . . . . . . etc. etc. etc As you make comparisons, focus on the usefulness, practicality and durability of the construction and features of each trailer based on how you plan to use your trailer. Compare used unit prices, (currently, these may be inflated due to Covid RV demand) Include trailers of various price and degree of luxury If you are a spreadsheet person (Me), record your observations for a thorough evaluation. Calculate depreciation at 1, 5 and 10 years. You don't have to simply take the word of devoted Oliver owners; seeing is believing.

I think you are echoing the sentiments of many of us!!

For grins and giggles here is a Ford dealers explanation of their different trailer tow packages. The regular tow package is what I have and is "ok" for the LEII. Post sale, I installed the max pkg FORD OEM trailer brake controller myself....an easy mod....just had learn how to mod the software. I do not have and I think I will miss having the larger gas capacity. *********************************************************************************************** What is the Ford Max Tow Package? June 12th, 2020 by Evan Riley Many of our customers at Kings Ford in Cincinnati, OH, who are looking at Ford trucks for sale are interested in using their vehicle for towing. Ford trucks are all excellent choices for this sort of work, but determining exactly which configuration and packages are right for you can sometimes be confusing. Perhaps the question we get most often is: what is the Ford Max Tow Package? And how is it different from the standard Trailer Tow Package? If you are one of the people who have this question, this post is for you. We will lay out all the differences so that when you are ready to purchase one of our Ford trucks for sale, you will know exactly which towing package is right for you. The first piece of information that you should know is that the Ford Max Tow Package (or Max Trailer Tow Package as it is officially known) is only an option on the Ford F-150 series trucks. For the Ford Ranger, there is only a basic Trailer Tow Package that adds a hitch and 4/7 pin connector as well as increases the tow rating. With the Ford Super Duty trucks, all models come ready to tow from the factory with a hitch and 4/7 pin connector. However, they do have specialized tow packages for campers and gooseneck trailers. So if a Ford Ranger can handle your towing needs, or if your trailer requires the extra might of a Ford Super Duty truck, then deciding which tow package you need is a straightforward matter. However, most of our customers are interested in the Ford F-150 and will need to decide between the Trailer Tow Package and the Max Tow Package. The differences between these two packages are not obvious, and you will probably not be able to tell which package is present on a Ford truck without referencing the build sheet. However, once you hook a trailer up to your vehicle, those hidden differences will soon become quite apparent. The Trailer Tow Package The basic Ford Trailer Tow Package is actually not that basic. It, of course, comes with the obvious Class IV trailer hitch and standard 4/7-pin wiring harness to connect your trailer. However, the package also includes numerous less obvious features to improve your trailering experience. For instance, on every engine except the base 3.3L V6, the Trailer Tow Package also adds an engine oil cooler to keep the truck from overheating under the heavier strain of towing. Other mechanical upgrades include a heavier front stabilizer bar and, on some models, an auxiliary transmission oil cooler. Finally, the package adds a tailgate LED that makes hitching a trailer in the dark a much easier experience. Altogether, these upgrades mean that an F-150 with the Trailer Tow Package is a far more capable vehicle than one that has simply had a hitch and wiring added later. So if you are looking at Ford trucks for sale with the intention of adding towing capability down the road, be aware that spending the money on a factory tow package will get you far more value for your dollar. However, the Trailer Tow Package does not stop with physical upgrades to the truck and also adds two valuable electronic features. These are Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Smart Trailer Tow Connector. While a good mechanic could replicate the mechanical additions of the Trailer Tow Package, these integrated electronic upgrades are only available from the factory. Pro Trailer Backup Assist is designed to make reversing with a trailer attached a far simpler and more intuitive task. When this feature is activated, and the truck is put in reverse, steering is performed with an auxiliary knob on the dashboard instead of the steering wheel. Simply turn the knob in the direction that you want to go, and the computer will figure out the necessary steering inputs to get you there while monitoring your trailer through the backup camera. This not only makes maneuvering with a trailer a breeze; it means that you will never again need to stop and think about which way to turn the wheel to keep from backing into something. The second electronic system included in the Trailer Tow Package is less evident to the driver but just as valuable. Smart Trailer Tow Connector monitors the electrical systems in any trailer plugged into your truck and displays relevant information right in your instrument cluster. This will let you know if your trailer has any burned out lights or if its batteries are running low, preventing any unpleasant surprises while you are out on the road. Along with Pro Trailer Backup Assist, these advanced electronic features more than justify purchasing a Ford F-150 with the Trailer Tow Package if you have any desire to pull a trailer in the future. The Max Tow Package If you are looking at Ford trucks for sale specifically for something to tow trailers, then even the basic Trailer Tow Package might not be enough for you. In that case, look for an F-150 with the Max Trailer Tow Package. This improved towing package includes all the mechanical and electronic features found in the starting towing package, from the engine oil cooler and upgraded stabilizer bar to Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Smart Trailer Tow Connector. But it also adds some extra features that are particularly valuable for pulling heavier trailers longer distances. The single most significant change included in the Max Tow Package is the upgrade to an electronic-locking rear axle with a 3.55 gear ratio. The addition of an electronic-locking rear axle means that power will be directed evenly to both rear wheels, significantly improving traction on poor surfaces. If you are in mud or snow, this might be the difference between getting your trailer moving or not. While the larger 3.55 gear ratio is not as large an improvement as the electronic-locking rear axle, stepping up from the standard 3.15 or 3.31 will provide more effective torque and help you get a heavy trailer moving more efficiently. If the Max Tow Package is combined with the Heavy-Duty Payload Package, then this will be further upgraded to a 3.73 gear ratio. Two other physical changes included in the Max Tow Package are a larger fuel tank and an upgraded rear bumper. While the base Ford F-150 has either a 23-gallon or 26-gallon fuel tank, trucks equipped with the Max Tow Package have a 36-gallon fuel tank. Increasing fuel capacity by almost 50% is not only important because pulling a large and heavy trailer will result in higher fuel consumption, but because needing to stop for gas with a trailer attached can be a hassle that is better avoided. Finally, the Ford Max Tow Package includes the Integrated Trailer Brake Controller. This electronic system not only connects your trailer’s brakes to the brake pedal in your truck, but it also allows you to adjust just how much brake force your trailer is applying on the fly from a switch on the dashboard. This valuable system makes stopping with a trailer much simpler and safer. And with its adjustability, you can easily get your trailer to behave the same way, no matter if it is empty or fully-loaded. Further improving safety, if the connection to the trailer is lost, your truck will immediately alert you with a warning chime and a message in your instrument cluster. Overall, the Max Tow Package is a valuable upgrade over the already feature-rich Trailer Tow Package. It is a vital addition to any Ford F-150 that will often be used for towing. We hope this post has answered your question of what is the Ford Max Tow Package and given you insight into which of our many Ford trucks for sale is the right choice for your towing needs. If you have any more questions or wish to test out some of these advanced features for yourself, stop by Kings Ford and let our friendly sales team help you out. *******************************************************

I have owned a small handful of RV’s, including an Airstream that I bought new as a factory order. I do not presently own an Oliver, but wish I did. Over the years I bought each of my RV’s new, and every one was purchased with the thought being that they were the best I could get irrespective of price at the time I bought them. Sadly, however, the Airstream was the worst of the lot BY FAR when compared to the others I have owned. The company had no quality control whatsoever, their management lacked integrity, and buying it was the worst decision I ever made. And I’m not talking about little problems. I cringe every time I read someone mention Airstream in the same breath as Oliver. Carry on...

Comparing Airstream to Oliver is apple to oranges. Completely different products, manufacturing, construction, business philosophy, etc. I’ve had no reliability issues. Normal wear and tear, my inverter performs inconsistently but everything else works as it should. Mike

I had similar - a little light compound and buffer took care of it for the most part - had a few spots that required some 1000 grit to get it all out. I also had the sloppy floor glue - 3m adhesive cleaner took care of it very well. And O/S also - on the outside ??? All were cover with a good wax - Meguiar's is hard to beat. Guess Oliver does this a a no cost addition to the owner.

Following this thread closely. There are a couple of areas beside the floor laminate, and several square feet of gelcoat along the outer wall below the dinette table, where a sloppy tech got floor adhesive and just ..... left it there. The latter is only visible with the table removed or I would have seen it at delivery. Idiot tech, and idiot me for not checking. It will not come off with any solvent or careful scraping, so I guess sandpaper is the only choice? That and the crookedly mounted rear window (visible on the outside) make my blood boil. But I admit that I am anal. Does this stuff bother other owners? There is a house nearby with one crooked window out of four in a line, every time I drive by I laugh, it is so obvious to me and such a silly thing for a worker to do, this is why God made bubble levels... 😬 John Davies Spokane WA

I have a roughly 6 inch by 2 foot area of Gelcoat under my dinette seat that is dull. It's not easy to see without the right light angles, but you can make it out in the photo, especially where the reflection of the space heater is interrupted. According to OTT Service, it was likely an area that was missed or not completed when being built - not a big deal to repair. When it comes to buffing Gelcoat, there are tons of choices and some are better than others on white, so I asked OTT Service what they currently use in-house. They use a product called Buff Magic (https://www.amazon.com/Shurhold-Yacht-Brite-YBP-0101-Magic/dp/B001HBQDO8). I'm going to give it a try. As a bonus it also cleans and shines metals.

I just took delivery of my used 2018 Oliver Elite II yesterday. It took me 5 months of research of trailers and 3 months of looking on the Oliver Forum to finally buy this Oliver. Three other Oliver trailers that I wanted to buy were sold prior to me "pulling the trigger". I was the first person to respond to the ad on the forum for my Hull # 354 which had all the options I wanted on it. The original trailer owner lived in Michigan and because of my worry of traveling with COVID virus, he was nice enough to deliver it to me in Maine. I can't wait for spring so I can wash and wax the outside and get the Ollie ready for its maiden trip with me. I plan to replace the front Oliver log with a outline of the State of Maine and a red lobster on top of the outline. If you see it in your travels be sure to say hi. I want to thank the Oliver Service people for all their help in pricing out options that I wanted on the other trailers I was looking at (and now do not need with my Oliver). Richard

Thanks for all the concerns. Workers ran a pallet jack and pushed the 30amp right out. How it didn't ruin the 30 amp connection is baffling. We had a 110 oil filled backup heater to keep everthing very warm, until it came out. We have solar and it kept up with the tank heaters tank goodness. An expensive option that paid off. I think the Truma is very sensitive to cold weather and the tank freezes easily but this was beyond. We opted for the antifreeze kit in the new one. The toilet valve is also a weak area to freeze easily. Our second one. 45 bucks and 15 minutes to install. Carry a spare. Ice built up in the macerator pump. It quit and thought I lost it too but found where the fuse was.. Sink faucet was a surprise but we didn't like the original anyway. Too big for that space. Then the water pump. When things freeze like that it's no surprise that went. But go figure the outside shower never went. I think because we've never used it and it still had anti freeze in the lines. But considering everything I think this would have destroyed a normal trailer. This is a space ship. Unless you go off a cliff I would put it on top of the pack. We are back to 100% as I think I've crawled through every orifice on this trailer right now. And I'm 66. But cherish the heat and hot water. Protect at all costs. Because when bad things happen they happen at the worst time.

Be aware that if you wish to try Dual Lock it can be rather difficult to take apart. Bill

Though I am not a proponent of "off-shore" sourcing, there are many better RV components being built in other countries. Perhaps Dometic, et al needs some competition. Please excuse me for the multiple replies . . . . I should read all posts and reply in one, but I can't seem to wrap my head around that concept. 😀

That is exactly the response one of our sons gave (he's skilled at welding/metal fabrication as well as a perfectionist) when he came to look at our new Ollie.

Yes, 3M Dual Lock is what you want.

I have the 3314850.000 Air Distribution Box on Hull 313. See if this document for installation of the Dometic Air Distribution Box 3314850.000 answers your questions. https://www.intechtrailers.com/images/info/PDF/Dometic/schematics-ac-diagrams.pdf

Hi Bill, I’m not quite how to take your post. This is 3M Heavy Duty (10 pound rated) stuff from a roll, neither standard nor extreme. Is that what you are referring to? It is a little taller than the standard material, but it is much grippier. Thus the tall posts for getting the fan up.... and the battery tray does clear them 😉 John Davies Spokane QA

John and Anita, Glad to see you got it buffed out! Looking good!

I'm really surprised they are doing away with the swooshes. 🤔 I know it's a personal thing, but we really like them for subtly breaking up the all white, "Mr. Clean" look.

Getting close, I have all the vent holes cut, and I mounted the fan in the bottom of the battery box. I have some wiring left to finish before I can test it and see how much actual airflow I get . There will be several install threads in a while.... Before anyone asks, the four posts sticking up are grab handles for pulling the fan plate free from the velcro for cleaning or servicing. John Davies Spokane WA

I'm speculating a bit based on what I was told but I believe the swoops were manufactured in house and the machine used to make them started to break down.

Lithium can be worth it but I hope people understand what they are getting and how to take care of them. Ruining your lithium batteries after a year or two is way harder to swallow than trashing your AGMs. At the rate Oliver is selling Pro packages I suspect there are going to be more than a few angry customers in a year or two.

That, I am really sad to see. The custom graphics have always been fun , and personal. I hope Oliver rethinks this.

I know the bolt in the red circle holds down the roof unit. I think, because I don’t remember, the screw in the green circle holds the control portion of the inside cover in place. To remove 90% of the inside cover, open the curb and street side vents completely and 2 screws will be visible in each opening. Now that you know where to look, open the front and rear vents completely and look on the hinge side of the opening and you should see 2 screws in each opening, but they are much harder to see. Use a long #2 Phillips screwdriver with a round barrel because you will be rubbing on plastic and a square barrel will hinder your efforts. Mossey

Now a $$$ option ?? Must be more trouble than it is worth. I can see the trend - as Oliver ramps up production, they have completely eliminated custom inquiries, and are standardizing options, while eliminating those that don't support the mission.... Certainly makes sense - Toyota championed the concept about 45 years back. Seems there are plenty of suppliers out there that will do the same...

We've had a few VERY minor issues. Oliver has very promptly helped us diagnose and fix all of them. Super impressed with service at Oliver and couldn't be happier with our trailer.

NCeagle, We have used Meguiar's #67 one step compound achieving good results for water spots and light scratches: https://www.meguiars.com/marine/products/meguiars-marinerv-one-step-compound-m6732-32-oz-liquid After using #67 then we applied Meguiar's Flagship premium marine wax/cleaner with good results: https://www.meguiarsdirect.com/meguiars-flagship-premium-cleaner-wax-32oz.html

Marine shops offer plenty of products to do this. For my fiberglass kayaks, which are similarly finished in gelcoat, I keep a couple of products on hand. I have a fiberglass rubbing compound, light duty, which is good for buffing out minor scratches and scuffs. After use, the surface has a dull shine to it. Also have a finishing polisher/wax which brings back the original, high gloss shine. If there are scratches that need deeper attention, I will hit the area lightly with sandpaper as needed. I may start with a middle grade such as 120 or 150, than go over it with 400 than move one to wet sanding with 800 and, if a critical spot, will finish by wet sanding with 1200. Than onto compound and finish with the polisher/wax. I've brought beat up hulls back to factory finish by doing this. Plenty of instructionals on youtube as well.

So my wife and I had to go out of town. We had been living in our Ollie for about 7 months. Figured everything was fine with full tanks of.propane and space heater. Our stay was extended because of family death. Propane ran out and workers accidently unplugged us. It was freezing weather of course. Got back and our truma hot water had frozen and broke. Didn't winterize it. The kitchen faucet froze and broke. The bathroom had to have toilet repaired. The fresh water pump froze and broke. Hopefully we don't find anything else. Didn't have hot water for almost a month. Luckily we had the 12v tank heaters or who knows what. Moral is stupid newbies should have prepared for the worst and just fully winterized. These trailers are fantastic but not indestructible. It's been a nightmare since this is our home for the next 2-3 months more. Oliver has been great working with us. Can't say the same about Truma.