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After being out on 2 cooler weather trips now, we see the advantage of a portable propane fire bowl! We went to order one and this amazon deal came up - $40 off the regular price! Several folks have posted they have them and it's been on our (well, mine) list for a while. FYI if you are interested. Dave

Hi RussW, sure, it's nothing special really. I think if you used the owners manual and went through each system / component you would accomplish the same thing. Some of my notes may be helpful. My checklist is also specific to some of the options we chose so not all may be appropriate for your Ollie. I used it both while going through the walkthrough (helped remind me of questions) and at Davey Crockett State Park. I did test everything on my list and while there were a few minor things I had to take care of (I called Oliver service twice and they helped tremendously), nothing required a trip back to Hohenwald. I did exactly what JRK is going to do and stayed an extra day to make sure I had time to test everything before driving back home.Ollie Inspection Checklist.xlsx

For anyone interested here are some pictures of my new diamondback SE cover and crossbin 13 installed on a GMC Sierra 2500.

Our 2018 Elite 2 has the same A/C with an easy start and my Honda 2200 EU runs the A/C fine, just don't try to run the microwave or the fridge on auto at the same time. FYI Champion dual fuel generators have a lower wattage output running on propane. We follow the travel route of 70 degrees and sunny so we have traveled 5 months at a time maybe using the generator once or twice.

The 2018 brochure shows it as a 13,500 BTU AC. A 2,000 or 2,200 watt gas generator will run it with the Easy Start, no problem. If you want to convert the generator to run off of propane, I know the Honda 2,200 will run it without problem, on propane. Andrew

Thanks for the replies, and comments. John Davies, just to be a bit contrary, I am buying the Lexus. I view an Oliver as superior to the Mercedes or Lexus equivalent of the trailer industry, which is why I am here. I didn't want a $13,000 trailer, as I was concerned about the quality. I do not need a Rolls Royce, (used to be Cadillac), so I compromised at $60,000 for an Oliver. A 13' trailer. I do not expect any problems or issues caused by production issues. I do not expect any problems or issues due to the choice of installed equipment and appliances. The problems go with the $13,000 trailer (I won't mention brands). I do expect something of the quality of my last trailer, as a minimum, which was a 1985 Coachmen 5th wheel, 24'. I put more than 200,000 miles on it, with no problems or issues attributed to workmanship - ie missed issues, overspray, electrical problems or similar. Oh, I had to replace a couple of water pumps, a manual jack (just one), several sets of tires, the plastic window trim, all of the plastic roof vents, etc. which are expected. I am buying what has been described to me as being a premium product. That is what I expect to receive. That is what my research has shown. Thanks John and Anita, you have made me feel a bit more comfortable. JD, I have learned a lot from your posts. Thanks. When I read about glue from flooring making its way to the gel coat and not being able to be removed, or paint overspray on cabinets, or unfinished gel coat, I just shorted out a bit. When added to problems with the choice and installation of a battery tray that damages the battery, or reading about the installed Zamp issues and problems compared to other brands, I began to question my judgment. That level of workmanship is not acceptable at any price point, or quality level, Yugo or Aston Martin. I'm looking forward to getting the trailer, but I will be carrying my inspection list. I'll spend an extra night at DCSP before I begin my trip back to Los Angeles. John

Late January in Maine, so we can't go be with nature. So nature came to visit the Oliver. Eleven deer any day is good. One can dress in bright orange and go the whole month of November without seeing one. "Life is Good".

I refinished the stock of a rifle with teak oil, probably 40 years or so ago. Maybe 15 coats with rub of fine steel wool between coats. That piece still looks brand new today, and it gets used fairly often. A little effort up front will pay some long term dividends....

Teak oil can bring gray wood railings on a sailboat back to a light teak color. More coats can make it darker and harder. A pressure wash and a good coat after dry, once a year, should do it.

I haven't seen any deer in the yard, but plenty of tracks. I was surprised to see 2 robins and 8 bluebirds today! They must have been cold in this wind! Paula

john thanks for the input... im interested in having one too...looks great.! keep me posted on how warm/hot the truck bed stays when closed.?? 10-q dan

Both lids have keyed latch mechanisms. You do not have to lock them. (they don't lock automatically) When they are locked it would be very difficult to gain entry unless you really want to work at it. John

Thanks John and Anita. The checklist will be helpful. After my delivery walkthrough which will include my Q&A, I will review my checklist to make sure I have missed little. Hopefully, the extra day at DCSP will give me time to use everything thing to verify what is not visible or identified during the delivery walkthrough. I expect nothing to be wrong. Looking forward to March 17. John

Our 2,200 watt Honda, with the Hutch Mountain propane conversion, runs a smooth at sea level as it does at 8,600 feet and has no problem running the AC. Andrew

Many thanks for providing this very comprehensive checklist. It contains several items I would not have thought of that should be checked. We also plan to stay at least one extra night at David Crockett so we can familiarize ourselves with everything. Getting more excited every day and can't wait to pick up our Ollie!

You didn't mention if you have solar and the big AGM battery bank with the inverter. With that a generator is usually only needed for the A/C. Everything else should run on Propane, 12 volt and inverter. That has been our experience.

When picking a generator you must also consider altitude - about 3% loss per 1000 feet - not insignificant if you are really high up. And propane generators can get flaky in cold weather if the gas supply gets low, below about half the capacity. So if you are relying on it in winter for shore power you would be better off with a gasoline version. My preference is to have a completely independent gasoline powered source of electricity, not one that sucks propane out of the trailer system (especially if you have the smaller 20 pound bottles). https://www.generatorjoe.net/html/genfuel.html Picking a more powerful generator is always a smart choice, but only if the extra weight or size is not a problem. That way you can use more electrical stuff at the same time and you are not running it flat out all the time, which is stressful for the engine. Choose a generator with an “eco-throttle”; under lighter load it will idle down a little (more quiet), but if it is running at full output that feature won’t be useable. Be sure to consider the continuous rating, not just the peak (surge) number, which is not very meaningful. I personally feel that 2200 watts is a little small.... a whole lot of the decision depends on how often you think you will need it. And if you ever want to use it for home emergency power - bigger is much better, in that case. John Davies Spokane WA

Your checklist was really helpful. Anyone that gets different options can just add a few additional rows to this file. Thanks a lot for sharing this file and for your reassuring comments on Oliver quality...and your experience with the service department.

I can’t remember what we paid for ours, but with the campfire restrictions almost everywhere these days, it’s been a great purchase regardless of price.

Welcome from hull #211. Agree that Robin and crew at 'Banana Banners' does a fine job, and are creative and friendly folks. Real easy to work with. ( probably help get the old one off?). With the state outline and the lobster you should be great. I find with my design folks "from away" and while out of state, people know where we are from. However in state, especially up north, with the state outline and the state seal and color, we have been mistaken for the State Police Crime Lab. As they hide inside you can see the curtains flutter...lol. Where is your "home port"? If you want to talk about the trailer or need a hand, be sure to reach out. We are not that far away from Brunswick. I think now we have on the high side of over 10 within 30 miles of here. A side note: the 54 Chevy will not haul the Oliver, it's only 6 volt...

Confirmed that we are a cult? 😆

I can relate to your observations . . . . friends say I'm anal and a bit OCD, but that's ok . . . we are who we are 😄

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

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. 🙂

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’m a long time woodworker. What I’ve seen from Foy is top notch craftsmanship. If I was ordering a new trailer and wanted wood accents I would not get any fiber granite option and have Foy craft a custom interior for me. Mike

Thanks for the kind words regarding my craft. I consider an Oliver the best blank canvas to create a personal space of your dreams I make countertop upgrades for the Oliver along with other organization options. My countertops are relief cut so they sit down on the cabinet not on top of it, this is a classic look of fine cabinets. I offer Mahogany, Mahogany & Maple Strips, Poplar stained grey or dark brown to match the Oliver flooring option and Walnut with or without live edge. Below is a link to my PDF catalog and some sample pictures of my craft. It I can craft something for you please reachout to me. 48ocean@gmail.com or call my cell 516-635-5656. Foybles PDF Catalog Onward, Foy Sperring Hull # 227

13 minutes ago I'm sorry. I just don't get this aversion to the midwest. I grew up in New England, wentbto school in Colorado, worked fro Wyoming Game and Fish in the Tetons, grew oysters on the coast of central California, worked in the Turks and Caicos Islands for 2 year, run a pan-Caribbean ngo, and have worked for Florida Fish and Wildlife doing marine research in the Florida Keys for the last 35 years...all beautiful places...and I think the plain states are absolutely gorgeous. Have you seen the buffalo grazing in the tall grass prairie? Or watched a thunderstorm rumbling across the horizon? The thousands of cranes on the Platte? With all due respect, perhaps you could stop along the way from somewhere to somewhere else. You may just be surprised.

I reorganized the pantry earlier this year. Painted the back of the door to make it easier to clean and added a stainless sheet I got off amazon. Then attached a small box from Ikea as a spice rack. The boxes I found at Target and they really fit well - much better than the ones I had before. And I added a LED strip light to the side to make it easier to see. You can't really see it, but I ran a bungee across the top and it's a perfect spot to store one of those folding drying mats. Also, I had some plywood left over from the electrical, so I made a quick shelf to go over the toaster oven (in the microwave cabinet). I ordered a giant neoprene mouse pad off of amazon, and cut it to size to keep the dishes from bouncing around too much. The cabinet itself was just bare wood, and was starting to get dirty, so I sanded it and added a coat of poly to make it easier to wipe out. I couldn't get used to plastic dishes, so I bought a few plates and bowls at Ikea. They haven't broken yet is all I can say.

A little update on what I've been up to so far this summer, which has been all electrical. I've been wanting to redo all of the electrical work that I did when I took delivery, just because one, I was rushed, and two, I learned a lot both doing it and since doing it. So I made some new plywood boards to mount everything on, since I didn't really trust the PVC ones that I originally used. I rounded the corners of the plywood to try to minimize the chances of the corners digging into any cable that rested on it. Then reorganized it all, made sure all the cables were wrapped, and tried to tie down everything as securely as possible. I've been using zip tie cable supports. They're nice and small and grip the cables well. I used washers under the screws to prevent the ties from pulling through. Since part of the work involved removing the inverter, I decided that while it was out I might as well go ahead and get rid of the black tank and the sewer line. (You'll notice that I still need to recap the sewer at the grey tank.). That was a pain, but since I wasn't trying to salvage anything I could just go at it with an oscillating saw. I had to cut the pipe into pieces to get it out the rear hatch, and the black tank I had to cut in two as well since it wouldn't make the turn out the dinette seat hatch. Also meant I had to cut the vent pipe but I needed to remove the shower caddy for my next project anyway. None of this was too difficult and getting rid of the sewer pipe gave me a ton more room to run my cables. Before this, they were wedged pretty tightly in places, not very accessible - I was worried that they could wear against a sharp edge of fiberglass or something else that I couldn't see. I mounted a half-height milk crate where the black tank was, and enlarged the hole under the composting toilet. As an excuse for not deleting the black tank, Oliver once told me that it was needed as structure for the bath floor. That was pure fiction of course, since there's a gap between the floor and the tank, and you can enlarge that hole almost to the edge of the toilet and the floor remains solid as can be. That's where I'll store zip lock bags of extra peat moss in case we need to empty the toilet while traveling. It should be perfect storage for that - since I'd have to pull the toilet out anyway, access to the peat will be right there. I'll add a small rubber gasket around the hole to prevent shower water from seeping in. It hasn't been a problem, but with the larger hole I'd like to make sure. I also took the time to straighten up the rats nest of cables behind the fuse box as best I could. I don't know what other Ollies are like, but prior to this, I could barely even see in there. I'd even lost a small Atom smoke detector under the wiring after it fell loose. It was a few months later before I found it by wedging my phone randomly into the wiring nest and taking photos. Another thing I did was to saw off the sharp end of some screws in that space. Pretty much anything that is screwed into the fiberglass, like courtesy lights, has sharp screws that could potentially damage an electrical cable. All in all, I feel a lot more confident about the electrical, at least in these areas. This was all done working an hour or so a few days a week, so it seems like it's taken forever. I got about half of it done before the rally, but then it was slow going after that - a bit here and there as I found time. And I could still go back through to secure or wrap a few more things - seems never-ending. Also, working with the power off means no A/C and I have confirmed that I never want to boondock in the summer. Oh, I also added LED light strips in the compartments to make things easier to see. They really make a difference, so I highly recommend them. I'm using the Luminoodle Clicks that I listed above, but any similar strip light would work. Pics - Charge controller and breaker with cutoff switches for solar and batteries. Panels feed into bus bars on the right. I left space to the left for a second charge controller, breaker, and cutoff for external solar, just in case I decide to go that route someday: I moved Oliver's electrical and the positive bus bar onto a vertical panel. Main fuse is mounted to the battery box above: Negative side. The coiled cable is from the Zamp port, which I'm not using right now: And the inverter, which is much more secure now than it was when mounted to PVC:

Born & raised in Michigan. I can relate to what Sherry is saying. In the 70's, before Clair & I were married, we started our travels in Michigan. We had both spent most of our life very close to home so it was exciting to get out & tour our beautiful state. When we moved to Florida we spent a lot of time traveling within the state & then branched out to see most of the eastern side of the US. We shy away from cities, preferring to travel back roads & visit small communities. So far, we haven't found a state without beauty or interest. Sooo...we know that there's so much more out there to experience & enjoy! Thanks for sharing Sherry! Clair was just talking about taking a trip up into Wisconsin & over to Minnesota to visit a friend of ours. Adventures await! Kathy