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Hi Pat, I noticed #1 on your list was: "Reflective Red/Silver Tape on the lower parts of their Oliver, like you would see on a Semi Trailer, to improve visibility at night. Great Idea!" I got the idea for my trailer by often night driving with the big boys of the road and their DOT reflectiveness too. But who is to say it has to be so industrial looking? My camper; my artistic expression with some 3M reflective tape:

I nominate this for “Post of the Year”. I think of them as Tool Time Tim’s. They’ll put afterburners on their lawnmowers thinking it will cut their chore times in half. They fail to factor in the Fire Dept visit to put out the brush fire.

We may. It has been a few years since our last visit. Currently in the Raspberry Gulch Dispersed camping just off 285 between Salida and Buena Vista CO. 4 miles off main road. Very nice. Additional good enough 4g and cell. All paid for by our Federal tax dollars. Can't beat it.

Just wanted to introduce ourselves and thank everyone for all of the valuable information on the forums. We are Dave & Becky Rutkiewic and we are picking up our LEII (Hull # 870) in August of this year. We live in the upstate of SC on Lake Keowee. We are first time RV'ers and are excited about hitting the road with our new Ollie!

A lot of news stories lately about the chip shortage in the auto industry causing production disruptions and very limited availability of some vehicles. But maybe the real cause of the auto industry production issue is a different kind of “chip” shortage. Potato chip shortage due to an increase in cases of the munchies. 😆 https://www.thedrive.com/news/41097/gms-policy-on-cannabis-use-partly-to-blame-for-worker-shortage-uaw

Welcome! I'm just over the mountain from you near Brevard, NC. If you need something - don't hesitate to give me a shout. Bill

I always get notifications from the web site Roadtrippers. They have planed trips that expand across the country with stops along the way campgrounds places to visit. I personally have not done this but some of the trip planing looks very interesting. When the wife and I made a cross country trip there was no real planning head west back east down south. Most of the scenic ventures were by word of mouth, by the locals or by people you meet at the campgrounds. What ever way you do it its all good.

Not always. Sometimes an RV park just happens to be where we want to be . GO figure? However, when we left Lake City I was full h2o and had 12 gal in the portables. I was Prepared!!. FIBARK - starts tomorrow. We last went about 7 years back. Google it. We may attend once again Chance is a great mistress. RB

The screws only hold the inner and outer trim rings together. They are not inherent to a watertight seal. The easiest way to get the broken ones out are to remove them all and release the inner ring. The broken screws can be removed with a pair of vice grips. The do not go into a hole in the outer frame, rather a channel that runs around the frame. This will prevent you from having to try to line up all the screws when reinstalling.

I looked at my Oliver Sign and sternly told it "you will not leak". So far it has obeyed. Good job all on the posts. RB

COE are usually pretty decent and cheap for those with passes. Given the availability of internet apps...mainly Campendium.... I no longer have much use for written copy. I simply head were we want to go and then find a place in the area. I'm actually happily surprised we have had great choices despite the reported increase in RVers. RB

Distressing. We have been roaming around CO and areas since 1995 - I've Never seen the lake at Gunnison so empty. Just wow. Nice weather today. Gonna boonies it for a few RB

Next up elevation ! Drove over 3 major passes Wolf Creek, Spring Creek, Slumgullion, the last being 11530 ft high. Landed in Henson RV. Lake City CO. Backed up to creek- literally. Harley had more fun than his bones could handle. Moving slowly this morning 😪 other than sardine like sites- decent for the days stop. There is a great brewery just a short walk into town. Try the beer cheese and pretzels ummmmy Off to the Arkansas River today!. Be good all. RB

Pennie If you did want to go through a trailer before pick up and come through DFW area on way to TN there are several owners in this area. I am a new owner and would be happy to show you trailer and share my steep newbie learning curve, lol. I have had a couple issues and worked with Oliver to get in with a repair place here in DFW. Good luck.

Fourteenth season now with original cushion, just replaced second topper with a new memory foam topper. The cushions are included, and easier to move around and remove than a mattress, especially in our smaller Elite. We leave the bed set up all the time, but have to move cushions a few times a year to change valves, access systems, etc . I'd personally give them a try, first. With good toppers.

I appreciate your post, information and offer Steve, Oliver Saleswoman Anita called me back after doing some research on her end. Her explanations about Steve's specifics were reasonable and reassuring. She knows I am new at this and as much as I read and watch on Oliver University, I will be learning on the curve, as I go. She also knows I will be living with them in Tennessee until everything is shipshape for a maiden voyage, with as complete an understanding of systems as one can derive from afar accentuated with some hands-on trials. Thank you for your invitation. Unfortunately, I do not live close--actually live near the hottest places in the USA this week--the great Southwest. I will be heading east in late September for delivery on October 4--great news for one who was given an original approximate day in June next year. If time permits and I can stop by, with pre or post delivery, that would be wonderful. At Oliver, there have been a few order cancellations of late. Some may be due to health reasons, some to individual situations, and some to the huge numbers of people who have hit the road crowding both public and private campgrounds, trashing some of these places. Who knows? They let me and others come in earlier than originally thought. I am plunging ahead with plans. I do not expect perfection. Life doesn't work that way--certainly not my own--lol! I am expecting a well-built, high quality TT with a fine customer service team behind it as well as some guidance (much given already) from the terrific community here on this forum. I will need much more, I'm sure. Thanks again Steve, Pennie

We prefer COE parks to others because they are usually very nice (not always - there are a few clinkers out there) and the price is right with the senior pass. We don’t have any of the books, we research online with campground reviews and campground pictures. We’d also be interested in any book reviews. Mike

Pennie, I picked up LE2 hull 806 on May 19th and since have camped in TN, Ga, & NC. I just got back from 7 days at Cape Hatteras. My LE2 is absolutely fabulous. The factory build quality is very good. I saw evidence of that during a factory tour last December...and I see the same in the delivered quality. There is ZERO shoddy workmanship. Oliver stands behind their work. I have one small issue with the AC dripping...and Oliver has a mobile service tech coming to my house next week on their dime. Not sure where you're located but my wife & I will welcome you/ya'll to come see our LE2 (in NC). Seeing the factory first hand and an Ollie first hand will help the confidence factor. Regards, Steve

We opted for Southern Mattresses shipped right to our home. No regrets and the North Carolina company was absolutely great to work with. Roll with what works best for you!

We have the KTT mattresses and like them. But we also have the twin beds and the mattresses are heavy. I can move them around but it's not fun. I don't think that I would want them in the standard floor plan.

We went with the stock mattresses in our standard layout at the recommendation of Oliver sales. The reasoning was that the center cushion, if KTT, would be so bulky and heavy that it would make changing to the dinette setup a challenge. My wife Chris put together two 2" memory foam toppers to which she fitted sheets. These are rolled up and stuffed in the backseat of our pickup when not in use. It takes only minutes to switch from full bed to dinette set-up or back using this system. The two toppers, laid over the stock cushions, makes for a very comfy bed.

It was a fun time. We all learned at least one thing. Most of all we learned that Maine Oliver owners are a Great group of people. Oh ya, and we have to practice our game of Corn hole!

ADDENDUM: SEE POST BELOW TO EXPLAIN HOW THE IDEA OF THIS WRAP CAME ABOUT... attached is a link to the pictures explaining our new trailer wrap:) http://imgur.com/gallery/d1fO2 hope to see you guys in the future:) tina and ken

Jeff, the sales info and actual documentation are not 100% accurate. Nor would I expect them to be. But you can complain to Oliver Sales, tell them to correct the error and ask if they will send you one as an apology or at least sell you one at cost... then sell your old one online. There are a couple of errors in their LE2 pages that continue to bug me, especially the claim that it is built for off-road. That is highly deceptive, though the term is very common sales hyperbole with other RV manufacturer’s packages that are mostly cosmetic. Though I can’t imagine them saying “you must tow it down a potholed road at no more than 5 mph to keep from beating the cr@p out of the frame and your gear.” BTW Hull 218 came with a mechanical “furnace only” stat, because it has a non-Dometic AC and they could not figure out how to make a digital one work. I replaced it with a $22 battery powered non-programmable furnace- only one …. Cheap Stat …. when that one died when the points burned up. It is much more satisfactory than the old one, it doesn’t have a 4 degree dead band. I would have a hard time paying $250 for a smart one😬. But if it came standard, I might appreciate it…. As Ralph commented, a First World problem! We do seem to expect a lot from a camper. Good luck. I personally would not just let this stat issue drop. John Davies Spokane WA

No offense intended, but I'm perfectly happy with my analog 2008 thermostat. I really don't need or want bluetooth. I just want a thermostat that works . I hope mine lasts another 14 years...

Keep in mind that quite a few owners on the forum are in fact insane, and will do things to their trailers that normal people would not. But, you can tap into that insanity when needed and can usually find one of the crazies who can (occasionally successfully) walk you through a diagnosis or repair that would otherwise be overwhelming.

Twist likes it too!

Back in the day when these trays only came with one latch, there was discussion about what was to be done in the event that single latch failed. This led to simply drilling a hole in about the same place as your shackle is pictured and placing a stainless bolt through that hole. It works! Bill

I can tell you that I have been EXTREMELY happy with my 2021 Ram 1500 Rebel, overall, but especially with this one feature: "Trailer Steering Control." (I call it "the dummy knob.") I had never towed before and found it difficult to get the hang of it, then one day, I noticed, after owning the Ram a few months and the Ollie (see Classifieds) even less time -- because I'm observant like that -- a mysterious knob on the dash of my Rebel. "Trailer Steering." Huh? Right next to the "Ejector Seat" button and the "Shoot Flames Out The Rear At That Tailgater" switch. I got out the Rebel's manual (for the first time -- it was dusty under the seat and had dog cookie crumbs on it) and looked up the feature. Holy crap. A Christmas miracle! You activate the TSC button (Galaxy Quest fans, think of it as activating the Omega 13) and then it tells you to put it in reverse and let go of the steering wheel. Don't touch the wheel again or TSC turns off. THAT was hard to get used to. Your instinct is to hold the steering wheel. Unless you're in a Johnny Cab. Sorry for all the weird movie refs, but that's how I roll. You then use the TSC knob -- turning the knob left, right, slightly left, slightly right, etc. -- whatever, as you brake and gas-in-reverse-slowly, and the display shows you big directional arrows in back as to exactly where the Ollie is going. It's nothing short of amazing to me, the steering wheel spins (sometimes wildly, as if possessed) and adjusts constantly. Returning the knob to center makes the Ollie go straight back. Every slight turn of the TSC knob handles all the backing in maneuvers for you. Worth every penny to me, and came with my towing package. There are some who say, "If you can't back it up, you shouldn't be towing at all, you silly twit." No, not one has actually said that to ME (yet?) but YouTube commenters can be cruel in that special all-capsy way, as you know. Add some !!111METALLICA*RULES!!111 and all Just sayin', this is a neat thing to have if you are lazy, or new to towing, or into 'gadgets', or any or all of those things. Just thought I would mention it, anyway. Here is a video of a dude using it. I have watched people struggle to back in Ollies and even met a couple who took a course in RVing and learned a whole system with hand positioning on the steering wheel, etc. I was learning it on my own, slowly, but then one day, I saw the TSC thing and haven't looked back (almost literally, heheh) since. I actually look like I know what I'm doing at times: one shot into any slanting crazy campsite space. You know, the ones with "severe tire damage do not back up" stuff, and the picnic table in the middle of the parking spot, and big trees close by on both sides, and steep cliffs to back off of, with wreckage of RVs down below in the gulch. Those sites. I still go very slowly and check all mirrors, backup cam, etc. YMMV but TSC is awesome, IMHO.

Yellowstone can be tough even in the off season from what I’ve been told, so it was the only place we had reservations ahead of time this trip. In hindsight I wish we’d only made reservations for one night and then moved to a less developed campground, but that wisdom comes with experience I guess. It’s amazing what a few weeks can make in Yellowstone. Mid May we only found crowds at the major stopping points and very little traffic but when we went back through on our way to Teton two weeks later it was bumper to bumper all the way around. Not planning everything ahead gives you flexibility to adjust your trip as needed. We’d originally plannned to spend at least a week in the Dakotas this trip but the early hot weather meant 90 degree days there so we went north to Canada instead and enjoyed low 70’s and no crowds from Banff up to Jasper.