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My father died young, he was only 47. I was 20. He taught me many things that I was not smart enough to appreciate at that age, but something he once said to me has stuck with me these past 50+ years. I was contemplating buy a new tool. The one I wanted was a name brand and was quite expensive. I found another brand that was not nearly as well respected but was considerably less expensive. I weighed the pros and cons of each. Finally, I asked his opinion, should I buy the better brand or should I save money and buy the cheaper tool. He looked me straight in the eye and said, "Nobody was ever sorry they bought the best there is." There have been times through the years that I have ignored this advice and bought some item that was cheaper or lacked all the features I wanted in an attempt to 'get by.' In almost all cases, I've ended up later buying the one I really wanted and ended up with two of the same thing, thereby having spent more money than I would have if I'd just gone ahead and bought the better one in the first place. I just don't buy things that I consider to be disposable. I still have and use that tool that I bought on dad's advice. Can you really afford to buy cheaper items that you will just end up having to replace? "...Nobody was ever sorry they bought the best there is..." James Holly Landrum 10/1923 - 05/1971

I am on a cross country trip, California to Maine and back - right now a 3 hour drive from Yellowstone/Grand Teton where I will be spending a week. I am towing an LEI - single axle - with a 2014 Tacoma, 4x4, heavy suspension/chassis, V6. I would not have enjoyed towing the larger LEII, if I could have done it. I feel comfortable with the Tacoma and LEI, but I am at the limit, I think. Did you know that Nebraska is not flat across I80? I am solo, a new widower. The LEI is doing fine for me on its first real trip. Have had a few problems, and honestly, am not overly impressed with the Oliver detail "finish" work. But having the rear dinette permanently made up as a bed, with about one-third used as clothes storage - I have too much stuff with me - has been fine. The counter top is small. I use the smaller dinette as a catchall for work (I am sort of working while traveling), makes food prep a bit of an experience, and with lots of rain in the northeast, doing so outside was not great. The motorized awning closes at the slightest wisp of a breeze automatically, so while under it in the rain, it likes to close. I would prefer a manual awning. I am able to cruise at about 70 mph, or so, if not too uphill. Getting about 12 mpg. Without towing, I am at 17mpg. I have 160,000 miles on the truck, also paid for, which is nice. But I will be looking at a new tow vehicle when I return. The weight of even the LEI is too much for the Tacoma, I feel. Of course I probably need to replace the shocks anyway, buy they have weakened while on the trip. The new Olivers are expensive, and with a new tow vehicle at $60,000+, I am wondering about the total cost. Maybe a used trailer would be more reasonable, but still the weight would suggest a new tow vehicle. I am looking at the Ford F150 hybrid, or possibly a used landcruiser. I plan on regular trips, so the Tacoma probably needs to be replaced. I have used zero oil on the trip, changed oil in Maine and will again next week. Always serviced with full synthetic changed at 5-6,000 miles, Mobil 1 or Castrol. Usually change it myself. Regular anticipated maintenance/wear on Tacoma. I find that I need to stop at 150-200 miles anyway, so getting gas at that range is no problem. I try to not let the tank go below 1/4. I would not have tried the LEII with the Tacoma, and find that the LEI is the limit. Oliver is a heavy trailer. I also find solo with the LEI is fine, but I would not want to have a guest over for the evening. John

Hi Everyone! In the past, I've seen talk in the threads regarding the low flow from the furnace to the bath vent, well, I experienced that too. Here's what I found after a little detective work... Well no wonder! It helps when you connect the duct together. Yes, it was never connected, no wonder I only felt a very faint breeze from the bath vent. This shot was taken looking toward the kitchen sink, directly under the galley sink. The only way I could access this was to remove the plastic vent cover under the galley sink to connect the duct together. If this had not been possible, then the ONLY way would be to destroy the cabinetry to gain access to it. This was my first view, not touching anything and snapping this photo after I gained access. As you can see in this shot, there is no duct sealant or sheet metal screws, only a lone zip-tie that could not have possibly held this together properly. Notice, I put a plastic bag underneath to get ready to apply duct sealant. This blue tape was on the duct in two locations, possibly to note that this needed to be corrected before this area was closed up? Prepping the floor so I don't get duct sealant all over the place. Here's a look inside through the vent access directly looking at the disconnected furnace vent. The proper solution... three (3) sheet metal screws to follow. Keeping it neat and clean and getting a good bond. All dry, ready for the sheet metal screws... Due to the extreme limited space and only able to work with one hand, I had to tape the screws to the vent and use a hand driver to get the three sheet metal screws in the vent. It was impossible to access the other side however this is more than sufficient, especially with a generous application of the duct sealant and what is to follow... Ah yes, after the duct sealant completely dried and three sheet metal screws, I wrapped the joint with real duct tape and finished it with a fresh zip-tie to complete the surgery. And there you have it ladies and gentlemen... mission accomplished! I later purchased some inserts for the vent ducts that allow me to open and close the amount of flow that I want from the furnace in the bath. I simply adjust the two in the galley to my desired comfort and I'm a warm, happy camper! BTW, the awesome folks at Oliver Travel Trailers were very kind and reimbursed me for the materials, so we're both delighted with the result! For anyone experiencing low/no flow to their bath, this is the very first place I would look. Simply remove the vent cover under the galley sink, carefully disconnect the duct and see if your distribution tee is properly connected. If it is, I would strongly recommend the adjustable registers that can be purchased for these vents, my Ollie did not come with them. You only need two (2) for the sink vent and the bed vent. They are approx. $10 ea. When I run my furnace, I adjust them and can get a good flow of warm air in the bath. Problem solved!

Correct on both accounts… should be easy fix It is one of the frame screws and is the water tank. I have the Truma. Not sure why I typed furnace.

You can certainly make a financial argument for buying an Ollie over another trailer but in all honesty I think you’ll just be rationalizing a decision that you’ve already made for some other, probably more important, reason. Buy it because you like it. Because you want something you can be proud of. Something that will be nice enough that you’ll actually want to get out there and use it. And something that is dependable enough and well enough designed that you don’t spend your trip thinking about it rather than all the cool things it’s allowing you to experience.

Have to agree with Steve - I’m immensely impressed at the dexterity and patience involved there. Another route that people have used when making repairs in that space has been to cut access hatches in the bottom of the drawer cabinet. Oliver should really do that in construction anyway. It’s easy to do with a router, using the sides of the cabinets as your jig. They don’t lessen the cabinet’s structural integrity and will save you a bit of weight. Plus you save all that time of training the octopus. If you do that, though, just be sure to cut some ¼” plywood covers for the hatches since things in the drawers can bounce out and end up in that space, and you don’t want to have to search through the hull space for an adventurous fork.

Adding to other comments: The current market for RVs has prompted manufacturers to increase production in order to meet demand, Oliver not withstanding. Conventional mass produced stick built RVs are being pushed out to dealers at historical rates. Added to the already shoddy construction, little to no quality control/customer service, and inflated prices, this is disaster waiting to happen. Oliver, on the other hand, went into the pandemic with outstanding customer service and quality. To meet demand, yet maintain service/quality and their reputation for being trailers "built to last a lifetime", they have adapted to the market with production adjustments. They now offer fewer options and have phased out personal customizations, placing priority on maintaining quality standards and customer service. When you purchase an Oliver Trailer, you are buying directly from the "Oliver Family" whose goal has always been to build a better RV and stand behind their product. Most other brands are owned by an RV conglomerate, then pushed out to dealerships across the country. With Oliver you deal only with the front end people; others, with a dealer that, now more than ever, doesn't care about you after the sale. Oliver has certainly faced some challenges during this crazy RV market, but they are giving their best to not compromise the Oliver reputation. Think about this: Brand X is priced at $35,000. Deduct from this the overhead of a complex chain of production, including sales commissions. How much of those $$$$ do you think are actually going into materials and labor? Additionally, in a less volatile market, those prices were often discounted to promote sales and support the bottom line. Comparatively, Oliver's overhead is not inflated by a complex business model. You will get what you pay for with an Oliver; others brands, I'd guess you won't. Lastly - In a few years, after the pandemic surge in RV subsides, we all know there is going to be a glut in the used RV market. Aside from depressed values driven by high supply/low demand, poorly built trailers will be worth a small fraction of what they sold for. As in the past, used Olivers should hold their value. Though more Olivers have been sold than ever before, the supply will be nothing compared to that of other brands and when the market returns to normal, there will still be a demand for high quality trailers. Of course Oliver trailers do have downsides: 1. The wait. In an instant gratification world, most buyers want an RV and they want it now. Add to this pressure from dealer salespersons. Don't let this influence your decision. If you have long term RV goals, and finances are not restrictive, endure the wait. You know the adage - "Good things come to those who wait". 2. Limited floor plans. The Elite is definitely a two-person trailer; Elite II can comfortably accommodate three. Families do make them work, but for the most part Oliver trailers are not designed with families in mind. In my opinion, between R-Pod and Oliver, the best choice is hands-down Oliver. We took possession of our Elite II, hull #699, on December 7, 2020; thus the name "Pearl". I am still in awe of the amazing quality. Storage is more than adequate and well organized. Every element is designed for function and easy maintenance. Most importantly, despite the increase in production (they are now scheduling builds of hulls #1000+), Oliver has provided excellent customer support. And, as an added bonus, you gain the knowledge and support of the Oliver Forum and its amazing members. Wishing you the best. Susan

Got a call from Oliver yesterday. There are also 15 and 20 pound latches. The drawer by itself is 7 pounds (I weighed it today), so just a few items in the drawer puts it over 10 pounds. Oliver said that there are issues with the drawer latches allowing the drawers to open. They are looking into the problem. John

I was at the museum before today - Thursday? of this week. It was interesting - I mentioned to my daughter in a phone call I think that there are many museums where hobbyists started a museum to make their hobby a 501c3 - There was nothing that I would consider special - the usual WWI and II vehicles, with a few later vintage VietNam and mid-east vehicles. A friend collects similar vehicles. He has about 30 in his yard/storage building. Same vehicles. If you have a few extra hours and are driving along I80, and like such stuff, it is worth the stop. In Boulder Wy tonight, on my way to several days in Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. If you want a Harvest Host spot, and like whiskey (or just a distillery) stop by Pine Bluffs Distilling in Pine Bluffs, WY. They have plenty of space - as many people as can fit - they list 10 spots, but they could hold 20 or more and still have space. Friendly, family run business. 14 year old daughter was washing glasses and supporting mom the bartender.

Nice work, very impressive. If I'd have known you were about to tackle this difficult job, I would have loaned you my trained octopus. She can reach anywhere from several different directions at the same time.

Personally, I'd go with option #3. You get the trailer you really want and you get to keep the truck you already own. You will be able to use the combination and see how it meets your needs. If not, then you can see about getting a bigger truck. If I were traveling single with the EII, I would get the setup of one rear bed opposite a sitting area (couch like).

I am a newbie so don't know how to respond to individual comments, but thanks for the input. NancyK, besides being hard to find used Oliver's that are a couple years old, I agree with you, just buy new and get the trailer as you want it with your features. Jim Oker, I have looked at Escape trailers, but the double hull construction has me sold. It would be much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Probably less condensation. Mike and Carol, the resale value looks amazing. We buy used cars when possible as the savings are great with a car that's only a couple years old. That doesn't appear to be the case with Oliver's as they hold value. Carnivore, my wife is more of a tightwad than me, but I see the longer term value. Someone earlier said it's more of an investment and you won't lose money like on a purchase of a mass produced trailer. IL_Travelers, thanks for your comments too. The owner of the one we saw in Oregon was a retired cardiologist, so I see your point. Thanks all for your comments.

If I was in your shoes - and I really liked my Taco, I would go the EI route. No doubt about it. Now if I was to upgrade the TV - still go the smaller O". However, if I was going to need room for 2 the decision would become more of a challenge. RB

Hi Everyone! It was time to spice up the Ollie, so I decided to add some contrast to break up that "sterile" look of all white in the kitchen and dining areas... So, I added some Aspect Frosted Quartz Stone! It's pretty easy to apply, it's a "lick 'em, stick 'em" product (peel and stick). It is "real" quartz stone, doesn't add too much weight but worth it's weight in looks! Here's what I come up with... There's lot's of flavors to choose from... here's the link where I got mine if you're interested. https://diydecorstore.com/product/aspect-peel-and-stick-stone-backsplash/

Melanie and I made it back to Vancouver WA in one piece. Ran into a error code which turned out to be a poorly wire pedestal that my surge protector didn't pick up on. Then we set off the fire alarm. Finally, the propane worked, then didn't work for some reason. I suspect there was some air in the line. The technology is the trailer was a little intimidating as I was afraid I would break and/or ruin sometime like a pump or solar system. The manuals were really helpful. We had some trouble with the Anderson Hitch as the initial install was not done correctly. We still haven't learned how to disconnect the Anderson hitch without loosing it underneath the rig which is a hassle. It was a long trip from Tennessee back home, but I am happy to say we were able to back into every campsite with out much trouble. We are really happy with "Joni" and miss not being on the go. Retirement is just around the corner, so we are looking forward more happy travels. Melanie and Kathie

With the longer wheelbase, high base curb weight, and the probability it’s based on a half ton truck chassis I think it might make a great tow vehicle. I wouldn’t give up on it too quickly. What is the payload of your EL?

Hi Ralph! I'm sorry this happened, I hope its not going to be too much trouble getting it back where you need it. I agree with John E Davies, this is not the best solution for this type of application. Anytime you have sharp bends and pressure with these kind of straps, this is of course is going to be the result. A solid band of heavier gauge would be a better idea. I hope this doesn't slow you down! NR

Hi Overland, that was my number one concern. If I do notice a spot, which is very rare for me, I just use a mixture of organic disinfectant/cleaner and it's a good as new. Samples are the best way to decide, I just went for it and I'm real happy with it!

That's impressive

We stopped at the National Museum of Military Vehicles. I spent several hours in there and found it very interesting. The founder Dan Starks lead a 4 hour tour but I opted to just walk and read at my own pace. The ticket is a 2 day ticket and I think they allow overnight parking in the gravel RV/trailer lot if you purchase a ticket and visit the museum.

I am very happy we did put the name on the back. The Oliver team was super careful ensuring the accents etc were all correct ! Enjoy your trailer .. September is just around the corner

This should be required viewing for any question related to the ? - will my TV handle the EII. A very good primer - RB

This is a helpful video. https://www.keepyourdaydream.com/payload/

Thanks SeaDawg! Yes, each tile is very thin with a 3M type backing. No problem behind my stove. I’ve had this on for almost 1.5 yrs and easy to wipe off. Very minor pealing in a spot or two but a very small drop of Locktite SG Gel and problem solved. Easy to clean, no staining. Actually better and safer than bare fiberglass. The stone will actually shield flames/heat infinitely better than without it. I don’t get a lot of splatter from my iron skillet, but it still looks as good as the day I installed it. The 3M backing plus the natural stone keeps the dining area around the window cool to the touch in summer temps in Las Vegas (118 deg), in addition the Ollie’s double insulation. Naturally, the metal window frame is still blistering hot inside in those temps. 👍

That was my thinking too. A corporation built it, whereas Oliver is a family business with their name on it.

And I am 6' tall. Sit on the toilet when I take a shower, but I have replaced the provided hose with one that works. The provided hose is a ....... It is plastic, and kinks when pulled out far enought to use as a shower hose. I replaced it with a solid wall hose, stainless steel mesh, added a few inches (8) and it works fine. Oliver is being responsive to problems and issues. There are many, but we need to let corporate know what they are so the problems can be fixed. If LEII and solo, I would get one twin bed and use the other as a sofa. I can stand up easily within the main trailer.

So, the two go hand in hand. If you put the e2 on a diet, get the trailer and tongue weight down by transferring storage to the tow vehicle, you still have limits, because of your vehicle' cargo capacity . Does that make sense?

With today's price of an e1, it's a tougher decision. Not a significant spread between the base prices. The bed in an e1 is a full size, not a queen, at 54 or 55 wide. I use queen sheets because it's easier than stretching full size sheets, and I already have them for one of our home guest rooms. I wish the bed were bigger, but it's not, and I have no reason to move up because of that. In the cooler weather, it's really nice to have the smaller space . Body heat keeps the trailer warm, without listening to the furnace kick in, if I keep the furnace set at minimum. A friend of mine modified her casita to create a home twin size bed, where our full size bed is, plus added storage cabinet and "nightstand" space. Depends on your height, really. Several people I know happily camp solo in an e1, for over a decade. My husband and I are very happy with the e1, in our 14th season. 15 or 16 weeks so far this year, I think. We're both average sized people, 5' 11" and 5' 4". Actually, I'm a bit on the short side... We carry everything we need, and not more. The trailer has everything we need, and not more. Life in miniature. Both live big on the outside, where we spend the majority of our time. The e1 fits in crazy tiny spaces, if you can back as well as my husband. (He's way better at that than I am.) Sometimes we get assigned tent or tent trailer spaces, with trees on each side, etc. Fun. And very quiet, and often more scenic.

And, it doesn't even have solar. I'll be interested to see if he gets his asking price. Is the Rpod your wife's choice? They're indeed cute, and you could easily buy two for the price of an Oliver. My sister had one for a couple years. It is a continuous roof sheet of laminated fiberglass bumper to bumper, but take a look at the factory slubs of caulking at seams and openings. It did have an aluminum cage, though, vs 2 x 2 stick and staple. If that's your choice, make sure you have indoor storage for it. My sister's didn't have any leaks when she sold it, but it was always stored indoors . Hers came with c rated st tires, barely sufficient to carry the gvwr. Those had to be upgraded right away. Single small flooded battery. Upgraded. Awning difficult to deploy. No 12v outlets. Cheap but cute plastic faucet in the kitchen that broke. Decals fading some, even when stored indoors. Etc. My advice would be to go look at a five or six year old rpod, and a five or six (or 14) year old Oliver. Time tells the difference. Then again, if you don't even know if you like camping, a less expensive entry point can make sense. Rpods have a kind of cult following, and you won't get hurt "too bad" if you decide you don't like it.

There is a 2008 model (Hull # 024) being advertised on facebook right now for $37,500, It originally sold for $27,924. How's that for holding its value?

This is a really hard choice, I love my LE2 but if I were solo, I would have gotten the smaller trailer, definitely! My LC 200 tows the LE2 OK, but it would be very stellar with the LE1. You need to think about where you will take it, some of the National Park campsites like at Glacier, are really really tight, you simply can’t fit the bigger trailer into a whole lot of them. Same with old state parks, the sites are cramped and trees get in the way. A little trailer opens up a whole lot more possibilities outside of newer established campgrounds and RV Parks. The LE1 will be way better on rough forest roads and public land tracks. John Davies Spokane WA

Since my wife and I are just one year older than you, we certainly can relate to the importance of agreeing on large purchases at this time of our lives. We also had to check with our financial planner before spending $80K on our Ollie. We had the green light from him to buy an Airstream; however, I got cold feet worrying about hail storm damage in our home state of Illinois. That's when I found out about Oliver Travel Trailers. I started reading about them; then I found this forum. The wealth of information on the forum cannot be duplicated anywhere else. It is not surprising considering the number of professionals and I have to believe engineers who own Olivers. Just ask a question, and you will have an answer within no time. I'm talking hours if not minutes; it is nothing short of amazing. We picked up "R-Villa" on May 17. So far we have logged 3,500 miles. I have pulled trailers before, but never have I pulled one so smooth as an Oliver. The aerodynamics are great, and even in wind she is so very stable. In this world you usually get what you pay for. That is true of Oliver. Their service department is fabulous, too. I just returned from Hohenwald for some minor needed "fixes" that often come with a new trailer. They were all taken care of in short order. We were completely satisfied. I encourage you, like others, to take a factory tour.

John, I’ll throw my 2cents in. We have had our Oliver for about 2-1/2 years, pulled it over 25,000 miles and camped in it around 200 nights. We are actually ending week 4 of a 5 week trip. The only problem that we have ever had was with a First Alert smoke detector that malfunctioned in month 4. Oliver sent me a replacement. These trailers and the folks you deal with when you buy them are as good as it gets. As you can probably already tell, the owner community is great too They are pricy and I am a tightwad but If I lost it I would not hesitate to replace with another.

Used Olivers sell for way more than 50% of their original cost. 90% would be a better estimate. Mike

Have you arranged a tour of local Olivers? That may be the deciding factor on which size bests fits you and your lifestyle. My bet is this will be your "forever" trailer, and should be what fits you the best. The tv might just be a secondary factor based on what you choose. Seems almost like you realize the tv you have may be undersized for where you might want to go. Bigger solar, dual axles, larger kitchen, and a pantry also figure into the decision making process. They do add weight and cost, but also add to resale value. Good luck on the decision process, it is solely a personal decision...

I appreciate arguments on both sides of this issue but, that said, since picking up our E2 in December, I've had 13 issues involving 6 of the after market products. Of these only two could be fully resolved with the help of Oliver and all the rest required at least one call to the manufacturer. While Oliver has been exemplary (Jason in particular) in making themselves available to assist, there is only so much they can accomplish over the phone. Considering Oliver has one location, it does seem like a prudent and minimal effort to share this information up front. Almost every manufacturer I've sought assistance from asked for these particulars and, in some cases, such as the MaxAir Fan or Dometic AC, I've had to do a certain level of surgery, following their directions, to even find where the tags are located. Much more humane for Oliver to do at the time of instal than it is for me to do, standing on the roof, with a phone in one hand and tools in the other.

It wasn't long after our delivery on May 17, 2021, that I determined our Zamp Solar controller had problems. Illinois to Tennessee is a nice drive, so after Jason answered my service request, we set an appointment and planned a trip to Hohenwald. Our digital TV antenna was not working, and there were a couple other minor issues to have remedied during the service call. We arrived at service before 8 a.m. on July 12; everything was fixed by noon! A new Zamp controller was installed, and the antenna was rewired. Now everything works fine. Kudos to Jason and his crew!

I think we saw that trailer a year ago, or so . Maybe in classifieds?

Interesting stripes.

I think this is a two edged sword. Writing down serial numbers for low cost, low failure items is probably a,waste of time. However, just for inventory control, I'd want to record items above $40 or so. If it were me, (and it was, in another place, another time.) Honestly, every warranty item over $50, with the exception of FanTastic vent fan (the pre-dometic acquisition), requires a model and serial number, when asking for warranty repair. A few, like my mom's deLonghi portable ac, required a photo of the plate. I'd have to weigh the time and cost, as a manufacturer. The only time you need the info is a failure. Most items don't fail during warranty, or, the label is clearly visible. Or, to troubleshoot, you have to go look at it, or pull it, anyway. Ask me that again, next time we have to go up 14' and look at a ceiling fan. 😅

@JRKI know I’m going to catch a lot of ribbing for showing this. My Oliver mentor @KountryKampergives me crap about it all of the time for carrying this stuff. But I went over the entire camper and took pictures of the data plates and data labels on everything showing model numbers and serial numbers. I then downloaded AND PRINTED all the manuals for the devices, pieces, parts, etc., from the companies that made them and made sure the manuals were for the serial number range of the devices that I had (especially Dometic, Truma, Atwood stuff) and put them in (2) 3-ring binders because sometimes you do not have the ability to look at the internet. I found that some of the manuals available on the Oliver site were wrong for my camper. In addition to owners manuals you can also find service manuals, parts drawings and installation manuals for a lot of the stuff on your trailer. Look for data plates and labels on devices. Some are not easy to find.

We live right near Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in New Harbor. This is a terrific area. Lots to see and do. There is a fisherman's co-op. BYOB and very fresh sea food and Lobsters with a terrific view from the picnic tables. The lighthouse is one of the more photographed lighthouses. You can go up the lighthouse to the top and there is a small museum. Also an art gallery is on site. Hopefully the Seagull Shop, adjacent to the light house will be open. They had to rebuild after a fire last fall. Great spot and terrific breakfast and chowder!!!!

It’s true.. there is a lack of East /West routes across northern New England.. if you want highway driving you’d have to go back down to Portsmouth NH, then head north into NH or VT. if county roads are what your looking for…get yourself to Augusta, then work your way to RT 2.. this gets you through the western part of the state, into the White Mts of NH and over to VT.. very very pretty drive, and a good cross sectional view of this part of the country IMHO…

PMG. That is really cool and thanks to John for the link for info. I have two Irish ideas written down for our trailer. Delivery September 2021. It was great to see it on back which I hadn’t seen. Thanks for the inspiration. Mike

Has anyone investigated or formed a plan on how to deal with the seven years of bad luck resulting from the breakage of said mirrors?