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I have wanted to do this for over a year. The planning, prototyping, and documenting were, stop & start as best. Yet today, the first set of Oliver Drawer Fronts comes out of production. These are Walnut & board matched – meaning one board from left to right so all the wood grain lines up and matches. These really make a beautiful statement and are a very distinguished upgrade for an Oliver Travel Trailer. They are finished with 5 coats of satin polyurethane for a lifetime of carefree use. There are seven drawers in the set - (4) small kitchen (2) large kitchen & (1) nightstand. I will be offering these in Walnut, Mahogany, Cerused Ash, and Dark Cerused Oak. They will be listed in my next catalog update in about a week. Next up Kitchen Cabinet Organizers. And yes, the Closet Organizer Part 1 is almost ready.

Hi all, you may remember that my wife was hesitant to buy an Oliver due to cost. We paid our deposit today! We chose November 7 as it's a Monday so if we encounter any issues we can high tail it back to the Oliver people before heading back to Oregon. Thanks for all your posts. It's been very helpful. You haven't heard the last from me. It's probably been the tip of the iceberg actually. Have a good weekend.

Update: PSA - Truma Water Heater Situation: On our Hull 505 -Elite II the Truma water heater failed with fire coming outside the box and starting to melt wiring etc. (Pix attached) Symptoms: When the Truma was igniting we heard unusually loud huffing noises followed by a loud whoosh. Every so often there would be a loud whoosh and a pop. (Blowing itself out.) On one incident I went outside, opened the door and saw flames outside the burner assembly engulfing controls. I turned off unit and flames stopped. Cause? It appears the burner and the copper flue box may have gotten out of alignment after 13k miles on chassis. Given the plastic smell I decided to replace the whole unit. Truma response: 1) stated it’s past warranty, so no $ for replacement, but they asked I ship the unit back to them for post mortem. 2) Cost $110 to ship back. 3)They said they will cover shipping. Replacement: A new replacement unit was sold and shipped to us by Oliver Service. (Great response). Removal and replacement was a 3 hour job with a mobile tech from our adjoining campsite helping where we are staying at Desert Hotsprings CA. Checked gas pressure at unit before installing and all was correct. New unit working well. After removal and visual check I couldn’t see any obvious defects in the old unit, other than the lower edges of the copper burner box were slightly folded inward. Maybe Truma can see something when they tear into the unit. As soon as I hear any resolution from Truma, I’ll provide an update. I plan to file with NHTSA after the Truma update.

women, Irish whiskey and fast cars…

Over the past four weeks I've been planning and making reservations (where necessary) for this coming summer's fly fishing trip. Once again this year I will be (primarily) fishing in Wyoming and covering many of the same places I've been to in the past. I have managed to secure reservations in those camp grounds that take them, but, I would not say that it was easy. For National Forest Service camp grounds in Wyoming, the earliest one can make reservations is 6 months in advance at 8AM (Mountain Time). For the three places that I needed these reservations I was all set and ready to go at exactly that time - and - was successful in each case. But, my choice of sites was extremely limited. For the first time in a number of years I have decided to not camp in Yellowstone National Park. But, I did check on availability just this morning. In my favorite two camp grounds (Slough Creek and Pebble Creek) there was not one reservable site available for the date(s) I would have needed. Of course, most of my camping will be done outside of established camp grounds. But, even these have become more crowded over the past couple of years - I always have at least two alternative places in mind. So, if anyone is planning a summer trip I'd suggest that you not wait too long to get the reservations you might need. Good luck! Bill p.s. Baker's Hole (just north of West Yellowstone, MT) August 4th through August 7th if anyone is interested in a pot luck mini-rally.

The camera system has been working great the industrial Velcro maybe over kill I have to use a plastic wedge to get the Velcro to separate a little then it separates easy. Last trip was to Jacksonville for Foy’s get together. No problems staying put on the road. The trailer is parked inside. Almost 3 months battery down to half charge. Simple usb charge to full within an hour. Still not sure if the solar on it charges the battery being inside most of the time. I’d replace it with another if it fails. When or if they stop making them. Every thing goes back to normal no holes to fix. 👍🏼👍🏼

Beautiful! Please stop - my wallet can't handle it 🤗. Bill

The conventional water heater also gives you another 6 gallons of water on board (in the tank).

I just watched (6:30pm EST 1/28/2022) the current weather and short term forecast for the northeastern US. Heavy snows are forecast with blizzard and/or near blizzard conditions. Hopefully everyone is prepared for this - stay safe! Bill

Sure you can. We have a small one from Walmart that we bought for around 60 bucks. Amazon has a bunch of smaller ones as well. I think our is 700 watts. The less power draw the better. John

Mine is 6 years old, heavily used. I clean it after every trip, still works like new. Maybe I’ll break it in another 6 years. The Airstream model comes without the regulator and an Airstream logo, it’s almost as easy to get the fittings (Propane Guys) and do it yourself while saving a few bucks. Mike

Hi All. Paid my deposit. Can’t wait till September Question is Truma instant H20. Worth the extra dough. Thank you. Richard

I’ve been looking for some time to have a security camera above the entry door. Most wireless cameras are not wireless they still need a power wire. I also didn’t want to drill holes and fish wiring though the hull. Roaming around Walmart I spotted this back up camera by Whistler. The camera is totally wireless and once fully charged via USB it has built in solar to keep the battery maintained. The monitor is 4in and plugs into a 12v outlet. With a suction cup mount. Looking at the picture on the box it looked like it would be a perfect fit above the entry door. The purchase price was $100,00 I rolled the dice if it didn’t fit perfectly it was going back. I did a Amazon check it appears this model is only sold at Walmart. The reviews on the whistler models were mixed good and bad. Once the camera was charged I turned on the monitor within seconds the picture appeared. Very nice color image it has inferred for night time haven’t try it yet. Very few features it is not a continuous on you can choose 20 sec to 120 sec on then auto off plenty of time to see who is outside your door. Also no audio or recording capability. Simple setup no frills. Mounting the camera I used Scotch outdoor heavy duty Velcro very secure. Very happy on the looks of the camera attached to the hull above the door it looks like a factory installed option. The Big question?? Will it last, does anything these days? It’s the $100.00 question. We shall see I'll give a review in 6 month’s the warranty is good for one year. attached are the photos of the install.

One of my under cabinet touch led lights comes on but is dim. Anyone else had this experience? All the other lights (touch or switch) work properly. Thanks! Headed to Florida for a few weeks and found this while packing. It’s certainly not going to keep us from finding warmer weather! Dave

We'll be getting our Elite ll in May, but have been traveling for years with RV's prior. Our style of camping does not require much hot water regularly, so we chose to order the tankless. Many times we simply need a small amount of hot water, not 6 gallons, so for us we like the idea of only heating the water we need for the moment.

I must say that this incident combined with the Truma maker's response leaves me with some degree of regret at having opted for the Truma in my trailer, and thinking I'm likely to avoid their products in general in the future, unless you happen to report back that they have had a change of mind after seeing the unit you send back to them. Thanks for taking the time to write this up for us.

Grill, griddle, camp chairs, lock, plug adapters, camp table, fire pit, Clam, ….. If your question is serious, tell us a little more about yourself, what you have, what you need, how you’ll camp etc. Otherwise - Mike

Our Elite II is also scheduled to be delivered in September. We don't plan to pay for the Truma water heater upgrade for the reasons listed by other posters above, and also because Truma is not "DIY friendly." Truma only makes parts and replacement units available through its 4 U.S. authorized service centers, in Arizona, Texas, Florida and Indiana. Suburban water heater parts, or even complete replacement units for under $400, are readily available for online order. https://www.amazon.com/Suburban-Manufacturing-5238A-Sw6D-Gal/dp/B01NBTVDBC/ref=asc_df_B01NBTVDBC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312111914138&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1905742530739926085&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029558&hvtargid=pla-568368079416&psc=1 We live in rural Idaho. It will be SO much cheaper and easier for me to order parts online to repair and, if necessary, replace a Suburban water heater in my garage.

I sure could use new batteries and even a set of new tires for the Ollie if you're feeling generous 😁. On the other hand - that's a bunch of money to be used for gas, camping fees, "special" activities while out exploring - zip lines, romantic dinners, cave tours, snowmobile trips, helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon, etc., etc.. Bill

You romantic devil 🥰. Nice song and thoughts. Bill

Either that or you are in deep trouble already. My guess would be that you will not have any difficulty in finding the kind of places I think you like. Bill

Assuming that you are talking about the inverters that normally come with the Oliver - either the 2,000 watt or the 3,000 watt - then the answer is certainly yes for most microwave units. Just make sure that the microwave you have in mind is at or below about 1,500 watts and you will have no worries using the inverter. Of course you still have to be mindful to not overload the inverter by trying to run the microwave while at the same time running a toaster, hair dryer, blender, etc. Bill

You're correct, of course. The water's on the wrong side of the pump. The back of my brain was trying to tell me something was wrong with my logic when I was typing that, but I couldn't see it.

If your used Ollie has any solar equipment on it, that credit has probably already been used, by the first owner, but if it never had any, then I think you could install a complete system and claim the credit for panels, controller, new batteries, inverter (if it doesn’t already have one) and associated parts and equipment, like cables and a monitor. I am not a tax advisor! But it is logical….. A second owner of a pre-existing solar setup cannot claim it. For one thing, you have to have all the receipts, and they all have to be in the same calendar year. That means, no long winter project, you need to finish the job completely by the end of the current year. John Davies Spokane WA

In theory it does, but that last 6 gallons is not normally usable, because when your fresh tank runs dry, your water pump aerates, and you cannot pump the water heater tank dry. In a true water emergency you could remove the anode and catch the tank contents in a bucket, bypass the water heater (using the winterization ball valve) and then suck the water into the fresh tank, but that extra water volume is normally just dead weight. If I were trapped in the desert, I would be very glad for that extra supply, but only if I had a big breaker bar and the correct socket. Which I normally do NOT carry with me. Hmmmmm. But I do carry a cordless drill and bits, so I could just drill a hole in the bottom of the tank. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a regular hand operated drain valve at the bottom, beside the anode? John Davies Spokane WA

I would suggest that you do your own due diligence and research. Think about the type of camping you plan to do and make an informed decision based on it. Unless you plan to ALWAYS be in a campground with full hookups (water, electricity, sewer) this is not necessarily true. If you are boondocking, first you will run out of water, hot or otherwise and then run out of space to put the gray water (this will occur with either water heater). We've never used 6 gallons of water to take TWO showers. You've just got to learn the way to minimize your water usage. For our style of camping (99% boondocking, it would never be worth the extra money). Besides, the regular water heater will have water hot enough to shower in about 10 minutes on gas. Plus, it can run on electricity also which the Truma can not do.

Yes.

Assuming you mean instant HOT H2O. No, it’s not instant. The water passes through the Truma at the back of the trailer, gets heated and travels to the faucet. With the hot water tank, hot water travels the same distance to the faucet. The difference is if you don’t have the hot water tank on it will take some time to heat up. So, if you’re going to travel with your hot water tank off and when you arrive at your destination you want hot water right away, you might want the Truma. If you have 10 or 15 minutes to heat your water either with propane or electricity, then the tank will work. If you keep the tank on while you are camped the only difference is you can get more than 6 gallons of hot water with the Truma. The Truma is more complicated mechanically. The tank is pretty simple. Whether it is worth the extra dough depends on how you camp, where you camp, do you take long showers, etc. Hard to say without more information. Mike

If you get there, don't ignore the northern Badlands. Many do. Teddy Roosevelt park is amazing. I actually like the northern badlands more than Southern.

So, a bit late for throwback Thursday. But, this is still a favorite. My husband and I have traveled so many places. I had tears in my eyes when our plane circled Norway for the first time, decades ago. We've camped on so many fun and exotic places, with, and without our Oliver. We've enjoyed camping in so many places, here, and abroad. And, sailing expeditions, as well. It's all about trust in each other, your vehicle, and what you are willing to risk, and, enjoy, together. Our life has always been about "will you go with me.," And, it's been a great travel. I only hope all of you can or have enjoyed the journeys, too.

New tires on my truck, gas for the genny, plow guy at the ready, and chains on the fire apparatus. As ready as we're gonna be.

The Badlands are cool and there is enough hiking for at least a two or three day stop. Also, free camping fairly near Wall and close to the Park entrance. Bill

Dew... add some photographs. "Nothing in Comparison"....? Fresh air. Exercise. Great Boondocking... and the chance you may find something of value. ******** I found my small Sapphires and Garnet panning. These were from the first site which was on top of a hill, overlooking the Missouri River. What are these small stones good for? Something that some will know from using a well known product in a workshop (hint). Today... manmade as it is less expensive to make than using natural Corundum / Sapphire / Ruby Hardness of 9 out of 10. What is harder than Sapphire with a hardness of 10. These are found on the Colorado / Wyoming border, south of Laramie, Wyoming. Yep... and Union Pacific Railroad owned the property from 1867... from what I heard.

I think your outlook for Oliver traveling is great. Traveling abroad right now is a bit iffy and there is so much to see right here in the US. We also spent a lot of time in Europe, lived in 3 different countries for years and feel we had seen a lot. The US, not so much. So, we’re seeing it in our Oliver, state by state, park by park! Good luck - Mike

Yes, it will. I used the collar lock (with Abus disk lock) on two different trucks (half ton) with the Andersen. Still using it without the Andersen. Keep the questions coming! Mike

I do not have the Anderson but I am sure that the collar will work with that system. It has nothing to do with the locking mechanism on the Bulldog. All part of the learning process. The only stupid questions are the ones you fail to ask.

The collar lock can be used while hitched or camped. That's why many of us have it.

When camping, petty theft is definitely more of a concern, though even that seems rare. Still, it’s natural to worry and if a hitch lock eases some anxiety, then of course get one. On the other hand, if you aren’t able to store your trailer in a fairly secure place while not traveling, then a hitch lock and perhaps a wheel lock of some sort are certainly good precautions. Many people also get a GPS monitor and set up a geofence alert when they store their trailer.

FrankC I will have the same combo locks as your set up. You are right, the Proven lock is a boat anchor but IMO the best coupler lock sold. I had one on a previous camper. It’s a very tough lock. I can’t imagine ever loosing the key(s). Most importantly I want my insurer to know I have done my absolute level best to secure our Ollie. As with my last camper I took photos of my security systems and made sure they had photos. Just me. After a very long 36 year career in law enforcement I can honestly say I never took a report of a stolen camper. Not to say it does not ever happen, surely it does. In my experience well run campgrounds are usually pretty safe places to camp.

In the picture of Hull 505, the Checkered Tape is there so the F150 backup assist camera can see and register that the trailer is attached. Normally tape would only be on the flat tongue surface, but the latch mechanism blocks the tailgate camera view, thus the piece going up the storage basket. Once registered, the backup assist makes backing up easier and more precise. While not absolutely necessary, that backup assist is a great help when trying to back around corners and into tight spaces. That feature is now available on 2020 F250 HD trucks.

Yes, people could also just use the tow chains and a platform to make a lash up to tow the trailer away. Mostly the locks are helpful in keeping people from picking your rig over others that don't have any security.

Yes - been using it since we picked up our Oliver II in Aug 2019. It's been in the rain a bunch and no rust and functions as advertised.