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After all these years of hiking and camping in places where bears are common, I've seen lots of damaged garbage cans and coolers and many other things that proved bears were around, but I had never actually seen one. Boy, did that change in a hurry at Lake Powhatan campground in Asheville, NC a few days ago! I had one leg out of the trailer headed to pick up my hat that I had left on the table next to my bike when I saw one!! I had my iPhone in hand and snapped a shot while stepping quickly back inside with a heart rate that was probably looking like I had just finished a marathon. 🙂 But wait, the story doesn't end there. I'm peeking at the bear through my door window (I have the Zarcor you can see through) and here comes two cubs right behind her. I stick my arm back out the door and snap this picture: Wow. Even though mama isn't very large by bear standards, I'd not want to get between her and the cute cubs. I had just gotten done riding my bike and I had my bear spray on my belt as I always do when hiking or riding in bear country. I did not have either on me stepping out of the trailer thinking I was grabbing my hat and coming right back in. Lesson learned!

I agree with FrankC. I would remove the chrome tip and install a short angled (downturned) tip. Or a 90 degree one exiting to the side. Problem solved. Don’t over-think this. Rather than trying to correct the problem (melted rubber), eliminate the root cause of it. John Davies Spokane WA

Do they use bear proof trash containers there? Whenever I see those I don’t leave the Ollie without my spray. Those three were headed for the fire ring, most likely some fool camper cooked food or burned trash in it. If they become habituated to humans they will have to be relocated. Black bears are unpredictable, I dislike them, but I fear the big brown ones more😳 I used to ride my KTM along the ID/MT border and saw many small black bear butts as they disappeared into the trees a hundred yards in front of the bike. But once we stopped for a break (always ride with others!) and saw fresh grizzly tracks in the thick dust, the edges of those huge paw prints were still crumbling. I always carried spray and a big revolver, but I am not sure I would have ever had time to deploy either. I did remove both one time, when a moose and her baby blocked the forest road and we were not able to proceed for twenty minutes. They finally ambled away. I hate moose too… I have never had to use my spray or the gun, fingers crossed. The rangers at Glacier had to drive away two grizzlies from the campground with rifle shots when I was there.😳 My personal observations make me believe that 99% of campers are clueless about the dangers of large wild animals. John Davies Spokane WA

We just used Harvest hosts on our drive from Minnesota to Colorado and back last week. We used it five nights total. There are breweries and wineries right off the interstate that are popular and you’ll need to reserve ahead at least a week. Others attractions are available on short notice, especially if they are less popular and further off the interstate. If you travel on state highways during the week, no problem. If you only travel on interstate highway on the weekend, expect to plan ahead at least a few days. Needing to plan ahead months in advance wasn’t my experience.

Evolution in action…

Bears are a lot less likely to cause trouble than people. I fear for this mama and her cubs if she is teaching them to seek out food in campsites. Hope it does not turn out badly for them.

If they are that clueless at the dump station they are probably the same in other areas of life….

I am very glad we ordered the rear view camera. With it, I have no need for extended side view mirrors. I can always see what is behind me and I can also always see when it is safe to change lanes as it is sometimes hard to tell if you have enough clearance when looking in the side view mirror (objects may be closer than they appear!). The rear view camera is especially handy when you need to change lanes quickly and/or merge in dense traffic. I don't find it all that helpful for backing up.

I wouldn't cross contaminate intentionally but I'm concerned enough about doing it accidentally that my hoses are color coordinated. Blue or white for potable water. Black or grey for grey water or rinsing potentially contaminated items. We have a composting toilet now so that simplifies things a bit. Edit: Forgot to say I also use a dedicated spray nozzle on the dark hoses. The color varies but usually a dark color.

I was going to say if you leave the pump on for some amount of time and it comes back on without turning on a faucet, then it probably is leaking somewhere. Since you are cutting it off, the pump cannot come back on. It might also explain why you are getting the sputtering like there is air in the line. My guess is that one of the plastic fittings may not be tight. They come loose easily. Start by looking under the curbside bed for any puddles of water or even remove the bedding and open the panels and turn on the pump briefly to see if you see water. Maybe try tightening all the white fittings (hand tighten) on the pex lines under the curb side bed. Others may have some other ideas for you.

We have black bear on our property, but rarely see them. Usually just their signs--scat, claw marks on trees, overturned rocks, chewed water lines from the spring collection system, etc. I usually don't have my phone handy when I spot one, (or, I'm too busy grabbing the dog to get a photo) but I did get this one from a distance, last year

I used to hang around a seasonal campground. I have seen covers, that had flapped around all winter, 'buff' the paint off SOBs (Some Other Brands). If they used a tarp, even worse. Let alone a good snow fall could end up freezing the cover to the ground. Cover frozen to the ground means no entrance to the unit to check nside, unless you destroy the cover. Also you still want to remove too much of a load off the AC and solar panels. Hard to remove the load without damaging a cover? I have had an inch of ice and maybe 9 to 12" of snow on top of that and according to the solar controller inside it was still charging. Haven't plugged it in since bringing it home in 2017, where it rest between trips. Wish I was as ambitious as these others when it comes to waxing. A quick Maquires Wash and Wax twice a year is all I have done. However this Fall I fully intend to wax and buff...

That was too close for comfort!😱

They do use bear proof trash containers there and preach to everyone about not leaving trash of any sort around. People are people though - the guy in the camp sight right next to mine left a 3/4 jar of peanut butter in the burn ring along with all his other perishables. Riding my bike around I saw several dog bowls with food/water out in the open. Fortunately the rangers patrol and come around quickly after check out and clean up after some of the idiots but you're right - they may need to be relocated eventually which is sad for the bears. Definitely glad it wasn't a big brown bear!

I own a 2021 Silverado 1500 4x4 with the 3.0L deisel. I tow our Elite II with it and it works well for our needs. Been very pleased with the 3.0L engine and 10 speed transmission. We make mostly boondocking trips of 3 or 4 nights and don't bring very much "stuff." It sound like you will be served better with a Chevy/GMC 2500. The payload on my truck is around 1500lbs and if there are two people + 500# hitch weight + 250# generator you are already running out safe load capacity. I really woudn't want a Colorado/Canyon. The smaller wheelbase and weight would make me nervous on the mountain roads I travel and the truck bed is smaller capacity (unless you are considering an Ellite I)

I’ve had the RockTamers on all of my tow vehicles. Our first tow vehicle was a Ford Expedition that had the exhaust pointing straight back under the rear bumper. I installed the optional heat shield that RockTamer sells (see first photo) and it helped a bit, but the rubber behind and around the heat shield STILL showed signs of overheating and partially melting. The Expedition is gone now, currently towing with an F-250 and the exhaust points out sideways behind the rear tire (second photo) so no more heat shield now (and I did put on a brand new rubber mud flap), and no problems. I’d recommend seeing if you can have a muffler shop fabricate a curved tail pipe section so the exhaust is out to the side away from the mud flap.

We have one and love it. We did upgrade the monitor to a larger size, a furrion 7” model #FOS07TADS. We purchased it through Tadibrothers.

Not sure what brand Oliver is running with now, but we did opt for the rear view camera on our 2015 model and used it although the image quality was next to worthless especially at night. The monitor was a oversized gangly mess of wires too. After a couple of years someone broke into our truck and stoled the monitor for what reason I’ll never know. This forced me to purchase another rear view camera system, a Furion, and install which is better but not by huge margins. At least the monitor only has one wire that being the 12V hookup wire. Most likely there are much better systems on the market and probably for much less than $850. Bottom line is we really like have the camera and recommend having one but make sure you are getting what your’e paying for at the price of admission Oliver is charging.

I have it. I wish it had the resolution and low light ability of the backup/rear view camera I had installed on our van, made by Rear View Systems (not to be confused with Rear View Safety which also sells rear view cameras), but it's a lot better than nothing and it was nice to just get it installed as a turnkey system.

We have it and use it all the time while towing. It’s not just a “backup” camera. It’s a rear view camera. You’d be amazed at what can be hidden in the blind spot behind the trailer while you are in traffic if you don’t have the camera. I have the factory installed large extended mirrors on my F-250 and there is still a blind spot behind the camper that the camera gives a good view of. The camera is very helpful for lane changes, etc.

Really disgusting!

Looking for specific suggestions for some good quality camp chairs. We have a pickup as the tow vehicle so space is not a huge consideration but we don't want crazy big either Secondly: How many chairs should we have with us? There are two of us but who knows when someone might swing by to say "hello"? I would think 4 chairs would be ideal but with the limited space available for the storage for all things camping, do you carry extra chairs (just in case)? Just wondering what the "norm" is here. Thanks

We have used HH for three stays now and love them. We have stayed at one with full hookups, one with electric only and one that was completely dry. They are great to stay at and well worth the subscription cost (we have the additional "Boondocking" subscription as well). Hope that helps you in your decision making. Appreciate your great Youtube channel! Photos are from HH locations in Minnesota and Missouri:

If the pump doesn't stop, then I think it probably is a leak and maybe a big one. Check under the curbside bed would be where I would look first.

Ewwwwww!🤢

I'm using Calmark cover. It's very easy for me to put the cover on by myself. I usually start from the back to front. The key is to fold the cover into a very small roll so I can unroll easily from the back and spread to the sides. Here, starting from the back using a ladder, climb one hand and the roll of cover on the shoulder. Put the cover behind the AC, unroll it over to the front of the AC using a pole. I also use pool noodle to cover sharp edges of the solar panels. Once the cover is unrolled entirely, spread it on both sides starting from the back. Now the final product after using bungee cords to tie it snug. I don't used the ropes from Calmark. They only provide 4 ropes. I use 12-15 bungee cords and find that much easier to work with. I also don't cover the rear bumper. I can do this alone within 30 minutes if I really want to but I usually take my time and take special care around a ladder and end up being 45-60 minutes. Taking the cover down is much easier and much quicker. You just climb a ladder on one side and lift the cover to the roof then carefully pull on the opposite side. The key here is the roll the cover into a really small roll. I'd recommend taking pictures how it was rolled when you get the cover from Oliver. Hope this helps.

As you probably know by now there is a cap on the vent fixture on the roof. Water could enter the pipe in a big downpour or if you’re on the road in heavy rain. It vents your tanks, so any water entering shouldn’t be a problem. Water on the outside of the pipe is a different issue. The picture from inside the closet showing light needs to be addressed! It could be from the wash if there’s a gap in the caulking on the roof. Mike

I'd say, certainly, brass is stronger. But, plastic has been fine for us, for 15 seasons. I think using the trailer a lot, vs sitting around, also makes a difference. Our poor little power boat seems to have some minor failure, every other time we take it out, because it's the least used of the toys, maybe? Granted, it's 20+ years old... but not much more than our Ollie, and far less than our 40+ sailboat. Since our daughter grew up, and, we no longer take it out more than a few times a year, instead of once or twice a week, it seems to be more prone to problems. Stuff does happen. Boats and trailers move, stuff breaks. Sadly, often at the most inopportune times. Maintenance, and regular use, are keys. Imo

I'd be up for a N MI rally, especially if we can do it on Mackinac Island. Would be fun to hitch a team up to the Ollie, driving from the doghouse with my feet in the front storage tray. What could go wrong?. 😜. Watch out for the road apples!

FYI, don’t leave your Andersen chains and whaletail lying on the ground, eventually they will rust as the finish gets scratched up. Two short bungee cords, one hooked to the middle of each chain, and one hooked to the ends of the whaletail, will support them neatly off the ground. You can leave the middle one attached while towing. The front one can then be used to secure your wiring to keep it off the ground. This method protects your big investment and makes you look like a pro; the parts never touch the ground, unless you have to lower the tongue way past the normal position at a steep campsite. The same applies to your three jacks, put a block of wood underneath each, or they will rust and leave nasty stains on the pavement. They are also more stable when they are not fully extended, and it reduces wear and tear on the motors and gears. And saves battery power. How do you like your new trailer? John Davies Spokane WA

Your kind of leak is normally just a small nuisance. Be very thankful that you have an Ollie, because if it was a stick and staple brand, there might be wet wall insulation and mold/ dry rot to deal with. In an Ollie, you say, “Oh a water leak, I’ll fix it” and you go camping. In another brand it might be, “Oh a leak, my ceiling, wall and floor have to be replaced by the dealer, and they are backlogged three months!” If you had a defective tank, that would be a pretty big deal, but they are designed to be removed from the back through the sewer opening, but this is highly unlikely. Roof leaks will usually travel down between the two hull parts and drain out the bottom, but since yours has been dry for a month, it is a plumbing related issue. The only place you DO have to worry about with any Ollie is under the galley cabinets, if you get a sink faucet leak, it can eventually destroy the bottom plywood. So it is prudent to never let a leak go for very long without fixing it. John Davies Spokane WA

This is very common, like others said, leave the wheel chocks in place on the trailer and let the tow vehicle adjust to a free spot, that is no tension on the hitch ball. Then make sure there is either someone in the vehicle, or put in park for the obvious reasons. I sometimes have to give the coupler a kick with the foot, or tap with a hammer, just the way things work when tension is present. trainman

If the campsite has a major slope to it, always chock the downhill sides of the all the tires and consider pulling the emergency breakaway switch. That will completely lock up the trailer brakes until you get everything figured out, leveled and safely chocked. Do not leave them this way for more than say ten minutes, it eats up battery power and maybe the brake magnets could overheat. And as csevel said, leave the safety chains/ cables attached until you know you are finished. Three tons of trailer can be hard to control… I hate sites like that, but some day that may be the only available one. They can be dangerous. If you don’t feel capable of unhitching safely in one, go to another campground. This was at my very limit for tolerance, sloping steeply back AND away from the street side. Great Basin NP, Lower Shafer CG (a very gorgeous park, one of my favorites, but with really crappy campgrounds!) The far side tires are way off the pavement on blocks. We paid for two nights, but bailed out early the next day and found a better site in a different CG, after scouting without the trailer attached. John Davies Spokane WA

Be sure to set the parking brake while holding the brake pedal in the TV. Just putting the transmission in P doesn’t keep the TV from rolling a little until the parking pawl in the transmission catches. Get out and kick the ball mount. If it doesn’t rattle, let the TV roll up or back then kick the ball mount again. The coupler will release if the ball is loose in the socket.

We have been thru a few chairs over the years but found the most comfortable camp chair made. Thought I would pass it on. . They are made by Strongback, We purchased the Elite Black 2.0 from Amazon. Believe use they are the most comfortable and supportive chairs made. I need to learn how to copy and paste sorry.

One of my favorites (and there are so many!) was on the Gaspe peninsula, Quebec. Most of the Provincial and national campgrounds were closed, so we "settled" for Camping Griffon. Simple rv park, we were one of maybe three campers there in early October, and we watched whales from our campsite. The owners were so very nice, even though we spoke little French, they spoke some pretty good English. Our camper was so small, they gave us a seaside tent site. The showers were older but clean and heated, and a very short walk in the brisk evening! Things have possibly changed. That's 12 or 14 years ago. But, the Gaspe is a beautiful drive.. do it north to south, if possible, as you generally are on the land side, not feeling like you're hanging out on the edge of the cliff (though you are, sometimes. )

Whether you dry camp or have shore power your batteries supply power to all your 12v needs, which is basically everything not connected to a 110V outlet and the AC. If you disconnect your batteries you’d have no lights, water pump, jacks, maxxfan, etc. I rarely turn on my charger when on shore power, my batteries rely almost exclusively on solar. Mike

I have both my solar charger and my Xantrex inverter / charger set up to charge my lithiums to 13.2V and float them at 13.2V. That keeps them at right around 55% SoC, so pretty much perfect for storage when you want your systems operational and your batteries at a safe SoC (have to keep an eye on the power and make sure it's always on - not a problem for me since my Oliver is stored at home). I do fully charge my batteries about once a month or so as that is recommended by almost all lithium battery manufacturers. If you learn how to properly configure your lithium chargers (configurations change based on use cases), then you can manage your batteries to hopefully get the full potential out of your batteries. For what it's worth, my LifeBlue lithiums have the following SoC at the following voltages (I think all batteries will vary a bit so test your own), and I change the settings regularly based on my use cases: 13.1V = 25% SoC (not used, but nice to know - this is where I would like to recharge if possible) 13.2V = 55% SoC (I use this voltage when I'm storing our trailer at home) 13.3V = 67% SoC (I use this voltage when I'm camping with full power hookups) 13.4V = 98% SoC (I don't use this voltage much) 13.5V = 99% SoC (I use this voltage just before I leave on a trip if I want the most without fully topping off) 13.6V - 13.8V = 100% SoC (achieved with a setting of 14.4V on the charger until the amps drop to zero)

Here's a comfy looking one. https://www.backcountry.com/stoic-sequoias-club-large-chair

FWIW, I got this one (just one) and love it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073GR2Z17/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I got this last year right after I picked up 672. Very sturdy and stable they come in out of stock on Amazon. Dennis

This is a great way to watch the Thunderbirds airshow... my Other Half in a Cabelas branded Zero Gravity lounger. I agree they are too bulky to always bring along, but I usually miss them if I don’t throw them in the truck.... Sometimes I will open one up in the garage and just sit next to “Mouse”, pretending I am off in the real world instead of quarantined.... how very sad and pathetic is that!? John Davies Spokane WA

Agree about the zero gravity. We like ours a lot, they are comfortable and versatile (sit or recline). They just take a lot of room and are a bit heavy. I keep going back and forth on whether to load them or not. If we’re going to be in one place for a while then it’s probably worth the effort, if not I go for the lightweight, compact chairs. I’m not spending any more $$ on chairs either! Mike

Update - I ended up buying a pair of the Helinox Sunsets that I mentioned above. I can see why they've become so popular - they really do seem to hit the perfect balance of portability, sturdiness, comfort, size, etc. They assemble and pack back up with very little effort, and packed up they're an easy to store 18" x 5". Best part is that, unprompted by me, when my wife sat in one, she said "These can replace the Zero-G chairs!". I got their little hardtop table to go with them. Just the right size and hight, and sturdy enough to put your feet up on it if you want. I also got my wife one of these blankets to go with the chairs - that really sealed the deal.

https://www.amazon.com/EVER-ADVANCED-Oversize-Gravity-Recliner/dp/B07GKWR8H3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549997760&sr=8-1&keywords=EVER+ADVANCED+Oversize+XL+Zero+Gravity+Recliner+Padded+Patio+Lounger+Chair+with+Adjustable+Headrest+Support+350lbs%2C+Green It seems rather sturdy, is very comfortable, we will see how it holds over time RB

We've accumulated a small collection of chairs over the years. My favorites have been purchased at Aldi. Only available once or twice a year, in their special purchases section, they're director style chairs with an attached folding side table. Under $30 each, but way better quality than similar chairs in the big box store. One pair is 8 or 9 years old, now. I like the legs, as they're less prone to dig into wer soil than the umbrella chairs. This year's Aldi model folds in half, so takes much less space in the truck bed. Sherry

We seem to have the exact same chairs and agree: They are extremely comfy but heavy, clumsy, and difficult to pack. They are, however, worth the trouble if one is planning on staying at any location for some time. (The problem I think I would have with any chair that is not a "lounger-type" is that, after a certain amount of time sitting upon them, they would start to be uncomfortable because they don't support the forelegs and inevitably put some amount of pressure on your upper legs when sitting.) We also carry two of these. They are not all that comfortable, but we are amazed at how many uses we find for them around the campsite and at home. We are guitarists, so we can carry these and our instruments wherever we want and then be able to sit and play. However, I find them indispensable for working around the Oliver--for hooking up the cables, checking the lug nuts and tires, for getting into the basement and hooking up the city or fresh water. It sure beats having to stoop or get on ones knees. (The GCI Outdoor Quick-E-Seat Folding Tripod Field Chair with Backrest is low to the ground.) They are easy to sling over one's shoulder and walk a good distance, which would make them ideal, it seems, for fishing, birdwatching, photography, or just hiking and needing a seat to rest upon. I highly recommend these lightweight chairs as a supplement to any others one would take on their Oliver adventures.

We have had several of the cheap chairs that fold up and fit into a bag. We got them years ago at a big box store for probably $10-$15. Their main virtue is that they are inexpensive. I have never found them very comfortable. My major complaint that the arm rests give way when you push on them, making them difficult to stand up from. So I have been thinking about chairs for a while. On some forum several people recommended the ALPS Mountaineering Lakeside Chair and the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Chair, and I put these into my notes as option. Then, last year at the Oliver Rally someone had a rocking chair that folds up and fits into a bag. They kindly let me try it, and oh my, I was sold. I wrote down the details: It was a GCI Outdoors Freestyle Rocker. When we got home I went to Kirkhams, a wonderful local camping shop, and to REI, so I could see what they have. REI had a different model, the GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocker, which I really liked. Amazon had the GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocker for $60, but with an REI discount coupon I got it there for $40. I really love it! Very comfortable, and I wondered why I waited so long to get a better chair. The only disadvantage, compared to the cheap bag chairs, is that it is approx 20% longer when folded into the storage bag, and it is heavier. As to Hobo's other question, we usually carry three or four chairs. And my wife is happy with the cheap bag chairs.

Timely question, since I'm trying to convince my wife now that we need to rethink our chair game. At the moment, we have three sets of chairs that we've collected over time. The first, which we got years ago, is the armless scissors style or quad chair like this one from Alps Mountaineering: Ours are from LL Bean, I think, from back in the early 90's. They've held up well and gotten a lot of use, but they're heavy and only good for lounging around; i.e., you wouldn't want to try to eat at a table with them. They have a relatively low seat height and you slouch back in them when you sit. They'd probably be difficult to get out of for someone who's elderly. They pack up into a tube shaped bag, and in that respect are fairly easy to pack. We don't really use them anymore. In our later car camping days, we wanted something that wasn't so loungy, and so we got these directors chairs: I like these a lot. They're super sturdy with a normal seat height and straight back that makes them great for use with a table. They're also heavy, and don't pack compactly at all. They're also steel, and water will get into the tubes - so if you leave them out in the rain, you'll get rusty water dripping out the legs. When we got our Ollie, we figured we'd have enough space to upgrade to some zero gravity chairs: These are sort of in between as far as seat height and position. They're probably too clumsy and heavy to use well with a table, but they make fantastic loungers and are stiff enough that an elderly person can probably get in and out of them without difficulty. They're great for soaking up the sun or stargazing. They're also steel tube. Also heavy - and not compact in the least. My wife loves the Zero-G chairs, and so do I; but I don't like at all how clumsy and difficult to pack they are. The directors chairs are a bit more packable, but we've found that we don't eat outside a lot with the Ollie (at least not at a table), so they don't really make a lot of sense to take anymore. At the moment, I'm into making everything more compact, lighter and efficient, so in my mind, the Zero-G chairs have got to go, but I've yet to convince my wife. What I'd like to switch to are Helinox Chairs, which are super light and super compact. And they're also pretty sturdy, despite their appearance. They're a little on the loungy side, but their Sunset and XL models have a normal seat height and I think that in a pinch, they'd work fine with a table. To me, their high backed Sunset chair would be a good compromise between our Zero-G's and Director chairs. I just need to convince my wife. They're not cheap, either. In the same vein, Big Agnes has just released their own line of camp chairs, which have a somewhat different design but are just as light and compact (and just as expensive): I'd like to see one in person though before spending that much money on one. In truth, I'd be fine with a good sized rock, but man are those hard to pack.

I carry two even though I travel alone 80% of the time. I wouldn't worry about "people stopping over" in that there is usually somewhere to sit or they can bring over a chair of their own. Most camping people understand that we all have limited space and therefore do not expect seating to be supplied. Bill