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John I am visiting our grandson in Denver on the way to Hohenwald. He has a cup with a lid that makes it difficult to spill. I can get the name of it if you're interested. 😂🤣 John

You're correct, of course. We've spent so few nights in the past 15 years with shore power, I tend to forget it's available.

I carry a single burner induction cooktop for use when hooked up to electric. It stores in the drawer when not in use. Works great both inside and outdoors.

We have wedge pillows we put on the bed to recline, watch TV, etc. inside. We put them on the dinette seats when we want to sleep at night.

We use a single induction cooktop. Works nicely and store it in a drawer, too. Use Ollie's propane cooktop when shore power is not available.

I designed the divider and our raised beds with storage underneath for our 2013 build of Hull #050, The Outlaw Oliver. Oliver offered them as options for a while but when they decided to drop any custom work done on the assembly line, these two items fell off the options list. I originally intended the divider to protect the bedding from any cooking splatters and to be able to recline against it, while partially sitting up to read. But, I didn't feel like it was sturdy enough to support that position so I recline on the other end of the bed although we sleep with our heads in the middle, feet to the rear. It does function well in the anti-splatter mode. As far as the cook tops, we specified a North-South orientation. Having come from our 2008 Elite, I felt like it was a better usage of the available counter space. Then some customers wanted theirs turned East-West, claiming it gave them more available counter space!?!? So Oliver switched orientations. I gather from what you are saying that they have now returned to the way we have ours turned. The downside of that orientation is that you have to reach across the front burner to utilize the back burner.

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like the right kind of cushions can turn the beds into decent places to recline (without being completely flat). I'm relieved by your replies. Didn't want to have to get a big, maintenance-intensive, class A just to recline!

My wife and I fly paragliders and I too use the Garmin Mini 2. For the past several years have served as the Applegate Open National Championship meet in Oregon. As the event Safety and Rescue Director, we require all pilots to have a Garmin or Spot Satellite Communicator/Locator to participate in the comp. When we have pilots hanging in 200 foot tall pines or injured on top of a remote mountain, these devices make the difference in a bad day or a really bad day. But beyond these outliers (Bad pun)... they also serve in other less urgent ways. For example, as part of our requirements, all pilots program into their devices my cell phone number and a number of pre-typed and saved messages. A few samples: LOK = Landed OK, PUP = Picked up Pilot, AID = Need Help. For most cases we use the text messages and their GPS location that comes to me with their GPS location. We then vector mountain rescue runners, and when possible RAZR's as first responders. Behind them rescue teams with more gear are sent if needed. The locators along with GAIA Trail Maps, Google Maps with high power radios and cell phones are the tools we use. Our teams are effective enough that in the past four years or so we have not actually needed the SOS capability despite competing several responses/rescues a day for the competitions. I for sure had ours with us during our Alaska/Canada voyage this past summer. BTW, they were on sale at COSTCO recently!

My wife and I like to recline on the single beds, looking out the back and side windows. We try to select a site that has something worth looking at in that direction. Lakes are good 😬 If you are traveling solo, you can do this. It’s a Zero Gravity type recliner. It will work in either direction, but this way is better for access to the sink, pantry, bathroom and outside door. Welcome to the forums. John Davies Spokane WA

We prefer to use propane since it works wherever we are. An electric unit only works if you have shore power. We’ve got a Blackstone grill and a Weber Q1000 that we use outside almost all the time unless the weather is really bad… then we use the inside propane cooktop. Mike

Any idea of what that stuff does to your wax job? Bill

We've used an induction cook top while camping for several years. Even tent camping we would take along an extension cord, clam shell and folding table to set up kitchen and the Induction cook top worked flawlessly. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FLR0ET8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Also the Magma brand cookware is induction ready and works great. Cast iron works well too. https://www.amazon.com/Magma-Products-A10-360L-IND-Stainless-Induction/dp/B00B99RJS2/ref=pd_bxgy_sccl_2/136-6643772-0764029?pd_rd_w=QrH0M&content-id=amzn1.sym.7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_p=7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_r=3NN2WH06PJQ2VVQE75WW&pd_rd_wg=Lz4Xe&pd_rd_r=0b995bde-1857-4e81-999f-06ceee7a1430&pd_rd_i=B00B99RJS2&psc=1

We sit outside a lot. Comfortable camp chairs are important, there are a bunch to choose from. It’s mostly personal preference. As far as reclining goes, we recline on our beds quite often. A couple of pillows on the back wall and you’ve got a nice recliner, not laying flat on the bed but sitting leaning against the wall. It’s quite nice. We sit in the dinette but also recline on the beds. Our trips are usually much longer than 1-3 weeks and comfortable sitting hasn’t been an issue. Mike

Come evenings or if I want to read during the day, I throw a pillow in the corner against the rear wall and recline all I want. I'm not sure which fiberglass trailer you're referring to that has a reclining chair. There was a Casita model that had two swiveling captain's chairs at the dinette (they did not recline) but none others that I've every seen.

We picked up our new LEII on October 27th! We have been waiting since February and we are very excited. Picture is the first day camped at Oliver in Hoenwald. We then moved down to Joe Wheeler state park for the remainder of the weekend. Everything works great and we are very happy. See y'all at the rally! Tim and Christie Willingham

John, I don't know if they would still stock the materials they formerly used. Steve Parsons (now deceased), who was their fiberglass guru and mold maker found a rogue piece of what appears to be the same stuff as cutting board material, about 5/8" thick and fabricated it for me. It is held in place by a couple of pieces of very thin SS channel that have been glued and caulked in place.

We’ve always had the manual Fiamma awning. It’s probably not as convenient as an automatic but it has proven to be very reliable. It’s easy to stake down when winds are more than just breezy. The support poles can sit on the ground or in brackets on the side of the trailer. We do have to be careful not to leave it out when we’re not there in case some kind of storm blows in. I also usually roll it in at night unless I’ve very sure the overnight winds won’t be bad. Mike

I may have the same old vintage stove John, the Coleman Classic. Unfortunately it will not run on the low pressure gas QD fittings as stock. There may be a way to convert it, but I haven’t been able to find an adapter that fits yet. I use a separate 20 lb propane tank with adapter hose, readily available at Home Depot or Amazon. We also use a Weber Q1000 grill that was easy to convert to low pressure QD with a kit. You could buy a new 2 burner stove that will work on the low pressure QD, there are several threads that discuss what others are using such as this one. Converting Coleman Stove I’ve been waiting for my Coleman to die and replace with something more convenient, but it has sentimental value and may outlast me.

No worries, getting to the back burner is no more trouble than using the back burners on your range at home. We tend to use our left arm, so we don’t bump the shield on the right side, and it’s easier to get to the two control knobs. The splatter shield is built in, keeps a hot pot or skillet from accidentally being pushed onto the bed. That being said, we mostly cook outside, and don’t cook anything inside that has a chance of splatters.

"The downside of that orientation is that you have to reach across the front burner to utilize the back burner." My wife is concerned about that as well. It appears that many people cook outside, so that may be what we'll do also. Our tent trailer had an outside high pressure two burner stove that attached to the outside wall of the trailer that we used most of the time. We brought our Coleman two burner portable stove, a dark green unit that has a cover that we bought about 35 years ago when we tent camped. We have propane cannisters but maybe we can connect to the quick connects on the trailer. John

That is a 4" drop/rise version. It works for most, but not all, tow vehicles. It is also the 2-5/16" ball version. 2" ball is more common. Oliver installs a 2" coupler unless you upgrade to the 2-5/16". If your coupler is 2", you must get the 2" ball version. How much drop or rise you need depends on the height of the receiver on your tow vehicle. There is a good set of instructions for measuring on the Andersen website. Check that out, do the measurements and you will know which drop/rise you need.

Where do you propose you'll get the electricity to run that?

Spray nine. https://www.spraynine.com/

We have this one but have only used it a few times works great! CUSIMAX Electric Hot Plate for Cooking Portable Single Burner 1500W Cast Iron hot plates Heat-up in Seconds Adjustable Temperature Control Stainless Steel Non-Slip Rubber Feet Upgraded Version B101 https://a.co/d/3kDQKau

After reading all the classifieds of Ollies for sale because of "health reasons," and one person who said they bought their Ollie "one year too late," we decided to push ahead with our purchase before actually retiring. Then it happened to us. Steph was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in July, just two weeks after we took delivery of Eggcelsior. Our little Ollie allowed us to find last minute reservations at state and COE parks and get away a bit during the initial treatments. The change of scenery was good for both our souls. At the moment, Steph is doing spectacularly well, with no cancer detected in her last PET scan. She's not cured, but it's very, very encouraging! We've pushed our retirement up a bit and we're hoping we can continue to enjoy good heath and get out in Eggcelsior as much as possible in the coming years. I think the message here is: don't wait for retirement to live your best life. We've seen friends and coworkers put off their adventures, waiting for a retirement they never got. If you've got the means to get out there and have your adventures now, in an Ollie or not, strike while you can. You just never know. Be safe and well, everyone. We'll see you on the road!

Prayers to Steph and you !!! We hope its nothing but continuing good news. It took me a while to realize that if we want to do the things we have talked about and see the things we want then we have to stop talking/planning and just go do it. Great movie but so true: "get busy living or get busy dying" - Andy Dufresne Shawshank Redemption"

New PVC floor in and basement insulated with Reflectex. Still have to copy what @ScubaRx has done and build a new shower box but that will have to wait until after our thanksgiving trip down in the Keys. Will be installing a rubber mat over the floor too to keep things from sliding around.

We have been pulling our 2017, since 2017, with a 2500 gas Ram. It has been more than adequate and quite comfortable. Easiest unit we have ever winterized. Have backed it down a narrow mountain road when the Garmin didn't know the rain had washed out the road. Have had a meal and an extended "nap" in a warm unit, at a rest area, when a sudden ice/sleet/snow storm came barreling through. Have camped at a small city park, next to a stone building with a working water wheel. No room for bigger units. I have seen and owned SOBs (some other brands) and would never go back. Welcome from Maine and hull #211. Ask any question, and weigh your answers. Some k but even be correct. See you around a campfire someplace...

I will air down to about 35 psi on the trailer if it is really nasty potholed rutted for a long distance. But folks need to be aware you have to air back up immediately when the speeds get back up to normal. Sometimes it may be hard to find a trailer sized pullout when you get back to a highway…. Keep that in mind too. John Davies Spokane WA

We use SPOT when we are sailing. Two years ago we took the Light Beyond, our 35' sailboat, from Washington to Glacier Bay in Alaska. Cell coverage was limited to near a very few towns & even then was poor. Have done the Alcan 8 times and found cell coverage spotty at best ( & expensive as a Canadian plan is necessary ) SPOT or Garmin allows different levels of anywhere communication depending on hardware & plan. Money well spent.

Thanks for posting, the charts are educational. Garmin offers the option of cancelling your subscription at any time, and restarting it again without any extra fees. That can save a considerable amount of money in your “off” season. But I have resisted the temptation to do this, simply because so many places I drive have poor or no cell signal. The inReach is always very close by, in my bugout backpack. Just in case I crash or have a medical emergency, or I encounter somebody else who is in distress. Because it isn’t just for back country hikers. Sat comm, don’t leave home without it! John Davies Spokane WA

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Hello, I want give everyone one who posts on this forum a BIG THANK YOU. We picked up Ms Ollie in July, traveled hill and dale from Tennessee to New York, Canada, Michigan and back home to California. A lot of states and miles behind us. Every little post has helped in a huge productive way .... and it is all inspirational when maybe you are having a less than perfect day. So, with this said. I do have a question about the curbside awning. We were told at pick up not to use the awning in the rain. It is made for sunshade and not rain protection. Big disappointment. It would be wonderful to sit out on a warm rainy evening under the protection of little awning right next to Ms Ollie. My question is, how do Oliver owners use their awnings? We have not used it in the rain because we were told not to. You cannot use it in any sort of wind because it retracts with the slightest wind gust. So we it gets used very little. other little questions: would like to change my graphics. I don't know where my head was at when I decided on green and gold. I took off the rear decal easily and now I'm thinking of taking off the front and maybe be brave to do the same on the sides. Does anyone have experience in replacing the graphics? I am assuming I could order a new set from the factory that actually matches the tow vehicle. Replacing them is certainly low priority especially when learning to use all the systems. but my poor choice bugs me every time I look at the trailer. Another sideline. Months ago I asked for opinions of compost toilet v traditional flush/black holding tank. We opted for the traditional flush system and have NOT regretted it for a second. Oh, we did purchase a new holding tank connection cap that extends out and easier to twist (thanks to forum suggestions). The location of the hose in the bumper is great, but getting to the hose connection was frustrating. Thanks!

Lisa: Great to hear your thoughts of a super fun initial run with your Oliver! It would be helpful if you would add your signature line showing the typical info about your TV and Ollie. See Top Gun's above for a good example. Below are a few thoughts that have helped me become a bit "Awning Wiser". Our Ollie came with the manual awning. As with Topgun2, we love sitting outside under it in "reasonable" rain storms. For those owners with the older style manual awnings I garnered some great lessons learned (The hard way) during our TX to Alaska trip this summer: A. Even when expecting a "Reasonable" rain event, we would extend the awning about 1/2 to 2/3 out and cock the awning so that one side is higher than the other. We have done this many times so that the runoff would dump aft vs. near the entry. Works great.... BUT: water weight on the lower side streached our awning to the point where it could not close for travel. (For the Pros: Yes I did all the adjustments to compensate, but they were not enough.) Hence I gained an opportunity to convert my perfectly beautiful awning into a ground cover. Most expensive ground cover we have ever acquired. 😞 B. When replacing your awning, be VERY aware that securely tying off the awning arms at all three arms is IMPERATIVE. My aft paracord line knot failed due to poor rope-man-ship by the owner. At just the wrong moment, it self deployed. Very quickly much to my surprise, it went from 20" to full open far faster than I could react. Damage was total to the aft awning arm center "Elbow" joint. Please take extra time to carefully tie the arms off at the replacement open distance suggested in the installation instructions. My one knot failure caused my worst DUHHHHHH moment in a long time. (PS: A candid comment by the Carefree Tech was: "Sorry about your loss, sadly I see it all the time." 😞 C. Some professional awning experts advertise in the video's that they can replace their awning by themselves. I stupidly believed them. But from my one time experience, it was not true for this owner, and likely would be so for about 95% of us. Awning replacement needed to be for me a full time two-person effort. Also, it is a three person effort for at least one moment. (See Item B above) Despite the above learning opportunities, we continue to enjoy our awning even in rain storms. As stated above, we caution to not have it full out if we anticipate any adverse weather. I also fill my milk crate (Front basket container for jack blocking) and my large Fortiflex feed buckets (basement storage) with local rocks. They are then tied to each of the three awning legs to help keep them were we placed them. Finally as suggested, we don't leave it more than a foot out when not present. I hope that at lease one owner does not make the same dumb mistakes I learned this past summer. GJ

That's how I plan to use it. The key is light rain. I verified with Oliver if it could be used in light rain and they said yes. John

SCL- There are a fair number of owners who have either replaced or simply applied their own graphic in various places on Olivers - mainly the front. There are a number of those that have posted both pictures and basic "how-to's" here on the Forum. I'd contact Service about getting a new set (I'm not sure that they do this anymore) and I'd also contact local print shops as to cost and availability. Hopefully owners with the newer style awnings will chime in here relative to your questions about rain. I have the old style awning that can be left up in light rain and I believe that even these newer awnings can be left up as long as you do not allow water to collect. The easiest way to do this is to only have the awning extended a small amount - (i.e. half way or less) - and I certainly would not leave mine extended overnight or when I was not there regardless of that wind sensor feature. Glad to hear that your trip home was good and very happy to hear that you have gain some knowledge and help from some of the threads here. Bill

You can adjust the sensitivity of the wind sensor on your awning. We use our awning when it’s a light rain so I can keep the window open on that side, we just don’t put it all the way.

If you camp in humid areas where morning dews are common, wait until the trailer and your truck are wet - the bugs have soaked overnight (“hydrated”) and come off a lot more easily in the morning. John Davies Spokane WA

A hose, a bucket of water with car wash soap, a soft carwash brush, and microfiber cloths. And, topgun2's brand if elbow grease. Good microfiber cloths actually make pretty quick work of bugs, without a lot of work. (Our trailer is waxed twice a year. Prevention is the best policy, imo.)

Reassemble all the parts, but leave off the big wind guard so you can watch the fire. Make sure your heater has water in it, turn on the gas and light it off. This is what you should see. Notice that the ignitor and thermocouple both are directly in the flame path and they glow red hot. If the flame should go out, the thermocouple will cool rapidly, send a signal to the control unit, and it will try to relight. It will do this three times. If it doesn't stay lit, the system will fault and show a red light inside the trailer. Usually it just means you ran out of propane, but it could also be a problem with one of the parts or the board itself. My board once blew out a resistor and would no longer fire the ignitor. Here is a video showing the lighting sequence and what to look for in terms of the flame. Put the last wind guard back on. I wrote the service date and jet size for future reference. FYI smaller jets are available, but I don't know where to buy them, or which size to buy for which altitude. If you live and camp exclusively at high altitudes, like the Colorado Plateau, you should consider reducing the jet size so that the flame burns more efficiently. You can pay a shop $100 to swap it or do it yourself, it is easy peasy. John Davies Spokane WA

I call those puddle lights, like the ones in some cars that illuminate the ground as you exit the door. They are exactly the same lights as those inside the cabin down low, and they are LED with two dinky wires coming out the back. If you have a dead one it most likely has failed internally and you just need to replace the assembly. OTH maybe a spliced connection has failed, you could remove the light and test the power wire with a voltmeter, and check the ground wire with an ohmmeter. Use a flat screwdriver to CAREFULLY pry the steel cover off the light, don’t damage the gelcoat. (Put some duct tape or a few layers of masking tape on the gelcoat if you want some protection.) Take out the two screws and the light and wires will slide out of the hole. Good luck.. John Davies Spokane WA