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I am sorry my report left you with that impression. I should have written it more clearly. To my recollection, none of the issues we found had been reported before except the roof leak and the absence of rubber plugs in the disk brake backing plates. As I noted, Dexter does not supply the rubber plugs, and I believe Oliver had not thought to supply them. So, the only previously reported issue that Oliver could (and should) have done better was the roof leak. The impressive point for me was that of nearly 100 previously-reported issues detailed in my list, I found only those two, and only one was a production oversight. So my "takeaway" was that Oliver has successfully addressed almost all of the "oft-reported" past problems. Please accept my apologies for any confusion.

I would like to once again point out that an Ollie is a recreational vehicle, and it is specifically mentioned in the manual that it is not designed for full time occupancy. And that for winter use in frigid temps the water system must be winterized if the furnace is not used. A few owners certainly do full time them, but to live in them continually as a residence requires extra diligence in keeping all the complicated systems working as designed. Especially in frigid temperatures! I am not sure that anyone relying on the overwhelmed professional RV service industry should try this. I certainly would not attempt it if I could not fix stuff myself! My first suggestion to Margaret is to get the water and gas leak(s) fixed. ASAP. The latter is a huge safety risk, do not use any gas appliance until that is corrected (turn off the main valves!!!). Proper furnace operation combined with adequate air flow should correct the moisture issues caused by excess inside humidity… once that inside leak is stopped! The second suggestion is to move to a warm desert location for the winter. Have you gone door to door asking neighbors for help? RVers are generally a friendly bunch, maybe you can find one who understands and can repair your trailer’s faults. BTW with the furnace operating, warm (ish) air from the basement goes into the spaces between the hulls. That should stop any chance of ice forming in those locations. Space heaters inside the living area do not do that. Good luck. John Davies Spokane WA

We’ve used a key for years and it’s not really a big deal. Sometimes simplicity is good, especially in something that goes bouncing down the highway. Sometimes I marvel at all the new technology in newer Olivers, but then I also appreciate the simplicity of our older trailer. Mike

OLIVER HULL #1291 DELIVERY, INSPECTION AND WARRANTY SERVICE EXPERIENCE This very long post details our delivery, inspection and initial warranty service experience with our new Legacy Elite II travel trailer picked up on November 10, 2022. I begin with our overall impressions, for those who want just the “bottom line.” OVERALL IMPRESSIONS The Elite II is a quality trailer worth the price paid. We are glad we waited to get the Truma upgrade package including the AC, the CP Plus Varioheat wall control and the Varioheat furnace. Oliver does not lap seal all screw holes on the roof during production, but does lap seal as part of the first year’s annual maintenance. Oliver’s production staff continues to make some mistakes, but Oliver’s Service Department promptly and effectively addresses flaws for which service tickets are submitted. If you are interested in more detail, including how our delivery process went, the specific issues with our Hull #1291, and how they were resolved, keep reading. DELIVERY Ryan from Service did a generally good job with the delivery process. But, he failed to provide instructions for running the AC on battery power, which is one of the reasons we bought the Lithium Pro package. We had to figure out on our own that the AC remote must first be electronically paired with the CP Plus Varioheat wall control, and that the inverter must be switched on, or the AC unit will not be recognized by the CP Plus Varioheat wall control. Once we completed those steps, the AC worked well on inverted battery power. Our trailer has Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse LT tires mounted on 16” wheels. I was advised by Oliver Operations Manager Rodney Lomax that the ST tires on 15” wheels will not be installed on new trailers until March, 2023. I asked Ryan if the tires contained balance beads. He replied that after the balance bead/valve stem issue, Oliver determined to remove balance beads from all tires going forward, and leave them unbalanced. He asserted that trailer tires don’t need to be balanced. Jason Essary and Oliver Operations Manager Rodney Lomax also advised they are satisfied that trailer tires do not need balancing. Note Added After Towing 2000+ Miles Back to Idaho: I do not feel the need to get the trailer tires balanced. The trailer towed smoothly. SPECIFIC OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE TRAILER Hull #1291 is the third trailer delivered with the new Truma package including Aventa AC, Varioheat furnace and CP-Plus integrated thermostat/control for heat/AC/water heater. We deferred our delivery from September to November 10 so we could get the Truma package in our 2022. #1291 is also the third trailer to get the Victron MPPT solar charge controller, which is standard with the 2023 solar package. I mistakenly presumed that since the Victron BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor is mounted in the same place that the Zamp monitor was that it, too, reports solar panel charging data. It does not. It reports only the battery charge status. In trailers with both the solar and lithium packages, it is one of four ways to access battery charge data: (1) by reading the Smart Battery Monitor; (2) through the Lithionics app; (3) through the Victron Connect app and (4) by pressing “Batt” on the Seelevel monitor. Those who order wet cell or AGM batteries without a solar package have one way to check battery charge level: the Seelevel monitor. To check on solar charge data, there is only one option: you must access the Victron Connect App and click not on the Smart Battery Monitor icon, but on the Solar Charge Controller icon. You can then see real time solar charge data (if it’s night the charge data will be 0), and historical data for the past 30 days. The Truma AC is quiet. Although it produces 62 dB on high, the low and night settings logged in at 48 dB. It is easy to carry on a normal conversation at those levels. The Varioheat furnace includes much more substantial ducting than what I have seen in photos of Suburban furnace installs. It is not kinked or twisted, as some have reported with previous furnaces. Hull #1291 also includes a return air vent in the bathroom, which allows cold air to be returned to the furnace through the service area in the bottom of the trailer. This results in a much better balanced forced air heat system. Previous posters with the Suburban furnace noted that the “bilge” area under the street side bed where the external faucet is located stayed about 5 degrees above the outside ambient temperature on cold nights in the teens. We found that, with the Varioheat furnace set to heat the cabin to 70 degrees F, the “bilge” area stayed at 38 degrees F with outside temps at 11 degrees F. We did not then worry that the plumbing and tanks below the floor would freeze. The CP Plus Varioheat thermostat requires a learning curve, as it is not yet covered by any Oliver videos. It controls the Varioheat Furnace and the Aventa AC, as well as the Aquago water heater. AC control appears as an option on shore power, but not on battery power until the inverter is turned on. We were shown how to use it on shore power during the delivery process, but we were grateful that Oliver also provides a notebook containing owners manuals for the Truma products, as we had to study the owner’s manual later to really learn how to operate it, including when testing the AC on inverted battery power. The fit and finish inside and outside the trailer is improved over that reported by some on this forum. The interior caulking, such as in the shower, is nicely done. As an example, the plumbing vent hole in the closet is now sealed with a gasket, rather than just caulked (sometimes incompletely) as noted by earlier posts on this forum. INSPECTION AT DAVID CROCKETT STATE PARK From review of posts on this forum, I had compiled a long list of nearly 100 production defects noted by posters over the past several years. I spent most of the next 3 days at David Crockett State Park inspecting the trailer inside and out to determine if any of those defects were present in our trailer. None of those issues, ranging from improperly installed windows, to missing caulk around stabilizer jacks, to improper grounding of the inverter, were found in our trailer, save two: (1) there were no rubber plugs in the drum brake backing plates and (2) there was a roof leak. We found 5 significant issues, for which we submitted service tickets: 1. A leak appeared onto the standard bed area below the Truma Aventa air conditioner. It rained in Hohenwald the night we took delivery, then we found the leak the next day when we arrived at David Crockett State Park. As we had not used the AC, we suspected something on the roof needed to be resealed to prevent rainwater from penetrating the hull when on the road. This issue was on my list. 2. The Truma Aquago Antifreeze unit we purchased from Oliver did not yet communicate with the Truma CP Plus Varioheat wall control unit, so it could not be used. 3. The grey tank sensor gave erratic readings that did not correlate to water usage. 4. The bath fan vent and plumbing vent screws on the roof were not sealed, providing possible leak points; and 5. The one other item that was on my checklist: The drum brake backing pads do not have rubber plugs to protect the adjustment mechanism from road grit. When dumping the black and grey tanks before heading back to Hohenwald, the grey tank cable pull handle came out in my hand, preventing me from dumping the grey tank. When speaking with Mike Sharpe from Oliver Service, I also advised him of this issue that had come up that morning. RETURN VISIT TO HOHENWALD We delivered Hull #1291 to Oliver Service the late morning of Monday November 14, 2022. Later that afternoon, Jason Essary advised that his techs had verified the water leak and believed its origin was around the ventilation fan. They resealed that area, but then also applied sealant to all of the exposed screws on the roof (at no additional charge), because I had expressed concern that they were potential leak points. Operations and Sales manager Rodney Lomax advised that those screws are not sealed during production, but that the Service Department applies lap seal to them if annual maintenance is scheduled. I suggested that, like the screws that secure metal roofing to sheathing, those screws should be either gasketed or otherwise sealed as part of the manufacturing process. We were asked to leave the trailer overnight, so the sealant could cure before leak testing the next day. Because rain was forecast for that night, and because we asked to be able to sleep in the trailer, Operations Manager Rodney Lomax arranged for the trailer to be placed under a large awning/overhang at the Sales and Service facility to keep the roof dry. We noted when we slept in the trailer that night that all of the service ticket items had already been addressed except the water leak and the plugs for the drum brake backing plate. The grey water tank sensor was now reading consistently and the CP Plus wall unit was recognizing and controlling the antifreeze kit. The grey water tank pull handle had been reattached. [My later inspection suggested that the set screw, which secures the aluminum shaft (to which the grey tank drain handle is attached) to the guillotine valve under the street side bed, had come loose. I expect the handle with shaft simply needed to be reinserted and the set screw properly torqued.] We were advised that the brakes come from Dexter without plugs for the access holes, and Oliver does not supply them. So, I determined to cover the access holes with Gorilla tape until I could buy plugs online at home and install them. We yielded the trailer to the service team the next morning, expecting that after a leak test, we could be on our way home. But, we were advised a few hours later that when leak testing, it was discovered that our windows had not been installed according to a new protocol recently implemented by Oliver, so Jason had instructed his techs to pull and properly reinstall all windows, including re-caulking exterior flanges. That took the balance of the day. Jason and some of his staff stayed until after 6:00 p.m. that evening to complete the work and return the trailer to us, so we could camp another night at the Oliver campsite rather than find a motel. The process of addressing our multiple service tickets required us to hang out in Hohenwald for another two days, and delay our plans to return to Idaho. But, we had planned extra time for this purpose knowing that such a delay was possible. In total, we spent 6 days in Tennessee receiving delivery, inspecting and testing systems, and coordinating repairs. We appreciate Oliver lap sealing all of the screw heads and holes in the roof of our trailer, at no charge to us. We believe all Oliver trailers should have all roof screw holes lap sealed as part of the production process. Had that been done to our trailer before we took delivery, it would have saved us a day in Hohenwald. We also appreciate the Oliver service team for promptly addressing our service tickets right after we arrived back at their facility, and, even though it took an extra day, for ensuring that the windows were properly resealed though we had noted no issues with the windows. It is a concern that Oliver’s production staff overlooked the items for which we submitted service tickets during construction, and failed to follow the new protocol for window installation when building our trailer. But, we left (two days later than we had originally hoped) with what we believe is a high quality trailer that is worth the premium we paid for it. And we left with great respect for the integrity and commitment to quality of the Oliver service and management team. HELPFUL THINGS LEARNED FROM FORUM POSTERS I learned many things from posters on this forum which have made using the trailer much easier and safer. These include: Inserting turnbuckles into the chains of the Andersen WD hitch, with the extra chain links required to fit the Elite II. This has made it easier to attach and detach the Andersen by turning the turnbuckles to create slack. It also makes it much easier to get the “whale tail” back on if it was detached at an angle—just loosen the turnbuckle on the long side even more, and the whale tail can be installed at an angle. Then, of course, tighten the turnbuckles to tension the WD hitch. I use Robogrips to complete the tightening process. This is much easier for an old guy than crawling under the trailer to loosen the nut with the Andersen provided socket. Using a Camco water filter and a brass hose elbow when hooking up city water Installing a dash cam Using a PUR water filter pitcher Installing a Tire Minder TPMS system Using a squeegee to wipe down shower walls Installing X-Chocks between the wheels on the two axles. If you posted about these items, THANK YOU!

The reports on this forum of failure issues with the RV Lock keypads are the reason we ordered the standard handle that opens with ordinary keys. We keep the keys in our tow vehicle. During our 2000+mile trip back home, locking and unlocking the trailer did not seem to be an issue.

I don't know. I inspected the windows after delivery, and found no issues. They all appeared flush to the outer shell, and properly caulked. What Jason reported to us after we took the trailer back is that when leak testing, he noted that a "new" protocol for window installation had not been followed. I don't know what that "new" protocol entails, or whether it would have been in effect in September. In your shoes, I would shower the trailer with a garden hose, then check for window leaks. If you find none, I would resort to the old maxim: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Hi Y'all. Got a little Tennessee in me. #1290 towed great. Semis give a little nudge first to the trailer that is felt in the tv steering, but it's not a problem. I just give them more room. Winterization was done in Denver and was easy to do. I boondocked in Evanston, Wyoming in 5° and was comfortable. The furnace did run all night, but I had it set for 68°. I turned it down to 64° and the Truma furnace went into maintenance fan speed so it was able to handle a 60° difference. No condensation!! That surprised me. The walls were cool and windows dry. I didn't open any windows or vents. I assume there's some way for the air being pushed into the trailer to escape. Manual reading is next. My grade so far on Oliver trailers is A+. It has exceeded my expectations. John

Just got my morning e-mail and the RecPro black friday sale is on. 13% discount on their sale price = $826. That's a really good price. GJ

We arrived back home in Idaho today after driving more than 2000 miles through 8 states after leaving Hohenwald. The trailer felt, and handled, fine, even at freeway speeds up to 70 MPH. I do not feel the need to have the trailer tires balanced.

Congratulations on the new trailer! And glad you had a safe trip back home. Just to clear up a detail though, the furnace doesn’t push external air into the trailer or pressurize the cabin. The furnace draws in cabin air that travels through the return vent(s) in the cabin, heats it, and sends it back into the cabin through the supply vents. And it’s isolated from the air used for furnace combustion process. Older Olivers like mine only have one very large rectangular return vent below the curbside bed that allows cabin air to circulate back to the fan intake on the furnace. I’ve seen photos from recent owners that show another return vent in the bathroom now on the newest trailers. With all the windows, fans and door closed, there’s actually very little air exchange of fresh outside air coming into the Oliver, only what gets in through the under hull scuppers. That’s why condensation, just from people breathing, can be such a problem in the Oliver. We try to leave the MaxAir fan open a bit or crack open a window to get some fresh air exchange to help reduce the buildup of moisture inside the cabin when camping in colder weather while running the furnace. Someone posted this graphic about typical moisture that will build up in a trailer.

Thanks, John. That is a good price. It might be time…..

Not listed as a Black Friday deal, but Amazon has an $85 off coupon for the TST 507 Tire Monitor System w/6 caps. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078P5GG76/?coliid=I2PNNC7BYUVKX4&colid=R9JV77V82AV9&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Hokieman is correct in his statement that Oliver updated the 2023 Owners Manual to reflect the lower torque setting for wheel lug nuts. He pasted the new torque values from page 88 of the manual. However, page 89 of the manual states that when using the spare tire to replace a flat, the lug nuts should be torqued to 120 ft/lbs. It appears they haven’t updated ALL text related to the old high torque values. While all who have followed this thread understand this is an oversight, others may not and would be confused. We won’t receive our Ollie until mid-April 2023 so this change doesn’t impact us yet, but I have it on my checklist to verify lug nut torque on delivery day! Thank you all for your posts as this site has been invaluable to me. And thank you ScubaRX for offering to get this obsolete info to Matt. Jeff and Carolyn

We haven't had any issues with our replacement RV Lock after applying sealant to cover the gap between the top of the lock body and the door. We do this, even with the RV Lock, just in case it fails.

What a fantastic detailed delivery report! Congrats on getting your Ollie. It sounds like Oliver took good care of you and addressed issues promptly. You certainly did your homework prior to delivery, planning the extra time during and after pickup was very smart. I wish you many wonderful memory making journeys ahead in your beautiful new Ollie.

Yes, thanks for the advice. I've washed it a few times, hosing down the whole trailer with a power washer. Next time I'll really hit the windows and see if they leak. As you mention above, if they don't leak then don't fix them. Also, I just read another post stating that 120ft*lbs of torque is to high for the lugs on the Oliver and should be around 100ft*lbs. So the the next time I torque them I'll bring them down to 100ft*lbs. I know when I first checked them they were right at 120ft*lbs from the factory. Lessons learned on the RVLock, it came with the electronics package and I'm okay with it for the most part. It can be manually locked if needed. If it continues to be a problem, then I'll change it out with something else.

I usually have the bath vent open and the Maxair vent open a few turns. Yes, a lot of heat escapes, but we seldom have condensation. I’ve also not camped in single digit temps yet, relying on folks like you to figure this out 🤔 Your heating system is different than the older models and hopefully much improved.

Don't forget about those "out of sight" scupper holes in the bottom of the Ollie. While each of those holes are not all that big, they do add up to a reasonable open space to the interior between the hulls. Having said this - I virtually always have at least my bath vent open while camped. Bill

I’m not an expert, but I would certainly use it. A light coat of any quality grease seems to last a long time. Mike

In the mean time, if anybody sees a Black Friday (or any day) super sale for the Houghton's, please let me (us) know. GJ

Aloha Oliver: Please note that I have changed my profile thereby declining participation in the OTT Field Visit Program. Nor do I desire to be a participant of the Oliver Rewards Program or Real Time GPS tracking initiative. When OTT "does the right thing" and provides defense and indemnification for owners participating in these programs, I will revoke my decline to participate. Mahalo, Geronimo John (Owner Hull 342)

Initially this suggestion by Frank C. seemed like a good option, but Frank measured the compartment and determined it wouldn’t fit. So my amended post would state “ unless you know for sure you need more than 200AH, just start with 2x 100AH, and add a 3rd later if it’s not enough. In my case, I should have stuck with just 2 x 100AH, but the Black Friday sale prices lured me in. 🤑

Rivernerd: Cograd on your new Ollie. Could you summarize the location of the hot air vents and the location of any return air vents in your new trailer. I would like to know that to consider making improvement in air flow in my Ollie.

Assuming you are talking about the Facebook group?

Nice work, John. I know these take more time to put together than a lot of people might think. I think I can speak for everyone when I say your guides are greatly appreciated!

No, what you wrote was very clear. My disappointment is that they'd identified a problem installing windows, implemented a new protocol on how to install the windows, and yet the windows in your trailer were not installed per those new protocols. Management and QC can solve any problem, but that doesn't always help if the guy putting the parts together doesn't follow explicit instructions.