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Well D and I thought our daughter's baby would be arriving closer to his due date of 25DEC... Clayton called me Monday afternoon to ensure my Go-Bag was ready, silly question. Anyhow, after Meghan worked Monday (4th grade teacher in Frisco, TX), she and Clayton checked her into the hospital and Cade Bailey Webb was born that evening. When they're ready to "EXFIL", they're ready! 6lbs/6oz - momma and baby perfectly healthy and excited to get home. Casa Blanca, AKA Santa's Sleigh/Giant "Go-Bag", was ready to go - loaded puppies and off we went early yesterday AM for TX. A non-eventful 9+ hour drive had us at their hospital room by late afternoon. They expect to be released today by noon. D flies in early Saturday... Proud Papa Flynn with 15-hour young Cade Bailey Webb: Christmas baby! Cheers, All! PS: This is first message sent over the Starlink system, FYI. Interior set-up...

We have a Cybertruck in our neighborhood, drove by it this morning. It is larger in person than I thought it was. LOLOHO just did a 20 minute video on it, Sean is on the wait list and wants to try it towing his 25’ Airstream. It’s a good video if you’re interested in the Tesla truck. I’m not there yet, too much camping in the west where even gas stations can be hard to find! Mike

I went onto the website and watched the video. It was generic but very well done. Anyone who's spent as much time in remote wilderness places as we have know how to build and tend a fire. But it's a good lesson for anyone who wasn't in the Boy or Girl Scouts. I went on and applied for the California Permit. We visit California every year while we are in Quartzsite, but I'm about as likely to build a fire as I am to try to pet a rattlesnake. We really don't like fires mainly because they stink and most campers don't have a clue how to tend one to keep it from being smokey. On a winter's night in the desert it's the perfect time and place for a good ole propane fire-pit in the clam.

The primary purpose of implementing regulations like this one and pairing them with a fine structure is to encourage compliance with the regulation. You won’t often find that these systems are put in place to generate revenue. The cost of running a fine system includes not only the costs of enforcement, but also the indirect cost of lost productivity (taking employees away from other duties), the cost of prosecuting offenders, the cost of operating a court system and the cost of administering the system (tracking tickets, receiving fine payments, responding to complaints, etc.). Despite the above, a well-designed and well-operated system in the right location can generate revenue. Some cities generate a lot of revenue from illegal parking fines (usually involving cars parked after the time on a parking meter has run out). Fortunately for those of us who enjoy the outdoors, the model of installing hundreds of parking meters and deploying a couple of dozen parking officers to write tickets all day long doesn’t travel well. Trying to duplicate the results of a downtown parking enforcement system by ticketing offenders of the California Fire Permit system out in the country would not be easy. The officers will have to make in-person contact with a lot of people and that will take a lot more time and effort than finding cars at expired meters. Many of the people the officers contact will have permits. Many of those that don't have permits will not have known that there was a permit requirement. It would be reasonable to give them a warning for their first offence. What will it do to the image of your park system if you don't at least give one warning to people who just didn't know? What will it do to the morale of your officers if you direct them not to give warnings? Trying to convince park rangers or conservation officers to do enforcement of regulations where the goal appears to be revenue generation is going to be a serious problem. You can be pretty sure it won’t be a money maker.

Congratulations! That’s quite a Christmas Present!! Mike

Yes, there is more to the story. It seems that for vehicles that get used more often than RV's the movement of the tire causes some distribution of the chemicals in the rubber. Whereas when a tire stays static there is (obviously) no movement and/or flex. In turn, this allows the surface of the tire to degrade faster than it "normally" would which eventually leads to cracking which leads to ..... When I put Twist into winter storage I first slightly elevate the tires from the gravel base by rolling the trailer onto pressure treated lumber that is covered in plastic sheeting. This helps keep moisture away from the tires. Then I cover each wheel with a tire cover and, finally, I place a 2 x 8 sheet of treated plywood over the covers. This keeps rain, snow, weed wackers and the like from damaging the covers. Perhaps a bit overkill, but, it makes me happy knowing that I've done all that I can think of to protect things while getting the most time out of them. Bill

These drawers are not at all intuitive when it comes to taking them out of the galley cabinet. It is dead easy if you pretend that you are a simpleton and don't over think things... . Stand over the end of the open drawer, reach under the sides at the very front with both hands. Put your fingers underneath on the inner edge of the orange release thingies and squeeze, move your fingers toward your palms. The latches will release and you can lift the drawer up and out, away from the slides, which will probably spring back out of sight. That is the "self closing" feature at work. Here is what is going on: The drawer is held to the latch assembly by two TINY SHORT screws. They are known to strip out the soft wood. Sometimes you will find the drawer lying up by the bathroom door with spatulas and other stuff scattered everywhere. Tighten them gently, they will move! If they are stripped, install longer ones. FYI this is a six year old drawer, Oliver may have altered these parts. For example, mine don't have the inner safety latches. Note that you might want to wear disposable gloves. EDIT: one member installed 1” long screws, driven into new holes at an angle, and found that to be a very solid way to do this. Here is the end of the slide, showing the opening that catches the latch. THIS IS SO VERY COOL! I just discovered it after all these years.... On the bottom of each slide, about 5 inches in from the end, is a tiny pin that sticks down. When reinstalling the drawer, you can use it to pull the slide outwards until it clicks into the latch. It keeps your fingers away from the grease too. Finally, you can flip each drawer and lay a thin bead of wood glue around the joint between the bottom and the sides and let it sit overnight. It will dry almost clear, so don't worry about minor mistakes. Plus nobody but you will ever know. I do not recommend gluing the inside of the drawers, that will show and it also has some sort of protective clear coat, so the glue might not stick. This thread is very much related: ... https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2151-how-to-galley-drawer-travel-straps/ John Davies Spokane WA

This is off Toyo's website. Scroll down to page 23 to start LT metric tires for pressure/load ratings. https://www.toyotires.com/media/pxcjubjs/application_of_load_inflation_tables_20200723.pdf Dave

Bosker wants to know!😁

ROGER, Soak'n!

Congrats Max. Being a grand parent never gets old. This Christmas will be very special.

Congrats Max! What a special Christmas gift for you and your family. Soak it up! Patriot🇺🇸

Art and Diane: Congratulations! Such a wonderful Christmas gift, one you can enjoy forever. And they have a lifetime warranty too - you can bring them back at any time, as many times as you please. As a five time Grand Pa, I have learned that: "Grandkids are so much fun, we wish that we would have had them first!" GJ

So cool - CONGRATS! I wonder how many other new born announcements have been broadcast over Starlink as a first time use? Can't be many! Great way to break in the new system for all concerned. It is a Merry Christmas already! Bill

Now that was worth seeing today! Congrats 'ol man, you truly have your hands full and they are fortunate to have you there. Sierra Hotel, Cheers and 73! Bravo Lima

@Patriot: Nope - Campong is a weekend of camping and champagne shooting... Never heard of "Chambong"? Ha! Cheers, brother!

Is weekend “campong” the similar to weekend camping? 😄

i think he is wanting them for long term storage, not weekend campong. GJ

Can we see some pictures? Of the insert that is! 🙂 GJ

I believe stock was 1/0 they were smaller and I had a bunch of 2/0 left over from my last installation on my lance. I had ton of 2/0 used on my Lance install. Thanks

The EPA technically classifies wildfires as natural disasters, but the majority of wildfires are anything by naturally-occurring. According to the National Park Service, human-caused wildfires account for around 80 to 90 percent of all reported wildfires. According to the Frontline Wildfire Defense System, most wildfires start because campers have left their campfires unattended. A campfire might be nice, but even one erratic spark on a dry and windy day can lead to widespread destruction. These fires can spread well beyond the campground and have been known to envelop nearby residential areas as well. As mentioned above there are other causes but most can still be traced back to human activity. Residential areas can also contain the spark that lights the wildfire. Burning leaves in your backyard, roasting marshmallows over a fire pit, and even lighting up one of those explosive gender reveals can result in wildfires — and widespread destruction. Electrical power lines are one of the top-ranking causes of Californian wildfires, according to the Frontline Wildfire Defense System. 10 percent of all wildfires are the result of fallen power lines. While on the East Coast of the U.S., studies by the US Forest Service have shown that wildfire arson is the leading cause of forest fires. I generally would not find myself agreeing with much of anything California dreams up, but in this case I think it is a great idea that should be adopted in every forested state.

I’m not sure if Oliver bought the tractor/trailer showing the video but man is that a nice rig. Keeps the trailers very secure and protected/unused even on the longest deliveries. Looks like most of the trailers in the parking lot have the Truma upgrade. Wouldn’t surprise me if that was standard equipment now along with lithium and solar. A really good decision on Oliver’s part.

You state that the first blue sky Oliver system was originally designed by Technomadia, in early 2008 and installed onto their trailer. I have no reason to doubt that this is an accurate statement since I do remember seeing pictures during construction and there were solar panels on the roof. Also, you say that you and Paul copied their design for your 2008 with 'their knowledgeable input, and permissions', apparently using the same equipment, since it was the best on the market. I, on the other hand, have seen that trailer only once when we ran into them at a campground probably sometime in 2009. We spent about three minutes saying hello, we did not go inside and I have no idea how they designed their solar system so I'm perplexed as to why you think I followed their design. As I stated in my Original Post, "At Oliver's request, in late 2013, I designed the first solar system [for the new Elite II's being built] that would go on to be installed in all the OEII's from 2014 and beyond from Hulls #050 thru #199. I included the best equipment on the market at the time. Blue Sky was the cream of the crop. In 2017, with Hull #200, Oliver switched to a Zamp system.

Our garage is almost done. Just need electrical run and installed before Eggcelsior can move in. Hoping to have it indoors before the first real snowfall.

People really don't have much consideration for their camping neighbors. OK... SOME people... We've had folks using generators (that were placed behind their camper and in front of ours) right up until the 10pm cut off. And most recently a group that set their campfire ring and chairs right next to our trailer and were yakking away until 11:30pm. (OK.. it was in NJ.. I should have expected it) The first night when I told them we were trying to sleep they knocked it off. The second night one guy who had a little too much to drink wanted to start a fight. Preference is state or NP campsites, but when we have to book a commercial campsite I look for one with sites as far apart from each other as possible (Thankful for google maps satellite view) and always check the quiet hours rules. Scotty

So sad to hear Phillip is leaving Oliver. What a great asset he’s been to Oliver and all us customers. He’s helped us many times, always a pleasure to speak with. Phillip, I wish you all the best with your future endeavor. You will be missed! Happy trails and many blessings.

I have an ARK XO500 Jockey Wheel on my Hiker squaredrop, and it is an engineering marvel! They didn't have the XO350 when I bought mine in 2017, so the 500 Kg model is way over what I'd need for the 800 pound trailer. I'm probably at 1/10th the limit on tongue weight. Many other Hiker Trailer owners have added one since I showed ours at a gathering, and now Hiker even offers the tube version as a factory option. With that little trailer, it is easy for one person to roll it around on a driveway, grass, or packed gravel. We used it to maneuver the trailer into sites I couldn't back into, or to rotate the trailer to take advantage of views. IT was the best modification I ever made to that trailer. The XO750 would fit the Oliver's tongue without the front basket option. I don't know how much it would pivot out of the way, but at least as much as the retracted current jack. Videos of the ARK Jockey Wheel being used in Australia are crazy! They hook up a trailer by the safety chains and drag it though mud, sand, river crossings, and more. It is a very robust system! And six years later, parked outside, it still looks as good as new. A word of warning if anyone goes this route. Use chocks! The bearings are so good that even any unnoticed slope will start the trailer rolling. I learned this from personal experience! 😲

At Oliver's request, in late 2013, I designed the first solar system that would go on to be installed in all the OEII's from 2014 and beyond from Hulls #050 thru #199. I included the best equipment on the market at the time. Blue Sky was the cream of the crop. Victron was just a future dream. Victron does not work any better than the Blue Sky stuff, it's just slicker, has more bells and whistles and better integration. My panel was not mounted where yours is. It is up at eye level where it should be because that's where I told them to put it. I don't know who's bonehead idea it was to start putting them down below the pantry, but I told them is was a bad idea. Just like I told them switching to Zamp was a bad idea when they began installing them starting with Hull #200. It took them years to finally change to something better (Victron). Most of us have moved all the wires out of the battery box except the jumpers and the main cables that feed the cabin. All those wires are now attached to buss bars, one for negatives and one for positives. It really cleans up the inside of the box and makes adding or changing things much simpler. Plus, you don't need taller posts on the batteries. You could use copper bars but the buss bars are cheaper and come already purposed for what you want to do.

The cable lugs with the spacers have been address, but I have to say I was shocked, no pun intended, to see these kind of connections. This is grossly out of standard and a serious problem. It's hard to tell from the overhead photo, but it appears there may be additional spacers at other connections as well under the cable lugs. As was mentioned above, you need to have sparkling clean connections and all lugs should be stacked together against the lead base of the battery terminals, no spacers if possible. Any resistance at any and all of these connections will play havoc with your charging control system and it's efficiency. I firmly believe this could be a root cause that needs addressed before you trouble shoot other components downstream. I would systematically check/correct every connection in the system as a starting point. I wouldn't replace any component without verifying it's function first. Doing otherwise just introduces more variables to the problem, and of course adds undue cost.

The step brackets on the older frames are attached in a different place and mounting a current set of steps may involve some creativity. @CRM, I have an extra set of double steps that came off a trailer just a few hull numbers from yours that might bolt right up. We’d need to measure to make sure.

Instead of moving a 42 pound machine in and out of the trailer, why not just use it sitting in the outside front generator basket. It would be very simple to run a water line out through the front of the trailer to the washer or if you're in a campground simply run a hose to it from the campground tap.

Yep, the only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Well, after more investigation, I've settled on Maxxis M8008 Plus ST205/75/15 radials, with a load carrying capacity of 2150 lbs at 65psi and 2040 lbs at 60psi. They have a deep aggressive tread which, according to "Tire Hungry", will "allow sipping and gripping on all weather conditions, including icy, hot/dry, and warm". It tended to better a competitor with a shallower tread configuration. I plan to run them at 60psi, cold temp. They have a speed rating of "N" which is 87mph, although I will still plan for 65mph or less. Not meaning to hijack a thread about LT tires, but from recent extensive research, it seems that between 2005 and 2008 a lot of ST rated tires, predominantly from China, were experiencing a large number of failures. This is why I chose to go to LT tires in 2009. After 2010, "ST" tire manufacturers appeared to get their act together and current ST tires have a much better dependability from their earlier models. Having a 2008 Elite, my spare tire cover is not as spacious as the later Elites, so I chose a thinner 205mm tire to ensure fitting well under the cover without rubbing against the fiberglass.

They were the closest thing to the Michelin RIB’s that originally came installed on our Oliver.

We towed our 2008 Elite 60-70K miles. We always ran our tires at 80 psi because that’s what Jim Oliver told me to do. I now know a hell of a lot more about towing. The tires on our Elite II are 12 ply all steel belted and have a maximum tire inflation rating of 95 psi to 110 psi and that would be fine if our Oliver weighed 12,000 pounds. Fortunately, despite the fact that she’s a big ole gal, at “only” about 7000 pounds I can safely run them at 60-65psi, which I do. Now, that’s for highway use. Only. If you head up something like a rough forest service road or, heaven forbid, decide to drive the 70 miles of washboard into Chaco Canyon or the 27 miles of very bad road out to the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley then please stop and air down. Obviously, you’ll need the ability to re-inflate when you get back to the pavement, so a good compressor and tire gauge is imperative. If you are unable or unwilling to do this, then just don’t go. Ignore this at your own peril. If you do, you’ll be tightening, repairing and replacing plumbing, electrical and mechanical stuff for a while. And some of this will be before you even get home. I’ll leave it to your imagination to figure out why I mention these things.

Not really. Yes, there are more Elite II’s so the conversation trends that way. Elite I’s are just as important, though fewer in number. There are differences between the two, but there is a lot of commonality. Don’t feel slighted, continue to contribute as an Elite I owner. Our senior members @SeaDawg, @bugeyedriver and @ScubaRx all are/were Elite I owners. You won’t find more knowledge and insight than you will get from them and other Elite I owners here on this forum. Mike

On deliver day for my Elite I, they told me the pressure was set at 70psi. I checked and it is. I'm still determining what I need and want to carry and getting organized after a few trips. Will camp this week at Mt Pisgah and be without hookups for the first time. Then I plan to go weigh and reevaluate all this info.

Yep, I've been setting my air pressure to 60psi in my Elite1 (stock LT tires) for highway driving with no ill effect. After reading all this, I may air down to 50-55psi for wash-boarded gravel roads where my speed is much slower, maybe even lower? I think ultimate tire pressure used is a decision one makes based on vehicle weight, speed, and road conditions. Certainly, all the pressures listed in the charts are for normal highway driving and that is a safe and reasonable starting point. Dave

We use 55 to 60 on our older 2008, with st tires. Irrelevant for all the new trailers. Elite 1. Since mine is an older trailer sporting st tires, I won't be responding to the poll.

I'm remembering a few months back, when we first joined this forum, you remarked that our Olivers were cousins. Old is good, or we're in trouble. I'm married to an old girl, she's wonderful and I can't live a day without her! And we have two old girls in Hulls 113 and 117, ours perhaps a few days older! It seems @SeaDawg understood my question. Her reply was exactly what I was looking for! Nothing wrong with the batteries or connections. There are odd posts for the main cable connections to the TT (see close-up pic). Thinking I should remove these tall bolts. Could this be original?