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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/27/2024 in all areas

  1. The material on top of the wheel well is fiberglass reinforced with the honeycomb material that Oliver typically uses. The honeycomb material is saturated with resin. The white plastic material is the typical Starboard marine material that Oliver uses everywhere for mounting purposes. The white material that I use is vinyl trim board material available at Lowe’s or Home Depot. I believe that Oliver, at least everything that I have seen, is glued (epoxied) in place. All of the mounting boards that I have installed are epoxied in place. I originally used plywood to mount the solar equipment to but later changed to the vinyl boards. I personally wouldn’t use plywood or other wood for mounting in the Oliver. Keep in mind that any condensation that forms in the walls (and it does in the winter) will run down into the basement area and eventually either will evaporate or run out of the scuppers underneath. You can see the honeycomb material in the upper part of the picture. My solar installation probably looks different than other 2017 or earlier models. During the 2017 model year Oliver was in the process of changing the solar equipment from Blue Sky to Zamp. I ordered my trailer without any solar equipment and added it later. Scubarx (Steve) spec’d out the previously used Blue Sky equipment which I ordered and we installed/wired it all in his driveway. I wanted the Blue Sky equipment because the controller is fully programmable whereas the Zamp controller is not, and the Blue Sky controller is MPPT vs RMS technology of the Zamp system. I then took the trailer to the Oliver factory and they installed the panels. I later remounted the controller, master switch, and circuit breaker on the vinyl board. The entire system has worked absolutely flawlessly for seven years.
    8 points
  2. I see that @mountainoliver is a lot faster than I am so there is a lot of duplication in my response. I follow Oliver’s lead for hardware mounting, such as the water pump and or accumulator tank. Although Oliver uses a composite material that is available in larger sheets, I usually use big box stores line of PVC lumber. You can choose from a wide variety of dimensional PVC lumber and put 2 different pieces side by side as needed. After I have decided what size boards I need for the equipment to be mounted, I will determine the location for mounting. Using the top of the wheel well as an example, I will draw an outline of the mounting board on the Reflectix insulation and remove the Reflectix by cutting and scraping to provide a clean surface for J-B Weld epoxy. I like the 10 oz. size, it’s cheaper and stores pretty well. I will roughen the side of the PVC lumber that will be epoxied down, hoping to create better adhesion. I add some weight to the top and let the epoxy cure. Flat surfaces like the top of the wheel well is pretty easy, whereas vertical surfaces are more difficult. Mossey
    5 points
  3. Having pulled an 8’ 6” wide Airstream across the Columbia River via the 9’ 4.75” wide lanes of the Hood River bridge, a trailer that size is something I don’t ever want to own again. The pucker factor of the experience is one I don’t want to re-experience. Even my 9’ 6” wide barn doors were enough to terrify me when there was snow on the ground. All that said, a slightly larger Oliver would be appealing. Something roughly 7’ 6” wide, and 25’ long. I don’t need a dry bath, but would like a bit more storage, a longer bunk, and most of all, a wider aisle.
    4 points
  4. Sounds like a good idea. I am in spot D08. Any and all are welcome to stop buy and say hi. Mimosas and Bloody Mary's start right after coffee.
    4 points
  5. Wow, thanks for reposting that video! It sure brings back memories. We had been “shopping” for campers off and on for years but a long story short, one evening I googled “large molded fiberglass camper” and this video popped up. I looked at it and called my wife in to look at the video and we both said this is the trailer, this is it! We called Oliver and set up an appointment to go see one and to come to the factory for a tour. The rest is history. One of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
    3 points
  6. This is why I did not recognize the wiring in your earlier photo. Also, you have your inverter in this compartment and mine was installed by OTT under the rear side of the dinette. @Ronbrink Unless you purchased yours new, somebody must have added that galvanized threaded pipe mount! I can't imagine a purpose for such a large ugly mount in that location. Glue or tape everything possible, stay away from penetrating the hulls, except if you need to run wires. @mountainoliver has an excellent example and description here! I installed the standard PI EMS (that did not come on older hulls) under the dinette, no mounting plate, laying on the insulation using only carpet tape to seat it. The heavy cables also hold it down and it is a large sealed box having its own base (I have a thread on this install).
    3 points
  7. In that vintage of Oliver - most (if not all) were glued. Bill
    3 points
  8. On our last day, we went back to Wikieup to drive up a very special road. Off US-93 head west on Chicken Springs Rd. We don't drive endless miles of dirt much anymore, after dozens of dirt bike outings over the many years we've had our Arizona home. We drove up about 4 miles to take pics, collect a few rocks, "you got some splainin' to do, Lucy!" The road is a well maintained Mohave County road, 4x4 unnecessary, but airing down for the washboards would be a good idea. A ways up and off this road to the south you can reach Alamo Lake too, the back way behind the Arrastra Mountain Wilderness. I read about this route in, "the Back Roads ARIZONA, 40 scenic trips." Believe it or not, when you hit paved roads again it will be on I-40, way south of Kingman, where the Interstate turns again west towards Topock, AZ! From the book, "The Joshua tree is the emblem of the Mohave Desert just as the giant saguaro is the emblem of the Sonoran Desert. As you drive over the mountain, you'll see both saguaros and Joshua trees--the two deserts are overlapping." Just 3 miles up this road, we did see one big Joshua tree. It looked lost by itself on the side of the road! Burro Creek has 100s of saguaros and we saw 100s more driving home until we hit elevation, the climb up to Prescott (saguaros flourish at 2000 ft +/-). After enjoying this area so much, and being so close to home, we will get here again and hope to drive the distance (must install an onboard compressor)! Any of you getting bored of Quartzsite? Check-out Alamo Lake! It's under 2 hours, take I-10E for a short to US-60E to Salome, turn left at Wenden, AZ and straight north to the lake. Elevation there is only 1200' so it should be near as warm as the Q. It appears that campsites are available: Alamo Lake State Park | Arizona (azstateparks.com)
    3 points
  9. Our Oliver is older, and I believe yours might be too, since you mentioned Blue Sky equipment. I do not recognize the picture @mountainoliver showed, meaning hull 113 does not have such wiring. Hard to say since neither of you have a signature line with hull numbers. I added two pics, the first to see overall location under the streetside bed, and then look at the close-up and you will see the black wire I disconnected hanging loose. Afterwards I just taped it and laid it down below. it's the only black wire without the big yellow fuses (for the stabilizer jacks). First check to read 12VDC on the black at the trailer plug. Then disconnect this wire, test voltage again. You should read an open circuit, meaning zero volts. This will ensure you pulled the right wire.
    3 points
  10. The tow vehicle charge wire (the black wire) is attached to an automatic reset circuit breaker. This circuit breaker is located under the pantry side bed close to the battery box. At least that’s where it’s located on my 2017 hull 208. Just remove the black wire and insulate the ring terminal. I used heat shrink to insulate it. Double check that this is correct by checking for voltage at the trailer plug. Checking the correct terminal on the plug there should not be any voltage after you have disconnected the wire from the circuit breaker. Caution: do not remove the lavender or purple wire from the circuit breaker. That wire supplies voltage to the brakes through the emergency disconnect switch located at the tongue. Don’t be tempted to move the purple wire to the other terminal, you don’t want emergency brake power going through a circuit breaker!
    3 points
  11. UPDATE: So ... I pulled the trigger today - ordered (2) Epoch 12v 300Ah batteries ... scheduled to ship on 2/15 ... all in, including PA state sales tax and shipping came to $2206 ... confirmed my current PD PD4045 Power Control Center is Li capable (will need to flip the switch), my BlueSky solar with IPN remote will work fine as it can be reconfigured for the Li (confirmed all the necessary settings) ... still need to determine the best way to disable the Tow Vehicle charging - hoping there's a fuse somewhere that'll take care of it. Rivernerd mentioned a 3 KW inverter/charger - that would be nice but the trailer already has a Cotek 2000 watt inverter that I think will be sufficient (no need to spend the additional $) I'll return here in late Feb to provide and update on progress and outcomes ... thanks, everyone, for your thoughts, insights, and advice. Talk soon ...
    3 points
  12. It's all trade-offs. We had a big fifth wheel. Living room recliners, big dry bath and shower, etc., etc. It's was nice, especially on rainy days or when one of us was sick. And we could entertain friends inside. But we didn't have as many choices for campsites as we do with the Ollie and towing mileage was about 20-25% less. When we purchased Eggcelsior we were planning on multi-month trips, which we thought it would be ideal for. Circumstances have ruled that out for now but, two seasons in, our Ollie has worked for us anyway because we can fit it into campsites that were out of the question with the fifth wheel. (And that's just the physical footprint advantage. The real game changer has been the solar and lithium package.)
    3 points
  13. I just found THIS link in my old Oliver files. It just might give you even more info about your baby when it was new! Bill But wait - there's more to include that video I thought was lost. Find it HERE
    2 points
  14. Perhaps a bit more to your point though - There have been several threads here on the Forum related to the various types of material that have been used for mounting various items. These range from marine grade plywood to plastic cutting boards to various poly type construction materials. I think that both Mossemi and ScubaRx have some experience along these lines - a PM to each might get you a direction you can use. Bill p.s. As far as I know - the material under that insulation would simply be the inside of the hull. I'd be very careful putting screws through it because it is highly likely that your tires are under there.
    2 points
  15. I too was not happy with the "wet bath". It was probably Anita, but early on someone mentioned to me just how "expensive" RV real estate is. They went on to explain by asking me just how much actual time I spent in the bath each day versus virtually any other part of the trailer. Good point I thought and then they mentioned the virtual "automatic cleaning" of the bath that occurs each time I used it for a shower. As it turns out - I was concerned over basically nothing - it really isn't any big deal and certainly I do use the other real estate more than I would use that same square footage in a dry bath. Another related thought - Oliver could (fairly easily) actually make a dry bath in the Elite II. Simply eliminate the closet and then extend the bath area into that "old" closet area - easy. I'm not giving up that closet space though! Bill
    2 points
  16. We will be gathering December 9-11, 2024 in Natchitoches Louisiana at Grand Ecore RV Park. It is during the "Festival of Lights" season. Last years inaugural event was very nice with various trailers attending from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and one from Canada. Attendees picked so many pecans someone said it could be called "PecanKnot" We visited the 33 block historic district of Natchitoches which was founded in 1714 and has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior, featuring many shops, restaurants, museums, the highlight is the Kaffie Frederick hardware store founded in 1863. Future updates will be provided. Many thanks to Jon Vermilye for taking over the Rally Map. https://grandecorervpark.com/ https://www.natchitoches.com/
    2 points
  17. Yep. And I can also watch from my driveway. I will be going to the annual Oliver Rally, so I will likely pass on this trip due to time conflicts.
    2 points
  18. My bank account agrees with this assessment.
    2 points
  19. I will have to walk around with a notebook to write people's names down. Good with faces, bad with names.
    2 points
  20. F23 is a good spot, pretty level with large tall pines all around. I forgot to mention that we will be in site G34. Can't wait to get back together with many good friends and pick up from there adding to the list.
    2 points
  21. I'm a big fan of the BuiltRight gear. I've only used the dash mount system and have never tried what you're looking at but if you have ANY question - give them a call. Chances are you will get the owner of BuiltRight and if he doesn't have something to take care of what you need, he will either point you in the right direction or (maybe) offer to make it for you. Good luck! Bill
    2 points
  22. For those lines I do exactly the thing that I do for the other lines that have faucets (i.e. the kitchen and the bath) - I let the water pump simply pump the anti-freeze from the winterization port through the water pump to the outside faucet (both hot and cold water lines) until I see the pink stuff coming from the shower head. Bill
    2 points
  23. Since 2022 Oliver has offered the Lithium Platinum Package, which provides 630 Ah of LiFePO4 battery capacity. Some who regularly post on this forum have made that choice, and seem happy with it. In your shoes, I would also choose to spend the extra $200 to install 600 Ah of LiFePO4 battery capacity. I would also install a compatible 3KW inverter/charger.
    2 points
  24. With your longer hose, you'll need to position the shower head where you want it, I purchased this item, not for dishes, but first for showers: JONKEAN Chrome Handheld Shower Head Holder with 2 Hanger Hooks, Strong Adhesive Shower Head Holder, Adjustable Shower Wand Holder Wall Mount, Bathroom Waterproof Shower Handle Holder No Drill Need - Amazon.com The white plastic shower wand holder slides up and off of a clear flat mount, so when towing or not using it comes off and fits nicely in the shower opening. It's available as a 2-pack, so the second mount can be positioned elsewhere, like attached to camping stations as shown above. I will put my 2nd mount lower to rinse feet, our dog, maybe a large grill pan, though we wash most dishes inside. The second item is a suction cup version which should work well on polished fiberglass: OUO Suction Cup Shower Head Holder Handheld Showerhead Bracket Adjustable Shower Holder, Removable Handheld Showerhead & Wall Mounted Suction Bracket - Amazon.com
    2 points
  25. Resurrect indeed, your bed liner, slide and cap are great additions! I carry two Wavian NATO Jerrycans stowed in front of each wheel well; one with spare TV fuel (E85), the other non-ethanol fuel for the gennys (can be used for the TV in a pinch, but more-so for my two duel fuel generators when propane is not the best for given situations). No slide, but note the loft for ample stowage. A portable 100Ah power station is staged behind the driver-side wheel well for use with a Dometic dual zone unit. It is charged via a 200W solar array atop the bed cap. A folding winch hoist is staged behind the passenger-side wheel well for use in handling heavy cargo, as well as the OTT’s 30# propane tanks.
    2 points
  26. If you know Anita in the Oliver Sales office then she can (probably) give you a bunch more detail than I can give here. I fairly sure that your Ollie was built for a guy located in Greer, SC. His job had something to do with "fracking" for oil in PA and maybe even NY and since he spent a fair amount of time in these locations during the winter he wanted the tank heaters. Since he used the Oliver for its intended purpose, he found out that when it got cold and he could use those tank heaters, he was forced to stay inside the camper for extended periods of time (hard to be outside with all the cold and snow). So, even though he still highly praised his Oliver, he decided to sell it in order to have more interior room during those periods of confinement. I'm assuming that the gas stove you refer to has to do with its orientation - the lift up shield and the burners are straight in front of you as opposed to the shield "protecting" the curbside bed and having to reach across the front burner to get to the rear burner. This was the original orientation (and what I have on my #117) but given the number of owners that were asking for the cooktop to be turned, Oliver made this "turned" stove the standard. When I was looking at purchasing an Oliver, it was Windcrasher that had the only video available on YouTube. I must have watched that lone video 75 times during the production of Twist - no, there was not such thing as the Oliver University either at that time. He had posted a few other vids about his Oliver, his Travato van, and his fancy tugboat looking boat that he was having built. But, shortly after he sold his Oliver the videos on YouTube disappeared. A quick Google search of his "old" blog and video name turned up THIS review of camper vans he saw at the 2014 Hershey RV show. Bill
    1 point
  27. Yes, that will be a good question. Harbor Freight has a very similar step ladder that specifically says Not for Outdoor Use. I didn't find any similar disclaimer on this one. The feet are pretty narrow, though. I did take it out onto my soggy lawn today and it didn't sink in. HD also sells a steel version, with more reinforcement and bigger feet for the same price, but it's 10 pounds heavier and I'm trying to put my gear on a diet.
    1 point
  28. My bride and I had the opportunity to attend the Charlotte, NC 2024 RV show. Bumgarner Camping Center based in Lenoir, North Carolina had two 2024 Legacy Elite lls on site. It was really nice to see and talk with Shannon Bumgarner, owner of Bumgarner Camping Center and OTT Sales and Service Director Rodney Lomax. There was a really large crowd in attendance and a lot of people checking out the Olivers. There was not another camper that we had any interest in. So glad we have our Oliver.😊 https://olivertraveltrailers.com/events/charlotte-nc-rv-show/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8NKtBhBtEiwAq5aX2OzzjFR7exvNfjhQVdyiXRKuwXvwV5RBk6Z5DOXEW4PEarfBrcvl5hoCWyEQAvD_BwE A few photos of the Oliver trailers, Rodney, my bride and co pilot Kathy and me. We had a really nice time. A random pic of the Lithionics NeverDie battery configuration.
    1 point
  29. Yes, insulation is removed and I thoroughly wipe down the fiberglass to remove any old glue or release agent that may be on the fiberglass. I have typically used a Permatex brand epoxy material that has a very high solvent content so that it actually melts into both the fiberglass and the vinyl mounting material somewhat. Unfortunately in our little town I can no longer find this brand, so I’ve tried other brands with extremely dissatisfying results. The Permatex brand appears to make a very strong bond between the fiberglass and the vinyl board material.
    1 point
  30. @Steve Morris Yes, Triolgy is about 10 mins from Jill and me. I haven't eaten there but have seen it driving down New York ave. It sounds like Blue Springs was packed with manatees with kind of numbers. Currently we're down in the Keys at Curry Hammock SP enjoying some fun in the sun. Take care and safe travels
    1 point
  31. H & E - Jeff (Overland) as last on the Forum back on January 2nd. You might be better off sending him a Private Message (PM). Good luck! Bill
    1 point
  32. No sales tax in Oregon, but we had to pay a use tax of about $600-$700. John
    1 point
  33. The real question is, who here would buy a 30 foot Oliver that weighs somewhere south of 7k for roughly $115k?
    1 point
  34. You made my day (almost) - I just knew that there must have been SOMETHING I remembered from Geometry class.😁
    1 point
  35. Quality trade ins would be a huge benefit. Oliver trailers are made to last a long time and could provide an amazingly healthy second hand market. Does anyone have the updated (after Jan 1st) price sheet?
    1 point
  36. I personally like the simplicity of the single battery option. The odds of a single battery failure in a multiple lithium system seems unlikely. If you do something wrong that will destroy a battery, both will be effected the same. Besides as you said, the generator is a satisfactory backup. I like simple when it's possible.
    1 point
  37. mossemi - "added a toggle switch to the charge line. This makes in available for future use if needed " ... this is a great idea ... how/where did you install it? (in the tow vehicle? the camper? what type of switch - part# perhaps) mountainoliver - "if one big battery fails you’ll be out of luck" ... great point - I hadn't thought about that ... a single point of failure ... I'll have to think that thru a bit ... I would assume I could use my generator for emergency power eve if the LI battery fails ... thoughts? mountainoliver - "lithium batteries like to be in a comfortable temperature range" - ... the Epoch comes with heating. However, I want to confirm the specs on this with the supplier - wondering if the heater work automatically (thermostat?), or if there are other considerations (I live in Pittsburgh where it gets quite chilly in the winters) Thanks, again, everyone ... what a great community we have! Cheers, -Dan
    1 point
  38. The Epoch LiFePO4 battery is a better long-term value than the Trojan AGMs. AGM/lead acid life span is 4-7 years from date of manufacture, period. LiFePO4 life span is more like 10 years, depending on number of discharge/recharge cycles and proper maintenance. You should get at least twice the life from a LiFePO4 battery than from a new set of AGMs.
    1 point
  39. If the squirrels are staring at you saying “What the ..?”, then you are probably doing it wrong.
    1 point
  40. We own lien free “XPLOR” Hull# 634 and our TV. With over 20k miles we have yet to see another TT that would serve our traveling needs better than our Oliver. Per OTT Sales and Service Manager Rodney Lomax “Everything you need and nothing you don’t”. 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸😊 @thirddoor I hope you can find a well maintained gently used Oliver on your time line. 👍🏻
    1 point
  41. I've been told that it is Oliver's intent that it will not matter as to the location that you chose to purchase your new Oliver or even to have that new Oliver delivered. In each case the price will be the same. Only time can tell how successful they will be and/or how close they will be able to get in fulfilling that intent. Bill
    1 point
  42. My experience is very similar to @jd1923 and @Ollie-Haus. There is just something about trying out all the wrong stuff before finding the right stuff. Sure makes you appreciate how amazing the OTT is.
    1 point
  43. You are absolutely right Mossey, I don't know how that last sentence in my last post popped into my head.....a very senior moment
    1 point
  44. Great! I look forward to meeting more owners. If my count from here, the Oliver Facebook group, and the Egg Rally Facebook group is correct, that's 11 Olivers expected to attend!
    1 point
  45. I do still have the same bed slide but it is now mounted in a new one ton Silverado rather than the 3/4 ton Silverado it was formerly mounted in. We traded up from the 3/4 ton to the one ton to raise our cargo carrying capacity from 2100 pounds to 3700 pounds. We were about 800 pounds overloaded with the smaller truck. I'll try to get a few pictures up in a few days. I've also mounted a dedicated Battle Born Battery in the bed to take care of the power needs of our Dometic 75 quart refrigerator/freezer also mounted back there.
    1 point
  46. I requested that production swap the furnace & water heater locations because the furnace ducting was running right over the top of the water heater bypass valve. This made locating the valve difficult for new owners as well as having to move the duct aside with the potential to tear it. Hopefully this change has made it better for access and does not cause any issues. I have also requested the return air vents as well and they did start putting a return vent in the bath where the air can return below the dinette about a year ago. They are still working on getting one placed in the closet which should be one on the top & one on the bottom for better air circulation through that area. The return air vents is something that can be easily added on older models if you choose to.
    1 point
  47. I know I know, this thread ended quite some time ago. But it was quite interesting to me, so I figured I’d add one more thing . Our TV is a Tundra, Leer cap with the flip up side windows. Plenty of room for our gear in the past.. But we decided we wanted to lug a couple of bikes around, and working out a bike rack without the trailer in hand was unsuccessful.... so the bikes go into the back of the truck.. So I built a storage system into the back of the truck, with space for the bikes, and everything else. There are vertical slots for a folding table and 2 chairs. Street side has a deck 19.5” above the bed with storage for the camp stove and propane bottles, screen room, another chair etc on top. There is a hatch in it to access the area below, where the tools, telescoping ladder, shop vac, power tools, generator, etc get stowed. The generator is easily accessed through an opening next to the bikes. There is also a bait tray ( a plastic tub about 18”x 26” x 11” used to carry lobster bait) with a plywood top.. this gets filled with sea shells, fossils, shark teeth, rocks, pine cones and who all knows what else along the way. The top enables us to store things on top of it. All of this slides out easily to the tailgate with a boat hook. The big cooler slides under the deck behind it. The bikes, which were the cause of all this, back into the curbside of the bed standing up. You can see the plywood receivers I made for the back tires to help hold them upright, and they get strapped to the side of the bed. I can get our water jugs and other stuff on that side as well. I can have the whole contraption disassembled in about 15 minutes.. This is a prototypical project, we will give it a try this winter, redesign as needed next summer, rebuild it with more attractive material than CDX plywood and scrap lumber...
    1 point
  48. side, extended view of Cargo Glide 1500XL
    1 point
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