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Just me but my only interest is the new windows. I know most of you prefer the current sliding windows, I do not like these windows at all - leaks, shrinking window seal/gaskets, side window tracks on the newer models cannot be removed to clean out the tracks/weep holes (yes I know there’s a thread on how to clean them)…I just never had RV windows before requiring so much maintenance! So if the new windows are dual pane with black out shades, can tilt out fully and by some miracle will fit our current window openings, then yes I will take out a second mortgage to go that route!

When you order the new black gasket material you will have some left over after installation. Keep this leftover material and when the gasket shrinks just cut a piece of the extra and splice it in at the top. Not really noticeable if all of the ends are cut squarely and the splice is at the top and even if it’s not perfectly tight it will still keep excess junk and insects out of the tracks.

Thank You. We had one heck of a dinner with family.

This one looks pretty close if not the exact one. ITC -is- one of the suppliers Oliver uses. I purchased table pedestal caps from them, as well as two additional pedestal mounts. I figured I could use them to make a base for the table to use it outside. (Never did) Since people are talking about the porch lights - those things are DAMN bright! I’d like to dim them or even install additional switches to enable me to turn on just one or two of them to avoid ruining everyone’s night vision. (Same with the killer-bright courtesy lights.) guess I’ll check that link to see if it says they’re dimmable or not. (Listing says they are dimmable. Guess that’s a new project.)

We sure had some wind getting here from Curt Gowdy State Park. So far BB has been placid. We leave here in the morning heading to Kalispell, MT

You need to return to your profile information and fill in all the details about your Oliver. Just saying you own one does not provide us with enough information to assist you.

Great views, though... especially near sunset. Weather can indeed whip up fast as @topgun2 has mentioned. We were there for several days in the fall of 2023 while exploring Cody (Buffalo Bill Museum of the West, Irma Hotel), Yellowstone, Grand Teton and vicinity 🙂

They told me that they solved the problem by just leaving the black gaskets out. I removed all of mine and it solved the problem with the streaks.

Agree with @rich.dev and @CRM Never have cared for the existing windows and have always felt they were one of the weakest points with the Oliver's. I had the European style windows on my T@b many years ago and felt they were far superior in most cases. Oddly enough never experienced any scratches, although one of the round non opening ones got broken in a hail storm. The last time I checked the company did not make those style of window wide enough to fit the existing Oliver rough openings. Seems like I read somewhere Dometic had either bought the original company. Loved those windows. Oliver windows, not so much.

I'm with you... as long as they are DIY, made of glass and open far enough to make me happy. My windows are already getting "the fog" and I'd rather put the money to repair them towards these new windows if the satisfy my needs.

Just speculating on other possible changes here.😎 New upgraded sound system? New style/type of flooring and update on seat cushion color/cover options? A direct dedicated plug for Starlink? Induction cook top similar to the (pic) replacing the LP burners maybe? 🤔

There is a layer of shock absorbing material between the frame steps bracket and the fiberglass of the camper. This dampens the pressure when entering anded exiting the camper. The material has started to come out. The steps are removable but the bracket is welded to the frame. I don't see a way to create a little separation between the bracket and the Ollie without putting a lot of pressure on the camper. Any suggestions? Randy Howell Woolwich, ME Elite 1 #521

I love my wife Chris, and as each year goes by it becomes ever more so apparent! We purchased our Oliver just days short of a year ago and we love being together in our travels, no matter where we camp for the night, good or bad. I share this thought today with my virtual Oliver family. I do my things and she does hers and the best things are the times we spend together. She often asks, “How’s the blog going?” She’s referring to this forum and she is always interested. I tell her stories regarding y’alls antics, often over a drink or two before dinner. She listens and smiles, what a smile. Today is a very special day for us, as it is our 30th wedding anniversary! I have a difficult job every year from June 1st to June 7th. Her birthday being the latter date. Last year, as you can see, it was easy as can be, as to her surprise I brought home an Oliver! 😊 What in the world can I do this year! Good thing we do not need to top the great times we’ve had and will always have together. I write this for my partner in life. Love you, Chrissy.

While traveling from Florida to Huntsville, AL. last Thursday I spotted an Ollie in a campground along US Hwy 231, maybe south of Troy, AL. I didn’t have time to stop then but thought maybe on the way home. Of course I promptly forgot about it until I drove by again yesterday and noticed the door was open. So I turned around at the first opportunity and stopped to say hello. The owners of LE2 #462 are Mike and Elaine from Oregon and we had a pleasant but short visit. We discussed an 120V AC issue they were having with their refrigerator and I was able to show them the location of the access panel to the AC plug and I’m sure they have it fixed by now. It’s always a good day when you have an unexpected visit with fellow OTTO’s! Mossey

Thank you. I have a 2021 Hull number 876. I will add that to my profile. Thank you! There is no cell service here so I had to come to an area with Wifi. I will go back and take a look at that. Thank you for the suggestion!

I would think that one could source some thin pliable plastic material (or even a thin metal) that could be hand formed to cover the top then project out and down past a point on the lense that would more efficiently direct the light down toward the ground rather than being directed outward. Maybe a 'shield' of sorts that would encompass the entire light and be mounted behind the light could be 3D printed. Just a thought.

Hey, I'm late to see this but congrats @jd1923!! Wish you and Chirs all the happiness and good health! My wife Theresa and I are celebrating 36 years married this week! Hope your trip is going well and you will have to update me on where your travels took you in Colorado!

Just saw an E II headed west out of Cody WY on Hwy 14. We were walking along the Buffalo Bill State Park campground road. I thought they might be staying here but I guess they kept going.

OK folks, (TLDR - Stained window seals? Soak overnight in Dawn & Bleach water.) Now that I’ve got that whiny rant out of my system, I’ve come up with a solution that saves $100 and gives me some satisfaction. I had pulled the window seals out of all four windows last season or so, scrubbed them with a toothbrush and Comet, gave them an hour soak in bleach water, and got them somewhat clean. I even moved two of them to opposite side of the trailer so I could install them “upside down” so that the more visible part was clean. They hadn’t come completely clean, but were a lot less unsightly. As I mentioned before, because I scrubbed (abraded) them, I figured they wouldn’t come as clean a second time. I’m thrilled to report that I was wrong! I pulled them off again yesterday. Coiled them up in the bottom of a plastic bucket. I put a cup of household bleach and a generous squirt of Dawn dishwashing liquid, and sprayed about a gallon of water in the bucket. I let them soak overnight. This morning I was pleasantly surprised to find that they came even cleaner than the first time! There’s just a mere hind of a shadow of the old stain on just one small part of one seal. I would pronounce (nearly) “as good as new”! I plan to coat/seal them with the same treatment I’ve used in the nose of the trailer to make bugs release easier. So - for little more sweat equity than it would take to cut and install new ones - and $100 less - I have window seals I’m quite happy with.

Happy 50th to Oliver friends John & Susan! 😂

The following was copied from a former post and provided herein to better consolidate progressive modifications to the Savana in regards to the opening statement: “Ultimately, two storage boxes were acquired to safely stow much of the cargo; specifically, underbody tool boxes.” Cargo Securement Assurance/General Discussion Posted December 14, 2024 When towing with a truck, the majority of ‘stuff’ brought along on a camping trip or road adventure is conveniently stowed within the various holds of the Oliver and bed of the TV. However, even though my former crew cab Silverado 1500 had a storage box under the rear seat, it was mostly used to accommodate service tools and supplies for the truck and thus, found myself utilizing the rear floorboards and seat as additional cargo space when traveling. There’s peace of mind knowing cargo carried in the bed of a truck is adequately secured, not so much for that behind the front seats! All one needs is something going on from behind when something tragic is happening up front, no bueno! We’re required to wear seatbelts for good reason, proper securement of vehicle interior cargo should be of equal importance. I would be interested in learning how owners with trucks/SUVs safely carry their cargo within. My awareness of cargo securement was heightened recently with acquisition of a converted cargo work van as my TV; specifics are detailed in a forum post last October under ‘Towing an Oliver’ and titled ‘2019 GMC Savana 2500 Cargo Van’, if interested. Unlike service utility work vans that generally have a partition or cargo net, along with containment shelves and boxes, to secure cargo and ensure personal safety; conversion and passenger vans are more designed for ‘people’ cargo. In the aforementioned forum post, I addressed cargo containment, but cargo securement was still under consideration. Here is what I did to address the subject matter: Maiden voyage to Texas Oliver Rally, Inks Lake SP; cargo contained, but not secured! DC CARGO E-Track system components were obtained via online purchases from Tractor Supply. Each of the Buyers Products boxes were fitted with six of these brackets, three at the top of each end. A 1/4” x 8” aluminum backing plate was used to attach and strengthen these mounts. Backing plate cut to size, holes drilled and tapped for mounting bolts. Containment boxes prepped for backing plate and E-Track bracket installation. Super Sliders affixed to bottom of containment boxes for ease of handling on interior carpet. Three E-Tract rails fastened to deck to accommodate securement straps. Aluminum plate at floor level is runway for folded e-bikes. This box was slid rearward once back box was removed for storage at COW Barn. It primarily contains items typically kept in the TV with additional storage space, as needed, a trunk per se. Ratchet straps best used for non-towing vehicle use. Box securement once e-bikes are deployed. Wider Cam straps best used for e-bikes and subsequent box securement when traveling. Rear box is for camping ‘stuff’, forward as a trunk and more ‘stuff’. Driver’s side box securement using ratchet straps. View of e-bikes ready for ‘takeoff’ on runway! Cam strap securing e-bike. Ratchet straps for spare propane tank, generator and other needs. Items too long for the containment boxes are stowed behind at side panel. Oliver-mounted hoist used to transfer box at storage facility. TV moved forward to enable box positioning. Cam straps used for the lift. Containment box lowered onto platform cart. Liking the modular containment storage.

John, Chris congratulations on your anniversary! MK and I also really enjoy traveling together and love spending months at a time in our Oliver.

Not sure this is an exact replica of the Oliver porch light, but it appears pretty close. https://itcshopnow.com/products/assurance-exterior-flood-light?

Over the years there have been at least a couple of different patio light fixtures used on Olivers. Therefore, (as with most things) it would be helpful if you let us know what model and year of Oliver you have. An easy way to do this is to simply add this type of information to your "signature". Bill

Yes, black seems to be the way to avoid the unsightly black mildew - or whatever it is. They’ll still get dirty of course, it just won’t be so obvious. I hadn’t thought about cooling (previously “cooking” oops!) the new seal material first. I was figuring that the stuff doesn’t really shrink all that much, it more likely gets stretched as it’s being installed. I was planning on kinda “compressing” it as I install it. Mine had those 3/4”-1” gaps, but I just made sure they were at the top when I cleaned and reinstalled them. I don’t think they really do anything at the top. They just keep most dirt and junk out of the bottom of the track.

Well we just hit 26 pages. I remember asking the Mods to close this thread after 12 pages, but it was not my thread to close. Most of the additions I've read here in the last 10-15 pages are slight variations of the comments and questions made in the many pages before. I just reviewed pages 1-2. And yep, that's all you need to know on this subject. Except that a few pages later we learned that the Alcan springs are actually rated at 2750 vs. 2000 lbs. There was the same concern on page 2 about this rating being too much. I had that concern early but no anymore. We're on a long road trip where we have not before towed so many highway miles. Our OEM springs are in very good condition, no sag, still nicely arced and perhaps Dexter used better steel in 2015 than more recently. Who knows but htey're in excellent shape and no rust given where we live. When the other day, I crossed railroad tracks that were on about a 30 degree angle to the road, I watched our Oliver in the side view mirror. The Oliver waddled like a duck going over those tracks, side-to-side, the top of the Oliver swayed a good 1 1/2 ft like a pendulum both ways! These springs are under-rated, as the Alcan rep stated. It's crazy that this is our 2nd longest thread, just behind "Where's Ollie" at 28 pages! This truly means not enough of you are posting travel pics! 🤣

Great tip @Snackchaser. I'll try to remember as I am asked often about them. I gave my new white strips to another Oliver owner when I received the new windows. I had Oliver put on the black weather stripping. I'm afraid to see if it's a separate line item on my invoice. No, I will not look. No. @Ollie-Haus add that to our list of "to-does". “30 Second Outdoor Cleaner” (ACE) LOL Chris

So our 31st anniversary was spent a few nights ago. Nice to spend it in the Oliver! Today is Chris' birthday and our 2nd year Oliver Anniversary to the day! 'Twas 2 years ago today when I surprised Chris with the Oliver in our driveway! See the first picture of this thread for our Day 1 picture. Two years going strong and so far 92 overnights in our Oliver (will hit 100 soon on this trip)! We are camping near Mason City, north central Iowa. Was hoping for some pickleball today then dinner out. Pickleball will likely have to wait unless it clears out this afternoon, but we'll have a nice dinner out either way. Thinking of the Blue Heron Bar & Grill. Hard to imagine a place that has 5-Stars on Yelp with 89 reviews. Wow, it should be good! One more night here and tomorrow we will be with Chris' sister in Farmington MN, just a 2-hour drive from here. Charley's birthday is next week too, when he will turn 11. He sleeps a lot, is a bit hard of hearing, but still our great family dog! Isn't he pretty? Proudly protecting his Oliver!

Just search the forum for "MaxxFan ." If memory serves me correctly, @Mike and Carol has a post on replacing the drive motor, I've read before. Others have replaced the board, several posts on this site through the years re this fan. BTW, on my post re hitting the fan with the pressure washer... Remove the screen first. Then use an Allen key and remove the fan. Clean these with good ol' Dawn dish detergent and then blast the opening. Start your hose at the base of the vent door, at the hinges where it has strongest connection and work you way out, forcing the dirt to expel out the natural opening. When I did mine, we barely had a damp towel below. 🤣

The factory is pretty good at walking you through troubleshooting. (The fan mfg - not OTT). They gave me direction to troubleshoot my fan motor - and then sent me one gratis even though it was out of warranty. I -think- the control board should be a pretty easy R&R. Keyed connectors for both motors, pigtails for power. I imaginare that the circuit board and the membrane keypad are one piece - but don’t quote me. There’s also a temperature sensor. You can get up the circuit board by just removing the manual open/close knob (one screw) and the whole faceplate comes off with 4 more screws. Probably best to pull the bezel off as well so you can get to the power wires. Also 4 screws, but I found mine was helpfully (not) also glued on either white RTV and some butyl tape underneath. Just use a credit card to run around the perimeter to defeat the RTV.

New Mexico is a wonderful state in its hidden treasures from the area NE of ABQ (where Art lives) up to Santa Fe and to Taos NM, then further up to Raton NM for the Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally (we just happened by this rally when moving from VA to AZ back in 2005)! Then there is Ruidoso! It's Gods Country in Lincoln County NM of Billy-the-Kid and Smokey-the-Bear fame. Don't travel across southern NM without spending some time here. The area is named the White Mountains of NM, wild elk and feral horses walking the city streets daily and so many cute carvings Smokey is shops everywhere. If you're ever traveling through Albuquerque and need breakfast, lunch or dinner, or just great sides to go, like their amazing salsa and beans, Mexican meats and stews and much more, you've got to stop at the Frontier Restaurant. Just one exit S on I-25 of I-40, head a few blocks east on Central. This is my 4th visit here but the first time I parallel parked with an Oliver! (There was a car behind me when I parked and just a narrow alley in front). It worked out great and we could even keep an eye on our rig from the window seat! Chris had the Taco Salad and I enjoyed the Frontier Burrito, pints of salsa and beans to go for upcoming campsite dinners!

Not sure how applicable smart glass would be for an Oliver trailer but the function is awesome. In the camper below, all the windows and bathroom glass are smart glass which can change from clear to opaque with a push of a button providing instant privacy. No tracks to clean or window treatments to manage. https://www.smartglasstech.us/city/usa-smart-glass-technologies-landing/ Changed the video to one without music. It shows the smart glass function but the longer videos show it’s use better. Also, linked made in USA manufacturer site that explains more about the technology. Best, M

Wonder whether this will affect the purchase of the interior shade frame and shades. We just had one go bad and the string on another is fraying. So it looks like I'm going to need 2 new frames. I believe this is a Lippert supplied product. This could be a big issue moving forward.

@John Dorrer here is what I used. It worked perfect and only $8. https://www.harborfreight.com/finger-release-ratcheting-pvc-pipe-cutter-62588.html

Ours is original and black. It’s also about an inch short at each window. I keep the gap on the upper part of the window. I’d replace them but the rubber is still good and the gap doesn’t seem to be an issue. Mike

Happy Anniversary. We just celebrated #49 a week ago.

Congrats to you and your bride on your very special day! 30 years is quite a milestone. There is nothing like spending your retirement years together seeing this gorgeous country.Wishing you both continued happiness and lots of fun in your future travels!

This has been answered theoretically, but sure we all want to know what @Mountainman198 and @hobo experience. The 5200 LB axle makes no difference, except to be very happy they ran out of 3500 stock, and you got better bearings and brakes. 2000 LB rated 5-leaf springs vs. 1750 LB, like I wrote before is 14% stiffer, maybe a little more bang on occasion and less up and down.

YES

Thank you for the information. You are at least the fourth Oliver owner to have broken springs. Some trailers are newer and some have been older so certain ages of trailers don’t (at least so far) seem to be more or less prone to failure. Also as you stated, this is not an Oliver issue in any way. I believe that all trailers of any make are prone to spring failures.

I most certainly will. Waiting to see and touch them first and confirm the measurements and specs are right (should be no issue). Once I have confirmed this I will share the info and contact details.

The curb side rear spring was in the process of failing as well. Starting to flatten with the rearward end starting to invert. I have attached the tag from the springs on my trailer. According to Oliver, they are made by Emco