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Here's an easy way to provide DC power to the Starlink Mini Router which requires 9 VDC, 1.6 amps. I tested it for several hours today and it worked well. Anker #323 cigarette lighter style car charger with USB-C outlet. 9 VDC at 52.5 watts (5.8 amps): https://a.co/d/3Y3a5Hu USB-C to 3.5 mm barrel connector cord: https://a.co/d/0iLMf99 Cheers, Geoff

Recognize Wilson Mountain of Coors fame? I remember when we left Chicago, Spring Break 1972 to Tucson, sat by the pool and drank Coors all day long for a week, back when it was not sold in the states East. Life is Good! All the marketing BS aside, we’ve been to Golden Colorado where there is a murky pond behind the beer plant! 🤣 Sunshine Mountain and Wilson is TDF! Wish we could stay another week! We will again soon, only 8 hours from home, who woulda thunk!

Important Update on Campground Scheduling Policy We’ve received final confirmation that campground reservations cannot be scheduled more than 12 months in advance. This comes despite earlier guidance indicating that extended scheduling beyond that timeframe would be possible. While this is a change from the initial understanding, we are adjusting accordingly and will continue to keep you informed of any future updates or alternative options.

Got back from dinner and the Host had changed the entrance sign to “FULL.” Got here at 12:30 and after we quickly setup camp, a neighbor stopped by and said, “You got the best site, #12. A trailer pulled out just before noon.” We’re sitting at 9,550 FT and not a bad view for our last two nights before heading back to AZ!

Rest stop North of Council Bluffs. Heavy t-storms early this morning but clearing now. Only Ollie I've seen so far today. Bill

It is hard to keep these installed. Mine have fallen out frequently. https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-50805-Cooktop-Grommets-Bumpers/dp/B0CVQR21J7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GPGYXQHK39RF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JI2EKEuUhw1bFGY-X-lN5c3xOL1GM4CFbe06SD-dZolvDwCx2RkTcIeeC2UdqhZxTurth90kQV9_x7u5S4_WKWbwDepGINMJ-RLyZF5uaYk4ix_3g20rLvECx6utcQ5RD2PXZwP_nJaFjRXkscGmBgqKMAA8mCojOGZaLP8vdVyBt_JBCLEnDVrJU04H5kx9yXu68rC1zRXbaAb4VEPU9Mi__Xk3vSjUtawmj_97YqHOiND3U2VCvSpBVF1MjoXDnL_syxvdZiDOO4o9mX2biEc3QNLGytKveUcZD_eLRzQ.OijaUViL8XERFhcMrI6SKb9OcHK8phijnx-V96W4efQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=dometic+grommet&qid=1751555584&sprefix=dometic+grommet%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1

Like always, appreciate the information!

No, not the same thing The compressor slows down as the fan slows down, doesn't turn on and off. Coils not frozen with frost, air blowing strong over it! However, we have no empirical evidence, since only 1 Oliver install of the Pioneer model, not much data presented. We need to learn more, but not Like Dometic, Houghton, Truma, Atmos, nor any other standard non-inverter tech model.

You can have Amazon packages sent General Delivery to a nearby Post office. Amazon has these for the Dometic stovetop for about $12: https://a.co/d/exuedxY Geoff

Yes, pic of Chris & Charley and #113 and the mountain view. Arrive on a weekday after the 4th and Tom, formerly of Prescott is a great host. $28 or $14 on a National Pass.

I’ve been towing my elite 2 for 8 years and 95,000 miles with 2 different f150’s with no Anderson, and I’ve only had 1 original one spring break and I just replaced the 1 spring with a1750 lb Dexter.

Why not? If you look up the specs on class 4 or 5 hitches it’s right there, my guess is manufacturers are leery of specking class 4 hitches because people don’t know how to weigh their equipment and overload their rear axle.

Not gonna touch this one! 🤣

We have a BougeRV CRD45, 48Qt portable refrigerator. It's dual zone ( interchangeably), runs on 12VDC or 120VAC, and has an optional battery available. We've used it continuously on our recent 10 week trip out west and it's worked perfectly. It also fits between the beds in our trailer when traveling.

Mine frequently end up in the silverware drawer under the stove. I’m missing one now that’s completely gone. If you find a replacement, please post a link.

Everything is bigger in Texas.

Camping at Sunshine CG, dinner at Floradora’s Telluride! They’re ready to celebrate America this week. Wish I had come here when still a skier!

I had this problem. I solved it by spraying the wife’s hair spray on both sides of the rubber piece then worked it back into position using a large C clamp. The hair spray dries and changes from a lubricant to a slight adhesive.

BaseCamp550 - just S of Ridgway CO, 8 miles N of Ouray, our view from the back of campsite #17 looking southeast. The tallest peak on the right is Mt Sneffels, one magnificent Colorado 14er, simply amazing! 😂 Certainly our best campsite in 5 weeks travel. An older RV park from the 70s. Though I have a leaf-blower, if I had my weed-whacker I'd clean up this site a bit. The view makes up for it and we have a triple-wide spot between a cabin, their front facing away, and the laundry which makes it private, not having RVs left and right. It's just so nice!

The only thing on that list that I'd be willing to pay someone to do is recaulk any roof fittings that need it, and that's only because I find getting all the way up on top of the roof awkward and I'm terrible at caulking neatly.

Maybe so. But if my math is right, that means Iowa has about 4 times as many tornadoes per square mile. Yikes, Dorothy. Don't take Toto anywhere near Iowa.

Thanks. I contacted Oliver via e-mail and got this. The price has went up and the services has went down. Maintenance Performed Inspect & Clean A/C Includes cleaning coil & filters, removing debris, test operation, & check drain system Pressurize Plumbing & Inspect Includes leak testing Fresh & City water inlets, water lines, connections & fixtures. Inspect & Test Water Heater Includes visual inspection of fixture connections & operation Inspect Anode, if equipped Inspect LP Line Decalcify Plumbing & Water Heater Decalcify plumbing lines & Fixtures to remove calcium buildup Decalcify or flush Water Heater Inspect & Lube Blade Valves Test operation & lubricate valves Inspect & Lubricate Jacks Test operation, lubricate pivot joint, & inspect gears Repack Bearings, Inspect Brakes & Grease EZ Flex Inspect Brake components Inspect Bearings & Repack Grease EZ Flex zerks Recaulk Exterior Clean perimeter & recaulk joints Apply lap sealant on roof for additional seal for penetration points Perform LP Pressure Test Test LP Regulator for proper pressure & lockup pressure Perform LP Timed Pressure Drop Test Test LP lines for leaks Test GFCI Receptacles Ensure GFCI operation to all receptacles Perform 7-Pin Test Inspect & Test 7-Pin function, Clean Exterior & Grease Inspect Coupler Operation Test & Lubricate Coupler Inspect Axle & Suspension Visual inspection of axle & leaf springs Check Tire Pressure & Tread Depth Inspect & Clean Window Tracks Clean window tracks for proper drainage Charge & Load Test Batteries Clean/Sanitize Fresh Tank

I'm not a lawyer but even a quick AI research/query provided this info: Regardless better to be safe than sorry. Generally, a sticker on the bottom of a truck hitch stating load or weight capacities is considered legally binding, but its primary purpose is related to safety and manufacturer specifications, not necessarily creating a contract. Here's why and what it means: Manufacturer Specifications: The sticker indicates the maximum tongue weight and towing capacity the hitch is designed to handle, which are set by the manufacturer. Safety and Responsibility: Adhering to these limits is critical for safe towing and preventing potential damage to the vehicle or hitch. If you exceed these limits and it contributes to an accident, you could be held liable. Not a Contract: These stickers are not generally considered to form a contract in the typical legal sense, like a buyer's order or sales contract. Instead, they provide essential safety information that must be followed. Important Note: Vehicle vs. Hitch Capacity: The sticker on the hitch might indicate a specific weight capacity, but you must always adhere to the lower of the vehicle's towing capacity or the hitch's capacity. The vehicle's towing capacity is determined by the manufacturer based on factors like engine power, chassis strength, and braking systems. Tongue Weight Importance: Proper tongue weight (typically 10-15% of the total trailer weight) is crucial for preventing trailer sway and ensuring safe handling. In summary, while the sticker isn't a legal contract, ignoring the information on it about weight limits could have legal consequences related to negligence or contributing to an accident. Always prioritize safe towing practices and adhere to the manufacturer's specifications on both your vehicle and your hitch.

A previous owner had the "Yearly Maintenance Premium Package" completed in 2023. As best I can tell from the service sheet I have, there where 23 maintenance items in the package: 1. Inspect & Clean A/C 2. Inspect/Clean/Test Furnace 3. Inspect & Service Fridge 4. Pressurize & Test Plumbing System 5. Inspect & Service Water Heater 6. Decalcify Plumbing Lines & Fixtures 7. Lubricate Blade Valves 8. Lubricate Jack Pivot Points 9. Check Brakes, Repack, if req'd, Grease EZ Flex 10. Prep & Caulk Exterior 11. Perform LP Drop & Operating Pressure Test 12. Test GCFI function 13. Inspect & Test 7-pin 14. Inspect & Lubricate Coupler 15. Inspect Axle & Suspension 16. Check Tire Pressure & tread Depth 17. Inspect & Clean window Tracks 18. Charge & Load Test Batteries, if app. 19. Sanitize Fresh Water & Flush System 20. Wash Exterior 21. Clean Interior 22. Complete Torque Check 23.Complete Visual & Operational Test of Appliances The service sheet says a 4-5 day appointment is required. Price, as best I can tell was about $1600 but not everything on the list was done because the previous owner replaced the A/C with a Truma and replaced the 3500# axles with 5200# Never lubes. I don't know how, or if, these replacements changed the service cost.

I share your disappointment when owners get into personal comments. Truck discussions, unfortunately, can be contentious leaving no room for alternate viewpoints. I am aware of a number of owners towing with a half ton and no Andersen. I’m interested in the experiences one of our new members will have towing with an EV. I’ve towed our Oliver well over 100K miles. About half of that was with a 2500 (no WDH)and half with 1500’s/Tacoma (with WDH). Only 5K on the Tacoma, it was adequate but very limiting (payload, range without refueling, braking/acceleration, etc). The half tons (both Ram 1500 5.7L) towed the Oliver with ease. Mountain towing proved more challenging for both braking and having the high RPM’s going uphill. I still needed to be concerned with payload. The 2500 with the 6.7L Cummins is an entirely different experience. Level towing is effortless with the engine barely above idle RPMs. Mountain towing is much better, very little braking going downhill (exhaust brake is wonderful) and uphill it may downshift to get RPMs up to 2500, but nowhere near the 4500+ of the half ton V8. I get the about the same mileage in the 2500 as I did in the 1500s. The bed is bigger, interior is bigger, and it feels much more stable. We were camping in AZ and went by a Mesquite lumber store south of Tucson. I bought a fair amount of mesquite planks for some projects. Loaded them up in the 2500 along with our camping stuff and didn’t have to worry about the extra weight. Not possible with the 1500s, we were always near our cargo limit. Diesels are more expensive to buy and maintain but for us and the amount of towing we do it is worth it. As the title of this thread states, you don’t need a 3/4 ton truck to tow your Oliver. You might not even need a WDH on your half ton depending on how it is configured. It comes down to personal choice. Mike

I plan to take my Ollie to Hohenwald to get the leak fixed, along with a couple of other warranty issues. I do my own maintenance, but I thought while I had her there I'd let the experts go through it. This thing cost a lot of money, and I want my grandkids to use it some day.

Will do. I will send you a PM in advance.

JD, thanks much...hope to visit there soon...safe travels!!!

Thanks for your response, I guess more than anything else I’m disappointed in hearing members on this forum, disparage people’s attempts to do something different, I’ve heard for years now you need an Anderson hitch to tow an elite 2, you can’t tow with an ev, you need to completely revamp your suspension, because of a broken spring, you get the idea.

@Jim Harper, if you switch from auto to gas, does it just stop? May be a fuel line problem (air bubble?) Try burning off fuel by using the cooktop a bit, and see if the problem resolves. At least, that's what I did with our old 3 way, to troubleshoot.

That's a deal killer for the vast majority of the USA market for the supply air fan to run continuously. It just evaporates the moisture entrained in the coil back into the cabin. Same as the unmodified Houghton's.

For a change, I’m loss for words! Given your post, I have far less Oliver towing experience than you. User manual of our old Dodge, given a 2500 Cummins, states to use a WDH when towing over 5000 LBS (?), even though GVWR is 8800 lbs. It does level the rig, less porpoising from the light Oliver tongue weight, stays nicely level. I install the latest technology and use it to the max, yet down the highway I’m just an ol’ fart conservative! 🤣 Good to hear from you @STEVEnBETTY!9

I looked in the silverware drawer, but maybe I should empty it completely. I went to the hardware and purchased “Red Rubber Sheet Packing” (I would call it a piece of rubber, 2 pieces in the package) I am going to work on making a foot with a hole (for the stove top leg). If it’s successful, I will add it to my post.

All you have to do is call Oliver and they will send a list of the services they provide for "Annual Service". I'm sure you can also do a search or on Facebook and get it.

Ha, did Brown Dog for lunch today! Detroit style pizza, nice crust, should have ordered double toppings, but tasty. Heading to Petrified NP tomorrow and home on The Fourth! Let us know when you’re getting to AZ John!

I hadn't heard of or thought of soap water. That's a great suggestion. I will remember that for future use.

I *think* the Pioneer/Greenland/others? show the max watts of the unit running at full capacity which in our small insulated spaces probably won't be very often. I also think that in a few years nearly every new AC unit will have invertor tech and those manufacturers who don't employ it will quickly be left behind.

I rode my bike across Iowa in RAGBRAI... It may net out to flat, but those rolling hills are a killer!

Well, it's finished! The installation of the DC to DC charging system in now complete and operational. I first started the installation in the Oliver Elite I trailer (#924) and finished the installation with the Jeep. I'm generally a DYI guy, but this was a bit of a stretch for me. It's not that it was difficult, I stressed on doing something to the Oliver that would ruin it, especially penetrating the hull for the charging cables. That was a big concern. But with careful planning and a ton of help from this community, I was able to get this done. Special thanks to Coddiwomple (David) for his help, patience, and guidance. I first went out to his place to view his installation in his Elite I. It's amazing how different his wiring was in just two model years. Mine is a 2021, and David's is a 2023. It was a bit confusing for me at first so a second visit was called for. In the second visit, I pulled my trailer to his place and asked more questions and advice. That second visit really helped! Thanks again David! Here is a few pictures I took during the process: I followed David's idea of mounting the components on a board that I later installed in front of the street side wheel well. I used the buss bars to step down in size from 2AWG to 4AWG which was necessary to connect to the Orion XS. I think pulling the 2AWG wire was the toughest part of the installation. A shout out to my son-in-law who was there helping that day. Couldn't have done it without him! Upon examination of the hull, I realized that under the sink (above picture) the hull is only a single layer thick, not a double hull there. That made things a bit easier. There was little existinting space to run additional cables through the hull, so I modified the housing for the propane tanks just a bit. With the propane tanks and tray removed, it was easy access to the trailer font. With my oscillating saw, I cut out an addition piece of the propane housing to the left of the three existing cables. That gave me plenty of room to install two additional cable glands for the DC charging cables. The way the propane tank housing is constructed and attached to the hull, the small piece I removed does not compromise the integrity of the housing. The following pictures show the final hull penetration. With the cables pulled, I was able to finish connecting everything to the DC charger. I finished the umbilical cord that connects to the back of the Jeep. I used the Trailer Vision enclosure to protect the Anderson SB120 plugs. Onto wiring the Jeep. (Much easier) At the battery box, I used a KASS terminal extender to accommodate the fuse and the other cables. I ran the cable along the chassis and installed the Anderson connector in a Trailer Vision enclosure which allowed me to mount it directly to the rear bumper of the Jeep. With everything installed and attached the batteries at both ends (Jeep and Oliver), I plugged it in and tested the amperage. I was getting between 49 and 50 amps at idle. Now the next step is to road test this on a long trip. Can't wait. Very excited to always have full batteries after a long day driving. Thanks again to everyone who had a part in making this a success! Carl

The Timbren system is low cost and easy to install, but it's sometimes tricky to have air gap between the Timbren rubber blocks when Ollie is not connected (see my previous post on first page). If the bed is loaded when camping and Ollie is disconnected, it's still possible for the Timbren blocks to be contacting the rear differential giving a firm ride if the load in the bed is heavy. In our case, without Ollie connected with our normal camping gear load in the bed, there is air gap between the Timbren blocks and rear differential giving a nice ride. With rear differential airbag systems, you can let air out of the bags with Ollie disconnected to give a smoother ride. As mentioned above a WDH needs to be used with a TV/Ollie rig when required by the TV operators manual and stated on some trailer hitches. We keep a close eye on our actual ready to camp TV & Ollie weighs using CAT scales to comply with TV/Ollie requirements.

Rob - If you look under the rear of that new truck, somewhere there will be a decal stating that you need a WD hitch if the hitch weight is 500 pounds or greater. ALL 1/2 ton trucks have something like this. If for no other reason - I could not afford the liability of not using the Andersen in the event of an accident. I happen to think that performance and safety are also improved in using it, but, those things are more of a personal choice. Bill

We like to stay at Ridgway State Park which is in the same area. Great location to explore Ouray, Telluride and even Silverton (nice drive down 550). We’ll be back in Colorado in August! Mike

After spending well over three grand on axles, springs and other parts. And after my recent experience, I'm wondering, does our hull truly need a new suspension? (I'm just kidding 🤣, but you're not going to believe this!) We camped on the Yampa River valley, near Craig CO. We had used most of the water in our fresh tank the 2 days before, so when we setup camp I connected hose from our TV 35-gal aux tank to the Oliver boondocking port to fill the FWT. Afterwards I put everything away, but forgot to cap the hose port. The next morning we drove down to Alcan Spring in Grand Junction. A 3-hour 140 mile trip, starting with 40 minutes of dirt, then CO Highway 13 south where we dropped 2500 ft in elevation, then on I-70W and it was the usual windy day in the West. After I worked with the staff at Alcan, I walked back to our rig to grab a personal check for payment. As I walked behind the Oliver, I froze in awe, OMG, are you kidding me? The cap was exactly where and how I placed it the night before. There is no logic, no physics nor engineering science to explain this, but believe me, it's the God's honest truth! This just goes to show that Oliver Travel Trailers are rock-solid driving down the highway! 😂

What a great reminder -- the first time I heard about the Lock Picking Lawyer (here on the forum, naturally) I watched some of the videos, and THAT is when I changed up how I lock my Oliver!

Duly noted!!!

Did you try pulling the idle jet out and cleaning it with a small wire and carb cleaner? Edit to add link to video. Helped a friend with this and it worked out great. Simple Fix for a Surging Honda Generator

I am checking into this as I was told when we set the date that campsites could be scheduled. I specifically asked about the 1-year reservation rule and they told me that this was not the case. I will provide an update as some I have confirmation. Dates: Wednesday, October 28 – Sunday, November 1, 2026 Wednesday, October 21 - Sunday, October 25, 2026 The slash is to signify that the original dates were canceled. The park contacted and said that the campground was already full so the dates had to be changed to ensure available camp sites.

Spent the night NE of Omaha, just into Iowa at Arrowhead Park. It was an OK overnight, very nice host. He kept things very clean and neat but somehow too many flies everywhere. Thankfully they stayed out of the Oliver somehow. So as we're driving down the road, Chris is on her phone searching for local farms stores, for farm fresh eggs and meats. After a 5-mile dirt road detour we found Wild Rose Pastures in Madison County IA. A knock on the door and only a 12-year-old boy was home. Chris talked him into calling his Dad, saying tell him I'm a "safe old lady." After Dad talked him through the transaction, we left with 2 dozen farm fresh eggs at $5 per. There were big beautiful healthy hens running all over the place, a little nervous that we were there, ducking in and out of the barn! We also purchased 2 small T-bone steaks for only $15, a herd of cows beyond the farmhouse. I tipped the young man Zane $5 for his help in the transaction. You can eat well in Iowa on a budget!

Next we were heading to Dodge City Kansas. Being lifelong fans of Gunsmoke we had to see the town, even though the TV show was recorded outside of Kanab Utah! We found a city park with good reviews on Campendium, Davis Park in the nearby town of Greensburg KS. There was no charge to stay and 20A electrical hookups, fresh water adjacent to the baseball field. We stayed a couple nights so we could do a day trip to Dodge. We're generally not museum-goers but made an exception to visit the Boot Hill Museum, where they presented the real history of Dodge all the guns of the day and had the Gunsmoke city-scape with a walk-in Long Branch where you could order a whiskey and set a spell! We visited Dodge and then got the heck "outta Dodge." A bit too much in feed lots and meat processing plants for our taste. We thought not to eat a steak or even a burger in this town! What a shame. The real treasure was Kook's Meats in Greensburg, run by Andy and Georgina Kook (for short)! They cut us a few ribeye steaks to go and you got to get the blueberry cream cake! Had breakfast there the next morning too and what a huge muffin sandwich or breakfast burrito for only $5.25! The first night was perfect! The air was calm, perfect jeans and T-shirt weather and not a bug to bother us, bare feet in the soft trimmed grass. The second night a major plains thunderstorm came through. We were packed and hitched in case we had to get cover which was in a truck wash building just across the street (see last pic), but all that happened were heavy rains (a first for us in our Oliver). Next time I'll close my window, woke up to some wet bedding the next morning but all was good!

We did our spring trip to the southeast central US this year without reservations more than 1 or 2 days in advance. Mix of Harvest Hosts, state, federal, and a few commercial campgrounds. Worked out fine.