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Good on you for your perseverance and skill at getting the Norcold fixed! Thanks for providing part numbers and giving hope that problems with these, now obsolete, refrigerators can still be repaired. I think it would be great if you explained how to remove the front panel right here on the forum. I'm sure others would benefit . . if not now, then later. Congrats! Geoff

After trying to get our Norcold 3 way refrigerator repaired and having Oliver service center look at it twice. The service center quoted us a price of $4800.00 to replace the Norcold with a Dometic 12 volt compressor unit. I decided to try to repair it myself. The power board is easy to change it is the one accessible from the out side lower panel. That didn’t fix it. So I changed the optical display board next part number 628663. This board is located behind the front panel of the refrigerator. This board didn’t fix it either. Next I replaced the front button control panel part number 630619. The fridge is working properly now. I purchased these items on eBay. The removal of the front panel was the most difficult of this process. Message me if you would like an explanation of how to remove the front panel.

The cat did it!

Are you sure this is not a crime scene?

You are not alone in enjoying the way light bounces across the Oliver interior.

Poor Tommy Lee. He gets blamed for everything.

John, Welcome to the SL Mini world. We have had ours over a year now and won’t leave home without it. Its portability, ease of storage and 5 min ease of set up has been a win for us. I hope you enjoy your mini as much as we do! Always remember set up facing north and no obstructions. 😊 We have really come to appreciate this well crafted aluminum protective case which adds a little weight to the Mini. - https://www.strikerfab.com/ David

When my eyes are closed, I see no lights and sleep well. 🤣 So no issues here.

God’s country with great people and taking time to enjoy! Chris calls this camp “Our Place!” We hiked today and found 2-3 backup campsites down our small FS road, with great views along the way!

After 8 years of use it was time to retire the Dometic air conditioner. I have looked at several brands and for one reason or another I decided on the Tosot brand which is the same as the Atmos brand and probably others as well. Since last summer the Dometic has been making fan bearing noises off and on and I’ve grown tired of climbing on the roof to oil the motor. After eight years I really didn’t want to replace the motor only to have something else fail so this was an excellent excuse to replace it with a higher efficiency quiet unit. We’ve been traveling out west for the past three and a half months and were passing “close” to Elkhart Indiana so decided to drop in and visit the SDG folks. The entire replacement process was perfectly coordinated and our installer Joe knew exactly what needed to be done. We’ve camped out in their parking lot the night before with 30 amp shore power available. The next morning at 8:00 AM I backed our trailer into their shop and about two hours later the job was done. They even printed a custom cover plate to cover up the holes from the old Dometic thermostat. We were able to sleep through the night with the air conditioner running for the first time in 8 years without having to use earplugs, and to watch television at half volume instead of full volume! The air registers force air towards the front of the trailer instead of most all of the cold air being forced onto the bed area. We’re parked in central Ohio for a few days and it’s very hot and humid but the air conditioner is keeping the Oliver very dry and comfortable. On low fan the unit draws about 9 ac amps. Running from the inverter the inverter draws 94 dc amps. The Dometic on inverter would draw between 130 - 140 dc amps under similar conditions. We are extremely pleased with the work that SDG provided and with the comfort and efficiency of the Tosot unit. I strongly recommend the folks at SDG for the air conditioner replacement. They have done several Oliver air conditioner replacements and have experience in replacing/installing air conditioners on many different rv types.

Sounds like click bait, but it’s true! During a recent trip, the master switch on the main panel started flickering on and off, and that caused the blue LED indicator lights for other switches to flash. It turns out that one of the spade terminals for the switch had loosened from the strain of the tangled mass of wires that were tightly stuffed in behind the switches. Many of the wires were individual grounds for the LED switch indicators, and there just isn’t enough room for all of them. The wires are oversized and stiff, and they used bulky splices to connect them all together. So I cut the mass of yellow wires out and replaced them with a single smaller wire that was daisy chained to each switch. That space is much less tangled now, and there is more room and less strain on the switches. Now I have room for a new switch for a future project. While I was in there, I decided to address another peeve. I’ve always thought that those blue LED’s were too bright, so I soldered a 47K ohm resistor on the termination end of the new LED ground jumper. This dimmed the LEDs by about 50%. . . so much better! If anyone’s interested in doing this, Amazon carries a 525 piece resistor assortment for $8 so you can experiment with various levels of dimness. Only one resistor is needed for all the switches, so you could do a little twisted resistor art with the leftovers. I hope that someone finds this useful. Cheers! Geoff

One thing at a time Grasshopper. While u install the axles more videos and products could hit the market. Heck it will be cooling down very soon now you could prolly coast into March and get it then.

I had the Ollie out in 95 Degree Central Florida Sunshine today and the Pioneer dropped the temperature to 78 and cycled fine. It was drawing around 685 watts. It is also very quiet. I was running off my inverter and the batteries.

Thanks Geoff!

Hey folks, I have found several folks that do this and have gotten a couple of quotes on installing a Victron DC-DC charging system on our tow vehicle for the Ollie. I was curious to hear if any of you have had that done by a Victron dealer (or other) and what your ball park costs may have been. Also, has anyone tackled that as a DYI project? If so, how did that go? Since we have a composting toilet we are assuming it would be a game changer with regard to being able to harvest host and otherwise boondock for multiple days in a row. Have you found it to be a significant benefit? Thanks in advance! Bob

We have 600 Ah Epoch LiFePO4 and the 3KVA Victron Multiplus II inverter which can run the A/C for a few hours. When we replace the awful 13.5 Dometic Penguin 2 with an inverter A/C we should be near double runtime on the A/C. If you have the Truma, it is a bit more efficient than the Dometic. When we truly need A/C, like we did almost 10 overnights on our last 36-day trip we booked sites with electrical hookup. Was not expecting so much hot weather up north but we certainly had a heat wave in most parts of the country this June. I won't carry a generator and extra fuel. Soon with an A/C upgrade we can run it longer. I would add another 300 Ah Epoch battery before adding a generator. But that's just me. Best wishes to you and your new DC-to-DC installation!

I have a 2024 Ram 2500 that I'm still learning all the features that come with the infotainment system. My truck came with the 12" screen which at first seemed excessive but I've learned to split the screen into several functions (Map on top, radio and engine parameters on bottom) If that's not enough info for you, the map and additional vehicle information parameters can be also be displayed on the drivers dash screen. I love all the cameras, although this has become pretty standard these days but they greatly assist when parking. At first, I did not like the digital rear view mirror and turned it off because my old eyes didn't like the change in focal length. But it has not become my favorite feature. A rear view mirror is mostly useless when towing a trailer the size of an Oliver but the wide field of view lets you see down both sides of the trailer even before checking the side mirrors. I still use the wireless rear camera that came with our trailer. There is a convenient 12V plug up on the dash so no power wires dangling everywhere. The adaptive cruise control is handy in stop and go traffic (unless you come to a complete stop; then it kicks out) As mentioned Apple Car Play is wireless and works smoothly. Apps like IExit and MyRadar are very useful on the big screen. Things I don't like or I'm not sure of. The truck nav system is based on Tom Tom. It works well but is an interface I'm not used to. The jury is still out on the Trailer Steering option when backing up. Once it learns your trailer it's good at backing up straight but a slight turn of the knob will send your steering wheel spinning. Maybe I'm a DIY back up guy. Also, lots of reliance on voice actuation. The truck has it's VO system plus Siri is available. I don't know, I'm just not much for talking to my truck. All in all, I'm pleased with the systems. I came from a 2015 so a big jump in available technology. Finally, I'd say it strikes a good balance between being too intrusive and just letting you drive the vehicle. My wife has a new Lexus. It's always beeping at her and warning her of potential hazards. Some of it is just annoying.

Those are parking places to keep dirt and water out of the cables. One is for the DC to DC charger cable made by Trailer Vision. They also make the plug covers and receptacles for Anderson connectors. The other one is for the 7-pin cable (AP Products Plug Guard.) Cheers! Geoff

@Snackchaser What are the two other black connectors bolted to your front tray in your photo above? Thanks, Tony

Running the AC off our 2000 watt inverter in our LE I is our only challenge after this. If we end up in a lot of weather that requires the AC we may add the Honda 2200i generator, but that is not something we are excited about packing in our TV or on the trailer. One step at a time.

Thanks, Dave. This is really helpful, especially the thoughts about mounting location for the charger. We have a local (Nashville) outfit that I will have do the job and he has done a couple of Olivers, but probably not an LE I yet so it may be a little different from he other installs. Glad to hear "no regrets". I think this will be a game changer for us considering how we travel. Bob

Thanks! Great information. I probably should have done a little more leg work to find those links, but thanks for digging them up for me. We are definitely 2 or 3 days and then back on the road - travelers not campers, we like to say. 🙂 I think our batteries are 260 AH so this is even more important for us since we can drain those pretty quickly. We will definitely go with the 50A Orion.

Typically the DC-DC is installed in the trailer as close to the battery bank as possible.

Excellent Dave, good to hear! CLEAN installation! From just a couple of pics I can see you found a quality service company, as you mentioned. For a guy who at first did not want an inverter!!!!! You've come a long way. Your rig, your little E1 has come a long way in off-grid excellence! 🤣 We have found that we can run the fridge AND electric to the hot water heater (HWH) on DC while towing and the Orion XS 50A still adds good charge to the batteries while doing so. Or run the A/C in the last hour or two driving to a campsite with hookups and the DC2DC charger carries a good portion of the load and you arrive cool and calm...

Camera is through bolted with nylock nuts as to not to chip the fiberglass, like happens with sheet metal screws. The very tip of a step drill works well for making holes in the fiberglass because it doesn't grab and chip like a twist drill. Cheers! Geoff

OK, better pic.....

I just completed a Victron update to all the solar components in our trailer, including the Victron 50amp DC-DC charger. It has been great. I was originally thinking of doing the work myself but soon realized I was too far out of my comfort zone regarding the complexities of the install. This job I delegated! Expensive, yes. But The job as it was done went way beyond my expectations. I was very lucky to find an outfit locally that really knew what they were doing and take great pride in their work. The cost of the DC-DC charger was part of a much larger project so hard to break it out. There will be two sides to your install, the TV and your trailer. I found a way to fish 4awg cables from the streetside rear dining seat (where the battery box is) forward, under the bathroom sink, and then out the front of the trailer next to the 7-pin plug cable. The charger is mounted on top of the battery box. My truck luckily has a battery distribution fuse block with multiple fuses up for grabs including a 60 amp fuse to which the truck-side wiring was attached. The truck wiring terminated with an Anderson plug that was bolted to the underside of my bumper with a custom bracket directly under the 7 pin plug (which is next to my license plate). This location I highly recommend as it makes attaching your fairly large 7 pin and DC-DC charging cables nicely aligned and easier to manage. I'm getting similar charging profiles as JD iirc. For me, I don't like traveling with propane on, so I switch to DC mode on my fridge when under way. Always have full batteries on arrival! These new lithium batteries charge up fast if they can get the power and this little charger really delivers! Of course, it only works when your running your TV. So, as JD mentioned, this will be of no benefit if boondocking and stationary. That's where your remote solar panels come in to play if you have them. I suppose worst case, you could use your TV as a giant generator to charge your batteries but many campgrounds, especially in the National Park system, or in CG's that don't allow portable generators, this would not be allowed. Super glad I got the charger, no regrets! 👍👍 Dave

Hello Bob, our DC-to-DC charger installation has been very beneficial. For every hour we tow the Oliver on average we add 35 Ah to the LiFePO4 batteries in SOC. If you travel every few days, the DC-DC charger is very helpful. Say we tow 4 1/2 hours in a day, SOC will increase 26% on our 600 Ah battery bank. However, if you prefer to stay at one boondocking site for 1-2 weeks at a time then additional solar is the way to go. We have both upgrades and with the DC-DC charger I have not pulled out the suitcase solar in months! We have not had the time to stay at one campsite for more than a few consecutive days. On the road again, charging again! Definitely purchase the 50A Victron Orion XS vs. the older technology 30A version or other brands for that matter. We run Victron everything. There are so many install threads. I have listed some below. the last one is my installation with a lot of use case test results. The thread you linked above was about the sale OTT had including older 30A model wiring only the trailer side of the install at a very high price. Read through these to see if it's something you could do yourself, as Art, Geoff and I did in these posts: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/9733-dc-dc-charger-install/ https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/9972-more-dc-to-dc-charger-installation-tidbits/ https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/10757-the-victron-orion-xs-1212-50a-dc-dc-charger-complete-installation-and-testing/

I did find some great info here. Maybe that is what I need.

Please see Announcement:

We want to take a moment to address a recent change regarding our dealer network in Texas, and what it means for both new and existing Oliver owners in the area. No Current Dealers in Texas At this time, Oliver Travel Trailers no longer has any active dealer sales representation in the state of Texas. We understand this may come as a surprise—especially to those who purchased through our former Texas dealers. This was a business decision, and we sincerely apologize that a formal update was not sent to affected customers when this change occurred just a few weeks ago. Continued Service Support in Texas The good news is that warranty and service support remains strong in Texas. While there are no current Oliver dealers operating under our network in the state, both of our former dealer partners—Princess Craft and United RV—have confirmed they are continuing to service Oliver Travel Trailers, including warranty repairs, for owners in their respective areas. Additionally: Our factory-based Technical Support remains your go-to resource for any questions, approvals, or coordination related to warranty service. We also work with other reputable service centers where needed to ensure coverage in areas not directly served by Princess Craft or United RV. For those who prefer factory service, our Hohenwald-based Service Department is readily available to assist with scheduling and support.

Regarding price.... We just had 5200 lbs Nev-R-Lube axles and 5-leaf springs installed by ALCAN. Total price was $3,928.28, and that included $141.99 in convenience fee for using a credit card (3.75%). They only accept the equivalent of wire transfers to avoid the convenience fee. They do not accept checks (I didn't ask about cash). Regarding the functionality... Larger brakes did not cause me to reduce the brake controller gain on my OEM controller (2020 F250). I had to increase it initially, but as the brakes adjusted I decreased it back to roughly where it was initially (+5). Braking is MUCH better. The first two tows were 50 miles each, and ALCAN re-torqued the U-bolts each time. Both times the TV had come down, but nothing else was disturbed. We then towed about 237 miles and then 170 miles, and the TV has not come down again. I usually use the stabilizer jacks to take out less than 2" of height on the low side for leveling. When I first tried to take out 1.75", the wheels lifted off the ground. I had to use the Andersen leveling wedges, and found that anything more than 1/2" would cause the wheels to lift off the ground. As we relocated, this improved somewhat, and Tanner said it would improve more as the springs break in. I expect it will be even better riding when I get new shocks. Two of them were blown, and one of these was broken as well. ALCAN fixed it up the best they could, and we ordered Monroe shocks to replace all four. I would have ordered the Bulldog shocks, but the stories on availability had me concerned in the timeframe in which I needed them. They will be installed this coming Monday.

There's definitely a lot of cool places to see enroute from NM to the White Mtns of AZ! We had a blast traveling with @Geronimo John and meeting @jd1923 and his lovely wife and wonderful chef, Chris, and their puppy, Charlie! Above -- a couple Olivers, and a couple knucklehead huskies at the Very Large Array west of Socorro, NM at 6,800' Above: Close-up of one of the 27 VLA radio telescopes (90-foot diameter) that look deep into the Milkyway in the radio frequency spectrum. Definitely worth the time spent to visit this place. Above: Looking for @jd1923.... Above: AH! They can run, but they can't hide from us! Typical afternoon monsoon weather in the White Mtns... Above: Beautiful campground in the Whites... Lots of elk and turkey: A couple knuckleheads trying to figure out what to do with those big 4-legged friends... Above shows a nice flock of Rio Grande Turkeys at about 8,750' enroute to our campsite... Above -- Hannigan Meadow Lodge on AZ Hwy 191 at 9k' -- absolutely fantastic! All in all -- it was a wonderful 5-day, 635-ish mile run from Placitas, NM... Thanks, @jd1923 and @Geronimo John! Plan this one for 2026! Best, A & D (...and the boys - WOOF!) (PS: A couple Olivers preparing for dinner and adult bevs -- note @Geronimo John's ice maker on the table!)

I finished my first visit to Idaho this week, and it was a great trip, though I wish I had more time. Coming from Jackson, my first stop was Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve where I managed to land a spot in the Lava Flow campground (FF and somewhere in the fine print, they warn people not to pull trailers past a certain number). The park is generally viewed by driving along a loop road, with some parking at various spots. There are opportunities to hike up and around lava formations, as well as climbing down into lava caves. It was very windy! I recommend the hike up the Inferno Cone (a stiff hill that is longer than it appears) where you can see the Great Rift, the Snake River Plain, the Pioneer Mountains and the Teton Range 100 miles to the east. Entry into the caves requires a free permit from the Visitor Center (with instructions from staff). The campground was okay; it's in a lava field so the sites are arranged around the landscape.

Manti - La Sal National Forest, Devils Canyon CG, Utah...45 degrees this AM (furnace on) woohoo! Spending the night in a hotel in Moab for 41st wedding anniversary and doing the tourist thing. We tackled some awfully wicked hiking trails today in Canyonlands NP and will need some time to recover tonight. John

Enjoying our mid morning coffee and cool weather in Montrose, Colorado at River Bend RV Park. Still meandering westward. A couple of days ago we visited The Garden of the Gods outside of Colorado Springs and saw an Oliver from Florida in the parking lot. After our park visit we waited but unfortunately we didn’t get to see the owners. River Bend in Montrose, CO

Doughton Park NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We head to the BRP to beat the heat this time of year. After the hurricane last year, many areas are still closed, but repairs are being made and areas slowing reopening. No electricity or water at the campsites but Ollie handles it fine with a portable solar panel. Directions to Doughton Park, take Rt. 21 to the BRP to the Park. Doughton Park Picnic Area: Air Bellows Overlook:

When I follow the link I get this info: RELIABLE STRENGTH. With high-strength steel construction, this threaded hook is rated for a breaking strength of 11,000 pounds and a work load limit of 2,200 pounds

It’s simple math. Sell and Oliver, you have a happy customer but their trailer is going to last a lifetime, need minimal service, and provide them a wonderful experience. Sell them a Stick Built, you are going to see them in the service department every three to four months with an expensive slide out issue, leak, electrical failure, or suspension collapse. And in no more than five years you are going to sell them another one. Bonus, you will finance each of these and get the lift on that. We were talking to a couple with a Grand Design at a park a couple of months ago who had been camping 20 years and had gone through 10 trailers. What dealer does not want to have people like that as “customers for life.” (We met them when they stopped to look in our Oliver - they were looking to downsize from their 5th wheel and had heard all the good things about Olivers 😀)