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Kathy we currently have more than 20 participants attending the rally that are not Oliver owners. We have more than 110 attendees, so far. Some own Olivers, some other campers, some own no campers. All are welcome! For those that need a place to stay, the campground has cabins from the rustic to the plush. Oliver rally attendees will receive a campground or cabin discount by notifying the reservations department that you are attending the rally. Attendees are invited to participate in all of the rally, activities food and entertainment. There is no charge. If you do attend, go to the rally page on the Forum and register. We need a headcount for planning purposes. We look forward to meeting you Coy

Well we are at Oliver picking up our new baby and I promised to post some pictures of the new bike rack design. It looks great snd very sturdy but we havent gotten to test it yet. There is some problem with the satellite and they have been working on it since noon Thursday. Oliver put us up inna hotel last night. I hope we get to stay in our camper tonight. Glad we booked extra day at Fall Hallow.

There appears to be many different kinds of vehicles out there towing Ollies. I'm curious about what you're using and what did you upgrade from and why?

Owned a Yamaha EF2400iSHC Brushless Inverter AC Generator for about 5 years, but hardly used it so far. Changed the oil on it the other day and wanted to see if it would operate the 13.5K Dometic AC unit on the Ollie. It ran the Coleman Polar Mach 13.5K AC on our previous camper just fine. Tested the Yamaha with the Ollie's Dometic AC and the AC compressor started and cooled the Ollie. Once the temperature is set on the wall mounted thermostat, when the interior temp gets warm enough the AC fan turns on first and the compressor turns on in about 20 seconds while using shore power. Using Yamaha power, the fan turned on first, the fan momentarily stopped while the compressor turned on, then the fan turned on and operated fine until the compressor cycled off, then the fan turned off in about 20 seconds. Assume it's borderline on having enough power to start the Ollie's AC compressor, unless a Micro-Air EasyStart 364 is used. I'm sure the electrical folks here can better comment on this. The EF2400iSHC weighs in at 75 pounds dry and over 80 pounds wet. It's larger and heavier than the current 2000W Yamaha and Honda generators available. Yamaha EF2400iSHC: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/generator/models/inverter-ef2400ishc

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/axle-count-larry-mountainborn-harmon/

Reed, Thanks for the reply, sounds like your AC runs the same way ours does on Gen-Set Power. Assume after Easy Start installation, the fan would not stop when the compressor turns on. Would appreciate learning if your fan continues to operate when the compressor turns on after Easy Start installation. John (Raspy), My first concern was about AC reliability when using a Gen-Set, too. Since we're on the east coast, I had not given much thought to reduced power at higher elevations, you make valid points. We will be taking the Ollie out west to higher elevations. Thanks for sharing your approach to Gen-Set use while camping. Would appreciate learning how your inverter system works out. Believe Larry (Mountainborn) uses a Yamaha 3000W Gen-Set, enjoy learning from his high elevation camping experience, too. John Davies, This Yamaha takes only one pull to start, even when the fuel valve was turned off to run the fuel out of the carburetor during shut down. Let it sit for a year after letting it run out of fuel during shut down. Had a little surging when I cranked it up, so removed the old gas and filled it up with fresh gas. Still had surging. Removed two panels secured with four screws, removed air filter, and carburetor. Found a little fuel left in the carburetor during disassembly and a little build up in a jet, cleaned it out with compressed air. Reassembled the unit and it runs fine. It only took 1 1/2 hours to take it apart, clean the carb jet and reassemble, very easy unit to work on. If left without running for a long period of time in the future, would remove one side panel secured by two screws, drain the carb float bowl completely and reassemble, probably taking 15 minutes. Always liked Honda and Yamaha motorcycles, they build quality Gen-Sets, recommend the Yamaha EF2400iSHC, too. Thanks for the comments,

How do you like the Yamaha and would you recommend it? I currently have an older EU1000i and am considering getting the Yammie and selling off my Honda. The EF2400iSHC gets stellar reviews, here especially. http://portablegeneratorguide.com/yamaha-ef2400ishc-review/ I would carry it in my TV most of the time, weight is not a big issue, and would use the generator ocassionally for really cloudy times or running the air conditioning in the boonies. I had an Air Command 13.5 installed.... Thanks John Davies Spokane WA

I want to see how reliably, if at all, the AC will run on the Easy Start and a 2000 watt generator. I already have the 2000 watt Yamaha. It may be OK, provided there are no other loads, but the battery charger will also be drawing power unless the batteries are completely charged. There is also the problem of lower generator output at higher elevations. About 3% per 1000 ft. if I remember correctly. I'm designing my inverter system to have a 3000 watt inverter (6000 watt surge) using an inverter that I already have. With a manual transfer switch it seems I could set the switch to position 1 and supply all 120 volt power to Ollie from the inverter. At the same time the generator could be plugged in and charging the batteries, but no 120 volt power would feed on through from the converter/charger to Ollie. The on-board charger would simply be charging the batteries. This would allow a 6000 watt surge to start the AC and allow the generator to charge the batteries through the onboard battery charger. The effect is, the batteries would buffer the output of the generator and allow a huge starting load. Then the genny could catch up on the charging before the next start cycle. The onboard charger, at full output, doesn't overload the generator. As long as the average charging amps met the average AC load, the system would run fine. There are some inefficiencies. The inverter is only about 90% efficient and the charger has some waste of unknown percentage. Plus the batteries have losses during charging. But it might work and adapt the smaller genny to the larger, intermittant load, even at altitude. Then position 2 on the transfer switch would be for normal shore tie duty and take the inverter out of the circuit. Thoughts?

Eisleen and all the Casita folk said that the Honda 2000i would run the Dometic AC, so I started it up tonight and it did the same as yours with the fan starting first, etc. It was running at full throttle but it worked fine and cooled the trailer with the fan on low in just a few minutes. I had kicked the fan down to low to see if there was any noticable difference but I couldn't hear any change at all, it just stayed on high throttle. I bought the easy start but haven't had a chance to install it yet as we have been either in the rain or enjoying our trip and haven't been home yet where the ladders are waiting :)

OMG! I can't believe how kind everybody is here! Thank you all for making us feel so welcome. Tnbackwoods - we would love to make arrangements to see your new Ollie - I will PM you so we can start making plans. Coy - thank you so much for the information about the rally. It looks like Clair & I have to discuss things & make arrangements this weekend if we'd like to come over your way. We still have our Rockwook TT so we could bring it over. Thank you for your kindness. Smiles...Kathy

We live in Lenoir City, TN. Very close to you. We would be happy to show you our new Oliver. Let me know if you are interested in viewing it and we can schedule a time. We are going to be traveling and can not make it to the Oliver rally this year, but will try to attend next year. Good luck to you as you consider this important purchase. Tnbackroads

Yes but the compartment will be isolated from the connection, not contain it. This mod isn't as much for storage it is to get the connection out in the open. I'm sure many owners have never had any problems with leaks at the connection, but I have heard from a few that did. Plus I'm sold on the Wastemaster system and with it's unique configuration of cam locks and caps it is much better where it is easy to get to. I just don't personally like something like a sewer connection being in a tight, confined location. And I prefer a cam lock coupling rather than industry standard bayonet couplings.

It's campfire season again. Over the years, I have wrecked several pairs of expensive lenses over a hot grill in my restaurant, and cooking over hot campfires. My optician confirmed several years ago that the lenses can warp and crackle over high heat. I've taken to wearing old glasses, or inexpensive single vision, normal lenses when working over a very hot fire. Just an FYI. I love my photosensitive, auto changing lenses, most of the time. Sherry.

I don't have my Ollie yet, but I will also be towing it with a Ram 3500, at least initially. Mine is a 2006 5.9l, 4wd, and it rides rougher than the newest models. It really beats you up on choppy or broken roads, even with the Corbeau racing suspension seats I installed. Towing a 6500 pound car hauler/ car combination is without fault. As the other John mentioned, climbing mountain passes is effortless and low stress. My truck will stay in high gear, torque converter locked, down to 45 mph. This means climbing moderate freeway grades at 1300 to 1800 rpm. On really steep grades it does kick down but the engine never races. I do not have an exhaust brake but it isn't needed for a trailer of this weight IMHO. The truck has massive disc brakes. MPG towing that trailer was about 15 at 65 mph (at 3000 ft to sea level). I normally get 19.5 cruising empty at 70 mph, and 22 to 23 at 60mph. I do have a cab height Leer canopy installed, which improves the aerodynamics measurably! With a 36 gallon tank, cruising range is stellar. We are hoping to downsize to a used Land Cruiser 200 to get a better ride and to be able to explore rough mountain passes without rupturing our internal organs, but I will really miss the economy and easy towing nature of the turbo diesel with 600 ft lbs of torque. BTW, the newest Ram 2500 model with rear coil springs rides MUCH softer than my leaf sprung truck. A Power Wagon would be a great choice, if you could live with the lower mileage of the big Hemi gas engine. It has even softer springs, for offroad use. You lose a lot of bed payload but gain wonderful articulation, travel and a super plush ride. If I didn't want a Land Cruiser so badly, I would look for a nice used PW 6.4 liter, without the Boy Racer graphics. http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a30282/the-dodge-power-wagon-is-an-irrationally-wonderful-tow-vehicle/ John Davies, Spokane WA

I'm towing our Elite ll with a 2014 Ram 4X4 Cummins 3500 SRW. It's rated for a 17,420 lb trailer. This seems like overkill on paper, but it's a wonderful towing machine. Extremely stable, never seems to be working hard and never runs out of power on grades, so I'm comfortable passing slower vehicles on the steepest hills when towing. It also has a very relaxed engine sound because it doesn't have to rev way up to work. It has excellent brakes and a very powerful engine brake that does all of the holding back on downgrades. This saves the truck and the trailer brakes. The engine brake also works good in city towing or on secondary roads with a lot of speeding up and slowing down. So, the whole towing experience is without any drama and always with complete composure. It's impossible to overheat the tranny, either on steep dirt roads at low speeds, or pulling long highway grades. I think we're averaging, tank after tank, about 14 MPG towing and I like to cruise at about 65 where legal. The mileage gets better if I slow down a bit or if we get out of the mountains.

We're pulling the Elite II always full of water and sometimes half full of waste water with a Mercedes ML350 Bluetec Diesel 4matic or awd. The milage really varies with the speeds in different states. From Hohenwald across the USA to Virginia Beach and then back across Arizona to the California State line at 70 to75mph we averaged 15.8 mpg. Now we're back in California with 600 miles on it and we're averaging 19.4mpg at 60mph. So the tow speed really makes a difference with the Mercedes. Not towing it averages 27mpg. The Mercedes pulled like a champ even in 65mph cross winds in New Mexico and Arizona last week. No hills are too steep, and with push button posi, it does well in desert terrain with stock Firestone AT's. It has a 7200/600lb tow rating and has around 10,000+ miles of towing, so far... We upgraded from a Hummer H2 that we still use as a 4x4 tow vehicle because of comfort, age, and milage. The old 2005 H2 gets 11.5mpg when towing and 13.5 normally with 35" Nitro Trail Grappler Tires for serious off-road (35/70/R20). So we still use both vehicles, but for different terrains. I upgraded to the H2 from a 76 Chevy Silverado with the stock 350 engine that averages 6 to 8mpg towing...

By comparison, when we deliver class b motorhomes to Alaska, we are lucky to average 10 mpg with the Ford Triton. I think the real mpg, if we could drive US speeds, would be 8 or so. But most of the drive is at slow speed, so better mileage. And better views, too.. ... One more year on the Alaska highway. Then I'm off to another continent. Unless, I am overruled....Lol. My ideal is next spring in Iceland. We'll see. Sherry

We tow the original Ollie, 17, usually with our 2008 ram 5.7 Hemi 4x4. Without the trailer, we're somewhere around 17 mpg. With it. We're happy of we hit 12 to 14. It's all about road surface and elevation. Either way, the truck is great. And with a lifetime warranty, it'll be around awhile.... Sherry

Towing: 2014 Elite II, 5320 lbs factory weight at pick up (2 x 30lb empty propane tanks, no water, no cargo.) Weighed 01/27/2017 at Eloy, AZ on the Pilot Truck Stop Certified Cat Scale. Truck and Trailer together weighed 14,820 lbs. Two adults, 120 lb of dogs, Full tank of gas, full fresh water tank, some in black and gray tank, full propane tank and 1/2 full propane tank, Yamaha 3000 watt generator on tongue. Trailer alone weighed 7100 lb. about 800 lb tongue weight. Because of oversize axles my trailer has a GVWR of 10,400 lbs. Current Tow Vehicle: 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT w/6.2L (420 HP/460 lb torque) and NHT Max Tow package, Trailer Tow capacity 11,800 lbs (based on SAE J2807). Hitch platform rated at 1200 lb.

2015 Elite II, axles travel weight 6100lbs, 750lb tongue weight, Andersen WDH (hooked up on scales) 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 max tow, 9600lbs rating (6200lbs hooked up on scales) GCVW 12,300lbs Upgraded from Fiat 500. (okay first truck and first trailer.)

Towing @016 Oliver Elite II weighing in at 5,100 pounds - no fluid in tanks but 20 pound propane tanks full. Towing this with 2017 Ford F150 FX4 Max towing package rated at about 12,000 pounds with weight distribution hitch. Upgraded from a Tacoma primarily due to small gas tank and limits on towing were too close to maximum for my comfort in case of emergencies. Bill

Towing: 2016 Elite II, 5100lbs factory weight at pick up (full 30 lb propane tanks but no water, no cargo) Current Tow Vehicle: 2016 Ram 1500, 5.7L V8 with tow package, rated for 10,300 lbs. Past Tow Vehicle: 2012 Tacoma 4.0L, rated for 6,500 lbs. Mike