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Here is what I just sent.... Hi Anita, Are there Oliver branded products that we can purchase? I am especially interested in a high quality full zip fleece vest, long sleeved sun shirt, or uninsulated windbreaker with small Oliver name and mountain logo on the front. It needs to be a mature and classy color and design. Columbia would be a fine choice: https://www.columbia.com/mens-flashback-windbreaker-jacket-1589321.html?cgid=men-jacketsVests-windbreakers&dwvar_1589321_variationColor=963#srule=MostPopular&start=0 These are great, I have one with an Earth Roamer logo that is my favorite. I would love to have a similar Oliver one: https://www.columbia.com/mens-silver-ridge-long-sleeve-shirt-AM7453.html?cgid=men-shirts-longsleeve&dwvar_AM7453_variationColor=413#start=3 I know there would be much interest in mugs, clothing, etc, what’s up? Father’s Day is soon and I need to find a trailer specific gift to suggest to my kids. I hope you are busy and well. Who else wants Ollie Gear (cool name for a store) and what would you like to buy? Post links please. John Davies Spokane WA

Hi Denise, David and I went to the rally in May last year but we weren't picking up our Ollie until Sept. It was great to see so many Olivers and meet so many nice people. The sense of community is kind of amazing. We stayed in the Lodge which has a great view of the lake. The campground is quite a trek away so we ended up driving to many events, but other events were right in the Lodge. It worked out fine. Paula

I paid $460 for my Thousand Trails membership and purchased four zone passes for $49 each because our trip was so extensive. We also added the Trails Collection for $199 which adds a bunch of RV resorts around the country. While during this 5 month trip we stayed 60 nights in the TT system, our previous trip out west and last winter in Florida we used TT another 57 nights. At this point we are at $7.30 average per night. There are other lifetime memberships beginning at $5000. The Harvest Host is now about $79 but I got in for $44 at the launch.

Just a few numbers from our recent completed five month journey of Hull #381 around the country. Total Mileage 16,231 Gas expense $3720 Propane Expense $59.55 Laundry Expense $114.00 Total Nights 152 Campground Expense 54 paid nights $1252.77 Thousand Trails nights 60 Harvest Host nights 4 Boon dockers Welcome 1 Free nights 33 which include Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Mooch docking, BLM etc. The most expensive nights were 2@ $115.00 at the Liberty Harbor RV park which is a 5 minute subway ride from central Manhattan. There were a few nights at around $35 but everything else was less than $30 with many out west at $10 or less using Forest service campgrounds and the senior discount. If your trip is in an area where you can utilize a Thousand Trails membership it can really help keep your nightly cost down. Another interesting fact is that though this trip included the entire summer, I only used the generator to run the A/C one day. Selecting the street side awning was really worth it in keeping cool. Of course the solar package while a bit pricey at over 5k really makes boon docking a no brainer. Would it be nice to have a few more inches inside the trailer… yes but the outside size is really perfect for traveling and that’s what we bought it for. Finally, the Elite 2 tows like a dream behind my E350 Ford van with a 5.4L engine. My MPG was usually high 12’s. It was a great trip and the Oliver really made it nice.

Since I started this post some time back (maybe three months ago) I have found the Anderson very easy to use, actually easier then I ever thought it would be. Do note here, I do my chain hookup both ways depending on how I feel that day, sometimes I adjust with the nuts and other I just lift the trailer on the hitch, I guess it depends if I want to get down on one knee or not. trainman

I can understand the coupler pulling up the ball and cone a little bit if the locking collar was not released and you were actually lifting the TV with the trailer while trying to create slack in the chains while unhooking. I don’t understand how that could happen while hooking up unless you have actually connected the the coupler and ball and are again lifting the TV with the trailer to create slack in the chains. There is a good video on YouTube showing how to connect a shackle to the Whale Tail plate if one of the chains is long enough to connect and the other is too short. It allows the trailer to pull the Whale Tail straight enough to allow the short chain to be connected. The method best for me is as follows: 1. Chock the wheels on both sides of the trailer 2. Unlatch the coupler 3. Use the front jack to raise the coupler off of the ball and if the chains are still too tight, keep raising the coupler enough to allow the TV to be backed up a couple of inches. 4. The chains should now have enough slack for easy removal of the Whale Tail or the shackles. 5. Level the trailer as you normally do. If you use this procedure to hook up, be sure to leave the chocks in place and raise the rear jacks before lifting the trailer on the front jack. Good luck, Mike