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Showing content with the highest reputation on 08/24/2020 in all areas

  1. Little late showing but time flies when your having fun. Spent 4 nights at David Crockett State Park and then 2 nights at Cloudland Canyon State Park in North Ga and the Ollie was great. 2020 Tundra really did a great job towing. Nice having the V8 on a few hills and didn't feel stressed at all. Only hiccup we had was leaving Davey Crockett the street side awning would not close completely. Came to about 1 inch on the front end from totally closing. We called Jason and dropped by service to check out the problem. Seems 2 acorns had fallen in the front track and was preventing it from closing completely. So I chalked up some experience and we were on our way. I guess this would make a case for carrying a ladder. These pics are from 10 days later staying at Juliette State Park in GA and Hamburg State Park in Ga. Really love the camper and really surprised with the amount of storage. Yes, the air conditioner is loud but 93 degree days were handled with no issues. Spending 20+ years in a power plant loud noise is something I am a little familiar with. After a couple of nights it was no problem even though we are looking forward to fall camping. Erv & Sherry
    7 points
  2. “Somewhere Oliver and the Rainbow”. Yes, bluebirds do fly here...lots of them. Floyd, Va. Chantilly CG. We booked another week in October. We reeeeallly like it here.
    3 points
  3. Set aside the aluminum vs fiberglass. The most destructive source of any Rv is water. It can delaminate rot wood corrode metal and short out electrical systems. The airstream would do all that, I know from experience. 2017 30’ airstreams serenity. I had a leak in the bathroom which was in the walls. The plywood floors got soaked. The bat insulation in the walls were saturated with water. Because the floors were wet it delaminated the flooring. After everything dried out, then noticed the frame starting to rust. Should I continue? And not to mention carrying a pop rivet gun to replace rivets popping out. Keep comparing the apples to oranges. The Oliver wins.
    3 points
  4. I do have some specific questions about your batteries - 1. RE @NCeagle's concerns about prolonged charging at 100%, I know that Battleborn batteries have a higher capacity than labeled and that their BMS is supposed to keep their batteries within a range that will prolong their life. Do you use a similar tactic or should owners be cautious about charging your batteries to 100% or depleting them to 0? I did notice that you recommend that owners deplete their batteries to 50% if being stored for longer than 30 days, whereas Battleborn recommends charging them to 100% before disconnecting. 2. Is your BMS software upgradable via your app? Are there any user controllable parameters for your BMS? Does the software provide any insight into battery health, cell balance, etc., or does it just give info on state of charge? 3. For those of us with programmable chargers, what do you recommend for absorption and float voltages, charge current, absorption time, etc.? 4. I've read that Battleborn says that the main difference between their batteries and yours is that they use a cylindrical cell vs a prismatic one. I haven't a clue about the two, but Battleborn reportedly says that in their tests the cylindrical cells lasted longer and were easier to keep balanced. What is your response to that? 5. The simplicity of these types of batteries with a built in BMS is a sword with two edges; i.e., there's more to go wrong and if it does, then you've lost the whole battery. You guys have doubled down on that by including bluetooth and heating inside the box and I'm wondering are either of those, or your BMS repairable, or worth the trouble to get repaired even if it is?
    3 points
  5. I've seen some imaginative paint jobs on Bolers and their tow vehicles in Canada. (These aren't my photos, just examples from the web.)
    2 points
  6. Thanks everyone that have replied. I have learned a lot already. I live in Oregon, So I am a long way from the factory in TN. I have yet to see a Oliver around Oregon, but I am sure there are some. I am starting to think Oliver may be the way to go for my Wife and me. I am 4 years from retirement. We started with a tent trailer and then graduated to a 1978 GMC 4108 35' Greyhound bus conversion. We loved the traveling and camping, it almost caused a divorce, I spent several years working on it and not paying attention to the family. Both of us are looking forward to getting back out and traveling and the independance it brings.
    2 points
  7. I can’t speak to your questions with any authority as my EII is being built now. However, we have been going through the decision making process for over 12 years, anticipating 2020 as the year for us to purchase. We’ve toured multiple factories, visited at least 40 dealerships and researched specs for everything from A’s, C’s and B’s. We were constantly stopping and going back over our criteria and finally focused on 3 class C models. While at a dealership last fall, my wife randomly walked into an AS. Once again we shifted our thought process to add the possibility of a towable. Just before we went to the Tampa RV show in January, I convinced my wife to visit the Oliver factory (38 miles from home). Walking in one and getting the factory tour was life changing. When we got to Tampa, we literally walked into 4 RVs and found ourselves comparing everything to the Oliver then left and went to the beach! One of the things we were most excited about with Oliver was NOT having to go through a dealer or anything like we experienced at the Tampa show. Through the years of dealerships, test drives and being pursued by sales people, I cannot tell you the name of one sales person we worked with nor remember anyone that built trust with us to feel confident about our major purchase. So, I recommend using the resources at Oliver to find one to tour in your area. If you can swing it, get to the factory and see the whole process. In lieu of a visit, use YouTube. After all these years, this was a huge paradigm shift for us but, we have never looked back or had buyers remorse and are completely comfortable with our choice.
    2 points
  8. Fiberglass is an oddity in a disposable world. A great fiberglass construction quote comes from an indie documentary called Hold Fast: "When fiberglass boats first went into production, the naysayers went into hysterics. Traditionalists pontificated on the value of wooden construction and warned that these so called "boats" made of plastic were bound to wear out and disintegrate within five years... but this was before anyone understood just how permanent plastic is. As it turned out, the curse of fiberglass boats was not their short lifespan but their longevity - wood rots. But just as plastic bottles now pervade landscapes with the patience of eternity, fiberglass boats litter the ocean. They are everywhere and they are here to stay. Once a fiberglass boat is built, chances are that it will be here a century later and at this point they have been in continual production for 50 years."
    2 points
  9. The best indication - Airstream owners that have switched or long to do so..... There are salient good features of both TT, as for exterior durability - here is no comparison. One hail storm and .... Oliver for the win Interior layout - the AS is wider, the Ollie is a little narrower, floor plans - 2 with Oliver, AS I'm not sure. Push Components and other options - Olive wins hands down. Chassis, clearance, and towability - Oliver by a large margin Warranty - factory support - Oliver is world class in this segment. Cost factors, apples to apples - Oliver is the value leader. Cool factor - depends on your values...... Oliver is a great TT.
    2 points
  10. Welcome to the forum, ask away! If you have not already, watch some RV factory tour videos FIRST, to get a feel for how regular "stick and staple" trailers are made. Airstream is no different in construction, other than their VERY high maintenance aluminum shell. Everything else in an AS is standard RV issue.... Google "RV Factory Tour" Here is a good one (good in a bad way) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWokMmlKmT8 AFTER having watched those, watch this factory Ollie tour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2rnZgn7-Xg A light bulb will illuminate inside your brain and you will understand why they are very special. That will answer a whole bunch of your questions, and you will understand why it takes literally months from the beginning of the build to the half-day delivery walk through, John Davies Spokane WA
    2 points
  11. Hello to all Oliver Travel Trailer owners. I am here as the company representative to answer any of your questions specifically related to LiFeBlue Li-ion Battery. LiFeBlue supplies Oliver TT with LiFePO4 chemistry batteries to power your loads. All of our batteries have Smart Connect Bluetooth communications built in. Having 20 years of experience designing and installing thousands of RV, Marine, off grid and industrial battery based power systems, I am also wiling to share my broad knowledge with this group if it is requested. My wife and I have a good understanding of the full time RV lifestyle having spent a few years on the road. Happy Trails to you all! Larry Crutcher, GM
    1 point
  12. I drive steep grades all the time, it is hard to escape them in this part of the country. When you see a percent listed on a sign it is the average “top to bottom” value. On Interstates and major highways that may be fairly accurate. On back roads, it is a fantasy. There is a popular bicycle road going from the bottom of the Columbia Gorge near Lake Chelan, to the high rolling wheat fields up top. I have driven it several times in both directions. It is posted as 7.5%. In reality it has 15% stretches. It is a first gear, pedal to the floor experience going up with my Land Cruiser, and a first gear, sphincter tightening descent with way too many brake applications. My GPS is set to show elevation and grade all the time. When it gets over 16% I start to get pretty darned concerned. Diesel trucks with engine brakes rule in this area. For your entertainment, Harry Chapin 30,000 Pounds of Bananas .... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OGldNpngDws John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  13. Hi Larry, Would you recommend a MPPT charge controller over a PMW for your LiFeBlue lithium ion batteries? I find it odd that Zamp doesnt use MPPT's on there installs. Thanks for your help. Mike
    1 point
  14. The dinette bed is ideal for a child, in the Elite I or II, so that's where we plan to sleep the grandchildren. We only have one granddaughter right now, so no problem. Im still researching next steps, but one idea is to buy a hard-shell RTT Roof Top Tent, such as this one (made in USA). https://www.roosttents.com, mount it over the bed of my Ford F150, perhaps on a Rack system such as this one https://www.leitnerdesigns.com When one of my 5 grown children and their significant others wants to come on vacation with us, they can fly out to meet us, we will pick them up at the airport and will have all the camping "stuff" they need. We will let them sleep in the RTT, parked well away from us. if they have more than one grandchild, they will probably have to bring a tent.
    1 point
  15. 1 point
  16. I had a problem with the gasket on the bathroom fan too. When I removed the cover I observed that the adhesive tape had separated from the flimsy gasket. I went to HD and purchased a larger and denser foam and cut it using the original gasket as my measure. I decided to attach to the bottom and not the top and simply left about 1/8-1/4inch of the foam above the ridge. I pressed the adhesive portion of the foam against the inside circumference of the fan. It seems to work. I have enough foam to do this several more times and will probably cut the foam to adjust around the flanges on the top cover to get a better fit on version 1.01.
    1 point
  17. I took another look at the airstream 23 twin. Beds are at the front, and cabinetry and bath block the rear view.. Honestly, most great campsites are back in.. Why people think a front window is important is beyond me. My rear view window is my window on the (beautiful ) world. When we are boondocking, the rear window shade is open, and I wake up to new, amazing views. I really don't want to wake up to a view of the truck bed. On the con side, due to the narrow width of the Oliver, (which has allowed us into tiny, but beautiful sites, between trees), we always have a wet bath . The airstream 23 has a dry bath. If that is important to you. Sherry
    1 point
  18. Congratulations, and enjoy! Sherry Ps a lot of people miss juliette Park. It's lovely.
    1 point
  19. 3500 is not enough for even the small Oliver. I agree with Sherry, I would look at a larger tow vehicle if you want an Oliver. Otherwise, there are other fiberglass trailers that might work, a Scamp or maybe small Escape.
    1 point
  20. The big problem with Airstream is they look really bad after theY get hit by hail.
    1 point
  21. Even the smaller Elite, like ours, would max out your towing capacity. I like the Sienna. But I honestly wouldn't recommend it as a tow vehicle for even the smaller Elite. You need something with at least 5000 towing capacity for the smaller Elite. Our Volvo xc90 (4900 towing capacity) towed our trailer ok on flats and foothills, but I wouldn't recommend it in the mountains. My Silverado is somewhere in the 7000 or 7900 range, and it was great. Your van would be perfect for a lighter, small trailer. The double hull of the Oliver comes with a weight penalty. Unfortunately, some of the lighter trailers have a very heavy tongue, so, you have to weigh that into the equation, too. If your heart is set in an Oliver, I would honestly look at a different tow vehicle. If you keep the Sienna, look at a different trailer, with a lower gvwr. Best wishes, Sherry
    1 point
  22. Not for nothing, as we are only looking at lifepo4 in two to four years down the road, but most installations I've seen on other forums use a b2b, dc to dc, like the Stirling for charging from the alternator, with LifeBlue batteries, or Battleborns. (BTW, I am careful to monitor our Agm deep cycle so they don't go below 50 per cent. I try to keep them at 70 or above. Last set life was definitely shortened by excessive deep cycling. They're not cheap. ) There is a ton of respected literature out there that promotes that idea, and my experience is in line. If it were me today, I'd just not bother with charging from the truck's alternator for lithium charging, and rely on solar and genset. Even though my truck is older, and probably not a "smart" alternator, I find that solar is my best and most complete charging. And, it's silent and emission free. And, it has worked for us for 12 years, with fla and agm batteries. No doubt, it should work even better with Lithium. Having experienced two alternator failures on our boat in the past 40 years, both in tricky situations, I can say it's definitely not a good situation to risk. Sherry
    1 point
  23. There are a number of Oliver owners that had airstreams. I've never owned one. My familiarity with Airstream is limited to the two owned by my brother's in-laws, and what I've seen at shows. We've owned our Oliver Elite since February, 2008, hull #12, so I can speak to Oliver longevity. The shell is very thick, and quite durable. And pretty, with shiny marine grade gelcoat. Keep it waxed, and it stays shiny. Ours has been through a major hailstorm, (steely marble size), with no damage to the trailer nor the solar panels. An airstream would undoubtedly have been severely dimpled. Repairs to the fiberglass hull can be done by Oliver, or, I suspect, many boatyards. We've never needed any, other than filling a couple rock chip dings that Oliver did for us when we took the trailer in for some upgrades. We have over 100,000 miles and countless nights of travel on ours. No. Just keep it waxed. We use a quality 3m marine wax, with uv protection. If you don't keep it waxed, it can chalk or haze, just like a fiberglass boat hull, over time. Our trailer has never been covered, or in a garage. In the sun, 24/7/365 for 12.5 years. It looks great. No windows in the front. The bath and closet are at the front. Some people have taken theirs to Alaska, and have used a variety of mats or foam sheets on the front to protect the hull from Alaska's gravel chips. A few have added a rock guard coating, like Vortex, as permanent protection to the front. I've seen Pete's, and it looks great. But, we've not seen the need in the last 100,000 miles. We have mudflaps on the trailer and tow vehicle, rock tamers on the truck, and keep a reasonable distance following anyone on gravel roads for the sake of out truck windshield. I thoroughly expect that our Oliver will be looking good, and on the road with someone else, hopefully our daughter, long after we're gone. You'll see Bolers that are single shell, thinner Glassworks, that are 50 years old at rallies. Our fiberglass sailboat is over 40 years old, and still looks great. It's a long lasting material. No. They sit pretty high as it is. That's why it comes with a folding double step. They didn't originally, and we added the one Oliver builds now. No rivets. No wood in the interior (except the drawers.) So nothing to rot should moisture find its way in. No. The seam of the two hulls is permanent, and protected by the overlapping lip. You will need to reseal/recaulk windows, vents, and other hull pebetrations from time to time, but that's true with any rv, made from any material. Oliver uses a high grade aluminum. I don't remember the number. We've had no issues. Of course, it's prudent to check any frame, at least annually. I'm much happier to have the beefy aluminum frame than a steel frame, living in Florida, on the salt water. I'm sure others will offer other ideas and opinions. If you have other questions, fire away. You've come to the right place. Sherry
    1 point
  24. David, We have some grading & concrete work to be done at home. When that's done, will be heading back to BRP, probably Linville Falls. Glad y'all had a fine time at Chantilly. Tested all of Ollie's systems on this trip since we have not camped much this year and everything worked great. Ollie is so pleasant to camp in, can't wait to go again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks,
    1 point
  25. Bill, We love camping out west and love the Blue Ridge Mountains, too!
    1 point
  26. Oh yea! We pick up hull # 626 (demo) available Sept 8 which has Lithium ion Batteries, 340 watt Solar package & 3000 watt inverter.
    1 point
  27. 40 days wait to receive circuit boards from Dometic for our refrigerator. We checked everywhere for the boards. We have a 2015 Ollie.
    0 points
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