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I can tell you that I have been EXTREMELY happy with my 2021 Ram 1500 Rebel, overall, but especially with this one feature: "Trailer Steering Control." (I call it "the dummy knob.") I had never towed before and found it difficult to get the hang of it, then one day, I noticed, after owning the Ram a few months and the Ollie (see Classifieds) even less time -- because I'm observant like that -- a mysterious knob on the dash of my Rebel. "Trailer Steering." Huh? Right next to the "Ejector Seat" button and the "Shoot Flames Out The Rear At That Tailgater" switch. I got out the Rebel's manual (for the first time -- it was dusty under the seat and had dog cookie crumbs on it) and looked up the feature. Holy crap. A Christmas miracle! You activate the TSC button (Galaxy Quest fans, think of it as activating the Omega 13) and then it tells you to put it in reverse and let go of the steering wheel. Don't touch the wheel again or TSC turns off. THAT was hard to get used to. Your instinct is to hold the steering wheel. Unless you're in a Johnny Cab. Sorry for all the weird movie refs, but that's how I roll. You then use the TSC knob -- turning the knob left, right, slightly left, slightly right, etc. -- whatever, as you brake and gas-in-reverse-slowly, and the display shows you big directional arrows in back as to exactly where the Ollie is going. It's nothing short of amazing to me, the steering wheel spins (sometimes wildly, as if possessed) and adjusts constantly. Returning the knob to center makes the Ollie go straight back. Every slight turn of the TSC knob handles all the backing in maneuvers for you. Worth every penny to me, and came with my towing package. There are some who say, "If you can't back it up, you shouldn't be towing at all, you silly twit." No, not one has actually said that to ME (yet?) but YouTube commenters can be cruel in that special all-capsy way, as you know. Add some !!111METALLICA*RULES!!111 and all Just sayin', this is a neat thing to have if you are lazy, or new to towing, or into 'gadgets', or any or all of those things. Just thought I would mention it, anyway. Here is a video of a dude using it. I have watched people struggle to back in Ollies and even met a couple who took a course in RVing and learned a whole system with hand positioning on the steering wheel, etc. I was learning it on my own, slowly, but then one day, I saw the TSC thing and haven't looked back (almost literally, heheh) since. I actually look like I know what I'm doing at times: one shot into any slanting crazy campsite space. You know, the ones with "severe tire damage do not back up" stuff, and the picnic table in the middle of the parking spot, and big trees close by on both sides, and steep cliffs to back off of, with wreckage of RVs down below in the gulch. Those sites. I still go very slowly and check all mirrors, backup cam, etc. YMMV but TSC is awesome, IMHO.

Well, thought I should finally say Hello. I am Dewey McCollough, the better half is Julie, and the boss is our 7 pound toy poodle Isaac. We reside in South central Florida during the nicer (winter) months and try to be else where during the summers. We owned a 43 ft Newmar Dutch Star for several years, did ALOT of traveling in it, saw a lot, and enjoying it all very much. We also realized we were having to skip lots of places we wanted to go because of our size. So, after after careful thought we sold the bus last October and placed our order for a Legacy II. Our pickup date is August 5, ( hull number not yet asked, or known) and looking forward to that event. Earlier in our lives we had a 18 ft trailer, can still remember those days and constraints, so we are going into this size/space downsize with our eyes wide open. Before, but especially since placing our order I have spent countless hours reading the various topics on the Forums, while my wife has spent at least an equal amount of time perusing Facebook. Lots of information and opinions out there.....the good, the bad, and the ugly! I have gained tons of valuable insight into owning an Ollie, but am well aware there is plenty I do not know. I am sure I will be asking questions and for Help as our adventures unfold. Sincerely,

We ordered our Ollie in 2016, and at that time I was also researching tow vehicles. We decided on the Audi Q7 SUV, and it has been a wonderful tow vehicle. At that time there were a bunch of videos online about the Trailer Assist features for the Audi and VW . However, when we got the car, the Trailer Assist was not there. It turns out that the US Dept of Transportation would not allow it. But now they do allow it, much to @Moonlight Mile's delight. You should watch this video from VW on their Trailer Assist. It is very funny. And watch this one if you want to see how they did it.

Sounds like a great feature. But some of the old timers will weigh in..... 😆 ”Back in my day we didn’t need any of that new fangled technology. We used to push the trailer into the campsite by hand, barefoot, in the snow, uphill, at night, while fighting off wolves, with a beer in one hand...” 😆

HA! My version, and I say this out loud to people and rap an imaginary cane hard on the floor as I say it: "Back in my day, we didn't have [insert newfangled thing]. We didn't have the number three. But by God we made do." Then I start talking about how my mom, in the Pleistocene Era, got a just-created "microwave oven" and we all stood 10 feet back from it when it was on, lest we end up glowing in the dark.

---- And our wife/SO in the shotgun seat - helping...... Still the new tech features are interesting - I still use mirrors - I forget the rear view camera is there - and then I say - Oh Yeah - comes in handy. RB

My son just bought a 2021 Ram 2500 Power Wagon with the trailer back up feature. He also just bought a 19’ No Bo travel trailer, first time owner, so I know he’ll be using that feature. He’s taking it out this weekend so I’ll be asking for a full report. Mike

I am an old timer, and I think everyone should learn to back manually, but I will not discourage the use of such a wonderful feature. I am sure that I would use it, should my TV ever come with the magic knob. I just ask that everyone be prepared to do it yourself, if it blows a fuse one day. My wife knows how to drive and maneuver the trailer, in theory, the reality is that she would love the knob.... John Davies Spokane WA

I agree these are great systems. The RAM version seems to work identically to the one on my F150. I think the F250's work the same now as well, but at least originally they had a different setup where you used the steering wheel but the display showed you the trailer path. A combination of the two would be ideal. I'm sure that GM will have something similar eventually, but until they do, I think the Ford and Ram should really be the go to tow vehicles, certainly for anyone without previous trailer experience. It does take a little practice to get a feel for how much to crank the little knob, and in my case, get over the desire to just crank it all the way, straighten up, crank it again, etc. Now I've gotten pretty good at getting that perfect curve with just some minor adjustment. We live in an old neighborhood with narrow little streets. To get the trailer in the driveway, I have to do a 90° turn into a 10' driveway, with a tree on one side and people parked on both sides of the street. Without backup assist, I'd have spent the last 3 ½ years trying to make that maneuver.

So, most projects are complete. Last big two left: take the Oliver in next week to get the two fogged windows repaired in Hudson, and then, restock and reset the empty camper. I'm starting the reset with the cupboards, as in paper, plastics, cleaning supplies. I'll wait on the rest til the Oliver is back home. Sailing season is almost over. Let the camping begin!

It looks like a real beast - but - what is that white stuff on the edges of the driveway? My 2017 Ford F-150 came with the "magic knob". As per the instructions, I placed the little sticker Ford gave me in the appropriate spot, with all the measuring that it entailed. Then with great anticipation I used it - once. Just about like RB above - I too like to use mirrors - old habits die hard - and even the backup cameras do not give me the warm fuzzies. Having said this - there are those times when the "old" brain just doesn't seem to work and this "new" tech comes in real handy. Bill

His No Bo (Forest River No Boundaries) isn’t a toy hauler, it’s got a queen bed and two bunks (his kids are 5 and 8). It’s under 4K pounds so should be easy to tow with his PW. The picture is the trailer being delivered from Houston a few days ago. This is the only truck picture he’s sent me. He’s in Durango.

I love those newer 8 speed Power Wagons, (I just wish they would bump up the power a little, how about a 7.3 liter Hemi....) Please post a pic of his truck and trailer. Is the No Bo a toy hauler? What will he carry in it? John Davies Spokane Wa

Turned to ash

number nine coal

Here'a a fun project that provides you a backup 12v Pump for your Ollie. I bought a spare 12V Shurflo water pump to carry with me on our coming long long adventures around the US. I decided to build it into a water transfer pump that I could use for multiple uses and still have a backup pump. Some ways I can use this transfer pump: Transfer fresh water from portable tanks and bladders directly through the Oliver fresh tank port. (This is without using the boondocking port.) Use as a pusher pump for a bladder to the street side water port on the Oliver Use around the campsite as a portable pump for wash stations etc. Use as a backup pump should my main pump fail. Electrical Consideration: I designed this so it can hook it directly to the Zamp Solar Port on the side of the trailer as the 12V source. That SAE Zamp port has direct connection to the batteries in the Oliver. I wanted to make sure to create a fused connection, and also be sure to wire it to match the Polarity on the Zamp port. I put a matching ZAMP port on the pump case, and build the fused connection cable out of a pair of fused SAE solar cables. The fuze is closest to the Oliver's ZAMP port for safety. (Zamp also sells an excellent "replacement" cable that could be used for the project.) ZAMP Solar Port Polarity is reversed from typical SAE Connectors: Zamp wires their solar ports in a way that the + lead on the solar cable coming from the solar array is into the plastic covered end of the cable. (That's opposite normal SAE use. They do this to protect users from plugging into the solar array and touching the male exposed connector.) Here's a basic material list (if you want specific part numbers of connectors etc. PM me on the forum.) I bought all of the material from the combination of Ace Hardware, Harbor Freight and Amazon. Total cost $190.73 1) Case: $39.00 Apache 3800 Transit Case - : Harbor Freight ( Interior Dim: 14 7/8"x10 5/8" x 6 1/8") Fits pump perfectly bolted into the case without the bottom foam. 2) Shurflo Pump model 4800, $72.00 - : Amazon/RecPro 3) Inline Shurflo Filter Model 15-085-00 included with pump - : Amazon/RecPro 4) Basic Fresh water hose (white) - $17.00 : Amazon cut to use short pieces for pump connections and used the other pieces as the input side hose (with a rigid piece of 1/2" pex as the drop lead) and outlet hose with repaired male end connector. 5) Qty 1 - Inlet side Female Swivel Garden Hose Connector (barb connector style) $1.50 ea - : Ace HW 6) Qty 2 - Male Garden Hose Connectors (barb connector style) one used on outlet, one to repair the outlet hose. 7) Qty 4 - 1/2" stainless pipe clamps - $4.00 : Ace HW 8) Qty 2 - SHURFLO (244-2926 1/2" x 14 NPT x 1/2" Barb Straight Wingnut Swivel Adapter - : Amazon 9) Qty 1- Zamp Waterproof Solar Port - : Amazon 10) Qty 1 - SPARKING 6' SAE To Ring Terminal Harness Quick Connect/Disconnect Assembly & 10A Fuse + SPARKING 2' SAE Quick Connect Harness (this is to make the other side of the cable) - : Amazon 11) Qty 1 - Fastronix SPST HD 20 Amp AC/DC Toggle Switch with Weatherproof Neoprene Boot - : Amazon So here are some pictures of the finished project in the transit case. Case in closed ready for travel position: Case opened to show hoses and electrical connectors stored inside: Contents removed so you can see the pump connection setup: Hoses and electrical connectors shown beside case: Handle side shows DC connector (that matches the ZAMP port wiring) and on/off switch: Inlet side: Outlet Side: Assembly comments and learnings: 1) Pump body - originally I was going to mount it onto a pvc board but found that the depth of the transit case and height of pump worked out better if I could simply bolt into the case. I used 4 bolts with baking washers to secure the pump into the case. 2) Port locations - I tried to figure out a way for the ports to exit out the handle side of the box, in fact I bought some elbow connectors for the pump, but quickly found that they interfered with the closure clasps. As a result I went for a simpler straight side to side flow. 2) Electrical Switch Location - My initial hole for the switch ended up interfering with the closure clasp once the switch was installed and in the ON position. I decided to plug that hole with an automotive plug and move the switch mounting down a bit further. (See handle side view.) Pump Performance: 1) I used the pump yesterday to pump a 6 gallon container of my tank sanitizer solution into the fresh tank. The pump operated smoothly and the 6 gallons were pumped into the tank in 58 seconds. (The pumps spec is 3 GPM ...so it met that spec.) 2) I also tried the pump on the street side water inlet, and the pump would cycle on and off as I turned on and off the sink faucets. So another use is to hook it up to a bigger bladder tank external and use it as the main water supply. (*Note - The pump has a 55PSI max, and is factory set for 45 PSI working shutoff pressure.) The case stores nicely run the Oliver Elite II basement on top of my water filter holder. Possible upgrades: 1) I might add a stainless vent pair on the box so I can run the pump with the box closed. The vent would allow for airflow in/out and adequate cooling space around the pump body if running for a longer time. 2) Build a Zamp (SAE) to Anderson Connector so I can plug this into my truck power port's that I'll install this summer. 3) Try running this pump off of a small rechargeable 12v Lithium Battery bank. Make up appropriate 12v connectors. Questions and comments welcome. Craig Short Hull 505 - Galway Girl

I actually prefer Kansas to Oklahoma. Mainly because I've never found a good place to stop for the night in either OK or that top part of Texas, whatever you call that. I've always called it West Oklahoma. In Kansas, you've got the COE campground at Tuttle, and you can stay there and go eat dinner at Harry's in Manhattan, which is a pretty nice place. College town. I have no music to add to that. But here's something. Dizzy Gillespie tune, but I've been looking for the origin of this specific version for years. The only recording I have is ripped off this video, so if anyone can figure out exactly where this recording comes from, I will make you a cocktail at the next rally.

We had the full service done in Feb. 2021 and were very pleased with the service. Even though our Ollie was only 7 months old we wanted to get on a winter rotation of yearly service and we had a few issues that needed to be fixed from our pick up in July 2020. We had 2 drawers that were not smooth operating and the access port cap on the curbside bed would not line up. The threads on the cap and the port were slightly warped and impossible to screw closed once opened. They replaced the access port with a new 2021 model port which is a quarter turn type closure. The service was all caulking, lubing valves, testing gas fittings, testing water connections and pump pressure, and axle greasing and repacking bearings. ( I may have forgotten something since I do not have the ticket in front of me) Our total bill was $1,138. We have had $70 bucks of shop supplies or other charges included with that. All of the warranty work was not charged. I am sure that a person with knowledge in the appropriate areas could do the work on their own and save the money. I know I am a great helper doing almost anything but not totally confident in doing something on my own, so it was worth it to me to have Oliver do the work. I did purchase a premium camper that I intend on using for many years and just figured this is an expenditure that is worth it to me yearly. I will say that I have read where some new owners have had some issues with quality and not pleased with problems during there break-in periods, and I fully understand their frustration. Sherry and I have been extremely happy in the quality of our Ollie. The 2 issues we had were fixed when we brought it back in and the time the service people talked with us was great. I will tell you the feeling I had when I drove away was not the same feeling I have when I have left other camper repair shops. Hope this helps!

playwright, William Shakespeare

In order to insulate AND black out light that enters through the Maxxfan, I ordered this: VanEssential Magnetic Insulated Roof Vent Sun Cover for MaxxAir Fan, Fantastic Fan - Olive Gray It's not the cheapest one out there, but I like it because it completely blacks out the Fan, it's insulated and the installation is superior to other products I saw out there (hidden magnets vs velcro). This one takes a bit more work to install as you have to remove the inside trim on the fan (which is caulked), install / tape magnets to the inside of the trim, and replace the trim (and re-caulk). So all in all it took me about 2 hours. The magnets work great and reviews say that they work much better than velcro, which has a tendency to tear free from the trim and leave a glue mess behind, especially with heated trim. Here's a picture of the final product:

We have a version of this (actually 3 of them) that we got from WalMart. Very similar but one of the legs is adjustable which makes it much easier to level. Back in the Later Tent Era, I did some research trying to find the ultimate camp table. I don't think it exists, but these seem to make some good compromises. There seems to be just five or six table designs out there, but with a zillion slight variations depending on which rip off is being supplied. I've often wondered which version of each is the original. My other favorite is the Grand Canyon table from Travel Chair. It's small - good for a grill or dining for two. But it's sturdy and compact. It's Achilles heel though is that the little ratchet adjusters on the legs will jamb. Every. Single. Time. Regardless, that's the only table we carry these days. I'm just too lazy to set up anything more.

We run an Airbnb down by Big Bend National Park in Terlingua TX. We have an RV site on our compound and are offering 2 nights free (we normally charge $45/night) if anyone with an Oliver Trailer Elite II would like to visit Big Bend and Big Bend State Park (we are located between the Parks); we would love to have you come stay with us. Our email is rifephotography@aol.com and text is 970-879-7838. Thanks, Sue and Joe Rife