Mainiac

Just a side note: don't hurry, if you can help it. The Interstate in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, or anywhere else looks pretty much the same. The real interesting spots are where the world has forgotten. The services are usually cheaper, the food is tastier, and the people are friendlier. You also will not find a "big box store" or a "fast food" outlet, but Ma and Pa stores are the BEST. You may have to slow down for a moose, or even a cow in the road, but that is ok. The RV life takes some getting use to, but a day or two should do it. If you need a snack, a restroom, or a beverage while traveling, remember you have all that and even a bed following you around...

Of all my retired friends, I have never heard one of them say, "I wish I had worked longer". Take the early delivery. Bet you get to use it. If only to sit in the driveway and read the manuals. Short trips will let you get use to it, and cross country will be sooner than you think. Enjoy. And the stuff you think you want and need to outfit the camper? Put it back. You will only need half of it, and there are stores all across the back roads of this country that have the stuff you really need. Most every state has an association of campgrounds. Most put out a free camping guide. Go online and request one for each state you might like to visit. Also request one for each state you might travel through. They have maps, travel guides for visitors on things to see, and a list of most campgrounds. A ton of free information. See you around a campfire.. Enjoy

will be around in the forums asking dumb questions! Easy to spot me. HEHEH. Thanks! A couple of things: your 'avatar' would look good as a decal for the front of your Ollie. Everyone will know who is coming at them on the highway or parked under a tree. If your age qualifies you, get an "old geezers" pass from the National Park Service. Half off camping in a lot of federal camp sites. Welcome from Maine... Quote

We carry a case of water in the truck. When we stop we take the water into the Oliver. The furnace keeps us plenty warm. If we are at a CG that is open they usually have heated bath houses. If not we can heat water on the stove and have G.I. type cleanup. Instant coffee is better than no coffee?

At wakeup I usually just hook up the water and run until clear at all faucets. I also use that time to sanitize the tank and water lines. Flushing the lines seems to eliminate any after taste the antifreeze might leave. That being said, if I happen to pull out near the end of winter, I might leave the antifreeze in until below the Mason-Dixon Line. That is also when we wake up the water heater. And we have a couple of gallons on RV antifreeze to flush with, and we carry a case of drinking water that we keep in a heat source (either truck or camper).

Through the discharge at the bumper, ie: the 25'. Also, depending on build maybe loosening a couple of clamps?

There is water between the city connection and the outside shower. The hand pump clears that portion of the line.

Three things: make sure the gray (and/or black) line is open to a drain. Have someone inside to make sure nothing is plugged and back filling. If you hear a "whooshing" sound coming up the vent pipe, shut off the water quickly.

They do have scopes designed for a septic tank 'colonoscopy'. Some home inspectors have them, as well as folks that pump septic tanks. It would be a quick look as no more than 40', less if the flex pipe is removed (recommended). If all else fails it would be an easy thing. A flashlight and mirror might do as well.

If the awning is installed with a slant, can you choose which way? I would have to assume it slants lower at the back so that it doesn't interfere with the opening of the door. Does it look funny when retracted? What if someone want s it slanted toward the front? I must admit I like being able be to till ours which ever way we like. I believe it was a workplace incidence that required the first change in awning manufacture. It was a needed hurry up to continue production.

We have an older unit with a manual system. It takes under a minute to deploy or retract. That said, and with arms, we still bring it in overnight. There are plenty of sailboats out there that heel over and scoot through the water with less fabric out there. And if you hear yours start to luff during the night, you best be getting up. Hate to think of the Oliver heeling over, and 'scooting' through the campground.

Wonder if a plunger, on the shower drain ( or kitchen drain if a problem) might be helpful. Would hate to think there might be a "hairball" blocking the vent. Mud daubers haven't built a nest in the vent? The vent cap removed and it is open all the way into the tank? What I have found before in SOBs (some other brands) is that the hole saw that cuts the hole for the drain drops the plug into the tank. Sometimes it would 'float' in the drain current and block the opening. When you would go to drain it would flip up and block the opening. Stop draining it would flop down. It took collapsing the " honey wagon" hose to find it. Maybe a small lightweight snake would be a useful tool here. At least it might help eliminate a possible situation. The burping part means shaking and possibly moving an obstruction? Depending on the production model you might be able to inspect the tank by removing the pipe from the end of the tank and inspect both ways with a mirror. Would recommend doing only when you are sure the tank is completely empty.

There is also a magnet on the back. Makes it stick to the TV and becomes hand free. Might stick to a belt buckle??

Coming up through the floor AND the sink drain? Is the valve completely open by the toilet? Or electric switch if that is how equipped? If tank was only 50% full there wouldn't be any water in the shower pan and sinks would drain if that is open.

With a short hose you are able to pump directly from the anti freeze bottle directly into the plumbing system.

I would think so. Some folks always seem to go with "bigger is better". On our compressor we have set the pressure regulator to 40 psi. We have always blown out twice as well. First time we open all the faucets and blow to remove most of the water. We wait about ten minutes and blow again. That removes those little drops that roll down to the low spots. We also make sure the temperature and pressure relief valve is open on the water heater at this stage and we have pulled the anode. In some parts of the world only air is used. Then we pump the anti freeze. If there is a reasonable reason not to blow I would like to hear it. Always willing to learn... EDIT: in a second thought. We always use the City Water port to blow the air from. We NEVER use the pump (EZ winterization port) to blow air...

Welcome David. Your trailer will not be a unit to be lonely in. There are plenty of people that will talk to you about your camper. They will follow you into rest areas and restaurants to ask about the Oliver. They will stop at campgrounds too. The Oliver is a great unit to see our country in. From the pink granite at Acadia, to the Blue Ridge, to Natchez Trace, to the tumbleweed of the west you will always feel at home in the Oliver. The pillow you put your head on will be the same one you had last night. You can wear different color clothes everyday and no one will notice. You made a good choice. See you around a campfire.

The odds of finding an Oliver, in good shape, is great. It is the odds of finding a used one at all is what is slim. And if you find a used one at all you better be prepared to respond and act immediately. The word is out about the quality of the Oliver, and the wait time for a new one. Do not expect a used one to be a super bargain. They seem to hold their value well, and maybe even appreciate.

Make sure whatever you get lists any overpass that is 10' or less. Oliver's have a tendency to travel back roads and places with low trees and bridges.

Guess that design could use the empty black tank to turn the residue back to drinking water?

Look at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve S.P.. No light pollution allowed at night. Biggest sky and brightest stars, as well as milky way, on eastern seaboard. Oleano S.P. , down south, is an unknown to most. Have to kick the deer out of your yard all day. Would like to go down the western side of the Mississippi, maybe January/Feb time frame. So many unknowns this year crossing state lines.

Nice trip. Have to pack a lot of Moxie for that one. Just the Kennebec and sometimes New Meadows, is a trip in a canoe. We have hauled a canoe from the Basin to Cundy's once when the wind came up. They were a little wet and cold. At least they had PFDs. They were happy for a dry ride. All State Parks are open until Columbus (Indigenous Peoples?) Day for camping. However first come/ first served basis for camping. Leaf Peeping season should be early this year, so probably not many 45' fifth wheels from the "southard" looking for a spot. Should be an interesting travel year. Any general areas you are heading? Heard some spots are already booked. Glad we have solar. Keep a travel log, always looking for great off the beaten path spots.

Paddled a canoe from Co. to Phippsburg. Did you go through Panama? Imagine that was a rocky trip otherwise. Time is getting close, how you holding up? Rugs all made? Hoping one more trip to St. George.

As John Oliver explains in the winterization video of Oliver University you WILL want to connect the hand pump to the city connection and pump antifreeze through the outside shower, after normal winterization procedure is complete.

Hand pump through the outside shower maybe the third?