Mainiac

Makes you wonder why this "stuff" doesn't show up on the bottom of your coffee cup or tea kettle in greater amounts. I suppose we could always adapt a wand to the wet/dry shop vac and wand and vac the material out, if we were really concerned about it. I think I have more things than that to think about. Think Spring...

Know on mine, there is no longer room to move the propane bottles forward so there is room for chocks. Hence my doors were never installed on the bow...

Weatherization update: we raised the front of the unit and drained the fresh water tank. As we have the outlet on the bottom there was a little water left in the tank. The tank drain was closed and the trailer leveled. We turn the valves and pumped a little antifreeze into the tank. As it was going in we did notice the filter catch bowl did turn pink. As we, like many, do not like the taste or smell of the antifreeze, we raised the front of the unit, put the bottle under the drain and opened it. We captured the AF instead of letting it onto the ground. We also removed most of it from the tank. What was left in there should protect the tank. When the tank was drained the valve was closed. What little was left will be easy to flush in the Spring. We plan on sanitizing the tanks then too, which will remove any lingering smell or taste. An aside, before putting the Teflon tape on the anode, and putting it back into the water heater, we felt inside the bottom of the tank. It felt gritty. We will make a wand over the winter and really flush it out. I was surprised how much residue gathered in only one season. And we had a filter on the intake most of the time.

I called Oliver service, went to voice mail so hung up. Called sales office, went to voice mail so hung up. Called Scot Oliver. He answered but said he was on his personal phone and was eating breakfast. But he did talk. He didn't know the full answer to my question, but knew I had been looking to talk to Richie. And all the parts I received was for the water tank update that I didn't know I was going to get. No note or instructions? He said someone would get back to me. Later that day there was a message from Marylin saying sorry they missed us and someone would try us tomorrow (today). Anita called and said phones and internet at Oliver was down and would not be fixed until Monday and Scot was out west hunting. Richie called, he didn't know answer to question and would get back to me. If their phone system is down how did they all know I called? And how did they call me back? Guess new technologies still baffles me...?

Hi, were will be ordering a Clam. Supposedly it folds up into a compact package. Then you can get package of three (or two) and these unfold and snap in. The screens alone in will stop a lot of airflow, so might not be super cool on a hot day. Our prime concern was if length would fit in truck. On the top right of the main page is a search box. Type in clam and anything simular to Clams or clamps should come up. Just have to edit as you scan... Try2relax has had one up all summer...

SeaDawg: We found the pump online at HomeD. $16 and free shipping if picked up at the local store. We also found it for $32 on Amazon, but they said "free shipping" included. Guess where the rip off happens? Maybe retail isn't dead. This unit included the garden hose fitting and hoses. Think Camco, so probably any CampersW might have, if you have one near by. It is shown in use at Oliver University, if you can get it to turn on...

We used to winterize 40+ units, at a campground we used hang around, every fall. We blew out every one with air(we also did the supply hoses just to be sure) and then added antifreeze. It is a process that, so far, has never failed us. Air alone can leave just a enough moisture to gather, freeze, and maybe split a line. We watched the Oliver video, and then pulled out the owner's manual. There seems to be differences between the two. Also we found multiple errors in the manual. If you have never winterized your Oliver before I would suggest, before gathering everything, you do a dry run. Just so you know where the right valves are, and switches(we tag them while we were there). An example is, in multiple places, it is stated that you need a 1 1/8" socket--- what I really need is a 1 1/16" socket to pull the anode. Switches and layout have been updated, but evidently the manual they gave me had not been. I had been led to believe that during sales talks and brochures that you drop a hose into a bottle of antifreeze, turn on the pump, and voila - unit was done. Evidently not so, now you need a hand pump to do a couple of places and no one around here carries them. We have started a checklist, a step by step guide if you will, for my particular unit. Two side notes: we always turn all valves back to standard operating positions when winterization is complete. So that it is ready to go at a moment's notice. The other is, we opened the compartment toward the back from the pump compartment. We found the heater hose had some strange kinked bends in it. We did straightened them out. We probably will shorten the hose a little and support it better. The idea is it will allow easier airflow to the passenger compartment, and after all, that is where I live.

Yes, we just empty ice cube trays into the toilet and flush. Simple and effective.

Usually the last trip home of the season, after dumping, we put a couple pounds of ice cubes into the tank with some water. The "splash blending" going down the road really cleans the tank. By the time we are home it is mostly water. That can be dumped into a 5 gallon bucket and the poured into a cleanout or the home toilet. I like to use Eco-Save during the season, as an additive. I think it smells good and has no chemicals. It is bacterial and you only add when waste is present and it digests that. Just not easy to find everywhere...

We just winterized our boat. We wet it, we dipped a brush into a bucket with Meguires Ultimate Wash +Wax. Power washed it, and it looks real nice, clean, and shiny. It looked so nice, we just knew the Oliver sitting next to it needed a turn. And we did it too. And then we pulled a chair over and watched them dry. My rear bumper still looks great. But when it starts to get 'cloudy' there we will try some polish we have used on truck tool boxes. They shine right up and stay that way. Think we got it at Home Depot though others must have it too. Have to think our season is coming to a close, at least around here. Guess we should plan a trip...

We have some these that we got after seeing Randy's. They work great. They seem to hold more goods and weight than you think they should. They don't move (unless you want them too). We just clean the surface first with denatured.

Randy, Thank you, guess we have decided. Now just to decide size and price.

Very helpful, thank you all. Now if someone ask what I want for Christmas........!

We had a 27' 5th wheel which was ok for those two week vacations and an occasional weekend. It would have literally fallen apart going some of the places we have been with the Oliver. The Oliver is a whole lot more practical for us, and we go for a month or more at a time. The trouble of finding a used Oliver is finding a used Oliver. Good Luck.

We noted your parks, and will put on our iteniary planning sheet. Sounds like the places we want to see. Tell us about your Clam please. It took a beating and kept on ticking? Did you have just screens? 3 or 6 privacy panels? What size? Would you put a heater in there? We have had an arctic breeze come up off a lake and a little warmth would have been nice. Would the panels or screen be enough? As you can tell we have been considering, but have yet to see one first hand. Thanks

We back up with the Ram truck watching the cam. We get out once when we are close. We want to be sure we are really lined up, and more important, we want to be sure the hitch is high enough. Usually when the ball disappears under the hitch we stop, lower the trailer, snap the latch and hook up. Don't believe we would ever need a WDH with our set up. It is so nice to be able to drive interstates, back roads and trails and not need extended mirrors. You can see down both sides with room to spare. With the wireless cam on the trailer, and its backup lights, backing into campsites or parking lots are a breeze. After a while you can almost forget you have a trailer back there, it tows so smooth. It is almost startling sometimes to look in the regular rear view mirror and see a large camper on your bumper...

Welcome. Be sure to ask any questions. You might get three different answers, and they might all be right. Guess depends on the question and the unit you are asking about. We are so happy with our unit. It is funny to see options, upgrades, and modifications we made to our unit, are now standard equipment. It is nice to see a progressive company, building a quality product, not afraid to listen to its customer base.

Call of the Wild, Oxford, Maine

Talked with Kelly at OTT about the idea of a store. She thought it might be time and a good idea. At least some stuff in the showroom? She was going to mention to Scott. We will see. Let's see, I'll take a hat, a coffee cup, some blinds, a water accumulator, and do you have that fleece in black?

Merriweather was great both times we were there, and I also think we might of been one of two. Was like having a private free campground. We have "dined" at Fall Hollow a couple of times too, but they are only , or were, only open weekends. Both are within spitting distance to the Trace. We will have to dig out our notes, but one nice state Park is the highest point in Alabama. Don't remember the name, but a National Fire Ranger and our built in Garmin sent us on a 32 mile long paved goat path. Half way up, we found they was also logging. Just by chance we didn't meet any on their way down. That road was only 8' wide. in one place we crossed, actually forded a stream, in the middle of a 1950ish trailer park. If we had heard banjo music we would have picked up the pace. If only we had checked the paper map, there was a 4 lane highway just another mile down the road. But we did see some sights, and it was an adventure we still laugh at..

Thanks. You would almost think OTT would have sent out a note. "After years of asking, we have pure white blinds". "For a limited time a special $$$$ package, with clear INSTRUCTIONS, are now available". I know I would sign up to change mine. I would not mind a little mark up on their part for handling. When we show a trailer to a curious or prospective customer, we are kind of representing the Oliver brand. The color of the blinds has come up EVERY time. Don't you think it would be in OTTs best interest, to let us know that if a customer buys, their unit will have these new "upgrades"? As loyal dedicated owners, who for the most part keep their unit shipshape, might also want to buy the upgrades? Maybe they need to add a store; blinds, water bags, tee shirts, vest and other branded items?

We have installed a custom graphic, but we had a clean slate to start with. The new quality material is easy to install. Our nose 'art' took about 10 minutes and we did it at our campsite. Supposedly there are micro groves in the back that let any air out. Important I would think for a surface with compound curves. Remember it was just important to have a perfectly clean dust free surface. We cleaned with denatured alcohol. Small bottles are available in drug type stores. I would think a heat gun might help in removal, maybe even a good quality hair dryer. Then clean well. The graphic shop we used does fire trucks, cruisers, and all types of commercial vehicles. Even some car body shops do that sort of stuff. Might save a trip to the mothership, unless it is close..

I believe it was a 1 1/2". I used a small square against the outside wall up against the faucet. I then measured to the refrigerator wall, both to the square and to the faucet. I remember I measured three times and cut once. I got lucky. If I was to do again I might make a cardboard template?

We used to tell the "tourist" (guess that is what we are now), that they should watch the sun set. As the sun just disappears into the sea there is a sudden flash of intense green light. I was always amazed by how many saw the flash. Just like in the movies...

That is the piece. Price and size were right. I have not yet sealed the edge. I wanted to be sure that it fit and if subject to further modification. I thought I might line the cut with maybe a foam strip, but think that will not be needed. We will seal it at the end of the season. Another project for my "winter-to-do" list.