Mainiac

We used Banana Banners, out of Bowdoin, Maine, as well as a few others. Talked to her, gave her an idea what we wanted. She showed us a picture, with some improvements. Gave the approval, and received the graphic in a tube. After pick-up, at a campsite, it took longer to clean the area with denatured alcohol than to apply the graphic. No bubbles, no problems. Impressed me as it is a compound curved area.

Order a set onlne. $39.99. Works great, solar powered, and do not need a repeater...

It is a lot warmer Maine, right now, than in Tennessee. Also there is a whole lot less snow too. Hope our luck holds out...!

Enjoy the warmth. Just know we are looking for our first "plowable" snow this weekend. And it should stay around for a white Christmas. Look into staying at Kissimmee Praire Preserve State Park once. Eleven miles in, washboard dirt road, alligators and deer everywhere. What you won't see is any light pollution. Red lights at bathouse so as not to kill your night vision. No neon lights or big plastic faces. The Milky Way and stars just seem to jump off the sky. There are even more stars than you can see in New Harbor on a cold February night. Be safe out there...

Hull #211 (2017 model [April pickup] ordered in Nov 2016 had a full size spare. My spare tire and rim matched the other 4 Michelins, at my insistence, as they were using up the last of the Goodyear tires with rims. Think the prior rims were different too. My upper cabinet doors are frosted by choice, with black and mirrored as options. My tv is mounted on the curbside, as they had not yet gotten permission from RVAC(?) to potentially block the escape hatch window. (If I drop shipped a mount and tv they would have centrally installed). My drawers are self closing, but will open on bumpy roads. (Retro fitted with a thin bungee after). The manual awning works just great, one less thing to go wrong. Keyed lock, as the keyless were having to be drilled out occasionally. Guess they must be a lot better now as haven't heard lately any problems.

Don't forget to add antifreeze to the sinks and shower drains. Hard to blow them out. We do the blow out first, twice. Then we use the antifreeze. When taking off in the real cold weather, we do not de-winterize until south of the Mason Dixon line. We carry a case of water in the tow vehicle, and transfer it to the Oliver when the furnace is turned on. We use RV antifreeze to flush with. We usually have 3 extra gallons in the closet as it seems harder to find once out of Maine...

When everyone Is thinking about how the furnace is getting it's intake air, keep this in mind. There are built in drains in the outer hull. If you block off the furnace cold air return in any way I am sure some that some air will come In those holes. And in some circumstances that air could be quite 'chilly'. Don't think I have ever counted them, but they are visible from underneath hidden by SS caps. At one time the thought had crossed my mind that the whole space around the inner hull could be pressurized by conditioned air, but the emergency drains would be compromised. Then thoughts about elimination of the present AC, and maybe a heat pump came to mind. However, for the present, we are more than pleased how the system now seems more balanced with the high wall vent. It functions very well, and we can keep that door closed...

We put a matching SS vent on the inside. You see screw heads outside, double nuts inside.

Our Progressive EMS system has a 'lifetime' replacement warranty, and it DOES monitor low power. It will shut off power to the camper. When power is restored to enough voltage it monitors for a while and then allows power to our unit. This feature is especially important in older CG, during peak usage or brownouts. Inconvenience, but better than replacing "stuff" on my nickel...

We only have the Progressive external, as an EMS wasn't an option when we ordered our unit (2017 hull #211). After reading the forum, as the internal ones became an option, I was glad ours was outside. We could plug into the pedestal and see immediately whether or not it was safe to plug in the Olver. Those with the internal would have to go inside to see if all of as good. If I did, at some point, convert to an internal, I would add a remote readout somewhere (maybe the basement) so I wouldn't have to go around. The only trouble with the external that we have heard about is the moving light (status codes), giving people walking by to get curious. The solution sometimes is to put a small piece of electrical tape over the display. We do, ALWAYS, use a small cable lock to secure the EMS to the pedistal, so it doesn't get "borrowed". The cable lock we use is a pistol safety cable, so it is tough.

The solar has worked for us. And does stopping at a college or university park count as boondocking? Yup. Great wifi, usually good tv reception to get the local weather, and no traffic noise. Hull #211 likes getting off the interstates (they all look alike), and seeing some of the nices places and people. You do have to have a bunch of referral cards though, people will line up to ask about the Oliver...

I bet it would be possible to put the microwave in your unit. However, there certainly would be challenges. High Pointe makes a variety of units. The question is would you be happy with the final appearance? I believe the unit requires a deeper 'hole' so that you would have to build out an adapter plate on the front to hide the hole cutout. Also it would have to be strong enough so the micro doesn't float out going down the road. Also I wonder if additional supports would be required inside the hole and how that would be secured?Then there is the question of whether or not your batteries can provide enough power when boondocking. Maybe it would be time to trade your unit in for a new one?

We have had about a 1/2" of ice and 18 to 24" of snow on top of that here in Maine. The solar was STILL charging. We have waded down through waist high snow, on occasion, to clean it off. We use a foam "roof rake" type device and it works quite well. We find it all slides off easily, except maybe in around the ac. Maybe my imagination but it seems the dark solar panels melt anything on them and of course the wind up there scours anything else...

We waited and waited. That was five years ago. Time flies! Spend the time looking where you might want to go. Go to each state and look for their camper guide and order one. The maps are great and the pictures will show you the prettiest spots and pictures are probably miles from the Interstate. After all, the reason you ordered an Oliver was to get off the Interstate?

Should be easy to see one, as there are close to 20 in Maine, a few less in each of the other NE states. Just know that most in this area are either winterized or on the road heading south. You know if there are that many around here they must be adapted well to "cool" climates, narrow roads, small older camping areas, and narrow city streets. Those that are winterized are still easy to see. Just turn on the propane, start the furnace, and turn on the lights. Everything except running water will work...

Welcome from Maine. Waiting and reading the forum you will be tempted to start gathering "stuff". Take it easy. You will be tempted to store it in a spare room. Don't, there is more room in a garage or small barn, lol. We have been up and down the eastern seaboard and the Mississippi River a few times in the last five years. And a few boondocking trips too. Each time we get home we evaluate items we haven't used, and see if we really need to be carrying it. We carry quite a few pounds less every trip. (What we did find was that there are stores all over the USA). We actually have three overhead cabinets that are almost empty, and room in the closet. We eat well, travel light, and stop often. Stay off the interstates as they almost all look a like. Come to a stop sign and flip a coin, tails to the left, heads to the right. That has lead to some of the best sights. Oh, and carry a good set of maps. Garmins usually lead to big crowds... See you around a campfire...

Meanwhile .... back to the subject at hand...

My batteries have stayed in year around here in Maine, since we brought her home in 2017. It has not been plugged in once since bringing her home either. We do not cover her. The sun keeps her charged up even with some snow and ice on the panels. If we get a couple of feet of snow I will go down and pull most of the snow off with a foam "roof rake". I have been known to go down to the field and plow a road to the Oliver near the waning days of winter. As I have hooked up and started to pull out, we had to switch to 4 wheel drive. The chocks were all frozen in and we had to pull over them (we were able to dislodge most of them from the frozen ground with a hammer once exposed). If there had been a cover caught in the ice and snow we probably would not have been able to move, unless we cut the $$$ out of it. Also we have seen other campers have their paint wiped out by flapping covers, in the winter wind.

I did get to know about the secret handshake, and got to practice it. What I didn't do is tell anybody about it. Now you have told the world! May the secret die in peace...

Anyone ever come up with a tailgate sticker? Say one with a picture of an Oliver and your hull #? So when you drive by, waving like a normal "stalker", without the Oliver on; they have some idea you are a fellow Oliver owner? Probably would have to have some extra referral brochures for when at the grocery store or gas station for 'wannabees.

Most CGs usually only have 40 lbs max., so would think 45 should do great. Definitely no more than 60.

I certainly hope so. We are thinking of making a trip there. Reservations stop and it becomes first come first served so I have heard...

Saw a "naked" (no stripes or decals noticed) Oliver in the wild of Maine. It was about 4:30 on Saturday afternoon and you were on 95, just north of Augusta. Safe travels, and know the leaves are starting to turn...

Are you vents open? Those little round ones on the curb side. One under the bed (I keep that half closed to force air into the rest of the cabin), and one in front of kitchen. Once the main cabin is getting warm we open the bathroom door so that the vent in there ( under the paper holder) is allowed to circulate air. The next thing to check is the cold air return vent (the rectangular one at the back on the curb side) is open so the cold inside air can get back to the furnace. I have gone from cold cold cold to comfortable in about 15 minutes. With the camper winterized I have used RV antifreeze to flush with, and carried a case (or two) of water in the tow vehicle which we move to the camper when warm. Hope it is something simple like this. Put your hand in front of those round ones to see if warm air coming out. If you get down near them you can see if they are open or close. The outside ring only changes air flow direction. The inside one regulates air flow...

Is the Oliver suspension set up for that much weight on one side? Or it counter balanced by cabinetry and components? If you reduce the weight by almost 200 pounds would you be effecting the handling characteristics going down the road?