carolann

Hi, you 33 lucky Oliver owners!! I'm starting to look for my towmobile and I'm thinking a 6-cylinder might be better on gas than an 8. Wondering what everyone is pulling the Oliver with... Are you all V-8s? Small 8s or big 8s? Anything in size 6? Size 4??? Also, any recommendations about AWD/4WD versus 2WD? I'm buying used so I can have more money to spend on Ollie options. Thanks much! CarolAnn

I would love to see Seadawg's pictures on flickr. Just went there and couldn't find "seadawg." Listed under another name? Thanks, Carol

Cherie, you are the woman I've aspired to be but have never come close to becoming! Not wash my hair every day, whether it needs it or not? A shower that's not guaranteed to be the "perfect" temperature--every morning and sometimes more often. I have looked in the mirror and found myself wanting. I'm off to get some baking powder--or is it baking soda--or baking... See, I have a long way to go, but I AM going to try the hair thing. Take care, Carol

Techno Chris, you're a big fan of the T@B, but what did you do about a loo? Girl's gotta have her bathroom!!! Well, this girl, anyway. The T@DA has bathroom facilities, but I don't believe you can hook it into a sewer line. The thought of toting my 5-gallon jug around every day or two is not appealing. If they can figure out a hookup, well, I'd consider either. But... I'm still hoping for an Oliver, but it's great to have backup plans. As far as towing with the 6-cylinder Subie, the dealer said to get a transmission cooler installed to protect the transmission. CarolAnn

If station wagons are welcome, even without a molded piece of fiberglass tagging along behind, I'd love to go to Arkansas for the rally. I'm putting it on my calendar as soon as I log off. I have a very old and equally beloved dog that I'm hovering over now, so it all depends on how he's doing. But I think it will be great fun! And I'll try very hard to limit the questions--but I'm not promising anything!! Carol

Stuart, I lived in Utah for several years and visited often for many more. My idea of a challenge is pulling up that loooonnnnnggg climb from SLC to Park City. I figure if I get a vehicle that can tow the trailer up that comfortably, I can do whatever I want. I also want to be able to cross the Rockies. Keep in mind that I don't plan to go off on little back roads, etc. Do you agree with my assessment of that climb, or do you think it's not such a big one? CarolAnn

Jam49, I've sent pm before but it was mostly by accident. If I click PM under your message, I get your message again. Not sure how to reply to it. I'll keep working on it. This interface is pretty intuitive, but there are some glitches.... CarolAnn

You mean I don't have to choose which flux-capacitor-powered-left-handed-whatcha-ma- call-it I want? You're right, of course, Pete. I just need to order a "trailer" and not worry about the gadgets. The main concern is the price rising so fast, which I certainly understand from Oliver's viewpoint. I just read on CNN that gas may get to $6.00 by the end of the year. My next stop is craigslist where I will be searching for a team of oxen, hopefully with yoke included. I guess I'll have to ask the factory if one team will do it or if I need more of the critters. And we thought oxen were a thing of the past... CarolAnn

Thanks for the feedback, jam49. I was feeling pretty good about the Oliver, but now not so much. The price is going up faster than I can get my resources together. I'm starting to look at other alternatives which saddens me. I'm also a little intimidated when I hear about putting this fancy thing-a-ma-jig in such-and-such a tight spot and selecting this gizmo over that. It now seems so complicated. I just wanted a nice little trailer to call home. Hope it all works out for you! CarolAnn

$25,750 for the base classic. That can't be. There's too small a range between that price and the top-the-line with all the accessories and options. Maybe they've added a lot of options to the "base." Wow.

Thanks, Doug1!!! The prices are interesting and helpful. Are those items that you added as options for the Elite? I'm going to make a superset of features--including the long list I got from Pete--and start checking off the have-to-haves, so-so, etc.

Just went to the Fiamma site. Love the sides on the awning. Does anyone with an Oliver have those? Some people carry those little tents with sides, but this looks so convenient. I also like the idea of a bike rack on the trailer. I bet Oliver would put one on if I asked???

I have perused the features charts and the differences I spot are options versus features and a set of 5 Elite Options that you can't get on the Classic. Am I close? (Oh, the Classic doesn't get a microwave.) For example, if I really want double pane windows, I must get the Elite with all of its other features. Same is true for the bigger wheels/tires. If those 5 Elite Options are not essential, I get the Classic and pick and choose what I want added (everything!!!). Am I on the right track Oliver owners? I've seen postings for, "I just ordered a new Elite!!" Don't recall any such announcements for "my new Classic." CarolAnn

Thanks for the info, Techno. Your T@B is as handsome as can be. However, my biggest, strongest, most significant, can't-do-without-it option is a great bathroom. Gotta have that! Everything else comes after.

Oh, boy! Maybe I can see it some day, Doug1. I've seen the WonderEgg. That's what got me started on the Oliver. Had been thinking about the Casita, but was very disappointed when I saw it. Then Pete showed me his trailer and I loved it! I'm in Austin.

As far as the Bigfoot with bunks...he may have had it customized. He sacrificed 1/2 the width of the beds for storage. Problem with the upper bunk was that it he kept hitting his head on it.

This is being asked out of obvious ignorance. If Oliver and similar travel trailers are considered fiberglass, what are all those others referred to--you know, the Jaycos, et al. And what are the biggest differences between the two categories? I know towability would be one. The non-fiberglass types are much more affordable. Is that a comment on their overall quality and durability? Just for my own enlightenment.... CarolAnn

Beeser, when you say "revisiting" the Bigfoot, do you mean thinking about it as a good alternative or being more aware of the shortcomings? I only peeked into one guy's Bigfoot that he was thinking about selling, but didn't really check it out much. He had some kind of strange arrangement in the back with a bunkbed that did not appeal. They are a bit pricey, aren't they? CarolAnn

Beeser, I saw Pete's Oliver and fell in love with it. I had just seen a Casita and was disappointed by the closed-in feeling. Then, when I entered the Wonder Egg, it was an altogether different experience. Bright, open, great quality materials. I'm not 100% decided, however, as I have to consider finances. And I plan to live in it, so I want to revisit the storage options. Also, I really want a separate bed and seating area. Bigfoot seemed to have more storage and was roomier, but bigger isn't necessarily better. So far, Oliver is way in the lead as far as what I WANT. We'll have to see how it plays out... CarolAnn

A footnote to my trip to the Subie dealer: While I was there a guy traded his stunning 1999 Prowler w/ 6k miles for an Outback. The graphics he had on the back were awesome. He had mailed the trunk lid to some artiste in San Diego who had these amazing cougars prowling the purplish-blue mountain terrain. Wonder if you can tow with a Prowler??? It would rival Pete's bugeye for attention! CarolAnn

Tumbleweed, when you say, "The standard model starts at the lower $," do you mean the $32,750 number? That's scarey. We're in Airstream zone here--not that I'd want an Airstream (the little Bambi is cute!). I hope there's another "lower $" out there. I was wearing a big smile because I learned I can tow with an Outback, but the smile is a little crooked now. CarolAnn

Hi again from CarolAnn. I just spent my morning at the Subaru dealership and found out some very good news and got some advice. First, have you seen the new Forrester? It's REALLY neat. Much bigger. It tows 2400 lbs. Even better, 4-cylinder Outbacks from 2005 on tow 2700. The 6-cylinder pulls 3000. Pre-2005 4-cylinder Outbacks pull 2000 and the 6-cylinder 2400. I was thrilled to hear these numbers. The guy I was speaking with mentioned http://www.cars101.com which is a site put up by a passionate sales guy in the NW. It has specs on every Subaru model. He advises to go there. He also said adding a transmission cooler would allow for heavier weights. For example, the Tribeca w/o cooler pulls 2000 but w/ a cooler pulls 3500. Big difference. He also reminded me that dealers put a conservative number for obvious safety reasons. Another great piece of advice was to call dealers in the areas where you plan to take your more challenging drives. For example, I want to be able to pull with some ease up the lllloooonnnnggg grade from Salt Lake City to Park City or cross over the Rockies, say through the Eisenhower tunnel. If I can do those, then I can do whatever is needed. Not into rugged Jeep climbs. So I should contact dealers in Salt Lake or Denver for input. Hope this info helps. I'll keep digging, but I'm smiling right now! CarolAnn

Thanks for the advice and words of encouragement, Geri. I agree with everything you've said. I'll just work all the overtime I can get until I drop! I found out some good news today--I can tow with a Subaru Outback!!! I know Outbacks and don't have to go doing all kinds of research on tow vehicles!! Thanks again! Carol

Sacsun, thanks for your reply! I will check out each and every link you gave me! I'm feeling better about this endeavor all the time, thanks to folks like you, Pete, Mountainborn and Geri. And I will gladly accept your offer of Peace. It's that time of year in Texas when the Sunshine is overstaying its welcome. Carol

Jerry, I have an Outback with just the 4 cylinders, so I know it's not up to the task. Read an article that said an Outback pulled a 3500-lb trailer and did a great job. Will try to find it for you. My local dealer pooh-poohed the idea, so I'll have to find the resource. CarolAnn