bugeyedriver

I'm able to run my Coleman Polar Club , 9.3KW fine on a home 20 Amp system. But I cannot simultaneously heat my water heater with A/C running. Anytime I forget the hot water heater is on A/C, it immediately trips the CB and I have my "DOH!" moment. After placing the water heater on propane only, I'm fine.

Beautiful setting. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Two weeks ago, I saw one of the F150 Lightnings in-the-wild in Burlington, VT. It was from Quebec and pulled about a 4000 pound "stick built" trailer behind it. It was a very nice looking truck, (even with the electric cord from the camp pedestal running to the plug in the front left fender - Haha) I spoke with the owner and asked him how well it towed and he said "Effortlessly". Then I asked him what his range was while pulling his trailer, the response was "One hundred sixtly kilometers" That's 100 miles, folks.

I towed my 2008 single axle Elite 70,000+ miles without an issue with my Toyota Tacoma 2WD . . . THEN . . . going up a steep gravel slope in the northern tip of Nova Scotia, I thought I wouldn't make it to the top. Not. A. Good. Feeling. When I got home, i had my local mechanic replace the rear end differential with an Eaton Industry limited slip version. Next best thing to actual 4 wheel drive. It helped me several times over the next 40,000 miles. My current TV is an F150 with 4WD. I will not go back to 2WD.

Did your "Inner Viking" come out when you were there? The docents told me I could try on some of the items in that room. Soooooo. . .

I'm sure you've noticed the prevalence of car swallowing potholes on the roads when you are off the few main highways on Newfoundland. Be very careful as you make your way down the two lane back roads. Here, in the US, if you see someone weaving down the road ahead of you, you might think the driver was drunk and you'd keep your distance. On the Rock, when you see the car in front of you going back and forth, he is likely avoiding the potholes and it would be good to follow along his path. Should you see a car going perfectly straight, keeping to the center of the lane, beware, he is likely drunk! Two whole months on the Rock! Sounds wonderful . . .

How often have we passed an unfortunate accident of a "stick built" trailer and seen a debris field of trailer pieces and strewn personal effects? The integrity of the Oliver structure is truly impressive. Glad you and your tow vehicle remained upright. Sometimes, "THINGS" happen.

Sully, Have a wonderful time in Newfoundland! I went several years ago and it was a month of exploration I'll never forget. Don't miss the UNESCO Viking settlement, L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site on the northwest tip (looks like you're heading that way). At Twillingate, you can catch a boat tour amongst the icebergs and if you take a ferry on the north shore, to Fogo Island, you may even have an iceberg run aground right behind your campsite! As a group of people, I found those in Newfoundland to be some of the most friendly I've ever met. How long do you plan on remaining on the Rock?

I just spoke with Anita. She was surrounded by family visiting her at home. She is currently at home and walks with a walker after her hip replacement surgery. She is feeling better every day. Scott Oliver and others visited her in the hospital to give their encouragements and she is hoping to return to OTT next month to continue helping folks finding their forever trailer. She says the flowers from friends had totally overtaken her room at hospital and rehab and they were a delight. She says HELLO to all.

Serendipity happens . . . May you have many wonderful years of happiness with your Ollie

I guarantee you that there will be NO popped interior rivets on your Oliver. Ever.

If you are unplugged from shore power and turn on your inverter to use an outlet, does item you plug into the outlet function normally and do the "crickets" start singing then? If not, your inverter is likely fine. I heard nothing in your video except the flipping of the switches. Do your "crickets" sing only momentarily, as the switch is turned on, or do they launch into a full operetta? Where do the "crickets" seem to live? Behind the switches? At the lights which were just turned on? Somewhere in the basement?

You need to start traveling with a cat.

June QST magazine is out, with THe Wonder Egg on the cover! This was my setup during field day last year.

When I met Jim Oliver on Christmas day in 2007, near my home, he spent two hours showing me a trailer while telling me about his family, the company, and its loyalty to their employees. I was not only sold on the Oliver Elite but on the entire culture at OTI and OTT. At that time they not only matched employee's 401K donations, but if a young worker with a new and growing family was unable to contribute on their own, Oliver Travel Trailers still made a deposit on their behalf. Needless to say, I was sold the trailer, the Oliver family, and the Company. I committed to purchasing The Wonder Egg on Christmas day, 2007! The Wonder Egg still maintains its original beauty. Here's how it looks now, fifteen years after bringing it home.

The IC-7300 is not permanently mounted in the trailer. Going down the road it is nestled inside its Pelican case in the truck and while setting up camp I bring it inside where it sits on the dinette table. This works for me because I am a solo traveler with a small dog, so using the table as a ham station is fine. The DXE-TW-2010-P has a control cable which enables me to change bands remotely. I feed the cable into the trailer through a small hatch where the power cable enters the trailer on an electric the wind-up reel (an early model feature). The antenna control box is powered by a 10AH battery.

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DdDd DDdD DdDd DDdD Ddd d DdD ddDDD dDDd dDdd DD DdD ddDDD dDDd dDdd DD Great thread, thanks for starting it! I always envisioned The Wonder Egg being a rolling ham shack. During the build (in the early days) I asked Oliver to wire the trailer for ham radio operations with an so239 connector outside, running the coax between the shells to the dinette area with another so239. But for many years, I was so busy traveling around the country making new friends and seeing new sights that I never sat still long enough to study for the FCC license and get on the air . . . until COVID, that is. It was the best social distancing hobby I could have ever participated in during the dreaded lock down. Now my home shack has an FTdx101D joined to a Palstar HF Auto and Palstar LA1k for my primary tranceiver. HTs abound as well. The antenna farm includes an EFHV stretched across the back yard for 133 ft, a Xeigu VG4 vertical up at 29 ft, and my go-to for DX is a HexBeam on a tower at 35ft. I also have a dual band Comet GP-1 mounted on a flagpole at 25 ft. My F150 is fully bonded together with 15 wide brass straps and my Diamondback aluminum tonneau is a great platform for my HF ATAS-120A and for my dual band CA-2X4SR. I tend to hear a lot of crickets on VHF and UHF, but on HF I communicate all over the world while driving down the highway. Inside the F150 I have an FT857D and FTM 400XDR/DE. Inside The Wonder Egg I'll have an ICOM IC-7300 and a Yaesu FT5D HT. I have too many choices of antennas to bring them all with me as I travel. This year I'll be bringing a portable BuddiHEX from Buddipole, a TW2010 with 40M and 80M options from DX Engineering, and a CHA LEFS Lightweight End Fed Sloper from Chameleon Antennas. There is a dual band VHF/UHF antenna mounted on The Wonder Egg. It will be great to meet fellow enthusiasts at the rally and down the road. 73, Pete, K2PLM P.S. Folks, sorry for the NERDing out thing here . . . it's an unfortunate condition of ham radio operators. Thanks for understanding . . . .

Bosker and Dolly have not met yet, but it appears they are kindred compact companions, like Liv.

Bosker is a rare breed MIKI, and at 9.5 Lbs, he is a perfect fit inside my 2008 Elite. I often tell fellow travelers that for me, "It's all about the dog". Just ask him and Bosker will proudly tell you he's the center of the universe. His picture adorns the front of The Wonder Egg. We'll be at the rally this year, Stop by and meet Bosker, but look out, you may sucked into his orbit!

Position Light / Oliver Advertisement Light

There will be rust formed on the anode and water heater. Brush off, but don't be too OCD about it. Put some plumber's water tape (the white kind) on the anode screw. Start it with your hand, like Mike & Carol says, supporting the bottom as you attempt to maintaining "level" on the anode as you initially thread it. You will NOT be able to screw it in with the large socket wrench as far as it was when brand new. That's OK. Snug it up nicely but don't CRANK on it. While it was out, I'm assuming you sprayed out the inside of the water tank with something like this before closing it up. Thiose wands can flush out a lot of deposits and extend the life of the water heater.

The swinging pill bottle plinking got me laughing. What a hoot! Instead of a 3 sided CLAM with a heater for warmth, you could always move to Texas, where it very seldom cold enough to need it. Ha!

I just had a nice long conversation with John about this hobby. The average distance used for pinpoint accuracy competition is 11 yards, about 33 ft. Some folks who live alone may even set up an indoor range within their home! Even though Bosker is a tiny short fella, my main concern would be his great big radar ears picking up too much noise, even with the suppressor that comes mounted on the airgun. (Guess I could always keep him downstairs as I plinked.) The "deer blind" he uses is for keeping him warm in the unheated shop. A small ceramic heater keeps him cozy as he hones his skill, mid winter in Washington state. As with any hobby, it is a potential money sink if you opt for some of the higher end equipment. What a fun looking hobby. I'm always looking for new ways to spend my kids inheritance! Don't worry Bosker, I'll get you ear muffs.

Wow John! That's quite a target range setup you have there in your shop. Those thirty tiny aiming circles in front of your safety barrel (ie: sand bucket) sure are close together. Do you enter club competitions in your area or is it all for self improvement? Is the gizmo strapped to the front something for measuring the specific velocity of the projectile? Lots of discipline must be involved to make it all come together for the win . . . What are the normal distances you use for target shooting? General comment: Folks, this discussion about John's hobby does not need to take a political turn. Let's keep it focused on the hobby.