bugeyedriver
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Posts posted by bugeyedriver
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"Ding . . .Dong . . ."
My EU2000i came from Camping World - I got it there with a 10% discount card when I made my initial outfitting purchases. My A/C unit is a Coleman 9200 btu unit and she powers it up just fine, at 800 ft pressure altitude. In September, I'll be fishing in Gunnison, CO with an elevation around 7700 ft. If I experience any problems, I'll be sure to post it.
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Earthdancer,
By the time the little critters are ready for the feast they are well purged of any mud they may have encountered in their lives. The seasonings in the boil make 'em down right yummy too! But I must admit I couldn't quite get into the "head sucking".
Thanks for the pics comment, coming from you, I take that as a high honor. Seadawg,
I'd love to take credit for the boil, but those honors must go to Will Perkins, my son's dad-in-law. I merely contributed funding and played photojournalist. It has, however, given me the courage to try one on my own sometime. I'm sure you'll have a fantabulous graduation party . . . ENJOY!
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Chris,
You have a very interesting blog . . . I love your airborne pictures and the zest for life you and Cherie share in your T@b. You will be thrilled with an Oliver, given its flexible platform - high tech characteristics - and the ability of the Oliver company to specialize it to your needs (within reason)
I look forward to meeting you both, in person, out there on the road . . .
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Why, that there catfish is smilin' 'cause he's about to "give it up" to become part of a WORLD CLASS OPPELOUSAS INTER-MOUNTAIN CAJUN EXTRAVAGANZA!!
No finer a service could be rendered by a catfish in its service to this cycle of life thingy!Mountainborn, seriously . . . when are you gonna retire from your public servantry and open up the best little catfish eatery ever seen. Got a name for it:
"From the JUG to your MUG"
All kinds of hidden meanings in that one.
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You see a lot of scary pictures after big winds about small upside down airplanes or mobile homes blown apart. The little plane's wings are designed to produce LIFT in moving air and if they are not secured, well, over they go! Most mobile home destructions we see on TV are cause by tornadoes. I can't recall pictures of upside down travel trailers. Perhaps 'cause they have the luxury of moving out of the path of destruction when the situation dictates.
One of the best examples of this was Mountainborn's recent video as he was heading home from Arizona to Arkansas but happened to be following a hellascious blizzard . He simply tarried a bit until the monster storm got ahead of him and then sauntered on up behind the storm until he thought he should put down for a spell. With his maneuverability, he was able to avoid the storm.
The fiberglass egg shape is pretty aerodynamic all around and the wind tends to encircle it and move on along. But realize, even well built brick & mortar houses suffer under the attack of a monster tornado. Too bad the folks can't hook up their house and move on outta there like you could with a small travel trailer.
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Steve,
I put the Timbren suspension assists on my 2x4 Tacoma, because as I was following Robert out to the campsite the first night I noticed several cars coming in the other direction flashed their brights at me (even though i was in dim) and Robert mentioned how bright the lights were. I looked at my truck's lines and could perceive an "upslope" towards the front. After putting the Timbren system on, all is straight & level . . .
The 2x4 Tacoma has a softer suspension than its off-road buddies. The tongue is rated at 650 lbs and there was no safety problem with the Oliver's 400 lb hitch weight, there was just a slight raise in the nose, which is now fixed.
I'm sure each vehicle will have its own characteristics. Be sure to check the owner's manual for towing specifications, stay within it's limits and you should be fine. Modify later if you desire.
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If you're making some of your World Class Gumbo like you did at the Bluebonnet rally you may count me in!
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Dang it . . . my 13.5 lb fluffy-foo-foo dog is a'scared of big-toothed alligators!
Whooda thunk it?
http://peteandthewonderegg.blogspot.com ... html#links
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Come on Earthdancer . . . couldn't be breakfast . . . who'd even THINK of corn-on-the-cob for breakfast?
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OK Mountainborn, between your "Blair Witch Project" videos and this Arkansas Chain Saw Massacre photo of you, i'm starting to get just a bit concerned . . . perhaps someone should call the cops.
OOOPS . . . too late!! -
Oscar just couldn't stop "talking" about you guys all the way home. He raved on and on about Katie's prowess with the fishing rod and how kind Cody was. He says he can't wait to meet ya'll at Garner State Park.
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No! Not THAT rear end!!!!!!!!
Your TV's rear end. I have a Tacoma 4 door 2x4 with a towing package which includes extra protection for the tranny & engine, a bigger alternator and a class IV hitch. But it does not have off-road stiff shocks like its 4x4 brothers. The ride is like a Camry, smooth smooth, smooth.But when I hooked up the Wonder Egg, with its 400 lb tongue weight, i noticed an ever so slight depression on the rear end and the associated lift on the front. After studying my options to fix this i came upon a product called a Timbren Suspension Enhancement System. http://www.truckspring.com/timbren_285.html
The concept here is that it does not change your unloaded ride much but when a downward pressure is applied to the rear end of the vehicle, these assists come into play to stop the sag.
I've used it for about 4 hours worth of towing so far and it does everything i was hoping. So, if you're worried about a sagging rear end . . . check it out!
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RvBella,
There is an a/c outlet above the stove-top in the galley that could be used for a toaster oven or any other small appliance you might bring along. As long as you're hooked up to shore power or you've got a generator going and don't exceed its wattage you should be able to do just about anything.
The Fantastic Vent will whisk away the odors and smoke if you need it to.
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Mountainborn,
I may have wandered into the uncharted world of the "BLOGISPHERE" but you, SIR, are the KING of the video world. I've always enjoyed your hand-held video segments. With your quiet narration, some almost have a sort of "The Blair Witch Project " quality about them. Like the one in the Wally World parking where one could anticipate calamity just around the corner ... but alas, it's just the sweeper!!
This one evokes warm, good thoughts of plentiful bounty from the lake, good friends, relaxing times and makes me want to hop in my rig and head for Arkansas right now!! Well done
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What a stunning photo! I think it was only a momentary glimpse you were given into a mythical woodland world. Fortunately you were able to snap a picture before it went back into its other dimension of time and space. That would explain why you can't find it again.
For what it's worth, I think it would be a wonderful mural to set the tone for your wanderings. Very, very, nice.
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Phil,
Well done!
A picture is worth a thousand words . . . Oscar & I are looking forward to seeing you guys at Lake Mathis this weekend for some campfire campin'! -
Lou,
Currently, Oliver uses a product called "Lizard Skin" as an insulation protection for the trailer. The Lizard Skin is a product used in the automotive racing industry to keep the engine heat from the driver during long races and is applied to both shells. Don't know thr "R" value. You can read about it at:
I feel that between the upgraded dual pane windows, double fiberglass shells and this high tech insulation sprayed on the inside, the Oliver is well insulated. My first night out was about +25F, I was cozy running a small electric heater on low.
If you ever (gasp) had an accident that cracked the outside shell and water got inside, there are strategically placed weep holes to let the water out of the bottom. Having dead-air space between the shells is insulation also.
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Chuck,
I'll be SURE to have some in the fridge on my first trip southeast after retirement just for you, my friend.
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Rick,
I asked for a downsized A/C unit to be put on my trailer for the purpose of being able to run it with the Honda EU2000i generator. Calculating the cubic feet to be cooled, and checking several air conditioner specialist web sites, I figure the 9200 BTU output of my Coleman unit will do just fine given the dual fiberglass walls, Lizard Skin insulation and double pane windows. (The standard A/C puts out 13,500 BTUs)
I use a thermostat to regulate the A/C. The couple of times I've used the generator with it, it did just fine. You could hear the generator go out of its eco mode and rev up the rpms. It handled the current requirement OK. I don't think I'll be running the microwave at the same time but don't forsee that as a problem since the microwave will be a rather short use item.
Pete
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Tumbleweed,
Cooking takes on many textures, of appliances, ingredients, techniques . . . it's the outcome that's important but the journey can be fun as well. About dissing the lowly crockpot - NOT SO FAST MOOSEBREATH!
There is an excellent cookbook for the smaller crockpot that specializes in fine cuisine for 2 people . It is "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Two: For the Small Slow Cooker" by Beth Hensburger. (At Amazon.com for around 10 bucks)
"This downsized appliance for the single person or the childless couple allows the cook to prepare a meal in the morning, head off to a job, and still have a hot meal virtually ready when the workday has ended. Hensperger demonstrates this diminutive cooker's versatility with a collection of recipes that fit in with today's changing tastes in food. Chilis and soups show off the slow cooker's obvious virtues. In addition to beef- and pork-based stews and braises, plenty of turkey and chicken recipes appeal to devotees of lower-fat cooking. Polenta and risotto enhance the usual pasta dishes."
Using this book, with minimal prep, you can go off on your wanderings all day long and return to a scrumptious meal later on in the day.
Try it, you just might make a skeptic a convert!
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Rick,
The 400# was with a Honda 2000, full of gas, strapped down, cabled down for security. All of this was inside a custom built aluminum box Oliver made for my trailer. The weight out on the front of the tongue was appx 75#.
The tongue has thres available placements, I had mine on the middle one. By pulling it out to the longest setting, the tongue weight went down 20# to 380.
I now have the aluminum box loaded with firewood and will carry the generator in the bed of my 4 door Tacoma. (Keeps the wood out of the truckbed) Tongue weight capacity on this Tacoma w/ towing pkg is 650#.
Pete
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Rick,
I had my tongue weight measured at the Bluebonnet Casita Rally and came up with 400 lbs with the tongue out on the 2nd notch. A full configuration description can be found on the Extendable Tongue Explanation topic on pg 2 of the board index.
If you get a chance to meet Mountainborn, I'd take it. He seems to be about the most knowledgeable character out there about using this trailer in the deep outback environment. If you're lucky, he may introduce you to the art of jug fishing!
Pete
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Robin,
Gotcha! Then here are the items you've mentioned I find that I really appreciate having and wouldn't want to be without:
Fan-Tastic Vent: This thing is amazing! You can blow air in or suck air out on three different settings, thermostatically controlled - if it starts raining while the vent is open, it senses the moisture, closes the vent, turns off the fan, when its moisture sensor dries, it opens the vent and restarts the fan! Doesn't get much easier than that.
Double Pane Windows: The trailer is so well insulated with the double walls of fiberglass , I thought it would be a shame to feel a lot of heat coming in in the summer or cold creeping in in the winter. There is a lot of window space in the trailer so this effect could be significant.
Day-Night Shades: Even with double pane windows, a bit of radiant heat comes through with bright sunlight, putting up the day shade allows you to still see out and drops the incoming radiant energy to zip. At night, you need something to provide privacy and the pull-down night shades do the trick very well. )These are both encased in a window treatment that surrounds the windows and ther is no flapping of blinds or difficulty with curtains that don't quite close together.)
Monitoring System: Tells you your battery charge; fresh water / grey water / black water levels. All of these give you an idea of how long your endurance is and if you need to modify your energy and water consumptions to extend your trip as planned. Over time this information will give you longer time out relaxing in your trailer and you won't have any "surprises".
Upgraded shocks: I went for the 4" lift and the upgraded shocks. Not that I intend to go offroading, but as protection. I was glad I had them just yesterday! On the way back from the campsite I encountered a jackknifed 18wheeler blocking the road. The only way to get through was OFFROAD down an incline and up one on the other side. I was glad for the upgraded suspension at that moment.
Haven't really needed the wash station yet, but when the time comes . . .
Hope this helped, feel free to call if you'd like.
Thanks for the pics comment, coming from you, I take that as a high honor. 
I have a Tacoma 4 door 2x4 with a towing package which includes extra protection for the tranny & engine, a bigger alternator and a class IV hitch. But it does not have off-road stiff shocks like its 4x4 brothers. The ride is like a Camry, smooth smooth, smooth.
Oliver Blogging
in General Discussion
Posted
Sherie & Chris,
I know your T@B adventures have been wonderful, but you ain't seen nothin' yet! Congratulations on the move to the Oliver. I am sure it will be all you anticipate . . . and MORE!
What solar panel and cell phone amplifier will you be incorporating into your new palace?
I look forward to watching your blog and look forward even more to when we may meet out on the road . . .