technomadia

Carol Ann -- I imagine that the Oliver will be tough for a Subaru to tow. Probably doable, but it will be a lot of load on the engine for full time traveling. If you are interested in something lighter (and cheaper), you might want to look into a Tab. That will be a better match for a Subaru, I think. Probably over 1000lbs less weight to pull around. The Oliver is an amazing trailer, and I can't wait for ours to be finished. But I am still a Tab fan too. They are both great designs. Check out the link in my signature to read more about our Tab, and to see some pictures. - Chris

I've noticed that most fiberglass trailers seem to last and last, and they seem to hold their value. This is certainly true with Casitas, and I am hoping that Oliver will prove the same. The older used stick-built trailers I've seen tend to be in rather sad shape and they tend to be offered for sale dirt chip. Older Casitas I've seen tend to still be rock solid. It seems that fiberglass just tends to last longer. The Oliver's aluminum frame should add to the longevity too. If you want a trailer that will last you five years and then you plan to donate it for a tax writeoff, get a stick built. If you want something that will last, get fiberglass or an Airstream. - Chris PS: My Tab for sale has a hybrid stick-style and "Alufiber" (aluminum and fiberglass combined) construction, and it has a totally awesome aluminum frame. If you want something a bit cheaper than an Oliver - take a look at the link in my signature...

I've been chronicling every step in our Oliver ordering process here: http://radven.livejournal.com/tag/oliver You can read about all the options we researched, and what our final choices were. I've made over 20 posts to that thread so far - with more on the way... Our Oliver is due for delivery around July 25th! - Chris

I've gotten another batch of photos from Robert. See them and read my journal update here: http://radven.livejournal.com/135584.html I've also created a Flickr set chronicling all the photos I've gotten so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/radven/set ... 655574383/

To avoid pitfalls and if it is that crucial, perhaps some surround sound headphones would solve your problem . . . check out the following: http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/pr ... sid=009925 I have seen some impressive "surround sound" headphones, but most of them (including the ones you linked to) fake it and just add a "surround effect" to stereo audio. Bah! And as Cherie mentioned, headphones do get in the way of snuggling. I will need to keep looking to find the ideal setup... Maybe I can even manage to find an appropriately sized Blue-Ray player. If so, then we will definitely want to upgrade to a 24" screen. *grin* - Chris

Headphones are a pretty good idea (although, I hate wearing things around my ears and it interupts the most important part of movie watching - snuggling).. and the concerns of a sweet spot are very valid. For most folks anyways. But given that Chris is the audiophile, and I'm partially deaf anyway (and just really need closed captioning and some of the sound.. thus part of the need for the larger screen) - as long as Chris is happy with the sound *he's* hearing, I'll adapt and be happy I've personally never understood the desire for surround sound or tweaking sounds systems - as to my ears, it makes very little difference. ~Cherie~

Wow - that's very cool! I have a Route 66 tin sign hanging up on the closet in my Tab. I wonder where we will be able to relocate it to in our Oliver.... - Chris

It makes the surround sound a cool thing, for these tired old ears to be able to hear all of the sounds in a movie. Ours works well for our needs at this time. However, . . . . As best I can tell reading the AWM960's manual, there actually is not any sort of "surround sound" processing going on like you would have in a typical at home home theater receiver. The AWM960 just does basic stereo - and just like a car radio, it outputs it to four speakers. That is not surround sound. You will not be able to hear a jet fighter in a movie whoosh over your head, for example. And even if the AWM960 did surround sound decoding - the speakers are not located properly. Speaker placement is critical for a good surround effect. - Chris

These are some great pictures and some very evocative writing. You have me itching for the road!

Robert told me that the Oliver was designed to take waste heat from the propane fridge and use it to help warm the tanks. If it works, it is ingenious. I'm not sure how well the Oliver would handle a hard freeze, but I am guessing you are way better off than in most trailers.

I've just posted my thoughts on the Oliver's "Entertainment Center" option, and our reasons for choosing not to have it installed. My post is here, and copied below (without links or pictures): http://radven.livejournal.com/134727.html ==== The Oliver Elite comes with an "Entertainment Center" package installed by default, consisting of a Jensen JE1508 15" LCD TV, a Jensen AWM960 wallmounted stereo with AM/FM/CD and DVD playback, and four interior speakers. The Oliver's Entertainment Center package is certainly nice by RV standards, but it actually does leave a lot to be desired. For one thing, the Jensen monitor is not wide screen, it is physically no bigger than most laptop screens, and it runs at a much lower resolution (1024x768) than we are used to. The ability to run off of 12V power and decode broadcast HDTV signals is nice - but for our needs DVD playback and usage as a secondary computer monitor is what is really important. (The Jensen JE1907DC 19" widescreen is a worthwhile upgrade to ask for, but still lacking for what we want...) The DVD player however is the biggest disappointment. The AWM960 can only output lowres interlaced composite video to the TV, not high-resolution component or HDMI signals. So even though the JE1508 screen can handle HDTV resolution input, the quality of your DVD signal will be closer to VHS quality than what you would get from a modern upconverting DVD player. Not acceptable at all. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any other "mobile" AV system that can do any better. Even the upcoming Jensen AWM970 (which adds iPod support) will still only output composite video. What I've come to realize is that with "mobile" AV electronics, you end up paying much more and getting much less. What we are doing instead... Instead of the factory-default setup, we've decide that a 22" computer monitor will make for the ideal display screen inside the Oliver. Our top choice right now is the highly-rated Dell SP2208WFP, a 1680x1050 resolution 22" monitor with integrated webcam, HDMI inputs, and a super bright display - all for only $299. Other promising alternative 22" screens include the low-power ViewSonic VLED221wm or the HDTV-tuner equipped ViewSonic N2230w. To provide the DVD playback, speakers, and audio amplification - I've been researching small "home theater in a box" systems. Expect a post documenting this research soon. The more urgent challenge is finding the ideal mount to attach the monitor to the Oliver. There are literally hundreds of LCD monitor mounts to choose from. We need a mount that will hold the monitor securely in the corner of the Oliver, but which can ideally swing out over the table for better position while being used as a second monitor. It would also be very cool if the monitor can swing in front of the window, allowing movie viewing from the patio. The Jensen MAF50 mount looks particularly promising - it can tilt, swivel, pan, and extend out over 16" from the wall. The Oliver factory reports that they can install either a hanging mount (like used with the current TV), or a wall attached mount. Using a wall attached mount gives many more options - but it must be installed in the factory BEFORE the inner and outer shells of the Oliver are mated. I will report back here with details. In the meantime - monitor, mini home theater, and monitor mount recommendations are appreciated.

BTW - Have you had any issues with your fridge running on propane at high altitude? Which fridge model do you have?

Wow. Gorgeous photos. I can't wait until we get back on the road!

I've written two long blog posts taking a close look at the systems that are built into the Oliver. Here is my post on the Oliver's plethora of plumbing: http://radven.livejournal.com/132858.html And here is a look at all the appliances that ship with the Oliver: http://radven.livejournal.com/132941.html Here is the text of the Appliances and Utilities post, but follow the link above to read the version with pictures and working links to manufacturer websites. ===== Here's what I know about the core appliances that we will be having built into our Oliver, and how they compare with what we have lived with in Tab... Ceiling Fan / Staying Ventilated: Tab comes with a variable speed reversible Northern Breeze ceiling vent that has worked wonderfully over the past two years. When cranking on full blast it really does cool down the trailer nicely, particularly when combined with a cross breeze from the Tab's huge windows, or with the spray from our Misty Mate. Oliver has been shipping with a three-speed FanTastic Vent Fan Model 6000RBTA that includes a thermostat and a rain sensor to automatically shut the vent if it starts to drizzle while you are out. According to the spec sheet, the FanTastic Fan on high uses 3 amps to blow 920 cubic feet of air per minute, and 1.86 amps to blow 478 cfm on low. The Oliver factory has been investigating offering the SHURflo Comfort Air Gold roof vent as an alternative. One reason to switch is that the SHURflo fan can circulate air even while the roof vent is closed. And the second reason is supposedly lower power consumption, perhaps because the SHURflo has a variable speed control that can be dialed way back for gentle circulation. Looking at the spec sheet, I see that the SHURflo fan claims to use 3.6 amps to blow 980 cfm of air while on max, but it has the potential to use just 0.3 amps at the lowest power setting. This could be very useful for a little low-power airflow while off grid. Both options look like great fans, and they both get great reviews online for quality and customer support. We have asked for the SHURflo Comfort Air Gold model to be built into our Oliver. It gives up the rain sensor and thermostat, but the variable speed control is nice, and we like the idea of being able to use the ceiling fan for air circulation even while the vent is closed. If we wanted to splurge, we could have gotten those features (and also a remote control) in the Comfort Air Platinum model. We are also contemplating asking for an upgrade to the FanTastic 6600, which is a relatively new model that offers both advanced features and lower power consumption. According to the spec sheet, it uses half the power on full blast as all the other fans - only 1.9 amps, while the lowest setting draws only 0.2 amps. In addition to lower power consumption, it adds variable speeds and a remote control to the FanTastic 6000's rain sensor and thermostat features. Air Conditioning / Staying Cool: Though a Cool Cat Air Conditioner is an option with the Tab, having one means giving up a big chunk of the interior storage space since the Tab can not handle a roof unit. We made do without just fine however, and in the worst heat we used a small Misty Mate to do some evaporative chilling by blowing a fine mist into the exhaust from our roof fan. In the dry environment of the desert, it actually worked amazingly well. We will probably continue to make use of the Misty Mate when camping off-grid in the Oliver. The Oliver initially shipped with a 13,500 btu Dometic Duo-Therm roof mount air conditioner, but now the factory is transitioning to the smaller 9,200 btu Coleman Polar Cub. The big advantage of the Polar Cub is that it is able to run off of the relatively small and affordable Honda EU2000i generator, whereas the larger Dometic required a 3000W generator to keep the compressor cooling. Our Oliver will feature the Polar Cub, which should prove to be more than enough to keep such a small interior space cool. Sadly though, air conditioning uses way too much power to ever run effectively off of solar power... Furnace / Staying Warm: The Polar Cub features 5,600 btu electrical heat strips that are effective for "taking the chill off of a cold morning", but only if you are plugged into shore power. For more powerful heating no matter how off-grid we roam, the Oliver comes with a Suburban NT-12S 12,000 btu propane-fired furnace. The furnace in Tab is also 12,000 btu - an Atwood 7900. But the Tab's furnace is located so that it vents out deep UNDER the bed, in an area often blocked by our excess cargo. The Oliver's furnace vent is located effectively, right in the middle of the kitchen cabinet and next to the bed rather than under it. We may also eventually purchase a small electric ceramic heater for use when staying in campgrounds with full hookups where AC power is more cost effective than propane. Stove / Staying Hot: The Oliver Legacy Elite features an "upgraded stovetop" over the base model Oliver - an Italian brand called SMEV. Reportedly, the SMEV cooks faster and uses less propane than a typical RV stove. The lid over the SMEV stove closes flush to the countertop to create extra flat counter space in the Oliver's kitchen. Interestingly, our Tab also features a two burner SMEV stovetop, and we have been very happy with it. One difference is that the Tab's stove required a flame to light, but the Oliver provides a built in ignitor. Refrigerator / Staying Fresh & Icy: Most RV refrigerators use "gas absorption" technology that involves no mechanical compressor (like in your typical home refrigerator), but instead relies on a heat source (ironically) to cause a coolant to flow through a closed loop. Through this mechanically simple process, a hot propane flame is turned into frozen food and cold drinks. It is totally silent while working too. The most efficient heat source for this sort of refrigerator is propane, though "3 way" RV refrigerators can also generate the necessary heat via AC power, or even 12V from your battery. Running a gas absorption refrigerator off of 12V power however is a sure way to kill your batteries in just a matter of hours though, so be careful! A compressor style refrigerator is MUCH more power efficient for 12V use. The two major manufacturers of RV gas absorption refrigerators are NorCold and Dometic, and Oliver so far has been using both, shipping the Dometic Americana DM 2454 and the NorCold N412.3. Both of these refrigerators offer three way (AC, DC, and Propane) operation, and they measure in at 36 9/16" x 23 11/6" x 24" (despite what the Dometic website incorrectly claims). They also both offer automatic mode selection, and electronic propane ignition (despite what the NorCold user manual incorrectly claims). The major practical difference between these two models is that the NorCold offers 4.5 cubic feet of storage and a slightly larger freezer area. The Dometic provides slightly less usable space, with 4.0 cubic feet of refrigeration. Though Tab offers a small 1.8 cubic foot refrigerator as an option, my Clamshell did not come with one. Instead we rotated through two coolers, and frequent ice purchases. This worked surprisingly well for us. Being able to actually make ice cubes in our own freezer while on the road though - now that will be luxury!!! Microwave & Convection Oven / Saving Space: The Oliver currently comes with a Sylvanian SC11000 combination microwave and convection oven. This would at first seem to be a very useful cooking tool on board, but after talking with several Oliver and Casita owners with a built in microwave, most of them rarely use it and they all wished for the extra storage. We have opted to have this area turned into a large cabinet, with an AC outlet located inside. This should give us space for storing a small toaster oven, a blender, and all of our bar supplies. And when the weather is nice, we can relocate the toaster oven outdoors for some cooking on the patio. Washer, Dryer, and Dishwasher: I wish!!!

Yes, I double-checked to make sure that the wheels were chocked before I undid the hitch! Now I get it! I guess we're lucky we only dented the bumper of the TV rather than watching the Oliver fly. Tom Though why use wheel chocks? Couldn't you just lower the stabilizer jacks to prevent the Oliver from rolling? I have been spoiled by the hand brake on the tongue of Tab. It is a fabulous feature. - Chris

I have been chronicling every step of our process in getting an Oliver online here: http://radven.livejournal.com/tag/oliver So far I've posted about everything from picking the ideal solar controller to deciding upon fabrics and tiles. Today - Robert sent me the first construction photos from the factory floor! Here are the photos of our Oliver's shell being born: http://radven.livejournal.com/132274.html I've also started a Flickr set for all the construction photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/radven/set ... 655574383/ I will update this thread whenever new photos head my way. I'm excited! - Chris

30lb tanks are the same diameter as 20lb tanks, only taller. This makes it easy to design brackets that fit both. To fit 3x 20lb tanks on the other hand would require a totally different design for the Oliver's tongue and fiberglass front shell. Possible, but not really practical. - Chris

The Oliver trailer comes with either two 20lb propane tanks, or you can upgrade to two 30lb tanks for some extra capacity. The nice thing about choosing 20lb propane tanks is that they are easy to swap out almost anywhere - even at many grocery or hardware stores. Because they are so commonly used for BBQ'ing, cylinder exchange stations are easy to find, and usually pretty cheap. The 30lb propane tank option however gives you a lot of extra capacity, and this can be particularly useful for running a generator converted to use propane fuel. (We are leaning towards a Honda EU2000i converted to use propane, or maybe the Yamaha 2400...) The downside of 30lb propane tanks though is that you can not swap tanks at a tank exchange station, and refueling stations for propane are often tough to find. So -- the idea struck me - why not have one of each, and get the best of both worlds? I talked to Daniel at the Oliver factory, and he thought this was a great idea and he is going to engineer a custom bracket to allow for the mismatched tank sizes. With this setup, the primary tank will be the smaller 20lb propane tank, and when it runs dry the regulator will automatically switch to the larger 30lb tank which will serve as the reserve. The small tank will be easy to swap out when necessary, and whenever we run across a propane filling station we will be able to take advantage of the opportunity and keep the larger reserve topped off. With this hybrid tank strategy, I will have all the convenience of the 20lb tank option, and nearly as much capacity as with the 30lb tank option. I am also hoping that the extra space above the 20lb tank will provide convenient storage for our freshwater hose too. - Chris

Techno--what caused you to want to sell your T@B for an Oliver? I'm just wondering what Oliver features are most enticing to you and how you see the new travel trailer as advantageous over the old. You're planning to full-time it, aren't you? When I evicted myself from conventional living two years ago and moved into my Tab, I was traveling solo. The Tab is perfect for one person - small, light, easy to tow, and unobtrusive enough that you can stealth camp in major cities. When I partnered up with Cherie, we set out last year to see how compatible we would be living together on the road. We worked together amazingly well in the Tab for seven months back and forth across the country, but we both agreed that it was just a bit too small for long term living for two people. The most significant reason for the "upgrade" actually may have been the desire to have a separate table from the sleeping space. I like to work late, and Cherie likes to get up early - and in the Tab that was a problem because the bed and table were one. The other big plus will be access to an indoor shower (we had an outdoor solar shower we used with Tab). The rest of the indoor plumbing will be nice to have too. Those are probably the two most critical reasons for us upgrading. The rest is all just luxury additions, but not nearly so essential. - Chris

Introducing: http://www.flickr.com/groups/oliver-trailers/ If you have never used Flickr before - it is a great site that makes it extremely easy for people and groups to share and comment on photos. Flickr is owned by Yahoo, so if you already have any sort of Yahoo ID you are already signed up for Flickr and you just don't know it. If not - signing up is easy and free. I look forward to folks sharing pictures of all the places that they take their Olivers to. You can even geotag your photos so that they show up on a map. See you on Flickr, - Chris

Introducing: http://www.flickr.com/groups/oliver-trailers/ If you have never used Flickr before - it is a great site that makes it extremely easy for people and groups to share and comment on photos. Flickr is owned by Yahoo, so if you already have any sort of Yahoo ID you are already signed up for Flickr and you just don't know it. If not - signing up is easy and free. I look forward to folks sharing pictures of all the places that they take their Olivers to. You can even geotag your photos so that they show up on a map. See you on Flickr, - Chris

Two years ago I created a Flickr group for Tab Trailers, and it has managed to attract over 70 members and nearly 300 posted photos. http://www.flickr.com/groups/tab-trailers/ Now it is time for there to be an Oliver Flickr group. Introducing: http://www.flickr.com/groups/oliver-trailers/ If you have never used Flickr before - it is a great site that makes it extremely easy for people and groups to share and comment on photos. Flickr is owned by Yahoo, so if you already have any sort of Yahoo ID you are already signed up for Flickr and you just don't know it. If not - signing up is easy and free. I look forward to folks sharing pictures of all the places that they take their Olivers to. You can even geotag your photos so that they show up on a map. See you on Flickr, - Chris

Congratulations on what I think is a wise decision! Robert will walk you through the process painlessly and FOLLOW through on all your questions/ideas. Chuck Actually - I think Robert is so swamped with interest lately that you may need to be the one doing the following up. He is doing an amazing job - but he needs a few assistants! - Chris

With our Oliver on the way and Cherie's house on the fast-track to sell, it is time to find a new home for my beloved Tab. If you know of anyone who is looking for an amazing small trailer that is fully equipped with solar for off-grid living, send them my way. More pictures and details are posted here: http://radven.livejournal.com/130322.html Details: My uber-upgraded Tab is fairly unique in that it is actually able to run on solar for extended periods of time without resorting to a generator or shore power. The large 110W panel and 260 amp hour battery bank allow for comfortable off grid living in a trailer small and light enough (just 1500lbs) that most vehicles can tow it. I've never seen any other trailer that is simultaneously so small and so autonomous. The cute retro clamshell design is also a fabulous attention grabber and ice breaker. The Tab is perfect for weekend getaways, festivals, cross country road-trips, and even extended living. It has been my home for much of the past two years, and Cherie and I were very comfortable living primarily out of Tab for seven months of cross country exploration last year. In all that time, we only had to plug in to charge the batteries a handful of times, despite our heavy laptop and internet usage. The electrical system and massive battery capacity worked wonderfully for our needs. New Tab Clamshells seem to be selling for as much as $17k - $19k now, without any of my extensive upgrades. Mine is a 2006 model, and it is just over two years old. The only major options missing are the air conditioning (which takes up a lot of the interior storage) and the electric refrigerator (which uses too much power to run off of solar). These are the technology and other upgrades that I have installed in Tab: + Siemens 110w solar panel with panel tilting hardware + Blue Sky Energy Solar Boost 2512iX MPPT solar charge controller + IPN Pro Remote - solar control panel & battery monitor (w 500A shunt) + 2x Trojan T-145 6V Batteries (260 AH Capacity) + Xantrex Pro 1000W Inverter w 30 amp auto-transfer switch. The Inverter is wired to provide AC power to all internal and external power outlets. + Interior Red LED Mood Lighting The solar system revolves around a BlueSky MPPT current boosting charge controller, a 110W Siemens solar panel, and the fabulous IPN-Pro Remote which tracks amp hours and the precise amount of battery capacity remaining. The power is stored in two Trojan T-145 6V "golf cart" batteries, and turned into AC power by way of a Xantrex Pro 1000W inverter with an integrated 30 amp transfer switch. The Tab is seemingly larger on the inside than out. You can even comfortably seat four around the table for dinner. The kitchen is of course largest of any RV in the world... Some other features: + Tongue Box Storage w 20lb Propane Tank (slightly dented) + Outside kitchen with two burner stove and sink + 5 gallon fresh water tank & electric pump + Thetford Porta-Potty (hidden in front cabinet) + Propane Furnace + 4 person dinette that converts to a bed + Large double pane windows with screens and day / night blackout shades + Custom front shelf - makes for great movie watching from bed... + Large wardrobe closet and an amazing amount of storage space for a trailer so small + Smoke, propane, and carbon monoxide detectors + AM/FM/CD with inside and outside speakers... (Upgraded to allow for iPod or aux audio hookup) + Filled with loving energy and good memories... I am looking to sell her for $12,500. The value of the electrical system upgrades alone is around $2000, not counting labor to install them. Based upon my research into other used Tab's selling online, this is a very fair price. We're currently located in Melbourne, FL. Right now, Tab is being stored on a friend's property in Kissimmee, near Orlando. We have lots of photos to share, and are happy to answer any questions in depth about this trailer over the phone (408-667-9022). For serious buyers, we can arrange to meet you in Kissimmee for a tour. I've put a lot of my heart and soul into this sweet little trailer, and I really want her to go someplace where she will be loved and appreciated. We are looking to sell by the end of the month - so if you are interested or know anyone who might be, please spread the word and let me know ASAP.

While talking with Daniel this afternoon, he told me that if his dad asked for a flying Oliver - he would figure out a way to build him one. I've asked to be second in line. While we wait for the flying Oliver prototype, here are a few other extreme RV designs to inspire us all: RV with a sports car garage in the basement: Terra Wind - Amphibious Class A RV: http://www.terrawind.com/terrawind.htm Wothahellizat: Winnebago Meets Mad Max http://www.robgray.com/index_files/index_graynomad.php House Busses: http://www.mrsharkey.com/busbarn/morebus.htm There are some amazingly creative folks out there.... *grin* - Chris