BackofBeyond
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Posts posted by BackofBeyond
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I'll only add - the shark bites- although much easier to install - do not have my confidence of lasting in a vibration laden environment. I have personally seen them fail in a static home environment more than once. One instance saw water run for a month - before the owner returned to a very wet home, and a heck of a water bill. The fitting had been installed by a competent plumber in a remodel.
I have the necessary tools - due to a former DYI build - and although expensive for a one and done job- that is the way I would go. What is it worth to be driving down the pothole filled road- and not worry about the damn fitting letting go - additionally, you will most likely need some measure of tubing - so as has been mentioned, go ahead and relocate to a warmer spot. And make it one and done - forever. Good luck and happy trails.
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16 minutes ago, WhatDa said:
Except for those that want electric for the environment or driving characteristics, the savings for electric have nearly evaporated with the oil crash. Our Prius Prime gets ~20 miles on 7kWh of electricity. Supercharger costs 0.25$/kWh so that's $1.75 if I charged up up there (and could), or $0.70 if I fuel up at my outlet at 0.10$/kWh. So anywhere from 0.0875 to 0.035$/Mile. Fuel at $2.30/gallon and 60 MPG on "gas only" costs 0.038$/Mile. Only reason to plug in is just to avoid going to the pump. Even the 2500 at 20MPG with cheapo diesel at $1.40/gallon is 7 cents a mile - so it'd be cheaper for me to hit the truck stop in a 3/4 diesel than supercharge something like a Prius - so not sure an electric would stand a chance until prices go north of $3/gallon again.
Great work. I was thinking similar, but to lazy to do the math.
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USFS and BLM were certainly in my first thoughts. State and local county parks have been really convenient in the past, and any openings, however limited, would be great. Seems the next several weeks will give us a good idea on what the direction of openings will be, and how may states will be open - without 14 day isolation restrictions. Ollie is ready now, but I do need to review the associated "we need this" pile. Seems if services and opportunities are limited, I should rethink a few must haves - I may even think about a small gen set - which I've not needed before - if the sun stays out I'm good - but ..... the sporadic Elec hook up may not. Will travel with a full tank of H2O, and a few extra 6 gal containers; not my usual MO. Seems the extra payload of the GMC will come in handy.
I'm going to do some route pre planning across Texas, into NM, head north, go where ever, head to Flagstaff on return - for family time, and then head home. This is a very familiar route for us, and as such, we rarely did any preplanning, now it seems prudent. The scenery through Texas will be much different this time - with the oil patch now in turmoil, I expect it to look much different than last year! Been making that stretch yearly since 1975, its a good predictor of the nations energy economy.
What I can't wrap my head around is demand - will there be a large contingent of pent up rv/campers - gotta get out there - or will it be - need to work, stay home, get lives back in order? I tend to think it will be small demand, limited services, more opportunity if your not a full service camper.
One benefit - fuel is going to be - cheap cheap cheap!
RB
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With the rumblings of park openings, and perhaps campgrounds and boondocking reopening as the Covid 19 restrictions are relaxed in many areas, I have begun to wonder about the possibilities - during next 3 - 4 months for RV travel and places to go - regulations permitting.
I don't want to rehash the whole topic of personal isolation, risk, politics, and such, just the thought that the opportunities may exist to actually take my Ollie out west - and do some exploring - 6 ft. at a time.
As we usually shy away from the populated spots, I am hoping enough areas and rules are relaxed enough to permit camping with or without hookups. I don't need anything but a spot, the rest - we have.....its an Ollie after all, Solar, etc. I would head to Moab, but even the BLM type areas have been closed. Other than the commercial RV places, it appears slim Pickens.
Right now - today - it doesn't appear we have many, if any, options. I am hopeful - come Mid may - that changes. I would like to head to elevation, west of Texas, north of NM, and will have until about mid July open. So wishful thinking, constrained by the current situation. has me stymied.
Your thoughts?
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With the other end of the curve in sight ??? I would like to talk about the travel and camping possibilities for the future - it seems a new thread is in order - so I'll start one, if this is ok, if not- the moderators will adjust I'm sure.
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JD, I always appreciate your write-ups. I have hesitated to apply any lube to the lower down tube due to possibility of debris build up. It seems to me, a clean dry surface represents a less risky measure - especially given the location. That and it doesn't seem to need lube for decent operation, as Overland has mentioned. Your thoughts?
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Interesting topic. I have always carried some sort of first aid kit, its my Boy Scout training - at an early age. I have found over time, the need to update the kits, is forgotten - mostly due to lack of use - a good thing. I have probably updated my original "wilderness" kit 3-4 times, and similar to the travel kit. Given our new paradigm I probably need to review what we have in the various kits. If I were honest, I'm behind here. The mention of training really hits home, I'm positive some relearning would be in order for me and mine. Preparation is the best preventative I've discovered, certainly keeps "fate" at bay.
As I have been told - Failure to plan, is a plan to fail - I prefer to put together my own kits, and keep them stored in waterproof containers, in individual segments, so I can take the essential's on hikes, and such, and yet still have a large comprehensive kit if needed. I have a small ancient kit - updated -just for short hikes near the house, it goes in the backpack - just in case. Haven't needed it since I started carrying it, problem is, I don't carry anything when I run. Living on the edge...... has its risks.
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I enlarged the weep holes and added rain gutters above the windows, so I will just have see what happens once we get back to actually using Ollie. My back up are towels inside - to wick up the water......... those sideways, wind driven, rains are going to drive water inside - regardless. Its the design - stupid (me) .
Of course I'm looking for a source for "Artisanal" towels, not to be out coutured by Overland. 😉
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3 hours ago, Landrover said:
I think everyone was very happy and excited when they purchased the Oliver. So that’s the answer with poor quality control? Sell your trailer if your not happy and buy something else?
Probably not, but I was miffed when my $70k + Oliver furnace wouldn't work, when my windows leaked (still do), my pos Dometic fridge likes to shut off when on propane, and a few other things that went bump in the night. But, as a tinkerer, I have also made improvements, added things, etc., so at some point, we all get used to the idiosyncrasies of RV ownership. But that doesn't soften the initial disappointment. Sell mine, not, but if this damn national shutdown and location curfew doesn't let up soon, well what's an RV for...
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On 4/19/2020 at 3:16 PM, John E Davies said:
This is pure magic. Body shops use it for prepping before painting. I use it for all kinds of jobs, mainly prepping the cars and trailer before applying Rejex - removing sap and tar and any traces of wax. You can get it from a local Auto Body supplier for way less, I bought four quarts a couple of years ago for $12 each. One can lasts a long time.
John Davies
Spokane WA
It is indeed good stuff - I purchased per JD's suggestion - I've used it more often than I ever thought I would.
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5 minutes ago, ahattar said:
I didn't expect perfection, but I sure did expect it to stay dry inside! Ok, I take it back, they are in a league of their own. RV industry is amateur, Oliver is semi-pro but none of them are true professionals. The bar is set so ridiculously low, so even comparing themselves to the competition is silly. I understand you guys have great pride in your trailers and the people that built them, believe it or not I still like mine. Unfortunately by continuing to let them off the hook for avoidable quality issues, you'll just end up enabling them to take advantage of customers. Oliver and I are not in this together because they have my money. I'm a tough love guy, I'm not saying to beat your kids but you better be damn sure to set some strong boundaries if you want to instill discipline. These are bush league mistakes and they go deeper than a checklist in a factory. If you want Oliver to be around, you better help them set a new bar and actually become pros. That's what I'm trying to do, hold them accountable which a good company would thank me for. They have the stones to host a forum, I'd imagine they have the courage to take a hard look in the mirror when it's not all roses and butterflies. Yes, it's still the best quality trailer on the American market including black series, but if they're consistently having issues right off the line they will quickly destroy their own reputation no matter how petty the issues might be.
As Oliver strives to be know as a premier RV manufacturer, they have some room for improvement - mainly in the manufacturing process. They make up for it in the service department. I have nothing but good to say about those folks. However, Oliver needs to do some rethinking on its manufacturing processes. Their quality systems are in need of updating - where built in quality, using the latest processes are in order - checklists - are old school - a little TPS would go a long way - I know from experience. I would like to see some corrective action follow-ups, but then that's a little more than Oliver owes its customers on an open forum.
But I'm not bashing. In time they will get better, or not. They are moving from what was basically a custom process to one of mass production. Its a choice - increasing production rates - but it also demands changes in the support processes. The saving grace is that the RV industry is terrible in this arena.
I believe, if your going to air your complaints on the forum, you have a responsibility to be as transparent as possible and detail the issues - and the fixes if known. I think it gives everyone a chance to evaluate the issues, and make their own judgements.
In my opinion, water leaks are completely unacceptable - and there is really no excuse for a unit to leave the factory untested and verified. Water is cheap - as are sprinklers, and a solid inspection process - dedicated to water leaks.
ahattar is certainly justified in his complaints - I've seen sales cancelled on much less.
2+ years and 13k miles I'm happy with my Oliver, its not perfect, but then not much is....
rb
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On 12/18/2019 at 7:42 AM, Landrover said:
My 2017 Duramax has those ranges 15mpg towing and 22 mpg non towing. No performance upgrades.
On 12/18/2019 at 6:03 AM, ahattar said:22-24, really? My brother has a 2017 and it gets 16mpg in the most perfect conditions. What has changed to get 3/4 tons in the 20's?
33k miles, still get 15+ towing - depending on conditions, and unloaded up to 21, but usually around 17 in stop n go. What changed - better engines and computer control - combustion is maximized, and so on. If I run down the Interstate at 70 mph, unloaded I get 20 mpg all day long. Downhill more. uphill a little less, but it all works out.
RB
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7 hours ago, WhatDa said:
The GMC trucks both had much better turning radii and way better ride unladen than the ford. I got 16MPG on the 2500 and 21 MPG on the 1500 on our little test run of going down a freeway exit and back. That's not quite enough to make that difference enough to choose one vs the other.
I had similar thoughts during my test drives, as I thought the ford was the truck I would purchase. However a full day of back to back drives, almost comical, really, the GMC was just better in the unladen ride aspect. I also liked the interior, it was more comfortable, it seemed. In the end I don't believe you could go wrong with either.
MY only concern going forward is the lack of build time in the factories - GM had a strike, and now this Covid shutdown. There will be a limited number of product in the field, and a short product cycle. I understand your in the need in the short run, but I would bet the 2021's will be a better time to buy. Perhaps the shear lack of business will drive the current prices down.
Good luck in your hunt.
RB
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1 hour ago, topgun2 said:
Just be sure to not load up that nice Ollie any more than necessary.
Bill
Where's the fun in that......
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Its amusing to me, what we imagine in our rolling homes - when the original thought was to get away from home. I can see me - back to the simple, backpack, and tent - getting out - away from the rolling subdivisions.... but of course - it'd want to return to my rolling home away from home - just to freshen up...of course.
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If I were in the market - its hands down a 2500 GMC - I have enjoyed my current one more than I could have imagined. I can see me replacing it in a few years - same thing - like that 10 speed. I actually don't need (or care about) adj pedals, and a good portion of the other adjustable BS. But it comes with most of it, unfortunately.
Good hunting.
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At some point it all becomes pointless. We believe we have done all the right things, and still we feel risk. Not sure there is anyway to eliminate it. Be safe all.
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Honey Badger crystals. They are sprinkled around the interior, between the shells , as a preventative measure. Any mention of a honey Badger sends critters into a virtual frenzy of self destruction. Mice, rats, and other rodents , do not congregate anywhere a honey badger has staked a claim. Rest easy, no critters in an Oliver, some owners, excepted.
RB
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Seems all the closures have forced people to the BLM sites across the west. I saw a few pics of the Quartzite area - same thing. I don't have a solution - given the sheer numbers of folks that are full-time with no home location to retreat to. For this reason, we will keep our little plot of earth as a back-up, for whatever happens. If the feds were to attempt to close the BLM - it would be a real cluster. I can't help think the trash and waste being deposited everywhere. Just a big wow for me.
Good luck to all.
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10 hours ago, BillATX said:
In researching this topic, I came across a post from BackofBeyond. He has built his own covered "Ollieport". Nice work and good inspiration.
Update - I had a little issue with birds trying to nest in the framework, but finally got that solved. I have come to dislike the center support column (JD, I feel you) so I plan to remove it, and add a full length support LVL. But will have to wait for the world to restart....Otherwise all is good.
Ollieport - I like that - Tkx Bill.
I somehow left an interior light on for a few weeks, seems I could never get the batteries back up with the little solar, and few sunny days, eventually plugged it in when I was doing the annual maintenance in my enclosed barndominium. It now says fully charged with the springtime sun.
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On 3/28/2020 at 3:49 PM, ThomB87 said:
Must be the optimum spot - I had a bird condo in the same spot.
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With Covid induced time on many of our hands - and the talk of a larger Ollie - Mental musings - What does the forum think.
I know its been mentioned previously, but perhaps with enough enthusiasm we could get the timeline advanced, and features we all would support.
I have a few ideas - you?
How much would you spend for a larger O?
RB
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6 hours ago, Mac said:
BTW, a while ago Phil mentioned when we might see a larger Ollie hit the market. He said the plans are on the drawing board for a larger and wider unit, but to expect nothing for 3-5 yrs. A He threw out specs in the neighborhood of 30’x8.’ I imagine how nice that extra space and Ollie quality would feel in a lot of applications.
4 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:I guess I better get a bigger truck.
Wonder what that will weigh??? add another 1500 lbs to an EII Go to a 10k GVW? $80k?
Got enough truck, but darn, 3 years -
Lets add a quiet AC, wet bath, and a Danfoss DC based refer. (and windows that are 100% waterproof)
RB
Note - when this comes to pass - For Sale - 2018 EII et al.
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Weather stripping around the windows
in Mechanical & Technical Tips
Posted · Edited by BackofBeyond
update
I will replace mine today - will measure what I take off - and post - I don't remember how much I ordered.
Update:
Each window took 58 inches +/- a touch. 14.5 will do it, I ordered 17' got about 17'.
I like the look much better.