RodgerS

Thanks, I will update you upon my return. I expect to have a more clearer idea by then of what I want to accomplish.

See you all later, maybe. Tuesday I am off to Thailand for 2 months... a few weeks later than originally planned in my previous post. When I return I will have a bit more information to work with. Really like my truck, so I will probably keep it. Probably will get my house ready to put it up for sale when I return. Probably will spend at least 6 months a year stateside. Can't quite see buying a class A or a truck camper or living in motel rooms, so I think an Oliver is still probable. Am still flying my gyro. Can always pay somebody to transport it for me, either by trailer or by air, twice a year. Still in contact with my girlfriend in Thailand. Cheers.

Just wanted to thank all of you for your thoughtful and considered responses. I now have my tickets to Thailand and will leave July 23rd. I will be rehoming my 100 year old mother into a nursing home in Thailand. The best nursing home there will cost $1,500 per month compared to something like $6,500 here. I am paying for a caregiver to fly with my mother so that I don't have to worry about possible issues on the flight over. Also have some sleeping pills for her. Time to put the RV contemplations to sleep for the time being and focus on more immediate issues.

One of the big issues I always had trouble with was what to do at location. Now that I have completed my pilot's license, it makes sense for me to trailer my Gyro to a location and fly the Gyro around for a week or so, then move to another location. The trailer for the gyro would be a tilt, two axle, open-air trailer. Flying the Gyro to location, my initial thought if purchasing an Oliver, is unfortunately a much less favorable option as the negative aspects pile up related to flying the Gyro from airport to airport. Conceptually, this gyro trailer idea puts my purchasing an Oliver on hold and instead favors initially purchasing something like a Tune M1 truck camper after a few months if trailering the gyro works out for me. Not sure I want to have my girlfriend following me around with an Oliver trailer towed by a 2nd truck.

I think some topics are probably pretty well talked out, but one never knows what one may learn from a fellow forum member. Looks like I am leaving for Thailand the end of July. I had a huge paperwork jungle to deal with over about a month or so, but finally got it all sorted out so I can "rehome" my mother to a nursing home in Thailand. When I get back from Thailand in October, I will know what my next step will look like. Need to confer with my Thai girlfriend before I finalize my decision to buy an Oliver when I return, put it off for awhile, or go a different direction.

I have started this discussion not to rehash Airstream vs Oliver (it is obvious, the article link to author below, the author has a long-term Airstream bias from reading his history and probably/maybe a relationship with Airstream), but because if you step back and think about "matches from what you want from life on the road," he concluded that the Airstream trailer "this model is best for couples and solo full-timers" (Don't need to get into Camper vans and Camper trucks at this time) My point being that it logically follows the Oliver would also be best for couples and solo full-timers. (Note: I am still planning on buying an Oliver 4th quarter this year unless circumstances materially change.) ======================== If you have read my recent post on current economic indicators and RV issues, I think one can make an argument that a new or couple of years old Oliver would help deal with some of the RV issues that are current challenging RV owners. Benefits of mobility, RV age limitations at parks, some off-road/off-grid capabilities, and minimal repair issues by comparison to one heck of a lot of RVs. https://blog.campingworld.com/find-your-rv/best-rv-for-full-time-living/

Thanks topgun2, I have those links and have visited both websites. Generally, I don't highly value information on mfg websites, or YouTube videos by salesmen. I do highly value forum discussions by experienced owners of a particular RV, and discussions with mechanics. When I hear of consistent similar mechanical, service, and mfg problems from owners, that gets my attention. All of the above comments (yes, I was a little slow on the get back) are similar to my initial observations...Unfortunately, I could not find an owner's forum for that RV to research, which was my biggest reservation leading me to see if anyone on this forum had actual experience with one. And yes, as one member alluded to, it is a very heavy and wind susceptible trailer that requires a one-ton truck minimum tow vehicle which is probably not enough for some situations. And I don't have any problem with tone, or politeness concerns, subject matter, words used, opinions held, etc. What is more important to me is honest, direct discussions and the basis for certain opinions that don't necessarily stand on their own without the supporting information. So, thanks one and all. Cheers.

I would need to see the monthly sales to customer numbers for Oliver trailers for a couple of years, new and used, but it is very likely what you are seeing is a sluggish market in general, not just Oliver, which is what I assume was your first impression as well. When you are paying much more for your daily groceries, utilities, and gas, optional large investments tend to drop significantly as I have seen. Regardless of the general RV issues. Sales of gyroplanes are pretty sluggish right now with great downward pressures on used gyros. For me, as a potential buyer, the general RV issues above suggest to me it helps to be new, highly mobile, small, and to plan a year ahead. Hearing many reports of failures to bypass years of RV life restrictions in some RV parks, for example. Returning to economics, I think it is a buyer's market at the moment and affecting the price/value consideration. I do know that one RV custom trailer manufacture who has a normal 12 to 14 month order-to-completion time called me a week ago to tell me they had two build slots open in November and two build slots open in December he could slip me into. That is alarming. No, I did not commit. End of the RV season deals should be very good this year. Trying to avoid the political side, but I believe there is a strong majority of people who believe, rightly or wrongly, that the economy will vastly improve with a fresh pair of eyes in the Oval Office and a change of ideology. Reports say that is happening in Europe as well.

I put a link down below to the article that kicks off this topic. The topic interests me for many reason. The main reason is I am in the process of putting my home up for sale and RVing is one future option for six months of the year. The Tesla, EV, and RV market demand comments are consistent with my other readings. There are political related insights I will put aside since my recent coffee shop experience suggests bad social interactions are pretty common nature when you mix red and blue at a table. Many people have settled into their ideology as one reason. The focus on interest rates makes sense, but I think there are RV specific issues that are relevant and affect the buying trends: 1) rising demand for RV parks 2) increased focus on advance reservations 3) limited parking choices available 4) land owners, private and government, pushing RVers into RV parks https://www.marketplace.org/2024/04/01/rv-sales-could-be-an-indicator-of-a-smoother-ride-for-the-economy/

I was wondering if anyone knows much about them and how they compare to an Oliver. Not finding much on the internet just doing a quick search.

I updated my information, but it is a bit unconventional. Soonest I might get an Oliver would be in Sept or October this year.

Just wanted to toss out a general thank you. A short while back I sent some personal messages re: owner experience with the recent model F150. Everyone responded, and all the responses were helpful and appreciated. For a start, I will tow with my current vehicle, while keeping my option open to upgrade my tow vehicle. I have also concluded that it is a reasonable expectation that used Olivers will hold their value much better than most other trailers. So, a recent used trailer someone messaged me about that was for sale will probably sell for what they are offering it at, despite my initial skepticism. I will leave for Thailand the first part of July, now that some key paperwork has been resolved. Upon my return in early September, I will stage my house for sale and then head back to Thailand in November. A final commitment to an Oliver will be based on where I am mentally the first quarter 2025. It is possible I will choose to live out of my suitcase instead and travel Asia for a while. Can't seem to get myself to commit to re-tying myself down just yet...experience and my girlfriend will help me decide.

That's a great response. I think it is always valuable to trust your instincts. And important that opinions/decisions are fleshed out a bit. Similarly, two "parters" have been looking at buying a gyroplane that has experienced two major issues in the first 5 hours of flight training in that gyro. One of the men asked me if that gyro could be a Lemon since I fly a similar model by that manufacturer. My response was that I am not aware of any 'Lemons" produced by the manufacturer, either based on my experience or based on discussions in the rotary plane forum. Further discussions on my part with the person representing the seller resulted in my finding out that the plane had been sitting in the hangar for a year and had not been flown. In my opinion, that accounts for the problems. Planes have to be flown regularly. Similarly, diesel and gas engines on RVs have to be used regularly, and so do the tires. RV tires are great examples of tires that often look NEW on the outside but have seriously deteriorated on the inside from lack of use. When the tires are rolling, some lubricants inside are able to keep the tire in good condition. Not rolling means no internal lubrication. (as I understand it). Enough said I think.

Hello, don't know anything about the 2023 LEII that you passed on or the owners, but I am curious to know why you passed over it, assuming not confidential. The reason for my question is I will likely be purchasing an LEII later in the year and am just beginning to start my research again after a 2 year hold. I recently was informed of an older than 2023 Oliver via the forum, but it is a bit ahead of my buying schedule, seemed priced a bit high though I was probably wrong, and am still relearning about the upgrades Oliver has made over the recent years and the options available. Thanks

Just as a note, I took my wife of several years on a cross country trip in a rental truck camper for two weeks. I loved it, she hated it.