Trainman

I don't think you need a GPS in Holenwald to find Oliver Trailer. trainman

Being a retired Body Shop Mgr. for a large DFW auto dealer I'm pretty much into keeping my stuff in top condition. After one year of ownership I intend to lightly buff the trailer with Meguiar's Fine-Cut Cleaner, this is a machine use product, but most of the time I use it with a polishing rag in small areas, but for the complete trailer I would machine buff. I then use a quality fiberglass wax, that would be your choice as some work different then others. Any products that you just wipe on and off, I wouldn't use as you are just covering over the problem and in time the degraded fiberglass will built up. This is what I do, I realize that we all do what works for us, I just do what works for me. trainman

We only ordered these upgrades on our Elite II, confection microwave, outside LP quick disconnects, powered door lock, and the bike rack, which we don't use and we now carry our ebikes in the pickup bed. Everything else is standard production items, and the white fiberglass counter top are beautiful and classy looking. We did not order any electronic upgrades and to date we haven't needed them, plus we don't Boondock and don't intend to. Would I have ordered it differently if I could start over, NO trainman

I'm sure glad I started camping with a trailer some 45 years ago, it seems that I'm doing it pretty much the same way and using the same setup items that I did back them. trainman

Well I think I will reverse mine, for my age I need up to be up and down to be down. It looks like a 3 min. job, but from my experience these days it will probably take every tool I own and half the day to do the job. Plus for the wife it needs to simple, having to go and explain the operation will just not be worth explaining it. trainman

First let me say here I'm on my second unit, the first one just quit working right after we got the trailer in July 2019 and Oliver Service replace it, or should I say they sent me a new one and I replaced it. So we go camping last week November 2020 and upon plugging the power cable in the surge protector started beeping and shutdown, then after say 15 seconds or so it kicked back on and it worked ok for the rest of the four days we camped. Then when came home I plugged the trailer in again and it did the same thing again, but after 15 seconds or so it kicked back on and has been plugged it with no problems. I guess my question is, is this surge protector faulty, or is it working as it should and just going thru a reset process. Thanks, trainman

My switches on the switch up front (propane cover) are upside down, you push the top side of the switch to go down and the bottom of the switch to go up. This makes no sense to me unless I turn my head upside down when using them, I would think I need to reverse the switches so up is up and down is down, are your that way, or not. trainman

If I stored my trailer in a paid by the month facility I might have some concerns about thief, but we store our trailer at home where I feel pretty safe with it there. When camping I've never had anything stolen from the campsite in 45 years of camping, but I do lockup our ebikes as they are expensive and could just be rolled off, or put in the back of a truck with not too much effort. We do camp when to old people camp, during the week and try not to camp on weekends when the wild ones are out, haha, oh we are the wile ones. trainman

After reading all the post I think I will do a few things that might help. It does look like the thermostat is working correctly, or as good as it's going to work. I did watch several YouTube videos on the Dometic Thermostat and did learn more about it an how it works, I would suggest that you watch them on operation, I found out things I didn't know. I will take John D advise and remove the baffles in the vents, I can see no real use for them and I will carry our small electric heater with us and use it as Mike and Carol do. I did try the heat strip in the a/c unit, but I would rather not have all that noise, but it works and will keep the chill off. I would say that the furnace does use a lot of propane and the electric small heater would be the better way to go. Thanks everyone. trainman

On our 2019 Elite II with the Dometic Thermostat it seams that it just doesn't operate properly. With it set at 65 degrees on heat it will cycle and works somewhat ok, but when we raise it to say 68-70 it just doesn't want to cycle and it runs all the time. The heat coming out of the vents does seem plenty warn, but the trailer just doesn't seen to be getting warn enough for it to cycle correctly. The weather outside was around 45-50 degrees, so being an Oliver that should be no problem heating the inside of the trailer at that temputures. So what I am asking is what should I look for to correct this heat problem. The heater should run us out with no more area that it has to heat. We came from a Casita that running the heater would run you out in 5 mins. of it being turned on. Last question is, what would be the correct setting on the thermostat, ie., where do you set your for best operation in cooler weather so your heat will cycle and be comfortable inside. trainman

I like camper toppers, but be aware that dust and dirt can get in and many leak water, plus the biggest reason for not having a camper is it blocks your vision to the rear and I need all the help here I can get. As far as security they do keep the honest people out, but pretty easily broken into by a thief. Biggest gripe I have is, I'm a tall person and crawling up in the back with a camper is not that much fun to get items out, or put in. I just don't carry items that have that much value and that a thief would want to steal in the bed of the truck. trainman

When we picked up our trailer we found that the coax cables were crossed, in other words the TV and the Cable plugs on the outside of the trailer were backwards. After talking with Oliver service they said to just switch the coax cables on the inside of the garage compartment in the trailer. I removed the inside trim panel and switched the cables, no big deal, but wondered why this wasn't checked in final checkout. trainman

We probably use the iPhone most of the time for traveling, but we do program our trips into to a 7" Garman and it does offer added info at times. trainman

We came from a Casita, so we learned to travel lite and still doing it today with the Elite II. We camped some 40 plus years ago with a 30" travel trailer and I can tell you we pretty much camp and carry the same things we did back them. Sure we have more update items today, but in general and fork is a fork and a grill is a grill. trainman

One thing I have found is that purchasing a new vehicle with a factory GPS is pretty much paying a big price for it. Most new vehicles will cost you $4000 to $6000 more for the vehicle that has the factory GPS, now yes there is a lot of other stuff in the upgrade package, but not always worth the price you pay for it. We recently looked at two vehicles, a Acura MDX and the Lexus RX, both vehicles in there base model are very well equipped, but for $6000 more you can get a GPS and other upgrades that just don't add that much to the base model, or $6000 worth. Plus upgrades with most auto manufactures are going to cost you to upgrade, but buy a Garman GPS and they come with lifetime upgrades for free. Also in most cases you can't use your factory GPS when the vehicle is in motion, that means pull over and stop. All being said for $250 I purchase a Garman 7" screen that does much more then a factory auto unit. I realize there are many variations with each auto manufacture and some may work better for you and priced accordingly, but in general you pay more for a auto manufacture unit with less features then a stand alone unit. trainman

Once again you just opened a bag of worms, yes the 1/2 ton vs. 3/4 ton and using the Anderson is probably the biggest difference in which vehicle to choose. Brand for many owners is there personal liking and most probably stick with what they have owned in the past and works well for them. One thing to look at is if you use your tow vehicle for everyday driving, there is a difference in ride, fuel mileage, and ease of in and out access of the vehicle. I personally went with the 1/2 Ram and using the Anderson is no big deal, I have thought several times if I changed tow vehicles would I switch to a 3/4 ton truck and my answer is probably not. I will say that my 2019 Ram is a 4X4 which gives a little extra towing, but very little from what I can see, I just like having a 4X4. I personally don't get into towing vehicle discussion at campsites, too many are so bias to there brand that the discussion becomes pretty tense and I could careless about one vs. the other. trainman

I have the 21 gal tote tank and it works just fine, I would recommend it. My Rhino came with the short hose, 90 degree fitting, trailer hitch adaptor, and some other parts. Mine came from Amazon a year ago and was $120 including the free shipping and taxes. trainman

I think the NEST was a European style trailer, but for the U S it was a "no go" for American campers. I won't go into all the reasons I think it didn't sell well as the above posters covered it very well. trainman

I see Oliver is now offering Extended Warranties on their travel trailers for trailers that are within a 5 year period from there sale date. First let me say I have never purchased an extender warranty on any thing that I have purchased and have never found a repair within the time period offered by the product warranty to cost more then the extender warranty cost. I'm not going to go into all the pros and cons about extended warranties as each one of us have different thoughts on this and I'm sure they will come out in time on this forum. For many like myself I'm pretty good about diagnosing the repair problem and handling it myself, but for those who don't feel comfortable about doing this the extended warranty may work for you. As you know with extended warranties you may be required to take your trailer to certain dealers for repair and you will also find that all dealers may not want to repair your trailer under the extended warranty repair policy and you may have to pay there repair bill and file the claim yourself and take what your extended warranty company says they would pay for such a claim, thus leaving you to makeup the difference in monies from your own pocket. Just my thoughts on extended warranties, you will have to make that decision for yourself, but know all the facts before you buy. trainman

I think many times about a cover for out trailer, the cedar built type is about the only type that would work where we live, yes that cost is high, but that's the only way to go for our property to look in place with the home and the rest of the area. I do get out the portable scaffolding, set it up once a year, I light buff and wax, yes it's a pain in the you know what, but being a little over picky about stuff (A.D.D.) that's what I do. Covers are out for me, they rub on the surfaces, collect moisture under them, are a pain to get on an off, plus opening the trailer for access to get in an out for routine whatever and to air it out is also not so easy. Fiberglass is a very durable product, I personally know of 30 year old boats that look new today, yes they are buffed and waxed on a regular bases, it's just what you do if you like your stuff nice. Do note when I say buff and wax I'm also including things like, the A/C cover, window frames, awing cover, air vents, and anything else that needs it. Do what works for you, I do. trainman

True Dean, we were looking at the Airstream, but being a retired body shop mgr. for a large DFW auto dealer for 35 years and thinking about getting it hailed on, I couldn't sleep at night owing one. Plus we live in Texas and yes it does hail maybe more then other places. trainman

I never felt the want for an Class A, B, or C motor home, freedom of use with a TT just works better for us. Motor Homes I feel tend to cost more to own and operate, I'm sure this is debatable for many, but that's just how I see it. The freedom of having my tow vehicle to travel from the camping site to where ever we wish to go I feel is a big plus, yes you can tow a vehicle behind your motor home, but the additional cost of fuel, etc. I also look at resale on everything I own and a motor home is probably one of the worst investments you can make in life, I seen many friends just throw away money by the ten's of thousand and wish they had made a different decision up front. The fiberglass TT market has always been a good one, or it is at the present time, I wish I had a parking lot full of Casita's to sell, we sold our two years old for $200 less then we paid for it, I also feel the Oliver will have great resale value if the time comes we want to sell it. All being said, for me it's not so much the money, but just making good value decisions and return on your money, plus getting a great product to enjoy. trainman

I guess were through with this topic. 🤐 trainman

I'm betting you change tow vehicles within a year if not sooner, a 1/2 ton pickup extended cab will change towing so much you will never look back, I have to look back just to see if the trailer is still there. trainman

Looks like most get around the same fuel mileage regardless of what engine you have in your 1/2 ton full size pickup, or for me 12-13 about it. Now for you diesel owners looks like you get a little more mpg, but the extra cost of diesel fuel and the truck itself never worked out for me. My 2019 Ram gets right at 24-25 mpg at 70 mph without the trailer, so what can I say. Yes Susan, I know you pull other trailers and that's why you have a 1 ton diesel pickup, I would to if that was my situation. All being said, I buy what I like and will do the job, fuel prices don't let me stop buying what I want. Back in the day we pulled our 28 ft. travel trailer with a 454 suburban, it got 8 mpg with the trailer and 8 mpg without the trailer, I could outrun just about anything up Wolf Creek Pass, I loved it. trainman