Trainman

I really wanted to pull our new Elite II without the Anderson, but since my toe vehicle described below is right on the borderline of needing one or not, I have decided to go with one. Too many on this forum said get it, so I got it. trainman

At my age I can't remember if I posted something or not, so I wouldn't know where to start looking for it. trainman

Due any of you use the a dash cam, I just purchased the Garmin 45 dash cam and will give it a try. trainman

Look at the Garmin BC 40 Backup Camera, from what I have seen and read this is a good camera and mounts on the license plate frame as well as other places. Due note that if you are using a bike rack or some other rack this location on the license plate could obstruct your view. I just purchased a new Garmin with a 7" screen with backup camera option, personally I don't like the in dash unit from the factory as it can't be adjusted wile driving and I need something to keep the wife busy. trainman

I'd be a no go on the Nissan, you can buy a new 1/2 ton 1500 Ram, F-150, or the Chevy 1500 for the same price and get a 4x4, crew cab, V8, towing package with the lower gears for towing, and it will be a well equipped vehicle, not a stripped down model. The Nissan trucks have had several issues and the resale is not so good on them. trainman

Marilyn sent me my serial number today and I thought I read on this forum that my build number would appear in the serial number someplace, but it doesn't, build #489, did I miss-read that, or was it just me lost in space again. trainman

I like this one, SOB, well I thought it was something else, but in this business it means, Some Other Brand. I don't see it used on this forum too much, but on other fiberglass trailer forums they use it more. trainman

I have always thought of an Oliver as a two person trailer for all types of camping on a limited basis, for us it would be too small for full-timing, sure I could do 30 days at a time, but I still want a home base place to recover from time to time. Full-timing just doesn't suit my life style at this point in my life, as far as modifying an Oliver I would pass on that thought, it's too nice as built to ruin it. trainman

I like these guys, they do road test on many trucks, Rebel vs. Power Wagon road test, trainman

It's all in the gearing, get the right truck and the wrong gears and you will be unhappy. I looked at the F-150 5.0 V8, the Tundra 5.7 V8, the Silverado 5.3 V8, and the Ram 5.7 V8, all what I would consider nice pickups and would all easily handle the Oliver Elite II. Yes, I'm a V8 guy, why not, there all tested, proven, and have stood the test of time. The F-150 3.6 V6 Turbo is the only V6 I even would possibly consider, but the extra cost just didn't justify my choice over the V8's in today's market. I went with the Ram 1500 just because of it's new design, 5.7 Hemi, and 8 speed trans, plus it's one good looking truck. I will say this, its hard to make a bad choice in one of the big four in today's market, there all good. I did not consider any of the mid-size pickups in today's market, they just don't do it for me when you can ride in full size comfort and have the room you need for caring your gear. That Ram Hemi dual exhaust really sounds great, just the right rumble sound to make your younger day's come back to life. trainman

For those who thought the Gladiator would be the answer to a Ram mid-size truck, I think you miss-understood the Jeep way of thinking, It's a Jeep Wrangler with a box on the back, was never intended to be a pickup as we think of pickups. Owing a 2017 Jeep Wrangler and being on the Wrangler Forum that's the way Jeep owner look at it, for them it's just a way to carry more stuff off-road that they can't get it into a 2/4 door Wrangler. For those who want a Ram mid-size pickup I have read that this is in the development process, will it be called a Dakota or something else, who knows. Since this mid-size trucks are doing well in sales I would think they better get it to the assembly line soon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP0hBE1z97k trainman

I've watched many of the TFLTruck videos and I really like there road test on the ike Gauntlet. OK, I watched the video on the Gladiator and it preformed as I thought it would, this trailer is too heavy for towing with a Gladiator. Now a trailer like a Casita will probably be ok, maybe even the Elite trailer will work, but the Elite II I would think not. I can understand why owners of Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators would want to be able to pull there travel trailer camping, they now have an excellent vehicle for off-roading to play with when they get to there camp site. Being a 2017 Wrangler owner and maybe someday a Gladiator I like it, but not for towing. trainman

I to had questions about the Anderson WDH and really didn't want to use one on our new Elite II which we haven't picked up yet, July 8 is the pickup date. After being on this forum and having discussed it with others, including operation, etc., I have decided to go with one for all the reasons listed by many. I did my homework on this and I'm totally satisfied with the results that I got on my own and answers by forum members. I will be bring the Anderson with me when I get the trailer, either Oliver will install the hitch for me, or I will install it myself. trainman

We haven't received our trailer yet, but I've been working on graphics for it. We only ordered the side stripe in Med. Gray outline stripes and no front or rear graphics on our new Oliver. Something like this is what the wife and I have agreed on. It is a Ram Lone Star Edition pickup star with our name on it. I've had Trainman on every thing else we own, but there comes a time when Mrs. Trainman no longer feels she wants to be a train person. I'm think about 24" star on the front and the rear don't know about as we will be caring bicycles on the rear and probably won't be seen. This is only a rough draft so the wording could circle the star vs. below it, who knows. trainman Sorry, need to reside image, will work on it.

We did order the bike rack on our new Elite II, at the price they sell them for I should have made my own like John did, but wife wanted the bikes to go with us and time just wasn't there to make one. It looks to me (haven't picked up trailer yet, July delivery) like you can just replace the hitch receiver with a 2" one, they just bolt on with U bolts, etrailer sell them in short lengths, 6"/8" which would just bolt on and replace the 1 1/4" one. I'm sure the reason Oliver is using the 1 1/4" receiver is to control the weight load on the rear, many with a 2" receiver would overload the rear, try to pull another trailer, whatever owner would think they could get by with, just my 2 cents worth. The 2" to 1 1/4" adapter bar should work, it just moves the weight farther out on the rear which is not to my liking. John also said that the factory mount 1 1/4" would work just fine, adding tie down straps would tighten up the bikes and all should be ok, so I will check it out when I get the trailer, plus I have a bike rack with the adapter for both sizes. trainman

I've never given it much thought when camping of thief of the trailer or camping gear, were talking tables, chairs, grill, etc. , I feel like camping in camping grounds, the camping neighborhood is a pretty much a tight nit groups of people. Now this can change on camping grounds on weekends and holidays, it does tend to bring out the worst in some people and things can deteriorate right quit, not usually the normal for week day campers. I feel most thief of trailers is from homes, or storage lots where it's pretty easy for someone to checkout the surrounds and make notes on what goes on with home owners and storage lot personal. All being said, good insurance is about all you can have to protect your investment and all personal items would come under your homeowners policy, this usually carries a big deductible and in most cases is pretty useless in most cases. All being said we just put things up if we leave the site with our vehicle, bikes go back on the bike rack and locked down, or quick grab items go back in the trailer, or in the pickup and we take it with us. So far we have not had any problems with thief, but those raccoons will carry off everything you own if not tied down. trainman

Our option was to go with the all White and Black interior, yes we took the stock White counter tops and the Black seat cushions as well as the darkest Black/Gray floor covering we could get, our dinning table is also done in Black. When I talked with Heather Oliver on this she said it will look very nice, but not many buyers do the White counter tops as they want more color. We wanted the Black/White look, so our bed coverings will also have all Black/White in them. It's going to be a lot of White for sure, but we can handle it. The outside of the trailer we did leave off the front and rear logos and just added the outlined gray stripes to the sides, I may remove them later, but for now they will look good, we opted for not having Black ones there as they would stand out too much. All being said we can only visualize what it will look like, there are a few pics under pictures on the website, that's all we had to go by. We may have to keep sunglasses by the door for visitors. trainman

On my Casita I made all the bug screens from window screening from Home Depot, I did use the metal screening and not the plastic type. I did fold and cut for each vent and when using bathroom calk I did glue each side one at a time, this is the only way I could get them in the proper place and stay there. It took about three days to do the job because each fold had to dry. I'm pretty handy so the job turned out very nice with professional looking results. I will do the same on our new Oliver when we get it in July. Do note here I have not had a problem with cooling the fridge with this type and size of screening. I do check from time to time that the screens are not getting any residue on them, so far none. Remember calking can not be used on all vents, water heater and furnace will require mounting the screen with screws, washers, and nuts, they do get hot. trainman

We had problems like you are having with the one in our Casita, we tried cleaning it per factory instructions, but nothing ever corrected the problem. I called Casita and they sent me a new on at no charge, trailer was still under warranty and I changed it out myself. So far the new one is working fine, my suggestion is to replace it and be done with it, going off all the time is really an annoyance when you can't find a reason for it and why in happening. trainman

Thanks John, I always value your input, trainman

Like Mike said, he doesn't lock his box and I probably won't either as what will be carried in there with the exception of the gas grill the other stuff has little value and its been carried in the bed of the pickup for years without incident. I've considered both boxes, aluminum and plastic, both offer there pros and cons. I see I will not be able to lower my tailgate with a box installed, but I carry nothing in the pickup box that can't be lifted over the side. I would also like to mount the box with a U-Bolt and not drill holes in the trailer frame, I would also put a hard rubber pad on the frame rails so that there would be no rubbing on the box or the frame. John, moving your storage tray to the rear is also another good idea, I wish I would have built my own rack as I have the know how and tools to do the job, but my wife wanted that bike rack ready to go when we get the trailer, so I opted to get the bargain price one from Oliver, HaHa. I will also replace the 1 1/4" receiver with a 2" one on the factory bike rack, I think it's just too unstable in the 1 1/4" size, what's your thought on that. Thanks for your input on this. trainman

Just wondered if any of you out there have added a aluminum tool box to the tongue. I just want one to carry a small grille and the trailer levelers, etc., nothing heavy. Something like this, https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200620947_200620947 Any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks. trainman

I can't comment on the valet, but it would be something I would not be interested in. If moving my trailer was a problem and I needed something to help move it into a tight spot I would go with a front 2" receiver on my tow vehicle, or other vehicle, I put one on my Jeep Wrangler, you can park your trailer on a dime and at $150/$200 for a receiver hitch it's a bargain. trainman

Good to see you got your trailer and all is well, our hull number is 489, setup for July 8th delivery. Did you stay local for a night or two, they have set us up a Dave Crockett State Park. trainman

Thanks John, I did watch a video on 4014 that was done on 5-4-2019, I would say it was a Shake Down Ran to check all systems. As my name says, "trainman" you can assume I like trains, I'm a model railroader. My modeling buddy is a retired Union Pacific engineer, so he keeps me informed on the real stuff. I also have another modeling buddy here in Ft. Worth that models Ogden, UT, 1958 time period, his layout is all to scale and is perfectly done. I will probably have to wait for the 4014 to come to Ft. Worth on its travels around the U.S. to see it. I'm a D&RGW Narrow Gauge model railroader, so if it's going to Durango, or Chama I could be there tomorrow. Thanks again John for this post, it would be really nice to be there for the big event, I will now watch the video's that you posted. trainman