dougi

Here is a link to US National Forest Campground information. They have books, electronic or paper, by region of the US: http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/books/books.htm

Beeser, tell me more about your Tacoma. I have thought that would be a great option for towing the Oliver. Does it have the factory towing package? Two or four wheel drive? What mileage do you get towing your trailer with the Tacoma? What mileage by itself? Year and miles on the vehicle? Thanks, Doug

Steve, thanks for weighing your trailer. What we are unsure about is whether or not your trailer was built prior to or after Oliver added the extra 240 pounds of additional insulation to the fiberglass shells of the Oliver. By the weight of your trailer, it would appear that yours was built after this weight was added, but that is only an assumption on my part. What this confirms is that the Oliver Legacy Elite will, when filled with propane, some fresh water in the fresh water tank, a full hot water heater (6 gallons), personal gear, groceries, and a full refrigerator will weigh well in excess of 3,500 pounds, perhaps as much as 3,800 or 3,900 pounds and should NOT be towed by a TV rated to tow only 3,500 pounds. If you add a generator, extra fuel, or firewood, and some other toys you could easily hit 4,000 pounds. It would not be wise to tow with a TV that is rated for less than 4,000 pounds, and 5,000 pounds would be even smarter, especially if you have passengers and other items in the TV. Doug

I found a towing solution. My daughter and I will switch vehicles every time we use the Oliver. She will take my RAV4 (and save on her fuel cost) and we will get her 2008 Silverado LTZ 4WD CC short bed truck with towing package. We will save on fuel cost, compared to using our Duramax big dually and have a very able tow vehicle for the Oliver, with thousands of pounds of extra towing capacity, along with a truck bed to carry other goodies, like our two Honda 2000i generators, with gas can. Problem solved. Doug PS: Now I have to decide if I am going to install the towing equipment I purchased for the RAV4, so I can give that option a try, once I get the Oliver back home, in late October. I think I could use the RAV4 to tow the Oliver on in-state trips, down to the coast for example. I don't tow at speeds over 55 mph, and I think the RAV4 would do fine as long as it stays out of the mountains. I have air bags ordered for it so I can keep it level with the Oliver tongue (fully extended) weight on the hitch.

Here is the answer to the weight question, just received from Robert: "Using your numbers (which are pretty spot on) that leaves 330lbs unaccounted for. The insulation we are now using (which also strengthens the shells) has added over 250 lbs. The estimation of 2400lbs had not been up dated since the 1st of the year and during that time we have added lots of minor items that once all added up would probably be over a hundred pounds. Thicker fiberglass in certain areas, additional frame supports and larger cross members, a 5000lb axle and springs (this was maybe 50 - 75 lbs) and other improvements where we saw fit. I apologize for your disappointment and have discussed this with our sales associates and plan own making intended buyers more aware of the loaded Elites potential end weight. Thanks, Robert" So, the 2,400 base weight of the Oliver has recently been increased by about 400 -425 pounds, then when you upgrade to an Elite, those options (microwave/convection oven, A/C, awning, 40 foot shore power cord and 12V reel, dual pane windows, extra battery) add another approximately 440 pounds to come to about 3,265 pounds. The twin bed option adds about 100 more pounds, plus a few more light weight options on mine brings it to 3,400 pounds UVW. My intentions of towing our Oliver with our V6 RAV4 are marginal, at best. I've got some unexpected hard decisions about TV's to make. Doug

Thanks for the tip Chris. I'll be sure to get a real 7 pin hookup so I can use the brakes. Did you get an UVW for your Oliver? Our trailers should weigh about the same as yours and Cherie's, except for the twin bed option on ours. I'm concerned about the estimated UVW Robert gave us of 3,400#.

Mountainborn, what is the tow rating on your Jeep? I think I saw where the Wrangler's are rated at 3,500 pounds, the same as my RAV4. Is that correct? Maybe I'll b okay. Maybe Robert is over estimating the weight of our trailer? I sure hope so. Or, maybe the 2,400 pounds on the Oliver web site is wrong? This is a mystery that deserves some illumination. I thought all RV's had to be weighed so the weight can be put on the title and on the vehicle.

Chris, did you get the UVW for your Oliver when you picked it up?

The only "factory specs" I've seen (on their web site) was that the trailer weighed 2,400 pounds with a tongue weight of 240 pounds. Is that about what your Elite weighed when you picked it up? I had assumed that the 2,400 pound weight might apply only to the Classic, which has no awning, no air conditioning, no microwave, and many other goodies that are on the Elite. Therefore, I am assuming the Elite's would weigh more than 2,400 pounds. The weight is critical to me and I have to get some definitive information before I pick up my trailer next month. I want to tow the Oliver with my RAV4, but it is rated to only 3,500 pounds. If the trailer will be too heavy, I will have to go pick it up in my one ton dually diesel pickup (not as much fun to drive). I have purchased a hitch and a break controller for the RAV4, but if my trailer is too heavy for the RAV4, there is no sense in installing these items. I have emailed Robert asking him for help. It is imperative I have this information well before my trailer is ready for pickup. I have to be properly prepared if I am going to pick it up in the RAV4. Thanks for your response, Doug

Has anyone weighed their Oliver Elite? I am hoping they weigh under 3,500 pounds so I can tow with my RAV4. If anyone has any weight information on the Oliver Elite, I sure would appreciate knowing the details (total weight, tongue weight, with holding/propane/fresh water tanks empty or not, without generator on tongue, etc.). Thanks, Doug

Sherry, I'm glad the inflatable water container worked out well for you guys. Thanks for the report. Doug

So, four of you Oliver folks are traveling together. What are your objectives? To sell more Olivers to individual customers in that part of the country? To find dealerships to sell Olivers in that part of the country? To establish a production facility in that part of the country? Do you travel, towing and staying Olivers? If so, do you have two trailers with you, or more? Do you go to specific places to set up and display your trailers? Do you advertise locally before you arrive to display the trailers?

No Alex, it takes 6-7 weeks to make an Oliver, and I'm sure they can arrange delivery to you on the West Coast. Doug

The price of Olivers range from about $25,000 to $35,000, depending on what you put on and in them. One of the more basic issues we all have to face is, do we want our RV tricked out to camp without any hookups or will we almost always be camping with electrical hookups. If you will almost always be hooked up to electricity, the Oliver Legacy Elite is nicely equipped and can be had for about $30,000. It's got everything you will likely need and want. If you want to equip your Oliver with solar panels and controller, the best batteries, and all the equipment needed to monitor and keep those batteries charged and invert their 12V DC power to 120V AC power to all your AC outlets, and get a few other other options (like a cellular phone signal amplifier and a rear vision camera and color monitor), you can get the price up to near $35,000. You also have to decide if you want the standard double bed or the optional twin bed layout, which gives you more interior storage and counter space. The twin bed option is about $700 extra. Oliver will delete anything you don't want and add what you do want. Prices vary accordingly, but you will likely find yourself somewhere within the $25 to $35 thousand range. Hope this helps.

Thanks Sherry, I think I'll just pick up the Sterilite 12 quart dishpan at Wal*Mart since that is where we have to buy our groceries. Doug

I want to get a plastic tub that fits the Oliver kitchen sink so I don't scratch up the fiberglass while washing pots and pans. I'd appreciate it if someone would give be the dimensions (Depth, Width, and Height) of the plastic tub that would just barely fit into the Oliver sink. I need to start looking for one now so I can buy it before we use the sink and scratch it up. If any of you can think of a better way to protect the sink from getting scratched, please let me know. Doug

Hi Cherie, I'm glad to hear you guys are doing well and back on the road enjoying your new Oliver. Congratulations on selling your house. Have fun at Burning Man and keep in touch. Doug

Sounds good to me Pete. We are looking forward to getting our new Oliver. I noticed on the invoice that it will be titled as a 2009 model. I wonder what percentage of the new Olivers are free of all malfunctions when they are delivered. I wonder how much testing is done on these trailers prior to delivery, to make sure everything is in working order, and there are no water leaks. I haven't sean that issue discussed on the forum. Maybe someone can fill us in on that if he or she sees this post. I wonder why we haven't heard more about how Cherie and Chris like their new trailer, and how long they were at the factory getting things fixed. Has anyone talked to them?

They are starting to run an electrical hookup the the delivery trailers in order to enable the refrigerator to cool down by pick up time. This enables customers to load their food items directly, without worries about temperatures. This is my goal, to have a refrigerator that is cooled down so we can put food in it before we leave for the campground. The propane is not important one way or the other. I told Robert this in the email. I don't want to go off to the camp ground with a hot refrigerator, and no place to put cold food. We may not have an ice chest with us, depending on our packing. We plan on staying away from home for about a month once we pick up our trailer. Does the campground you go to have electrical hookups or is it dry camping? I read about a free campground near Hohenwald on the Natchez Trace Parkway but maybe it's not the place they take you to for your first night's camping. I wonder what they did with Chris and Cherie when they let them stay in their warehouse. Maybe they had to take their propane bottles out of their trailer before they could stay there overnight. I would think as long as they don't sell propane, they have no permitting issues, but I don't really know Tennessee laws about this. I'm sure customers come to see them all the time with their filled propane bottles on their trailers. But I don't mind filling our propane bottles myself. I just don't want a hot refrigerator when I drive our trailer out of their driveway, not knowing for sure if it's going to cool down later or not. Doug

Thanks Cherie, I just emailed Robert and asked him to fill the propane tanks prior to delivery and turn on the refrigerator to have it nice and cold when we take delivery. I'm happy to pay for the propane and the time it takes to have this done, so I asked for that service to be added to my invoice, which we are in process of finalizing. This seems like a reasonable request to me. We'll see if Oliver will do it. Doug

Thanks for the check list Cherie. I'm wondering why it is necessary to spend time getting the propane tanks filled? I would think that could be accomplished before the owners arrive, so the refrigerator could be cooled down before you pick up your unit. That would be much more convenient for the new owners, I would think. I suppose this could be an education process for the RV newbies, but most Oliver owners are not newbies and already know how to remove empty and replace full propane tanks. This was the only thing that struck me as being unusual with the process, other than the fact that an Oliver person will accompany you to the campground and help you set up the trailer for the first time. That's a really nice thing, IF you don't need to first swing by the local grocery store to pick up something to eat on the way to the campground. Maybe this could be accomplished with some additional coordination.

Yes, Pete, we are getting a dual 100 watt solar panel set up like Chris and Cherie and will have to use a portable satellite dish for TV reception. That is one reason I want the XM satellite radio. When we are staying just one night while in route somewhere we can use the radio and not have to set up any satellite dish. I'm thinking the cable wire lead from the satellite antenna to the radio should be well shielded, but it's an issue worth checking into. I'll ask the place where I bought the radio and see what they say about the matter. When you go to the Gunnison area be sure check out the One Mile Campground in Taylor Canyon, about 6 miles east of Almont. Also, nearby Spring Creek Campground is very nice, but it has no electricity or water.

Thanks Steve, I have asked Robert to check out an idea I just had. I am having to move my a/c unit rearward to accommodate the solar panels and may not have enough room to mount the XM radio behind the a/c as was done on your unit, especially if i also get a rear view camera. I think the XM antenna could be mounted on top of the a/c shroud and the lead wire from the antenna could be routed down the inside wall of the a/c shroud, through the a/c opening in the roof, and on into the cabinet where the radio is located. That would prevent another hole in the top of the Oliver and would likely provide the best XM reception. Any comments about that idea? Think it might work? Doug

That's amazing. I'd think he would get stopped by the police with that rig.

Steve, I just ordered the XM radio and am having it shipped directly to Robert for installation in our trailer. Question: Does the rear view camera eliminate the need for any supplemental towing mirrors on the tow vehicle? Based on your comments, I am considering adding this to our trailer, and one big advantage could be if I could use my existing rear view mirrors and not have to add supplemental towing mirrors to my TV. Thanks for the information. Doug