Ollie-Haus

These are all great little fixes that I'm sure I'll utilize once Ollie-Haus arrives. I'm OCD about fixing the little things that can be improved for everyday use. BTW I recognized that Springfield Armory pistol lock you used on your tanks immediately!😆 I own more than one version of the XDm line they offer and each comes with the same lock. You've discovered a better use for it. 😉

We had a Jayco Eagle with a single super-slide. The room inside with slide out made it feel very home like as I remember and we really liked that. Conversely, the super-slide was our biggest headache and worry. It was quite finicky opening and closing, was a source of constant water leaks, needed constant attention regarding debris on top when camping in areas with overhead trees, and added a lot of weight to the camper for it's relative size. The camper pulled okay but you had to be very mindful of it going down the road, as in very reactive to side wind and passing trucks. At 34' it was a bear to get in and out of a lot of camp sites. And the last thing I remember was that it was built so flimsy. The walls and partitions of paper thin plywood and staples just felt like they could fall apart at any time with the next big bump. No insulation to speak of and the windows were just cheap. We got rid of it after a few years just to cut our losses before it was impossible to sell. It was a feeling of total relief when the buyer handed us the payment in full. Knowing the history and quality of the Oliver products and the customer service reputation has me very much at ease with this substantial purchase. Can't wait for delivery day! Oh and to answer your wife's interest in the ladies feelings, my wife pushed hard for us to go this route instead of the larger toy hauler. She is most excited to explore the "unknown" to us, in our quaint little camper. She chose the name Ollie-Haus because it will be our home much of the next several years. 😍

I guess at this stage I would recommend shoe cubby. That seems like an option with lots of uses, and you could always convert to a drawer in the future if you feel the space would be more useful.

We also toiled over this topic for several years. We struggled with the "need" of more room inside and also the "need" to bring toys along. We were seriously considering a 25' ATC toy hauler to serve all those needs. Well long story short we concluded with time that where we really wanted to camp was more important than both the need to bring too much stuff along and also the need for extra living space. I'm not necessarily concerned with the smallish interior because we are traveling to enjoy the outside that we are traveling to. We will mostly just sleep in the camper and clean up. But the rest is outside or away from the camper and that's our priority. I don't have to worry about if we'll fit or can we get their with the rig. So to boil it down, where do you want to spend your time camping? Make sure your choice serves that primary purpose first. For our plans the Ollie is by far the best choice.

How about the egress window in the back. Is it wide enough?

I know this doesn't solve your internet needs, but we've been using and aerial for television at home for over 10 years. At our new place we are about 35 miles east of Indianapolis and are able to get around 40 stations. Many of those are high def, but of course any older programming is in lower def. regardless. Programs like NFL, Nascar, PGA, local and national news come in with spectacular clarity. The Menards in Avon, OH has the antenna we use in stock if you are ever interested in making the jump. https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/electronics/antennas/televes-dat-boss-attic-outdoor-tv-antenna/149884/p-1642874256695741-c-1454940301502.htm?tid=5189128745463378719&ipos=18

Love all this comparing old ways with the new. I love my digital media and resources as much as anyone else, but we have always carried pertinent hard copies of maps for all our destinations. My wife as copilot always pulls out the paper maps to gain a mental picture of the route and what's around. Funny that the land line came up as we just got a new fiber optic data service connected all the way to the house. Very fast to say the least, but it included a land line if we wanted it, and we did. But the crazy part is we connected it to a 1970's Slim Line wall mount Bell Telephone in the kitchen. Looks like walking into my childhood when we come in the back door. Oh, and we get our television service via the good old aerial antenna on the roof of the house. 😆

No problem. Here's the links: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-White-15-Amp-Decorator-Tamper-Resistant-USB-Outlet-Residential-Commercial-USB-Outlet/1002943626 https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Outlet-Laptop-Charger-Motorcycle/dp/B09ZYWVHBM/ref=sr_1_13?crid=2I7TT5GZK7CM1&keywords=12v+usb+outlet&qid=1674438536&sprefix=12v+usb%2Caps%2C1312&sr=8-13

I'm not 100% sure where all the USB plugs are located in the Camper but one of my first projects when we get it will be to change out or add 12v and 115v USB plugs where needed. It's almost to the point with electronic devices to have these as standard items.

Hey all, on the topic of travel trailer accessories and campsite equipment, a couple years back we were referred by a friend that we should try Strongback ergonomically correct folding camp chairs. I have had lower back problems my entire adult life and the typical "bag chair" that is sold for camping and outdoor activity is the worst thing in the world for me to sit in. After a weekend of using these old style chairs at the camp site I could barely make it to work on a Monday. The Strongback chairs were designed with exactly my problem in mind and have actually been on the market for several years. I don't think you will find another camp chair anything like it and it even comes with a 2 year warranty which is extraordinary. We bought two of these a couple years ago and they have been our go to folding chairs when out and about since, but they also get used continuously around the house because of the level of comfort they provide. They are roomy in size and built very sturdy. If you're like me and struggle to use the typical sling style folding chair, I highly recommend you give these a try. If you buy them through Amazon you can try them for a month risk free and if you don't like them just return them through your local Kohls store no questions asked. I promise you will be amazed as soon as you sit in one. https://www.amazon.com/STRONGBACK-Folding-Camping-Portable-2-0/dp/B072PR6JNG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=339C62QRRDQVH&keywords=strongback%2Bchair&qid=1673659288&sprefix=strongba%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzMEUwQlVaWTVHVENRJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDg1MDYzMlNUNzRIWkJITjhMQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjE2NDIxMkY2OEVVM0NJTDVSVCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1

We've tent camped and also had a travel trailer for several years back in the early 2000s but never boondocked. We can't wait to try all these new adventures. Thanks Jason!🍻

Our local TSC stores are all being remodeled. It may take a while until this happens nation wide, but the new format and product displays are much improved and more practical. I even noticed they are carrying food freeze driers. These aren't your grandmother's dehydrators. These are high end and rather expensive but are great for preparing foods for camping. Freeze dried food takes up about 1/10 the space, do not require refrigeration and can be prepared pretty quickly. I was pleased to see they had expanded their product lines in our stores.

What type of rail system did you use? That looks pretty interesting.

I find it perplexing that a few folks on the Oliver forum complain about restrictive practices on the Oliver Facebook page and other social media platforms, and then want to limit the scope of conversations and topics on this forum. I'll be the first one to say that some topics, language and view points can come across as distasteful, or inappropriate. But discussing different aspects of RVing in general is as far from those bad characteristics as a discussion could be. Complaining and even demanding the removal of any thread or conversation pertaining to any aspect of RVing comes across to me as most exclusive and distasteful, as long as the discussion maintains a respectful tone. There are a number of topics that I have found to be of little interest to me on this forum, so I don't bother to follow them. But topics of general interest about RV travels are always interesting to me. I'd rather read them here than have to search the net to find them. I hope that when we attend our first Oliver Rally we aren't made to feel like we can only talk about Oliver campers.

If they are pop-rivets, they can easily be drilled out and replaced. The tools to do this are very inexpensive and handy to have around. Edit: If you wanted to you could drill out the old rivets and replace with stainless steel machine screws with nuts on the back side for a more permanent fix. Ace hardware could supply exactly what you need for a few bucks.

Well based on the clarifications, I haven't read the information on the Oliver program site, that Matt has provided, I think the program is a definite improvement over the previous program. You will definitely realize a bigger monetary reward if you participate regularly, and a pre-paid debit is about the easiest way to transfer money to a recipient on a regular basis. It's the same as the HSA card I have to carry, only I can use this reward money on anything I want. If that's not good enough, step aside and leave it alone. Regarding the so called liabilities, we all invite strangers into our campers, cars, homes and lives in general and don't think twice about the liabilities, without a reward program. If you get to talking to a lawyer about the "possibilities" you will retreat to a padded room surrounded by barbed wire fences and no trespassing signs. I have no idea if I will participate once my Ollie arrives, it really isn't a driving interest for me. But having said that I have always been willing to share with folks the things I own if they are genuinely interested. I'm always willing to help educate people with the things I've learned and experienced and my door is always open to folks that show themselves as friendly and of a like mind. And no I don't hang around with lawyers, but have hung with a few "outlaws" throughout my life. 😆

That's really odd regarding hull# and vin delays. Josh White is our salesman and he told me as soon as our 50% cleared the bank the camper would be scheduled in the production schedule and the vin and hull number were assigned. Within about 4 days of dropping off the check Josh emailed the information to us. I was able to get my insurance quote with the vin in hand. And of course we registered for the rally as owners.

Moral of the story - never take the word or advice of a salesman trying to sell you a truck or RV as to its true capacities or capabilities. Know your equipment. Educate yourself to what you will need in the real world conditions you plan to use the equipment. And most of all, always build in a margin of safety. It's never worth trying to find the breaking point of your equipment.

And to add to what you stated above, If the owner would have taken his loaded truck including the motorcycle hanging on the back to a scale, he would have discovered his rear axil was grossly overloaded. With that much weight hanging aft the rear axil and the diesel engine in the front end with that extra long frame, it broke the frame at exactly the point that one would expect in those conditions.

I was thinking the same thing. The short hoses with the 90 deg fitting are obviously designed with this in mind.

That's an awesome looking rig you have there. I saw in your signature line that you already have a new truck that's pretty awesome but it still sounded funny saying it. Love the decked system. I've seen that on some YouTube RV channels and looks like a great way to organize gear in the bed and still be able to get to everything.

Getting a new regulator will make you feel good for being on the ball. Getting a new truck will put a smile on your face every time you have to go somewhere, or even look out in the driveway. 😉

Based on some of the design inadequacies of the Anderson hitch, I would highly recommend not using it if possible. The 2" Bulldog is more than adequate for the LE2. It's one of the strongest coupler designs on the market and many including myself have be pulling heavier trailers than an Oliver with 2" Bulldog couplers for years with no issues. Even thought we haven't picked our Oliver up yet, many have stated very clearly that the Oliver is one of the most stable travel trailers made. Sway control is a non-issue with these trailers. With an Anderson you are really only addressing tongue weight, which is very reasonable even for a loaded Ollie. One additional thought. Weight distribution hitches add complexity to the hitching process, and introduce stresses and limitations to maneuverability of the trailer when pulling. Maneuvering dips and rises in the road like railroad crossings, hills and dips in less improved roads like those in state and national parks and even more so in remote areas, can put extreme amounts of strain on the hitching components and vehicle and trailer frames. There are many vehicles that won't tow an LE2 safely without a WD hitching system, but that's a compromise to live with if one doesn't want to invest in a heavier vehicle. But if you can get by without one, and your 2500 series truck should be just fine with the standard hitch, you are much better off.

I'm liking this a lot. Generators are advancing rapidly in tech and features and there are dozens of manufactures. Honda no longer owns the "quiet generator" market, and amazingly they seem to be getting smaller at the same time they are getting quieter. I have two linkable Sportsman 2200w inverter gens I bought several years ago. I'm willing to bet they are Honda knock-offs but they were really cheap, and they have turned out to be very reliable. They almost always start on the first or second pull of the cord. They are very quiet, the specs say 53 db, and of course very light weight at about 48 pounds. Looking them up I found they are now duel fuel for propane operation, and they are on sale at Tractor Supply for about $500 each. Wish I didn't already own two of the older ones. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/sportsman-2-200-watts-dual-fuel-inverter-generator-gen2200dfi?cm_vc=-10005

Just got the registration completed. We'll be staying in site G01 and God willing we'll be pulling Hull #1373 with us. Looking forward to our first of many Oliver rallies. Chris and Stacie with furry companions Hallie and Cohen