Cameron
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Posts posted by Cameron
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I've got a cheapie hitch lock, and a heavy chain I'll loop through one of the rims, connected to something else. This thread will motivate me to up my game. My bias is toward a tracker. I'll check out the options to see what works best. I'm of the mind that if a criminal wants my trailer bad enough, they'll take it. The tracker would allow me and law enforcement to take action.
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There are pros and cons with the Oliver. It's a company that only makes one type of product (Elite 2 is just a stretched Elite 1). Yes there are cool options, but it's basically one product. If it fits your style, you're in luck. If not, there are many other RVs, and many companies that offer multiple products. Many of us have made minor or major modifications, but ultimately your camping style has to match the trailer. For most of us, it's a match made in heaven.
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The Oliver checked all the boxes.
Before buying, while shopping, I asked my self the following about various trailers:
1. How's this thing gonna do off road? How's the clearance, suspension, tires, etc?
2. How's this thing gonna tow? Aerodynamic? Good tracking? Too big or too small?
3. How's this thing gonna do with upkeep? Will screws pop out? Will things fall off? Will parts of the trailer de-laminate?
4. What's the deal with the manufacturer? Will they stand by their product? Will they answer my phone calls? How's their quality control?
5. How well can I boondock? How are the water tanks, propane system, solar generation, etc?
6. Is it pretty?
After renting a Jayco and an Airstream, and kicking the tires on a lot of other trailers, the only thing I could find that had the right answers to the questions above was Oliver.
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I don't have a Truma, but this issue is VERY concerning b/c it could result not only in property damage but death!
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thanks for this reminder. i just went to the website and got the permit. very easy. free. i think it's just a way to remind people of campfire basics. i've seen posters with this info at many campgrounds, but i don't think anyone is really reading those. and i have come into some campsites only to discover a still hot campfire. yikes!
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The more I look, the more places I find to put it
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a pipe? somehow he doesn't look like a pipe smoker.
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My original plan was to wait until I retired to buy my Ollie. But, in a rare instance of good judgement, I bought two years ago and only just retired this past summer. I'm very glad I did. First, the prices have really gone up. Second, I've had two years to tinker and learn about my Ollie before taking it out on longer, more frequent trips which I'm doing now. And third, I used it as a weekend getaway where I have it stored at a friend's place and enjoyed it without even going anywhere.
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I think in the situation you describe I would be more likely to just turn off the batteries and use an extension cord from your outside outlet to power the dehumidifier.
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ugh. so glad i have the composting toilet.
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58 minutes ago, johnwen said:
Bill,
How do you like the "this stuff"? Does it stick as you'd like it to? Any quieting from basement noises will be appreciated.
John
Aluminum tape is amazing. I used lots of it on the furnace and ducts when after delivery I discovered some problems. Sticks great. Haven't tested any noise- dampening qualities yet, but I have to imagine it will help, especially after I'm able to crawl into the basement area (claustrophobia?) and put reflectix on the ceiling and other walls of the basement.
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My adventures in reflectix have begun. The first photo shows one single layer cut to fit the basement door. No glue or tape, just cut to fit and pressed in. We'll see if it stays in place when on the road, otherwise I'll use some double sided tape. The second photo shows the two hatch lids under the street side bed. The fourth shows how I used some foam strips to keep about 3/4 of an inch space between the two layers for increased R value. Per advice above, I used the spray adhesive only to stick the foam pieces on the reflectix, then used aluminum tape around the edges. Next week I'll continue working on the basement area.
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I've got my big roll of Reflectix and a can of spray adhesive all ready to go, wanting to get my Ollie better prepared for some cold winter camping, where should I put it?
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I wonder if I could use this running at night while boondocking in cold weather, to help with the condensation on the windows. it looks like it doesn't use a lot of electricity so I don't think it would drain the batteries.
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I used Eagle Rock RV Service in Idaho Falls, ID for a lube and wheel bearings pack. They were great.
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Maybe this needs a new thread rather than piggybacking here, but I'll throw it out there.
On my last trip I tried to wash the bugs off the front of the Ollie as best I could with borrowed equipment from my cousin. I accidentally bumped the gasket on the bathroom fan opening (the vent was open), knocking it loose. I carefully climbed up and put it back in place, but there didn't appear to be any clips or glue or anything holding it in place. A couple days later I noticed, with the vent popped up in the open position, that the gasket was again loose and flopping off. I didn't have a ladder so I just closed the vent. The next time I checked, the gasket was gone! Oh boy. So, other than calling OTT for a replacement, any suggestions on what might work in this application, and should I glue it?
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Just got back from a 2,000 loop around the west (California to Nevada to Idaho to Montana to Washington and then back home). I've had my Ollie for about two years and first ran the tires at 65 psi for the first year. Then in the second year, I ran them at about 60 psi. On this trip I ran them at about 55 psi. I've not noticed a change in mileage or handling or wheel temps (100 to 120 degrees) or anything in this unorganized and unscientific test. So, I think I'll keep them at 55 from now on. Oh, and for those interested I averaged 15-16 mpg on this trip.
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Given the activity on this thread, it seems that this is an issue generating big interest with Ollie owners. How could it not? We're all connected on a deep emotional level to our trailers, and by extension, the company. I understand that this development makes good business sense, and that a business has to grow or die. I'll admit that I'm often resistant to change. Many of us remember this
and this
as our first experience with OTT. Now, this is the first experience for newcomers
So, the company has already been growing and changing. The challenge for OTT is to carefully thread the needle on this development. Reputation is gained slowly and lost quickly. If a RV service center in, say Boise, can provide the same knowledgeable, quality customer care as Hohenwald, then it's a win-win. If not, the average Ollie owner may simply want to deal directly with Jason Essary and his staff, which would defeat one of the goals of this plan. I'm guessing that the sales and service people at OTT are so fantastic because it's their company. They're invested. I simply can't believe that a contracted RV sales and service center will have that level of investment. The Oliver will be just one of many RV lines they sell and service. If the company is looking for more exposure, they could push the "See and Oliver Near You" program. Existing owners are the best salespeople the company could ever find. They could also continue to take the trailers to RV shows around the country. SOB sales and service have such a bad reputation, I just don't want that to rub off on the Oliver.
It might be interesting to consider the Airstream model. Airstream is one of the biggest competitors to the Ollie. They don't sell from the factory. They do have independently owned authorized dealers who only sell Airstreams. I'm not saying that's what I want to see, but it allows those owners to trust that when they take their trailer in for a service, the staff will know what to do.
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Sounds like the decision has been made and OTT is moving fast.
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My first reaction is negative. When shopping for a trailer, I decided on the Oliver because it was a small company where I could tour the factory, ask lots of questions from people doing the hands on work, and well, because it was "Elite". It was elite because few people had one, you could only get one from the factory, and it was the antithesis of the mainstream RV brands in America. Although I live in California and can't easily take it back to Tennessee for routine maintenance, I've received excellent customer service that helped me resolve all my issues, so I don't care about the distance.
Sounds as if one of the issues is to partner with various RV businesses so that those businesses can provide service with the blessing of OTT. That's good, I guess. But if they're going to have units on site and selling them apart from OTT, I see that as a negative for the brand, not a positive. If OTT wants to grow the company, I think there are other ways they can do it without resorting to the standard model of RV sales lots. When I was kicking tires before getting the Oliver, I had some unpleasant experiences at those lots. It's the "used car salesman" syndrome. I don't want Oliver to get mixed up in that.
My impression of Oliver owners is that we are passionate about our trailers because it took some effort to get them. We are a dedicated bunch who love discussing every aspect of the trailer in our very active forums. We are committed, which adds brand value. Putting Oliver trailers on a lot with Jaycos will diminish the brand value.
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Another option might be a series of trainings combined with a two day stay at the Oliver campground. The first walkthrough would happen at pick up time and take an hour or more. Then they could have smaller trainings at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on day one and day two of our campground stay. It would be easy for staff to walk over and easy to get the trailer into service if something needs a technician. I remember that no matter how much I tried to prepare with questions and checklists (and I was there for close to 3 hours with Hanna) it was just too much for my brain. It wasn't until I was at the Davy Crockett campground (and other campgrounds far away in the following days) that I really felt I could test out all the bells and whistles. That's when the questions and confusions really started piling up (and the calls to OTT for help).
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Given the number of issues and the level of your frustration, I wonder about the feasibility of taking it back to the mothership and letting OTT staff do a complete service. Most of the issues are probably still under warranty. I realize it might not work due to your schedules and the downtime waiting in Tennesee, but it sure beats throwing your hands up and not camping or selling it. I agree with other folks that there's a learning curve and you've got to look at each issue individually. When I picked up #841 in July 2021, I sort of assumed that everything would be perfect. Far from it. There were a bunch of problems in the first six months that I had to deal with, but everything worked out thanks to OTT service and this forum. It kinda stressed me out. But now I'm feeling that I'm over that hump and haven't had any problems in a while.
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I continue to be happy with my 2020 AT4 1500 with the 3.0. I have about 50k miles on it now. I use it as my daily driver in San Francisco with lots of stop and go. City driving only gives me about 15 mpg. I'm actually on a cross country drive now without the trailer. I set the cruise control at 80 mph on I-80 and am getting 24 mph. I've pulled the Ollie for about 4,000 miles and never had a problem, also getting about 15-17 mpg when towing, depending on speed. Plenty of power, super smooth, and I don't use a WDH. Overall, it's great. But, there are a few little things that bug me such as: gotta put DEF in, the motor oil is more expensive than oil for gas engines, it does burn a bit of motor oil which GM says is normal (all engines burn some oil?), diesel in the last couple years has been more expensive. Ditto on the rear camera (GM OEM) mounted on the rear of the Ollie and the trailer TPMS (also GM OEM) that are integrated into the truck's software.
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I have a "luxury travel trailer"?
in General Discussion
Posted
Is it my imagination or is there a new main page for the OTT website? I have mixed feelings about hauling around a "luxury travel trailer". Of course it costs enough to be in the luxury category, but the trailer itself is so understated. Not flashy. Not glamorous. Unless you know what you're looking for, you might not see what makes it a luxury trailer. I'm going to be self-conscious now. Lol.