derangedhermit

Here are some current stated weights (UGW and GVWR) as found on the web. 17 Oliver Elite....3500 5000 17 Oliver Legacy.3540 4500 17 Oliver Sport...3100 5000 17 Casita Std.....2050 3500 17 Casita Dlx.....2350 3500 17 Escape.........2100 ? 17.5 Bigfoot......3200 4300 16 Scamp.........1750 ? 19 Scamp.........2000 ? 16.5 T@da........2200 19 AS FC..........3700 4500 19 AS CCD........3600 16 AS CCD........2800 17 AS Sport.......2800 3500 17 FR R-Pod......2200 3200 I have no idea if/which manufacturers give accurate numbers. Also, there is some degree of "apples to oranges" here, since I just took a standard model weight as given, with no attempt to do feature-leveling, except I picked the Escape non-portable-toilet plan. And I guess the length measurements could be done in different ways. I'll probably dig a bit deeper into this, to try to more accurately compare models with similar interior room, similar self-contained ability, etc. But I found these an interesting start.

To answer my own question in the original post: I passed some time today creating an Excel sheet comparing the Sport II and the Elite II based on the 2 specification pdf files from the Oliver web site. It contains 250+ rows and contains all the Sport II and Elite II features and options. Most of it is as one would expect. For example: if you start with a Sport II, and add every option package and individual option, you end up with a base model Elite II, with an MSRP around $4000 higher. The Sport II individual options and option packages, taken together, pretty well define the differences between the two. There are some outstanding questions, mostly due to uncertainty about whether slight differences in wording represent a real difference or the marketing people expressing themselves. But they are not significant enough for me to try to resolve immediately. A mildly amusing example: the Elite II is said to have an "oversized" emergency egress window. The Sport II emergency egress window is not listed at being oversized. So I assume the Elite II is for oversized people, but not the Sport II...

I think an Oliver trailer, well-maintained, could have very long service life. Is there a factory-recommended maintenance schedule? Once out of the various warranty periods, what potential service issues would arise if factory support was not available? What missing information, or special tools, or custom components, or other things would make replacing aging, damaged, or failed components specially troublesome or very expensive?

Cherie, I applaud you and Chris for going your own way early in life. I I was a regular reader of Chris' "boot" magazine. That magazine set some trends in personal technology writing style and format that many others later emulated. It was about as hip as we geeks can get. Sherry, I did find the floorplans in the brochure. I would like to see actual dimensions in the floorplan, like the size of the beds, tables, countertop, bath area, etc. I think the 6'1" ceiling would be fine for vacations for me, but I would tire of it over time with a lot of use. I am right there with you on the ease of cleaning the Oliver offers, since I would be doing most of the housekeeping. I'm not fond of it, but I appreciate a sparkling clean space! And thanks for the "RV 101" acronym tutorial.

I have seen the only 22 footer that has been built so far and I can attest to how nice it is. I posted some pics that I took at the factory during construction on this forum. Steve Hi Steve. Yes,I did find and look at each of your pictures - thank you for posting them. I cannot find a floorplan with dimensions for the 22 (or the 17) on the Oliver website. Am I missing something? It's not in the new brochures or spec sheets, or under "floorplan". I did leave something out in my post above. I first looked (online) at Airstreams as well, since I remembered one fondly from my childhood, and they are still appealing to me. I spent some weeks over a couple summers in a small rented Airstream parked by a river. It looks like new lower-spec Airstreams (Safari or Sport lines) are priced in the same general ballpark as Olivers. Given the state of the economy, I would be foolish to not at least consider the potential for a great deal on a new or recent model gently used Airstream, maybe 25' or so. I'll have to look more into a detailed comparison on quality and construction with Oliver, though. I don't know of any others I would consider. Would someone please tell me what "FB" stands for in the RV industry? I see it in model names of different lines. I've ordered a couple of RV "overview" books from Amazon, but in the meantime, thanks for the help.

Tell us more about how and how often you plan to use your trailer and we can give your our recommendations and opinions on trailers and options. I am one half of a mid-fifties empty-nest couple of 25 years. My wife loves to travel, and to camp. For years we lived in Europe and for many more years we traveled the world (separately) on business. For the past 10 years or so, my wife has become increasingly affected by a couple of chronic debilitating diseases. She had to stop working in the late 90's. The health situation is unlikely to stabilize, or improve. I will soon be released from my corporate duties in the telecom industry as a cost-saving measure. I am contemplating using the Oliver to "full-time" so my wife can once again travel, and can find more enjoyment, stimulation, and relaxation with a minimum of exertion. We will need to sell our home to economise. We would spend a lot of the time parked near family across the eastern half of the US, visiting, and a lot of time in various mild, pleasant climates in the US, at locations where I can find a couple of needed amenities. I would try to keep generating a little income as we went, to keep a restless mind active. We would much prefer the 22' since I am 6"2 220, and not as flexible as I used to be. I am a little concerned that even the 22' is "too small". We like the design of the Olivers more than anthing else we have seen. My wife spent pleasant time in her youth on a 30+' family sailboat, and the Oliver reminds her of that. We would have to trade vehicles to get a TV for it, since now we have two Honda Pilots (3500 lb tow capacity). (Wait - maybe they could pull in tandem, like train locomotives ) I had hoped to avoid a trade, but maybe it cannot be helped. The only other option we are currently considering is a Sprinter-based Class B,like a "Sportsmobile". It could also be used as a TV if we needed the room, but that's not my preference at this early point. Other family members have owned RVs, and we have enjoyed sharing them, but we have never owned or operated one. I have driven school buses and pulled boats enough in the past so I'm not concerned about learning to drive / pull an RV.

I'm a bit confused by the Oliver site. Are there 3 current models (Legacy, Legacy Elite, and Sport) or only two (Legacy Elite and Sport)? There are so many standard features and options and prices. Has anyone put together a spreadsheet to make it easier to compare/contrast the models, and to total up the MSRP given option x, y, and z? Like when you try to decide which version of TurboTax you need, with those little checks in the boxes

Deranged Hermit, Welcome to the forum. Hope you find the answers to your questions here... Oliver builds a great little trailer. If you don't, ask away. We'll answer as best as we can. Cherie, I suspect you're correct... the most common color for the best insulation systems these days seems to be black. Thanks for the welcome, Sherry. I do have a couple of "overview" questions - I'll start a new topic for those.

I don't own an Oliver, but am interested in them. On the in-cabinet lighting: the need for lighting would be reduced, and any installed lighting would work much better, if the inside surfaces of the storage area were painted white. I am surprised no one has done this or suggested it. Maybe there is a reason?