SeaDawg

We tow the original Ollie, 17, usually with our 2008 ram 5.7 Hemi 4x4. Without the trailer, we're somewhere around 17 mpg. With it. We're happy of we hit 12 to 14. It's all about road surface and elevation. Either way, the truck is great. And with a lifetime warranty, it'll be around awhile.... Sherry

Sorry about your unscheduled delays, but more time with grandkids is always good... I think I see a challenge here. Just how many adorable, smiling kids can you fit in an Ollie? Happy and safe travels. Sherry

Actually ,our trailer sat in at least steely sized hail for over an hour. We went to dinner with friends. On our way home, the roads and banks looke like a snowstorm had just passed. Needless to say, we were very nervous about what we would see when we got back to camp.. We were thrilled to find big chunks of hail next to the trailer, but no damages to the trailer , nor the solar panels, which are our lifeline. Hoping your experience is the same. And, I can't blame you for anxious feelings. I d be the same way. I'm just glad we have the heavier fiberglass trailer mold. It takes a lot of weather, with no damages

I know I m going back aways, but I'm the wife who says slow down, dang it. Mostly because of ruts and bumps, and passenger seat motion sickness One of your earlier posts reminded me of one of our camping adventures in Australia in an older Toyota hi ace campervan. Not 4x4. Down a deeply rutted road, off the grid no cell service, out on a five or six Mile spit. I guess you had to be there, but we went to the end, and halfway back, to find the perfect spot... And the road was really ugly. Ruts a foot deep and more, and several feet wide, covering much of the dirt road at times, it was beautiful. Isolated. Empty. And quiet. I wasn't happy on the way out, hanging on in the passenger seat of the old Toyota, but the evening was incredibly beautiful. We had miles of sea vistas to ourselves. Life is good. Especially if you at least occasionally push the boundaries of normal experience. Can't remember the name of the spot, and it's not on most maps, but I will remember it til I can't remember anything else. Coordinate s are likely in my log book, though. Sherry

I don't have the patience, personally, for the shower curtain. I understand why others want it. I don't like the sticky shower curtain in a small space.... To me, it's a small marine bath, much smaller than on our boat. Not a Big deal to wipe it down, and in the process, clean it up with a microfiber towel. In the process, it cleans not only you, but the bath. How simple is that? Yes, I remove water sensitive items from the bath. But I keep those in a plastic file case, anyway, so it's easy. Sherry

Honestly, give us a week or so to work out the bugs. Then, the mass email to members would be great. I truly miss the interaction of the members with less patience who have dropped out . I can't blame them. Hasn't been easy for most of us. Not for you, either. And, thanks for all your help. Sherry

Hey, Canoe12, the new "keymasters" are the new IT people assisting Matt in improving and migrating the forum to a new platform. To be able to do that, they'd require the upper level priveledges to affect changes. Glad hear your trailer was inside during the storm, and unharmed. Malcolm, welcome to the Every Day is Saturday Club. Been a member for awhile now, and still trying to figure out how we ever found the time to work. Lol. Sherry

We used to use a more standard forum based software. We had a lot of spamming, but it was more user friendly, for sure. I still can't post from WiFi FiOS on my phone. I waste a lot of data... I try to toggle back and forth from WiFi to read, data to post, and then forget. So, if in in an are where data is expensive, like last month in Cuba, I just have to disappear. I hope it all gets worked out. The old phbb format worked great for me. <p style="text-align: left;">Sherry</p>

Fwiw, our sidemounted panels came with six inch bits to hold the panels, back on 2008. If these are no longer available, I could send you a photo. They'd be easy to fashion from flat stock We have adjusted ours, but rarely. Usually just not worth the effort. The batteries can only hold so much. If we're in the sun, a few hours midday usually brings the charge back up. If we have to camp out of sun, or it rains for days on end, the Honda 1000 takes over. rare occasions. BTW, we live on solar power at home, as well as on the road. Panels are primarily self cleaning. A little bit bit of rain, even this year in very dry conditions for FL, keeps us going. If no rain, a quick hose will bring your trailer panels back to optimum. We've never been tempted to climb on the high house roof to hose them off. We let the rain do the work. Sherry

Thanks. We'll stop near Asheville for a week or so, maybe two, then move on towards Alaska. That would be nice. Brevard is another beautiful area. Sherry

Here in Florida, it's prime camping season. However, most of the best campsites have been reserved a year ago by Canadians and other tourists. We usually just stay home. Weather is good. Check. Wildlife in the bay, check. Sailing is good, so why worry? We'll leave here for NC in a month or so. We will chase the cooler weather. Sherry

Minor (thinking 1 or 2 ft square) repairs can likely be made by any good glass worker at a boatyard. Get the color numbers for your gel coat. Thats a tough match if you don't know. I would also recommend good Sam's replacement cost insurance, in your case. We've had it from day one. They also suspend liability when you are parking for the off season, so it is really, truly affordable. Sherry

A mess. Glad you found the source. Sorry it happened to you. Sherry

Mmm. I'm so leery about making any changes to the propane compartment. Especially to walls and floor. Been through one tiny stove flareup on the boat . Twenty years ago ... Easily contained with the first of two LP switches​. Yes, I'm probably more paranoid, because if we have to ditch from the boat, it's into deep water, and a raft. But, from a fire standpoint, all the same. Scary. If it were me, I would leave it alone, as we have for nine successful years. When my 40 year old P E Luke on the boat finally gives up the ghost, I will add a diesel stove. It's the only propane user onboard. I love the old stove, and Paul checks it and the piping and pressure regularly, but I'd be ok without propane at sea. Sherry

The upcoming Oliver rally is in Hohenwald in a little over a month. That would present an opportunity to see Oliver trailers of both sizes, new and older, and meet the owners. Then, a factory tour and you have a lot of info on Oliver in one weekend. Hohenwald is a great little town, with friendly folks and good little restaurants. The museum downtown is interesting, too. I recommend the b& b rooms at fall hollow as a place to spend the night, though there's a small motel in town as well. Sherry

Funny, ion my phone, actually the activity wall comes up quickly. Everything else, not so much.... Sherry

On our boat, we have vented tanks, plus two switches to the solenoid to operate the tanks. Granted, easier to deal with a small leak in a trailer than 75 miles offshore, but pause for thought....

So true. Propane is heavier than air and tank areas must have venting. I'm sure no one here is constructing a solid floor in the propane tank locker. That would be a prescription for disaster. Sherry

I will say this for Oliver. Even in the days when they suspended trailer manufacturing, they still were responsive to any and all issues existing owners had. While trying to keep a young, multifaceted company afloat. Still get great service when I contact the factory, even though most of the new folks don't know me from Adam. The forum has been a great place to explore and exchange ideas, since our friend Larry started it over nine years ago. Oliver has always paid the bills, and sponsored our sandbox, but has rarely monitored or interacted. And, that's really ok with me.... It's our owners' forum. I do miss the old, faster forum format. I so hope the new one gets back to the old speed. I have to admit, it's frustrating at times. Sherry

We committed again tonight for another trip to Alaska. Not in the Oliver. Delivering a new RV for a friend to Anchorage for rental. We've done this trip several times now, and can't wait to do it again. Last year was pretty much fair weather, other than several days of rain in the Olympic peninsula. Hoping for similar weather this year... Sherry

I emailed Matt on this same topic yesterday. They are aware, and working on it. I suspect it's frustrating them, too. Sorry for the hassles. I am still having to post on mobile data. The board doesn't like my high speed FiOS connection, apparently. Sherry

Years ago, one of the early 17 owners moved jack switches inside. Paul keifer, I think? He and his wife pioneered a lot of small, but really nice changes. Sherry

We've used the very heavy, but inexpensive, rubber chocks from harbor freight for years. http://m.harborfreight.com/solid-rubber-wheel-chock-96479.html?utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot%20provided

Ours sits in the country for six months each year. We cover the vents with screen mesh. Remove it each time we return. No issue so far. Six years, and some...

My stove knobs are nine years old, and fine. Clear coat if you feel like it... Can't hurt. Temper my remarks with the fact that I still love my 40 year old P E Luke gimballed range on our boat. Sure would love to have an oven ... Not the microwave... In the Oliver. Sherry