SeaDawg

Thanks, Larry, I think Paul did a great job, and they look like factory issue. We got the UltraWhite. It takes about 17 or 18 ft to do the whole camper, including the tiny bathroom window. So, we have a little left from two 10 ft. rolls. Sherry

And, well, since this is going so well, a few more: The tools of application. (minus the beer..., optional, but recommended...) The roadside windows Nope, not moldy. Just reflecting all the green on a beautiful July afternoon... Take a break and enjoy the rhodos! Rear window reflecting the trees. Nice job on the gutter, Paul. All the windows are done. A little relaxation time around the campfire later! Sherry

Well, that worked, so we'll try a couple more: Paul working on curbside window. Curbside window complete

Well, let's see if the resizing worked and this will upload: this is the rear of our Oliver with the new EZE RV gutter. Resizing didn't work for me. I resorted back to photobucket free account. Sherry

I just crawled under the Silverado and the Ram, with garage lights and an LED flashlight. I didn't find a tag, or stamp, on either receiver-- bottom, side or front. Of course, neither is a new vehicle. 10 and six years old, respectively. Could have fallen off, I guess, but I don't see anything like a blank sticker space, either. Did see some dirt, as they're work trucks, but nothing popped out when I wiped the bottom or sides of the receivers. It will be interesting to hear what your dealer has to say. Hope you'll report back after your conversation with their service department. One would think that anything of that importance for your truck (or anyone's) would be clearly noted in the manual and specifications. Sherry

Thanks, Rob, and i will take a look at his blog. As you may know, our solar pv system is six years old, so technology changes, actually, quite rapidly in the renewable energy systems. Best to look to those with the newest gear for the best advice. (As we did, six years ago. A lifetime in solar technology, probably.) All that aside, we're extremely happy with the performance of our system. We did our research, talked with our friends, and in the end, modeled our system after the technomadia Oliver system. Chris and Cherie put a tremendous amount of time into research on their system, and eventually, we followed in their footsteps, as theirs worked for them. We felt we were using the best gear available, at an affordable price, at the time. Still feel the same. True believers in solar power. Silent, no exhaust fumes, constant payback. Solar for our home, too. It's a big decision. Sherry

Is that stamped on your hitch? I've never seen that on our three vehicles (Dodge Ram 4x4, Silverado, Volvo xc90), all of which have towed our Oliver admirably. Sherry

Not familar with Angry Bob. However, I know that our controller continually steps down as the charge goes up. The last few steps take the longest. I understand that this is to preserve the batteries. Don't know for sure, but I'll go with it, since we're working on old batteries, and happy. Sherry

We replaced the lights over the stove, and over the dinette, with LED long ago (maybe six years). Haven't gotten around to the rest, as those are the two we use all the time. If you can't find a lot of g4 replacements locally, or they're expensive (as they were years ago here), you might want to just try those two at first. Big impact for a few dollars. one of these days, we'll get around to replacing the rest, as they burn out. Sherry

Mountainborn is right on this being a great bugout or bondocking outfit. Fridge, furnace, stove on gas. Everything else on solar, if camping in the right exposure. We added solar (200 watts) six months after we bought our trailer, (side mount) and have always been very happy with our decision. If you don't do it now, at least ask about an option to prewire, if you anticipate camping without services in your future. We run the FanTastic fan or furnace fan, the electrical controls for the fridge, interior lights (sparingly, if camping without electric.) The solar won't run the ac, nor the microwave, but we try not to camp where we need the ac, and rarely use a microwave at home or camping. The furnace fan in cold weather is probably the biggest draw down on power, since we also limit our online time to an hour or two on each computer if we camp without power. Honestly, I'd have left off the kingdome, but it was already there, as we bought a unit that had already been partially built out. The tv is nice for dvds and local weather/news with an antenna. We run the radio for weather, more than the tv. And these days, it's on your phone, probably. We're not big tv watchers, especially when camping, but Paul likes to watch a dvd every other night or so. We charge our laptops and cellphones off the twelve volt system as well, or off the car inverter while driving. We love the solar on our Oliver. Silent, easy, extends our time away, no exhaust fumes. We don't have six volt batteries. We stayed with what we had. From new, that's a good question, better answered by those who have changed to the deep storage batteries. We carry a very light, gas=sipper Honda 1000 to charge the batteries when we encounter a string of rainy days. We use non ethanol gas exclusively in the generator, and all our yard tools, as well. Sherry

Karen, Ditto if you go southeast rather than southwest. We'd love to meet you. Chances are, sometime in the next few years, we will get to the UP. You are so close to the beautiful Canadian provincial parks. ONe year, we did a top of the lakes trips, crossing over above the Thousand Isles, and coming back thru Minnesota. The next year, we travelled thru Ny (Adirondacks and Catskills), up into Quebec, and a circle thru eastern Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, back thru NB, and home thru Maine and New England. One of our most memorable trips. We loved Lake Superior Park. Hope you do too. Sherry

My husband and his friend reset the rear window and one of the side windows with butyl tape, and I think that's what you mean by gasket material. It's been around forever, seals up tight, and lasts a long time. It comes in a light grey, along with black. We used the light grey. It's available online, or just about any rv shop. It is definitely a two man job to remove and reset the big windows. The rear window doesn't have weepholes, and not much overhang from the small eyebrow, so we feel the eze rv gutters are a good addition there, as well as on the windows with weepholes that can be overcome by really heavy rains. Where's the next BIG trip? We'll be off to North Carolina later this year, and going to western New York for a wedding, camping along the way. Not as far as we'd like to go, but further than any trip the last couple years. Sherry

Karen, our CampingWorld only stocked 10 ft rolls. We used all but about 3 feet of two rolls to do all our windows, including the tiny bathroom window, so about 17 feet. The UltraWhite (as opposed to white, which is really kind of off white) matches the gelcoat just about perfectly. I've seen it on Amazon in varying size rolls, if your campingworld only stocks the big motorhome sized rolls. It is cheaper in the longer rolls, however, if you know someone to split a big roll with. Sherry

Welcome aboard! Sherry

Larry, thanks for the memories. Paul's discovery of your Oliver videos online is what led us to Oliver in our search for our trailer in 1007/2008. Glad you took the time to put this online! Sherry

Why did we choose the Oliver? After looking at everything available (including two full and exhausting days at the RV Super Show in Tampa), many visits to RV dealerships touring bumper pulls and fifth wheels, looking at other fiberglass trailers, and yes, the Airstreams, Paul found a post by Mountainborn online. We took a sidetrip from a visit to Asheville to Hohenwald, and it was just the right thing to do. Three hours with Robert in the factory, touring several Olivers in progress, and lots of questions and answers later.... we were pretty sure that one in progress in the middle of the row had our name on it. Paul and I had seen just about everything available, i think, in 2008. On the ride home, we called Robert and made arrangements to buy that beauty in progress in the middle of the row. Love at first sight... after shopping, and evaluating, extensively. Six weeks later, we towed our Oliver home to Florida. Lucky us. A perfect fit. And just to make it more perfect, our Oliver hull is the same number hull as our (then) thirty year old sailboat...#12. It was just meant to be. Six plus years later, we feel the same way. Sherry

Re: a bike mount on the back bumper... I don't know if this is true on the new larger Oliver. On our 17, the back bumper is held in position by two pins, and drops down to expose the storage area where most of us keep our dump hoses and a few miscellaneous items. It's long and low, perfect for the hoses in a bag. Wouldn't be perfect for a bike rack, imho. Might be different in the newer trailers, and I'm sure Steve would chime in. The tongue weight on the 17 is about perfect for balanced weight throughout, but adding an appendage in a bike rack might mess it up. I don't know. I don't know anyone who has tried to do that, even with all the mods. What about adding a bike rack to the tow vehicle, or roof mount bike rack on the tv, or folding bikes like sailor love, if you want an suv tug? Sherry

Hey, Commanche. Welcome back. I wouldn't really want a window behind the sink/stove area, for the same reason I wouldn't want one at home. Ventilation, cleaning and window treatment issues. Breezes thru there will interfere with the stove flame. Always a cleaning issue, with splatters, etc., and then there's the window treatment... too close to the stove for my comfort. I use that back area behind the stove for suction cup mounted racks for dishes, spices, and accessories. Has been awesome for six years. Right where I need the plates, spatulas, salt & pepper, etc., and yes, they're a cleaning issue, too. But used all the time, so cleaned all the time. I know a few of the older molded trailers had windows in that area. I just don't find the idea of a curtain and window to be personally appealing there. I get plenty of light most mornings to make coffee from the window across from the stove area. All the Oliver windows have at least some sort of an eyebrow molded into the trailer to help direct water away from the flat surface. I'm sure that's what Robert was talking about in nixing the idea of a window in a pretty much flat vertical plane, no eyebrow, would likely be asking for issues. Just my two cents. Sherry

I saw a reflector oven baking featured on a cooking channel segment the other night about cooking class at the Jack Mountain Bushcraft school. I've never used one, though it looks like it could be a great addition to the campfire cooking gear. My friend Lois makes awesome biscuits with her dutch oven, but the oven looks like less cleanup, and faster. Also seems like a possible way to cook fish, and roast meat or chicken. The campfire is going most days anyway, and we usually do most of our cooking over the fire. I've seen folding versions for sale on the web, and photos of one a guy built himself from sheet metal and hinges... Has anyone used a reflector oven? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFba_dGyfp8my Disclaimer: my posting this video in no way endorses barefoot campfire cooking! http://poleandpaddle.com/merchandise/reflector_ovens

Most stuff in our trailer is selected for double duty, and simplicity. We rarely have electric hookups. We cook most of our meals on the campfire, retreating inside only in bad weather. Except for coffee. For the last six years, I've been making coffee on the gas stove, with hot water from the teapot, an old stainless steel carafe from a defunct coffee maker, and a one-cup Mellitta pourover. It's a labor of love, but the best coffee. This spring, I got a new pourover cone, a whopping 16 ouncer, with prongs that sit inside the lid of the coffee carafe, making it a much safer, and faster operation. Coffee still has that same great taste, but done in half the time, so I can be outside sooner, with the rest of the gang, enjoying that first cup of coffee while the birds sing the morning songs, and watch the sun move up the sky and burn off the morning dew. It's not Mellitta, but it works the same way as the little one cupper, and manages the normal size cone filter more easily. At less than six bucks, I feel like it is a real bargainhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001S3B9F8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. Sherry

Love the license plate, Allenand Pamela! The spare tire cover could make a good spot for a log plate with the number... I could go for that. Commanche, I totally agree with the oversized Airstream numbers for their caravan club. I sure wouldn't want anything that size anywhere on the trailer. Sherry PS Pamela, you should be #1 Oliver TravelRRailer, right? One and only.

A month or so back, someone asked me where I got the fabric for the cushions in our trailer. I promised to post the link, and then, well, life got in the way, and I sort of forgot. The fabric in our trailer came from Winter Beach Modern, an online retailer of upholstery fabrics used by major seating manufacturers. Usually bolt ends or remnants, the amount of each fabric in stock is listed. Also in the description is fabric content, finishes, cleaning instructions, and the rub count test, which tells you a bit about the long term durability of the fabric. They will send free samples. Six years ago, I found them very good to deal with. They specialize in fabrics with a midcentury modern flair. http://www.winterbeachmodern.com/ Our fabric was made by Momentum or Maharam, I think Momentum, with a hospitality finish. It has held up really well, six years and 50,000 plus miles, looks like new. And, Oliver's upholsterer did a beautiful job. Two years ago, we had our boat cushions redone. That time, I used two fabrics from a similar company, Toto. They were also a pleasure to deal with, free samples, and good shipping time. I chose two fabrics recommended for the hospitality industry, one Momentum with a Crypton finish, and the other was a faux leather by UltraLeather, recommended by a friend who works for a luxury yacht company. It feels and looks like leather, but breathes better, and doesn't mildew, etc. It's polyester, not plastic or vinyl, with a special backing which helps keep it cooler to the touch. Nice looking stuff. Toto stocks more styles and types than winterbeach. Again, they do free samples, so you can see and touch before you buy. They don't always list the rub test, but you can look it up by googling the fabric on the manufacturer's website. A lot of top quality stuff for commercial and hospitality applications at discount prices (like Momentum, Maharam, Knoll, ArcCom, Luna, etc.) http://www.totofabrics.com/ I'm looking again for fabric for a mid-century Yngve Ekstrom chair my brother gave me, so I'll be ordering again from one of them. Sherry

Hmm, that's an interesting idea. Any idea where you think you'd want the number applied to your trailer? We're hull number 12. Our boat is number 12 too. I think it was just meant to be.... Sherry

Stan, I'll look for the photos and try to post something tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder. It's monsoon season in Florida. We've had some pretty good rainstorms, and I do think the EZE RV gutters are a keeper. (Good thing, as that 3m adhesive is major sticky stuff.) I've gone in to check the big window after a storm, and the tracks are dry. We especially have an issue if our sidemount solar panels are tilted in a pattern that sends the rain down like a mini waterfall. Congrats again on your decision to become part of the Oliver gang! We wish you lots of happy travels. Sherry

Charmaigne, Please see my response to this under your "Interested in an Oliver " post. Thanks. I can try to combine these two topics later..if you wish. Sherry