SeaDawg

My friend Lois did something similar with her Casita. She put a twin size mattress across the back, adding just a small board to support it and eliminating the big board. She installed some drawers next to the sink/stove area. That leaves a little extra seating area next to the divider in her case, or pole in ours, or a "nightstand" for glasses and book. Without the big bed, her camper looks like a dance hall, and she still has the two-person dinette for lounging, and the small table for computer work, or food prep, or whatever. She really likes it. I don't have any pictures, but I suspect yours looks kind of like hers. Great idea! Sher

I think to support weight properly you may have to go deeper than the bench top.... I am not exactly sure how Casita does the chairs in their version ( I think it's the Freedom, but I could be wrong... they have several versions of the same 17 ft. trailer), but it would be worth a look at one to see how it was accomplished. The 90 degree seating angle of the existing small dinette seats (to afford the 3rd "twin" bed" ) may not be super comfortable for those who spend a lot of time working at the bench seats. Fortunately, we don't, but I keep little pillows around for lumbar support on the rare occasion when we do need them. We usually eat and work on the computers outside, but weather sometimes gets in the way. I can see why you'd want to change them out for office type chairs, since you use them every day. You don't (as far as I know) have any overnight guests,requiring you to break down the dinette to a bed. That is, beyond Kiki the cat.... and I suspect she's comfortable anywhere, and will find a new place to go . Sherry

Articles I've read mentioned 4,000 people sent emails or letters..... In the grand scheme of things, that's not many (not nearly as many to the NFS as the number of posts I've read on various boards, I think!), but it was apparently enough, I guess. Sherry

Most microwaves have a popcorn button. Mine does. Have you tried bags from the same box in your home microwave to see if they work? By the way, Oliver owners don't all have the same microwave. We have the Sylvania convection microwave. I don't use it much,as we so often camp without power, but have had no problems with it.

Welcome to the forum, cldmstr!

Wow. Congrats on the publishing. That's a beautiful photo. Could you tell us where you were when it was taken? Sherry and Paul

Perhaps you, also, have a beloved collection of albums languishing somewhere in the house... Far too large to tote around in the Ollie, let alone the gear to play them. I got this in our email this morning: http://www.buy.com/prod/Innovative-Tech ... adid=17070 This little turntable "seamlessly" converts the music on your vinyl to mp3 format, so you can download your tunes, plug in your iPod, and enjoy the tunes from days gone by. To set the mood, add a lava lamp nightlight: http://gizmodo.com/229259/lava-lamp-nig ... -the-night My neighbor gave me a similar one yesterday, purchased at our local WallyWorld for around ten dollars. Sherry

I just love those beautiful early and late season snows... You know they'll melt before you have to shovel.... Sherry

After receipt of thousands of negative comments, the Forest Service decided to not change the present discount levels: http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/id ... d/C41/L41/ The full press release from the USFS is at the bottom of this article. Sherry

Thank you for the post. We, too, hope it's an isolated incident, where someone grabbed the wrong bolt. We'll check ours, as well, and report back. So glad you discovered it before there was a problem in tow. Sherry

Thanks for the info, jam49. I'm glad to know it works. Looked like a great idea to me. Sherry

We kind of thought so... but, had never seen anything like it before.

On another forum, I saw a post referencing this product: http://www.rvupgradestore.com/index.asp ... rodID=3013 It's a modern, more elegant version of a tub of dryzit or damprid, without the mess of dumping tubs. I think it may be useful year-round for removing humidity from our little trailers. The very smallest handles 50 square feet... just a little smaller than our Olivers. Anyone tried something similar? Sherry

Yesterday, we drove the full length of I-81 thru Virginia. I have never seen such a high number of state troopers in one length of highway... 35 cars (most marked, some unmarked) either issuing tickets, or parked in the median watching traffic, in a 325 mile stretch. I wonder if this was a concentrated effort because of problems on I-81, or if this is normal. I was amazed. Sherry

Nice article, and great photo selections. It's almost two years in Orion for you now, isn't it? Sherry

We're definitely still thinking about Alaska in 2011. We enjoyed our short trip in a rental years ago (Anchorage, Denali, Kenai Peninsula, Valdez), and a return trip in our own rv has been on our list for a long time. Actually, our plans for Alaska were one of the reasons we chose the Oliver as our travel trailer. It would be great to have a group of us, meeting up along the way. Sherry

So cool to come across an enjoyable park for both two-legged and four-legged campers! Glad you're having a great time in Katy, TX.

Horseshoes??? Right.

Looks like a great rally! One of these days, we'd like to be at a rally with the "Underwood Clan." Something tells me their family spirit spills over onto each and everyone present. Phil and Denise, thanks for the photos. By the way, what was up with all the toilet seat/duct tape photos? Sherry and Paul

A lot of great stuff washing up on that beach.... I like the duck decoy. Was it wooden? Thanks for all the great adventure posts!

Rich, I believe there is a spelling error in the tumbleweed link. Please try contacting him thru a pm in this forum. Or, contact me thru a pm, and I'll send you a link to the proper email spelling. Sherry

Hello to all, ***** Is it better to use two 6 volt batteries with the higher AH or go with the two 12 volt batteries? What brand?? works well for charging? and, is it possible to have the batteries relocated to the front in the extra metal basket on my Oliver travel trailer? I struggle with lifting them in the built in storage area. Thanks, Jam49 We're still working on two year old standard group 27 batteries. I' m concerned about your comment on struggling to lift out your batteries. Why would there be a struggle when the compartment slides out? We are in FL, so there is no need to store batteries in the basement. Is it that much colder where you are in Texas? Sher

Thanks for the link. No wonder you have had so many visits on this one. Sherry

Have a wonderful time. I hear it's such a beautiful spot. Wish we could be there, too. If you get the chance before you go, read Bill Belleville's essay, "Inside the Heart of a Poem." It's not long, just a few pages, but beautiful. (From his anthology . Belleville is a diver, a naturalist, and a Floridian. I think you'd especially enjoy his writing, Geri. Sherry

We love our Scandvik faucets and showers in the Oliver. Today, I found out a little info from their website and catalog: You can order replacement parts (hoses, parts, etc.) as an individual, but only closeout items in entire assemblies, direct from Scandvik. Regular stock assemblies can be ordered online from Yacht Supply Depot at a discount of about 25% off msrp, no freight. Looking thru the pdf catalog for Scandvik, I discovered a few things I did not know about our showers. The one in the bathroom has an adjustable aerator. Slide it down for shower (more widespread spray), up for faucet function. The slide valve for closing off the water while soaping up for navy showers is designed to drip a little, to maintain water temperature. It is not a positive shut-off valve like the pressure handle on the outside shower. The outdoor shower spray handle will flip up for continuous spray without holding the pressure handle down. Ours is the "Euro" model in the catalog. Scandvik sells a height adjustable slide mount for the combination faucet/showerheads, as well as the mount that we have installed in the trailer. Our shower and sink faucets/mixers are all brass, chrome-plated on the indoor faucets, and are real marine quality. I like that. They're built to last, like our Oliver trailers. Sherry PS There is a single-lever replacement galley faucet in the closeouts today, chrome, for under a hundred dollars. Just an FYI, our indoor shower faucet retails for $200.00, without the mount on the bulkhead.