SeaDawg

Paul installed one this past week. It looks very nice. It hasn't rained lately, so I can't tell you how it works for us yet. He installed it on the curbside window, at the foot of the bed. I think we'll put the second one on the streetside window over the small dinette table, for cross ventilation. Have most of you installed two of them? Also, Jam49, the install requires only 5 small screws into the window frame only, not the trailer. The way the vent is manufactured, there is not enough surface to grab with two-sided tape, so that excellent idea won't fly, unfortunately. Sherry

Thanks. I see two Midland models online, both of which could work. The white one, model 100, is lighter and smaller. I think it could mount with Velcro, at only one pound weight, in the spot you mentioned. Is this what you have, DC Kiefer? The other model is black, weighs twice as much, model 300. Sherry

Pete, the frs radios are a good idea. I didn't realize any of these came with weather service capability. We already have two sets of handheld radios for communicating around the property, but if I don't find a dedicated, small, weather radio, we might just have to have three sets! I have a windup weather radio/flashlight, but there's no alert function on it. Good for no power situations, though. Sherry

Has anyone found a small weather radio with alert capability that runs on 12 volt? I got one at Radio Shack in December, along with a converter to run it on 12 volt instead of battery or AC, but it was so large there wasn't really a good spot for it. We camped in a number of places with tornadoes last summer (actually, the sheriff's dept. came out to warn us at one remote campsite in SE Minnesota, which was really nice), and I'd like to add a better radio with alert to our trailer before this summer's travels. Thanks. Sherry

I know I've seen these on a number of Olivers, but I can't remember who now. I'm looking at the Maxx-Window louvers that allow you to slide the windows partly open for ventilation on rainy days and nights without soaking the interior. For those of you who have installed them, how do you like them? Do they work as described? Easy to install? The website mentioned something about a security clip to keep the window from being slid further open. Did you install these, or did the kit come with it? Thanks for any info you'd like to share. Sherry

Have you seen the moonrise lately? The amazing "supermoon" event a few days ago, on the full moon, was so beautiful, and not to be repeated for another 19 years. Tonight, the almost full moon hangs orange and beautiful, just above the horizon, as I type this post. Wonderful, serene, and inspiring. Sherry

What a lovely campground, and an extraordinarily beautiful park. The park has it all for central Florida: private campsites, electric and water, and very level sites. Small, but with our trailers, who cares? The park is incredible. A beautiful boardwalk rims the spring run, the spring, and ends at the St. John River and the marina. Absolutely lovely. Bugs? Yes. Tiny mosquitos in late Feb/early March, a campfire took care of them. Very nice neighbors. The bathhouses are old, but absolutely immaculate. Not a cobweb or spider in sight, (nor mildew), in spite of the 80's color theme of yellow and gold. The posted schedule on the wall for cleaning, cobweb removal, and pressure cleaning is strictly followed. Kudos to the staff. We loved our stay, and we'll be back again. Photos to folllow. Sherry PS Blue Spring is a fabled, legendary spring in the heart of Florida. I was so glad to finally see what I'd read about in poetry and essays. Go if you get the chance. At $24 a night, it's a steal, manatees or no. The spring is 73 degrees year round, so the manatee population is larger when the river is colder (November thru February). You cannot swim or kayak during the manatee season, as Blue Spring is a refuge area for the gentle giants. S.

The only other accessory we're adding this season (I think) is the tire pressure/temperature sensing guages and monitor. We had a flat on the truck in Canada (Quebec) last fall, and after talking to Pete and Jr Birdman, decided that adding the sensors we already have in the truck, to the trailer, was a good idea. I'm sure we saved a lot of hassle knowing immediately when that big bolt we picked up on the highway cut thru the truck tire. As the trailer is now back in its spot next to the garage, we have not yet installed this system, and not tested it. More on that later. Wishing you a great camping spring season, Sherry

The trailer's last birthday present arrived while we were camping. A pressure/temperature sensing system. I think there's already a thread started by Pete or JuniorBirdman, so I'll look and add details there. I believe it's the same as at least one of theirs. The trailer is feeling pretty "downtown, right now, with new tires and batteries, and more accessories to be installed after a wash and wax tomorrow. Must be time for a long camping trip!! Sher

As our trailers age, we'll all find new items to discuss, I'm sure. Someday, I'd love to see your binder, but it might become a bit heavy to carry! Sherry

Jennifer, I think you're wise to look into every system while you have the time. It's how we all learned. Please do pm if you ever travel our way. Sherry PS I still would look into replacing the household light with a compatible cfl or led. We replaced all of our kitchen lights (recessed cans, quite a few...) with cfls, and it's quite nice. No heat, and though they burn a bit orange-ey at the beginning, it's a nice warm light (as advertised on the package) when warm. These lights are not on a dimmer, so a standard, relatively inexpensive cfl is adequate. S.

So, in honor of our trailer's third birthday, it got new tires and batteries. Wow. The 34,000 mile Duros were replaced by Maxxis m8008 10 ply, e rated tires. (We kept the best of the two duros for Alaska...). Sadly, duros were not available locally, and not e rated... 34 K is long enough to keep trailer tires, and one tire was wearing a bit thin... Both tires had been replaced when we changed from a five to a six lug axle long ago. Paul chose AGM batteries, since we have solar, and the local battery friend/guru gave him a great price on a pair of (very heavy) AGMs that fit the tray. We had thought about replacing our original betteries with the same type, but it was an upgrade we could not refuse.... Now, we don't have to worry about the water level anymore. We'll keep you posted on performance. Happy birthday to the trailer. We celebrated with a trip to Blue Spring State Park. More on that in another thread under Oliver Camping.... Sherry Ps I added up the miles. We rolled over 42,000 on the way home. Sweet. I'm so grateful we got the Oliver when we did. S.

I'd start with spraying a lubricant and working the handle in and out. Spray, and work again. Repeat as necessary. In all likelihood, it's simply binding up a little, since you don't use the handle very often... Graphite probably smells a little less than wd40 in the confined area. Either way, point the little nozzle, and turn your face to the open air as you spray. Close your eyes, or wear goggles. Leave the shower door open. If you have graphite, try that first. And you should have it anyway, because it works on the window tracks, too. A bound cable is a more complex issue. Hope that isn't it. Spray, work and repeat. It may clear it all up without a lot of work. Sherry PS Never force anything. I know you don't think you're really strong, but you"re stronger than you think, in most cases. Work a little at a time. S.

We haven't had any pathway lights fail, since we rarely use them. In your house, a halogen in an enclosed, or even semi-enclosed space is likely to cause problems with heat. You may want to look for a cfl or led replacement at home. Carrying a spare for one pathway light would not work for me... too many lights, too few uses. We never turn them on because the light cast is too bright for the other person who is (hopefully) still asleep. It's great to hear from you again. Are you coming east or north someday? Sherry

Hi, Jam49, Great to hear from you! Probably, some of this discussion needs to be tempered by a few things: 1. You said the handle (to the grey tank drain, in the shower) is hard for you to pull. Ours is not. Perhaps it need lubrication? 2. How often do you use the indoor shower. We rarely use ours. We use public facilities, and the outdoor shower, more than the indoor shower. Probably, because we have so much stuff stored in the bathroom that's hard to move. For us, it wouldn't make sense to do the mod Perhaps it would for you. Sherry

Phil, Thanks for the photos! Looks like a great time going on at Hillapalooza. Was there a hat contest? I loved the coonskin caps, straw hats, and prairie bonnets... Horseshoes with toilet seats looks like amazing fun... And, how did you get all those folks to wear overalls???? Most impressive, all the kids seemed to be having fun in the multi-generational extravaganza, too. Hope we make it out there one year... Sherry

Larry, Our hearts are with you and Betty. I'm sure there's a quiet void that can't be filled with Dillon gone. Our best, Sherry and Paul

We just got back from Orlando and the International Builders Show. The best part of the show, to me, was the time we spent with the students designing the 20 new solar, zero energy homes for the upcoming Solar Decathlon in the Washington DC metro area this fall. Students from 20 universities, vetted from initial entries, will compete for the best, affordable, small (600-1000 square foot living space) home, with amazing regionally inspired designs. All the designs we saw in the models represented regional vernacular design spun in a contemporary fashion, along with eco inspired management of energy and water. Paul and I spent two cold and sloggy days in the frigid rain in 2009 touring the Decathlon homes, and learned a lot. We're thinking about a rally this fall in Virginia, with a focus on solar and energy responsibility. With so many Oliver owners already using solar, or thinking about it, we thought it could be a natural. Anyone interested? The Decathlon is the last week of September, concluding October 2, I think. The traditional location is the national mall, but will be moved to somewhere else in the DC area this year because of the impact of the thousands of visitors in the past, and the set of the twenty houses moved from campus by truck to the Decathlon site. We'd love to get a group together and tour. We had a wonderful, educational time in 2009. After the Decathlon, thinking about a trip down through the Shenendoah National Park, and on thru the Blue Ridge Parkway. What do you think? Sherry PS Here's a link to the Decathlon site: http://www.solardecathlon.gov/ sponsored by the DOE We are lucky enough to have two teams from Florida: Team Florida, a group of northern Universities, and a bright group from Florida International in Miami as well. Each team of the 20 Universities selected has a blog and website. You may be interested in following the group from your region, as well.

We chain neither Oliver (the dog) nor Oliver (the trailer). Four wheel drive and a hemi, with appropriate tires. Merry Christmas to all of you! Sherry PS Chuck, I suspect the snow may be gone already up there. Here, with a sunny 65 today, I don't think we have to worry in Florida.... Though the temp is supposed to drop tomorrow night.

We were back in North Carolina this past week to play in the snow. For those of you who have camped with us on our property outside Ashville, you'll see how different it looks in the snow: 4x4 only on the snowy hills. The little "shabin" sits snug and cozy in the winter white stuff. You can barely make out the outline of the campfire ring in the snow. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sherry

A very Merry Christmas to you and Geri, and to all the board members! We're in the mountains of western North Carolina, and awoke to a fresh inch of snow dusting the trees and the ground. It really feels like Christmas, with the sun glinting off the fresh white stuff, and the chilly temperatures. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2011 to all of you! Sherry

Thanks, Jonathan and Mountainborn, for the updates. Sherry

Love the old Texaco sign! Hope you have a good seas on in Kentucky. Sherry PS Did you see the segment on workcampers in Campbellsville, KY on ABC news tonight? We thought of you and Betty, of course...

Hi. Chuck, I did update my map... now it takes two maps to keep up with our travels, US and Canada. We rolled over 43,000 miles on the Oliver long before we got home last month... I suspect that there are a few states that we simply drove thru, but didn't camp in, that don't appear on my maps. That's ok, because I never knew the right protocol.... so I just wing it. Looking forward to seeing you at the freezer! Sherry

This one is fun, not funny. The Iowa Welcome center on north end of I-35 is built in the iconic shape of the Iowa barn: big, red, gambreled roof... oh, and a silo,too! Inside is a wealth of information and friendly folks offering travel tips, brochures, and maps, of course. Not far from here, traveling south, you'll see the new icon of rural Iowa: wind turbine farms. Iowa is one of the nation's leaders in energy production from windpower. Sherry