SeaDawg

Thanks, jam49. We'll look into that, too. I doubt the duct tape is the long term solution, but it should stop the abrading effect of metal on metal, at least temporarily. Sherry

That would be great if some (or all!) of you would decide to come our way in January! We hope to see Tom and Karen on their way up to the Panhandle. We'd love to see you. All our best wishes for a beautiful wedding, and more importantly, a wonderful, happy future together! Sherry and Paul

Probably not much of a test in the twenties. We've not had any problems in temps in that range, boondocking. I wonder if running the gas furnace helps heat the area between the hulls. We rarely have hookups, and in the coldest weather we've camped in (I think the thermometer said low temp 13 degrees), we had to use the furnace, not electric heat.

Just curious, how cold will it be tonight in southeast Kansas? Nice job on the tape install. Hope it all works well for you! Sherry

I just finished updating the logs from our last trip (adding up mileage, and notes). I was surprised to find we're already celebrating 30,000 miles camping with our Oliver. What a lot of great times we've had... mostly in the eastern US, but also the Midwest, and this past summer, a month trip along the top of the Great Lakes in Ontario, Canada. Thinking about plans for next year. Sherry

Someone asked me the other day how to get his map into his sig. Instructions are in the first post of this thread. Mountainborn, I see you've found another map-making service, and I like the solid color better than the many colors of the one I used. Care to share the link? Thanks. Sherry

Just to clarify things, this change in discount is at the request of the concessionaires who operate a large number of the USFS campgrounds under long term contracts. The change would only affect those USFS campgrounds run by concessionaires, at least at this time. Campgrounds operated directly by the USFS would still offer the 50% discount. Sherry

Phil & Denise, We love seeing all the photos of your family, your extended family, and your friends. Looks like a wonderful time! What great memories you both are creating for your family for the many years to come. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Sherry

The holidays are right around the corner. Our tree is in the corner of the living room, ready for lights this weekend, and Paul's been out stringing part of the Christmas lights each day on the house. The house smells great with the natural pine scent, and though we're way behind most of our neighbors, the house is "beginning to look a lot like Christmas" too. Well, each holiday (my birthday, Paul's, Christmas...), it seems the Oliver gets a gift, too. A cover (not yet used), solar panels (used all the time, and so wonderful...), the EZ tug (great for our application), and many smaller items. Right now, we're thinking about a few different items for the trailer, some small, some larger. Our neighbors bought a (much, much larger) RV, and I'm ordering a set of acrylic wine glasses and snack plates for them from (where else!) amazon.com.... What's on your holiday list for your Oliver? What have you purchased in the past that you'd call a "best buy"? Sherry

We usually leave our rear dinette set up as a bed. Last summer, while tearing everything apart to clean, I noticed some wear on the lip of the bench seats where the tabletop rests, forming the base of the bed. The edges of the tabletop were wearing a little groove into some parts of the lip. In hopes of eliminating this wear, I applied some strips from Walmart sold as tub and shower safety treads. They come in a pack of eight or so, and are thin, flexible ribbed plastic strips with an adhesive back. I found that by cutting the strips in half on the longitude, they were the perfect size to fit the lip of the bench. One pack was more than enough. I have used the same safety treads to line the lip of the seats where the melamine coated lids fit in the benches to keep the lids from shifting around and chipping the gel coat. These have worked quite well, too. Same technique, cutting the strips in half the long way with a scissors. They look like this: http://www.slipxsolutions.com/product/4 ... ty_Treads/ They're a few dollars a pack in the bath section of most Walmarts. I'm sure other big box stores have a similar item. Thought others might find this inexpensive solution useful. Sherry

We installed the muddawber screens from Camco on the heater and water heater vents about a year ago. No mud dawbers since then, but today, while putting the Oliver away, we did notice that the metal edges of the screens are wearing some on both the gel coat around the furnace vents and the metal plate of the hot water heater vent. Not a real surprise, I guess, as they've been riding around and vibrating for about 20,000 miles or so, and the springs allow some movement of the screens. Paul applied some narrow strips of white duct tape to the face of the vent surrounds, where the screen edges rest, in hopes of abrading the tape instead of the trailer. Not sure how this will hold up on the water heater metal access door, as it gets quite hot when the water heater kicks on. Any other ideas? Sherry

Welcome to the forum, EwEpEr! Sherry

I know some of you like Travasaks for bedding in your Olivers. (Not for me, I'm the Princess &the Pea sort of gal... mattress pads, featherbeds, real sheets & blankets, etc... I gave up any kind of sleeping bag, however lux, when I gave up tent camping decades ago....) http://shop.tuesdaymorning.com/index.as ... typeid=743.) I stumbled onto this deal looking for something else on Tuesday Morning's website. We have two Tuesday Morning outlets in our county... cool place to find overstocked items at much reduced prices. I have never ordered from their website, but find quality stuff in the stores from time to time. Anyway, queen travasaks on sale for $129, shipping around $10,at Tuesday Morning this week, if anyone is interested. Colors are the same as the much more expensive alternatives I've seen on other websites. Sherry

Today, I look forward to our Thanksgiving. I know that we have much to be thankful for. Good family, good friends, and good health. Our best wishes to you all, and we wish you and your friends a wonderful day, and a blessed holiday season. Sherry

Chris, We had our Oliver weighed at a Flying J last year on certified segmented scales. Tongue weight was 420 pounds, well within our (and your) limit. From my notes, we had two full propane tanks (steel) at the time, and I think the small amount of water in the tanks would have been pretty irrelevant. We usually store stuff on the floor of the bathroom when we travel, but I doubt it weighs more than forty or fifty pounds total... a couple gallons of water in jugs, a box or two of wine , plastic box with towels, bathroom paraphenalia, etc. I wish I knew the formulas to help you figure out the tongue weight versus the weight on the electric jack, but I don't. With the position of the electric jack so far back from the tongue, a portable scale will (as you know already, as I see in your post) will give you a much higher weight. How much higher, I don't know. Perhaps the quickest way to find the real tongue weight would be to weigh everything on a segmented, certified scale at a Flying J or another truck stop, and do the two weight process to determine total weight and axle/tongue weights. It went pretty quickly for us, and the operator was really helpful, perhaps because we went at a time when the scales were otherwise empty. I stayed at the phone to speak to the operator, and Paul handled the connection/disconnection on the second weigh. Pretty quick with the electric jack, maybe five or ten minutes total time. I, too, am unhappy that we can't have the same types of fuel-efficient diesels so popular in Europe. My sister-in-law has vowed not to let loose of her old diesel VW till she can replace it with something similar. She gets incredible (40 plus) mileage on the highway. I hear they're coming, though... eventually. Sherry

I, too, love "living in a familiar cocoon, and waking up to a new world out side....". Our little trailers offer such a wonderful way to camp, travel, enjoy our beautiful country. In our 27,000 miles over the last two years, we've awakened to some beautiful sights through the rear window. We're at home now. Thinking about next year's adventures. Hope to see you on the road, Pete. Thanks for the link. Sherry

J, We use a good (though a little expensive) marine paste wax by 3m on the exterior (and much of the interior) of our Oliver. One can lasts a long time, and it's the same wax we use on the boat. Washing, we use a small amount of car wash product or dishwashing liquid (Dawn) in the bucket. A brush with soft bristles and telescoping handle, and a big carwash sponge. Dry with a chamois and old, soft terry cloth towels. I like vinegar windex for the windows and mirrors. Sherry PS I sent you a pm. And, Paul says I should no longer use even mild dishwashing liquid on the trailer... it can remove the wax that takes so much time to apply!

Doug, The little dehumidifier ( http://www.air-n-water.com/product/SD-652.html ) looks interesting. If you do decide to try it, please let us know how it works out for you. I see it has a tube discharge option as well as a small tank, with auto shutoff, with 12 volt adaptability. We haven't had any issues with condensate in Florida, so I don't think we'd be looking at one. During storage, I just leave Fantastic fan on auto, and it seems to provide sufficient ventilation and circulation. Sherry

A huge rockslide has I-40 between Asheville and Knoxville blocked both directions. Fortunately, it occurred at 2 am instead of 2pm on this heavily traveled interstate. NCDOT says it may take months (and $10 million or more) to clear the roads. Some of the rocks are the size of a garage! Luckily, no drivers were involved in the slide, though a few accidents immediately after resulted in some injuries as unaware drivers ran into the rocks covering the road. links: http://www.wral.com/traffic/story/6278952/ http://news.google.com/news?q=rockslide ... CBAQsQQwAA Sherry

We just spent three weeks in NC, DC, and Western New York. A few nice days early on in NC, but most of our weather has been damp, cold rain... luck of the draw. On our way to DC, I picked up a small $15 portable Sunbeam heater at a WalMart. It has a thermostat with six or eight settings, high/low setting, a very quiet fan, "cool touch", and "over heat cutoff", though no tipover protection. It's about eight inches wide by four deep by 10 high, and we left it under the small table at night on low, with the roof vent cracked about an inch or less. By the time we got to DC, my rugs were quite wet from all the rain we tracked in, and a day I forgot and left the roof vent open in the rain (manual setting) while we were out in the woods on the ATV. The little heater dried everything up, and life was pleasant again. We used it again during the nights in New York, where we had an electrical cord running from my sister-in-law's garage. Nice and dry, even with the Lake Erie autumn rains and dampness, with temps down into the forties and high thirties at night. Again, we left the roof vent open an inch or so at night. I leave the bathroom door open a crack, and the big drawer open a bit, as well. I think the little Sunbeam, at $15, is one of my best buys this year for the nights when we have electricity. It's very quiet, and kicks a surprising amount of heat for its size. I tried it one night on the table, but it heats the whole cabin better from its place on the floor beneath the small table. Sherry

Hi, Jam49, I suspect a lot of members will have some ideas for you. I moved this post to Oliver Campers where it may get more attention. Sherry

On our way from Rochester, NY to Buffalo, we drove thru Letchworth State Park. With the fall leaves, the gorges, falls, rock formations and rapids, it was stunning. We wanted to stay, but the cg closed the prior weekend, due to budget cuts compressing the camping season. If you are ever in western NY, please take a look, and take the time. Nick-named the "Grand Canyon of the North", this is truly an amazing park. Entrance fee, $6, camping fees, around $24. Views, priceless. Sherry Here's a link: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/79/details.aspx

Bull Run looked nice to us, too, Tom.The campground map for Bull Run looks very similar to Pohick Bay. Since both are NVPA parks, I suspect they're very comparable facilities. We came in from Fort Bragg/Fayetteville, NC, about a six hour drive, so Pohick was the closer choice for us. We really liked being able to camp in the woods, and still be in the center of Washington in a little over an hour. The metro is a lot easier to use than driving around D.C., and trying to find a place to park a pickup. Sorry we couldn't get together this trip north, but the weather was not much fun! We're on the interstate now, headed out, and the cold rain continues, with 42 being our high so far at noon. Sherry

We really like it here, and think you would too. There are a few others we saw listed, including Trailer Village in the Greenbelt, which would honor the half-price senior price, and has closer access to public transport to the capitol, but they had tick warnings posted. This park also has a nature trail going down to the water, but we haven't struck out on it yet. We've been slogging through lots of water and mud daily on the national mall, touring the Solar Decathlon houses. I've put my Clark Muckies to good use, and rain gear layered with fleece has been our favorite wardrobe in this unseasonably cold and rainy October weather. It's supposed to warm up after we leave. Sherry

We've spent the last few days at Pohick Bay Regional Park, in Fairfax County Virginia. Great little campground for visiting the nation's capitol. About 20-25 miles outside D.C., a few miles off I-95, it's amazingly rural and quiet. Campsites are heavily wooded, and, for the most part, nicely spaced. Comfort stations are probably from the seventies, but very, very clean, and warm! Yesterday, three deer were munching on acorns in the empty site next to us when I came out of the camper. They moved across the road, and grazed in the cold morning rain in the open field adjoining the playground. It's probably really crowded here in the summer, with its location by the water and the on-site water park. Only perhaps one-quarter of the sites are occupied tonight in a Friday in October. You can check it out here http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/pohickbay/?pg=camping.html Staff is very nice. Lots of oak and sweetgum trees. About a fifteeen to twenty minute drive to Springfield mall, where there's a free parking garage and a twenty-five cent shuttle to the metro. From Franconia-Springfield metro (end of the blue line), you're on the mall in front of the Smithsonian in about 40 minutes. We'd definitely stay here again. About $20 dry camping, $25 with electric, more for full hookups. Sherry