SeaDawg

Paul and I got home from a couple weeks boondocking in the mountains of North Carolina, and we're thinking about a different tow vehicle with 4 wheel drive and 4 seats for the dirt roads on the mountainsides. Our 2wd/5.3l Silverado does great on the paved mountain roads and on the interstate. Likewise, the Volvo does great on the interstate but is a little underpowered with its 2.6l engine when used in the mountains. We feel that we really need a 4WD to take the Oliver to the best views on the little dirt back roads with steep grades. The Volvo is 4WD and heavy (6000 GVW), but its small 2.6l engine doesn't have quite the guts for towing in the dirt and gravel. We get about 14-14.5 mpg towing, with either the Silverado or the Volvo, combination of FL/GA /SC flat lands and North Carolina mountains. Better on the flat land only... We'd like to be able to at least match the 14.5, or do a little better. So far, we've test driven a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the new restyled Jeep Liberty with tow package, a Toyota FJ,and a 2008 Silverado half ton with extended cab, all 4wd. The local dealer let us hook up and tow the Oliver with the FJ yesterday. Unfortunately, it looks like we only got about 11-13MPG during our test drive of 125mi with a mix of hwy and local driving. We lack mountains here to really get a feel for any of the vehicles in its intended environment... We spend quite a bit of time on the mountains. Any ideas from any of you would be appreciated. We'd really like to stay with an SUV this time, and not a truck, but the Silverado 4x4 is always a fallback... or another brand.... Sherry

I believe that your Suburban is built on the same frame as our Silverado half-ton. If so, the Oliver is less than half the weight allowed for towing and tongue for your Suburban (check the manual, firtst). I don't believe that a WDH would be warranted .... at all. Sway control is up to you... but the Suburban is very heavy... compared to the Oliver. You might want to take the specs of both to a trusted local mechanic and discuss your options since you have a very long drive home. I think you said you added some tow package options.... You may want to beef up the springs with air bags or helper springs (my vote is the adjustable air bags like ours)... which will be cheaper to do at home than away from home. Congratulations... We know you'll love your Oliver as we do!!! We have a factory tow package on the Silverado, which includes slightly beefed up springs and additonal coolers. We do not feel we need either a WDH or sway control, and we drive a lot of varying terrain... and high speed interstates. We barely feel the trucks going by. We only added the airbags to accomodate the weight of our ATV in the truckbed.... otherwise, we wouldn't have done anything other than the brake controller. Sherry

Angler, We tow our Oliver with both our car (Volvo XC90 SUV) and our Chevy Silverado half ton pickup. We added Hellwig air bags to our Silverado because we often carry our 800 pound ATV, loading ramp, and extra "stuff" (grilll, hiking gear,tools, gas cans, etc.) in the truck bed along with towing the Oliver. The airbags are adjustable, so when we run empty in the bed, we can let most of the air out, eliminating most of the slightly rougher empty ride. With an SUV, you may not need any extra suspension help. We haven't found it to be necessary with the Volvo SUV. Probably depends on what you put in the cargo area and if you put extra weight on the tongue. (We carry only a little 35 or 40 pound 1000 watt Honda generator in the truck bed to top off the batteries when we boon dock.) Paul bought the Hellwigs on line, and had our local mechanic install them on the Silverado. Airbags, just under $300.00. Local guy, about 75 or 85 dollars... it's a very simple installation, and doesn't require removing anything standard. Both our vehicles have factory tow packages (hitch, coolers, etc.). Hope this helps. Sherry

Stirring and peaceful, so beautiful... I looked at this and immediately thought of Robert Frost's "The Road Less Traveled": "....And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Thank you for sharing..... Sherry

Hi, Sacsun! I edited the twin bed thread to bring it up again... I'm so glad you remembered those photos on photobucket... and I was one of the people who asked for them... duh, blame it on old-timer's.... Thanx for the reminder. To our new friends in Louisiana, you may wish to pm BuffaloBob on this forum. He is Oliver's sales manager, and may have more photos of the storage and organizational ideas you've requested. He'd also be the best source for the name of an Oliver owner near you.... or info on any upcoming expos ... I know Sacsun would agree with me... pix are great, but the Oliver in real life is super... happy camping... and exploring Sherry

A link to twin bed version photos was posted on another thread.... A friend of mine was looking for photos, and I thought it might be helpful here, too. May be of interest to others, as well. Sherr http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii120/robertpartee/twin%20beds/

Hey, Chuck... don't throw in the towel or the crockpot yet.... Anybody can learn... Personally, I think crockpot cooking is a great art... one I enjoy a lot. Low energy use, delicious results... As far as Paul's steak recipe... we'll marinade one for the next unofficial, unsanctioned Oliver rally, I promise... we'll be waiting for your review!!! When are you two in Pasco next? Sherry (PS UNSANCTIONED RULES!!! )

Hmmm, good question. Especially if you're thinking about the logistics of traditional trailers where the water tanks take up a lot of the useable storage area. The Oliver tanks are very different from others.... long, low horizontal "boxes" that fit in the area between the double hulls... not an area you could use for other storage, easily, but a great, protected place for tanks. Their placement frees up other areas for storage. I'm with Tumbleweed... We all buy a trailer thinking we'll keep it for the rest of our lives... or at least many years... but things can change. I think eliminating ANY tankage... fresh, black or grey... would be a big mistake in the resale value of the trailer... any trailer. If weight for your tow vehicle is a factor, just don't fill the freshwater tank. It's just an easier decision to NOT eliminate them in the Oliver where they take up no inside room at all. I see you're some distance from the factory... but when you get down to the final decision making crunch time, I think it's important to see the whole enchilada and be able to look at how they're made from the lightweight, tough all aluminum frame up....The factory is impressive. Besides, it's a pretty drive, and Nasheville's really close by! sherry Good luck with your decision. Sherry

I don't do a lot of upholstery anymore, but I recently had a really good experience with winterbeachmodern.com They also sell have an ebay store, I think. They carry big name fabrics like Knoll, Herman Miller, and Maharam, specifically designed for seating. They offer a limited number of free samples with an email. Prices are 50-75% off retail. Check their descriptions for clues on what to look for in quality seating fabric elsewhere, too: weight, weave, rub count, cleaning directions, fabric content. Personally, I like a tightly woven, part cotton, part poly blend for heavy use seating. (Some rayon added is ok with me, some wool is great.) The local fabric stores tend to mix up drapery, slipcover, and upholstery fabrics in colorway displays, so try to find a clerk to help you who actually knows upholstery if you're unfamiliar with fabrics. I would want to see and feel a sample before I bought anything on the internet, so a lot of ebay auctions and stores would not be an option for me unless I was already familiar with that particular fabric. Good luck in your search for the perfect fabric! It's fun to look at the Oliver interiors and see that no two are alike! Sherry

Paul found this at Sam's Club, and for the price (around $11), we just had to add it to the onboard favorites. Built in batteries, rechargeable by a handcrank, power a weather/am/fm/ radio, led flashlight, and a cell phone charger. Kit includes universal adaptors to charge most phones.... Can also be repowered with three AAA batteries. http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=373944 Sherry

Hi! Thanks for starting the map, and we're on it under St. Petersburg, FL. Sherry

Campsite favorites... Simple, just a few ingredients... often involve the campfire or grill... or maybe something you bring partially prepared from home... What's cooking at your campsite? Paul's Awesome Flank Steak... His claim to fame... Easy & delicious. 1. Go to Sam's club or your favorite meat market. Buy a nice flank steak (or two, as they usually come packaged at Sam's) 2. Lay out each steak on the cutting board and poke with a fork about thirty or forty times on each side. (Two reasons... tenderizes, and accepts more marinade.) Trim any excess tallow. 3. Get out your favorite marinading container... flatter the better, with a tight seal... Or a gallon Ziploc bag. Grab a bottle of your favorite marinade... Ours is Lawry's Teryiaki with Pineapple. Layer a little marinade on the bottom of the dish. Add a flank steak. Cover the top with a thin layer of marinade. Repeat if you're marinading more. Put the lid on, or zip it up. Swirl around, gently. Put in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours, turning the steaks every 12 hours. The longer you marinade, the stronger the flavor. Three days is about max. 4.Fire up the grill. Grill for about 5-7 minutes each side... They're thin... not a lot longer unless you're a well done fan. 5. Put the cutting board in a rimmed cookie sheet to keep the juices off the counter or table. Slice thin, on the diagonal, with a sharp knife and enjoy. Great with pasta, baked potatoes, or roasted red bliss & veggies. Figure about 1/3 pound per person... or a half pound if you're really hungry!. Leftovers are great on a salad the next day with croutons, onions, and bleu cheese. We grilled this tonite, and really enjoyed it. Hence, the post. What's your favorite campsite recipe? Sherry

Just for fun, I took a little trip down memory lane today.... I found this website of a California man who renovates (and modernizes) vintage travel trailers from the thirties, forties, fifties, and sixties. Anybody else remember some of these from our childhood? http://www.vintage-vacations.com/pastclients.html My favorites are the '61 Airstream Globetrotter, the '53 Southland Runabout... and that very cool '46 Spartan Manor with the wraparound kitchen.... I'm thinking 50 years from now somebody will be proudly posting photos of her '08 Oliver.. They're surely built to last.... l Sherry

Hi, Lisa, Carefully done, well-thought out. Happy camping! Sherry

Thanks, Phil. I'm really bad about (a) remembering to take the camera out of the cupboard and (b) remembering to download on a timely basis... But, here are a couple recent photos: Paul working on the new parking pad for the Oliver beside our house. My job? Five trips to the concrete plant for turf blocks... they weigh 65 pounds each, and our Silverado's only a half ton. We're really happy with the way it turned out, though. Taken at a rest stop in North Carolina in March. We're really happy we can tow with the truck or the car. This time, we took the ATV along, too, in the truck. I'll try to do better in the future! Thanks for asking. Sherry

Phil, at last year's rv show we saw some really clever drop down beds and also some bunks that folded up into overhead cupboards (especially in toyhaulers and very small stickbuilts) . I think you have the kernel of a great idea here. Sherry

Absolutely, definitely!! Thanks, Meanderthal

On the recommendation of some campers we met on our last trip to NC, we stayed at Santee State Park, Santee, SC near the intersection of I-95 and I-26. We camped in the Cypress section, 50 sites, wooded, beautiful... Big breeze the nights we were there, so no mosquitos, got chilly enough for the furnace to kick in several times set on low. No need for an awning... lots of big old trees.... along with a magnificent view of Lake Marion, a flooded Cypress Swamp. Water and electric, dump station on the way out. The town of Santee is 3 miles away with all the usual services-gas stations, supermarket, McD's ... and cute local restaurants. There is also a 100 site campground on the other side of Lake Marion, just as beautiful from what the park ranger told me. Nice, clean bathrooms with hot showers. Lots of trails for hiking. Cabins also available for reservation if you are meeting trailer-less friends. Very enjoyable experience. Sorry, I can't post pix of my own right now, but here's the link to the state website and santee. Look thru the pix on the left hand side. Cost varies from about $16 to $25. Pick a bigger spot on the website than what you think you need.... Trees can make it difficult to back into some of the small sites. http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/photo-gallery/default.aspx South Carolina state parks are celebrating their 75th anniversary with the theme "Come out and Play".... Great theme, great time... Hope you get a chance to visit!!! We'll check out more on our trips to NC this year.... and keep you updated. South Carolina people have welcomed all of us warmly... Sherry

OK, Pete, if you can pull with the bugeye, we're putting a hitch on the '58 TR3... Wanna race??? I can see it now... 1st Oliver road rally... no tow vehicles from this century allowed, flatland course only... I doubt we can get factory sanction for this kind of rally, though... (ok, we gotta finish the rebuild on the TR3.... first...) All jokes aside, the car is beautiful ... so is the Oliver... what a great pair!) Paul & Sherry

Sorry, I've been offline... no internet or cell phone for a few days... The extra shocks, lift kit, and 15" wheels are great.... I-40 west of Asheville in the right hand lane is pothole heaven.... no problem. Not to mention back country dirt roads... but at least on the dirt roads we're all driving slower and EXPECT issues... Sherry

Hi. I heard there were photos & a floorplan online for the twin model. Could someone post a link, cause I can't find it. One of my best friends would like to see the floorplan for twins after seeing my Oliver. Thanks! Sherry

You did a nice job, Phil. Looks like it came that way! Out of curiosity, what do you have mounted on the bumper (to the curbside of the spare tire cover)? Sherry

Hello, Astrocaster, and welcome to the Oliver Forum! We added the lift kit and 15" wheels because we spend a lot of time in the country... meaning, we are very acquainted with potholes, washouts, and rough dirt & gravel roads. We are also planning a second trip to Alaska, where the side roads can be quite rough. The extra five or six inches give us extra clearance and peace of mind .... The cost to add was minimal, in my husband's opinion. Center of gravity is low anyway with the long, horizontal tanks mounted in the bottom, nestled onto the aluminum frame. Downside, I guess, would be the additional height of the trailer, which isn't enough difference (by way far!) to interfere with normal overpasses, bridges, etc., or any of our tree branches in the yard, for that matter. And, we wouldn't have been able to fit the trailer in the garage in the original form... too much other stuff in there. Our Oliver has a nice little parking pad next to the house, instead. I think a number of other forum members also added the kit and bigger tires. I'm sure we'll hear from some of them later on. Hope this helps. Sherry

Hi, Pete, Thanks for posting the great photos. Sorry we didn't get to stay in Howenwald when we picked ours up.... Too little time, too many commitments at home... tho we'll take them up on the offer of a night on Oliver one of these days!! Hope the rally is a lot of fun... sure it is. Best regards, Sherry & Paul

Well thought out, beautifully done.... Thanks for sharing. Sher