JRK

As a retired firefighter, and fire origin and cause investigator for more than 40 years, I am somewhat paranoid as to what can cause fires. Candle fires have paid for my Oliver - they can cause fires. For insurance companies, I have investigated many fires caused by candles, for which I have been paid well. A candle has been recalled, https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/ADCO-Recalls-Candles-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Sold-Exclusively-at-Dollar-Tree that can cause a fire. Remember to be fire safe. This candle, and many like it, can get too hot which can cause the glass container to break. When the container breaks, the wax melts, which can cause nearby combustible material to ignite and cause the room (or trailer) to burn and hurt people. Just making sure our Oliver family is aware, and are safe. Most RV fires and personal injuries have been caused by failures in the refrigerator, mostly cured by newer refrigerators - propane refrigerators. The Oliver trailers do not have such refrigerators, that cause fires. Just what items that we might put in our Oliver, or how we use them. I have daughters who like to burn candles, and so do I. Make sure yours are safe. Also be safe with portable heaters.

Thanks. Found a lot of good information at technomadia. John

seadawg, when were you in new brunswick? The area was a favorite of ours in 1994 - and we had a flat tire, replaced all four tires on a Sunday. Looking forward to a return trip.

thanks for the suggestions. we signed up for harvest hosts, but have not yet used it. glad to hear that people like it. I would like to hear about any experiences, so yes, please let us know about where you stayed. John

Take a look at the Bioenno LiFePO, bioennopower.com, 1500 watt power pack for $1,200, plus a 100 watt foldable solar panel and controller for $200, if you need 1500 watt. I use the 500 watt power pack that was on sale for $250, built-in inverter, usb and 12 volt ports. I use it at work sites and for portable ham radio operation. Be careful of titles - it really isn't a solar "generator". It does not really effectively replace a propane or gasoline generator. It would be a fine backup or portable power supply, but very pricey. It will not likley power an a/c, microwave or similar appliance for long, if at all. That is what a traditional generator would do, maybe.

Thanks, Mike. I was not aware of that app. As it gets closer, I'll sign up for Harvest Hosts. They just almost doubled in price, but at $79, if we use it, it seems okay. I have never talked with anyone who has stayed at Harvest Host places much, so only have advertising info as an evaluation. Yes, weather is the concern. I may end up just getting to I10 as quickly as possible. John

I think I agree with Mike - this is an Oliver issue, either design, or choice of battery (battery size). A battery slide out compartment is standard in tens of thousands of vehicles. Commercial trucks use them. I checked the batteries weekly on my fire apparatus - all had batteries mounted in a slide out, without ever having a chafing problem. The batteries are not mounted on a solid platform. It is foolish to have a protruding bolt that would contact the battery exterior surface. I currently do expert witness/investigations that involve factory and design defect evaluations. Without seeing the issue in person and doing a proper evaluation, it is difficult to assess, but it sure sounds as though this is a manufacturing and/or design problem. Or use of an improper battery that does not fit the slides, when looking at the damage on the exterior surface. The proper battery sized battery, dimensionally, should be used rather than attempting to provide a patch fix. The damage on the bottom of the battery seems to be caused by protrusions that should not be there, that need to be removed. Don't patch it, or treat the symptoms. Fix the cause. Of course this is based upon photos and discussion, as I won't get my Oliver until March. There are many issues to evaluate, I am finding out, that seem to be design and possible manufacturing miscues.

Hello Mike and Yasuko. My wife, Kazue, and I, John, will be picking up our first Oliver, and Elite I, in March, we trust. After Kazue let me know that she would not be joining me in a tent - our honeymoon was a tent camping trip along the California coast when I was 18, she was 19 - I began looking at reasonable trailers. I found teardrops which would have been fine for me, but they were a bit expensive. Looked at other fiberglass trailers; Scamp, Casita and Escape, Bigfoot, then discovered Oliver. Oliver offered the positives of the others, the wait list wasn't as long, and they seemed to be as well or better made. Hope to see you out on the road. We are still based in southern California in Ventura County.

Hello Adams family I kinda liked the water dripping on my nose, fluttering tent material with the rain plopping. I had begun to return to tents and short hikes (planned long hikes) but my wife decided that she wanted to return to camping, which required a return to a trailer of some sort - her choice rather than a motorhome. Oliver seemed right as a compromise between a 40' 5th wheel and a tent. Pick up ours in March. Near the beach in southern California - what is winter? Maaybe see you out there, somewhere.

Trying to plan the trip to pick up the new Oliver in March. Will probably take 2 weeks to get home from Hohenwald to Los Angeles via Stamps, Arkansas. My dad is buried in the Sardis Cemetery in Stamps. Haven't been there for a while. So will go to southern Arkansas, then home from there. Not in a rush. Trying to figure out I40 or I10 as the main route, with smaller roads okay. Will be going through Show Low in Arizona, and plan to pass through Santa Fe/northern New Mexico, depending upon weather. Otherwise, we are completely open to ideas and suggestions. John

Made a reservation for space E30 - will pick up Elite I March 17. May not make it, but will try. John

Interesting comments - seems as though several companies need to discuss electrical issues with electrical engineers, and users need proper information to make proper, informed decisions. The purpose of a DC to DC converter/inverter/ whatever you decide today to call it is to limit and control current and voltage. The converter will take an assumed to be variable DC source and manage it to keep it at a preset voltage/current. Used to power sensitive electronic equipment, such as a laptop, from a battery that is being depleted. At a predetermined input voltage, the system will shut off. I do not understand the issue with current flowing in unwanted directions. A simple circuit can be installed to allow only one-way current flow. Diode circuits, or a single proper diode, have been used for years to prevent current flow in an unwanted direction. I sort of charged my trailer batteries from my tow vehicle in the 1980's without concern of unwanted current flow from the trailer to the TV (I guess that is what we are calling a tow vehicle - I am learning stuff). I am challenged to think and evaluate the information provided. All of it has value, and I am learning a lot as a soon to be Oliver owner.

Retired again, for last time, for real, I hope. Not going to be full-time trailer traveling, we will be taking long trips. Have stayed in Fort Wilderness twice - with a pop-up Coleman and one daughter, and a 24' 5th wheel and 3 daughters, so have towed before. And living in a 24' 5th wheel with 3 daughters, 18, 10 and 8, makes for an interesting trip. Placed an order for an Elite I that should be ready in March. Decided to splurge, and make it reasonably comfortable. Compromised between a larger trailer and a teardrop that will be towed with my 2014 Tacoma, for now anyway. Will see how the tow home to Camarillo, about 50 miles west and slightly north of Los Angeles, will be. Hope to make it a 2 week trip, making a few notes of what needs to be done. Have enjoyed the forum, learning about the Oliver.

If you would like technical reasoning, I can provide it, but if you are not going to get the LiFePo batteries, then get AGM batteries. Avoid the wet cell type, if possible. AGM batteries are "maintenance free", will not freeze in winter, come in all voltages, 6 and 12, and amp hour ratings.

I am still conflicted over the composting toilet, but did order one for the trailer I will pick up in March. I now have an idea of what to order prior to leaving home from California to have with me. My family of 5, three daughters, lived in a 24' 5th wheel for 3 months, 20,000 miles, when my eldest graduated from high school. She agreed to the trip. She now goes on her own trips, with a tent. I did not look forward to dumping the tank, or hooking up to the various park connections - when there was a connection. I also don't look forward to putting used toilet paper in a trash can - never have used a septic system. John

Thanks ?mark for the info. I should be picking up an Elite I in March. In addition to these few issues, what have you found so far that you have done to improve your use of the trailer? What have you, and others, wished had been installed/added/available? I am getting a few things ready for my trip from, and back to, California. My dad always carried a spare water pump, generator/alternator, starter and ignition system. What might I need to carry for the trailer? My list of what I should have that probably won't be provided: chocks, extension cord, security -wheel and hitch lock?, adapters (electric and mechanical), water hose and filter, ground cover for beneath awning, grease gun, basic tools, antenna mount(s) (ham radio) - what am I missing? Thanks

I ordered the Andersen. Thought that I could carry it with me for the first few thousand miles - the trip home. I will have it for resale if I ever do. thanks for the info, and my comfort with the Tacoma. I like the truck. Many people on the forum have been saying that the Tacoma is not enough truck. It is the heavy duty, tow package model, longer bed, four door. John

The LEDs have to be replacable. There are amber LED replacment lamps, or there are amber replacement lens covers. I've been using amber lights for many years, starting with the 12v amber turn signal lights on the older trailers/outdoor lights that I have used.

Which make/model of braker controller is suggested? I will probably be picking up an Elite 1, single axle in a few months, I hope. I want to be ready for the trip. I am towing with a 2014 Toyota Tacoma, for now, anyway, that has the tow package, 4x4, rated 6,500 trailer weight, so it should handle it. I need to install several items, including a trailer brake controller. There is the connection for the controller underneath the steering column. The last trailers I towed I used a tekonsha in my 94 Ford F-250 with a 460 motor which I finally sold. I towed a rather heavy, but small, fifth wheel most of the time. I don't plan on the Andersen hitch, but is there a better hitch than another, ie is the Reese 7,500 lb rating more accurate than a Curt, and looking at the ball/slide combination. Solid slide? Currently, I only tow lightweight utility trailers, and am using rather lightweight hitch and ball. Is there anything else that I should look at for the trip home? I am in California, so will take about a 2,000 to 2,500 mile shake down ride home. I will be making a list on my way, stopping at WalMarts as needed. Thanks - John