GaryJona

Dale as always the Devil is in the details. You said you looked at the Casita 17 which we had one was probably around 2800 lbs give or take. We pulled that with the f150 5.0 no problems didn't know it was back there. The Oliver and you said you wanted something bigger which is probably the Elite II 23 ft. ours dry at pick up was 4820. That is 2000 lbs heavier ( a Ton ) which I did notice in the Hills and Mountains and not even in the West where you climb to over 10,000 Feet through a passage. I have spoken to others who do just fine, if I need to push my RPM's high or stress my transmission and overheat it not the way I wish to go. Sorry for the" WDH" that is Weight Distribution Hitch, you say your truck says it can tow 6,000 lbs You could call Toyota or look at the chart and that figure is probably using a WDH so with out it your towing illegally and should just about only tow a Casita without one at only 3000 lbs loaded. They usually put the small print at the end of the chart, Bottom of the chart and I have read others that have posted on the forums and I think it was a Toyota that read it right on the Hitch frame under the rear of their truck. Usually somewhere on the charts it will say Tow Weights shown are with a WDH or Tow weights shown are half of what shown if not using a WDH.

We had originally considered a Dodge, however, upon reading blogs regarding issues with the computers and witnessing it first hand in Death Valley, along with posts regarding the "Dodge death wobble", we began looking at the Chevy. Also, Dodges supposedly have issues with the transmissions. When we were way out in the middle of nowhere in Death Valley at the crater, there were two new Dodge owners. One of the trucks wouldn't start due to a computer error. This was the second time he had an issue with the computer. Once at 5k miles, this second time was at 10k miles. Fortunately, after disconnecting the battery, the computer reset and the truck started. The other owner said he always carries a diagnostic device. Knowing the Chevy diesel is also reliable, along with a superior transmission, we decided to go with the Chevy Silverdo 2500 diesel. Lee also ended up buying the Chevy diesel and recently towed the Oliver on a trip to Pigeion Forge and got around 14.5 mpg with rpm's around 1500. We were both told the mpg's get better as it breaks in. He was getting between 8-12 mpg's with his Tundra 5.7 and I was getting around 10-14 with my Ford F-150 5.0.

This is another opinion based decision so here is mine. Towing the casita which we had a 17 LD for 4 years and yes that would be fine to pull it we did with the F150 5.0 and did not know it was back there. We have some friends who bought a 19 Escape and had a Tacoma and sold it to get the Tundra, our F150 towed the Oliver very well but was weak in the mountains with the 5.0 the 5.7 would have been a much better decision for the weight. Also I would really read about tow weights they are half of what is shown without the WDH. Thanks Gary

Great! It will really be nice to see you both again! We are not booking extra days, as the plan now is for Gary to come in straight from FL on the 19th and we will be leaving on Sunday, as we have an appointment in Hohenwald on Monday. Then...off to Alaska. Did you book extra days? Do you have plans to camp in Pisgah again this year?

Looking forward to meeting you, Bill! Olivers will now be in sites C-7, C-9 & A-28. Is anyone else able to attend? There were 5 Olivers at the Cherokee, NC rally in October. It's always fun meeting new people!-Jona & Gary

Welcome to the Oliver group they are a very friendly bunch and fun to run into on the road. Safe travels and enjoy your pick up be ready to have some great times. Thanks Gary

We have four squares of white dri dek in ours that we used in the Casita previously. I was concerned about keeping the white clean, but you would never know that it is four years old. I do scrub it with some Comet between trips. We purchased it at West Marine. I also use a rubber backed rug over top to keep dirt out in between showers. I even found one at IKEA that fit perfectly. Always keep one extra in the closet in case we forget to "pull the handle" in the bathroom when we first set up.

Sorry, C-9. Resent pm.

L Rhodes-sent you pm

Would love to meet you and show you our Oliver. We will be in site #9 and another in site #7. We had a 2010 Liberty before the Oliver, our very first trip headed north to AK in 2012. More tips and suggestions are always welcome!!-Jona

Hey Buzzy yes we have thought about the roads in Alaska and really also the bad roads in the Yukon Territories. We had a Casita before the Oliver and the first pace we took her out of the driveway was Alaska to visit our daughter who was living in North Pole i.e. Fairbanks in 2012. I picked up a closed cell foam padding about 3/8 to 1/4 thick that I will duck tape to the front of the Oliver below the belly band from the marker lights around the front. When I traveled the last time most of the rock chips were on the two sides under belly band and I can remove it once in AK and put back on when I go to return. I will drive part of the Dalton Hwy but not with the trailer at least up to the Arctic Circle this can get really really and I mean really muddy and rocky. The rest of the roads in Alaska I will take as they come going up the Alcan and returning through the Cassiar Hwy into Washington state. Thanks Gary

We just registered for the "1st Annual Eggs on the Hiawassee River" rally May 19-21 at the Riverbend Campground in Hiawassee, GA with another Oliver and a Casita. Great way to begin our trip to AK! Anyone else care to join in?

Shurflo Fresh Water Pump Model 2088-554-144 12 Volts, 3.5 Gallons Per Minute, 45 Psi.Bought it off Amazon same pump that many RV Trailers use.

I have taken a Shurflo water pump 12 volt unit add a couple alligator clips & hose connection and pump in from the city or Fresh water fill outlets on the outside mostly for Dry camping. Lee and Teri have done the same principal as well. I don't know if hat will help you but I can pump in water or fluid from any container that way. Thanks Gary

Well hello #112 interesting thing we have had a cabin in Murphy NC for 25 years now, probably have run into you at the Walmart and didn't know it. We are west of town in Ranger past the elementary school. You will love your Oliver as we do .We just picked up ours in May with Lee & Teri from eastern NC numbers 81 & 82. Best of luck and happy camping we are about to head out to Arizona and Quartzite next week so enjoy and see ya in a campground one day. Thanks Gary & Jona

David enjoy your stay we really liked it there also. Have a Happy New Year and a great year camping hope to see ya all soon. Gary & Jona

David I do not think we will be going this year as we have in the past as we will be returning from Arizona and have to get back to S. Fl to check in on my Mother before the summer trip and if all is good get ready for Alaska. Hope all is well and see ya soon. Gary & Jona

Wow this is always which came first the chicken or the egg everyone has an opinion. My opinion is from towing a casita to now the 23 ft oliver the truck with 4 doors and a 6.5 ft bed. I have a Ford F150 with the 5.0 and yes it does the job but I pass no one on long steep climbs but love the truck. The reasons the back of the cab leaves lots of room to carry personal items food, etc, the bed of the truck I have found a topper to be of great value and doors on the sides for easier access of items and the reason for the 6.5 bed as mine is the 5.5 bed and a friend we travel with has the bigger bed and it carries much more such as a generator and the new Clam Shell if you have seen one is over 6 ft long it really makes a difference. We do travel long distances and something to think of is the gas tank again I have the 34 gal and my buddy has the reg 25 gal and he has to always stop for gas when I am only getting to a half tank this makes sense on such trips as Montana, Wyoming, Dakotas, The Alcan to Alaska, etc. Thanks Gary

Hello just to add a few thoughts you should also use and have at pick up a water filter with the flex connection again at all walmarts and I always use a brass 45 degree angle but usually they have the 90 degree hose connection for on you water connection it makes it a lot easier to set up on any trailer. Remember to run water through it at the camp site first before connecting to the trailer to flush out the charcoal. The oliver also has a cable connection they do not supply a coax cable so I would have two 25 ft lengths usually one will do but we were just at Cherokee rally and another oliver had to run over a site to get a good connection and also needed a coupler to put the two lengths together and many people also get the slip connections on these to make it easier. I carry also several rags to wipe off my outside cables i.e. Power,coax,water hose before placing them away and use a couple totes in the cargo hold but probably get those after pick up and there is a walmart in Holenwald to hold these items for easier access. Just some ideas you will love and enjoy your Oliver and hope to see ya all on the road take care. Thanks Gary

I'm sure my wife can answer much better than I can but she also uses a mattress pad with fitted sheets and places the comforter on top tucked in works really well and always looks good. we had mattresses made at Southern Mattress Co just outside Raliegh NC and they are really nice people they do a lot of them for the Casita trailers. They made ours and our friends camper the same day so they have the pattern and we all really like them sleep like a baby. See what works for you and enjoy the Oliver as I know you will. Thanks Gary

Hello, Lee hull #82 had those hull number made for our trailers we do like it and helps also because every one asks what make trailer is that when in a campground. You can make them up in any vinyl lettering shop. Good luck on your new ollie and there is never a question not to ask so ask away on the forums great to have you in the family. Thanks Gary and Jona

Sent you a message.

Congratulations, Horace & Dianne! Don't know where you are in Virginia, but we wll be camping at the Natural Bridge KOA in Lexington Oct. 8 & 9. We would love to meet up with you if you're available and interested. We will be traveling with another Oliver heading from a rally in the LancasterPA area, heading to a rally in Cherokee, NC where there will be 5 Oliver's. Would love to have you join us!-Jona & Gary and Teri & Lee

This is a first time rally and appears that the co-ordinator has approached local businesses to contribute some give-aways for the rally. In turn, rally attendees will frequent their businesses. It sounds like a lot of time and effort has been put into organizing this rally. But for the fact that we had just visited OBX this summer and had already commited to other rallies, I'm sure that we would have loved to attend this rally. Maybe next year..... Have you decided to attend? There is also the Cherokee NC rally Oct. 15-18 that we will be attending. There are 5 Olivers, that I am aware of, that are already registered for Cherokee. We are excited to meet other Oliver owners!

We have used a RV Cover, the one we just purchased was a 24 plus size and I have to say is way too big it was made for a big box but I need something for now in South Florida from all the Pine trees, Hot Florida sun and the endless rains of summer. I found with the Oliver and the Casita before that the cover kept it clean, dry and UV protected. I went to target and got the larger swimming Noodles that the kids use in the pools cut it length wise and sliped it over the sides of the solar panel and protects the cover and lets any rain water runs off the ends. I always keep wheels covered on the tires as well from any UV, again S. Fl is brutal. I will build a covered shelter but for now it works. I don't have a snow or freeze problem so I would follow others on that regard. Thanks Gary