John Welte
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Posts
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Posts posted by John Welte
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8 hours ago, Steph and Dud B said:
So, here we go with "MSRP," "sale price," etc. One of the things I liked about our purchase experience was the fixed/no haggle price. I'd be interested to know which of those two prices matched the factory price for that trailer, if either. They can't have the factory charging less than the dealers and undercutting them. OTOH, I can't see the dealer charging less than the factory and still making an acceptable profit margin.
Very good point. It would be interesting to see the pricing structure. Obviously a person would expect to pay less at Hohenwald. A couple thousand more to avoid a 4-5000 mile round trip would be worth paying a bit more. For us in Oregon, that makes sense. I can't see paying more to a dealer in Alabama or Georgia though.
John
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On 1/14/2024 at 7:16 AM, MAX Burner said:
When your position is at the west-end of a given time zone, in this case only 25 miles east of PST, the sun comes up quite late in the AM. 0753, in fact:
Nice having a room with a view (the not-so-Tactical OTT Operation Center):
Cheers...
When I bicycled across the USA it was always nice to get to the western edge of a time zone as the sun went down later there. It makes a later sunrise, but a later sunset was a nice tradeoff.
John
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4 hours ago, Patriot said:
@SAR
Welcome to the forum!
To answer your original question about where to stay before delivery day? I highly recommend this place B&B -https://www.clarkthecrow.com/ You may want to book early or as soon as you know your actual delivery date.
It’s a short drive 8-10 min drive to the Oliver Service Center. Mellisa the gal that owns the place is an awesome host and her accommodations are spotless and really nice.
As others have said there are (7) water and electric only camp sites at the Oliver Service Center. There is also a dump station. One of these sites will be yours on delivery day. Your sales person will arrange that for you, just mention it.
Note - As much as possible try not to take delivery on Friday. If you have any issues with your new Oliver they won’t be addressed until Monday morning. The service center is closed in the weekends.Congrats on your order, delivery day will be here before you know it!
Patriot🇺🇸
We picked up on a Monday. That worked well for us. I agree to pick up early in the week.
John
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21 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:
- Quality
- Durability
- Easy towing
- Maneuverability, especially in tight campgrounds
- Service Department
- Owner network
- Family owned
- Annual Oliver sponsored rally
- This forum
Mike
I second what Mike wrote. We're able to see around the trailer with just our stock mirrors on our Ford Expedition. It tracks in the same area as the tow vehicle, so it's easy to tow and we're not concerned with where the trailer wheels are.
John
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36 minutes ago, topgun2 said:
Funny thing about that - my sleeping bag really doesn't look much different no matter how much time I take to "make it up" or direction I place it in.😇
Bill
Bill, we have 20 year old sleeping bags. They don't look elegant like some pictures I have seen here. We talk about getting more into this century, but it's already nearly 1/4 way done, so why rush things.
John
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51 minutes ago, jd1923 said:
What is your preferred sleeping position in your Oliver? (given the twin bed option) And please comment with any pros & cons you see.
I tried sleeping with my head at the rear, but after one night, I decided that I like my head by the kitchen as there's more room for my shoulders. My wife sleeps with her head at the rear.
John
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11 hours ago, SAR said:
Hello, I have a delivery date in April and wanted to know (based on your date), was there a delay for getting your trailer on that date? I'm wanting to make lodging 'reservations' before and after pickup. I am planning on spending the night @ Oliver after pickup to check systems out. thank you
We ordered on January 28, 2022 and were given November 7, 2022 as our delivery date. No delay at all. That year they had booked all the production slots by the end of January. They are good at keeping to the scheduled delivery date. Try to pick up on a Monday or Tuesday, spend two nights at OTT campground, then another two or three nights nearby. David Crockett State Park is nearby. Best wishes on a smooth delivery.
John
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On 1/6/2024 at 12:58 PM, topgun2 said:
like you actually had/have a propane leak somewhere between the tank and the furnace? Tomorrow when the system is pressure tested you should know the answer to this question.
How cold was it when the problem first came to light?
yes as long as you had the regulator on either "automatic" or pointed towards the tank that was 1/3 full. There are circumstance's when this statement is not true but for the most part, those circumstances are rare.
probably, but unless there is a reason to suspect that your current regulator and/or gauges are faulty - why change them?
It would be helpful if you filled out your "signature" line such that members of the Forum had a better idea about the age of your Ollie and, therefore, be in a position to give you better advice. You also might want to review the "proper" way to "open" your propane tanks. Also, yes, there are gauges that will reasonably show you the level of propane left in a tank (look up Mopeka).
Bill
"You also might want to review the "proper" way to "open" your propane tanks"
Bill, I am not aware of any proper way to open the tanks. I do turn on the tank valve and depress the gas stop about five times. I do select the tank with the lever instead of using automatic. I then check gas flow at the stove before turning on the heater. Anything I am missing?
John
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5 hours ago, Jason Foster said:
Why do bike rack manufacturers limit these on trailers? Are they expecting the trailer to have a stiffer suspension causing some shear forces at the hitch?
Jason, my guess is that there are more forces put on an attached bike rack that starts about 7 feet from the center of the rear axle of a travel trailer. I am not an engineer, but just thinking through the force transmitted from the tv movement at the hitch to the trailer and then 23 feet from that point to the start of the bike rack hitch point and the extra 2-2.5 feet of the bike rack, there must be some substantial forces to deal with. Best to keep the bike weight as low as possible. I remember the formula f=ma. Force equals mass times acceleration.
John
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On 7/28/2022 at 1:14 PM, Paul and Santina said:
Is anyone using the Yakima StageTwo premium tray 1.25” hitch bike rack that is
- “RV Tested and Approved to 60 lbs. per bike
- Off-Road rated to 36 lbs per bike”
I know this forum has already addressed the issue that there are no 1.25” bike racks on the market specifically “travel trailer approved”, and Oliver won’t convert the bike rack hitch from 1.25” to 2”, so I don’t want to re-open that can of worms.
BUT, the above Yakima might work, and I would dearly love to know whether anyone has tried it on their Oliver yet?
I use the Yakima Stage Two, but with a 2" receiver that I got from Curt Hitches. I just removed the 1.25" from OTT and drilled new holes to attach the Curt hitch. I did use high tension stainless steel bolts and nuts to hedge my bets. When I was in Hohenwald in November, 2023, I had them do the electrical hook up as I got the optional light bar/license plate holder for the bike rack.
John
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3 hours ago, Jason Foster said:
I picked up on Tuesday but it doesn’t seem to like 20amp power. The power keeps shutting off and turning back continuously. Trying to figure it out.
I think they're designed for 30 amp service. I don't have any problems with 30 amp. What are the big power draws at the moment?
John
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On 11/22/2023 at 12:34 AM, SeaDawg said:
The level mate is a really cool upgrade. We don't have it, but I saw it in action with camping with @Hokieman.
We'd certainly consider adding at black friday price.
I have it and it's worth having in my opinion. I can be in the tv and backing in and stop at the spot that's most level. We were in a deserted state park in Oregon and we checked out about 10 pull-throughs until we found the most level one. Totally worth having.
John
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1 hour ago, Wandering Sagebrush said:
John, we spent close to 30 years in Canby prior to moving to NE Oregon.
We're hoping to get out to Joseph next year to the state park there.
John
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2 hours ago, Wandering Sagebrush said:
I’m gunna guess it’s on McLaughlin Blvd, west side of the road…. maybe a bit north of the Oak Grove area.
Time will tell
That's a lot closer than Hohenwald! I know of about four owners in the Portland area. You must be the fifth with your knowledge of the area. Wahoo!
John
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1 hour ago, topgun2 said:
Absolutely!
My wife simply can not understand why I insist on cleaning a vehicle the day before departing on a trip. Even if the weather forecast is for rain - I'll still clean it. I tell her that this process gives me one last chance to really look it over to make sure that there are no problems. But, the truth is, "there is something nice about travelling in a clean vehicle.".
Most of us here on the Forum have been down the road you are now taking. Excitement, excitement, excitement! And, we still love reliving that. Be safe on the road, relax, get plenty of rest. Delivery day will get you very tired and you simply can not remember all the "stuff" that will be thrown your way. Don't worry about it. The folks at Oliver are just a few steps away for questions, repairs, adjustments, etc.. There is a WalMart and Tractor Supply straight down the street for anything you forgot or need. If you like Mexican restaurants then there is a fairly good one also straight down the street in the little strip mall on your right as you enter the WalMart parking area.
Ask your sales contact and/or the person doing your delivery to introduce you to Rodney Lomax and/or Scott Oliver if they are in the area. Both are - like the rest of the gang at Oliver - down to earth and easy to talk to.
Finally, we are here for you. If the guys/gals at Oliver have left for the day, you can always post a question here. With this in mind - don't forget to get the "guest" WiFi passcode before the end of the day.
Bill
Bill, I wondered if I was the only one that liked to wash the car before a trip regardless of the weather forecast. Nice to know that I am not alone.
John
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2 hours ago, John Dorrer said:
Pessimistic thoughts are like cancer. Spouting statements that have no validity do not help. Oliver has a business plan to make them a force for years to come. Instead of stirring the pot with negative comments, it might be a good idea to have all the facts first.
This site is a little more open minded, but comments here and especially on Oliver Facebook, come across like the sky is falling. "Oliver will be another Thor, and this will be the end of Oliver".
Oliver isn't going to just set up repair centers and spend the money to train personnel. It has to be a win-win-win for Oliver, RV Dealership, and Oliver Owners (Future Owners). There has to be something in it for the RV Dealership and that is having Oliver's on their lots for sale. Someone in Washington State can go to Portland, OR (or wherever the RV Dealership is located) instead of driving 1,500+ mile to Hohenwald
Remember, any Oliver Owner or Future Owner can go to Hohenwald to purchase or have service work done. Things will continue for those that prefer the Mothership.
Oliver needs our support. We need to let this play out. As locations come on board, and Oliver shares the sales part, and how the repair work will be implemented, we will get a true understanding of the entire plan.
We need to stop with negativity and spewing false comments. As I mentioned earlier this site has been a little more restrained.
I personally think this is a win-win for Oliver Owners and Future Owners
In the meantime Happy Camping.
Well said.
John
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1 hour ago, SeaDawg said:
I do, too, as a Tesla owner, but there are difficulties there, too.
Oliver family certainly doesn't have limited resources, but not the virtually unlimited resources of the Elon Musk group.
I think they are treading a new carefully vetted path, to offer regional service, and sales.
Nothing else changes, from what I've heard.
Hohenwald is still the center of the Oliver universe.
Let's give it a chance.
And one looks like it's near Portland, Oregon. That's good news for us!
John
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10 minutes ago, MAX Burner said:
Great fly-fishing just out side of Hobart... We love Tasmania!
It will be our first time there. They live north of Hobart in Rosetta, close to the river. I am looking forward to having summer in February and March.
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34 minutes ago, topgun2 said:
John -
While there are some good suggestions in the replies above, part of your question (I assume) is asking about an "official" presentation at the Rally giving information of the subject being discussed here in this thread on the Forum.
If that is the case, I'd suggest that you send Rodney Lomax an email requesting a session at the Rally in which this topic is discussed.
I know that (at least in the past) Oliver has been looking for suggestions exactly like this.
Bill
p.s. Rodney's email address is:
rlomax@olivertraveltrail
Thanks Bill, we haven't decided yet whether we're going to the rally. I would like to go, but we will have just returned from two months in Australia just before the rally starts. Our son lives in Tasmania. Thanks for your comment.
John
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1 hour ago, SeaDawg said:
It's electron magic, I guess.
We don't have the same system (we're blue sky solar, 400 watts fixed, 200 watts portable, pd charger /inverter, and agm natteries) but all these systems are pretty much set up with limits and rules so that everybody follows kindergarten protocols... play well together.
What we do is use genset in the morning, when most empty, and get the biggest bang for our fossil fuel buck, if boondocking. Let the solar take up the slower high end of the charge curve.
I actually have asked this question a number of times, to various manufacturers. All the charging devices have limits programmed in, so, you can't "overcharge". (Though, as we all know, lifepo4 like to be charged only infrequently to 100 per cent. They're not happy with constant float charge to full capacity, opposite of lead acid. )
So, we've run with that advice. Over seven years on current agms, approaching seven on flas on the boat, and 4 or 5 on house lithium powerwalls. I may not understand it all , but we follow their charts and settings, and so far, so good.
When I asked if I could just leave my lithium batteries plugged in 24/7 I was told it was ok. That means they are always at 100%. OTT gave me that advice.
John
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3 hours ago, topgun2 said:
I suspect that (as I think GJ alluded to earlier) one would have to get the person that set up/manufactured each component of the system to sit down together with all the others and have a discussion as to exactly how each was programed or at least the way that piece was supposed to work. Perhaps a flow chart of sorts for each would help. Without that I don't see that it would be possible to fully understand each without reverse engineering it.
Bill
Bill,
Do they cover some of these questions at the rally? I don't have a good grasp of the electrical systems and how to integrate a portable solar panel if I had one available.
John
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12 hours ago, HDRider said:
I would have thought the first dealer would have been more than 300 miles from Hohenwald
I was surprised too how close it was. We're in Oregon. I suppose they have to start somewhere. I wonder how they will be priced at the dealer versus at Hohenwald.
John
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4 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:
This has been my method for the last 8 years. No issues. Mike
My method too.
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1 hour ago, topgun2 said:
Primarily covers are used to reduce a tire's exposure to UV light which degrades the rubber over time. The less light that the tires are exposed to results in longer life of the rubber.
Some people will use tire covers virtually all the time when stopped - even overnight. But, most simply use them while the RV is in storage.
Bill
I have the covers on all four tires even though when stored, the curbside tires face north and never have sun on them.
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Oliver in the News
in General Discussion
Posted
No sales tax in Oregon, but we had to pay a use tax of about $600-$700.
John