John Welte
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Posts posted by John Welte
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1 hour ago, Boudicca908 said:
This is what I've been doing -- practicing with a friend's truck and his medium sized landscape maintenance trailer. Practice practice practice.
We have had a tent trailer for 19 years that's 18 feet long. I found that backing that was much easier than our neighbor's 8 foot landscape trailer. I once rented a small trailer with a rototiller that was maybe 5 feet long that was very hard to back up. I am anticipating an easier time with the Ollie that we will get in November due to its size. Anyone else have similar experiences with shorter trailers and find them harder to back up?
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21 minutes ago, ChrisMI said:
You might want to purchase your used tow vehicle soon after you put your deposit down. Put 5-10k on it to get used to how it rides, blind spots, and take care of any squawks it might have before you hook up to the Oliver.
I understand that used truck inventory is limited and the prices are higher. Not sure if this is still a problem, but it's been mentioned before that there's a shortage of trucks and vehicles in general.
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1 hour ago, Kirk Peterson said:
Interesting comment Fairmontrvpark! We are leaning toward the truma.
I am also. Our delivery date is November 7 so we have until mid August to finalize options.
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6 hours ago, topgun2 said:
Sit down, relax. Remember - this is fun! You've already done the hardest part in committing to the camper and now you have time to continue to learn. From my experience the people that tend to get into difficulties either don't do the homework to start with and/or get too rushed to think problems through. Of course there is also those of us that think we know it all - only to find out that we forgot to open that grey tank valve 😁 for the 6th time.
Yes, in my opinion, you need a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). There are a number of those on the market that certainly do the job and there are a number of threads here on the Forum about them. Pick out two or three that seem of interest to you (all should have pressure and temperature readings) and then go to YouTube for videos on each one. Pick the one you like best and they are easy to install.
Portable air compressors are a really nice item to have. This is particularly so if you plan on traveling roads in which you "air-down" for better traction and then want to "air-up" when getting back to normal paved roads. However, they are also very useful for your daily driver and for blowing dust/dirt out of places it certainly doesn't belong - like fridge igniters, water heater igniters, furnace igniters and sail switches, etc. If you plan on using one a bunch then something like the Viair is really good. But, a compressor that expensive is really not necessary for most applications.
Bill
"If you plan on using one a bunch then something like the Viair is really good. But, a compressor that expensive is really not necessary for most applications."
I saw lots of models of Viair compressors. It does seem like a good idea to have one. What model do you use? Can that also be used for any winterizing? When I take my tent trailer in for winterizing they blow out the lines to get rid of trapped water. Thanks
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53 minutes ago, SeaDawg said:
@John Welte, I think picking a Monday was a great idea. Camp three or four days around Hohenwald, try everything, learn all the new systems, and enjoy.
That was my thought after reading the forum. You all have been very helpful. Hopefully the weather will be OK then.
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1 hour ago, Steph and Dud B said:
Looking good! I like the red graphics! Going to add a few valve cores and the tool to my toolkit now. Thanks for the heads up on that. Safe travels and enjoy.
We're due to pick up on November 7. I am taking notes too. I think you're picking up in the summer if I recall. I am going to get a tire pressure monitoring system for the trailer. Someone advised that. Do you have a portable air compressor? Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that I must learn.
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55 minutes ago, John E Davies said:
In theory it does, but that last 6 gallons is not normally usable, because when your fresh tank runs dry, your water pump aerates, and you cannot pump the water heater tank dry. In a true water emergency you could remove the anode and catch the tank contents in a bucket, bypass the water heater (using the winterization ball valve) and then suck the water into the fresh tank, but that extra water volume is normally just dead weight. If I were trapped in the desert, I would be very glad for that extra supply, but only if I had a big breaker bar and the correct socket. Which I normally do NOT carry with me.
Hmmmmm. But I do carry a cordless drill and bits, so I could just drill a hole in the bottom of the tank. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a regular hand operated drain valve at the bottom, beside the anode?
John Davies
Spokane WA
Good clarification. Thanks.
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45 minutes ago, Steph and Dud B said:
The conventional water heater also gives you another 6 gallons of water on board (in the tank).
I haven't thought about that before. I typically arrive empty and hook up water at the campground and fill, but I can see more boondocking in the Oliver so it might be useful to carry those six gallons extra.
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Hi all, you may remember that my wife was hesitant to buy an Oliver due to cost. We paid our deposit today! We chose November 7 as it's a Monday so if we encounter any issues we can high tail it back to the Oliver people before heading back to Oregon. Thanks for all your posts. It's been very helpful. You haven't heard the last from me. It's probably been the tip of the iceberg actually. Have a good weekend.
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3 hours ago, Caddymv said:
Hi All. Paid my deposit. Can’t wait till September Question
is Truma instant H20. Worth the extra dough. Thank you. Richard
I paid my deposit today also. Estimated 🚚 day of November 7. When is yours?
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1 hour ago, John E Davies said:
Police Chief of Alabama Town That Was Getting Fat on Fines Steps Down Amid Bipartisan Outrage
I like a happy ending....
John Davies
Spokane WA
I hope they prosecute him!
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1 hour ago, topgun2 said:
The most fool proof, easiest, least expensive way to monitor propane tank levels is to simply leave one tank's valve closed. When the cooktop will not light then switch to the other tank and get the first tank refilled. 😇
Bill
Very fool proof. It's what we have done for years too.
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11 hours ago, Steph and Dud B said:
Yep, that was our conclusion, too. Even if we had to wait until 2023 and retrofit a new A/C, that would probably be less expensive than buying a 2023 model.
We're wrestling with the decision now. The 2023 will be higher. A guess when I talked to OTT was $4500 more. Part of the increased price will be offset by fewer months of paying for covered storage with electrical connection. The price for that here in our part of Oregon is about $250-350/month. My wife retires in December so with our weather, we figured we wouldn't really be able to use it much until April, 2023.
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14 hours ago, Steph and Dud B said:
Wow. Interesting. Now we're wondering if we should pull back and wait for the 2023 model. 🤔
The (presumably Truma) A/C would be great. Was hoping they might switch to those during the 2022 model run, but that survey makes me think it won't be this year after all.
Don't know about the bigger fridge. My wife thinks the current 4.5 cf fridge will be ok for the two of us, I think it's a little small.
Who knows what the 2023 prices might look like, though...
I was talking to Oliver yesterday as we don't need the trailer until March/April 2023 and asked the salesman (name withheld) about what he knew about the 2023 model. He is quite sure it will be a higher price. Maybe $4500 more. He doesn't know what changes are planned. 2022 had several changes. I have read here that many people don't like the present A/C due to noise. There was a mysterious A/C on a unit that someone determined was a Truma. I would guess that they are looking at changing the A/C. Just my guess. We're not sure if we want to order for this year and save $4500 or wait to get the 2023.
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3 hours ago, topgun2 said:
Just got to love that legal disclaimer near the end!
Bill
They accept absolutely no responsibility!
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13 hours ago, John E Davies said:
“Months of research and dozens of interviews by AL.comfound that Brookside’s finances are rocket-fueled by tickets and aggressive policing. In a two-year period between 2018 and 2020 Brookside revenues from fines and forfeitures soared more than 640 percent and now make up half the city’s total income.
And the police chief has called for more.
The town of 1,253 just north of Birmingham reported just 55 serious crimes to the state in the entire eight year period between 2011 and 2018 – none of them homicide or rape. But in 2018 it began building a police empire, hiring more and more officers to blanket its six miles of roads and mile-and-a-half jurisdiction on Interstate 22.“
It’s been forty years since I set foot in Alabama, and I don’t plan to go there, but for all you Southern Ollie owners, just say no to Brookside.
John Davies
Spokane WA
Thanks. I read the article also. I wonder how common this is. I definitely will stay away from that town. Maybe a database should be started to alert us all where we don't want to travel through. Just a thought.
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48 minutes ago, Steph and Dud B said:
I was thinking about driving the rear wheels of my truck onto some leveler blocks. Not as easy as using the jack, but not as damaging if you forget about them before you leave.
Seems like a good idea. If the dump station is level (quite unlikely), what side of the rear of the truck should be raised with blocks and do you owners do that?
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5 hours ago, Citrus breeze said:
The reply about the level of the unit while draining the gray tanks is very interesting. Now, I'll have to figure how to raise the Ollie while at a dump stations, and I'm attached to my truck.
Charlie
I thought the same thing. How is that done?
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20 minutes ago, Mike and Carol said:
I usually remove one after a trip to have it filled. Where I go they like to have them removed for filling.
That is a good argument for getting the 20 lb bottles. My wife who is 69 can dead lift 205 pounds. She's trying for 245. Maybe she could take out the 30 lb without breaking a sweat.
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1 hour ago, johnwen said:
Thanks for that tip, Mike. My outside door came with reflectix already installed, no reason I couldn't use it on the inside basement door. I wish I could lift the 30 lb bottles up, over the wall 🙂
John
How often do you need to take the 30 lb bottles out. Someone said that in some places (I think it was Vail) you can't pull the trailer up to the propane filling filling station and you need to remove the bottles for filling.
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On 9/21/2020 at 1:24 PM, Overland said:
Yeah, that's odd that they'd have superchargers along the pacific coast highway.
It's a very popular road to drive. I am not surprised that they have superchargers.
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2 hours ago, SeaDawg said:
Looks like some folks at Lippert may have read your post, and took it to heart, @Overland
https://rvbusiness.com/lippert-developing-edison-ev-towable-chassis-prototype/
I wrestle with the idea that hauling a trailer around is bad for the environment, but I rationalize that over the years our average mpg has gone up as we get more fuel efficient vehicles. Is that a concern that's shared by others? We don't have any electric cars, only one ebike.
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12 hours ago, SeaDawg said:
@John Welte curious. When you do the long distance bicycle trips, do you have a chase vehicle? Do you travel in a group?
We've met several bike campers, solo, doing long trips ( a couple trans Canada, one was aanchorage to San Francisco, via the Yukon, etc ), and it seemed to be a long and lonely road .
Sherry
Sherry, usually just one other guy. No chase vehicle. We carry everything and camp mostly. Spring, 2019 was very wet from Missouri to New Brunswick so we moteled it there for the last half. I have met lots of other bike tourers from all over the world. A Dutch guy rode from Alaska to southern South America. Hearing his stories was a bit hair raising. With the Ollie I plan to bring bikes along and go on some Rails to Trails segments with my wife. Minnesota and New York have great ones. Missouri and Nebraska too.
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11 hours ago, 2008RN said:
I don't remember the grade being any worse than most Colorado mountain Rides. Independence Highway from Aspen over the continental divide was much steeper and scarier coming down. All I remember was the freezing cold and wet snow on Beartooth highway. I hadn't planned on freezing temps and wet snow on our tour. All I had was a light rain jacket and leg warmers.
Our ride started at Jackson hole, bike all around Yellow stone, then up over John Coulter pass, Bear tooth and down into Cody. We had a Swag wagon, that took our camping gear from one spot to another. We were one our own while biking. I also have done several Credit Card tours in the Colorado mountains and stayed at motels every night. I only needed small rear panniers to carry 1 change of cloths and tools.
I have never dreamed of going across the US. I think I would wimp out after 2 weeks. 7-10 day rides are enough. Although I would like to start discovering some of the Rails to Trails as we we take our Oli across the nation.
"I have never dreamed of going across the US. I think I would wimp out after 2 weeks. 7-10 day rides are enough. Although I would like to start discovering some of the Rails to Trails as we we take our Oli across the nation."
The first two weeks are the hardest unless you had time to train and get saddle time in. The first time from Seattle to Bar Harbor, Maine I did train for it. The Australian guy who planned our trip didn't have the chance. You just go shorter miles initially and get stronger. We started with 30 mile days but a month in were doing 70-90 miles on loaded bikes. Think of it as just a lot of daily bike rides and it's not so scary. Definitely, the Rails to Trails are great and I plan to explore more of those. We will order our Oli soon for March/April 2023 delivery.
Hi everyone. I would like to introduce myself.
in Introduce Yourself
Posted
"I'd carry an extra old one, from your grill, or a garage sale, in a milk crate to keep it upright, in the truck bed."
We will be towing with a Ford Expedition, so no truck bed. Can an extra 20 pound tank be put into a milk crate and stored in the basement storage area? We're leaning towards the tongue storage box, but won't have to finalize options until August. I was figuring on using that box storage area for chocks, levelers and the things that push against both tires to stabilize the trailer, basically for things needed for set-up. I don't know if a tank would fit along with everything else.