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John Welte

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Posts posted by John Welte

  1. 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.

  2. 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.“

    https://www.al.com/news/2022/01/police-in-this-tiny-alabama-town-suck-drivers-into-legal-black-hole.html

    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. 

  3. 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? 

  4. 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. 

    • Like 2
    • Wow 3
  5. 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. 

    • Thanks 1
  6. 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. 

    • Like 2
  7. 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.   

    • Thanks 1
  8. 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. 

  9. 10 hours ago, John E Davies said:

    If you love mountains but don’t want to beat up your body….. this is spectacular.

    Route of the Hiawatha Turns 20 (News story 2018)

    https://www.ridethehiawatha.com/the-trail

    Class 1 pedal assist ebikes are now allowed, but none with a hand throttle. I rode the trail once on a mountain bike, but spent six summers on a dual sport motorcycle exploring this wonderful area. I am a sucker for trestles, tunnels, and steam history.

    John Davies

    Spokane WA

    I have been on lots of Rails to Trails.   They're great.   My favorite was the Central Lakes/Lake Wobegone in Minnesota.   It's very well signed and paved.   The Erie Canal trail in New York was great too.   I will have to figure out a good way to bring my bike.   Maybe time for a Brompton folding bike.   The perfect number of bikes to own is N+1.  I am a sucker for trestles and steam history too.   Tunnels,  not so much. 

    • Like 2
  10. 2 hours ago, John E Davies said:

    https://pjammcycling.com/climb/227.Beartooth%20Pass%20South

    GTTS is steeper, but a mile lower in elevation, so that is probably the biggest factor. If I were to attempt to cycle any of these roads, which ain’t EVER going to happen, it would be with electric assist and really good hydraulic disk brakes. And an oxygen cylinder. 😳 How long is your upcoming tour? You must be pretty fit.

    John Davies

    Spokane WA

    "How long is your upcoming tour? You must be pretty fit."

    We figure about two months.   On the last two cross country trips,  I averaged 55-56 miles/day carrying about 58 pounds of gear in panniers.   I have mechanical disc brakes that work very well.   We start with low miles initially then increase as we get more fit.   Leaving San Diego, you start climbing almost immediately which isn't too great.   Depending on terrain and wind,  some days are in the 30+ range due to climbing.   I had one day leaving Cut Bank,  Montana going east where we did 126 miles.   Thanks for the info on that road. 

    • Like 3
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  11. 9 hours ago, 2008RN said:

    I haven't taken the Oli on it, but I bicycled over it.  I did it in late June.  It snowed a few inches made the bike ride a little tough being cold and wet.  I would  take my Oli over it. 

    What is the grade?   It looks like a great road to bicycle.   I bicycled over Going to the Sun road in Glacier in 2017.  We're starting from San Diego in April going to Boston.   I hope to stop at Hohenwald on that bicycle tour. 

  12. On 12/3/2021 at 7:51 AM, mossemi said:

    11-10-2021 Overnight stop while traveling.

    White Oak Creek COE campground near Eufaula, AL.  Very typical for COE campgrounds. It is clean, waterfront and cheap for old people.  And they even had the heat on in the shower building.

    Sweet.

    Mossey20211110_160645_Original.thumb.jpg.9d368c53b867b557f517719eea19dc58.jpg

     

    I notice that many people have custom decals on the front.   I like yours.   Where do you get those? 

  13. 33 minutes ago, Mike and Carol said:

    Sunrise at Dead Horse Ranch State Park just south of Sedona in the town of Cottonwood.  Just 20 minutes from Sedona.

    4B87C65D-9428-411D-968D-965A277EAE31.jpeg

     

    This is Red Rock State Park a few miles north of Dead Horse Ranch State Park. No camping here but some nice hiking.  We hiked to the top of the “hill” behind me for some great views.

    162E75D0-4B67-4573-9FB1-E393D4EBFC20.jpeg

     

    Dead Horse Ranch State Park.

    F2E50C68-E74B-4DC4-AD4E-47675EE2DD2F.jpeg

     

    Where did you get the tongue box?   It looks like it doesn't overhang the tongue like the Oliver box. 

  14. 3 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

    While there are/is circumstances in which an external water pump could come in handy - pumping water from a bladder in the back of the tow vehicle for instance - for the most part you can simply use the Oliver on-board water pump via the "winterization port" to pump water into the Oliver.

    As far as bladders or other water containers are concerned - I carry two 8 gallon containers like THIS for extra water.  The wheels on these containers are VERY handy in that if you have to carry the water very far it becomes heavy (just over 8 pounds per gallon).

    Bill

    "I carry two 8 gallon containers like THIS for extra water."

    How long is the hose that you need to transfer the water via the port?   Two to three feet long?   I think the shortest hose that I have seen is six feet long.   Maybe you just cut the hose to the length you need. 

    • Like 1
  15. 2 hours ago, Landrover said:

    I have never had to jackknife any trailer to that extreme. Could someone please explain how the trailer moves back when the Tv is at a 90dg angle to the trailer. It  doesn’t work that way.  The only thing that will be accomplished is to bend things as some have found. Being on that much of an angle you need to stop pull forward and reposition the trailer. If someone can  back a trailer into a spot with the Tv at a 90dg angle please video it id like to see it.😳😰

    "I have never had to jackknife any trailer to that extreme."

    Good point.   I never have that much of an angle while backing up. 

  16. Hi all,  I know we're only four days into 2022, but we will be ordering a trailer in June for March or April, 2023 delivery.   My wife will finally retire at the end of this year and with her work schedule, we felt it was crazy to buy and store it for months until we can use it.   Does anyone know what the 2023 will have that's different from a 2022, besides being more expensive?   I was guessing that they might change to a Truma a/c,  but it's only a wild guess.   If anyone knows what's up their sleeve for future improvements I would like to know.   Thanks. 

  17. 18 minutes ago, Mike and Carol said:

    Hey CW, that’s a good question.  I’m not familiar with either of the lithium options you are asking about.  I can tell you that I have 2 Battle Born Lithium batteries, 100aH each, that I installed last January.  I also have the older 320W solar with the Blue Sky controller.  (Oliver would probably call this the Lithium Amateur Package if they offered it! 🤣). This set up has not limited us in the least in our travels this year (6 week trip to Maine, 4 week trip to Colorado, 2 week trip to Arkansas).  We are leaving tomorrow for Arizona for a couple of months and I’ve decided not to take my generator.  Our solar and two batteries have been plenty.  All that to say that you should be good with either package.  Mike

    "Our solar and two batteries have been plenty.  All that to say that you should be good with either package.  Mike"

    I haven't ordered yet,  but I have decided on the lithium pro for us.   I am aiming for March or April,  2023 delivery so have an e-mail in to Jason at Oliver to see when we need to order to get that delivery period. 

    • Like 2
  18. 4 hours ago, ChrisMI said:

    This massive increase in production rate/capacity is one reason why they might be considering dealers in the future. If overall market demand drops off they could keep producing at full tilt to place inventory on dealer lots throughout the US. Going this direction vs slowing down production might be advantageous for both the companies bottom line and keeping the skilled workforce busy and employed. 

    I just hope that quality doesn't suffer due to the faster rate of production.   We plan on getting our trailer in March,  2023.  We are buying this trailer because of its quality. 

  19. 1 hour ago, ChrisMI said:

    I noticed some dealer installed/available options on the trailer upgrade section of the website. I’m not going to read into it that too much but was curious if others feel that’s a good idea. 

    I think it's just wording,  not actual intent to have dealers.   The present system of owners showing the trailers to interested people and a network of RV shops that they have worked with around the country to service the trailers seems to work for them.   Looking at the number of trailers that they're able to build in the last couple years is further evidence that they are building to the demand.   Just my opinion. 

  20. 41 minutes ago, Overland said:

    This is a mod that I think I’ll finally get around to doing, with a few modifications. Rather than switch the fan remotely, I’m going to add a small thermostat control that I’ll mount in the basement; and I’m going to use a smaller 3” hose that mounts directly to the fan. I’ll tuck the inlet under the twin bed extension and mount the fan in the side of the box rather than the bottom. And since the fan is rated for 30+ cfm I’m not worried about blocking the flow with a more protective grill in the battery box. I’ll use the same one on the cabin side since it’s white and will mount easily to the hose.  I’ll just use an inline fuse.  Simple, automatic, and out of sight.  Will probably set the fan to come on at 40 degrees and go off at 50.

    Here’s a list of what I’m getting:

    Fan

    Hose

    Thermostat

    Grills

    Where are you located?   You seem to be much more adept at modifications.   I am great at opening the door to get into a trailer.   We have decided to wait until June or July to order as my wife is still working and it seems crazy to buy a trailer early and then pay for storage until we can actually use it in March or April.   Do you think OTT is working on any battery compartment ventilation?   We are going with the lithium pro package when we order. 

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