Mike and Carol

I’m installing a SiriusXM receiver in our trailer. We don’t watch much TV but listen to our satellite radio when traveling. It’s a cheap way to get our favorite music stations plus some sports and news when we’re away from civilization. I got a discontinued model from Amazon for $28, which doesn’t have the fancy color display but will be fine. I’m putting it on the left wall in the attic next to the HDMI splitter I put in last year. I have 110v and 12v there. This receiver is powered by a mini-USB. I just ordered a 3.5mm to HDMI interface cable so I can plug it into the splitter that then goes to the Furrion. No need to run any cables. What I'm scratching my head about is the antenna. It’s about an inch square and needs to sit on top of the trailer. I’m hesitant to drill any holes even though it would make for the cleanest installation. The wire is very thin with a standard antenna plug at the end. I looked at somehow using the Oliver light in the back but I’m not sure about breaking that seal. I could just drop it through the hole for the TV wires and then out the back window when we want to use it. Any ideas? Mike

This was discussed in a previous thread on essential tools to carry but I thought I’d start a new one to make the information easier to find. I just finished greasing my E-Z Flex. We had it added to our trailer in December, the original suspension was shot. I’ve got about 3,800 miles on the trailer since the December install. I couldn’t remember how many fittings were on each side, so I started searching the forum because I knew it was recently discussed. EIGHT!! I found all eight, used almost a tube of grease. The guys at the factory had done a good job when they did the initial lube. A couple fittings didn’t take much grease Mike

Paul and Donna, glad to hear you’re joining the family! We’ll see you at the rally - Mike

We use propane, too.

Sounds like an epic first trip. As you travel home you can always stop at Walmart for items you wish you’d packed. Enjoy! Mike

Pete, welcome! There’s lots of expertise and even a few opinions here so ask whatever questions you have. Mike

Jeff, the Redline BK2-100 Bearing Kit is on Amazon for about $15. Easy to carry one or two, just in case. Mike

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/rubber-gaskets-around-porch-lights/ Lots of discussion about this at the link above. Mike

Welcome! We have sure enjoyed ours. This is a great place to get answers to your questions. Mike

We got one within the first month after pick up since we had an accidental turn off. Good investment, good customer service. Highly recommended. Mike

Bill, We started in Colorado Springs then went to RMNP (Grand Lake side) mostly on I-70. Then we went to Black Canyon on I-70 and Hwy 50 through Montrose. From Black Canyon we went to Mesa Verde down Hwy 550 through Ouray and Silverton to Durango. This road is not for the faint of heart. Some parts over the passes are very narrow with no guardrail. We encountered all kinds of weather, sunshine and t-shirts, rain and sweatshirts, sleet and snow - all in a very short time. There was a moderate amount of traffic and the speeds are slow. Very scenic. We enjoyed the drive and would do it again. Pulling the trailer posed no issues. Mike

Spent the last week at Lost Maples State Park just 70 miles west from where we live north of San Antonio. It’s in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no cell service. It’s a small campground - only 30 campsites with water and 30a electric hookups. Very quiet with some good hiking trails. We really enjoyed the peace and quiet. We plan on going back in the fall when the maple trees are turning. Mike

The fossils were younger or the Landrum’s were younger? Both! ?

Looks great, love the small Ollie’s! Hope to see you out on the road - Mike

Happy anniversary and happy Saint Patrick’s Day! I remember going to a Dire Straits concert in Mannheim, Germany in 1979. Small venue. Their second album just released. Have been a Mark Knopfler fan ever since. Mike

John, no and no. We’re calling this trip our “overview” trip. We spent 5 weeks and visited Colorado Springs, RMNP, Black Canyon NP, Mesa Verde NP, then to Moab for Canyonlands NP and Arches NP. We made notes of sites to see on return trips. Four days in the Montrose/Gunnison area was not enough. After our Rally trip in April and May we’re meeting our son and family in Crested Butte in June and might see Dinosaur NM then. So much to see... Mike

One of our camping stops when we were touring Colorado and Utah last fall was Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. It’s not a large park but was well worth the stop. It’s called Black Canyon because the canyon formed by the Gunnison River is so narrow and so deep the canyon walls can appear very dark. The closest town is Montrose, about 15 miles away. We camped at the South Rim Campground which is just inside the park entrance and is at about 8,300 feet and easy hiking distance to the canyon. There are 3 loops in the campground, A and B for RV’s and Loop C for tent campers. Loop B does have 30 amp electric hookups at each site, no water or sewer. Picnic table at each site. Each Loop has a set of vault toilets and drinking water. Since they truck water in there is no filling of RV tanks and no dump station. Reservations are accepted for Loops A and B from the middle of May to the middle of September. We were outside the reservations window, so it was first come first served. We arrived mid afternoon and had no problem getting a site in Loop B (B15) with electricity which allowed us to run our little Vornado space heater since the nights got quite cool. We would have been fine with the furnace. $22/night or half with the senior pass. Both Loops A and B were full before dark. There are plenty of hiking opportunities and you can also drive the road along the canyon stopping at various pull offs to hike to the rim of the canyon. Maps, reservations and more information are on the park website. Mike

Bill and Martha, welcome to the family! Will you be going to the rally? It should be a good opportunity to meet a lot of fellow owners. Mike

Hey June, the cable connection should be on the back drivers side corner. There’s a cap that lifts up with the connection underneath. You need to get a coaxial cable for TV. You can get one at Walmart, Home Depot, etc. I got one 25’ long. Sometimes campgrounds will let you borrow one. Doesn’t hurt to ask. The connectors look like this: After you connect the cable to the outside of the trailer here’s what you need to do next. If you have the HD TV antenna (looks like a white flying saucer on the top of your trailer) look in the back overhead storage on the left for a small box with a small button and light. If the light is on, push the button so it goes off. Now you’re ready for cable. Turn on the TV and go to the menu to select cable as your source. Then do a channel scan and you’ll be good to go. Mike

Stan, we’ve been using the TST system for a couple of years. Very happy with it. There is some more discussion on TPMS in an older thread here: http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/tpsm-to-use-or-not-to-use/

I agree that a TPMS is a critical safety addition. While I went with the TST product a couple of years ago there are a number of good systems out there, the Tire Tracker is certainly one of them. I check it before starting any drive and I glance at the display periodically as we travel. It’s interesting to watch both pressure and temperatures increase as we drive. It also shows higher temps on the sun side of the trailer. Mike

Ours quit working once, too. The 110V plug in the overhead had come out of the socket. I should have checked that first! Mike

John, sure will. I will put something together this week. We had a great visit there also the south side. Mike

This Casita was camped with us in Colorado at Black Canyon NP. Interesting paint job. Mike

Hey Dean, thanks for keeping Oliver owners in the loop. Are you coming to our rally this spring? Mike