Keith-n-Jill
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Posts posted by Keith-n-Jill
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On 9/16/2021 at 9:14 AM, John E Davies said:
I think that waiting is best from a financial standpoint, but that is going to be really hard to deal with emotionally. . . Or buy an old beater used 3/4 ton pickup with the idea of trading or selling it when you can buy a new truck that you really want.
John: I've had the same thought. We are new to RVs and TVs. I figure that much of this skill set is acquired through hard learned, on-the-job training. Once we get some experience, we'll likely find the tow vehicle of our dreams. I'm thinking that we could start the learning process with a used Nissan Titan. The resale value is low when compared to a Toyota Tundra, Ford F150,etc. The tow capacity of a Titan is around 9,400 lbs and has a big V8. As a used TV, it's a lot more bang for the buck--at least 30% less than a comparable Tundra. Around $30K would get us a nice, not too old, low mileage Titan. The Titan can be our trainer. We keep it a year or two, wait for this crazy market to return to normal and pick our dream TV when the dealer's lots are full.
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19 minutes ago, Patriot said:
You don’t want the tail wagging the dog.
Exactly. I'm thinking that anything smaller than half-ton might be pushing the limits in terms of safety. I'm liking the idea of having that extra towing capacity in reserve. Better to have too much than too little.
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13 hours ago, topgun2 said:
Hint - be sure to bring your camera so that you can take a photo of all the mods (you will not believe Foy & Mirna's decoration of the interior or Steve & Tali's lifted beds and switches or Mike and Krunch's Raspberry Pi
Hey, I'm bringing a camera and a measuring tape for sure! Rasberry Pi? I've built a few automated things with an Arduino. Now I'm intrigued. . .
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9 minutes ago, topgun2 said:
p.s. I see that K-n-J are going to be at the Florida mini-rally. I'll be there too - let's talk!
Looking forward to meeting you. We'll be there asking a lot of questions and taking notes. . . we have much to learn.
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1 hour ago, SeaDawg said:
FWIW, my sister-in-law is a little shorter than your wife, and she loves driving my brother's F150, even towing a trailer.
The F150 is my wife's favorite truck of the the half-ton variety. She likes all of the bells and whistles, especially those slide out running boards. She likes the interior best in the Ford. If the wife's not happy then nobody's happy. My impression is that no manufacturer is making a bad truck. There's a lot of competition.
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33 minutes ago, ChrisMI said:
My opinion is the car manufacturers will probably offer large incentives down the road again. However, over the next year or two, expect the msrp to increase rapidly to offset some of the “savings”. Oliver has had some pretty large hikes as well recently.
A half ton is a lot easier to live with as a daily driver and gets better mileage. The HD models haul like a dream but drink like a fish. They can also feel more “truck like” in the suspension department when cruising empty.
Let's face it. Inflation is here to stay. Going back to Economics 101; if the government prints more money then prices will rise. Part of the reason I placed an order for an LE II now is because that Ollie will be a lot more expensive in a year or two. I'm hoping that the price of trucks and automobiles will drop a bit in the short term. Over the long term, everything will be much more expensive.
I agree with you on the half-ton as a daily driver. My 5' 3" 100 lb bride will be driving it on occasion--our motivation for looking at the Chevy Colorado. She refuses to tackle any vehicle bigger than a F150. We are also waiting for the new Tundra. The V-6 turbo, hybrid and coil spring suspension is worth a look.
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To all of you: thanks for the info! I have a lot to learn.
I'm leaning towards a half-ton, 4WD. The Chevy Colorado may not have the chops. It has a max towing of 7,000 lbs.--just at the threshold for pulling an LEII. Maybe we'll need more towing capacity as a margin for safety; you think?
Regarding used truck prices; I went to a CarMax this weekend just to look and kick tires. There was a 2017 Toyota Tundra, crew cab, 55K miles, loaded with leather and all of the options. Asking price: $47,500. I couldn't believe it. Then I went across the street to a Toyota dealer. They had (only) one brand-spanking-new 2021 double cab Tundra, base model: $46,850 sticker price including the "dealer options." They'll still tack on more "handling charges" at the closing table. I passed on both of them. Used trucks going for new truck prices? Everything selling above sticker price? We are living in a crazy world. I'm gonna wait a few months.-
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Greetings to all. We have placed our order for an LE II, due for delivery in April. We've been shopping for a tow vehicle and having a helluva time trying to figure out what to buy. Given the chip shortage and demand for pickups, the salesmen laugh in your face--slap another $5,000 in dealer fees for spraying the tires with Armorall--and tell you to take it or leave it. We have about six months before our Ollie is due, so I'm hoping the chips will start coming in from Taiwan and prices will drop. When do you know that you got screwed-over by a car dealer? When you drive the vehicle off of the lot.
Anyway, we ask you, the Oliver brethren (and sisters) for some guidance:
1. Is a half-ton pickup the absolute minimum tow vehicle for an LE II?
2. Is anyone out here towing an LE II with a Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon? Diesel or gas?
3. 2WD, 4WD or AWD?
4. We're looking to buy new but open to a used vehicle. Any suggestions?Our camping style: 75% in a park, hooked up to shore power; 25% dry camping.
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SeaDawg: I'm reasonably mechanical and able to sling a set of wrenches; I've always been into antique/classic cars. I can get my head around 12-volt systems and I'm used to it. I saw the LE II wiring harness on an Oliver video; that was one of the things that sold me. Brilliant design is often simple and elegant. It seems that the boys at Oliver have it in spades.
We need to figure out which generator to buy--got to have AC in hot weather. The Ollie should be much easier to maintain than a boat. I'm liking the idea of using gravity to empty those holding tanks. . .
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Finally, we pulled the trigger and placed an order for the fabulous Oliver Legacy Elite II, expected delivery in April 2022. I imagine that we're like of a lot of the Oliver owners; aging baby-boomers looking to see this great country in style. We've never owned an RV. We rented a Class-A motor home about two months ago. We quickly figured out that driving an eleven ton particle-board-and-stapled rig down I-75 just isn't for us. We started researching travel trailers. My bride had her heart set on an Airstream so we went to the local dealer for a tour. Frankly, I was underwhelmed; the build quality was far below my expectations. There were several parked on the lot for repairs—mostly expensive panel replacements from minor dings.
The next day we saw an Oliver. The Oliver isn’t built like a trailer. It’s built like a blue water cruising yacht. The solid construction, fit, finish and smart design put this travel trailer in a completely different class from the rest of the industry. The Oliver is robust; everything else is flimsy in comparison. We were sold the minute we walked inside.Anyway, we have much to learn. I’ve owned boats in the past (not the one below) but this will be our first travel trailer. I’ve been lurking around the forum for a few days, gaining some wisdom from you all. My wife and I will be at the mini-rally in Jacksonville in October. We hope to meet some of you next month.
I posted these pics for comparison. The interior of the LE II has the look and feel of a cruising sailboat--not a travel trailer.
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In search of a tow vehicle. . .
in Towing an Oliver
Posted
Here is a potentially dumb question: Lurking around this forum, I haven't found anyone towing an Ollie with a Nissan Titan. . . is there a reason?