rideandfly

Started camping in a canvas pup tent in our back yard when about 10 years old. Eventually back packed with the tent to the local woods camping and loved it. We took our daughter tent camping when she was 6 months old on Ocracoke Island NC. Now she is 42 and just purchased their first travel trailer a few months ago. We camp mostly in State Parks and Federal Parks around the nation. Will obtain our Golden Access cards later this year for further discounts. The most expensive campground camped at was a KOA close to Glacier NP MT. As far as planning goes, we found while traveling, some places camped at are not far from great places to visit, so we leave extra time for spontaneous side trips. Try to travel around 200 miles per day keeping the combined fuel/campsite cost under many motel nightly cost. When we stay multi nights, it's far less expensive compared to motels, with beautiful scenery, too. Our camping cost does not include the TV, Ollie, insurance, and maintenance, for some unknown reason! :) We started camping around the lower 48 and love camping with a travel trailer. We enjoy taking too many photos while camping, so here's a few.

These photos help me understand the hot water tank valve operating positions. Color coded hoses, red (hot), blue (cold), and white bypass hose. Looks like a brass check valve installed in the top of the tank with an arrow pointing water flow direction. Here's the hot water tank valve in the standard operating position, cold water flowing into the bottom inlet of the hot water tank and hot water coming out of the top outlet through the check valve to the red hose: Here's the hot water tank valve in bypass position with flow bypassing hot water tank inlet through the white hose to the top outlet with check valve preventing back flow into the tank with flow back to the red hose:

Buzzy, Thanks! Will use the boondocking settings next time when using compressed air through the rear Ollie winterizing fitting. Believe David did the same.

Randy, Used my shop AC and set the line pressure at 35PSI. The garden hose brass fitting thread would not thread completely into any of the Ollie fittings, but using an extra garden hose gasket, tightened the connections completely. Even filed burrs off of some brass threads, but only way I could get an airtight connection was with the gasket. Here's the 12V pump information and close up of the inlet strainer on the 12V pump. Guessing it would draw a little air in at the loose suction strainer, since I would occasionally hear a little air in a faucet when running water system with the 12V pump earlier this year. Fittings to connect to quick disconnect fitting on air hose. Like always I take too many photos including a thermometer shot in the Ollie this morning. We're in the Charlotte NC area.

Appreciate the information shared in this thread. Winterized the Ollie about a month ago with RV antifreeze as per the owners manual. After reading this thread wanted to blow everything out with 35PSI of compressed air, too. We camp every month of the year, so will leave the Ollie winterized until spring. While blowing compressed air through the rear inlet with valves in winterizing positions and faucets open, the red RV antifreeze already in the 12V pump intake bowl, blew out making a mess. Turns out the pump filter/bowl was loose allowing the antifreeze to blow around the loose threads. This bowl is to be hand tightened, probably why I would occasionally hear air in a faucet when operating the 12V water pump drawing in a little air at the bowl. Could not find any damage to the pump or bowl. Should 35PSI of pressure be placed on the 12V pump inlet bowl? Winterize valve positions: 12V pump intake bowl: Fittings purchased from Lowes today to connect to quick disconnect fitting on air hose. Had to use an extra garden hose gasket to make the fitting air tight while connecting to the Ollie's connections:

Craig, Just installed a knife switch on the battery post, top of a battery that breaks negative connection to the trailer. Believe there can be a safer way other than reaching over batteries. I make sure I don't have metal rings or watch on when close to terminals/connections or working on batteries. This switch is rated at 250 amps continuous, and 750 amp surge at 12 volts, as per the seller. The Ollie Barker Jack's highest current draw is 30 Amps per jack, but normally less as per Barker. Would like to eventually mount a different master disconnect switch, but have not had time to work on it, yet. Thought about putting the switch on a check list before connecting TV to trailer, but after thinking about it, cannot operate the tongue jack until the switch is flipped on anyway. If someone is aware of a problem using this switch, please let me know. I don't have solar panels and have two 27 series batteries. https://www.amazon.com/WirthCo-20128-Battery-Disconnect-Terminal/dp/B000CQFWLY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1481123444&sr=8-3&keywords=battery+knife+switch

Jim, Welcome! Congrats on your upcoming retirement and Oliver purchase. First time we saw an Ollie was during a camping trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway around 2010. The couple invited us in and we loved the Ollie interior. The couple we purchased our Elite II from lived in the Ollie 6 months, while they completed work on a house in FL. Our Ollie is in great shape and shows no signs of being lived in full time for 6 months. They also lived in a fiberglass sailboat for eight years. Your RAM will tow the Ollie easily.

Sherry, Replied to PM. Using latest Firefox and Windows on a Laptop. Will try to originate another PM to you. Thanks, Edit: Looks like I can reply to a PM, but cannot start a PM conversation. I hardly ever use PM.

Sherry, Will send you a Test PM in a few minutes. Thanks, Edit: Just tried to send you a PM and could not. Clicked on your sign-in name, next clicked on message to you, could not enter text in the message box.

If I remember correctly, either Casida or Egg/fiberglass groups had a gathering at Boulder or Dam West ACE campgrounds a few years ago. Don't know if they currently have gatherings there. Both have nice laundry facilities. There's a WalMart close to the Dam West campground.

Thanks John, Most pickup racks are heavier construction for hauling heavy loads. My only use for these racks will be transporting Kayaks. Combined Kayak weight is under 100 pounds with tie downs straps & Yakima cross bar cushions. The rack capacity is 300 pounds. My goal was a well built rack that was light weight and easy to remove. The cross bars are the same dimensions as Thule cross bars on the Tacoma. After installing and removing these racks, found the racks are easy to remove, light, and stores easily in the garage without requiring much space for two pieces. Also plan to transport bicycles in the bed under Kayaks. The distance from the bottom of the Kayaks to the pickup bed floor is 47". Our tallest bike is 44", will not need to remove bicycle wheels while transporting bikes on another rack below Kayaks.

Installed a U.S. Rack "Paddlers Rack" on the Tundra. Transport two 9.5' Kayaks. Once the racks were assembled, it takes less than 30 minutes to install or remove the racks on the bed track system. Found it to be easier (I have a bad shoulder) loading the Kayaks on this rack stepping into the pickup bed compared to loading Kayaks on the Thule racks on the Leer shell from the side of the Tacoma. This rack also leaves room, 47" from Kayak to bed, for two bikes in the pickup bed on another rack without removing bicycle wheels. https://www.usrack.com/responsive/paddlers-truck-rack.php

During the past few years we enjoyed camping at ACE campgrounds, Dam West and Boulder facilities on Carlyle Lake IL. Will post next time we're camping in the area and hopefully meet y'all. :)

Enjoyed the video and tips on tarp use. We use a cover for the motorcycle while camping. Looked cozy with the campfire and light rain while under the tarp!!!!

Coy, Nice looking job and looks very comfortable, too! Excellent use of the Ollie's space!

Welcome! Like Buzzy, we enjoy camping in Federal and State Parks. It's two of us, so the Ollie's size is perfect for us. We purchased the Ollie to camp around the lower 48 and Canada. Use a automotive chamois drying shammy to wipe down the wet shower surfaces after use. We purchased our Ollie used from a couple that lived in a sailboat for 8 years and they built a fiberglass airplane, too. We like the white interior & exterior gel-coat finish on the Ollie. Also like polished Airstreams! Purchased a 5.7L Toyota Tundra to tow the Ollie in the larger mountains in western US and transport two Kayaks with two bicycles. Working on a way to transport a small motorcycle in the truck bed while towing the Ollie, too. There are many knowledgeable & experienced campers here with Oliver travel trailers!

Wishing Everyone a Safe and Great Thanksgiving! Bill and Debbie

Mike, Nice looking campground and site!!!!!! We will be camping before Christmas in SC, will post some photos here!

Stan and Linda, Congrats on ordering the Ollie. When we purchased an Elite II twin bed Ollie used, we were not sure how we would like the twin bed arrangement. We upgraded to thicker memory foam mattresses and really like this arrangement!!!!

Congrats on your Ollie and great to meet y'all at the Oliver gathering this year!

Dave, Nice looking work. I'm going to order the zerk caps in the link you posted. Thanks,

Mike, Enjoyed reading about your adventure and seeing the fine photographs! The shot at Winslow helps me hear Glenn Frey's "Taking it Easy" lyrics again!

Mike, Thanks! We hope to camp there next year when the leaves are changing, too. We had a great time hiking and riding the motorcycle!

Decided to go camping at South Mountains State Park NC when we moved all of the furniture out of our home for interior work at the end of October. Moved the furniture back in during the first part of November. We enjoy hiking at South Mountains and turns out the leaves had very nice colors during the trip! Our site was next to a mountain stream. This area is great for motorcycle riding, too.

Mike, Nice photos! Like the campsite and view!!!!! Thanks for posting, will camp there if we pass through that area!