rideandfly

Dean, Please let Oliver Sales know you will be joining Jeannine's tour, 888-526-3978. We started the tour last April at their sales office:

John, Good questions and Thanks, Rear jack heads are under bed or beds inside and protected well. Believe Oliver went to black covers because of discoloration experienced with the original white covers. Figured painting the existing covers white would hold up longer, will see. Did not see any signs of water getting inside of the covers on the front jack. Some folks use a waterproof cover to protect the front jack. Here's the link for the Barker VIP Power jack owners manual: https://www.barkermfg.com/uploads/5/4/9/4/54943161/vip_3000_all_pages.pdf Here's maintenance recommendations from the above owners manual PDF file: "MAINTENANCE: Once a year, the powerhead should be removed and a liberal amount of grease (preferably a grease with high melting point) applied directly to the coupling on which the drive pin rests. DO NOT POUR OIL into top of the jack post. Once a year, the housing cover should be removed and the gears inspected for proper lubrication. Remove 4 screws and tap around edge of housing to free cover. DO NOT insert screw driver blade! (This may damage mating surfaces.) Before replacing cover, clean mating surfaces. If lubrication is needed, use Mobil 460 grease or equivalent."

So far there are 14 campsites reserved for trailer owners. We will also have folks attending staying in campground cabins. Looks like a great event coming together!

Dean & Laura, Welcome! Debbie & I look forward to meeting you later this week! We have a white Toyota Tundra tow vehicle. If you see our pickup with an Oliver, please knock on the Ollie door and say Hello! We camped in KY a couple years ago in a very nice ACE campground. From the campsite:

Oliver started installing black covers on newer Ollie front jacks. Our older white covers had discolored, so decided to paint the existing covers. I did not install a new decal indicating switch operation. Was able to carefully reuse original rubber toggle switch covers and seals. When I take it apart again, will install new toggle switch rubber covers and operation decal. You can see how much the parts discolored in less than 1 1/2 years: Under the covers you will find two switches, gear box, light bulb fixture, and 12V motor: Used Valspar clear plastic spray primer and Valspar gloss white plastic spray paint. Sanded parts with 1000 grit sand paper before priming and lightly sanded primer with 1000 grit sand paper before final spray paint application. Let final paint coat sit over night before assembly.

DonBob3, Installed Firestone rear differential air bags on one TV and Timbren rear suspension upgrade on another TV. I prefer Firestone air bags. Ran 30PSI in the air bags while towing another camper and 5PSI when not towing. Both reduced bounce, but the Timbren system resulted in a rougher ride while towing for me. My 2016 SR5 5.7L 4x4 Tundra has to have a WDH when towing over 5000 pounds. My Ollie total weight came in under 5000 pounds ready to camp with empty tanks, been towing without WDH with the Tundra. Firestone Airbag installation on a 2003 Toyota Tacoma rear differential: Timbren suspension upgrade on a 2013 Nissan Frontier rear differential:

Matt, You found the issue, updated my signature! Thanks,

Matt, Attempted to update my signature with new tow vehicle, but it will not work for me. Thanks for working on this,

Matt said he's working on this problem right now!

Cheryl, Randy, and Dennis, Forwarded this thread to Matt, I can't update some things in my profile, too!

Agree with Stan about how good the Ollie stability is. Checked the VIN load capacity (from Oliver) and it’s 2140 pounds. Ollie GVW 7000lbs – 2140lbs = empty Ollie weighed in at 4860 pounds (assumed) at the factory. Scale results at local landfill, no CAT results yet: Ollie axles weighed while connected to previous TV scale results: 4520 pounds 4940 pounds Ollie weight, gear in camper with empty tanks, our Elite II has optional fiber granite counter tops, exterior LP gas connection, reading lights, thicker than standard memory foam mattresses, and Winegard ROADSTAR Omni-Directional Antenna (RS-3000) . Ollie weight 4940lbs – 4520lbs axles weight = 420 pounds Tongue weight We started towing during August 2016 with a 2016 4x4 5.7L Toyota SR5 Tundra with factory tow package not using WDH. Our Tundra weighs in at the local landfill scales at 6120 pounds with full 38 gallon fuel tank, two people on board, and 50 pounds of stuff, without travel trailer tongue weight added to Tundra. Been getting around 13MPG with the rig so far in the NC foothills. The Dexter EZ flex was installed on the Ollie before we purchased the Tundra, so can't give a handling comparison before and after EZ flex upgrade with the Tundra. This is the first time we have had a backup camera, and we really like it. It's easy to connect the ball to the Ollie hitch with only TV driver

Hidalga, Debbie & I are looking forward to meeting you! Will send a private message shortly!

Talked to Oliver Sales Staff this morning. So far there are 12 campsites reserved for trailer owners. We will also have folks attending staying in campground cabins. Looks like it's going to be a great Ollie Gathering!

Don & John, Just signed up for a free Evernote account. Will be checking out features!

Agree, would like to see a rock/debris guard available on Olivers similar to the Airstream guards. Check out this factory fiberglass repair: http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/i-hate-it-when-this-happens/

Larry, Appreciate the discussion about high altitude camping. Concerned about the effects of Hypoxia while flying aircraft without pressurization or Oxygen. Always trying to reduce the effects, especially since we're not getting any younger! Good article!!!!!!

Welcome Ray, Here's some Oliver factory tour photos taken earlier this year. Hopefully this will help seeing Oliver construction until you see one in person. We purchased our used Ollie in Missouri last April and very happy Ollie campers:

Welcome to the forum! It's great to have a factory representative on the forum to help us better understand WD hitches!

Bill, We currently own a 2.4L Tacoma with Leer Shell and really like this truck. If we ever need to replace it, it will be with a 3.5L Tacoma. Got an honest 15MPG with the 2013 Nissan Frontier 2WD Crew Cab 4.0L pickup towing the Elite II. Did not want to tow in the mountains out west with the Frontier and had to install Timbren rear suspension upgrade for towing the Elite II making the ride very rough. The Tundra is our third Toyota Pickup and we like Toyota's durability. The fuel economy I'm getting with the Tundra is better than the majority of reports including Toyota's MPG claims, but I work hard to get better fuel economy towing, starting with 40PSI in all four tires and going very light on the gas pedal. Put white tape on the Ollie's hitch and can easily position the ball under the Ollie hitch using the Toyota back-up camera, using a back-up camera is new to me: Backing up to the Ollie at an angle: Ready to lower the Ollie hitch on the ball when the red line covers the white tape:

Stan & Mike, Very sharp Olivers!!!!!! Now both of you have me thinking about trailer art on our Ollie, too!

Bill, It's a 2016 SR5 4x4 5.7L Tundra built 7/16, the 2016 SR5 5.7L is equipped with tow package. It weighs in at 6120 pounds with two people on board, full 38 gallon tank, and 50 pounds of stuff, I call this unloaded. When checking MPG I'm light on the gas pedal, allowing speed to slow down 5MPH going up & allowing speed to increase 5 MPH going down hill. Unloaded not towing, best fuel economy so far is 20.6MPG during a round trip of 480 miles to VA using 23 1/4 gallons. With less than 1000 miles on the Tundra. Ran the Tundra with the tow-haul mode ON with tranny in Drive to the NC foothills. The Tundra with the tow mode on has a very responsive throttle and stays in gear longer without hunting gears, assume this is how most modern manufacturer's tow-haul modes are set up. Did not get to top off with the Tundra before & after the last camping trip, but took photos of the Tundra on board MPG display when arriving at the campground and arriving home after the camping trip with less than 2000 total miles on the Tundra. Towing the Ollie, 13.1MPG on this 135 mile round trip to the NC foothills. First leg of trip: Second leg of trip:

Mike, Thanks! The Ollie is a fine camper and happy we have the pleasure to camp with it!!!! More adventures to come in September!

We had a Oliver Plant tour scheduled last April when a 2015 Elite II was posted for sale in Missouri in the classified section here. We previously planned to purchase a larger tow vehicle first before ordering a 2017 Elite II at the end of this year. When the used 2015 Elite II became available, we had a Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4.0L 2WD pickup towing a 2000 pound all aluminum LivinLite CampLite 11 travel trailer. Decided to go on the Oliver plant tour, head to SE Missouri that afternoon after the tour to see the Elite II. Thought the used Ollie might come in around 5,000 pounds with empty tanks with our Frontier's towing capacity at 6300 pounds with 630 pound tongue weight capacity. The couple we purchased the Ollie from had the Ollie set up on their farm with full hook ups. They told us we were welcome to camp in the Ollie for a few days to see how we liked it. We camped in the Ollie on the evening we toured the Oliver Plant. We decided to buy the Ollie and head home to Carolina the next day. A vehicle pulled out in front of us on the way home and had a real emergency stop situation, the Frontier/Ollie rig stopping easily. We were also amazed with the Ollie's fine towing manners and towing fuel economy. Weighed our Ollie once home and it came in around 4950 pounds with empty tanks. We recently decided to purchase a Toyota Tundra 5.7L 4x4 tow vehicle. Just returned from our second TV shake down trip and very impressed with the Ollie/Tundra rig. Like always, take too many photos: Oliver Tour the day before we purchased our Ollie: Getting ready to tow the Ollie home from Missouri: Camping at a TN SP on the way home: Happy Ollie Campers at an Egg gathering last May: Second visit to the Oliver Plant: NC Rt. 181 with Table Rock Mountain in the background: Dexter EZ Flex installation: Taken yesterday at Bandit's Roost ACE Campground NC: We're Happy Ollie Campers!!!!!

John, At the time she was one of seven Women in the world making these for a living with power saws. The little bear is guarding our front porch! We bought the black bear on the left for $50 from her at an antique tractor show. We were camping at a ACE campground in western Illinois when the family camping next to us invited us to the antique tractor show. Their family was showing 5 tractors there.

Just returned from another camping trip at Bandit's Roost. Spent time on the Blue Ridge Parkway during this trip. Blue Ridge Parkway NC & VA: