donthompson

Headed to Hohenwald to have the Nature's Head composting toilet installed. Plan to empty the black tank the last time Tuesday morning at Fall Hollow Campground!

Here's another option. Slightly used. https://earthroamer.com/pre-owned-127/

Matt, I've had good experience with Sun & Fun RV in Iowa City, IA. They are expanding and moving to a new location in Tiffin, Iowa later this month. Jason Essary has communicated with their service manager, Lynn. Lynn is very thorough and has a calm and professional demeanor. I've been very satisfied with the work they've done on the Oliver. Most of that work has been with the factory's involvement. Another shop in the area is Midwest Frame and Axle in Iowa City. They installed my Dexter EZ Flex and charged a very reasonable amount to do the work. They also replaced the axles/brakes on my Elite II after the axles were deformed due to using jack stands for storage (that's a long story--you may know the details, but I won't share that info here). I highly recommend Midwest Frame and Axle for brake work, wheel bearing replacement or anything to do with the running gear. Great shop. Don

Matt, thanks for the update. I didn't comment on my service issues because I'm convinced the shortcomings are the result of growing pains, not a lack of commitment to servicing customers. I'm very encouraged by your comments/report. Oliver Travel Trailers is a great company, has great employees, builds outstanding campers and now appears to be on track to manage the extraordinary growth it's experiencing. Please pass along my appreciation to everyone involved and keep the members of the forum informed of how this process evolves. Don

I have an appointment at the Oliver factory in mid-October to add the composting toilet, the new bike rack and the water accumulator bladder tank added. Not very expensive to do the accumulator bladder. Will also have them do the fresh water tank retrofit so I can use the entire fresh water tank capacity. Don

John, Thanks again. I've ordered coconut coir and I've established an account at the Nature's Head store. I have two extra fuses and a spare bottle cap in my basket. Did you purchase an extra liquids bottle? What circumstances do you anticipate that would make this a good purchase? Don

John, thank you for providing the excellent and detailed information on the Nature's Head installation in your Oliver. I'm planning to visit the factory next month to have one installed in my Ollie. Emptying the black tank and the slight odor associated with the regular RV toilet have been the only things I've struggled with as an Oliver owner. The information you've provided convinced me that the Nature's Head should make me a happier camper! Thanks again for the excellent posts on this subject. Don

Buzzy, So sorry to learn of the passing of your beloved spouse and pet. I hope your interest in camping in your Ollie will bring you some comfort and joy in 2018. I have always been a solo Ollie camper. I retired at the end of 2015 and my wife continues to work. We travel together, but not in the Ollie. I love the solitude of solo camping and have not had any regrets about purchasing my Ollie for solo camping. I spend a lot of time in the west and have camped and hiked in some pretty remote places. I've developed some strategies to make me feel more secure. When I'm camped and hiking in bear country, I try to find hiking companions at the trailhead or on the trail. I've met some wonderful people doing this at Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Big Bend National Park, etc. I also purchased a Spot Gen 3 device that allows me to send an SOS signal if I get in trouble while hiking alone. I purchased it after spending some time in Guadalupe Mountains National Park where I was the only person in the campground for 4 nights and the only person hiking in the northern part of the park during that time. I was a little spooked by this so now I carry the Spot when hiking. I love to read and find the solitude conducive to my reading binges. I think being solo actually helps me be more precise in managing my checklists, etc. There are no distractions when you are setting up or breaking camp alone. The only time I've forgotten something at a campsite was when I was distracted by conversations with people I had met at the campground while I was getting packed up, etc. My parent were RV campers and one of the things that caused me to buy my Ollie and begin traveling with it was how much they enjoyed meeting new people while traveling with their RVs. They made many friends while traveling and I've done the same. The Ollie draws people to me wherever I travel, making it easy to strike up conversations and begin friendships where appropriate. There are some downsides. I do get lonely, but rarely. When I'm really enjoying myself (which is often) I feel bad about not being able to share my experiences with my wife. So, I keep a journal while traveling and post photos and parts of journal entries on my Facebook page. Many friends have commented about how they enjoy these posts and they encourage me to continue to share. Buzzy, I hope your Oliver and the experiences you have in 2018 camping and traveling bring you joy. Don

Geoff, I tow with a Touareg TDI. Also a 3.0-liter V-6 diesel. 240 hp/406 ft-lbs torque. 7700 lbs. towing capacity--616 lbs. max. tongue weight. Curb weight of the Touareg is just under 5,000 lbs. I tow with the standard bulldog hitch. I've towed many miles over varied terrain including mountain passes. I've been very happy with my choice of a tow vehicle and have enjoyed taking the Touareg on jeep trails at Canyonlands National Park. You should be fine with your JGC. Do some more reading about the Andersen Weight Distribution hitch-you'll find lots of info on this forum. Lots of pros and cons. VW won't permit the use of a weight distribution hitch with the Touareg, so I didn't have to make a choice. I've had no sway issues and I don't think I would choose the Andersen hitch if I could use it and had the ability to choose to do so. Don

John, I've spent time on a CAT scale. If the tongue of the bulldog hitch sits too low on the ball mount, it increased the tongue weight. If it sits too high, it decreases the tongue weight. The CAT scale allows you to see the difference in tongue weight depending on the height of the tongue of the hitch on the ball mount. It also allows you to check the weight of tow vehicle only with the camper attached and to check the weight of the front and rear axles of the TV with the camper attached to make sure the weight distribution front and rear are close to the same as the weight distribution without the camper attached. Here are the details of my CAT scale visit in September, 2016: * Vehicle with Oliver Attached: * 2460 lbs Steer Axle * 3140 lbs Rear Axle * 4940 lbs Trailer Axles * Vehicle with Oliver attached: * 5620 lbs. * Vehicle without Oliver Attached: * 5120 lbs * Tongue Weight: * 500 lbs. If anyone reading this sees any red flags or issues, please let me know.

Regarding the Ford Transit and weight distribution hitches--I tow with a 2015 VW Toureg TDI and VW doesn't recommend the use of a WDH. I've towed with the standard bulldog hitch for almost 2 years and I've never had any issues or problems with my setup. I have a highly adjustable ball mount that allows me to fine-tune the ball height and tongue weight. I've towed the Ollie with the TDI over 13,000 miles. I've towed in the mountains, desert, in high winds, etc. and have never felt insecure or unsafe. I typically tow at 55 to 65 mph on two lane highways depending on road conditions and 65 mph or a little higher on interstate highways.

Sorry for my delay in reporting on the Solo Bonfire. I have used it and love it. I won't post photos/videos because the Solo Stove website provides much better ones than I can provide. I can confirm that it performs as advertised. First, there is very little smoke, even when you don't have the best dry firewood. Second, the fire has a different appearance and is mesmerizing. I think it's because of constant air circulation in the bonfire. Third, you enjoy more heat from the Bonfire than from just burning wood in a ring or a firepit. The only disadvantage is that you can only view the fire from above the Bonfire. The company recommends that you keep the wood sized so the wood is completely contained within the device. You don't get the same full view of a fire that you may be used to. I spent three nights last weekend in parks that allowed fires. One was a State Park near Clear Lake, IA and the other was a KOA in the Twin Cities, MN where I was visiting to hear live jazz. It was cool enough at night to avoid using the A/C but the number of fires in the campgrounds made it very unpleasant with the windows open and the Maxi-Fan running. I prefer boondocking where I can avoid this. I've read that some campgrounds are establishing no fire zones. I think that's a good idea because of the amount of smoke produced by campfires at almost every campsite.

I love coffee! My coffee preparation is the same in my Ollie as it is at home except that I use a hand grinder (burr) when camping. My grinder is a bit extreme, but it's built to last a lifetime: http://www.oehandgrinders.com/LIDO-3-_c_30.html. I like Hario products too. I use a Hario scale to weigh coffee and water to get the ratio I like (16:1). I also like the Hario pour-over kettle: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSVV60-Buono-Pouring-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS. I drip the coffee directly into a Yeti insulated travel mug that works well as a small thermos. I usually buy coffee on a subscription basis from small roasters--I change every 2-4 months. Recent favorites are Red Rooster, Counter Culture, PT Roasting and Heart. I also make cold brew with coffee from Blue Bottle. When I'm traveling for more than 2-3 weeks, I search for local coffee roasters where I'm traveling. It's hit and miss, but worth the adventure. Don

Mike and Elizabeth, I spent some time in Texas in January and February this year and loved it! Highlights were Big Bend NP, Guadalupe Mountains NP, Marfa, the McDonald Observatory, Palo Verde Canyon SP and a couple of other state parks. I'll try to email my journal entries to you. Don

I picked up my Elite II in March 2016. It is the first travel trailer I have owned but my parents owned two Airstreams, a couple of other riveted aluminum campers, a Class B motorhome and an Alaskan Camper. The Alaskan Camper (cab-over pickup camper) was the only one they kept for more than 2-3 years, primarily because of quality issues. My Ollie has not been completely trouble free, but the issues have been very minor. The back to my furnace fell off after about 15,000 miles due to vibration. Easy fix that Oliver paid for. I've had issues with the drawer between the twin beds coming out when traveling and Oliver has sent the necessary parts to a local RV shop to have that issue resolved (adding a latch). I had some issues with the hot water heater but discovered that I was the problem, not the water heater. The fact that Oliver doesn't have dealers that you can take the camper to for repairs is an issue, but I've found that the Oliver people will communicate effectively with a local RV shop if necessary. My Elite II is a very high-quality camper. In addition, the people at Oliver have shown a willingness to provide what I consider to be incredible customer service during the 16-17 months I've owned the camper. They are always available to answer questions, provide solutions and are genuinely interested in keeping me satisfied with their product. Pick up any issue of Trailer Life and read about owners' experiences with other manufacturers. The rule in this industry appears to be that the manufacturer forgets you the minute you pull away with your new purchase. I nearly purchased a new Airstream 27' front bedroom. Traveling with that camper would have been a very different experience for me. I think anyone considering an Oliver should carefully consider whether it's the right camper for them. The lack of a separate bedroom, the small size, etc. will cause some to decide it isn't. The small size (7' width), the robust solar capability, the two-layer fiberglass hull and other attributes will cause others to decide it is the right camper for them. Are Olivers perfect? No, but they are high-quality and the company is still small, family-owned, and has a high degree of commitment to customer service.

Nice looking tow vehicle!

Mike and Carol, You've received some excellent advice--especially the recommendations from John Davies. My mother's uncle was a newspaperman in Lake City during the silver mining days and my mother started visiting Lake City with her parents every summer in a Model A. My parents, sisters and I made many trips to Lake City while I was growing up and I return to that part of Colorado at least every three years or so. John's comments about the Million Dollar Highway are accurate--I've driven it with my Touareg/Ollie and the experience is not one that I'll forget! If you rent a jeep to tour the Silverton, Ouray, Lake City backcountry, make sure you have a good map and a GPS device--I got lost last year because of a poor map. My handheld Garmin device that I use for hiking helped me find my way. I've attached some photos from my Jeep adventure on June 23, 2016. I love Mesa Verde, but there are a lot of visitors there. I suggest you go to Mesa Verde to learn--participate in ranger programs, ranger-led visits to the ruins, etc., and then go to Canyon of the Ancients National Monument near Cortez. You'll find great hiking, ruins, and you won't encounter many other visitors. If you have a taste for something different, Google Crestone, Colorado. It's located north of the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia: "The Crestone area, which includes the Baca Grande and Moffat, Colorado, is a spiritual center with several world religions represented, including: a Hindu temple, a Zen center, a co-ed Carmelite monastery, several Tibetan Buddhist centers, and miscellaneous New Age happenings. Crestone is easily accessible to visitors, a National Forest Service campground is about 3/4 of a mile north of town,[9] and other lodging is available, including several bed and breakfasts. Activities in the area include camping, fishing, hiking, climbing, as well as spiritual explorations." If you visit Ouray and like hot springs, consider Orvis Hot Springs just south of Ridgeway. It's about 9 miles from Ouray. It's a "clothing optional" facility (I have visited many times, kept my swimsuit on and have never been uncomfortable) with multiple outdoor pools, massage, camping, etc. The setting and grounds are beautiful and the people are very friendly and accommodating. If you are near Aspen, consider visiting Redstone and taking a 4-wheel drive to Crystal, an old mining town. I haven't been in Redstone/Crystal for many years, but have great memories from there. I haven't decided where to go this fall. I've been considering traveling from Iowa to the Canadian Maritimes, but I'm not sure I want to drive that far. I may head west instead--it's possible that I'll see you in Colorado! Visiting the Rocky Mountains in the Fall is a great experience.

I wanted to make sure I had the ability to adjust the ball height to get the Oliver as level as possible. I think this is a key factor in towing safely. I started with a ball mount that I purchased in Tennessee when I picked up my Elite II but I switched to an adjustable ball mount pretty quickly. It was expensive, but it gives me great piece of mind to know that the ball height is just right to make the Ollie level when I'm towing. Here's what I use: https://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/Weigh-Safe/TB6-2.html I'm towing with a 2015 VW Touareg TDI. Don

Here's an added benefit to towing with my VW Touareg TDI. I drove from Iowa City to Cleveland yesterday to attend the Tri-C Jazz Festival. I averaged just under 70 mph (lots of construction in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio) and averaged over 32 mpg. Filled with diesel fuel and drove 45 miles the day before on the full tank before leaving yesterday. I've now driven about 600 miles on that tank and still have almost a 1/4 tank of fuel. Of course, towing reduces the mileage but it's nice to have such a fuel efficient tow vehicle for every-day use. Now, if VW hadn't cheated on the emissions testing. . .

I met a couple of women from the Netherlands at Canyonland National Park last summer. They rented an RV for an extended trip around the Western U.S. They told me they enjoyed boondocking in Utah because they could use the outdoor shower without anyone watching. So one solution is to camp where no one else is camping. :) Seriously, I think your research will pay off. I started to research the subject last year and found these: https://www.rei.com/product/101407/kelty-blockhouse-privacy-shelter https://www.rei.com/product/882468/nemo-helio-pressure-shower These aren't really enclosures for the existing outdoor shower included with the Elite II, but you may want to consider setting up a completely separate shower facility. I've camped a lot since I picked up my Elite II in March, 2016 and I haven't used the indoor shower very often. I like to camp in National Park campgrounds and many have indoor showers. State Park campgrounds often do as well. Although I rarely camp in RV parks, when I do, I pay attention to the descriptions of the bath houses in the reviews. When I'm boondocking, I sometimes use the outdoor shower without fear of being observed. I keep my towel handy in case someone arrives in the vicinity!

I tow with a 2015 VW Touareg TDI. I'm waiting for VW to engineer a fix to solve their problem with emissions testing that will satisfy the courts. I towed my Elite II 12,000 miles last year and 4,000 miles in January and February this year. The towing capacity is 7700 lbs. It has 240 h.p. and 406 lb.-ft. of torque. The 8-speed transmission is a plus. I have averaged up to 19 mpg towing in Iowa driving on 2-lane highways with rolling hills. I've averaged 14-15 mpg towing in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, etc. The Touareg is a great tow vehicle. I've driven Ford, Chevy and Dodge Ram pickups and prefer the Touareg because it is more stable, handles better, and is less affected by windy conditions. I wish VW hadn't done what it did with the emissions issue. If I have to part ways with the Touareg, I'll replace it with another SUV--an Audi Q7, another Touareg or a Mercedes GLE350 4Matic. The downside to towing with an SUV like these is the lack of cargo capacity compared to a full-size pickup. Others have commented on the forum about how difficult it would be to find someone to fix a German SUV in the sparsely populated parts of the West. I understand that concern, but there is no perfect tow vehicle. You have to decide on the pros/cons as they relate to what you want in a tow vehicle. I don't want to drive a pickup on a daily basis and I don't want a tow vehicle that sits in storage except when I'm traveling with my Ollie.

John, Leaving for London and Italy on Saturday and I won't return until June 10, so test fire and photos will have to wait! Don

John, I have one. It's not that bulky. I tow with a VW Touareg and have room for the "Bonfire". The cargo area of the Touareg typically holds two 20 liter Spectre water cans, a folding Bike Friday bike, the Bonfire and assorted small stuff (daypack, collapsible hiking poles, etc.) I usually have at least one part of the back seat folded down to provide additional capacity. The Bonfire is very well-made and comes with a nylon carry bag with handles. I bought it after my winter trip to Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains NP, etc. and haven't had a chance to go camping this spring, so I can't confirm its performance. You've watched the videos on the website, I assume. I think it will be a great way to enjoy a fire! Don

I have a Solo Stove Bonfire. I ordered it and planned to use it on a camping trip this week but cold, rainy weather caused me to change my plans. I can comment on its size, construction and build quality, but you'll have to rely on the reviews and videos available to assess its performance. It's a great size for traveling with the Ollie and the design, materials and build quality are very impressive. Don

Yvonne, I wasn't aware of the redesign of the Oliver bike rack. I'll look for your photos. You're getting very close to your delivery date! Don