topgun2

No one (certainly me) has said that "OTT has good reasons for all things they do!". As I would hope you already know, in manufacturing there are a myriad of factors that enter into virtually all aspects of even the smallest detail of any product. In my almost 11 years of dealing with OTT products and personnel I believe that they are truly concerned and connected with virtually every aspect and they seek to make our trailers better in every way that they can while still producing a product that meets all of the requirements necessary/desired for the broad segment they are trying to serve. Indeed, many of the "improvements" made to these trailers have been at the insistence of owners. In my personal opinion, some of these "improvements" have actually made the trailers less desirable to me. You have made this point before without consideration or concern for any segment of the market that chooses (for what ever reason) to not be "bothered" with yet another electronic device. I regret that it is "painful" for you to have to deal with those that (again) for whatever reason choose to not use a "LevelMate" or, perhaps, even cell phones. I'm truly glad for your delight in the ease and simplicity you seem to find in using these types of devices. I would certainly agree that they do have a place and time. But, ALWAYS and in ALL situations is a bit of a stretch. About 500 days ago the area where I live was badly hit with a "hurricane" that literally destroyed several towns and this area is still dealing with the issues caused. One of the things that simply didn't work during this storm was the cell phone network. Perhaps in the eyes of some (actually most if looking at the current stats regarding cell phone ownership - some 95% of adults in America own them) having a land line for phone service belongs in the "stone age". But, I'm sure glad that we still had/have ours when this happened. I've never felt the "need" for being perfectly level or perfectly comfortable, or virtually perfectly almost anything else since my days in the Army. Again, I'm sorry that "It gets me when...". I believe that people do with their money what they want (within the law of course). With cell phones to LevelMates, to Oliver's and beyond people can spend money as they choose. Yes, I do wonder sometimes about these choices that people make. Heck, I even question my own sanity from time to time but I sure don't let it bother me. I'm sorry too that you have had to spend "2 years making too many corrections and improvements!" to your Ollie. From reading most of your posts I believe that some of these "corrections and improvements" had to be made due to the neglect or mistreatment your trailer suffered from its previous owner(s). Others things that you have done, indeed, correct, improve or update original things done during manufacturing. Finally, I prefer to believe that much of our "100's of pages long" Mods section here on the Forum has more to do with improved technology, materials, design and related factors than it does with Oliver not having good reasons for doing what they did. As an example - I believe that you have basically rewired your entire Ollie (and nicely so too). You did this because you saw "problems" with the original wiring that (for good reason) caused you concern. And, since this original wiring was done during the original build your assumption is/was that Oliver was somehow "bad" for allowing the wiring to be completed in this manner. But, as with many things, there is more to the story than what one usually sees by only observing what they can immediately see. Back when your trailer was built, Oliver didn't have "in house" electricians. They knew how other RV's were wired but felt that if they hired certified electricians they would get the best wiring for an Oliver available. From the history I know, there were as many as three individual electricians (I'm sure that they knew each other given the small town/area around Hohenwald) that usually came into Oliver after normal working hours to wire our trailers. This is why not all trailers produced at that time were necessarily wired the same. After "problems" were being reported by owners, Oliver felt that they should have more control over how the trailers were being wired in order to reduce the number of "quality control" issues they were having. Once Oliver took this area "in house" they standardized the wiring for all trailers. This meant that all trailers would be wired with the same wiring harness and would, therefore, actually cost more in wire but less in installation as compared to hiring these "outside" certified electricians. These same type of issues were the reason for the switch from BlueSky to Zamp solar controllers even though Oliver was chastised for not having an MPPT controller, These same type of issues came up with the switch from 16 inch to 15 inch tires and with the orientation of the propane stove and with window blinds and with interior design choices and with ..... In my experience, Oliver has no comparison (not even close) to any other company in the world that I've ever been associated with or done business with. They have consistently done things for customers that are far and away beyond anything that might be considered necessary - regardless of warranties or any other related legal issue. If Oliver has a fault in this area I believe that it lies in the lack of marketing all of the things that they have done other than letting the final product speak for itself. Does this mean that I believe Oliver is perfect? NO! But the company and its product are the best thing on the market even at the price of $100,000. Bill

Yes - the reason is that if you choose to use the onboard jack OR "legos" or "Andersen" type ramps, some type of device that tells you when you are level will be necessary. Just because Oliver is recommending to NOT use the jacks (for leveling) does not negate the fact that you still need to level. Bill

Believe whatever you choose - I only wanted to clear up the definitions that were being tossed around along with the associated prices. Bill

I'd be a bit careful here! Sure - either way its not a bunch of money but ..... I'd make very sure that everyone is talking about the exact same part(s) before placing the order. It appears to me that the "hub cap" plus the "little disk" that goes in the center of the "hub cab" sells on Amazon for about the same price that Oliver is quoting - But, the "little disk" that goes in the center of the "hub cap" costs about half that on Amazon as per jd1923's post above. Or, as per Patriot's post above, these "little disks" are available from Oliver (with the appropriate Oliver logo installed) for only about the $3.00 that Patriot mentions. It should also be noted that all of this is different from what is called a "dust cap" that is the part that is tapped into the end of the axle in order to keep dust and dirt from reaching the axle bearings. Examples of these "dust caps" can be seen in jd1923"s post above (for the never lube axles) and in my post above for the regular axles. Hope this helps and saves you some coin. Bill

According to AI as of 2pm 2-12-2026 There is not an active, certified class-action lawsuit against Battle Born Batteries at this time, but a class-action lawsuit investigation is underway due to reported issues with overheating battery terminals. If you own Battle Born batteries, a survey has been circulating to gather information for the class action lawsuit investigation. Key Issues Under Investigation The potential lawsuit stems from a reported design flaw in certain Battle Born battery models (specifically 12V, 100Ah, and potentially the GC2 models) where the positive terminal can overheat significantly during charging or under load. Design Flaw: The positive terminal design is alleged to be problematic, with plastic isolating the terminal post from the busbars, forcing all current through a single aluminum bolt and nut. This can lead to the nut loosening, the plastic melting, and dangerous temperatures. Safety Concerns: Temperatures at the terminal have been reported to exceed 250°F (120°C), posing fire and burn hazards. Company Response: Battle Born Batteries (parent company Dragonfly Energy) has stated the terminal melting is an intentional "thermal failsafe" feature designed to prevent heat from reaching the internal cells in cases of misuse or improper installation. Warranty Issues: Some customers report that warranty claims related to these issues have been denied, which critics argue is contributing to the call for legal action. For potential claimants, industry experts and consumers on forums suggest: Checking the temperature of your battery's positive terminal under load using a temperature gun. Contacting the law firms conducting the investigation, whose information can be found through resources like the survey link mentioned in the search results.

Can I be your brother in law? 😁 Bill p.s. of course without the brother or the in law parts!

ripple963 - First - Welcome to the Forum. There is a TON of information here and it is amazing what one can learn by simply "poking around". There is also the Oliver University where you can find videos and help on all sorts of things involving your Ollie. Please do not hesitate to contribute to the Forum with your own ideas, mods and travel experience - pictures are especially welcome (they to say 1,000 words). Second - You can use the "search" function to find previous "threads" that just might help with what you are looking for. Unfortunately, our search function is not what one might call "the best" and there have been posts here over the past few days regarding ways that you can use to help refine your search and to actually speed up that search. Third - Your question - there are numerous threads on the Forum regarding this very question. There was a time a number of years ago when Oliver actually noted that our jacks could be used for both stabilizing and leveling - and - jacking one side of the scamper in order to change a tire! However, due to a number of "issues" over the years, Oliver now only recommends the jacks be used for stabilization. Having said this, there are many of us who still use the jacks for all things even to include tires changes/bearing service, etc.. Please note here that if you are inclined to use your jacks for purposes other than those recommended by Oliver, you do so at your own risk and should take ALL of the proper precautions in order to protect yourself (and others) from all relevant risks similar to what you do when jacking a car/truck wheel off the ground. If you intend to do this then I'd highly recommend that you read everything that you can find here on the Forum so that you are aware of how to do this properly without damage to your new Oliver and/or the people near you. Forth - Congrats on the new Oliver! The longer you live with this camper the more friendly it becomes. Bill

Heck - I'm not as smart as Google but even I can easily answer THAT question 😇

Or, as "AI" says: " Based on the product specifications, Andersen trailer jack blocks (specifically the 3608 and EZ Block models) are constructed from a solid, high-strength, UV-resistant polymer material, rather than being reinforced with internal metal or composite structures. Key details regarding their construction and strength: Solid Construction: They are designed as a solid, single-piece unit. Material: The blocks are made from a heavy-duty, durable, UV-resistant polymer that resists dirt, oil, and grime. Weight Capacity: Despite lacking internal structural metal reinforcement, a single 8" block is rated to support up to 6,000 lbs (some specifications list up to 8,000 lbs for specific,8-inch models). Stability: They feature a 12-inch diameter base, a 10-inch top, and built-in magnets for attachment to the jack. While they are not internally reinforced with other materials, they are Engineered to be extremely durable for stabilizing RVs and trailers. "

According to Andersen: "Attach the Trailer Jack Block to the pad and level. It's that easy. The Trailer Jack Block offers 5th wheel & RV stabilization, all while reducing stress on your jacks. The built-in magnets instantly attach to the jack, so there is no need to double-check and adjust each block. Available in either 4" or 8" height options, each Jack Block is designed to be used with up to 9" round jack pads. The 4" option is rated up to 30,000 lbs each or 20,000 lbs double stacked. The 8" option is rated up to 8,000 lbs each or 1,500 lbs double stacked. All of our plastic trailer accessories are made in the USA Covered under a lifetime warranty" Therefore it appears that they CAN be double stacked and even though they do not specifically mention internal reinforcement the stated "ratings" would appear to confirm that they are fairly strong. Bill

Certainly I'm well aware that there are those who are experiencing much worse weather than I am. However, once again this morning an "un-forecast" thing happened - welcome to the sunny South!

Let's see - My Ollie is ten years old and I'm on my third alarm. Perhaps these things are junk? There are a couple of threads here on the Forum that detail the installation of a simple "on/off" switch for this alarm. If anyone installs one of these switches they should - in some way - make sure that it is known when the alarm is in the "off" position. Bill p.s. it seems that these alarms always go off in the middle of the night. This makes finding and pulling that fuse a bit difficult. Therefore, a switch makes this process much easier. "side bar": Dave - in my mind I don't look any different than I did about 50 years ago.🫠

It is seldom that sparks are a good thing.

Dave - Did you "trace" that positive back to its bus bar? While you are in the :tracing" mode, I'd also trace the negative back to its bus bar - the connections at each bus bar just might be loose. Bill

They taste like chicken?

ditto on this front. Of course we could leave it the way it is and then we'd know when we have two empty tanks?🙃

You can almost bet on that one.

Curious - I sent CalMark an email asking if they still made covers for the Oliver Elite II and what the pricing might be. Below is the reply I just received back from them: Dear Bill Thank you so much for reaching out and requesting a quote from us. We truly appreciate your interest in our covers and the opportunity to be considered for your cover needs. We wanted to share a quick update on timing. Our current production schedule is already fully booked through the end of February. At the same time, we’re in the process of improving and expanding our cover product line, with new options and updates launching in March. Because these changes may affect both available choices and pricing, we aren’t issuing new quotes right now—we want to be sure anything we provide reflects the most accurate and up-to-date offering. We absolutely don’t want to leave you waiting, though. As soon as our March details are finalized, we’d be happy to reconnect and provide a Fast quote customized to your needs. If you’d like, we can keep your request on file and reach out right away when the updated information is available. Thank you again for your patience and understanding. Please feel free to reply with any questions in the meantime. Natalie Miller President/Owner CalMark Cover Co. Inc. (800) 838-7236

Sure - but - you're in Hawaii paragliding and wave surfing. 😇 Bill

Like Mike T I've never heard any noise from my regulator. However, even though the temps do go below freezing when at altitude during my summer fishing trips, the temps rise quickly with the sun and I rarely use the furnace for these time due to the fact that mid to high 20's is about as low as it gets and that is only for short duration. Bill

It was 8 degrees about an hour and a half's drive west of Patriot (assuming dry roads and probably a 1,000 feet in altitude). However, there is not a cloud in the sky. That means - let the melting begin even though it is not forecast to be above freezing today. By Wednesday the forecast is for highs around 50 degrees - still a bit below normal but virtually all of the snow will be gone (I hope). Bill p.s. hopefully the folks in eastern TN did OK with this storm. They were hit very hard a week ago with the ice which basically shut Oliver production down for the week.

Shame that the town isn't a bit more active. Just hate to see the big box stores that don't have the charm get ALL the business. Looks a bunch warmer there than the 18 degrees we have here at the moment. Bill

I used a battery powered blower to clear the rear deck off so I could get to the bird feeders. Then, I cranked up the 50 year old snow blower to do the driveway. Not exactly using an old jet engine but it sure beats shoveling. Our temp is now down to 18degrees! Bill p.s. Patriot used a battery powered blower to clear the snow off one of his vehicles too.

I don't care! Cold is cold and at 22 degrees being outside in the snow is no fun. On the other hand - a couple of runs down the hill will get the heart pumping. Grab a board and hit the waves for me - please. Bill

RVK - What year is your Ollie? In the "older" models the water inlets are on the streetside away from the furnace and are, therefore, subject to freezing. Unfortunately, if this happens then it is very possible that the check valves might be damaged. Bill