topgun2

Solar gives you the freedom of choice. Even if you do not intend to use it often, at least you will have the knowledge that you can travel without being "tied" to the "grid". Now - keep reading and watching Oliver videos. This will make your initial trips much more enjoyable and relaxing. Welcome to the Family! Bill

I've owned two of the 3.5 liter Ford engines and have been basically very happy with both. Unbelievable power, speed and decent gas mileage (as long as you are able to control those urges in your right foot) when not towing and acceptable gas mileage when towing. No issues what so ever in towing on the flats or in the mountains - plenty of power for both. For what I think are obvious reasons, any relatively smaller turbo'd engine is somewhat more complicated than a comparable non-turbo'd V8 engine. There are numerous YouTube videos out there where pundits champion one versus the other. I tend to not keep vehicles any longer than 5 or 6 years. Unless I'm on the road my vehicles are always stored in a garage, all maintenance is completed at or ahead of schedule and I consider myself a conservative driver - if I have a "need for speed" I hop on a motorcycle where the sensation of speed is generally amplified. Perhaps these are the reasons I've not had any troubles with either of the Ford trucks I've owned - or - perhaps, it is because I'm lucky 😉. If you tend to keep your vehicles a lot longer than I do, you might want to pay more attention to the "simpler is better" argument. If you plan to use this new truck as your daily driver and put a bunch of miles on it then, again, perhaps simpler is better. If you embrace newer tech (even though turbos have been around for quite a number of years), want better gas mileage, don't mind the "sound" of the turbo'd engines versus the "growl" of a V8 then you've got your answer. Good luck! Bill

Carl - Sorry that it didn't work out for you on the Glyder. I'd guess that the fact that the camper was nose up to start really didn't help things and only amplified the tongue lifting up. However, it looks like your new hitch will give you some of the same functions as the Glyder. Good luck with it. All this being said - how's that Ollie working for you guys? Bill

While I very much agree with the overall sentiment of John Davies (JD) post above, I very much disagree with the quoted statement above. I'm guessing that JD has had a negative experience with drum brakes (perhaps to include those on his Oliver) but I've been towing various camping and boat trailers for over 50 years (oh my!) with only one hydraulic boat trailer brakes ever causing any problems at all. Specifically, the brakes on my Oliver have performed very well over the past six plus years and can still be made to fully stop the Ollie's tires from turning - yes, I do test them and I do inspect the components of the braking system at least once per year. Basically drum brakes were invented in 1899 and have been used on a fair number of trailers and vehicles since then. According to Haynes.com, "drum brakes provide more braking force than equal diameter disc brakes", "drum brakes last longer due to increased friction contact area versus a disc brake", "drum brakes are cheaper to manufacture", and, "drum brakes have slightly lower frequency of maintenance due to better corrosion resistance". Basically the reason we now have disc brakes on most of our vehicles is because, "disc brakes deliver better performance in both wet and dry conditions" as per napaonline.com. Certainly this is true when brakes are "heavily" used or abused. While the brakes on our Olivers are reasonably typical in that they are delivered from a respected manufacturer - Dexter - who also supplies a number of other trailer manufacturers, this does not mean that they are "junk". However, it does mean that the inherent "problems" of drum brakes still do apply to those used on Olivers and we should be aware of these potential issues. Drum brakes will experience "fade" when used heavily (i.e. long downhill runs where the brakes are heavily used or when a driver "rides" their brakes) thus causing the driver to have to apply even more force to the brake pedal to get even the same braking force. In extreme situations this fade can even cause a major loss of braking power - such as when "the pads or drums become "glazed". Drum brakes are slightly more susceptible to malfunction when used in off-road conditions versus disc brakes because debris can more easily become lodged in the parts of the drum brakes. And, drum brakes are somewhat more difficult to inspect for wear in that the drum must be pulled in order to inspect the brake linings (however, this should be done at least annually anyway when the bearings are greased). Are drum brakes the absolute best braking technology ever invented? - Obviously, the answer to that question is a resounding NO. But, are they "junk" and more specifically, are the brakes that Oliver uses "junk"? Again it would seem that the answer is a resounding NO. Bill

Heck - I've got over 2,000 days and my "high expectations" are still being exceeded. 😃

Ah - got it. Perhaps I should have looked at the rest of the thread and I would have known that you were talking about the fan in the bath. I'd bet that Oliver is still using the same fan that they have been using for years. Good luck! Bill

More often than not I find myself coming back to the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Just brings back good vibes and feelings while "takin it easy". Bill

A call to your sales rep at Oliver would be the easiest and quickest way to get a definitive answer to this question. Having said this - perhaps I don't understand your question in that my 2016 has a MaxAir fan and I'm not aware that Oliver has changed this. Bill

With a 3/4 ton truck a weight distribution hitch is not "required" by any truck manufacturer. Given that there is no "discount" for the Andersen, you have nothing to lose by waiting, test the towing experience and if you are happy then nothing more needs to be done. Obviously, if you are not happy or if you feel that the Andersen gives you added benefits (such as additional safety margins or the like) it is reasonably easy to install. Bill

Yes, it is nice in typical Oliver style. I'm told that the area is VERY well lit at night -so - remember to bring something to help shade that exhaust fan opening and/or your front door if you are sensitive to light. Don't forget to reserve your camping spot.

Why is there no emoji choice for - "I'm jealous"?

I got a Ryobi handheld only because it uses the same lithium battery as my drill and other shop tools. However, I understand that Black & Decker makes a popular one. Bill

It will be good to see you again - thanks for joining us! Bill

There are a number of these types of checklists available here on the Forum that can be found via the "Search" function at the top of this page. You might want to start with one of THESE. Bill

Yes on the forklift - no on the shade trees (there is a relatively small landscaped area but the new tree in there will take years before it produces enough shade to make an ant stop sweating). The entrance to the Service area can be seen in the Galway pictures above - no more than 100 yards from the farthest campsite (total distance traveled). Bill

Mossemi put me on to the Hitch Vise a couple of years ago. I did double nut the two bolts that hold it on the receiver just to make sure that it didn't come loose. It is a great product to help eliminate rattles and slop in that area. But, back to the Andersen - while there are a couple of people that still use the WDH with a 3/4 ton truck, the vast majority do not. Bill

Looks good to me. Since I always carry mine with me while towing I chose an inexpensive one so that I would not be terribly disappointed when/if it broke. I check it a couple time a year to make sure that it is still within a reasonable zone of calibration. The one I bought for the Ollie is THIS. Is it the best - no. Is it precise - probably not but it is good enough for the job at hand (lug nuts). Bill

Its the bathroom exhaust fan. Bill

Even distress beacons have potential "issues" - they usually need a clear view of the sky to be totally effective for instance. Relatively simple things should be learned prior to venturing far afield. Something as simple as following a drainage downhill has saved a number of people from unpleasant circumstances. Even a compass can break or a map can be lost or glasses can be of no use. Here on this Forum we constantly repeat instructions to new or prospective owners to read, read, read and learn, learn, learn so that they can be more comfortable and in control of their Oliver (or any travel trailer for that matter). These same things can be said for those venturing into places that are beyond their experience, knowledge or abilities. A person who only uses their travel trailer in commercial campgrounds does not necessarily need to have the same level of expertise as another owner who routinely ventures well off the beaten path. But, in any case, there is virtually always something new to learn. Bill

Jim_Oker Close enough - price elasticity will almost always change depending on where you are looking on the curve and at what time (or times) you are looking. Your point was well taken. Bill

A couple of three foot sections of pex pipe and an assortment of "Sharkbite" fittings - 90 degree, straight. There is a thread here on the Forum where this is covered in some detail where opinions ranging from extra fittings to extra water pumps is covered. Bill

Yes, probably too harsh considering the entire continuum of all possibilities. What about the added protection against theft - aren't those "Lectric bikes"? Or, the enhanced front end collision protection to the vehicle? And, a good downpour would help to wash them off versus all that dust that is kicked up on the back of the camper going down dirt roads. There just must be other reasons but it is simply too early in the morning to ..... Bill

In the "special" case of the owner of that Ollie there is no telling what all of the uses of it are for.😁 But, Mossemi slightly modified this bike rack so that it would fit on the front of their Oliver and the "normal" use for it is to carry their bikes. A Forum search should produce a thread that shows how he did it. Bill

Some owners have placed the gutters far enough above the windows so that they still have plenty of access to the caulked area. I placed mine as close to the window as possible and have never looked back. Perhaps the gutters give some extra protection to this area but there does not appear to be any sign of degradation of the caulk. Of course in the event that I would have an issue, my plan would be to simply remove the gutter, fix the window/caulk and then replace the gutter with new - it is not that expensive. Bill

There are three little dots at the upper right hand side of each post. Left click on those and a drop down menu will appear that will show the word "edit". Left click on edit and have at it. Bill