topgun2

Overland - Nice move. Please tell me that alcohol was involved (that way you probably didn't care as much at the time). Bill

That's great news! Good for you for sticking to your guns - what's right is right and you were certainly right on this one. Also, once again, it is nice to hear that the folks (Jason this time) at Oliver will do everything in their power to help owners with everything associated with an Oliver. Finally, it is nice to see that Truma did what was right too. Bill

Looking good Tom. Isn't that mixture on the interior great? So easy and fast with no streaks - hard to believe. For touch-ups on the exterior (like the top of the propane cover and the bug splattered front) I use just the 952 Aquawax or the same mixture that I use on the inside. Nothing hard about it - glad you like the stuff. Bill

I guess that I'm the wrong guy to ask - I rarely put down either of the two rear jacks. Of course, I am usually in there by myself but even when there is one or two additional people I've not noticed any objectionable movement. Bill p.s. I totally realize that the above comments don't mean a thing - if Mama ain't happy then nobody is happy!

Guys - Hopefully someone that has immediate access to their Oliver will get the "exterior basement door" opening measurements to you shortly. I did go over to the Oliver University section (under "Travel Trailers" above in the blue banner) and found that the basement measures - 49 x 22 x 16 (deep). I believe that the "deep" means height or distance from the bottom of the Oliver to the underside of the interior floor. Hope that this helps. Bill

Welcome - we're glad you are with us. Looking forward to both a new Oliver and retirement - the great news just keeps on coming. If we can help in any way just jump right on in. Bill

Dudley doesn't travel but somehow he always gets this look on his face when I tell him I'm going on a trip - I wonder why?

There are a number of different types of tire plugging systems on the market. Most are the "string" type - these use what looks like a string of black material that is inserted into the hole in the tire. However, there are also some that are a bit more substantial and resemble the "mushroom" plugs that many tire repair shops use. Which ever type you wind up with I'd suggest that you find an old tire and practice with it a couple of times prior to actually needing to perform a real plugging on the side of a dark wet road in the middle of nowhere. Also, after plugging a tire make sure that you check the air pressure in that tire often for the first couple of days just to make sure that the plug has done its job. Bill

For a time I had a battery cut-off switch installed as shown below - the piece with the green knob. It worked "OK" but I had to remember to check the connections for tightness often. I have since removed it and now use a small solar panel while Twist is in storage to constantly keep the batteries charged. Bill

Tom - Perhaps this will get you started - I don't have access to Twist at the moment so I'm not sure about the size. Bill https://www.amazon.com/Button-Handle-Quick-Release-Commercial/dp/B002GPHTCO/ref=sr_1_40?keywords=spring+ball+pins&qid=1553430394&s=gateway&sr=8-40

So, I'm guessing that "rubber baby buggy bumpers" will not work?

Since I travel alone most of the time I don't have someone to help "check" things. Like Overland, I too used to use those "remove before flight" ribbons - particularly on things like motorcycle disk brake locks. But, as Rumline points out, having a bunch of flags hanging about on the Oliver just doesn't appeal to me. On the one trip I've used these slap straps they worked out great. But only time will tell. Bill

I've tried checklists but I've never found them to be as easy as they should be. Carrying around a clip board or dry erase board just doesn't do it for me and, somehow, I'd miss things even though I could swear that I checked it. So, I tried to just get into a routine and do the same tasks the same way every time - that way certainly I would not forget something. Yep, that didn't work all the time either. I tried "sticky notes" - what a disaster that was - think rain and surfaces that those little buggers don't stick to let alone ALL of those bits of paper laying around on everything. Here is a new idea I'm trying - "slap straps". Get a bunch of these, write the thing that should be checked on one, and attach it to either the steering wheel of the truck or the screen door grab handle. As I take care of the item noted on the strap, I simply remove it from the steering wheel (or screen door grab bar). When I set up camp I place the strap back on the wheel or door when I take care of that chore. Sorry that I don't currently have access to my Oliver to show the straps in action, but here are what these things look like: The black storage tube was made out of an old golf club storage sleeve and a couple of caps from used small tubes of grease. I got the slap straps from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011DFG4W8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I originally got the idea from You, Me & the RV on YouTube.

As I see it, there are basically two issues regarding these stems (not counting the kid with the buck knife who just as well might "key" your vehicles). For most of us who do not venture into the great beyond issues regarding the stem being hit, cut, torn, etc. are usually not relevant, however, for those odd occasions the peace of mind that they might bring could certainly be worth that $60 to $75. The "mass" that is at the end of the stem coupled with the vibration caused by that mass and the potential wear on the rubber of the stem is more of the problem. Having said this, I've been told that there can be some problems with metal stems sealing to tire rims (particularly rims that are not steel) and, of course, there are the potential issues surrounding corrosion with metal stems. Bill

Isn't the world of "no schedule" great? However, usually this comes with a bit of a price - age. All of that "someday" I want to … now turns into - I better simply get to doing all of those things instead of just dreaming about them. We all have to start somewhere and what an exciting time it is - have FUN! Bill

They all have rubber stems. In my discussions with the tech guy at EEZ he told me that metal stems were not necessary for use with their transmitters. However, I intend to replace my rubber stems with metal ones AND have the tires re-balanced at the same time when I get the new TPMS. Bill

Ken & Karren - Boy! Time is getting short for you now - talk about excitement! Oliver deliveries usually take about two hours or so. They do not just hand you the keys. Every system will be pointed out and demonstrated (if possible) and they will take as much time as you need to make sure that they have answered all of your questions. However, there will be a number of items that will not be "tested" at that time. This is due to the fact that there (usually) will not be any water in the fresh water tank and since delivery (usually) takes place inside, there will be no sun to make the solar panels work (assuming that you got that option). However, during the first night's camping it is fairly easy to test these systems to make sure that they work to your satisfaction and I would strongly encourage you to do this for two reasons. One - make sure that they work!. Two - make sure that you know how to make them work. This second point is a bit more difficult than most of us imagine. Sure, we listen and even (perhaps) take notes during the delivery, but, I certainly didn't remember it all even a short 8 hours later. Most important - have fun, take notes (videos are even better), ask questions, play with everything that you can, but, most important, relax and (did I mention?) have fun! Bill

Ken & Judy - I viewed that video earlier this morning. As it was playing, I could not help but compare my Oliver on a point by point basis. Not only did the Oliver compare favorably on the Airstream negatives but it also did great on what Loloho thought were positives (for the Airstream). Kind of like having the best of both worlds! Bill

Mike - No problem with any of my pictures unless they make me look really stupid! Bill

G & T - Here is another idea for you: I've got two of these that I use to store little items in. They fit very nicely in the cubbies. I did glue strips of 3/8" thick foam on the bottoms so that the lower drawer would clear the lip of the storage area. They measure: 7" wide 7 1/8" tall 8 1/4" deep - including the little pull handles on each drawer

Nan - None of us like paying taxes! But, try to put that tax paying chore into a bit of perspective. Back when you started saving your money into that 401K plan (and/or IRA) you didn't pay taxes on that money (at least on the Federal level). Then, for all those years that you had that money in those plans you earned interest and dividends on BOTH the money that you deposited AND the tax amount that you didn't have to pay when you made the original deposit. So, now when you want to withdraw those funds you have to pay the taxes but you are at least paying with some of the monies that you have earned on those tax monies that you didn't originally pay. Certainly a classic case of "pay me now" or "pay me later" (from the government's point of view) but at least it is a bit comforting (to me at least) to know that I've been earning money on those taxes that I should have paid originally. A second thought - please don't take the broad brush negative comments by some people about Wells Fargo as proof positive that the entire organization is BAD. In any organization of ANY size, there are good and bad people and things that should be avoided. Yes, Wells Fargo got caught doing things in parts of that organization that were not according to law, regulation or common decency. However, that does not mean that everyone in that organization or every part of that organization is/was bad. Financial institutions are constantly reviewed by several Federal and State regulatory agencies and "must" adhere to volumes of standards and regulations that touch virtually every part of that business. It is one of the higher regulated businesses that we have. Certainly when an institution (your bank, auto mechanic, airline, hair dresser, etc., etc.) fails to abide by acceptable standards and/or regulations (and are caught - which I believe they all will be caught in due time) our trust in them is somewhat eroded. When that happens (and ideally we should be doing this at all times) we should take a closer look at our dealings with them and decide for ourselves if that institution and the people within it continues to warrant our trust and/or business. Having said all this, I believe that depending on your own amount of financial expertise, you should treat major financial decisions in a manner similar to how you should treat major health decisions - if there is ANY doubt in your mind as to your course of action, you should seek a second opinion. Bill

There is a very nice Museum of Transportation - https://transportmuseumassociation.org/ - located just west south west of Saint Louis. They've got a bunch of old trains there if you happen to be in that area. Bill

Trainman - I trust that you are kidding. We have had "other" brands of campers at previous Oliver Owner Rallies and are happy for them to attend. Certainly you are more than welcome - we need someone to kid (just kidding of course). Bill

For what its worth - I do the exact opposite of ScubaRX. I leave the valve to one of my propane tanks closed. I rarely, if ever, have the heat on at night, so, I really do not have his problem of having to get up in the middle of the night in the event the single tank I'm pulling from runs out of propane. When I find that this first tank is empty I simply open the valve to the other tank and then get the first tank refilled as soon as practical. This way I don't have to ever think about my usage and I don't run out of propane because I didn't remember to check. Bill

RB - Assume that you have both tanks with propane in them. Place the black lever in either direction and the tank that the lever is pointing to is the one that is supplying the propane. Also assuming that you have both tank valves in the open position then when the first tank runs out of propane, the regulator will automatically switch over to the other tank. Bill