topgun2

Assuming that your "vents" are the little silver colored things on the bottom outside shell of the camper (actual name for these things is scupper holes or scupper hole covers to be technical). The purpose of these is to allow drainage of leaks from between the inside and outside shells of the camper. Therefore, the job is to find out where the leak is coming from and then stop it. Probably you are on the right track with regards to the water inlet. Good luck. Bill

Stan - Try a PM to Jason Wamsley. Bill

Randy - A big YES to all of those but especially number three. It seems that when I'm breaking camp someone interrupts me (usually wanting to know something about the Oliver) and then I'm in a hurry to get out of Dodge. I have to remind myself to slow down, relax, and get back to business - the potential "costs" of not doing that are simply too large. Bill

Just gotta love an old two cycle engine snow blower - that is except for how I smell at the moment. Even with such heavy snow that little puppy was able to get at it. Given the snow was ten to twelve inches deep and so heavy I had to only take 1/2 a width of the blower on each pass. But, it sure beats the heck out of shoveling. Unfortunately, the snow plows have not plowed the street since last night and there are presently fallen trees blocking the entrance and exit to our street. I'm sure that the 4 wheel drive truck could make it out in the event of emergency but that just might mean I would get it dirty! Since I also cleaned the drives for some (really) elderly neighbors its a virtual guarantee of a couple bottles of wine and/or cookies! Bill

OK, having lived north of the Mason Dixon line for a period of time I know that there are places where snowfall is virtually a daily occurrence. However, the "average" total snowfall for the southern town in which I currently live is 6 inches and the average high temperature for December 9th is right at 51 degrees. At 7:30 this morning these pictures were taken. AND! It is supposed to keep snowing all day today. Sure is quiet and beautiful though and I'm one of the very few people that has a (small) snow blower. Of course this means that shortly I'll be out there making a first clearing job on my drive and the drives of at least 6 others. What time does the game start? Bill

When I got my first boat trailer (about age 15) I made the same mistake of not chocking the trailer wheels before unhitching. Nice hole in that garage door that my Dad sure wasn't happy about and I got to fix. Since then I've always placed a sign on the tongue that says "CHOCKS". Bill

I've never had a problem with moisture under the mattress. However, as a precaution I did cut a piece of 3/4 inch foam board to place under the mattress and as Randy did I came up each side about four inches. I still haven't had any moisture problems, but, I have not camped in anything below about 25 degrees since I added the foam board. Since foam board is a bunch cheaper than hypervent, it just might be worth a try. Bill

I didn't purchase that cable hanger because I figured that since the "safety chains" are actually pigtail cables it would be easy enough to simply hook them over the tongue of the Ollie. The emergency brake hook and cable I hook to the wires right under the fiberglass covering the tongue and the electric cable "wedges" nicely right behind the front jack. However, I did get the "cap" that covers the electric cable in order to keep the dirt and rain out of it. Bill

Darryl & Kim - Depending on how you plan on getting to Hohenwald - be very careful. I assume that you are following the weather reports concerning the storm that is descending upon Western North Carolina as I type this. I think that if your route is from the West, North or South you should be OK. But, Sunday, Monday and early Tuesday just might be very difficult on interstate 40 east of Knoxville. With temps forecast for Tuesday afternoon to be at or above 45 degrees, you should be OK then. Be careful! Bill

Tom & Holly - Welcome to the family! Way more comfortable, secure and easier to deal with. I just got an email this morning from a friend a few miles north of you who told me the temp this morning was -5 and that came with 11 inches of snow. I think that given that weather I too would pass on the camping for at least a few days. Hopefully you can join many of us at the 2019 Owner's Rally in May. Heck, by then you two should be seasoned Oliver travelers. Bill

Already got a 27 year old snow blower - got it out of the garage a couple of days ago and with a short shot of starting fluid into the carb it fired right up. Bring it on! Bill p.s. a normal winter's snowfall for this town is right at 6 inches. The current forecast is calling for between 6 and 18 inches. If that happens can I count on Santa to bring no more snow for the rest of the winter?

Ouch!

I thought that I'd put a new tire pressure monitoring system on my wish list. But, I then thought that I probably will not be using Twist until April and why buy now what I can't use for several months. So, maps and fishing guide books for Montana went on the list instead. That way I can use the early winter months to get my main 2019 trip planned and reservations (where necessary) made. Bill p.s. A happy and enjoyable holiday season to all. Please be safe out there!

Kim & Travis - As a fellow North Carolinian let me add a welcome and congratulations. Certainly your Oliver is going to be WAY more comfortable than virtually any tent. If you haven't been over to the factory yet any nice long weekend between now and June would make a great little trip and maybe even give you a chance to see your Oliver on the production line. Certainly June will be here before you know it - I lie - this will probably be a long wait. But, you can fill the time with making plans for where you will take it and for how you will outfit it. I'm sure that we are all excited for you! Bill

Another way to kind of do what you want is to do a vinyl wrap. At least one owner has had that done and while I didn't personally care for the theme they picked, the overall result was very nice. And, a wrap could be changed or modified and be easier than a paint job. Bill

Hopefully I'm not stepping on anyone's copyright toes but I found this over on the Fiberglass RV Forum: http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volta.htm Bill

Hobo - See this post - http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/levelingsupport-blocks/ And do a search for Andersen leveler. As Overland comments - they are expensive hunks of plastic - but they are easy to work with. Once you have done this do some online research for other types/brands of levelers that are similar to the Andersens. Within the past two weeks I remember seeing an ad for these things - possibly at Camping World - and they sure were a bunch less expensive. In using "blocks" (legos or wood or ??) under the Oliver jacks, another benefit is that by reducing the length of the jacks that are deployed, you save a bit of time, save a bit of battery juice (as per Mainiac above) and reduce the amount of torque that the deployed jack must handle. Mine you that the Andersen levelers that I'm referring to are placed under the tires while the blocks are placed under the onboard Oliver jacks. Of course, "legos" of lengths of 2 x 6 lumber can be used under both the tires and jacks but the putting together of the "legos" for under the tires can be a bit of a guessing game and carrying enough of the correct size 2 x 6 lumber can also be a bit interesting. When I first started RV camping I did the 2 x 6 lumber thing until I learned what I thought I needed. Now I carry two Andersen levelers, three of the blocks referenced in the post above and two fairly short pieces of 2 x 6 lumber and one stack of ten of the legos. I can't remember the last time I actually used the legos. But the blocks and the Andersens get used every trip. Hope this helps. Bill

FrankC - Assuming that we are talking about an Elite II then, in my opinion, you don't have much of a choice. Off the factory floor an Elite II - full propane tanks but all tanks are empty is going to weigh in right near 5,000 pounds = or - a few pounds. Unless you plan on keeping yours this way, I believe that you will soon get it very close to that 600 pound number (assuming a 10% hitch weight versus total weight). And, if you are at all like ScubaRx you will be much closer to 700 pounds. Either way, not enough room for error in my book. If for no other reason (and I do believe that there are other reasons) I'd use the Andersen. Bill

FrankC - Do you know what the tongue weight limit is for your Ford? My F-150 has a limit of 500 pounds (without a WD hitch) even though it can tow 12,000 pounds, and I'd be a bit surprised if yours wasn't the same with regards to the hitch weight. I also have the electronic anti-sway on the truck and leave it on even when towing with the Andersen. Bill

Initially don't over think this. Prior to delivery simply get your hitch ball height to between 23 and 24 inches on level ground. At delivery your Andersen will be set up for you with (probably) 6 threads showing beyond the nut (which is to the rear of the red bushings). Then after delivery you can use John's guide above for tuning it to your liking. Bill

Brandi - Nice to see you! Hope that little "RED" Oliver is treating you nicely. Not that I think that it really matters much, but, I noticed that the magnets you reference already have 3M tape on the back of the magnet. I believe that this is the "regular" 3M tape and not the removeable 3M tape. I put mine on with the removeable but have not touched them in over two years. So, I'm guessing that either one would be fine unless you think that there just might be a reason to remove them in the future. However, with the regular tape one should probably be a bit more careful with the original placement of the magnets just to make sure that they are exactly where you want them. Bill

Due to my own "not getting to it", I only made my reservations last week. All of the area near the lake is now reserved and most of the next area above that is now taken. While there are still camping spots left, the choice is getting slim. So, if you are still thinking about joining the party, I'd plan on making my reservations sooner as opposed to later. Hope to see you there! Bill

Welcome home - glad to hear that you made it safely. Now - all those Holiday presents for your new baby! Bill

For what its worth - I ran my first 3.5 Eco-boost DI engine for right at 60,000 miles prior to selling it and getting a new one. I never had a problem with it. However, I understand that those engines didn't usually start to have problems until they had over 100,000 miles on them. Bill

For a look into what 2.7 owners have to say about that engine, have a look here - https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1562099-any-experience-with-new-2-7-eco-and-towing-out-there-2.html Bill