topgun2

Yes! - the off season is your friend. If you want a non-reserved site in Yellowstone during the "normal" season, you would be well advised to show up at the campground of your choice no later than 6 am. And even then you will probably not be first in line. Bill

Did you send a service request to Jason Wamsley @: jwamsley@olivertechnologies.com I'm sure that he can help you. Bill p.s. just to make sure, I just went to my messages and had no problem.

Going - Of course the answer to your question is - It Depends! Are you simply going out to explore? Are you looking for a place to settle in, sit back and stay put for awhile? Are you going into an area that is know to be popular and therefore crowded? Are you looking to simply get from point "A" to point "B"? Etc., etc. Usually I have a place(s) in mind before I leave the house. On routes that I've traveled many times I've gotten to know the where and when's of getting a spot that I want. However, even that can be a challenge at times - some parks and recreation areas require multiple days stay during holiday periods. Here in the East I think that it is a bit more difficult finding places to camp as compared to those areas West of the Mississippi due to more people and less government land. However, there are so many tools that you can use either with a cell phone or without. To specifically answer your question - here in the East I try to plan my camping spots- particularly when my wife is along as she doesn't appreciate roughing it in Walmart's or truck stops. But if I'm going out West I do have a plan but only make reservations if there are spots known to be a "problem" due to either popularity or lack of space. I'm guessing that the above is not really much help and each of us should develop a "style" of traveling that is most comfortable to exactly what they are trying to do. However, I would encourage you to at least test your own limits every now and then since some very nice and unexpected things can happen (i.e. find a new park, campground or other site that you would have never considered before). The object is to have fun! Bill

There's a part of my mind that still has trouble coping with pulling into a gas station and having people quickly approaching you to ask about the Oliver. Thank goodness that I rarely am doing this at night. Just how is it that a quick stop for gas can turn into a half hour Ollie tour? Still it is nice to see that others recognize the same qualities that attracted most of us to Olivers in the first place. Bill

As John said - this is nothing to worry about in the short run. During manufacturing of the tank and its installation there are plenty of opportunities for "stuff" to get in both the tank and plumbing lines. However, once they are filtered out you shouldn't have much else getting in there unless you get your water from questionable sources. Given the relatively low water pressure used in most RV's it just might take a bit of time to flush whatever might be in there. Bill

The more you outfit it and work on it, the more it becomes really YOURS. Enjoy the coast, have fun! Bill

A few thousand for an Oliver - what's a few hundred for "stuff"?

Chris & Duke - By "open" I assume you mean that the shades are as compact as you can make them and can see out the windows. If you made sure that each of the pleats were nice and straight as you stuffed them into the ends of the frame and it has been both nice and hot and a bit humid while they were in there, I'm guessing that they will indeed "re-set". However, just about as soon as you touch them again they will form another crease - nature of the beast I suppose. Bill

Light - you got a light in there? No wonder Krunch didn't like the clear shower curtains - with the light on everyone could see what she was reading! Bill

Mike - Thanks for the link on the shower head holder. Even though I will be passing fairly close to Craters of the Moon it doesn't look like I will have the time to stop. One would think that being on the road for just about two months there would be plenty of time - but - no. Looks like I should have planned for a three month trip! Bill

Mike - Duh! My bad. I, finally, figured out what is in the bag in the first picture that I thought were small suction cups used to hold the shower curtain to the body of the Oliver - it is the bag containing the shower curtains! Where did you get the "shower head holder"? Far be it for me to make fun of someone that can scream like you did on the zip line! I use those same Harbor Freight suction cups to hold my fishing waders on the side of Twist so they can dry after a day of fishing. So, I've already got the most expensive part covered. I just happened to notice this past Saturday that the "Dollar Store" sells those shower curtains. At that price, use them for a season and pitch em. Seriously Mike (& Krunch), thanks for the pictures, measurements and help. Hopefully I'll have enough time between now and the first of July to cobble together my own. Bill p.s. Yes, the new pictures are right side up. Exactly why didn't Krunch like the clear shower curtain?

Spike - sorry for the problem. Jason has been working on this for most of the day but, unfortunately, I've not been near my computer for most of the day. I'm now able to send a PM without the sort of thing that you're experiencing. Can you give it another try to see what happens? Thanks! Bill

Mike - I like it - nice job. Care to share the dimensions of each piece of the PVC? Is that one bag filled with suction cups and are those used to secure the curtain to the sides of the Oliver? Assuming that you use this on the other side of the Oliver, have you used it with the outside shower - is the hose long enough? Bill

Jason Wamsley is aware of the problem and is working on it. Bill

Kim & David - I can feel the excitement in our words! And, rightfully so. Since your delivery date is only 56 days away, I will still be in Idaho. Just about as soon as I return from the West, we will be headed to the South Carolina beaches for a bit of sun and surf. By the middle to end of September I will be back in town for at least a month or so and you two will have just about everything sorted out. However, my offer still stands - if there is anything that I can do or help with just let me know. Bill p.s. I will send you a PM so that you can see a bit of how that works.

I resemble that kind of remark!

Andrew - The surge protector that is included with the Oliver is made by Progressive Industries. There is no need for an additional surge protector unless you have an overwhelming desire to contribute to the profits of whatever company makes the second unit. I'm not the guy to answer the generator question in that I simply do not use one. However, even if there were to be a "problem", I understand that the problem is with a grounding issue that is simply taken care of with a fairly inexpensive adaptor. Bill

Sure would be nice if that over fed fellow would come over and wash mine for me. Bill p.s. I like the ladder - is it stable even when most of the weight is near the wheel side?

Kim & David - Now that you are on board we have just about all corners of this mountain covered in Ollies. I really didn't enjoy the wait and it seemed like a very long winter between the order and the pickup. However, it certainly was worth it. If you ever plan to get over here on the south side of the mountain send me a PM and hopefully we can get together. Bill

Mark - Vice-grips are always "sexy" - at least for you guys from Montana! Bill

Roguebooks - Over the years I've done a bunch of plumbing repairs but have never been very happy with the process. With plumbing, sometimes you have to really put pressure on whatever it is you are putting together in order to get rid of a leak. Other times just hand tight is the order of the day. One minute the leak appears to be fixed and the next minute it is back again. Water can be frustrating! Good job on getting the problem fixed and for the nice write-up on how you did it. Bill

Here in the mountains of Western North Carolina, this has been the wettest MONTH on record with some areas receiving as much as 30 inches of rain is just the past two weeks. Flooding, mud slides, people killed due to falling trees, etc., etc. The good news is that a break is finally forecast for this coming weekend.

Steve & John - While I like the simple idea of a using a bolt to prevent this tray from sliding, it does have its (potential) drawbacks. For those of us that still have the regular lead acid batteries it would be simpler to have an easily removable piece of hardware as opposed to the bolt. Obviously the problem is finding that piece of hardware given the relatively limited space available for it and not wanting any more movement in either the hardware or the tray than necessary. Once I get Twist back out of storage prior to this summer's Western fishing trip, I'll try a couple of things that might work in that space (wing nut, bolt drilled for a small hitch pin/clip, etc.). If not, there is always the bolt thing that you guys have used - thanks! Bill

Mike & Krunch - Ya got some pics of the outdoor shower setup to post under a new thread? I've got an external shower tent that I use with a solar shower and have been thinking about ways to do a shower enclosure on the side of the Oliver. Bill

Steve - Got a picture of that mod? Bill