topgun2

Given that Twist is currently in storage with the solar panels disconnected from the batteries, I've not re-visited this subject. However, in another 6 or 7 weeks I will uncover the panels and switch everything back on so that I can have them top off the batteries. Generally I leave Twist uncovered for 2 or 3 days during this period. That will give me a good chance to get back to this. Thanks for looking it up! Bill

Kind of getting this thread back on the "windows" subject - Right after I purchased my Ollie I made some window "inserts" from some "Reflectix" insulation that I had left over from another job. Whenever I place the Ollie in storage or when I know that the temperatures are going below freezing when I'm camping I put it in the windows just to insure a bit more warmth, (or cut down on the light transmission while in storage). I'm really not sure that this does any significant good, but, it makes me feel better knowing that I've done all I can. Bill

Peter & Patty - We seem to spend a bunch of time talking about which is better, which is safer, which is more comfortable, which has better "style", which is the most economical, etc. I think that at its base level the whole deal about towing is fairly simple - make sure that the basic towing limits are covered with enough safety margin for you, others on the road with you and your insurance capacity. Once that is done then (up to some limit) more is usually better. More is either more comfortable or allows you to tow at higher speeds (safely) or for longer distances or over steeper passes or more extreme grades or varying difficult conditions, etc. Virtually any of the current full size pickups with a tow package - whether gas or diesel - will tow a fully loaded Oliver without problem. Will a heavy duty (HD) truck do it better? Again - just how much "more" do you want or need for what you want to do? Will your van tow an Oliver? It appears that it will. Will it tow it within the safety and performance margins that either you expect and/or want or can afford? That depends on you. I happen to believe that there are times when the gas pedal is just as important as the brake pedal for getting one out of a potentially dangerous situation. Therefore, I tend to be more comfortable with a tow vehicle that is not as close to the limits as your van will be. But, if you're willing to live within the limitations that the van will impose on you ... Bill

Peter & Patty, It would probably be better to ask someone in the Sales area of Oliver these questions in that I don't think there are that many of these tables out among us. Bill

Peter & Patty - Each year I travel from Western North Carolina to the Western mountains to fly fish for from 6 to 14 weeks. During these trips (once I'm in the mountains) I camp at altitudes ranging from 6,800 feet to just below 12,000 feet with most being at 8,500 to 10,500. Absolutely no problems with the windows. However, other than the rare slight snow/frost the temperatures are not as extreme as I would think you see in your coolers - at least for the amount of time that the coolers have to put up with it. Bill

I'm thankful that I woke up this morning. Thankful that the dentist didn't find anything wrong with the teeth this morning. Thankful that I have a nice warm house and plenty of food to eat. I could go on and on but at the moment what I'm most thankful for is Sherry reminding me to think about all of these things to be thankful for. Bill

Jack & Trish - Thanks! I think that you may have meant the MMR - 88 since I didn't find the 38 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-MMR-88-Emergency-Flashlight-Smartphone/dp/B00OJZOOLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511276496&sr=8-1&keywords=Sangean+MMR88 At $46.81 this radio doesn't seem like a bad deal AND it has the automatic weather alert that I'm looking for plus it can be powered by USB, solar or crank - however, the battery is fairly small and it will not take regular non-lithium batteries. So, now I'm debating between this one and the Kaito KA600 at $78.88 or KA550 at $49.95. Its fairly simple to add a link to another internet page. I usually open the page I want to link to in another window and then simply right click on the address bar at the top left of that window. In the drop down menu I left click on "copy" and the computer copies the already highlighted address into memory. Then back on the Oliver Forum page (like this one) where I want to type a message I left click on the symbol above that looks like a chain link (third from the right). In the drop down box I right click and click on "paste" and then left click on the "enter arrow". The link should now be in your message. Bill

Is this Puerto Rico or Maine? Don't really mean to make a joke out of this, but, in either case it's not good. Bill

Bill - ever get a weather alert on that radio? It doesn't look like it has the automatic alert feature which means that you have to have the radio tuned to a weather band station in order to get an alert - true? Bill

Dave - nope, have not done the vinegar thing. That rinse is to help get even more of any deposits that might be on the inside of the tank off. Given the look of your rod and the amount of "stuff" that you got out of the tank I seriously doubt if you need to do that. Bill p.s. the anode rods are made out of either magnesium or aluminum. I wait until I see one on sale (they are less than $20) and then buy it just to make sure that I always have a spare one in the workshop for when I do the annual winterization thing. If I have less than 50% of the rod remaining I just go ahead and change it - primarily so that I do not have to keep checking it any other time during the camping season.

Randy - thanks for that suggestion. I have looked at the WR-120EZ and the only thing I didn't like was the 110 cord. However, I could use it to brush up on my Spanish. Been looking at the Midland ER-310. A bit more money, but I can simply plug it into a USB port that I have in the nightstand and forget it - at least until that thing goes off. Unfortunately, the ER-310 (or 210) doesn't have SAME. Still looking .... Bill

Dave - Good suggestion on that flush of the tank. I have the same "wand" that you do and I kept moving it back and forth - up and down for about ten minutes before the water ran clean. Bill

Dave -looks good to me. Rule of thumb (from what I've heard) is change it when 70% or so is gone. Mine looked a tad worse than yours after two years! Bill

Canoe12 - looks like a good plan to me. Bill

Dang! I didn't realize that it was THAT BAD up there in the Great State. Bill

John - don't think that "older" has anything to do with it and change is most always good (in my opinion). I do always carry two Spots - one is always in the Oliver to track where it is at all times and the other is with me. I too use a tablet for when I'm in the back country. In fact, I probably use "Back Country Navigator" more than any other single app and, as you point out, if one downloads maps prior to a trip then they can navigate just about anywhere on earth. My wish for a weather alert radio has little to do with my need or lack thereof for a cell phone. For my purposes I believe that it would simply be much easier to have a small radio in my sleeping quarters at all times without having to worry about where is the cell phone - is turned on or off - is it fully charged - is that app functioning - will some bozo call me in the middle of the night... Glad that it works for you though. Bill

donbob3 - with either 6% or even the 10% left in the fresh water tank you should be fine as long as you have carried out all the other steps in the video. If you are still concerned simply add another gallon of antifreeze to the fresh water tank. Bill

When I bought my Oliver I was hoping that the camper was what my research said it was and, more importantly, that the company building it was what I thought it was. Each and every time that I've had an issue with the camper, the company has more than taken care of the problem. I'm not a Pollyanna and I do realize that Oliver, like virtually all companies, has limited resources and sometimes it simply takes a bit of time and/or persistence to get things done. Having said this I do think that it is a bit unfair (in ANY relationship) to expound on a situation or problem without giving the other party in that relationship a fair chance to help solve it. Once the situation/problem is solved it can be helpful to disseminate both the problem and the solution so that others that might find themselves in the same situation will know how to proceed. Or, if a reasonable amount of time has gone by without appropriate response then "outside" assistance just might be needed in order to get a solution or to get the wheels moving in the right direction. Certainly I have learned a lot from all of those on this Forum and hope that this will continue. But, fair is fair. Bill

Bill - I've been told that the main stream in Stone Mountain has trout in it - true? Mike - Several years ago I was attending a graduate school course at University of Colorado, Boulder. One weekend four of us went up to Grand Lake and while we were there decided to rent a boat to go water sking. Even with a wet suit I can attest that the water in the lake is COLD. Pretty place. Bill

Interesting that most people just assume that everyone has a cell phone these days. Well, yes I do have one, but only use it for emergencies. Therefore, I do not have it on all the time. Actually, I hardly ever have it on - hence the "need" for something that I do not have to remember to turn on. However, thanks for the input - so far. Bill p.s. The wild fire issue does remind me of a time about 4 years ago. I was fishing up a 22 mile long one lane dirt road out of Meeteetse, WY fairly near Amelia Earhart's unfinished cabin. A nice sunny day until I noticed that it wasn't so sunny anymore and those were not clouds. I never did smell smoke but thought that I just might want to start back down that road in the event this was what I thought it was. Well, as I got to about 5 miles from civilization an army of forest service guys and fire equipment met me head on. Just got to give those people a bunch of credit - nasty work and there basically is only one way in and out of that place.

I've not been all that bad during 2017, so, I've been thinking about what to put on my Christmas list. One of the things that comes to mind is a Weather Alert Radio. My Oliver has the radio that has weather band radio, but, it does not come on automatically when there is a weather alert issued. So, anyone got one of these that they can recommend? I'd prefer one that operates via solar, USB and/or battery and not 110 a/c. Bill

Peter and Patty - When you go to see an Oliver be sure to take a camera and a note pad. These will help you remember what you saw and, perhaps, spur questions. Assuming that the Oliver is for you, it will also help you when it comes time to decide on options and decorating. I'm excited for you! Bill

Steve - I did the dip switch and the settings in the IPN controller. However, I've not taken a look at the voltage settings - I assume that they are in the IPN? Bill

I like that "camo" look! One can hardly even see the Oliver. Thank goodness for the lower outside lights - at least you can still find the Oliver in the dark. Bill

HMD - I'd be willing to bet that there are a couple of things going on here. I think that the shop that does this work for Oliver is fairly small. With the virtual doubling of Oliver's being built, obviously the demand for cushions has also doubled. In using fabrics that are not "standard" there just has to be more time and effort involved - from Sherry's comments and from just handling "new" stuff coming in and out the door. In addition, I'm aware of at least a couple of customers that wanted some fairly different "fabric" that simply didn't work and was very difficult to work with. So, even though there still exists a fairly large array of fabrics/colors from which to choose, I'd bet that these limits have been placed in order to control both workload and "outlying" choices. Bill