topgun2

Mark - You might already know this but .... The current fridge in the Oliver has an "automatic" setting. When using this setting it will default to 120v and then to propane if no 120v. AS soon as 120v is available again it will automatically switch back. In order to get to 12v you must move the switch to that setting and once placed there it will stay on 12v until you move the switch back to "automatic" or to "propane". Bill

Alex - Just to the west side of Hohenwald there is a better donut shop than what you will find at Walmart. However, to find it, you better ask for local directions. On the other hand, Walmart is on the south side of the major drag going right through Hohenwald. The factory is about a 1/4 mile to the north northeast of Walmart and the Oliver sales office is on the north side of the same main drag as Walmart but about 1 mile east of Walmart. Hohenwald is not (obviously) a big town and not hard to get around in or through. If you will be spending any time with the guys at the factory (you might want to take the tour if you have not done it before and have the time), donuts and/or a few Budweisers (seriously, that's what they like) will make them your friend for life. John is more than correct in that Anita is a real sweetheart. If you need anything she should be the first person you should ask. I'd say the same thing about a couple of the guys over at the plant, but, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea! I'm so excited for both you and Mark - please enjoy the entire process and let us all know how things are going. Bill

Mark - specific to #3, just make a note to check the zerks for evidence of grease. During your delivery, the guys will be more than willing to do most of anything you ask - like add grease if not done before. Depending on which set of batteries you got, another thing for the notes is to ask that the batteries be topped off with distilled water. Bill

Yvonne & Doug - I assume that you use some method of reminding yourselves that you are on DC for the fridge. The cost of forgetting can be fairly expensive let alone maddening - the food in the fridge plus the batteries plus inconvenience. Bill

Enjoy the heck out of both the trip and the Ollie! The whole deal sounds like a bunch of fun. Hopefully you will have a chance to stick around long enough for the Owner's Rally, but, its a long trip. Since you will probably be doing a bit of driving on Interstate 80 in one direction or the other, make note of: Cabela's in Sydney, Nebraska - they have a fairly decent campground there that is within walking distance to the store. Plenty of restaurants and a Walmart nearby too. Big Lake State Park, Craig, MO -off Interstate 29. Very nice campground with clean showers, dump and good water. Located right on a "oxbow" lake. However, there is no shopping or food here - St. Joe, MO has plenty of restaurants and shopping about an hour south on I-29. Blue Springs Lake Campground, 5400 NE Campground Road, Lees Summitt, MO (816-503-4805)-off Interstate 470 and Bowlin Road- Bass Pro Shop, restaurants are nearby. Easy to get to from Interstate 70 and very close to Kansas City, nice showers well maintained park. Lazy Days Campground, 1351 Hwy H, Noel, Mo (417-223-3498) - 1.5 miles off Interstate 70 a little over an hour west of St. Louis, MO. Very nice commercial campground, clean showers, well maintained. No food or shopping here, but about 45 minutes further west on Interstate 70 is Columbia, MO (Cracker Barrel restaurant on the right of interstate for breakfast). If you need more send me a PM! Bill

Spike, I was a bit surprised by the $11 directly from Oliver, but I too didn't think about the spare bearings until after delivery. I don't know how the bearings that one gets from Oliver are packaged, but the ones from Red Neck Trailers are in a nice sealed package with all the parts you need. I've now gone over two years without needing to break open those packages and I hope that I never actually have to break the seal. But, I believe that camping and RV'ing should be relaxing - this is simply one less thing to worry about. Bill p.s. Happy Easter!

The fridge is much more efficient on propane as opposed to either AC or DC. Like you, I tried it once on DC just to see what would happen. Unfortunately, I got a bit busy doing other "stuff" (like fishing) and forgot that I still had it on DC. Thankfully I caught it in time before the batteries were totally depleted (50% lead acid), but, other than using it on DC for places where the use of propane is prohibited or perhaps while driving if one is opposed to using propane while going down the road, what's the use? Bill

Pete, Welcome! Perhaps you have already taken a look but if you click on the "See An Ollie" tab above and then click on the referral program tab you will be able to locate any Elite I's that are near you. Certainly seeing an Elite II should give you an idea of the build quality and general design of all Oliver's, but actually seeing the unit that you are interested in should really help. Good luck! Bill

NICE! I always wondered why all the flaps I've ever seen have been mounted with the patterned side away from the wheel. Perhaps your own logic and thinking about will change this. Bill

Spike - Try this http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/packing-wheel-bearings-diy/page/4/ Of course this assumes that you are getting an Elite II (don't know if the Elite I has the same or not). You might want to read most of that entire topic - there is some really good info there. For what its worth - I remembered that this topic had referred to "Red Neck Trailers" and that is what I had to put in the Search function in order to find this series of posts. Bill

Can't wait for the campfire and a few beers! Bill

John - any particular reason that you mounted the flaps with the smooth side to the rear? It would seem to me that the flaps would collect less "stuff" and be a bit easier to clean with the smooth side the other way around. Bill

Mountainoliver - Wow! I'm impressed. I too carry a couple of sets of wheel bearings and seals. However, I do not carry all those tools with me in order to do the install. In virtually any small town (let alone the big ones) there is a garage that can do the job. Hopefully it is not necessary and hopefully I will not be out in the middle of no where when (if) a bearing and/or seal goes bad. I guess that we all have our limits on what kind of risk we are willing to take. The bearings and seals on the Olivers are fairly common, but, I have been in the position before where a fairly common set of bearings was "out of stock". So, I feel a bit safer carrying my own - just in case. Bill

Townesw - Yes.

DavidS - You da man! Thanks for finding it! Bill

OK, you found at least one of the one's I remember, but I know that there was one where ScubaRx talked about his "kitchen sink" approach. I'll try to find it. Bill

Overland - With regards to the pex repair kit - there was a discussion on the Forum about "shark-bite" fittings. These things are fairly expensive and some people do not believe in them. However, for emergency repairs, a couple of them and a couple of lengths of pex are fairly easy to store and limit the number of tools that would be required for the repair. I've included two 90 degree and four straight fittings plus two lengths of pex that are each three feet long. If anyone is interested, I will bring some pex to the Rally and give "repair" lengths to anyone interested. Bill

I too used "serious shine" when I first got my Ollie. Its OK stuff but virtually any of the auto detailers are just as good and even easier to mist on and wipe off. However, to make it even easier there is an interior auto detailer available: https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G16216-Ultimate-Interior-Detailer/dp/B00G49DUJY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522243694&sr=8-4&keywords=interior+detailer This stuff can be used on everything including glass. Bill

Yep - Mossemi and Moutainoliver have you on the right trail. After you take care of the Major cause of the "problem" any minor streaks and dirt can be easily wiped off with exterior auto detailer. This stuff is available in a bunch of different brands and can be found at most auto parts stores and Walmart. https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-A3316-Quik-Detailer-Mist/dp/B0009IQX90/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1522251646&sr=8-5&keywords=auto+detailer Bill p.s. this detailer is not a substitute for a good coat of wax. But, between waxings it is very easy to use and leaves a nice finish.

Spike & Rumline - Use the "Search Box" and type in "tools" or "tool Box". You will find lengthy discussions there that go from using the cell phone to carrying every single thing from the hardware store. Unfortunately, a lot of what any single person might include in the tool box will depend on where they are going and the ability to use it. Good luck! Bill

ALERT!!!! Remember that April 1st is the deadline for getting the lower Rally registration fee. On April 1st that fee goes up to $45. You've only got a couple of days left to save some $ if you haven't registered yet. Bill

Rumline - I do not have that exact mattress, but the optional mattress I have measures: 8 5/8 thick 74 long 29 7/8 wide All I can tell you about the radius is that at the 45 degree (middle) point of the arc the mattress is 1 inch shorter than it is where the arc starts. Hope this is some help to you! Bill

Welcome to the Forum and (hopefully) you will join us in ownership of this great camper soon. If we can be of any help, please don't hesitate to ask. Bill

Canoe12 - I've still got mine on the fridge and it still works as advertised. Well worth the $. tractors1 is a member of this Forum, however, I've not noticed him being online for quite some time. Also, last year I sent him a PM mentioning that he might want to consider either attending our Owner's Rally or getting some of his product to the Rally for sale. Unfortunately, I did not hear back from him. If no luck on a PM here you might try RV Widget Works and/or one of the companies that sells accessories for Casita's. Bill

John - Sorry, but I thought that most of your comments would have been fairly obvious - regarding the moving of the trailer through the production process. I should have been a bit more specific. What I meant was that the coupler would be left off the price of the camper or possibly applied to the cost of the new one to be installed just after delivery by the guys in the Service area. However, it sure would be interesting to see just how the guys would get an Oliver down the production line without the ability to tow it via a hitch. In the time that I've spent on the factory floor, I've never seen anyone use safety chains and/or breakaway cables when towing. I must admit to being a bit nervous when it was Twist being pushed around. Bill