topgun2

Ray - April 2 is a good date. Weather will be OK in TN by then and a southern route will get you some very nice weather. Make sure that you let Santa know about YOUR new sled. Bill

Don't understand what the problem is - write a fairly good sized check to a privately held company and wait a couple of months before you see anything in return? Add to that the problem with getting financial information on that company and the anticipation of getting a camper that one hopes will last them a long while. Finally, when one reads the sales contract there is little there that would tend to give the buyer any sense of protection. Having said that - this really is one "stand up" company. Unfortunately that is all too rare in today's world. What little financial information that is available is solid. For me, the single thing that made me feel a bit more comfortable was the virtually unanimous glowing reports that current owners kept giving Oliver and its people. Once you take delivery and/or get to meet more of the people that are associated with Oliver I'm sure that you will wonder just where did all that concern come from. I too took delivery of my Elite II in mid-February. Those long winter months seemed to make the wait even longer. I bet I watched Windcrasher's YouTube video (all 1 hour and 20 minutes of it) 50 times! However, before you know it you will be watching the weather reports and praying that it doesn't snow anywhere near your delivery date. Bill

I used to use those bars in my old campers that had bigger fridges and they worked great. With using the bars I seldom had to worry about that first opening of the fridge door after setting up and finding a third of my fridge contents falling out onto the floor. However, with the smaller fridge in the Oliver I usually have it fairly well packed and there is little shifting of the contents. But, I still use the bars if I plan on heading down rough roads or if I have the fridge lightly packed. Bill

On the weather reports I'm seeing it sure does look like much of the Northeast is getting hammered. Hope that those reports are a bit overdone. Bill

Basic answer to your question is - no - I do not have experience with these wireless versions. However, with something as important as braking, I sure would want some heavy assurances that they work in all circumstances. Bill

Just to be clear - your batteries should charge as you are traveling down the road from your tow vehicle as well as from your solar panels (depending on just how much charge your batteries actually need). But, you are correct with regards to boondocking and parking lots, rest areas, etc. I've been in fairly heavy shade with it raining for four days straight and have not had my batteries go below 85% of full!. Now, I've got an Elite II with four batteries, but, unless you plan on spending a bunch of time in conditions not suitable for solar I would not worry about it. There are a number of fellow owners with the Elite that spend a bunch of time on the road and/or in the Oliver without additional solar help (I'm thinking of Bugeyedriver and Seadawg here). On the other hand, if you are planning on being in conditions that require air conditioning, you do know that your batteries and solar will not take care of that for you. In most, cases the only practical solution to that problem is the use of a generator. With regards to your last question - I would assume that you are correct, but, since my Oliver does not have this "now standard" solar port I really do not know. Certainly someone at Oliver knows the answer - try Jason Essary (931-295-6654. Bill

Mmoren - The Oliver solar package works well for most people that have it. It will charge your batteries even in the shade - just not as much as it charges them while in full sun. It will also charge while you are rolling down the road and while stopped for lunch and while sitting in your drive and while being in a place where either you can't or don't want to put out "portable" panels and you don't have to store them, move them or (for the most part) worry about them. The bottom line is dependent on just how you plan to use you camper. There is a reason that the solar package is one of the more demanded items on Olivers, but, again, it depends on how you intend to use the camper. Bill

John - I got rid of that double post for you. Nice truck but I hope that they put it all together for that $135,000. Bill

Bruce - An Elite II is basically 5,000 pounds empty with a 500 pound tongue weight. What this means for you is that you would be able to put approximately 1,200 pounds of "stuff" in your Oliver and you would be right at the maximum towing capacity of your jeep (note that the Elite II can carry up to approximately 2,000 pounds of "Stuff"). The 1280 payload is a bit tougher to figure - you have to add up all the "stuff" "weighing" on or in your vehicle. So, the tongue weight mentioned above (500) plus what the driver weighs (say 200) plus what the passenger weighs (say 130) give you a total of 830 pounds out of the 1280 allowed. Now you have to add all of the other "stuff" that you might have in that vehicle - lawn chairs, chocks for the camper, blankets, emergency roadside kit, etc. Bottom line is that it appears you can tow the Elite II with your Jeep, but, you do not have very much room to spare. Bill

Scouter - With regards to your Christmas week problem and stopping by the Mothership - I'd call Anita in the Sales office and ask her if someone could meet you there for a short look at an Elite II. They are very accommodating people and if they can arrange it I'm sure they will. Bill

Canoe - I really don't know the answer to your question. I suspect that the panels can stand that much weight, however, if it was me, I'd want to get at least some of that snow off given the amount and the heaviness of wet snow. Bill

Not like our Olivers attract much attention anyway - so, why not put a flashing red light on the outside. Not withstanding the above, I too like the idea of putting a readout on the outside street side. Certainly would save the walk about looking to see if all was OK. But, to save the attention gathering, I'm thinking about something with a flip up lid - see it when you want, hide it when you don't. Bill

Pete - I too loved my Taco and still miss it. However, you are really going to love the ride on long trips and Boskar has sooo much more room to play in the back. All of this while getting at least the same if not better gas mileage. Not much question in my opinion as to just why the Ford is the best selling truck out there. Even though the sun came out yesterday afternoon and melted just about all the snow off both primary and secondary roads, the temps last night dipped to 16-17 degrees! The thin blood of these southern boys just find that a bit cool. And, there's nothing like a bit of black ice on those roads to make one pay attention going around that next mountain curve. Forecast for Monday is low 50's and snow will be a distant memory. Bill

As of 10:30 am Saturday there are reports that Highlands, NC has 18 inches on the ground. To make matters interesting, the temps are forecast to be down to 24 by 8 pm. So, the roads will certainly freeze. Should be fun here in these here mountains for a day or two. With the wet snow the sled goes like crazy - at least until they plow the street. Bill

I chose this area (Western North Carolina) of the country to live in for many reasons. One of those reasons was that it had all four of the seasons - Spring - Summer - Fall - Winter. However, during the summer the high temperature rarely hits 90 and if it does, when the sun goes over the mountain it cools right back down to something more tolerable. And, in the Winter, the little town I live in has an average annual snowfall of between 6 and 7 inches total. The day before yesterday the weather forecast was for temperatures to be in the low to mid 30's (average for this time of year is low 50's) and for 1 to 2 inches of snow that would not stick to the roads. Well, now it is about 30 hours later, it is STILL snowing and there is 7 to 9 inches on the ground! Sure is pretty though. Bill

OK, I know that it is a bit shallow on my part, but, am I the only one that just can't stand the look of those "square" wheel wells on GM trucks? Bill

Brad - I've got an old (bought it for my first truck) rubber mat that I put in the bed when hauling the motorcycle. Even though I have a spray in bed liner, it still gets slippery. So, that rubber mat helps out a bunch. And the Tractor Supply job is a bunch cheaper than any alternative I know of. Bill

I agree with JuniorBirdMan - the "flashing" or "scrolling" of those red numbers were more than I could take. Heck, those little amber lights on the fridge bother me! Even where John put his would have caused too much reflective bouncing of the light waves for my taste. Therefore, behind closed doors it went. But, if you put it behind closed doors make sure that the door is easy to open and the display is not blocked. Bill

From the oil fields to Hohenwald - WELCOME! Somehow RV'ing in an Oliver is a bit different. Let us know if you have questions and pictures are always a great thing. Bill

Mark & Joni - Good answer! Thanks! Bill

Scotty - any chance of starting a "zip line" list. If yes, count me in! I trust that when a program schedule becomes available Hardrock will post it so that reservations can be made for these activities without having to miss out on Oliver program items. Bill

Relative to Sherry's post above and what I think was a post from Randy on this subject, just find a spot to your liking preferably up high and between the two hulls. Cut out a section of the reflextix insulation that is about the same size as the Spot. Using double sided tape or Velcro stick it on. Run a USB cord from the Spot to a place you can plug it in (again note Randy's recommendation about the electric connections that are located in the "attic" that are usually used for satellite TV and the like). Run a test to make sure things are working OK. Then if the place you chose to mount it can be seen when opening a cabinet door, I'd replace the section of reflextix over it and hold that in place with "foil" tape in order to better hide the Spot. Bill

In the "Owner's Manual" that I received there were a bunch of warranty cards from Dometic, Suburban and ????. I copied them, sent them in or tried to fill them out online. Included in the Owner's Manual was a list of all the non-Oliver supplied equipment which included serial numbers and model numbers for each piece of equipment. Now, having said this, all I ever got back were requests to extend the usual lame warranties at what I felt to be rather high prices. The failure of a refrigerator control panel was taken care of by the good guys at Oliver without mention of a warranty card. The failure of the Furrion radio was also taken care of by the good guys at the plant even though there never was any warranty card for that product. So, bottom line is that I simply would not worry about it, but, I would follow Jason Walmsley's advice above. Remember, you've got a one year bumper to bumper warranty from Oliver and you've already filled that card - your final payment check. For those products that have a warranty longer than the one year, I'm absolutely certain that Oliver will help you with any claims you may have. Bill

Lou Anne & Bobby - At least three owners that I know of have some sort of GPS device "hidden" in the Oliver. Two of the three have the "Spot" version. I can tell you that it works, but, since the one Oliver that I'm familiar with has never been stolen (thank goodness), I can't tell you much more. Bill

Corcomi - Welcome to the real excitement! Glad everything went well for you and I hope it continues. Now - let the FUN begin. Got pictures? Bill