topgun2

Marsha, You got it! Just trying to avoid scareing anyone that just happens to look through that window when I am .... As John pointed out - a fiberglass or aluminum or stainless rod would have been nice, but, wood is what I had. I did give it a coat of Spar varnish prior to installation and given that it really doesn't get wet I do not believe that the issues John sites will be a problem at all. Bill

The frosted glass in the bathroom window doesn't do a lot of good when the window is open. In thinking about that over the winter and seeing what I had laying around the workshop, I came up with an inexpensive easy curtain rod. Using a 3/8 inch wooden dowel rod (cut it to whatever width you wish since the newer Elite II models have a slightly larger window) slide on two 3/8 inch plastic/nylon wire hangers. On each end place a "Closet-Maid" large plastic end cap - these fit very tightly so it helps a bit to first round off the edges of the ends of the wooden dowel. Finally, using "Command strip" decorating clips attach to the wire hangers - this takes a bit of fiddling in that these fit fairly tightly - and stick it to the wall. Of course it helps to put curtain material of your choice on the rod first. Bill

Overland, I've only actually had possession of my 2017 F150 (FX4 Max Tow) for a little over 2 weeks and have only put 500 miles on it. While there is no requirement from Ford regarding "break in", I like to take it fairly easy on any new vehicle for the first 1,000 miles or so - this is both for the vehicle and for me as I get used to exactly what the "feel" is before I start to get feisty with it. Therefore, I also may not be the right person to give a full analysis of this issue you have noticed. However, like Buzzy, in the limited experience that I have with this Ford, I can say that it has had excellent road manners with not even a hint at anything like you describe. In addition, I frequently monitor the F150 owners Forum and there has not been one discussion of this type of issue. So - no real help here. Bill

Great! - I've always said that Asheville was just another stop on the way to Alaska. Seriously, hopefully your schedule will allow the time - Bill

Reed & Karen, The screen door bar has also been on the Forum before. Be careful with this bar - certainly the bar is fairly strong, but, the relatively light aluminum screen door that it is attached to is really not built for putting too much weight on it. I always remind people using mine to use the grab bars (inside and outside) that are more firmly attached to the sides of the Oliver. Bill

Monlezum: The fridge button guard has been discussed on the Forum before. One of our members - tractors 1 (Charlie Y) makes these and will sell direct (don't know if it is any cheaper but at least our member would keep all the money) and he is very easy to deal with. I'd recommend sending him a PM. Bill

Sherry, Coming up from Florida there is a good chance that you will be near Brevard, NC. If yes, please send me a PM and hopefully we could get together for a refreshment. topgun2 (aka Bill)

Be careful! Be very careful! Retirement is not all that it is made up to be. I'm guessing that you have not yet considered the STRESS. Just think about this for a moment - when you worked you knew exactly what you were going to do each and every day. You knew where you were going to go, what you were going to wear, who you would see and meet and probably just about what you would eat. Now, each day is met with a bunch of decisions. It just one decision after another. Constantly, decision, decision, decision - never ending! Stress, stress, stress! What time do I get up, what time do I take a nap, what do I eat, when do I eat, what do I wear, where do I go, what do I do, where did I put my beer? All must be answered (or not) - it simply is almost too much to think about. However, those of us that have taken this "retirement path" must learn to adjust and simply force ourselves to live with all this stress so that others can go on with their happy working lives (and paying into those "entitlements" that were so hard earned) without having to endure this "pain" we suffer. Welcome to the "STRESS" club! Bill

For what its worth - I had just about given up on the Forum. I've been using Internet Explorer as my browser and decided to see if using the Google Chrome browser would make any difference. With Internet Explorer I'd "load" several pages and then on about the fourth or fifth page I would get the "hamster in the wheel" - that little icon that shows a wheels just spinning and spinning while the entire computer world waits for a page to load. After several minutes of watching the hamster I'd simply give up and go away. With the Google Chrome browser the Forum is still relatively slow (as compared to the Fiberglass RV Forum for instance), but, at least the number of times I've been caught in the hamster wheel has decline considerably. Bill

Its when one wacks the weeds. Using what is known as a rotary string trimmer a "lawn" maintenance person cuts or trims along a fence, sidewalk, house, or other places where it is difficult to cut "grass". In my case, these people are "trimming" the weeds away from the area around my camper while it is in storage. As they "trim" the weeds that are near the wheels, the "string" from the trimmer beats the hell out of the vinyl on the wheel covers. So, I made covers for my covers from some old plywood. It seems to have solved the problem. Bill

geO, This might be a bit late - but - if you go with the canvas, do not get the cheap kind. I bought a set from Harbor Freight several years ago and they lasted just about one season. I then purchased the vinyl kind that have the flannel on the inside. These have lasted several years and are OK except for where they have been "weed wacked" to death. If you plan on using these while on the road, be aware that they can be a bit bulky and are certainly stiff when it is below 50 degrees or so. Bill

Canoe12, I've owned a number of covers over the years (prior to Twist) and found that the Tyvek covers simply do not hold up very well - they rip way too easily and are very difficult to repair. Since then I've owned both an ADCO cover and presently own a Calmark cover for my Oliver. There are a number of owners that are using the Calmark (do a search on this site for Calmark). Unfortunately these covers (either ADCO or Calmark) cost a little over $700, but, just like the Oliver it is a bit of you get what you pay for. Bill

I've had Twist stored in what amounts to a fenced in field (the weeds are cut) over the winter. Prior to storage I placed insect screens as Mike and Carol above, covered the camper with a CalMark cover and placed two "sticky traps" on the floor of the interior. If you are not familiar with sticky traps - they will "trap" anything that comes in contact with them from mouse size all the way down to knats. Yesterday I was checking the camper and showing it to prospective new Oliver customers and I looked at both traps. There was one mosquito! Western North Carolina is one of the buggiest places around - our winters are simply not cold enough to kill the critters and prior to storage I had been in New Orleans. So, just make sure that your windows and door are closed, get the screens that Mike and Carol talked about and don't worry about it. Bill

Don, We did the same analysis that you are going through a couple of months ago. We too have rarely used the AAA service, but, three years ago I had a wheel failure in Hays, KS - right on Interstate 70 heading east. I was only one mile from the center of Hays and called AAA. Since they didn't have any "relationship" with any tow operator in Hays, they said that I would need to arrange towing personally and then submitt receipts for the (up to) $75 that they would pay for a tow. Thank goodness a Highway Patrol officer stopped since he had the name and number of a towing business. I don't consider Hays, KS as a small town and while it is in the middle of Kansas, it is right on the Interstate. Needless to say, I was not happy. Certainly the Good Sam Club assistance might not be any better, but, I hope that I will never have to find this out. However, at least I know that the reimbursement will be for a higher amount. Hope this helps you with your decision - good luck. Bill

I think that I'll borrow the 4' hose deal - I've always left my water filter connected to the main 25' and (as you do) simply connected the ends together for travel. But, the 4' deal sounds like it will be a bit easier to handle - thanks. Bill

For what its worth - I do cap my fresh water hoses and place them in plastic bags while on the road. I have used the quick connects on Twist, but I do not like traveling with them in place. They don't stick out far, but .....

I just saw over on the Fiberglass RV Forum that the organizer for the Eggs on the Hiawasee Rally (May 18-20, 2017) announced: "Been working on contacting sponsors this week and have good news! RV Widget Works and Oliver Trailers will be joining the sponsor list for this years event. Riverbend Campground, Vintage Trailer Supply and Discount Printing Service will be sponsors again this year. There may possibly be more as I am waiting on return phone calls/emails from potential sponsors." Really nice to see our Oliver in the mix! Bill p.s. If you have not signed up for this rally, I understand that it is almost sold out.

Last week I purchased a set of quick connects from Harbor Freight and one of the female connects does not work properly, so, they go back to the store. Be sure to check them before you need them. Reed & Karen - anyone that I know of using these quick connects either uses the standard Oliver caps or gets other caps for when a hose is not attached. Bill

Reed & Karen, In the past, and I assume in the present, there have been some owners that find the water connections on the street side of the Oliver to be hard to get to. Primarily I think this is because they have had some problems with knees, back or related physical issues. By putting a quick connect on these connections once and leaving them there, they have found it easier to simply push on the quick connect versus screwing and un-screwing each time. Bill

I feel like the step child! I didn't get the water quick connect nor the water pressure regulator. However, I did forget to mention the 30 amp to 15 amp connector plug thing. I guess that hug from Anita did more than make me forget about the check I had just written. In any case, this is why I said to give the sales office a call about this question. Bill

Reed and Karen, OK, I'll bite - where in North Carolina are you? Enjoying the relatively warm temps? If you are near Brevard, NC drop me a PM and I'll see if we can get together. Bill

geO, It would be better if you asked this question directly to the Sales Office. My February 2016 delivery came with a wrench and socket for the wheel lug nuts, a sewer hose, a 25 foot water hose and a bottle of black tank "treatment". Since I purchased the Andersen weight distribution hitch, there was also a socket for adjusting the chains on it. Finally, there was a big hug from Anita which (almost) made me forget about the check I just wrote. Bill

Reed & Karen, I didn't have the front graphic because it is harder to clean relative to the plain gel-coat. Bill

Canoe12 - If you have questions about the application of graphics, you might want to contact Mike and Carol regarding their Lone Star Oliver. They have posted at least a couple of articles here in that regard. Bill

Malcolm, Twist has the pinstripes in silver - I do not think that it ha the same (perhaps the metal flake in the gold is larger?) "sparkle" as the gold though. In any case, I believe that it is fairly understated and adds to the classy nature of the Oliver. Bill