Jason Essary

Towing a trailer safely—especially one over 3,000 lbs—requires more than just hitching it up and driving off. One of the most critical components in trailer safety is the brake controller, which synchronizes the trailer’s electric brakes with your tow vehicle. 1. What is a Trailer Brake Controller? A brake controller is an electronic device installed in the tow vehicle's cabin that sends a signal to the trailer’s electric or electric-over-hydraulic brakes. This allows the trailer to brake in proportion to the tow vehicle, improving stability, stopping distance, and overall safety. There are two main types: Time-Delayed Controllers: Apply a preset amount of braking power after a delay when the vehicle brakes are applied. Proportional (Inertia-Based) Controllers: Use a motion sensor to apply the same amount of braking force as the tow vehicle in real time. For smoother, safer towing—especially on varied terrain—a proportional controller is highly recommended. 2. Proper Setup of Trailer Brakes Brake Gain Adjustment "Gain" is how much braking power the controller sends to the trailer. Start with a gain setting of about 5.0 (mid-range). Perform a slow-speed test (around 20 mph) in a safe area: Manually activate the trailer brakes using the controller lever. The trailer should slow the vehicle slightly without locking up its wheels. Increase gain if the trailer doesn’t brake enough; decrease if it jerks or skids. TIP: Re-adjust gain if your trailer load changes significantly (e.g., adding water or cargo) 3. Safety & Maintenance Tips Brake Sync Check: Ensure braking feels smooth and proportional. If it’s jerky or the trailer pushes/pulls, adjust the gain or inspect brake components. Manual Override Lever: Know its location—it can be used independently in emergencies (e.g., trailer sway). Inspect Brake Pads/Shoes: Just like your vehicle, trailer brakes wear and need regular checks. Pre-Trip Check: Ensure the brake controller is powered, brakes engage, and lights/signals work. Breakaway Cable & Battery: Confirm the cable is securely attached to the tow vehicle (not the hitch). Make sure the camper’s battery is charged so the breakaway system works in an emergency. Tip: 2026 models include a dedicated breakaway battery pack—test it before each trip to ensure it's functional. 4. Final Reminders for Safe Towing Always stay within your vehicle's towing capacity (check owner's manual). Distribute weight evenly in the trailer, with 10–15% on the hitch. Use a weight-distribution hitch as needed. Drive cautiously—slow, wide turns and extended stopping distances are critical. Tow Smart. Tow Safe.

Truck Weight Class ≠ Tow Capacity Truth! Think your truck’s weight class tells you everything you need to know about towing? Think again. Many assume that a 1500, 2500, or 3500 series badge automatically dictates if a weight distribution (WD) hitch is needed—but that's not the case. Did you know? Today’s 1500-series trucks (a.k.a. half-tons) can tow anywhere from 7,000 to 13,300 lbs, depending on their specific configuration. Compare that to 1-ton trucks from the 1990s, which often maxed out around 8,500–10,000 lbs towing capacity. That's right—modern half-ton trucks can outperform the 1-tons of the past! 😲 Just because two trucks look identical on the outside doesn’t mean they have the same guts. You MUST: Check your exact vehicle build and tow rating. Consult your vehicle’s manual to see if a weight distribution hitch is recommended or required. Call your insurance company—some require WD hitch use when recommended by the manufacturer, others don’t. Additionally, while the Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch includes integrated sway control, it’s important to know that most half-ton trucks recommend the use of a weight distribution hitch when towing over 5,000 lbs—especially to help manage trailer sway safely. Bottom line: Don’t judge a truck by its series number. Know your numbers. Protect your tow. Example of 1500 Truck series and tow capacity ranges based on engine and other equipment: Please note: We are not recommending Chevrolet or any specific truck brand—this example was simply used to illustrate the wide range of towing capacities within a single truck class. Quick Tow Tip: Did you know that in most cases, a 2WD truck can tow more than a 4WD version of the same model? That’s because 2WD trucks typically weigh less, leaving more of the vehicle’s Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) available for towing. Always check your specific truck’s tow rating!

Important Update on Campground Scheduling Policy We’ve received final confirmation that campground reservations cannot be scheduled more than 12 months in advance. This comes despite earlier guidance indicating that extended scheduling beyond that timeframe would be possible. While this is a change from the initial understanding, we are adjusting accordingly and will continue to keep you informed of any future updates or alternative options.

I am checking into this as I was told when we set the date that campsites could be scheduled. I specifically asked about the 1-year reservation rule and they told me that this was not the case. I will provide an update as some I have confirmation. Dates: Wednesday, October 28 – Sunday, November 1, 2026 Wednesday, October 21 - Sunday, October 25, 2026 The slash is to signify that the original dates were canceled. The park contacted and said that the campground was already full so the dates had to be changed to ensure available camp sites.

With regards to this issue, specifically the jack making contact to the underside of the access panel, it is something I have seen in the past and was a result of the bracket welded to the side of the Barker Jack being mounted too high. I was just recently brought into the know on this issue and advised Mike because manufacturing had not provided him with an answer. The proper channel for issues that Mike or the new Jason do not fully know how to resolve, should be escalated to manufacturing so that the engineer & quality managers can review and see if there is specific information needed. I have a meeting scheduled between Service and Manufacturing on a weekly basis so that escalated issues can be resolved in a more timely manner or at least to request more pictures, more information or a service visit. I will address with the departments that this took a month as we should be in contact at minimum on a weekly basis. Regarding the warranty of the jack, if that is the actual issue as I am making an assumption of what I have seen before, then it would fall under the Barker Manufacturing warranty which is for a 1-year warranty period. If we can verify that the issue is due to an improper placement of the bracket, Barker may still cover it under warranty but it would be something we would have to reach out to them about once we have the definite cause of the issue. In an out of warranty situation I also recommend the customer also reaching out to the vendor, in this case Barker, as they are more apt to cover out of warranty items for customers rather than when we ask. Also, please note that most warranties are only extended to the original purchaser of the product and they may require proof of purchase.

Everyone can go ahead and start scheduling a campsite with the park.

Please note that the dates were changed. When scheduling the dates for the rally, the Lodge did not check with the campground to verify availability. The original dates were already booked at the campground due to a yearly Halloween event. Oliver Rally Date: October 21 - 25, 2026

We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Oliver Rally will be held at the stunning Lake Guntersville State Park in Alabama from October 21 to October 25, 2026! Get ready for another unforgettable gathering of Oliver Travel Trailer owners and enthusiasts as we come together to celebrate community, adventure, and the great outdoors. This annual event is your opportunity to connect with fellow Ollie owners, exchange travel stories, learn helpful tips, and enjoy the camaraderie that makes the Oliver family so special. Location: Lake Guntersville State Park, Alabama Breathtaking lake views, hiking trails, wildlife, and top-notch camping facilities await! Dates: Wednesday, October 28 – Sunday, November 1, 2026 Wednesday, October 21 - Sunday, October 25, 2026 What to Expect: Welcome Reception & Meet-and-Greet Educational Workshops Vendor Exhibits & Product Demonstrations Group Activities, Games & Outdoor Adventures Evening Campfires & Entertainment Raffle Prizes, Giveaways & More! Whether you're a seasoned rally-goer or attending for the first time, there's something for everyone at the 2026 Oliver Rally. We can’t wait to make new memories and celebrate our shared love of travel, craftsmanship, and community. Registration details and event schedule coming soon – stay tuned! Until then, mark your calendars and start planning your route to Lake Guntersville — we’ll see you there!

We've recently updated our phone tree to help you reach the right department more quickly and efficiently. As our team continues to grow, each member is dedicated to a specific department and may not be able to assist with issues outside their area. To receive the best service possible, please select the correct department when calling: 📞 Department Directory #1 Sales: For purchasing information, product availability, pricing, and other sales-related inquiries. This department is dedicated to sales matters only and cannot assist with support, service, parts, recall, or warranty questions. #2 Customer Phone Support: For all general questions, external inquiries, or phone-based technical assistance. If we are unable to answer immediately or you experience long hold times, please leave a detailed voicemail with your name, phone number, and reason for calling. We will return your call as soon as possible. Please do not contact other departments to bypass wait times. All team members are instructed to redirect unrelated inquiries back to the appropriate department. This allows us to maintain efficient, accurate service for every customer. Tech Support calls are routed directly to our primary Tech Specialist, Mike Sharpe, and will ring his line for up to 9 times. If Mike is unavailable, the call will automatically transfer to Jason Balentine, and ring him for up to 9 more times. If both team members are assisting other customers or unavailable, the system will send the call to voicemail. Please leave a message, which will be sent to both Mike and Jason and also create a support ticket in our system to ensure follow-up. #3 Service: For scheduling appointments or checking the status of existing repairs. #4 Parts: For ordering replacement parts (not including warranty items). Service & Parts Routing: Calls for Service and Parts first ring Jason Balentine (6 times), then transfer to Mike Sharpe (6 times). If both are unavailable, the system will route to voicemail. As with Tech Support, voicemails are sent to both Jason and Mike and generate a ticket in our system for tracking and follow-up. Important Note: Please do not contact other departments to bypass wait times. As explained above it will only create duplication and take us longer to get back in touch with you and we may not have all information if you leave multiple voicemails in different departments. ⏰ After-Hours Calls If you reach us after business hours, all department lines will go directly to voicemail. Please leave a message, and the appropriate team will return your call on the next business day. 👥 Staffing Updates We are actively working to expand our team and onboard an additional member to assist with phone support. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to grow and improve our service. Thank you for helping us serve you better by choosing the appropriate department. Warranty: Contact Customer Support for external warranty questions, claims or assistance scheduling an appointment externally. Contact Service to schedule a warranty-related appointment with our in-house shop. Recalls: Our Quality department handles all recall questions and concerns. Our Tech Support person is not authorized to assist with recalls as it is considered a safety issue and must go through our quality division. This information is also NOT in our tech support ticketing system Service can only schedule you an appointment with our in-house service department For all other recall inquiries please reach out to OTTwarranty@olivertraveltrailers.com We are working on getting a dedicated phone line for recalls. This line will NOT be shared with Service or Phone Support.

Mount-It https://mount-it.com/products/mount-it-under-cabinet-ceiling-tv-mount-lcd-cm211 Specifications SKU: MI-4211 Compatible Screen Size: 13" to 27" Weight Capacity: 44lbs Tilt: 90 degrees Swivel: 90 degrees Height Adjustable: 5.125" VESA 75x75mm, 100x100mm If you are looking to install a larger TV, Mount-It does have a similar mount that allows up to a 37" TV. NOTICE: We have not installed one of these and I cannot guarantee a good fit. https://mount-it.com/products/mount-it-fold-in-under-cabinet-ceiling-tv-mount-mi-4222 NOTICE: This mount is for the Elite II models Only!

In the past, several people have gotten camping spots for the next years rally. At this time I don't know the exact dates yet and wanted to advise not to secure any spots for next year until I can finalize the dates. I will be speaking with the campground and shoring up the dates and will let everyone know as soon as they are set in stone.

I am currently acting as the Service Director overseeing the service department & technical support. Jason B. & Mike will be handling more of the daily activities while I will be putting a bit more time in traveling to our dealer partners assisting with Sales & Service training. I would say 75% of the time I will still be here onsite working with Rodney in sales & Jason B & Mike in service.

As our business continues to flourish we strive to grow our staffing so we can continue to meet your needs. At this time we would like to welcome and introduce Jason Balentine, our new Service Manager. Jason will be running the daily operations of the in-house service department. Mike Sharpe will continue in his role as our head technical support supervisor. We have separated our phone system out where you can select Technical Support or Service & Parts. Technical Support is for external support, general questions or help locating a service center or dealer near you. Service & Parts will be directed to Jason in Service and he will assist with scheduling appointments for our in-house service department and help with parts requests. And to answer everyone's question, Yes, evidently your name has to be Jason to work here.

Contacting Support & Using the Service Portal Service Portal: https://support.olivertraveltrailers.com/portal/en/home This is a website that allows you to login and view all of your open tickets as well as your history of tickets with us. This is just like a credit card website with security. Whatever email is used to initially create the login is the only way you can login. You can change your email but it requires you to login with the original email used and then manage your profile to change the email. We cannot change this from our side for security reasons. If you email us using multiple emails this causes the system to create multiple accounts which means your tickets are not all kept in the same location and you may not be able to see all of your history with us. Support Email: support@olivertraveltrailers.com When you email us at the above email our system automatically creates a new ticket unless you are replying on an old email from us. For responses to an existing ticket it is best to respond so that the system keeps the new email with the communication we have already had in the past. For new issues it is best to send a new email so that our previous communication doesn't get overwhelming clustered. It is important that you have a primary email that you use as this is what registers who you are in our system and provides us with all of your information so we can help faster. When using a different email than what we have, we have no idea who we are speaking with, what camper you have, what history communication we may have been speaking with you about, etc... This is also true if a spouse or friend reaches out to us on your behalf. We will not know who we are speaking with regarding camper information unless a VIN number is provided. This will also separate the history of this communication from the other email account used and we may not have all the information needed to assist the best we can.

Oliver Travel Trailers is excited to have our new dealer partners onboard to work with our Oliver owners as we strive to improve your Oliver Experience. We will be working directly with our dealers so that you receive the same quality service closer to home. Our customer support team will still be available to assist with any questions and work with you and our dealer partners to get any services you need resolved. As our service team will be working with the dealer's service departments on location, we feel it is prudent to discontinue most service work here at our location in Tennessee. However, we will continue doing major repairs, including fiberglass and aluminum, at our Plant Facility. At this time we plan to phase out the service department no later than the end of July and we are no longer taking on new appointments. As you continue reaching out to us with your questions and service needs, rest assured that we will help answer them and coordinate you with a dealership partner nearest to you. Whether on the road or at home, we are working to ensure owners receive the same excellent customer service you have come to trust here at Oliver Travel Trailers. If you have any questions or require further information regarding this update, please do not hesitate to contact us or call us at 1-888-526-3978. We are always here to assist you. Warm regards, Oliver Travel Trailers Team ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Of course, my team is still here to help support you as we always have with any technical and service questions as well as facilitating services for your Oliver. Thank you! Jason Essary Customer Service Director 888-526-3978 Important Update about Oliver Service.pdf