Boudicca908

I'm so very happy that I found the Oliver -- and that I was able to see one of each size, in person, before placing my order. I'm also glad that I took the time to read many posts on the forum about Tow Vehicles (TV) and systems and other questions posted by owners. The Forum is like family and you'll find sage advice throughout the forum site. In addition to the Oliver University mentioned above, there is a LOT of information that Oliver provides in their Service Departments portion of the website called Knowledge Base. I'm a new owner (picked up last Spring) and while I have decades of camping experience, this is my first recreational vehicle of any kind (boat, trailer, etc). I have a lot to learn, and I've been enjoying it all -- even when it's a challenge to learn so many things at once. Good luck and enjoy your visit to the factory!

Thanks for the reminder! I have at least one quick connect and a friend took it off, thinking he was going to solve my leak problem. I'll reinstall it now.

My City Water connection started leaking A LOT and my neighbor took a look and said I was missing the check valve -- but after reading the forum posts related to this subject, I learned that my check valve is moved inboard, and I was able to fix my City Water connection with borrowed hex key and plumber's tape. Now to buy my own hex key. Also -- I don't have fingernails long enough to grab that outer red rubber strainer, so I used a sewing needle to gently pull it out. I plan to buy spare strainers and O-rings that go on the other side, especially since there are 3 of these connections (City Water, Fresh Water and the Boon Docking inlet) -- can anyone tell me what size the O-ring is? I'm not sure how it's measured. Thanks for all the help, Forum family!

John, congrats on the sale and I wish you the best in your new adventures. I've certainly appreciated your many informed posts, and I'm just getting started with using and understanding my Oliver and the systems. I do hope you will stay involved, as much as you desire -- and want to thank you for all you've done to help us here. Toni

I'm new at towing (bought my Oliver last spring) but I will say that my Chevy Silverado 2500 HD tows like a dream. I was advised by Oliver TT that with this vehicle, I didn't need to add an anti-sway hitch. As Mike mentions above, I don't worry about payload (but I've made a spreadsheet, so that I have a very clear idea of what I'm doing, in my demands on the TT and the TV both) and it's been a wonderful experience so far. My TV is never straining. I did not want to find myself on the side of the road with a TV that has been pushed beyond its limits. My vehicle is a diesel; diesel costs a bit more at the pump, but I expect my engine to last a lot longer than a gas-powered vehicle (hopefully that holds true) and I'm averaging between 13 and 15 mpg towing, so far. I've towed approximately 4,000 miles this summer, and approximately 4,000 last year. I recommend driving every vehicle that you can (if possible) and make sure you pay attention to the creature comforts that might make a difference to you (heated seats, lumbar support, center console, etc). Good luck. It's exciting!

That's correct -- until the Truma WH gets fixed, I'm without my QC (I did buy the long hose and fittings for the Blackstone to work on QC, before I left home.) I'm probably going to order another hose to connect directly to a tank, rather than buy more of the throw-away cylinders. But I have 4 of them yet that I can use, if I get this fixed correctly.

For anyone with a Blackstone Griddle (17" or 22") -- I had an issue the other day: when I went to remove the 1-lb cylinder from the regulator (so I could drive down the road and not have it bouncing around) the brass tip of the regulator came OFF the regulator and stayed IN the cylinder. This meant that all the remaining propane came spewing out. No fun, and wasteful. The odd thing was that when I retrieved the brass tip (using needle-nose pliers, because the nut section was recessed into the well in the can) I didn't find any sort of gasket or see any residue of pipe dope, and I thought it was odd. I placed a ticket online with Blackstone hadn't heard back. My friend and I kept thinking that SURELY there would be a gasket in there; it's brass to some other gray-colored metal on the regulator. I had already searched Blackstone's website and manual for better information and photos or diagrams of that regulator. Then I decided to search online for other websites with photos -- Amazon, the ubiquitous search machine, provided a key photo that showed that end of the device and I could see a black gasket in there. THEN I remembered a black gasket I found near my truck, I pulled it out of my little 'lost and found' container... how about that! I called Blackstone's number to see if I could verify that there wasn't another gasket or pipe dope missing. Their phone service person kept referring to the brass tip as "broken" and saying that "this happens a lot and we just send you a replacement" and I kept trying to explain to her that it didn't "Break Off" it had merely come unscrewed (threaded same direction as the propane cylinder). She asked if I would send her photos, and I obliged and she exclaimed, "OH! I didn't know that piece was threaded because all I could see was that black thing." So for all the bad reviews and complaints on the regulators not working -- I have to wonder what percentage have this happen. I'm going to attach photos in case anyone runs into this. If a person didn't pay attention, the brass tip might be tossed with the spent cylinder. I'm still not certain whether it needs pipe dope or tape, and also not certain how tightly I should screw this down. I don't have a tool that fits OVER the tip and INTO the well (I checked) so needle-nose pliers are all I have to work with... thoughts and suggestions welcome.

And it might be difficult to service them because the slide-out might take the entire width of the 'hall' in the E2. Also, I'd personally prefer to do service on a battery outside rather than inside my trailer.

I tried earlier today and they weren't open for business. So I called Mike and asked him for guidance with the issue. He suggested he'd call Riverwood and figure out what is going on, and get back to me and -- THANKS MIKE! -- Riverwood has a replacement Truma Water Heater being shipped out today or tomorrow. This is EXCELLENT news and I want to credit Mike and Oliver's care. Also, I will be posting a followup in my other thread regarding my solution to the Blackstone Griddle problem (it was easy to fix, but not obvious). Thank you to everyone here for all the help and encouragement. I'm hoping that by next week I'll be able to use my Oliver for boondocking, as I intended.

No news is not always good news.... On Friday 7/21 morning, Riverwood RV asked for my purchase date; they already had the hull # and VIN, and things sounded fairly positive for some action. I reached out to Mike at Oliver and he confirmed the prognosis (Truma WH propane leak). He also gave me the phone number for Truma, since it was their warranty that would cover. Then I phoned Truma; they gave me my case number but were not willing to discuss much else, "because it's Riverwood's case". The person on the phone explained that if my case involves "Servicing Parts", Truma requires a trained and certified technician; full replacement can be done by a non-certified technician. In the end, Truma said that they were just waiting on Riverwood to provide information. This began to make me wonder, because Riverwood mentioned on Thursday that they hadn't worked with Truma. A followup call to Riverwood did not produce any information. I explained, I'm trying not to harass them, but I'm not feeling great about imposing on the intern next door, whose fridge and freezer and shower I'm using (it's US Fish & Wildlife property, not the intern's trailer, but still). Saturday I called during my lunch break and Riverwood said the service tech went home early that day. Yesterday I sat tight. This morning I called and got an earful of "it takes time" and "we had to register with them as a service center" and was told not to call Mike back because "it's out of his hands". They denied that they were having to go through training before my case would be approved. They denied that there was an argument about whether it might only need parts replacement (though I have to wonder). I certainly understand that he cannot estimate timelines when he hasn't worked with Truma -- how could he know about their potential turn-around time? I asked if he thought it could be a month (I'm here another 6 weeks) and he scoffed, but with global issues for parts and components, I'm not sure that I'll be here still if/when a replacement is shipped. Then he said my only option "would be to take it to another service center, and that's not going to happen." ?!? I asked why is that? He said, "because we do 80% of the service around here." Does anyone have experience with Truma customer service timelines for replacement? Truma's website has an option to find dealer/partners and I'll be darned if there isn't one just the other side of Bismarck from Riverwood. Hmmm. I called and inquired about their schedule (4 openings in August), and how much time it takes (probably a few hours to diagnose) and the warranty situation ("likely a week to 10 days for Truma, all by email, to approve warranty coverage") and then he said that sometimes people just go ahead and make the repairs -- meaning that they have pieces fitted locally for lines or hoses, if it's that simple, and then they try to submit for coverage on their own. I need to think about this. Maybe I should ask him for a price to diagnose, so I can decide what to do from there. I need more caffeine.

So, people obtain diagrams by asking for them individually? If that's the case, I'll definitely call and ask for them. It would be really nice if Oliver posted diagrams with each year's manuals. It would be very helpful to owners and mechanics. If the diagrams are 'guidance' and not literal, they could put a statement on the diagram that says so.

Is there a diagram for that? I didn't see one in my manual. Does the LP go to the WH first, then the furnace, then back to the stove and fridge?

This is great advice -- I've never heard of a vehicle or trailer creasing. Nothing like witnessing an event to drive it home. I watched a (poorly loaded?) travel trailer sway on the interstate and roll, taking the TV into the ditch. I'll never forget that. Winds are curious because they do unexpected things around static objects (buildings, other vehicles). I have some great straps for tie-down, and lots of big rocks, and they're necessary for daily living here. In spite of that, I've noticed very little blown debris on the roadsides. I had forgotten what it was like to drive down a highway and see pristine landscape, whether farm field, forest or rolling plain.

Another important lesson learned through the forum. I sure do appreciate all the questions and answers here. I'm glad that you discovered and fixed the issue before too much damage, and that you were able to fix it for a reasonable fee.

The picnic table has skinny slats but I think I'll just cover the surface, close the lid and strap it down when I'm not using it. We have some crazy winds here, and things move around in the night. I'm working on buying another propane tank and hose with regulator to dedicate to the griddle, since my quick-connects are not an option and my friend and I want to go boondocking on our days off from the volunteer job.

John, I think this may be a good point — your best buyer will know what they’re doing, but new owners may not. I believe you can reorganize your ad to make it clear that your Oliver has been meticulously cared for, and upgraded — and perhaps mention up front about the “many extras and fully documented…” and put all the details at the bottom, or offer on request. I am a geek when it comes to keeping documentation of work and service done. To sell my 16 year old Volvo with over 200,000 miles on it, I advertised “meticulously maintained, ALL Service Records available, original clutch” and it sold in less than a week — to THAT guy who was also a geek for maintenance and knew it would last another 100,000 plus miles. Hey — Did it sell?! Congratulations if so.

I opted for the 17" Blackstone with the lid. Normally, I would just leave it sitting on the picnic table, but I'm thinking about critters (rodents) that might decide to help themselves, and the lid doesn't fit tightly enough to prevent their entry. The fabric bag won't stop any rodent that is determined to get in there. Does anyone have a solution to this, besides moving the grill each night?

Thanks for the instructions. Now that I've finally hit the road, I added a map. Apparently I have traveled and camped in 10 states on my trek to North Dakota. More states to come for this summer. What a joy it is, to see the country this way.

That sums it up! Congrats -- I'm very happy that you were able to see it -- it's glorious and mesmerizing. Thank you also for the updated photos of your Oliver and the yoga mat method. Did you do anything for the front of your TV, in similar fashion?

Another update: 1) the Truma WH has a 2-yr warranty; 2) Riverwood RV Service was in contact with Mike; it seems they all suspect the WH to be the faulty device. They’re ordering a replacement. Fingers crossed!

Brief and incomplete update, because I have to report to duty in 5 minutes: I will definitely let the forum community know what happens. The small brass tip on the regulator that came with my Blackstone came OFF with the propane bottle when I detached it yesterday -- and yes, all the propane left in that bottle escaped. I had to wait for it to settle down and was thankful I had needle-nose type pliers to reach the nut and remove it from the bottle. I'll reach out to Blackstone about that; the brass tip screws into a 'silver' colored metal section and I see no propane tape or anything in that joint; not sure yet if it will go back together and hold the pressure. RATS. So... I'll probably end up buying a cooktop. I brought food to cook that doesn't work on the grill. Glad I have a truck that can handle all this equipment I'm adding. I went to the ND Heritage Museum for much of the day yesterday, plus hit the Costco for fuel and sundries. Thank you for this. I think it's probably worth having this tool, even if I don't plan to 'fix' an issue on my own. Nutshell: they had the trailer 8 hours and didn't definitively confirm the source/s of the leak. They DID confirm there is a leak with a drop test that "held for 7 or 11 or even 20 minutes and then suddenly dropped." More later.

@SeaDawg thanks for the great feedback and ideas. I had a headache the morning the alarm went off, and that's a rarity for me (maybe once every 10-15 years) so I took it as a warning. Luckily I do have shore power on the days I'm parked for my volunteer job with US Fish & Wildlife -- but the idea was to get out camping and exploring on my days off (up to a week at a time) so that's frustrating. And after Labor Day the plan is to be on the road, but as you say, a hard-shelled tent is better than my favorite canvas side any day. Did I say 5 lb tanks? D'oh! What I brought as backup is (4) 1 lb tanks, the non-refillable type. However, I can buy a 5 lb tank and while I'm working they will refill it for me! I do not have a generator (yet). I need to learn a lot more before I buy one. I must learn to use (and manage) my lithium batteries. Boondocking is my goal, but I have so much to learn. Trial by Fire might get me there sooner than I imagined. Every time I begin to read the manual, I feel lost before page 2. I feel like I need to take a course in electrical systems .... I need to check the videos in Oliver University again, and maybe other sites. All suggestions are welcome. Small electric heaters sound tempting.... any favorites? I was thinking about buying a decent moist heating pad, just to take the chill off, like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UZT4YU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -- it has 3 temp settings, plus an automatic shut-off after 25 minutes (you don't have to hold the button to keep it on). My friend, who is a massage therapist, owns this model and highly recommends it. I've also thought about induction hotplates; I have friends who use them exclusively (in small apartments, overseas). I'm trying not to gather too much gear, though. I'm going to try to make my grill work for the time being, and I love cooking outdoors (except when the mosquitoes come out). After reading all the possible gas leak areas (I had just switched to the other tank, for instance, and a thread mentioned a leak at the tank setting off the alarm), and then thinking about the toxicity, I called Riverwood RV Service Center in Mandan ND and they were very accommodating -- they are going to fit me in first thing on Thursday (the other place was booked for 3 weeks) and try to service before the end of the day if possible. I had to empty the fridge of course (I'm very lucky to have a fridge here on site to use). I moved my latex mattress from the curb side to the street side, to make access to the water pumps easier, for me and them, if they have to dig around. I'm trusting that I don't have to empty the entire trailer, and that things will be safe while it's in service. It's true that my bike-camping experience has come in handy, many times. I can get by with very bare minimum and still be happy. And even with some issues to handle, I really really love my Oliver. I'll update as things progress.

Where do people find these diagrams? I looked in my manual and didn't find anything... thank you for posting them.

Thanks! I've been wondering, because my search efforts have not been up to par on this forum. And I just know there is information there!