John E Davies

Regular high quality outdoor sign vinyl is fine. For example: "3M™ Scotchcal™ Electrocut™ Graphic Film" Read this page, there is a lot of good info and installation tips... https://dmevisual.com/vinyl-lettering-guide/ Many members have put personal stuff on the front,.with great success, but a word of caution, that is a rough location in terms of durability, there are too many insect carcasses and flying stones. The stones can cause little pits and tears, the insect guts require hard scrubbing, which is not good. I have the OEM "Oliver mountain" logo in front; after five seasons it is still looking good, but it is in no way pristine. Everything on the sides or back looks brand new. Oliver Sales used to offer custom graphics through their local Hohenwald supplier, I don't know if they do that any more. That is how I got the "Mouse" stickers for Hull 218. Some reading: ... https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/3560-so-proud/ PS: I wish EVERYBODY would make the title very descriptive, otherwise when you search you have NO clue what the thread is about. Grrr. John Davies Spokane WA

I have the Tire Traker system, it doesn’t require a booster either with an Ollie. Be aware that the length of your tow vehicle, and the amount of stuff, especially dense items like a generator or bikes, in the back or bed can block the radio signals. You can play around with the monitor’s position, it may work better at the left side of the dash rather than in the center. It certainly should not be down low on the center console. John Davies Spokane WA

I thought this pic might be useful, from my Stone Stomper thread, it shows the trailer as close as it ever gets while driving forward (full steering lock). Obviously when reversing it would get close enough to hit. If other members have similar pics, please post them! John Davies Spokane WA

Remove four nuts under the tongue, remove two “square” u bolts, lift off the tray. That is how my 2017 one works, the current one may differ slightly. If you really don’t want it, ask them to delete it from your build sheet, there is no reason they would not, at this very early stage. It is probably one of the last things they do after all the other stuff is completed. If you do remove it, there will be two holes left in the fiberglass, which might bother you. It would be better to stop it from being installed in the first place. How much is that option now? It was about $700 for mine…. That will buy a lot of gas. John Davies Spokane WA .

FYI, If the basket collides with your truck hard enough to damage the truck, you should also inspect the basket itself for damage, it possibly could have cracks on the support brackets or mounting holes. It is only held down in the middle by two rather undersized u-bolts. Here is a pic of the early style tray, showing the angle brackets that "straddle" the tongue, and the two sets of holes for the u-bolts. (The rubber strips have been removed in this pic.). This design is adequate for a heavy load like a generator IF it is centered over the tongue, but if you load it unevenly, it may not be OK. For example a full Jerry can on just one side might be a problem Since relocating mine to the back, I no longer worry about damaging the truck, but I now have to worry about ramming it into my house (; John Davies Spokane WA

The big problem with other brands of trailers is their lack of insulation. The cold weather ability of an Ollie comes at a price, a bunch of extra weight. You either need to replace the Subie with a significantly larger tow vehicle, such as a Tahoe or 1500 pickup, or consider an alternative option like a Northern Lite or Lance four season camper on a Heavy Duty pickup truck. Buy a nice used truck with a stout payload, and continue to use the Outback as a daily driver. Truck campers offer a lot of benefits compared to a trailer, like effortless reversing, especially for a newbie owner, and if you leave the camper on it all the time, they do not take up any more parking space than a LE2. https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/buyers-guide/hard-side/northern-lite-camper/ I have seen used camper/ truck packages offered on Craigslist and by RV dealers, that is a very painless way to buy and drive one home. You don’t even have to go through the hassle of mounting the tie down hardware. Though you should always have a pre-purchase inspection performed first. John Davies Spokane WA

I use to store it upright in the right aft corner of the closet, but last season I started carrying chairs, MaxTrax, shovel, rake etc in a roof cargo box on the Land Cruiser, so the pole goes up there now. John Davies Spokane WA

We stayed at Fall Hollow in May 2017 because it was quite late in the afternoon and Oliver paid for it. Yuck. The septic hookup was in the same muddy hole in the ground as the water spigot. I can’t imagine any building code allowing that. The rest of the campground just appeared run down, OTH state park and Corps campgrounds in TN are beautiful and well maintained. Henry Horton and Anderson Road COE on Percy Priest Lake (east of Nashville) are good ones. The latter is close to city attractions and has boat noise during daylight hours. John Davies Spokane WA

I replaced the 4 original batteries when they went Tango Uniform at the end of the 2020 camping season - two Battle Born 100 amp hr, with room on the tray for a third with only a little extra minor work. So far that setup has worked fine for me, I doubt that I will add any more capacity. John Davies Spokane WA

Is that 11 degrees slope figure correct? That is 20%. I've never towed anything up that steep a hill, especially with moss on it.... Do you use 4 Low to back up the driveway? In you shoes I would have a big anchor at the garage foundation, with a stout chain clipped around the back bumper, for the next big earthquake, your tires could literally hop right over the chocks! You certainly have a million dollar view! For those who don't know, that is the Columbia River Gorge with Mount Hood in the distance. John Davies Spokane WA

Lots of useful ideas here, including a telescoping hitch mounted flagpole antenna: Using Directional Cellular Antennas: Pros & Cons, Aiming and Tips Here is my pole and mount setup, the pole is the same as the one in the video, I would perhaps use this pole for an antenna, but would prefer something more sturdy (less flexing and movement at the top). Mine is the taller 22 foot model. Their shorter one would work better for an antenna IMHO, or the long pole could be shortened by removing the top two or three sections. But I would probably use a locking painters pole (with pin lock, not twist lock) https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/3371-flag-pole-and-mount/ If you want any ideas about hardware, we can continue this thread, I have some possibilities. John Davies Spokane WA

My daughter has a 2007 Outback XT (2.5 turbo), it is rated for just 2700 pounds, and I can guarantee you that it won’t work for even the small Ollie. I personally would not try towing anything over 2000 pounds behind it. Especially at 7000 feet! Even the big Ascent is only rated at 5000 pounds. That would be acceptable for the single axle Elite, but wouldn’t have any real margin of safety. These trailers are double shell, and they are indeed heavy little tanks. They need a very substantial tow vehicle. John Davies Spokane WA

There is not enough space in the LE2 for a dry bath. It is a very compact design, less than 7 feet wide (inside) which appeals to those who buy the trailers. And obviously the LE1 is even more so. There might be a larger Oliver in the future if you are willing to wait, but so far that is just wishes and rumors. Why don’t you take a look at an Ollie in person, before you decide it won’t work? I am quite confused about your statement, the diagram is pretty self explanatory. John Davies Spokane WA

Has it occurred to you to ask Truma customer service if your unit can be converted to the Plus version? if it is as simple as adding the tee and return lines, then they might even offer a factory kit and instructions. They might also tell you why it can’t be done, if that is the case, so you don’t risk burning out your unit for some reason. I would attempt this, if I had a Truma. But since I don’t, I will hang out in the background to see where this topic ends up. Post pictures, or it never happened. John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks, any idea about the R value? It looks well made but IMHO it is a little pricy. I wonder, will it work OK hanging down partially, or flipped back on itself, so you can get some airflow? My vent is always open, more or less, except when towing. If you sew, it would be “sew easy” to make one. You could design in a small velcroed flap to allow a little airflow, like a diesel truck winter radiator cover. Like this Gen 3 Ram cover: John Davies Spokane WA

Welcome, Ollies are the best travel trailer for less than $100k, without a doubt, and the customer service is stellar. However, what is your budget, and are you committed to a trailer? Do you want to boondock in the back country? If you have not already, you should check out the “next level up” campers, like Nimbl, EarthCruiser, or even the very custom expedition rigs like Earth Roamer. Their over the top engineering, build quality and integration of high end marine systems will please you. The standard RV appliances in an Ollie are functional, but they are neither efficient, easy to service nor long lasting. The suspension and brakes , ditto. I love “Mouse”, but if I win the lottery it will be up for sale the next day.😬 John Davies Spokane WA

The basket can contact the truck when reversing at too tight an angle, for sure (jack knifing). During normal full-lock turns while driving forward it is fine. The open tailgate may hit it if the trailer is at a severe angle, you should try to park with it aligned. Many have noticed that the tailgate can hit the Bulldog coupler, this depends on the tow vehicle, and where the receiver is located in relation to the gate. There have been a number of threads discussing tailgate clearance. With your HD truck it is less likely to be a problem. My 2006 Ram 3500 had tons of room, my 2013 Land Cruiser would hit, until I installed a longer Andersen ball mount. I moved my basket from the tongue back to the rear bumper and I much prefer it there, for a number of reasons, including a greatly reduced tongue weight. It certainly is easier to climb over the tongue without it in the way. Until you get used to it, have a helper stand out there watching while you reverse, to make sure you don’t over do it. When backing sharply, go really slow once the angle gets past 45 degrees. Does your GMC have a backup camera? John Davies Spokane WA

Welcome to another Washington Ollie owner. My sister lives in west Portland, that sure is a pretty area. I love the WA 14 drive along the Gorge, it is so much less exhausting than the Interstate on the Oregon side. I like the small town vibes and the more relaxed pace, and there are hardly any semi trucks. How do you store your Ollie? Do you have a shop area where you can do those future mods? I look forward to seeing some threads, please post pictures. We love pics here. John Davies Spokane WA

Well, I am pretty sure that it is just a resonator, did you notice an O2 sensor or cable sticking out the side? If there isn’t a sensor, I bet even the dumbest thief would look further forward. And your salesman may be trained, but did he actually remember and understand those details? Most salesmen are much less technically informed than the average auto enthusiast buyer, who often has spent days or weeks studying every review and video, and asking questions on forums like this one. And unfortunately some salesmen are complete clueless newbies. They are there to sell product. I would not believe their word about payload, cats, or any other feature, unless I had already seen it published somewhere else. BTW, LongStride, I appreciate your constructive comments here. Happy New Year, everybody. John Davies Spokane WA

I am sure that this will be a big success for Toyota. The hybrid drivetrain is the same as the new Land Cruiser, so they must have confidence in its durability. OTH, I recall the first time I walked around and sat in a brand new FJ Cruiser. After a few minutes, I told my wife, “This is the first time I have ever seen a vehicle where there is not a SINGLE feature that I like! Not one!” I haven’t seen a new Tundra yet, I hope that it is not another FJ. 😬 “Bold” designs do not usually wear well in the long term. Though Toyota has a recent tendancy for in your face agressive style, it could have looked like this. John Davies Spokane WA

Jordanv, IMHO it boils down to how quickly you can access your trailer in the event the weather report is wrong (factoring in inclement travel conditions). And perhaps your personal risk tolerance. If the trailer is three hours away, then you should never ever leave it non-winterized, even if it is plugged into shore power with a heater going. Power grids go down, big time... Roads can become impassible. If it is in your driveway, or ten minutes away, you can take small risks, as long as you know that somebody will always be around to check on it. Even if that is a trusted neighbor with a key. But if your gamble proves wrong, then it may be too late to get the water out, if you have no way to heat the trailer because the power is gone…. Or if your little box heater tripped a breaker, or the GFCI. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6400-february-2021-arctic-blast-crippled-the-south/ So yes, it is something you should worry about. But not panic over, if you take any necessary precautions. John Davies Spokane WA

The little 6” stubby rubber Weboost magnetic cellular antenna is a lot more protected from a wayward tree branch in back, where it is not the highest object on the roof. It sticks to a 6” square steel plate. Even there it could get knocked off, I routinely check to make sure it is still there each time I hitch up, or after going under a low hanging tree branch. It is a miserable excuse for an antenna, it doesn’t have nearly enough groundplane to work well, and the AC steel ducting, motor and compressor block a good part of the coverage. It would be OK for the top of a steel car roof….. There are lots better choices but they are even more vulnerable, or you must use a temporary tall mast. That is how I would mount your Drive Reach one. I would put a telescoping 20 foot mast at the rear bumper frame (forward of the bumper), or alternately, if you are OK with climbing up to the roof twice every time you camp, use a stainless marine antenna folding mount, so it can travel horizontal to the roof. I would be really interested to read about this antenna, please post an installation thread. I might do this mod eventually. Sometimes I wish our Ollies came with ladders. https://assets.wilsonelectronics.com/m/700bdbf86910493c/original/Drive-Reach-RV-Installation-Guide.pdf John Davies Spokane WA

Found the thread, it was -18 degrees there when he posted. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/5185-extreme-weather/ Read and weep, I never did hear how this ended. I like to think of winter cold as the temperature differential (the “delta T”). The difference is what drives the heat loss through walls, roof and air leaks. On a 30 degree day with a 70 degree inside temp, the house or trailer has a 40 degree delta T. Normal heating systems can handle that easily. When the delta T gets to 70 or 100, that is when stuff starts to break and freeze. Especially if the home or RV was not built for it. Or the owner did not take steps to prevent it… John Davies Spokane WA

Just a reminder for those Southern Ollie owners and soon-to-be ones. There were a lot of RVs that suffered severe damage then through lack of awareness and bad preparations. One Ollie owner in Oklahoma had his trailer completely freeze up, he posted a frantic thread about it, but I never heard the results, if it destroyed his tanks or not. If somebody can post that link, I think it would be a good warning for the rest of us. Don’t let that be you…. Once the drains freeze, you can no longer empty pipes and tanks! This shows that event, not the current forecast! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_2021_North_American_cold_wave It is going to be below zero here tonight, but at least here in NE WA we expect that sort of chill. It’s 48 degrees in the RV bay. Stay warm. John Davies Spokane WA

Xuxu, I am astonished that Mercedes does not publish the cargo capacity. I looked just now and it still says TBA. As you have discovered, it is pretty important …. I bet that you are pretty mad at that salesman. What do you plan to do at this point? John Davies Spokane WA