Tralien

Hi John I revisited your flip thread prior to posting my request but after visiting the trailer today (you’re right, vintage hull #141). I’ll need to return shortly as I think my clips are drilled into the window frame-no spacers. Will the spacers dramatically improve retention?

Has anyone improved the attachment method of their blinds? We have an ongoing problem while in transit, specifically with the spring clips along the bottom. Upon arrival the blinds routinely hang loose away from the wall and in some instances completely detach. Thanks in advance for sharing your creative fix.

We were in Yellowstone last year from June 3-8 and although it was busy I wouldn't characterize it as crowded. Coming in from the west we stayed at the Madison campground albeit our reservation was made nine months earlier. It was a good base from which to explore the park. Traffic within the park usually means there is something worth slowing down for. What first reminded me of the conditions in Southern California that we were trying to escape from soon became a harbinger of goods things to come. Crowds make the parking areas for the geysers, trails and picnic areas cumbersome. Quite by accident we discovered a sightseeing rhythm that worked well for us. Because there are so many visitors coming in and out of the park each day we would start lengthy trips (Lamar Valley) later in the day around 2:00. Many of the day visitors and tour companies seemed to be heading out by 4:00 and our access was improved. June is a good month to employ this approach as the days are long and we saw everything but wolves. Prepare for everything weather wise. Six inches of snow fell the evening of the seventh and it continue as we passed the Divide on our way to Grand Teton. We were among the last to get to the south entrance towards before they closed the road.

Kartchner Caverns State Park-Arizona

Hi Foy We are interested in a shower mat for our Oliver (#141). One question before we begin is that our shower has a pop up drain that needs to be depressed while on the road to prevent backflow. Are the rubber feet high enough to allow for when it is popped up? Not sure if your Oliver employs the same drain mechanism. Thanks Bob (Tralien on the forums)

Thank you Dave, The plant suggested the same balance between strike and hinge adjustments as well as confirmation of a spacer behind the latch. Although improved we still have the occasional failure. If a quarter turn latch was available, or latches akin to what is used on the closet or pantry, I'd switch them out. Bob

Any equally clever suggestions for the mirrored cabinet doors? Bob

Love it. We use an old drum from a washing machine for the same purpose.

Hi Mike, we have the identical issue. With the recent rain storms here in CA I have those same streaks from all four porch lights.

Hi GrayGhost Our experience with the overhead cabinet doors mirrors (intentional) that of Buzzy's without the band aids. We routinely tape the doors closed with painter's tape to keep them closed while en route. Tommy provided instructions for adjusting the latches but slight tightening renders the latch useless.

Welcome to the forum. Your blog comments mirror my wife's first impression of RV interiors:"how many dull fabrics can be embellished with arrow head and antler patterns?" That coupled with crown molding set us on a path for a clean and functional alternative. We are new owners (May) and like some others on this exchange are working through the nuances between tent and RV camping. Don mentions above that the transition need not be painful, it has been a joy for us. The forum members are clever, funny and most of all generous. You'll blend well. Bob and Camille

We are also with AAA. Annual coverage for the Oliver added $335.00 with $500 deductible for comprehensive. My experience with AAA claims over thirty-five years has been extraordinary albeit limited.

We chose the camper shell. One of the trade offs that comes with the Oliver's size, construction and technology is a bit less storage space for bulky items. These need to go in the truck. A sliding/rolling tonneau cover sat a bit lower than the bed rails and we needed to pack a few items that would have been too tall to close and lock the cover. Our travel plans include combining campgrounds and hotels and we need secure storage. The second influence was grandchildren. Oliver has three beds and we have three grandchildren that are too young to sleep outside on their own-grandpa sleeps outside. A fitted air mattress goes a long way in making this comfortable. Camper shell avoids camper's hell.

With regards to the generator dilemma we have been using them considerably less than anticipated. That being said, we were poised to purchase the Yamaha 2000 (times 2 for the AC) due to reviews, fuel gage and petcock. We ended up purchasing an offering through Costco with Yamaha engines with identical features for close to 1/2 the cost. The link is depicted below: http://www.costco.com/Smarter-Tools-2000-watt-Parallel-Capable-Inverter-Generator-with-Yamaha%C2%AE-Engine.product.100121916.html So far we are very satisfied. Bob

Beautiful truck Mike!

We were poised to purchase a Ram 1500 Ecodiesel in anticipation of our May delivery in Tennessee-a beautiful vehicle. Our towing experience is limited and a number of family members and friends (all lifetime truck owners and outdoor enthusiasts) were adamant about the limitations of light duty trucks. After doing the payload math, inclusive of tongue weight and all of the items we intended to travel with, we were rapidly approaching the upper limits of the tow vehicle. The majority of our outings are in the western U.S. with some elevation challenges that impact horse power and torque. We opted for the bigger truck and are pleased that we did. Driving out loaded for the 2000+ miles from CA to TN our mpg was 20.5 . On our return trip, with our proud possession in tow, we made 15.5 mpg without incident and our Oliver was barely noticeable from behind the wheel. BTW-John's numbers on Ram pricing were spot on in March when we purchased and may be better as the new models are released.

Stan, a very kind offer that we will embrace when our travel schedule is leisurely. We live in southern CA and our round trip to TN spans eleven glorious days-eight of which exploring the diversity of I-40. Looking forward to meeting you sometime soon in the shade.

We also live in the west and shared your concern. We were assured that Oliver would support us through Camping World for warranty repairs and above all strive t o make us happy. They emphasized their interest in placing more Oliver units in the west and providing support and service compliments that pursuit. This and other forums, as well as word of mouth, are very influential. I don't think you have any worries. W e look forward to our May 9th delivery date and crossing your path.

Greetings to all of the very helpful contributors to this forum. We are eagerly awaiting our cross country trip for delivery on May 9th as well as developing a rapport with all of you. Bob and Camille Teeple Dana Point, CA