Laps

Hello John, RoadRunner magazine is the premier motorcycling publication by far and after 45 years of being an avid motorcyclist, including 8 years as an AMA road racer, I can attest to all the subscriptions to various magazines I have had. And like you I love photography but I am only a hobbyist at that. Not yet an owner of an Ollie, but hopefully soon. When I went to Hohenwald to tour the factory I rode my old but very trusty 1997 Harley Davidson Electra Glide, which has been all over the country, invariably motorcycle camping trips at that. Took a side trip down the Natchez Trace, but I had previously ridden the entire length, so after a hundred miles or so I headed home in the 95 degree heat that week. Do go to the factory if you get a chance. But now at the age of 65 I'm looking forward to the "next phase" of travel touring, in my Dodge Ram with an Elite II following behind. I certainly hope you get that Ollie and continue to enjoy your motorcycling adventures also.

I researched Airstreams, off and on, for over 2 years, and I had always thought it was the trailer I would eventually buy. But I stumbled upon the Oliver brand, through another forum, and immediately became interested, such that I was able to tour the factory this past June. While there I saw the step by step process and from the frame up it is a far superior trailer to almost anything else currently being produced. I was also able to tour Buzzy's brand new Ollie at the campground and the attention to detail is truly inspiring. There are so many "Pros" regarding the Oliver, that when the time comes to lay out the cash, I wouldn't consider anything else at this point. Frankly, I think 40K for the Airstream Base Camp is overpriced, and while a new Ollie will be close to 60K I consider that price differential a moot point compared to the final products once actually "on the road".

John: excellent and informative post regarding mapping etc. I just ordered several of the Benchmark atlases for an upcoming trip to the Southwest, just in the truck, no Oliver yet. I have this app on my phone and ipad and its quite good: https://www.gaiagps.com/

Not only those issues but the whole site has again come to a molasses dragging crawl. I can easily go to another one or two websites and browse while waiting for anything to come up here. Where is the cornbread?

You will find the factory tour as being worth every bit of your time. Ask lots of questions of them, they will give you straightforward answers. Although I am not yet an Ollie owner I toured the factory in June and was very impressed. Once finances allow I will be purchasing one as well, as I am retired and am looking forward to the very adventures you referred to. Be sure to check out all the excellent posts on the forum and be sure to view Buzzy's well done videos, a work in progress, very informative. He has also posted owners manuals of various components that can be downloaded as PDF's. I read as much as I could of the forum posts before I toured the factory and that helped me ask pertinent questions once there.

Exactly my feelings as well. A composting toilet makes so much more sense for boondocking needs, and truthfully, I wouldn't mess, pun intended, with the wet toilet given the viable option of the composting unit. Its time for potential owners to start requesting the factory for this "option" as a choice that should include elimination of the black water tank. Put in a clean water tank in its place!

I have not heard anything further from them. It can be done. I think its one of those issues that if more potential owners are wanting that modification, then they need to make their wishes known to the factory. I would recommend you contact them directly by phone, they are very responsive to speaking with new, old, and potential customers.

Ha! thanks Buzzy, but it is a "bit" cramped! I have a Pelican cooler for ice, no 12 V fridge yet, but great idea! Going to get a small propane grill to complement the Coleman white gas stove. Small tent for the outside camping experiences. I have truck/motorcycle/backpack camped for years, and of course you now know how wonderful it is to have an Ollie compared to roughing it. Since this isn't going to be the year for me for an Ollie, very sad to say, I'm headed out West either late September or October to the Utah/Moab area where I have been several times in the past. Going to get a good bike rack (hitch mounted) and do some MTB trail riding.

I vote for the camper shell. I have a Leer 100XQ which is color matched to the vehicle, has three 12 V outlets, interior lights (LED), gear net on the ceiling for clothes etc, and fully carpet lined. Also has heavy gauge screens plus small gauge screens (can transport dogs if need be with the heavy screens). I have a collapsible cot which fits the length of the bed, thick Thermarest that goes on the cot, a 12 V fan for circulation during the summer months. I find the camper shell very convenient for transporting most anything and keeping them dry. I can even put my mountain bike in there and lock the tail gate and the window latch. It also is set up with Thule rails on top so that I can attach Thule accessories such as one of their rooftop cargo carriers.

Due to the quality I think they will always have potential buyers, not sure I will ever be able to afford one though.

From what I can tell in the second, bottom photo, that really looks good. About how long did the project take?

Yes Pics please! During my factory tour the window color was the only thing about the Ollie that I wasn't thrilled about and asked Jason about the availability of white instead of the tan/off white and was told the same thing. Would really enjoy hearing the step by step process you went through.

I, in fact, am a "hold out" for the composting toilet option but in the sense that I have spoken directly with Oliver about this and I want the black water tank to be converted to a clean water tank, so that there is that much added capacity. I was told it may take quite some time before the engineers were able to accomplish that and get the proper certification. My answer was to tell them I can be very patient as they work on it, especially since my present financial situation doesn't allow for freeing up of sufficient funds for the purchase of a new Ollie at this time. I'm anticipating it will be after the first of the year for them to have a solution. That said, I see nothing but advantages to a composting toilet for those who truly are dedicated boondockers, dry campers so to speak.

You will find this one of the most helpful forums around regardless of one's specific interest, and as a still prospective buyer of an Oliver, I visit here regularly to absorb as much information as possible. Enjoy that new Ollie!

I'm completely in agreement with John on this one: no slide outs or wood used in the main frame construction.

How about something applied directly to the Ollie on the leading edges? https://www.amazon.com/Scotchgard-Clear-Paint-Protection--96-inches/dp/B004VG7336/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1469924653&sr=1-6&keywords=3m+clear+protective+film

Found this on Youtube this morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a8ijzg80OI

HA, yes, and I get a 30% discount for doing so!

From what I've been told, it is due to the RVIA code restrictions, or whatever agency oversees such matters. I had thought the same thing, just use the black tank for fresh water, but apparently it is, bureaucratically speaking, more complicated than that.

I'm hoping that they will make concessions for us desiring the composting toilet, by removing the black tank and replacing with an extra fresh water tank.

Can you be more specific as to how often you were actually emptying the "pee tank" ? The height of the Natures Head might be an issue, not sure yet. Guess it could appropriately be referred to as the "throne". I'm awaiting the factories response to all of our concerns and I'm wanting to have them replace the black tank with a fresh water tank and make the necessary connections. Might take a bit of patience though.

I'm going only by memory, recalling from when I did the tour, but how about above the panel switches at the entry area? High enough it shouldn't get snagged by anything.

"If you can’t do that, then you would have to go to a transfer pump design and take the water up into the fill hose for the main tank. That is getting a lot more complicated." A separate transfer pump is probably the answer. The additional fittings wouldn't be complicated.

"The market is shifting though to younger buyers who are looking for a bit more adventure." I've been an 'adventurer' all my life and at my present not so young age of 64 I am more than happy to be included in the new RV demographic! And it is my primary reason to remaining enthusiastic about the future offerings of Oliver. Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, the 4 corners, and Alaska won't be quite the same in a tent with a sleeping pad and -10 degree sleeping bag, and my not so old, nor quite young, attitude welcomes the accommodations and innovations that Oliver will bring.

I am very hopeful, i.e. optimistic, that indeed the Oliver engineers will find a solution to the concerns and recommendations voiced in this thread. They have to work within the regulatory RV codes of course, but for the time being I'm still saving my nickels and dimes for that new Ollie. By that time.....