Laps
-
Posts
113 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
3
Posts posted by Laps
-
-
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".
-
2
-
-
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.
-
1
-
-
Having just experienced a total failure of the stinky slinky at the trailer sewer fitting with a dump in a campsite I am inclined to go composting toilet. More capacity, sanitary, earth friendly, less effort, no potential for spills.
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!
-
So has there been any more communication regarding the possibility of converting the black tank to a fresh water tank? That is an interesting concept and as a super newbie it seems that an RV without a black tank would be an oddity but I could be wrong.
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.
-
Hey Laps, Wow! Wow! You do not need an Ollie, you have everything you need in the bed of your truck. I bet you even have a 12V fridge for the beer and a grill for the bacon! Wicked cool! ? Buzzy
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.
-
1
-
-
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.
-
1
-
-
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.
-
Has any Ollie owners gotten the composting toilet instead of the flush to black tank? Are you happy with it ? It looks like it will conserve water, but the learning to “go” differently is a factor also. Thanks.
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.
-
2
-
-
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.
-
1
-
-
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
-
2
-
-
Gotcha. Same thing I ran into when I came to them with an idea to use gray water to flush the toilet. No interconnecting plumbing. Tell them just leave off certification for your trailer.
HA, yes, and I get a 30% discount for doing so!
-
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.
In following this thread I’ve become confused about this extra fresh water tank. It seems like folks are over thinking this and possibly making it more difficult than it really is. Why not just use the black water tank as installed and just re-purpose it as an extra fresh water tank? The tanks in the Oliver are custom made for the space they occupy so any tank that is placed in the black tank position would have been made as a black water tank. Now, obviously it would never have been used for black water so it could easily be filled with potable water instead, in fact, it actually has its own fill connection (the black tank flush.) Aside from the extra plumbing needed to connect the two tanks, I can’t see a reason to make other changes. What am I missing?
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.
-
About every three days, you don’t think about the output until you have to monitor it daily. It would just be a pain to empty every 3-4 days when you have an 18 gal. tank not doing anything.
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.
-
We have an Airhead brand composting toilet on our boat and love it, the only drawback is having to empty the liquid tank all the time. I would figure out a way to use the black tank just seems like a great idea to me. I was at the factory last week and got to see one installed it is a lot taller than the China toilet and may be a problem for some.
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.
-
Thanks to all for your replies. In addition, Oliver got back to me and noted that they had been giving thought as to where to mount the remote display without intruding into the coach and having things get caught on it (it apparently sticks out more than an inch from a surface mount). I have seen the same protector mounted in another trailer with the display viewable from the rearmost (opened) storage door on the shore power side. That would allow you to be looking for offending codes as you plug in. In my view, the sooner a fault is discovered, the better. I have also used a standalone circuit checker (just remembered that I let it go with the Class C MH that we sold this week). I agree that that one of these devices is a good alternative to not being able to read the codes on the hard wired protector. At the same time, Oliver shows the model with the remote display so taking a shot at getting it installed at the factory makes sense to me. Thanks again. Bob
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.....
Planning the next phase...
in Introduce Yourself
Posted
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.