BoondockingAirstream

Tent camped since I was 16 with a 1956 VW to collect fossil vertebrates in the Badlands of Nebraska in 1966. Sometimes three of us using an Army pup tent or sleeping under the stars for days or a week. Sun sets and the Sun rises. No clock... if you can see... time to get moving. Walk and discover fossils washing out after the Rain washes them out. Ahhh... the Hunting Days are great memories... Gone. Married we tent camped and bought a 23 foot Airstream in 2006 off the Dealer's Lot. They attached the trailer and waved... The adventure began. A 25 foot and then a 27 foot and then... kept the 2019 27 foot Airstream and the 2019 Oliver Elite II... was a chance sighting at a Boondocking site in Colorado. A go anywhere travel trailer, four season, double axle and built well. Found one in Las Vegas, Nevada in February 2022. Both travel trailers had ALL of the Propane, Solar, Batteries and plug in options. Most buyers are RV Park travelers and do not need what the 2019's offered. Generators and then Plug In. Times change and so do the Buyer's who want different travel trailers. We have been everywhere. This spring we went to our favorite New Mexico 'Off the Grid Boondocking National Forests and BLM'...and we have been going since 2006 trailer camping and before in a tent. Then came home and... been there, done it all, now what? We saw all of the western National Parks tent camping. Before the... crowds. You drive up, pay a fee and go anywhere. Not any longer... times change. ...and we changed. Not because of our current choices in 2019 Airstream and 2019 Oliver Elite II... but we been there, once, twice, twenty... times. We are western Rocky Mountain rock, fossil, mineral and hiking campers. In our 70's and sat down, sell which, keep one, sell both... discussions. Pristine, clean and shopped out with hardware (Airstreams three of them... you know where to begin)... and decided it is time to... reconsider why we need one or both travel trailers. Been there. Done it. Saw it. Seen everything and even now some areas are closed to camping, Ranches have gone to Corporate Ranches and NO Visitors Allowed on the Properties. The Ranchers we knew died or the kids sold out as it is hard work. We would even volunteer time to 'pay our way' to collect fossils in the Badlands of Nebraska. All gone today... and gone commercial leasing. Not the trailers fault... there is a time when change is coming. Done it All. Been there Often. I pull out a DeLorme Atlas... and on some pages the GPS locations and comments fill the blank borders. Some with 20 campsites with comments. Even the guides for Wagon Trains leaving Independence, Missouri in the 19th Century... once the Union Pacific laid track... it was over. The double Axle Oliver Elite II can go anywhere. Same clearance as our 27 foot Airstream, 3 inch lift and upgraded to 16 inch Michelin tires. All standard on the Oliver Elite II and had the Airstream add two Solar Panels and both are perfect for OTG camping... and built to go anywhere. The Oliver is the Go Anywhere Travel Trailer. The Airstreams took us time to discover the weak points... and when purchasing a new Airstream... tweaked it to be Solid... as the Oliver Elites are...from the Factory. Time to move on an there are lots of Airstreams for sale... most we would not want at any price... but Olivers are scarce and few are familiar with them. Some travel to travel. We travel to walk, hike, hunt and enjoy the solitude outside the City. Stepping out of our Oliver is ahhhhhh fully nice. We wil always remember fondly. The Oliver hunt. Owning an Oliver. ...and time to sit back and recall we did it ALL.. and content.

When you break a ZERK trying to grease the leaf spring bolts... they are METRIC. Cost about 25 cents each. Do not have the receipt handy, but bought two, one for a spare. When the top of the ZERK breaks, you can easily remove the threaded part... take it into the Hardware store than has everything... they will look at it and find them. Buy two or more. Save yourself some looking around. I found it 'easier' to remove the each wheel to get a straight shot at the zerk by jacking up each side for access and removing each wheel. The pressure to get any grease into the bolt causes grease to accumulate on the Zerk. Some you may have to remove the bolt as it must be rusted from wear and then clogs it up. Buy eight Leaf Spring bolts and nuts and start from scratch. That will be my next 'adventure'. These bolts that the Leaf Springs are attached are more likely to break than take any grease or attempt to remove them and salvage the bolts and nuts. The grease gun broke and they are guaranteed for life trying to get the grease into the bushings. Got a free replacement and did what I could. A good grease gun is not cheap. The tolerance between the bolt and leaf spring must be tight. More grease came out of the Zerk and Grease Gun fitting... than entered the shaft of the bolt. Next attempt... Buy replacement bolts and nuts and clean up the leaf spring hole, that the bolt goes into. Need to watch a video of someone doing it. The best method so far, for me... remove the wheel. Take a nap and go for the other side. A Big.... PIA.

We are selling our 2019 Oliver Elite II. Where can we post this so Oliver Forums members can find it? Posted on Oliver Facebook, but these individuals already have an Oliver. I see that the Forum no longer will list an Oliver for sale.

Messed that up when 'proof reading'. The Agilis (Michelins). I edit while typing and prior to posting... missed that. I have five Agilis Cross Climate Michelins on the Airstream. 2019 Airstream 27/28 foot: Agilis Cross Climate LT225/75/R16 Michelins. 2019 Oliver Elite II: Defender LTX M/S 225/75/R16 Michelins. 2016 F 350 4x4 Diesel Tow Vehicle: LTX AT2 - LT275/70/R18 Michelins. "Agilis...sell them"... When editing it was intended for another... brand to sell... now gone from memory. Probably ST tire's which I do not use or want on any travel trailer I own. Thanks for catching that.

****** If I could have found the Knob and Lock Washer, I would not have needed to fabricate something that will stay secure. Time will tell. Some unlucky vehicle may find the Knob stuck into their tire, remove it, and build an Oliver Elite II. ??? "For the want of a knob, the Oliver was lost."

We have Tent Camped, Airstream OTG Camped and Oliver Elite II OTG Camped. As we aged... so has the camping comforts. Tent camping required that the Tow Vehicle is loaded with 'Travel Trailer' optional appliances. Ice chest, propane cook top, top tent cover for insulation and temperature control. Open and close flap door, vents with screens, pad for 'comfort' on lumpy ground. Ahhhhfully... awful when raining. Travel Trailers. No furniture needed to become a Home on Wheels with a new view anytime, anywhere and sometimes any season. Better than a Mobile Home as it has a home decor screwed to the floor, walls and ceiling. If used for Camping you would need... to secure the home decor to the floor, walls and ceiling. Move... repeat. Move again, sell and step up to a Travel Trailer. For any travel, anywhere, all weather conditions and even Seasons... an Oliver is #1. Airstream is up there, but size of being smaller has big benefits. Both have suspensions. Oliver's are superior with Leaf Springs. Airstreams are a bit more complicated to describe. Do not ride in an Airstream while moving. My wife did... she compared it to pulling a Tent across a field. I did not ask to find out myself. I am a Neanderthal. Neither of us have opted to ride a mile or so in a moving Oliver. Some say there are Laws against such foolish attempts of thrill seekers. I have been tempted, but use to get motion sickness as a youth. To the displeasure of parents and siblings... Pass the bag, please. I never evolved from a Neanderthal to a modern Human Bean, yet. A University education did not help, either. But... my wife is 100% Human Bean and a positive influence over my flint knapped tools. Oliver Elite II is better than Tent Camping, a bit better than an Airstream, when not moving, and insulated to adapt to Sea Level Florida to 12,000 feet in Cedar Breaks, Utah. Both the Airstream and Olivers beat tent camping. Although it takes just as much time to pack up the tent and 'stuff needed' into the back of a pickup with cab. Those who are having a hard time deciding to move from Tent Camping to a Travel Trailer... should stay home. Even better if it is a Cave with live bats. I evolved. Bats hang from the cave ceiling and drop guano upon you. The tent is a bit better, but insects move in, when you are outside on your folding chairs before the wind blows them into the woods. An Oliver Elite... with a view without Human Beans... is wonderful. Folding chairs for outside... not a bad idea either. OK. I had my two cups of coffee, at home, and day dreaming about getting back into the Oliver to live in comfort with no distractions. I add some photographs of what HAPPY OTG CAMPERS look like. Ahhhhh. See you soon? I hope. Tossed in a photograph of a motorcycle camper that spend a day with us. Now... this guy can camp. Two Human Beans that find the outdoors... refreshing. Try it some day. Get that Oliver while you are still moving, few aches and pains... and optimistic. After a week... you may never go back home. Nobody will miss you. They are too busy mowing the lawn and pulling weeds.

A Bowlus did fine on roads in the 1930's and any roads today. Nancy and I looked them over in Henderson, Nevada with the company's CEO. A Bowlus was a bit too narrow for our needs... but built to perfection. We need more space, but for a couple... probably works out well. Do not confuse the construction of a Bowlus with a modern Airstream. They are spelled differently, and the Bowlus is capable of traveling where our 27 foot Airstream travels, any time. The exterior Buck Rivets... on a Bowlus... made to perfection. The aluminum is polished like a mirror. Not an Airstream with the dimpled buck rivets. Both travel trailers are good looking. Prefer our Airstream for how we use it. The Bowlus is the most beautiful travel trailer built and then the Oliver's. I may not be handsome, but sure know my travel trailers. Window shades in our 2019 Oliver Elite II: Wonderful. Ingenious two shades in one frame. Just travel with them Opened to avoid trouble. When we are ready to tow, we open the shades and Nancy checks that all six snaps are secure. We have had NO shades fall off while on the Interstate or Off the Grid. We do not drive over the speed limit on the Interstate Highways nor exceed reasonable speeds. If off the grid and go from 1 mph and up never an issue. A Yahoo who thinks OTG Boondocking owners burn rubber on a dirt road and in a hurry in the National Forest, has never left a RV Park with hookups. Oliver's have leaf springs, as our F350. We have never had a drawer come out. Closing the shades and checking them as secure before moving and open them once camp is set. If you have the shades, down for shade, keeping the interior cool while traveling... you do not realize how well the Oliver is insulated. If the shades are down and falls off the window frame... you can easily damage the shade. Open the shades. Check that all six snaps are secure and take a deep breath. I would have preferred Oliver Elite II Shades in our Airstream. The comparison is like having pillow covers taped over the window to the Oliver Elite's two choices of shades at will. Oliver's shades beat anything we have seen. Airstream is way behind in shades, but they also have never fallen off the windows.

I carry bailing wire as a temporary fix for anyrhing needing some emergency 'repair'. I have zip ties, of so many colors and lengths, they will decompose from age and also not good with sharp edges. My Mom, forty years ago, bought me a massive amount of Sears' bolts, nuts, washers, screws package and wing nuts for Xmas. I was the fix it guy in the family. Still using them. Carry a little of each in the Oliver, as well. I needed a fine threaded screw, two washers and a wing nut for the Knob that fell off the Solar Panel mounting bracket last week. I had it and did not need the Bailing Wire. A ladder helped, as well. We travel with tools, hardware and his & her shovels... for Off the Grid traveling. You do not need them... until you DO. If you have the tools and hardware, chance are you will never need them. But... when you do... it is too late to reconsider. Carry some odds and ends, some tools, and even a battery operated Tire Pressure unit. We Off the Grid and have no Cell Service and no FM radio stations in the Oliver. You do not need anything... until you do. When you do... you are in doo doo land.

Michelin Tires.... period. Goodyears... on Airstreams and the owners go to Michelin tires. I bought a new 2019 27 foot Airstream with 15 inch Goodyears, removed them and replaced with 16 inch wheels and Michelin's. A guy bought the Goodyears to put on a flat bed to haul junk. New tires and wheels for him and I paid about 50% more to get 16 inch wheels and Michelins. You will not be disappointed with the Michelin tire that will fit your rims. They will 'age out' before wearing out. Agilis... sell them. I have Michelins on all our vehicles, a 2019 27 foot Airstream and our 2019 Oliver Elite II. The tires will Rot Out before they Wear Out. I have owned three Airstreams. Michelin tires. The Goodyears on the 2006 23 foot Airstream were 14 inch wheels with Goodyears. I called the the C Rated Blow Out tires. Never a complaint with Michelins and on an Oliver... will go on and on and... so on.

We have a 2019 27 foot Airstream and a 2019 Oliver Elite II. One has to go. Which? It all depends... The 2019 Airstream has ALL of the Off the Grid Appliances. Bought off the Airstream Dealer's Lot, new. The 2019 Oliver Elite II has ALL of the Off the Grid Appliances. Bought from original owner three years ago who had cancer and wife did not like the Travel Trailer Experience. A common problem as we become older and health may become a factor. Worked out for us as it was listed for sale on the Oliver Forum and we bought the trailer in less than 24 hours at full asking price. It is a wonderful trailer. You have good advice on this Forum. Each has their limitations: The Airstream need Upgrade Expenses TO: Six inch lifted Axles and Upgraded wheels to 16 inch and 16 inch Michelins. It is longer and wider than an Oliver. It has lots of open space in the Aisles. It has a lower Center of Gravity for stability. The Oliver Elite II has the SAME Clearance as the Lift Kit Airstream. The Oliver Elite II has as standard the 16 inch wheels and 16 inch Michelin Tires. The Oliver has a higher center of gravity. The Airstream and Oliver Elite II are similar in... WEIGHT. Tow perfectly 'on the ball' behind our 2016 F350 4x4 Diesel. Our Airstream and Oliver Elite II have ALL of the upgrades... Solar is important. Appliances are Propane and/or Electric plug in. The Storage in the Oliver Elite II and the longer Airstream are... about the SAME. The Oliver storage is FANTASTIC. The Airstream storage is about the same with 8 feet 6 inches wide and the Oliver is 7 feet even, if I check. Nothing wrong with being a Compact Oliver as it is a Go Anywhere Travel Trailer. Airstreams are limited, not from an experienced OTG Travel Owner... but length creates a dragging rear bumper, even with the 6 inch lift and 16 inch tires. Oliver Elite II is a Do All travel trailer. If you are a RV Park traveler, it does not matter. Oliver's and Airstream Trailers are great for Hookups and RV Parks. Oliver owners are eager to assist and give advice. The more options... Solar should be #1... and get everything that catches your attention. We have everything in our Airstream and Oliver Elite II. They cost about the same off the lot.

This last Boondocking Trip to New Mexico started with taking my Telesteps Ladder and cleaning off the Solar Panels, as usual. I snug up ALL the knob screws securing the panels as I clean. I do this every time we leave home in Boulder City, Nevada. The fourth day of camping in the Gila National Forest New Mexico for agates, Nancy was walking along the road, watching for low hanging pine branches. Our usual routine, when on a narrow Forest Service Road. As we soon found an nice campsite, she noticed the Solar Panel on the Driver's side front... was flopping? I stopped and the Knob to secure the Panel... was missing. I snug them up every trip before we leave, and anytime I suspect I need to clean off dust while camped. 😞 How could that happen? This should never happen. I read about someone else on the Oliver Forum who lost a Knob. Well, we did as well thinking that was rather odd. How it backed out... it is a mystery. I always carry a good selection of bolts, nuts, washers, locking washers and nuts. I found TWO bolts in my carton, that had the fine threads, and managed to make a FIX on the spot. I will keep MY replacement. It worked. This post is to alert anyone with Solar Panels to snug these Knobs up, while wiping down the Solar Panel clean. I am detail orientated and so is Nancy. This surprised Nancy and myself. If it happened ONCE to ME... it could happen to anyone. Of course, I have my camera with me all the time. I add them for your entertainment. The best part of this story, there was NO Solar Panel damage, but without the Telestep Ladder, I would have had to stack milk crates onto the tail gate of my F350 to secure the Panel. Be prepared for anything... and sometimes... anything occurs. If you see any Knob Missing... the panel drops several inches downward. The nut with fine threads was still welded and not damaged. Strange things can happen, but this was so odd... I took some photographs to show it did happen and can happen to you. The End.

If you like cool evenings... in the Summer... Bear Trap Ridge Trail could be a good stop. There was another campsite on the west side, but had two trailers camped. Several hundred feet below the road. This campsite is on the East side on the road, as you will see on the Utah DeLorme Atlas scan page 45, A5-A6. We hiked the trail half way and turned around. Someone may want to explore the area. No cost camping! IF you like to explore for unlisted, unknown campsites that MIGHT be in an area... get the DeLorme Atlas for the State. Find one good over night spot, mark it like we do, and then look for the... next. And... next, and... so on. A true adventure into the unknown. If a location is known to everyone... it may be busy. Fine the 'unknown' campsites... you are officially an Off the Grid Boondocker. This campsite I am giving to all of the potential Oliver Boondockers. We rarely give up these sites. Get an Atlas... study it at home and go hunting. Sometimes it works. Sometimes... you are next to a gravel pit. Happy campers are the BEST. Be happy, no matter. YOU have an Oliver.

Missed this photograph of the Go Anywhere Oliver!

We have alternated our 2019 27/28 foot Airstream and the 20 foot 2019 Oliver Elite II for the last several years. Towing either travel trailer is smooth towing 'On the Ball' behind a F350 2016 Ford Diesel. I like the F350 Tow Vehicle best of all four wheeled rolling homes. Towing has been a pleasure, without any issue of sway or weight control. Lengths do matter. There are MORE options for an Oliver Elite II to travel, set up camp, remaining attached to the F350 tow vehicle, while on the ball. Another advantage an Oliver has is the Clearance and Michelin 16 inch tires. I added 3 inch lift and 16 inch wheels and 16 inch Michelins to the Airstream, which was a great advantage to do when purchasing new. The Oliver Elite II has this clearance... standard equipment. Nancy is wiping down the Interior of the Oliver now for dust. The most likely spots are on the floor, on the sides of the hallway carpet. Static Electricity IS your friend with Fiber Glass. She just came in and commented how easily the Oliver interior cooperates for a clean up. Many Oliver owners may not realize how easily the Travel Trailer... travels. It is the 'Go Anywhere Travel Trailer' and wind does not push the Tow Vehicle or Oliver around. We did our Boondocking Camping with the Airstream... with a 23, a 25 and lastly a 27 foot. The 25 foot was our favorite, as the Elite II is our choice, also having Double Axles. Necessary for go anywhere travel and four tires on the road. If a Elite II has a tire failure... the weight on the remaining tire can manage if inflated to your comfort zone. Having more PSI in the Michelins will not Pop Rivets, nor cause cabinets within the Interior to... become loose from the Factory. An Airstream with experienced owners know where to upgrade hardware and travel with the same confidence as we have in our Oliver. For Boondocking... the Elite II IS a go anywhere travel trailer. A single axle, you may have the passenger walk along side when crossing a dip in the unpaved road. Although the clearance exceeds most other Travel Trailers easily, have that extra axle is worth every dollar spent. The only improvement made to our Oliver Elite II after just over Two Years, WITHOUT ANY UPGRADE OR IMPROVEMENTS. Imagine that if you own an Airstream. For Boondocking I knew where to upgrade hardware and walls on the 2019 model. Learned mostly in the 2006 23 foot, fixed it in the 25 foot and perfected it in the 27/28 foot Airstream. Now the 2019 Oliver Elite II and the Airstream 27 foot FBQ just Rock and Roll. (Nancy did make a fabric shower curtain to replace the factory plastic. I like her work! Soon we will be having to make a choice, which one of the two. License plates, taxes and insurance have increased our costs for two travel trailers. Enjoy your Oliver when time permits. Eventually time takes its toll... not the our Travel Trailer... the Human Beans within. Plan your next trip soon... time is being wasted.

We have camped 'under the stars' when mountain exploring. We have camped 'with a North Face Igloo' Tent, when living out of the back of our 4x4 vehicle. We took those Tent Camping experiences for decades and bought our first into a Travel Trailer in 2006, a 23 foot Airstream. A 25 foot Airstream in 2014. Back into the North Face Igloo Tent in 2018. A 27/28 foot Airstream in 2019 and added a used 2019 Oliver Elite II in 2021. There were logical reasoning for our choices. Important lessons learned from experiences beginning in 2006... and lessons of 'buying right and selling right' in the process since then. We have a purpose for our 'madness'. I have a sense of curious exploring, as does my wife. A Geologist who dreams of treasure over the next mountain and a wife who is a Financial Wizard who runs the 'numbers' through her head like a computer... and we both share Common Sense. To our way of thinking, that is. There is a point to this logical, step by step approach. Many post two sentences and may be exhausted in the process. Time limits my imagination as I type and when we plan a trip. Which we do not Plan Anything in advance, other than direction. Which can change when weather changes, or new information alters what we had expected. #1: Water. You run out of fuel, OK. You run out of food, OK. You run out of luck, not OK for those two examples. But WATER you can survive. Now YOU are being asked to add 'what is important'. We Off the Grid Boondock. We plan a week, but take supplies for two, three or more weeks. We are frugal Tent Camper Hikers that moved into Travel Trailer Home on Wheels. Is this New Topic dead on arrival? Are MOST Travel Trailer owners casual RV Park campers? It appears that is true. Although YOUR Oliver is capable for remote camping and survival for weeks while finding help in any location. Can YOU help adding suggestions? We are Western Campers and WATER is always been an issue since explorers reached the Deserts. There are NO Wrong Suggestions. Sometimes having a battery operated Philips Screw Driver and Lath Screw saves... the day. 🙂