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BoondockingAirstream

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Everything posted by BoondockingAirstream

  1. We have 'Fancy Wagons'... Solar, Propane, Water, Refrigerator, Rubber Tires, Leaf Springs, Windows that open and close... If what you have is not enough... for Oregon Buttes... Lander, Wyoming is north and has everything that Oregon Buttes did not have in the 1850's nor 2022. Nothing at all but... Peace and Quiet and a view to the west that is Olliemarkable. Try it.. you may like it and catch us snoozing...
  2. Everyone asks... "Where can we Boondock"? Well... maybe Oregon Buttes land mark in western Wyoming. But some Boondockers have needs....? - Need to have Restrooms? - Need to have Fresh Water, Showers, Hookups, Electricity, Dump Station and.... and....? Not here. Thousands of trailers and thousands of people traveled from Westport, Missouri to the WEST... some to Oregon, some to California and some just said... we like it right HERE. This marker had fallen over and my two Blue Heelers helped me set it... and some muscle. Ollie camping right below Oregon Buttes, western Wyoming. Off the Grid Boondocking just as if you were traveling the Oregon Trail. This area is south of South Pass City, Wyoming and a Wyoming Gold Town with... people living there. Look for this landmark on a map... or ask. You can become an Ollie Oregon Trail Butte Camper which is an eight mile County Road east of Highway 28. Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail, Continental Divide, Pioneer Trail... what more can you ask for? Maybe company camped with you. Warm days and Cool Evenings. Is Oregon Buttes difficult to get there? Well... if it were not... why even go? See that 23 foot Airstream. We did it the first time in June 2007 and go back whenever coming through. Rock Springs, Wyoming, Highway 191 to Farson, turn onto Highway 28 north and look to the EAST after 35 to 40 miles. You cannot miss it... If you made it to South Pass... you missed it. So sad...
  3. South of Kalispell, Montana is an outstanding State RV and Tent Park: Big Arm State Park (406=837-3041 to make a reservation). They also have Non Reserved, first come first serve campsites. You can end up right on the shore line of the Flathead Lake. They have water that is tested every day. Excellent water, as it is not City water... that has been run through the 'system' for processing a number of times. If they are FULL, ask if you can fill your water tank. There is easy access to the water system where the Boat Launch in located. The State Employees are the BEST... They also ride around in a small cart to make sure everyone is being... nice. If filling your tanks is not enough, have a short boxy five gallon plastic water jug. I put ours into old plastic Milk Crates so they do not move around or get punctured. Been Boondocking Off the Grid since 2006 in our trailers. It is Ahhhhhhh Wonderful! Traffic into Glacier Park can be... a headache. Just be calm, laugh and take your time. No need to use the Shower in your trailer. Jump into the Flathead Lake, clear water and gravel/boulder beaches.
  4. Dew... add some photographs. "Nothing in Comparison"....? Fresh air. Exercise. Great Boondocking... and the chance you may find something of value. ******** I found my small Sapphires and Garnet panning. These were from the first site which was on top of a hill, overlooking the Missouri River. What are these small stones good for? Something that some will know from using a well known product in a workshop (hint). Today... manmade as it is less expensive to make than using natural Corundum / Sapphire / Ruby Hardness of 9 out of 10. What is harder than Sapphire with a hardness of 10. These are found on the Colorado / Wyoming border, south of Laramie, Wyoming. Yep... and Union Pacific Railroad owned the property from 1867... from what I heard.
  5. Overland is.... Oliver Correct! Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico. Photos were taken May 2008. The Airstream is mine. The three days we were there, not one Park Ranger to be found. You are free to roam around and explore. This is not as good as Mesa Verde in Colorado... but a close second in my opinion. Been there twice. The North entrance was easier... Now... some clues. Sapphires and Gold panning along the Missouri River. Blue to Green Sapphires. At one time you could go and pan at the gravel quarry, but today you pay for a bucket of 'gravel' and pan for Sapphires. They are heavier than quartz, and easy to spot. The Sapphires were original found panning for Gold in this area. There is also a Mine in this general area. The local Home Owners get part of the Mining Claim, go into the open quarry and hunt Sapphires. They were famous throughout the World for the Deep Blue color. Many were 'heat treated' to get a darker blue. WHERE is this area, State. Which town is nearest? Have you Panned for Sapphires there? We did the Gravel Mine in the mountains when you could do it. Great exercise. Most of the Sapphires panned are too small to cut and facet. But... you WILL find Sapphires... Blue and Green. If you keep going UP into the mountains... you will see this sign. There are Gold Placers miles ahead. We did it with a 23 foot Airstream... no problem. But... this was over 15 years ago. Great camping in the Forest and our Blue Heelers helped...
  6. Where is this well known Archaeological Site... ? It is also a real 'hoot' to get there from the south entrance or north entrance. How were the roads when YOU drove to the site? Have you camped at the 'End of the world for the Anasazi'? Camping is Off the Grid with park facilities at the office. There is NOW water available next to the park office. You will need... two and even better, three days, to wander around. Where is this WONDERFUL site? If you know... what did you think about the dirt roads to the Site, the walking self tour into the ruins and the camping, having only what you brought along? What was OUR Opinion? FIVE STARS and Ahhhhhh. Wonderful. ' Stary, stary night'... at times telescopes are available form those coming to setup viewings of the crystal clear sky.
  7. This family is getting a lesson from the owner that also provided the tools to discover... this fossil in Utah. How OLD is this fossil?
  8. This is a common fossil found in Utah. It is found in the shale layers that are 1,000 feet thick. What is it?
  9. We have our trailer for one particular purpose... dry camping Off the Grid AND... looking for fossils, gemstones and whatever looks interesting on the ground. Often, when camping, something unusual catches your attention... no, not another Oliver. Or a tree laying across a National Forest Service road... but something that the local Geology produced and is now weathered out onto the surfaced waiting to be discovered. Sticking out of the grass, or most often weathered out of a rock ledge. When "something" is discovered, the finder may pick it up and wonder if I should just drop it and keep going. What's That? Is it worth picking up? Is it valuable? Does it belong here? Are there more of this things? Experience will immediately answer those questions after you have a large Rock Garden of... What's That? A Geologist is prepared to look at something, determine what it may or could be, make the decision to pick it up, write down the location, maybe take a photograph of that area. It could be attached to the mountain, or on the side of a limestone and shale outcrop. It could be in the middle of an ancient Caldera, like the active Yellowstone Park and have minerals and crystals formed millions of years ago and now weathering out. I am going to 'assist' those who are curious about Nature and the unlimited amount of undiscovered and now unknown... What's That? My wife and I have hundreds of miles hiking into the back country. We look around and tell you if the area is Sedimentary, Igneous or Metamorphic. Is there anything to be found... right there? The solid surface of the Earth erodes unlimited 'treasures' over a year or million years. Just for you to discover... and I will provide a beginning of a What's That and see if anyone also knows what it is. There is no right or wrong answer... as we are just beginning to understand. For those who have a What's That laying in the garage or on a table top... take a photograph and say Where it was found and the kind of Rock it appeared to be. I am offering the first and lets have some fun, understanding that there is an Unlimited Supply to discover. If not picked up... it will be reburied or weather to dust.
  10. Oliver is the exception. The reputation of Oliver is survived by those who own and owned an Oliver. I have only touched an Oliver II for less than twenty minutes south of Ouray, Colorado three or more years ago. This impressed my curiosity and interest in the Oliver Brand. Plenty of Airstreams being reconditioned by Airstream Dealers and not local dealers. Locally on Craigslist there are 321 listings... although some are Dealer multiples. There is a lot in my town with Boats, RV's and Trailers... no Olivers or Airstreams. Even though Oliver Trailers are among the hard to find for resale, they are still being manufactured and evolving to modern technology and the demands. SOME but not ALL Trailer Customers are interested in Full Electrical RV's or Trailers.. The market of Trailers for sale near me will be seriously impaired by the cost of Gasoline and Diesel fuels for the tow vehicles. It may be temporary. Or not. This may continue or change as fast as the Oil Market was altered to favor 'clean electric sources of power'. Even Lithium Batteries have a very interesting transition from Ore Deposits to Lithium Battery. I was very surprised as to the Lithium supply system. Some percentages of buyers of Airstream and Oliver Trailers discover that there is more to owning, towing, maintaining and expenses traveling. RV Sites will be charging more, especially for those needing high amperage electrical hookups. This will come as a 'surprise' to New Trailer Owners... that never considered incidental costs, insurance, license plates and tow vehicle needs. Have you noticed FULL Other Brand Dealer Lots? I have. Used and New. Some Dealers are buying late models and cleaning them up for sale on the lot to get TOP Prices for used trailers. Dealers seem to be buying their own brands from the public to resell on their Lots. There now seems to be a Glut for sale. Has anyone else experienced or noticed? I am in the Las Vegas, Nevada area. Much like the rush to pay top dollar for a used home today... I have seen this before. You sell, but what you pay for replacement... is higher. Then the market is... flooded with homes for sale. The Glut. Will this be the fate of only Some Other Brand of Trailers? Will Airstream and Oliver demand and prices drop once production resumes... in record numbers? Your guess is as good, if not better than my expectations. Living through the 1970's was an eye opener for a young family buying BEFORE the hype and bust. Will the RV and Trailer Industry discover that the market has changed? No Oliver 1's & 2's... but anything Else... plenty to go around.
  11. Impressive photo of the Narrows... even more so looking down! Yikes... This year there were several Flash Floods this Summer... if you see any chance of rain... do something else. There are Slot Canyons at Zion, but also near Kanab and other areas of sandstone erosion. Some are very narrow and you have to squeeze through. Top 10 Slot Canyons of Utah is a good place to search. A United States Geological Survey professional paper 220 of Zion Park that has everything you would want to know and maps... copies are always for sale on the Internet and no doubt some to load onto your lap top computer. A photo of people in these Natural Wonders are always fun to see. Post more. How about Angels Landing at Zion? The FIRST time... you will not forget. 🙂 Oh yes... been to the Black HIlls and seen the Mountain of Bicycles?
  12. I do not how to Edit a post after posting to correct grammar, make a correction or add a sentence.. I am a bit new at posting. I am a Neanderthal. I wanted to add... many say an Airstream is not meant to travel off the asphalt road. I would hope that Oliver Owners do not believe the same. One advantage I wanted to ADD to the single and double axle conversation. Changing a tire on a double axle is very easy. Also when crossing a dip, the double axle is superior. Next time you see a single axle Boondocked, as about Bumper Drag. Airstreams, the longer the trailer... the more chance of Bumper Drag. That is why an Oliver has an advantage... length.
  13. Boondocking Off the Grid with a single axle has more chances for "bumper drag" than a double axle. This is out of a Service Station or a Boondocking road. Experienced Boondockers in the Rocky Mountains that get into NFS and BLM and County Roads... 4x4. Experience is learned over time. Common Sense is more important. You either have it, or you would like to. It is not taught in a classroom. The Van in the ditch... was not towing the Kubota. Tire pressures vary. Tires. Load. Tire ratings. Maybe rated to 80psi... but the trailer manufacturer advises.. otherwise. You learn by experience. It is a debate that goes on and on and on.... Common Sense is a form of Air Pressure, as well. Take a bicycle. Says 90psi, put in 35 psi. You will have no argument that HIGHER is better in that example. Trailers and Tow Vehicles are no different. Want to travel on 45psi or 70psi or 80psi... each individual will find a comfort zone. My trailer is different than yours. I haul different weights off the Grid. A C Rate tire is not a D rated tire is NOT an E rated tire. Tire pressures are the least understood trailer issue. Then comes Hitches. Then comes Tow Vehicles. Then comes... who is going to pay for all of this? Not me, I hope. 🙂 I have Michelin Tires on our F350 Diesel 4x4 and 16 inch E rated tires on our current 27 foot Airstream. Work for ME. I cannot judge nor push my preferences on others. The Airstream had 15 inch wheels and tires. I sold them immediately and always gone to 16 inch E Rated Michelins. Not complaining. I am a Neanderthal with a thick skull and learned that Tires make a difference where we travel. It also helps if you are a good driver with good eyesight. I would really, really, really enjoy doing an Off the Grid Oliver2 Boondocking Trip. A Private Message would work. We OTG from the Mexican Border to Canada. We want to see an Oliver2 up close and enjoy a great camping experience in the process. This is Off the Grid, dust, uneven roads possible and maybe get to a point where... this is the END of the ROAD for a trailer and set up camp. Life is short. Today is one less day to try something... new.
  14. I am a Geologist. I find our way into Remote areas and out of them. This is something I did since tent camping with a Driver's Permit. I use old fashioned... maps. I find them easier to navigate a quarter mile or twenty miles to the Northwest... in seconds and know a route while doing the search. I am a Neanderthal. My wife actually has her finger on the map while moving and announces what is coming ahead... We update road numbers and X bad road. Many times, the area is not a place we want to set camp. Good camping spots are not everywhere and easy to find. Hunters often keep their campsites secret. Yep... Technology is great... for some. This year we met a Boondocker in a trailer who would come to a Boondocking campsite, take some photographs and list it on a website for all to see... and find. Not great, as now this location is known to all and may become very crowded. For those who want to find a known location, this is an excellent method to find popular areas. Since we have a trailer for Off the Grid Boondocking, discovering campsites we find interesting is a 'hobby'. I gave up Cedar Breaks, Utah as this Internet connected at the Off the Grid site had Internet access, since there is a Ski Lodge in the area and a community, Duck Creek, Utah. A DeLorme Atlas of any western state with 'public lands' marked sure saves us trouble looking or scrolling on a screen. Yes we do have a GPS navigation system, as our 2019 F350 has needed a chip(s) in its navigation system since NEW. The excuse... they have no chips for the repair. Warranty has now expired. 😞 We do match our GPS System screen with our DeLorme or United States Geological Survey maps (1870's to 2000). Do not depend on GPS as roads and numbers may not match with a USGS National Forest Map. When we set camp, we get a GPS coordinates and Elevation from our GPS Watch... Garmin. Also have a Garmin GPS in the vehicle... since the Ford's does not work. Thank you Ford... We REMOTE Boondock. Dust... ha ha. We love to eat dust. If we do not leave a trail of dust behind us... we are on the WRONG ROAD!!!! Never been lost. Never do stupid travel like a Baja Dune Buggy, either. I know a BLM Hydrologist in the Rockies that uses hand held devices that are accurate to fractions of a foot. He loves... maps. Paper ones, too. There are many Trailer Owners who do not leave the hard paved roads. That is fine with us. Leaves us with more options! We did not buy a trailer to park at a RV Park, when we can camp in the mountains or high country and SEE the crowded campground in the distance. When someone says electronics are the best thing ever to navigate into the back country... I have not met them. Sorry. Those I have met are most comfortable with others near by. We were taught in Geology to navigate with a Brunton Compass and a map. Now with GPS, we use it, but do not carry a Lap Top gathering agates, gemstones and gold panning. A Garmin GPS watch is the BEST system we have. The rest is preference to those who may not be camping near us. 🙂
  15. We dry camped this year in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota and a few over nights in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska this Spring, Summer and Fall. No restrictions and 'wide open' for hikers and outdoor people in general. The Air was fresh, cool and brisk! A couple camped in Utah at 10,000 feet were staying inside their trailer wearing face masks. They never left their trailer. We found everyone was enjoying the outdoors and not concerned about what City Folk were fearing... no body. Had lively discussions about camping and how to find great camping spots. Known or undiscovered places. Smaller towns had a sign asking you wear a face mask. Many Service Stations did not in some less populated areas. It was hit and miss this Summer. Campsites... no Covid fears. Bow hunters... no Covid fears. Fisherman... the same. It was a wonderful experience getting out and feeling 'normal' again. If you are planning to Boondock in the NFS and BLM or State Lands... it was wide open in the Rocky Mountains. We laid back and aaaaaaah.... 🙂 Planning a Western Adventure? No congestion of campers... the trailer crowd were at RV Camps. The public lands were wide open during peak season. It was a pleasant surprise that we were all... alone. Popular areas like Cedar Breaks at 10,200 feet in July & August, just east of Cedar City, Utah had 80% vacancy in the trees and in the wide open spaces. It snowed and hailed one day... in August by Duck Creek. Enough to cover the ground for several hours. Anyone who says the RV Parks were crowded... they missed out on the wide open trailer accessible dry camps. Those who manage to be comfortable Off the Grid... do not Plan to go out West into the Rocky Mountains. Just... GO and be the 'accidental tourist'. We have done it since 2006 and return to many of our favorite campsites... never to be disappointed that the area was full. We even got a Daily Campsite on the west side of Flathead Lake in Montana... by just driving up and had NON Reserved spots available... for people like us. No Plan. No Reservations. No worry... Try it. You will become Young and Ambitious Boondockers. After a few attempts learning how to manage at the worst spot in nowhere... it is better than having neighbors within five feet of you camped! Any day. Even Meteor City, west of Albuquerque, New Mexico... was great. Blue Heelers, too.
  16. The Blue Toyota is towing a 23 foot Airstream. The maroon F350 a 27 foot Airstream. The 23 foot Airstream is the shortest double axle and like the Oliver II, it falls into the 23 to 25 foot Airstream range. Our 27 foot will go to ALL of the locations our 23 and 25 foot managed. If we can do it, you can do ANY.
  17. An Oliver I or Oliver II can go anywhere your Tow Vehicle has clearance. The Oliver II with the double axle is the most Boondocking Positive 'Luxury' Trailer on the road. Or Off the road. The Rocky Mountains States have thousands of FREE Boondocking. Minimal Cost at National Forest Campsites with a table and an 'out house'. Sometimes water from a pump, or a river nearby. Although I would use the Pump Water for washing and pet water... as it can contain sand or grit. It is the best tasting water available... and no chlorine. If you have 16 inch E Rated Tires... 65psi to 70psi is advised. I use this range on our 27 foot Airstream. Also the 25 foot, which is very close to the Oliver II. Many 'dry camps' are used by big game hunters in the Fall... and open for YOU the rest of the year. Bow Hunters tend to stay in town and drive out in the morning to hunt. They also use ATV's for the short time to hunt. The first time you explore the NFS or Bureau of Land managed public land... it is often vacant or other campers. As you get closer to a large town or city... more weekend campers. So find your spot on a Monday to Thursday. 🙂 Great camping spots are found by those who think strategic options on improved gravel and dirty roads. When you are traveling... and need a place to spend an evening... truck stop service stations are great for the evening. Even those Service Stations with lots of parking, if you are considerate and keep away from incoming customers and away from trash pickup, air pressure and dump stations. We have never had an issue. Those who 'camp out' at a Walmart or a Costco, set up a grill in the parking lot, some lounge chairs, a rug... will most likely look like you are planning on staying. This is why many larger parking lots have to ask YOU and those living for free on their property as asked to leave. They cannot ask someone to leave living there, but let you stay as you are temporary. Casino Parking Lots with trucks... is also a good temporary Boondocking site. Often many players come, stay in the Parking Lot and go into the Casino. Smaller Casinos in Nevada towns... welcome overnight campers and visitors. Get a Casino Card also... Don't know where to camp in the National Forest? No worry... see an interesting area... and an exit heading that way... explore. Go as far as you feel comfortable. You will get more comfortable over time. We find one spot... set up camp, and then detach the tow vehicle and go further into the mountains or hills. Make it an adventure. The first week you will be learning. The second week... you will be giving others... ADVICE!!! Just learn the clearance of rear bumper DRAG. Watch for brush alongside the road. Low hanging branches. Rocks in the road...toss them to the side. Bring branch long handled cutters. You will gain confidence, add a shovel... some tools... a GPS and take a camera. To recall all the wonderful places you... discovered! If our Airstream can do it... any Oliver can. We are planning on finding an Oliver II to explore the Rocky Mountains. They are hard to find, but we are patient. Enjoy your Oliver. You just have not pushed YOUR Limits... your Oliver can handle anything YOU can with your tow vehicle. We look forward to discovering an Oliver far into the back country. We will have stories to share and good company is always appreciated.
  18. The majority of trailer owners who own a trailer capable of Boondocking off the grid... have no idea how to find or locate a Boondocking Site. Western States were once defined as being west of the 100th Meridian. These States have the majority of 'Public Lands'. These are Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Forest System (NFS), State Lands (usually School Section 16 in each 36 Section square miles and of course National Parks, Monuments, Historical Sites, etc. Boondockers looking for Public Lands have some very good references available. The most detailed are those sold by the United States Geological Survey as Quadrangles. Some outdoor sporting shops sell them as well for local needs. These are for very detailed maps for small areas. For myself, I find the Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer very handy for States we are exploring. They will indicate in colors various land ownerships. City, town, Indian Reservations, BLM, NFS, School Sections and Private Property within public lands. The scale on most are one inch covers 4.7 miles. Some vary and the scale is printed on each map. Roads are consistent as to Highway Interstate and State, County and all season, improved and unimproved BLM and NFS to jeep trails. After exploring an area, you will understand there are differences from those who mapped New Mexico and those who mapped Wyoming. So... experience is learned by actually doing some unplanned side trips. These 'side trips' are where you set up a Base Camp with your trailer and drive further into a remote area to discover those... hidden Gems that you may visit often over time. Often campsites in public lands are marked on a map. One may be displayed on the map, but ten may be located on the way. It appears to be random, but if marked on the map, the campsite may have a water pump and a pit toilet. Some have a picnic table. Some have... nothing but pullouts with gravel. An Oliver can manage about any of these easily. Once a trailer is longer than 25 feet it becomes more difficult as these older camps are intended for smaller trailers used before 1980... or 1950. Often there are 'hunter camps' that have open areas that the largest trailers can easily move around and find ample room for one to twenty trailers. Experience is 'King'. There are Geological State Maps sold by each State if you are a rockhound. The BLM and NFS sell maps of their area offices and sometimes in the general area with their road marked with a number system. The longer the number, the worse the road... kind of plan. At times the smaller roads no longer have a sign. It fell apart decades ago. But, still the maps are very handy. Always mark your camping spot on the map. We add the elevation, as well. Describe the location and if you liked it... or did not. It can come handy if you want to quickly stop on a trip through the area years later. We use our previous locations, frequently. Some locations we revisit often. What are your map preferences? How does it work for you? Has a map taken you to lakes, rivers and creeks that you would have not visited? Early explorers recorded their travels before roads and maps. They made accurate maps and sold them to those wanting to travel west. Much like the Oregon Trail... many discovered better routes and sold maps. Technology has improved maps. GPS is wonderful... if you recorded the location for future reference. Great for get togethers and reference.
  19. KenB... driven Land Cruisers since 1978. Missed the 'jeep' styles as I could not afford them while at the University... so had a 1967 Bronco 4x4... which today is a 'collector's item'. Wow. Do I feel... old. Still have our 2008 LC and going strong. The straight six LC engines... the heads were prone to crack. Although easy to remove, have it repaired, gave both heads a valve job and sold it with 248,000 miles some time later. A bit under powered for towing, as well. Bill and Bev were towing with a white F-150. They said it pulled the Oliver with ease. Sometimes trailer owners are afraid to discuss the nit picky items that need tweaking. The drawer locks that have the plastic hook attached to the back of the drawer with the snap installed into the cabinet backing... work until the screws become loose from traveling. The locking mechanism get damaged, or is closed when it should be open, or a screw comes loose, falls out and the piece rotates making closing the drawer... difficult. This is my Airstream Experience. The RV shops want more than they are worth for a new one. (Yes... I am tight.) Enjoy Ouray. There is a Boondocking pullout to the south on Highway 550, on the south side about ten miles. You will see a 'lot' of trailers in the woods. Just cruise the lot and find a spot to fit. Great company. Quiet, even with 50 or more camped. Free camping with a Forest Service restroom.
  20. In our two Airstreams... nylon rope to secure drawers, clothes closet, wood dowels set into grooves to keep sliding overhead cabinets from opening and dumping, bathroom sliding doors secured with dowels to prevent toilet paper rolls escaping and unrolling... although the 23 foot Safari had a 'push button' on top to secure the tall and heavy pantry goods cabinet. The majority of trailers have 'house hinges'. The vibrations of the road will 'unscrew' the small threaded hardware and mayhem can be profound. Look at it this way. An earthquake not long ago in SE California was 7.1 magnitude. Massive... damage at the center of the shaking. OK, 7.1 magnitude. Olivers and Airstreams can have 9 magnitude quakes just turning into a service station from the curb! Tow our trailers onto Forest Service and BLM roads... these 'Towing Quakes' need a new scale as 10 is the maximum for a quake in your home. Totally destruction to a home, a town... a city like the earthquake in San Francisco in 1906... a magnitude of, only 7.9 creating natural gas line breaks, fire and misery. None of this is covered by warranty... I suppose. We used: Longer screws from the hardware store. Nuts and bolts to secure cabinets. Piano hinges where possible on larger doors. We installed swivel latches screwed into cabinet drawers as if you have young children wanting to break into the flatware drawer when you are not looking. It did not enhance the appearance of the interior, but why have expensive drawers that fit only this trailer decompose while refueling? IF a travel trailer can be made to handle ANY road without becoming unscrewed... unhinged... it would be the first. Oliver is close from what I have seen. Beauty is only skin deep. Durability is the difficult part to reach once a travel trailer begins to... move. Stationary, like a house trailer... who cares. Once you begin to move down the highway a 'travel trailer' should be able to take a 9.0 earthquake and more. A 'Seismic Test' should be preformed on ALL Brands of travel trailers. Mount ONE from the factory onto a surface that is set on a system that can test the endurance at a range to be determined by some devious testing agency employees. Give it a rating. Sell what is left over of the tested sample for parts. Put a sticker on the side of the door other than meeting current trailer standards... which for most are very... low. I say barely existent. "Built to resist most Earthquakes." What do you 'shakers' say? If houses built to resist earthquakes are shaken apart... why use the same hardware in our trailers? Oliver... ONE real weakness was the overhead cabinet hinges using two small screws into the fiber glass. The rocking and rolling enlarges the holes, the screws fall out and will no longer secure the hinge. Possibly a metal strip needs to be inserted between the hinge and fiber glass to secure the screws... forever. Although, John Davies may have already solved these issues, already. Had the Lunar Landings been built to the standards of our home... it would have never happened. When we sold our last Airstream... the young couple who purchased it... may want to take it to the Moon. It was ready after five years of tinkering.
  21. My words appear to be 'kind', but are the honest opinion of a travel trailer owner. Had my opinion been less than honest about my observations of the Oliver II, I would have mentioned them. But... you and I agree. It is just a matter tweaking an excellent trailer. Time will be the judge. One name that came up in our discussions was John E. Davis. I recall. He is the gadfly that gets Oliver Owners to think. Often, most owners prefer to talk about issues, and few want to step forward and present issues in a way that improvements can and possibly be made. Good to hear that others on the Forum have also brought up the issue of non locking drawers. That was the only issue we found that should have been 'fixed' models ago. Airstream... probably never going to happen. Gee... thanks for adding your response. I was not expecting to find anyone interested. At the moment, the only thing I love better than my looking over the Oliver II is... my wife Nancy.
  22. An interesting thing happened at nearly 10,000 feet elevation, cold, wet and drizzling... I spotted an Elite II Oliver southeast of Ouray, Colorado, just off of Highway 550. (Highway 550 to Ouray and keep going south is the ULTIMATE towing experience. Up the Pass or, down.) Bill and Bev were the perfect hosts when a stranger asked through a window if... 'can I look at the exterior of your Oliver'? A voice within said... "sure". After owning and Boondocking with a 23 foot and a 25 foot Airstream over 13 years, one becomes interested in what other trailers are out there that are comfortable, durable and capable of Off the Grid Boondocking. Nancy and I sold our 25 foot Airstream about six months ago and went back to tent camping. Much like going from tent to a trailer was drastic. Going from trailer to tent camping... well, is even more drastic, but we can manage about anything. Was I... impressed. The physical Oliver is even nicer than any photographs. The sleek fit of interior components. The lighting. The very solid flooring. The counter tops. The thought that designed the exterior, suspension, 16" tires, leaf springs... This was the start. Beverly gave my wife the tour of the interior as Bill and I chatted about how each of us felt about our trailers. Bill had fewer issues with the Oliver. Lets leave it at that. For a couple and a dog or two... the Elite II contained everything one would need for an Off the Grid comfort while Boondocking. The double Solar Panels and four marine batteries were... a big bonus as an option. The one 'glaring' issue for Nancy and I were the sliding drawers. Beautiful durable finish, dove tailed, easy glide self closing BUT, like the Airstreams... no secure way to prevent them from opening when rocking side to side. We had to improvise how to secure the Airstreams hinges and drawers ourselves as nothing exists. Although the Oliver has very few drawers... just a button to push to release and pull out would make the interior perfect and secure. The 'piano hinges' were great for larger doors as standard. There could be some changes, how I do not really know at the present, the shower/stool arrangement. Space is at a premium which makes the Oliver unique. Nancy and I showered... often... with the exterior shower. We also had a small shower tent in areas where more than the bear and the antelope are our only neighbors. Those sliding windows... great and double pane. I would not be surprised that Olivers will come in more than... white. Much like Corvettes and Shelby Cobras. A few days camped in an Oliver would provide us with more to comment... but I am sure Bill and Bev would not enjoy sleeping in our Tent for a couple days! No argument there. A wonderful trailer. Wonderful owners. An impressed experienced trailer owner looking over an Oliver. My comparison. Oliver's are the Pearl of travel trailers. Airstreams's are the Platinum. Both occupy #1 OR #2 in the travel trailer hierarchy. Time will tell from happy owners. If I were in the market for a travel trailer for Off the Grid Boondocking or comfortable RV Park experiences... the Oliver II would be getting that second look, after owning the only other travel trailer able to compete for which is best. One has the edge and Bill and I know which...
  23. Congratulations! I am anxious to hear more about your comparison shopping with an Airstream. After 12 years Off the Grid Boondocking with two Airstreams, a 23 foot and currently a 25 foot, we are waiting to see our first Oliver in the Rocky Mountain West. After eight years we had 'Boondocked' the 23 foot Airstream to handle National Forest and BLM roads and wash board road vibrations with hardware upgrades ourselves. This is currently being done to our 2014- 25 foot Airstream. This time 'piano hinges' to cabinet doors that use hinges that vibrate loose on mountain roads. You have an excellent Tow Vehicle with the 5.7L engine and solid transmission. When near Boulder City, Nevada... I sure would like to get a... peek.
  24. Great Boondocking... sort of... experiences to offer. If everything else fails, a compass and good map can get you started in the right direction. We were a bit disappointed with Canyon de Chelly. After Chaco Canyon... and Mesa Verde it is tough to stand out. Several great 'Indian Sites' in New Mexico worth visiting. Also... so many Pit Houses at some Boondocking locations in New Mexico, you are walking among ruins and may not notice you are in the National Forest and not a National Park! This one photo is a bit tight for an 8 foot wide trailer. An Oliver would have no problem at all.
  25. Overland... great photographs. If this does not convert several RV Campground campers for this Summer... nothing will. Campsite photographs are welcomed. Some additional incentives for those who are on the... edge... of going OTG this year.
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