BoondockingAirstream

Thank you Randy. Raspy. This is exactly why I would like to compare trailers. Mike and Carol. Thank you, also. Sorry to say I do not tow my trailer over boulder fields and up to mountain tops for a view at 14,120 feet. That is more for tent campers, and I have done that in Colorado. Not with a trailer in tow. It is the... length... of a trailer that will get you into trouble. I call it the 'bumper drag queen' driving off a Service Station lot, which is most often mistake made by new trailer owners... or crossing a rut in the road and not understand the possible danger before you 'drag' your... bumper. The plumbing on the 'driver's side' of an Airstream is either behind the rear axle, or in front. Never had an issue. If you drive over brush and ant hills and not on the road... yes, you will have a problem, sooner than later. Newbies have this vision that Off the Grid means losing all Common Sense. There is more danger traveling on concrete and asphalt. Just misjudging the entry and exit to a service station can cost you a bumper, or a tight turn into the protection to the gasoline pumps. This is much more serious an issue than traveling a Forest Service road. It is a bit discouraging to get feedback from those who do not understand. I do not mistreat my wife, our two Blue Heelers, nor my Airstream. In that order. It is the fear of the unknown of those unprepared or not comfortable outside an established camp ground. That is understandable. The Airstream up to 25 feet and the Oliver up to 24 feet can travel safely on the majority of non paved roads. The only dings I have on my trailer are from rocks being tossed up, most likely loose gravel tossed off the paved highway by vehicles, passing me. For those who understand, we are one large family and purchased our trailers to enjoy spending more time away from humanity in comfort. The initial investment will be well worth it, and I wish all who do OTG Boondocking years of enjoying your tent or trailer.

Imagine your Oliver and our Airstream traveling together in... Wyoming, for instance. No National Park campground. No reservations. Leave whenever you want. No commercial camp host. No neighbors, but those you are traveling with. Camp outside a National Park on BLM open space, for a view that only a few have attempted. Or... just imagine YOU and your Oliver doing what, maybe 80% of trailer owners, do not dare to attempt. I know this is true among Airstream owners, a large percentage would never consider dirt, dust, gravel and unpaved travel as a proper way to travel. It takes one special couple, hopefully with a dog that enjoys hiking and exploring, as well. The BLM and Forest Service offices provide us with cold, fresh Spring Water and are happy to see you. ...and I rest my introduction. PM me if you like. Apparently that may be the best alternative. After this 'Adventure', you can post the photographs of yourselves smiling and being among the few. Also, bring a shovel.

The Oliver and Airstream have a lot in common. The Oliver may have an advantage with the straight axles, versus the Airstream torsion suspension. You would be surprised to see where 28 foot and 30 Airstreams camp. After 12 years of OTG towing Airstreams, I just might know what I am talking about. Twenty three foot and 25 foot Airstreams. The Tandem Axles of an Oliver may make OTG towing some extra clearance and flexible on uneven changes from level to double track road to campsites. If you have not watched a 'torsion axle Airstream' cross a stream bed... you may learn a few things. The Oliver II is 7 feet wide and the 25 foot Airstream 8 feet. The Airstream 23 foot is 7 feet six inches wide. If no one is interested. We travel well ourselves with or without company. This is not a Ford versus Dodge versus Toyota towing discussion. I have an interest in an Oliver and this is the best way to discover how each handle at places that we want to go.

No challenge of brands. This is a way for the Airstream and the Oliver to compare how we both do Off the Grid Boondocking. You may want to read WHY only one on one and why someone would have to be qualified. Anyone, towing a nearly 25 foot long trailer on Forest Service and BLM roads, off the beaten path, the other trailer owner had better know what they are doing and be experienced. The kind of places we camp, most trailer owners have not and most likely would not have any experience traveling. This is not to teach nor train another trailer owner. The Oliver is as capable a trailer as an Airstream. This an opportunity for me to see an Elite II, and the owner can experience remote camping locations in areas they have not been. Most Olivers seem to be found East of the Mississippi. I am taking my time, experience and knowledge to make this offer. But not just anyone is interested in exploring the geology, climbing and fly fishing. Those who have no interest. Fine. Those who might. We have something to discuss, but it would be also of interest to those that may be ready in 2019. This is an opportunity for someone. I do this every year. I am an expert. My towing requirement of another is that they have enough experience to enjoy the challenge of camping our trailers where most only wish they were capable and had the opportunity.

Sorry, my mistake. The Elite II is 23 feet 6 inches. I measured our '25 foot' Airstream is 23 feet 4 inches from front aluminum to back aluminum. The 25 foot is front of hitch to rear bumper, which is not 'living space'. I want to see an Elite II and the two of us can compare.

(Airstream 25 foot and the Oliver II 23 feet 6 inches- my mistake) This is my opportunity to meet the proud owners of an Elite II in the Western USA, Off the Grid Boondocking experience. Only two 25 foot trailers. An Airstream and an Oliver. This is Off the Grid trailer camping. No definite camp sites, although areas we have explored. No facilities at most sites. Just myself, my wife and two Blue Heelers and a couple owning an Oliver II in the Wilds of the Western Rocky Mountain, Great Basin areas. There is a very big... caveat. We are very experienced Off the Grid tent and now trailer campers. The Oliver II family need to be comfortable and experienced OTG Boondockers. Otherwise, the experience will be so foreign and a deviation to the RV Park and established campground setting, it will be unsettling to most trailer owners. You must be physically fit. Some casual climbing, no ropes. Fishing opportunities with a fly rod. Forest Service and BLM roads. It depends where the location is of this Rocky Mountain Rendezvous. I am a Geologist and amateur Archaeologist, Paleontologist, Mineralogist and metal detect for meteorites, rock or trash. This is more of an Adventure, than a camping trip to sip wine and dine out at restaurants in town. This has been tried with a group of Airstreams and found difficult, due to a wide range of interests and experience, being away from electrical hookups and flush toilets, lacking hot showers every afternoon. Some managed well. Others needed a personal guide. We found that a ‘one on one’ with similar interests and experience levels were perfect matches. You must have seven to ten days, maybe more if we get into an area of special interest, traveling in an area of common interest to both parties. This would be for the Summer of 2018. We are both retired, so flexible and in July southern Nevada is 110F at 2,500 feet elevation. We would be looking at 5,000 to 8,000 foot elevation camp sites. Warm dry days and cool ‘damp or dry’ evenings. You never know, when at Elevation. If there are any OliverII couples interested, then I will then toss out questions to understand your experience of OTG on this Thread. There is a chance that no one wants to take the offer. That is fine. We understand. Many OTG Boondockers prefer the peace and quiet among solitude, avoiding congestion, loud music and traffic. If there is interest, only ONE Oliver on this true Adventure. Explain your experiences and interests. You must be comfortable in places that I found many... uncomfortable and detached from being camped in places with fresh air, no posted signs, no people and wonderful views. Are there any takers? If so... this will be an open discussion. If this is successful, 2019 may be the next opportunity to meet and greet another Oliver family.

Our plans for Boondocking are by the moment and opportunity. Off the Grid Boondocking experiences are an accident, not a plan! There are open grasslands in the high country in National Forests for those who vacation away from the crowds. Commercial campsites in Wyoming want many multiples of the standard fare for three day minimums and the same with other areas within this band of observation on this arc. We... are going dry camping with our trailer and with luck, we will not miss this celestial event of the... decade, or is it the century? And please... do not wash your Oliver before the eclipse. You know it will rain, profusely on our parade! We will be looking for all of you in our travels. We are all 'Accidental Tourists' and love it! Thank you for giving campsite information. Not everyone has time to get lost in the forest and eat dust with their dogs. Live the Ollie Life while you can. Bring a map. Your Oliver has to go where you take it, not the other way around!

The sun and moon have a special moment for Oliver Boondockers on August 21st... a total eclipse route across a wide path of the USA. If you missed the Total Eclipse of August 7, 1869, and the July 29, 1878 total eclipse... shame on you. Do not miss this one with your Elite I or Elite II with the Total Eclipse in a photograph. Post the photo on the Forum for proof. We hope to be in Idaho for this one. Unfortunately we and our two Blue Heelers missed the previous two... for good reasons, of course.

I wondered myself when I first read SOB. To an Oliver Elite owner... all other trailers are SOB... Some other Brand. Danielewilderman may want to come up with his second post and WOT. Want Oliver Trailer... Tell us what you are looking for in a trailer. Looking AT a trailer is the easy part. Knowing WHY is much more important. I am sure the last couple posters can give you an... ear full. Right WOT's?

Routlaw... your choice in an Oliver and use, may be the best choice you could have made. Trailers are very complex to build. If Oliver insists that their product continues to high standards of manufacturing, and not motivated by the production numbers and bottom line... wonderful new Oliver Trailers will become more accessible for 'trailer tourism' comparisons. The Oliver may be among a large number of comparable trailers, but it is the Oliver employees who assemble this maze of components, wires, plumbing and quality control that make or break a company. Our 'Other Brand of 25 foot Trailer' is a 2014. We had a refrigerator exhaust fan and snap switch that were faulty, which I replaced at my cost. I upgraded our 15" wheels and tires to 16" wheels and E Rated Michelin tires. A few interior rivets popped and replaced with a non rivet screws. Some securing of cabinet doors and drawers the first year and today are satisfied. Aluminum gets dings from errant gravel thrown that the gravel guards protect 90% of impacts. The top front catches small gravel that other vehicles toss up and leave dings. Hail would also be a hazard for aluminum, as would be larger hail impacts to fiberglass. Fiber glass is much more economical to make repairs. As any Corvette owner knows... The 'star' impact and the 'crunch' are much easier to repair than aluminum. Oliver's and the SOB trailer I currently possess will have great resale value as a used trailer. Oliver was not even on my radar. Now it is. Trust me... when I can look closely at our SOB and an Oliver... it will be through the eyes of someone who makes use of a trailer. Quality is more than superficial. It is a spirit among employees and the company backing up anything that goes wrong during the warranty period. If this fails... the nostalgia of owning diminishes quickly. Oliver is a fresh, clean and stout looking trailer. Growing pains put pressure onto any manufacturer. The SOB has already found this out by some trailers not meeting expectations... and perfectly so that the buyer expects nothing less than perfection. We have had SOB's since 2006. The 23 foot and now a 25 foot. IF there is to be a change in our choice of trailer... the Oliver will be the first to be picked 'to death' for anything not meeting our expectations. Two fine trailers that can easily share the same space in time and place. Oliver owners... you are the best adverting for the company. Time will tell. Owners cut no slack in their opinions when things are going wrong and the company neglects to follow through. This is the fate to some trailers. Oliver has the highest marks and no doubt, will keep it that way.

Daniel... you cannot go wrong with an Oliver. The width. The value per square foot of floor space. The smart use and upgraded interior electronics are all great features... and I have not seen one in person. Yet. It is not unusual when a couple or family buy their first trailer to discover... it does not work for them. They may be lousy at towing anything. Their tow vehicle is not appropriate. The family likes the $150 a night hotel accommodations much better than living in a 'tiny home'. New buyers of a trailer discover that 'backing up is hard to do'. Some are totally frustrated immediately. There is no school for trailer towing everywhere, and it is not cheap where there are such options. Most trailers owned by a couple who have not yet retired have virtually no wear. What a windfall for someone who knows a good deal when they find one. Oliver is a company that can make improvements, if needed, or updates when technology is tested and is a good replacement for value... immediately. There are no thirty year old Olivers out there. They are all virtually all modern inside and out. The other brand is 8 to 8 1/2 feet wide. An Oliver 23 or 25 at 7 feet. A go anywhere trailer. The stationary 'tiny house' is not much larger than the 25 foot Oliver and not mobile. For those who want to travel the National Forest roads... you are among a small group of trailer owners. For those who camp only at RV Parks... you will fit anywhere. A win/win.

You might be led to believe that I really found Fort Robinson, Nebraska a vacation destination for adults and especially the youngsters with sugar highs from the TWO ice cream diners in Crawford! Two... and they are both generous with their mountain sized scoops! Turn them loose in the Badlands around Toadstool Park and let them burn it off. Your children, when adults, will also take their families. Our two daughters do and did. An Olympic indoor swimming pool with a high and low dive. I chickened out on the High Dive. It looks higher up when looking down... trust me, but try it. You can also swim out to a shallow pool that is outdoors. This is Big City Oliver Camping... The water is from the local aquifer and they should charge you for filling your fresh water tank. They include SHOWERS, as well at the campsite. College actors do melodrama during the High Season. They are very good. Where Crazy Horse was killed at the fort is now marked. I found two Indian Head pennies there when I was 16 years old. The gophers dig them up and toss the dirt into a pile... Craft school where the kids can make...well, some kind of art in water color and maybe fired clay. Check it out. A fine restaurant at the Fort is excellent. Tennis courts. Golf in Crawford. Agate, Nebraska has the Cook Ranch where Red Cloud and Sioux Indians would gather. The wonderful Agate Fossil Beds with a Indian museum with Sioux and Cheyenne leather clothing and accessories on display. As nice as Cody, Wyoming's Buffalo Bill Museum... but collected by the Cooks from the Indians themselves! If I missed something... please make a post to complete this Thread. When you are sitting outside your Oliver... at sunset, you can imagine how the soldiers felt when the Indians were on the war path. Oh... the fort was a POW camp for Germans in WW2. Many stayed in the area after the war. Cannot blame them at all. Above all... have fun. My last breath will not be 'Rosebud' the sled, but... Fort Robinson.

To an Off the Grid trailer camper... Boondocking could be parked at a WalMart or Costco parking lot over night. Or an established campsite without hookups is Boondocking to most, but not all. The term is very evasive for a firm definition. It is the experience of YOUR travels that will eventually define What is Boondocking. Some, as ourselves, use 'Off the Grid Boondocking' to indicate being camped where there are no facilities and only what your check list provided for this trip... put into your Oliver! Period and... someone else may even dispute this! You need a bandaid and did not pack one... next time. No pen or pencil... next time. Flashlight... next time. By your first year of camping in your Oliver... your list will be completed... tweezers? Get it on the computerized check list... you will need tweezers sooner than later! My wife has a FOOD LIST, a CLOTHES LIST and how much dog food will be needed for two weeks on the road. Each of us will have different needs and different lists. Tools for minor repairs. Batteries. A good book or... dozen. You get it. Enjoy your individual Adventures... and be sure to post your Oliver in locations that only the gopher or humming birds may know where you camped. Caveat: WEIGHT is not your friend when towing. Do not overload your Oliver or your tow vehicle. Your two vehicle will have its limitations posted on the doors side wall. Tire pressure is important. Avoid too much JUNK. Paper plates can be disposed and light. Plastic cups, versus glass that can break. Just... THINK Boondocking and you will do, just... fine.

Highway 20 goes through the southern edge of Fort Robinson. Traffic? There are more people shopping at your local WalMart daily, than vehicles driving through the Fort in a month! An Indian Pow Wow is held every year which brings many Sioux and Cheyenne to the west of the Fort. Could get the kids a bit concerned, as these are real Indians but there for the celebrations. Fort Laramie, Wyoming is another Indian Fort from the 19th Century with ruins. Laramie, Wyoming has what is left of Fort Saunders on the south side of town. Homes are built around the ruins. The fort's dump is on the east side of the road and in the 1970's you could find 1860's pottery ink bowls and bottles! If you like crowds and the main street of tourist vendor's... this is not for you. Wide open country where the climate can change every 24 hours. July is the hottest. Before and afterwards... your guess of climate changes quickly when traveling above 4,500 feet elevation. Follow the Oregon Trail through Wyoming. Open camping on BLM are to be found everywhere. The Oregon, Mormon, Pony Express is marked with easy to find monuments. "You are not only playing Frontiersman... You ARE living it!"

While viewing the Airforum website for Airstream Trailer owners, an interesting advertisement was among the mix. Oliver Trailers! Airstream owners and Trailer shoppers may find Oliver 23 and 25 foot trailers an excellent all around trailer. I have yet to physically look at an Oliver II 25 foot trailer over, but some of the interior photographs I have seen give the brand... a BIG plus in my opinion. The 'price point' is very competitive for an Oliver Trailer. The interest of Oliver Trailers is breaking out of the Special Group of Owners and into the general trailer market. The lengths are at the top of the 'bell curve' of most trailer owner's preference. Not too small. Not too big. Just... right. The width at 7 feet makes the Oliver an optimum Boondocking trailer, ON or OFF the Grid. The Airstream 23 foot is 8 feet wide and the 25 foot is 8 feet six inches wide. Fiber glass shell and insulation, just may, beat the aluminum shell with insulation to maintain a comfortable interior during cold, cool, warm and hot weather. Fewer leaks of the outer shell. Less expensive to repair fiber glass. White fiber glass reflects heat. No rivets in one of the two brands. Yes. I own an Airstream. It is a fine trailer. It holds its value over time. Oliver... is RARE... but getting attention of those who know trailers. Will the 'Big Trailer Manufacturers' focus on the Oliver as a coming... menace to their business? Be proud of your Oliver Trailer. I look forward of the day to Boondock Dry Camping with an Oliver for a great conversation and time Off the Grid. Be well, fellow trailer owners, and expect Oliver Trailers to BEAT the competition as to quality, meeting the highest standards. Competition may make produce more inventory, but quality is sacrificed. Quality is the best advertising a trailer manufacturer needs to be recognized as Number One in the Industry. It speaks louder to everyone looking for something... new, innovative, practical and affordable. A seven foot wide Oliver would make any narrow road cut... look, rather easy.

I am having a similar issue with a new Thread under General Topics. I went back, found the post and did a cut and paste onto an email, so I had the text saved. There could just be a delay, but when I hit Submit... it went blank. I have a Mac computer. Maybe that is the common cause...? Well... this posted right away. Lets see if an 'edit' is the problem. Nope. The edit works fine. Maybe it is the New Thread takes time. My title concerned Airstream and Oliver Trailers and still has not appeared under General Discussion... but shows I made the Post. It could be the... competition feeling the heat of an Oliver passing them??? ****It posted on this Thread. You know that A*******M is watching this Thread and taking cues from Oliver trailer innovations! ****Oops. It is now gone from this Thread. I tried.

While viewing the Airforum website for Airstream Trailer owners, an interesting advertisement was among the mix. Oliver Trailers! Airstream owners and Trailer shoppers may find Oliver 23 and 25 foot trailers an excellent all around trailer. I have yet to physically look at an Oliver II 25 foot trailer over, but some of the interior photographs I have seen give the brand... a BIG plus in my opinion. The 'price point' is very competitive for an Oliver Trailer. The interest of Oliver Trailers is breaking out of the Special Group of Owners and into the general trailer market. The lengths are at the top of the 'bell curve' of most trailer owner's preference. Not too small. Not too big. Just... right. The width at 7 feet makes the Oliver an optimum Boondocking trailer, ON or OFF the Grid. The Airstream 23 foot is 8 feet wide and the 25 foot is 8 feet six inches wide. Fiber glass shell and insulation, just may, beat the aluminum shell with insulation to maintain a comfortable interior during cold, cool, warm and hot weather. Fewer leaks of the outer shell. Less expensive to repair fiber glass. White fiber glass reflects heat. No rivets in one of the two brands. Yes. I own an Airstream. It is a fine trailer. It holds its value over time. Oliver... is RARE... but getting attention of those who know trailers. Will the 'Big Trailer Manufacturers' focus on the Oliver as a coming... menace to their business? Be proud of your Oliver Trailer. I look forward of the day to Boondock Dry Camping with an Oliver for a great conversation and time Off the Grid. Be well, fellow trailer owners, and expect Oliver Trailers to BEAT the competition as to quality, meeting the highest standards. Competition may make produce more inventory, but quality is sacrificed. Quality is the best advertising a trailer manufacturer needs to be recognized as Number One in the Industry. It speaks louder to everyone looking for something... new, innovative, practical and affordable. A seven foot wide Oliver would make any narrow road cut... look, rather easy.

We tried using a commercial pet folding walkway that would be about six feet long and maybe 18 inches wide. After one trip decided it was easier to move the crate with Heeler inside. Probably intended more for ingress and egress from a pickup bed with a topper. Some great options to select from previous well illustrated photogrpahs. Traveling Wyoming, Montana and western Nebraska it is not unusual to see working dogs standing on top of the tool boxes behind a pickup's cab while driving through town. Obviously not recommended for everyone. We have larger pet porters that do not slide in and out of the back doors as they are narrower. The 2006 Tundra had lots of back door width... the 2012 Tundra Crew Max not as much and the F350 Ford is even a bit narrower. Some day my back will say it is time to improvise... but until then, both Heelers curl up and like John, when we exit the highway they wake up and are eager to check out the new smells and sniffing. If people traveled this easy and let the dogs do the driving.

Wonderful options for dogs... and kids, alike. Since we stop for fuel about every three to four hours, our Heelers do well traveling. More for the wife, but we will leave that alone. OK? Our 2012 Tundra was easier for the Heelers to climb into and out into their crates. The F350 is higher and we will lower the crates to let them out. A real pain, but it is better than shoulder injuries from jumping down after being crated and curled up. Dingo, the Heeler you see on top, tore both of his ACL's, at different times, one year chasing Jack Rabbits in the desert. One ACL injury and then about three months later, the other when running with three legs in motion. After eleven months and no $3,000 to $4,000 ACL vet surgeries, Dingo is 95%+ himself and now resists chasing anything, to a point. His lesson learned the hard way. He was just a couple days from being put down for a 12 year old dog... I call him a Jock Dog as he always living on the maximum throttle of his physical... super powers heeling. Like I said, a working dog. #1: November 2015 #2: February 2016 Our first Blue Heeler was able to sit on top of the blanket covering the camping supplies. She would see oncoming traffic and would run in circles in the back of the SUV. Thus... the Dog Porter. Took care of that. And, much safer for any sudden stops, although a catastrophic stop it would have made little difference. Many dog owners do not realize that just a common ACL injury to a hind leg will cost thousands of dollars in vet bills. We love our Heelers, but they are working dogs and if they cannot...work, or pretend to be working, it is a life sentence they would not like. Far beyond being a lap dog. We worked with Dingo on his ACL injuries every day making him walk a short distance and increasing the distances over time. Today... unlimited mobility. We saved $6,000 or more, and he will live to be an old Dingo. They can also 're-injure' a repaired or healed ACL injury. When camping and hiking, these working dogs like to be along side us three to twenty feet or in front a distance, looking for trouble lurking in the brush or forest. Then return to make sure everyone is...keeping up. IF your dog suffers an ACL separation... have hope to work your dog through the injury. His muscles will atrophy if you do not work them. They leg or legs will shake and quiver from weakness. But... within a month we had him taking short hikes, yet his hind legs would quiver and lacked strength. Today... his muscle tone is back and no quivering. Even surgery does not guarantee a fix. We put him on pain medication after the first week... and the next day it improved his ability to walk. Now he is on half the pain medicine and soon... none. Photo is August 22, 2016 in the Medicine Bow Mountains, near Laramie, Wyoming. Thank you for listening. Someone following this thread might have found an option. We learned this ourselves. The vet's all wanted surgery without guarantees of any success. Sometimes, even ourselves can emulate our dog and get better. Today is a good day to start!

This is how we 'stack and pack' our two Australian Cattle Dogs, aka Blue Heelers. They travel in their Pet Porters on the back seat of our truck. This is their 'den' and they cannot wait to get into their own Pet Porter when traveling. Same when the porters are stacked in the trailer with limited space. One is the UP dog and the other is always the DOWN dog. Now we have one pillow under the dinette tale and the other in the hallway for evenings. The favorite spot is under the table, so the Early Dog gets the Den. What is your mode of transporting Dog(s), Cat(s)... or mice?

Just some For Your Information... The turning radius of the larger 2007 to current 5.7L Tundra pickups is TIGHTER, than the smaller 4.7L Tundra. You would think that the smaller Tundra would be able to make tighter turns, but even I was surprised that the larger Tundra was a big improvement! Better brakes, more power, better cargo capacity, heavier hardware... just a wonderful tow vehicle and local driver. It uses a 2" receiver. The F250 / F350 have the 2 1/2" receiver with the 'sloppy sleeve reducer to adapt a 2". The finish on the Tundra is superior to the Ford, at least to my 2016 F350. The doors of the Tundra seal out more dust. The Tundra's tail gate has a tighter fit, so not sucking dust into the back of the bed when you have a topper. Tundra resale for used vehicles is excellent. I would expect the Oliver trailer hooked up to a post 2006 Tundra to be an excellent combination. The weight at the hitch of the Oliver is less than a similar sized Airstream, from what I see on specifications.

The Tundra 5.7L is very capable and reliable tow vehicle. I have towed heavier trailers... but did not like the cargo capacity being at or exceeded once the trailer was loaded. Just something to mention. When I went from the smaller 2006 Tundra to a 2012 Tundra there was one small item not mentioned. The tail lights on the 2012 Tundra 'bulge out' and with the 'chain Equalizer' hitch at a sharp angle would make contact with the side of the trailer. At least with the Airstream. Learned the 'hard way', once and that was once too many. Even the tail gate can be an issue. I needed to rotate the Airstream hitch jack control box on top, so the post 2006 Tundra tail gate would clear. This may not be the case with an Oliver... but this may have been discussed on the Forum. A friend had an Arctic Fox 25 foot and discovered that the 2012 Tundra tail light broke through his fiber glass shell on a tight turn. When I told him about my experience... he admitted to his at the same time. We both felt... dumb, but his 2000 Tundra was his previous tow vehicle. Newer Tundra's, I do not know which year, changed to tail lights that did not bulge out. Someone may know. An Oliver may not be affected depending on the brand of hitch, but keep this in mind. My current Equalizer Hitch with the 1000# sway bars clear, with room to spare towing with the F350. Whew....

John... we can only dream of having one to six horse towing capacity. So much for emissions and comfort. I thought it best that I get some numbers from my two Airstream examples: 2006 Airstream Safari 23 foot (hitch to bumper) Double Axle- tongue weight 600# (aka hitch weight) 4,460# UBW trailer weight from factory + 1,540# NC cargo= 6,000# GVWR 2012 Airstream International 25 foot (hitch to bumper) Double Axle- tongue weight 860# 5,594# UBW trailer weight from factory + 1,760# NC cargo= 7,300# GVWR Back in the 1930's a single axle Airstream was pulled by the founder... on a bicycle. Obviously, not very fare, either. 2017 Oliver Legacy Elite 18 feet 5 inches Single Axle- tongue weight 375# 3,640# UBW dry weight from factory +1,360# NC cargo= 5,000# GVWR 2017 Oliver Legacy Elite 2 23 feet 6 inches Double Axle- tongue weight 420# 4,600 UBW dry weight from factory + 2,400# NC cargo= 7,000# GVWR Getting these numbers for Airstream vary considerably with options. Both Oliver trailers are probably very close to actual, unless you add more options... if possible. Just from searching the Internet for numbers, it appears that an Oliver leaves a lot more cargo load capacity for a 1/2 ton truck or a SUV for towing. With luck, someone with real knowledge has a tighter range of numbers. Finding empty weight numbers can vary... how much, you would really have to own the trailer and make an assumption that the GVWR is close. Many present and future Oliver owners want their every day commuting vehicle to be capable to tow their trailer. This is very... very important. When I was young, my 1956 VW was my commuter and 'camper'. I understand. Obviously my F350... beast... is capable of much more trailer than I own. This is the exception... from my experiences of being border line in cargo loads. But... the Oliver for the size and all of the neat, and I say NEAT... standard equipment, you can get away with a lighter tow vehicle. Just consider this before buying and expecting to pull your Oliver Elite 1 or 2 with a 1956 VW bug. Do your homework BEFORE purchase. Sometimes it is better getting the larger trailer first. You never have enough Oliver or Airstream if you are buying for the long, long term. But... look at it this way. There are very few Oliver trailers to be found USED. You will no doubt get a premium price, as NEW models get more expensive over time! If I were young again... lets say 35 years old would be perfect, what an opportunity for an Oliver. An Airstream is expensive in comparison and there are many available in the USED market. A middle aged couple are already catching on to what I am saying. If you are waiting for new prices to plummet or used trailer prices to plummet... wake up, these are 'tiny homes on wheels'. But, I guess, those looking for a fully equipped trailer can dream and compare the big boxes to the streamlined options.

Oliver's are bit heavier due to the fiber glass shell. But they are built on a frame, suspension and tires that will handle it through the plains of Texas to the toughest the Rocky Mountains can throw your way. Airstreams and Oliver Trailers have many similarities. Towing during a Wyoming cross wind and stability while being passed by 18 wheelers... is a big deal to most trailers... but not to ours. I have towed a 2006 23 foot Airstream, double axle, with a 2006 4.7L Tundra 4x4... with an Equalizer Hitch that used the chain to transfer weight from the Hitch to the Front of the Tow Vehicle. Never needed sway control... never. I would expect the Oliver 2 to handle no differently. Plenty of power, loaded or unloaded trailer. Just border line with cargo load maximums. I have towed the same 23 foot Airstream with a 2012 5.7L Tundra 4x4... with the same hitch used with the 2006 Tundra. It towed with ease and the larger Tundra only helped in the ease of towing, comfort and a slightly larger cargo capacity. The 23 foot after eight years was a pleasure to Boondock and travel across the western USA. We 'upsized' into a 2014 25 foot Airstream for three reasons. Larger refrigerator. Queen sized bed. Fifteen inch wheels which were upgraded to 16" Michelin LTX tires. The 5.7L Tundra towed this heavier trailer easily. The cargo capacity was always borderline, although had no effect on towing, power or sway using the Equalizer Hitch with 1000# bars for the heavier trailer. If you find the Oliver 1 wonderful... some day you will be finding yourself in an Oliver 2 for the same reasons. Oliver already has the 16" Michelins! The balance of the axles seems very well designed from sight. I see no reason that a 4.7L or the 5.7L Tundra cannot handle the slightly heavier Oliver 2. Since I have not towed a single axle Airstream, someone else may want to add their Oliver 1 experiences. Currently, due to the cargo limitations of the smaller 2006 Tundra and, even, the larger 2012 Tundra, I went to a 2016 F350 Ford 6.7L diesel and increased the hitch from a 2" to a 2 1/2" hitch shank to fit snug into the Ford's receiver. Cargo capacity more than doubled and total... over kill... but now have high mountain elevation towing capacity and am not limited in exceeding cargo load capacity, as with the Tundra's. I never had any mechanical issues with either Tundra. I never had any towing issues with either Tundra. This should be the same with your Oliver in tow. Having 4x4 truck options does make gravel and dirt roads in wet or dry conditions... easy. If you are 'flat landing'... you may not need 4x4, but in the Rockies... and going off the paved roads, it is almost a requirement. Having a Tow Truck pull you out of a muddy stretch of Forest Service road... once... would pay for the 4x4 option. Other tow vehicles and V8's with or without 4x4 can PULL an Oliver or Airstream easily. It comes down to the Cargo Capability. I prefer a longer wheel base tow vehicle that is heavier overall. The pickup truck is also used for local driving and can haul whatever I need. A SUV is great if you do not need to haul lumber or sheetrock. This is my experience with tow vehicles and towing. I hope the F350 Ford provides the same no mechanical issues as my Tundras. Others with other tow vehicles may want to describe their experiences. There is no right or wrong vehicle... as each of us have different reasons of owning two of America's finest trailers. When the Oliver population begins to expand... those of you with an Oliver will discover you have made the right choice. I look forward to the day that I can park my Airstream next to an Oliver and show everyone, camping in comfort is available to anyone.

Wikipedia U. S. Route 20- Plan a 2017 Oliver Adventure. Make NO reservations. Make NO plans other than if a place catches your interest... make those Custer Decisions that are immediate and totally... well, unplanned. YOU and your family will find this an adventure of a lifetime. "The '0' (zero) in an east-west United States Highway indicates that Highway 20 is a coast to coast route. It spans 3,365 miles and is the longest road in the United States." If you are adventuress and want to see the RURAL USA in its finest representation.... US Highway 20 is it. This is the very unknown 'Gateway to Yellowstone Park. Make detours to the Black Hills from Fort Robinson, Nebraska. Make detours to Northeast Wyoming to Devil's Tower, around the Black Hills to Sturgis, South Dakota before, during or after the Bike Rally. Caverns. Hot Springs. Mount Rushmore. Crazy Horse Monument. Gold Mines. The Buffalo Bill Museum at Cody, Wyoming and stay to the west at the Buffalo Bill Reservoir where you can camp... very reasonably. Make detours to Montana... The Custer Battlefield aka Battle of the Little Big Horn aka Custer's Last Stand. Headwaters of the Missouri River. The Yellowstone River and camp along the sandy beaches. Butte and its HUGE open pit copper mine that is 'green and blue' water sloshing around in it. Pan sapphires near Phillipsburg, Montana for a small fee. The Wisdom River south of Wisdom Montana and Boondocking in the National Forest... Idaho... my goodness. Just looking into the canyon cut by the Columbia River, Snake River... should be enough. The giant Potato Heads of Idaho... may be observed. Rank up there with the Easter Island Moai Statues. Well... not exactly as giant Potato Heads have not yet been discovered in Idaho... but you can look for them. Your Oliver should not be gathering dust from being parked. Take two weeks and be spontaneous. This is suppose to be an Adventure... not a RV Park $35 to $75 experience. Learn how to fill your fresh water tank on the road. Find dump stations. Visit each State's Welcome centers... and many have FREE dump stations or can point the direction to where they can be found. Do not follow the 99% of RV's and Trailers doing the same old stuff. Oliver's and their owners are... SPECIAL. A minority among true Boondocking capable Travel Trailers and should be used as one. Any fool can make reservations and camp with a hundred other trailers. Be proud of your Oliver and you will... once you get the hang of Base Camping and being spontaneous. If you can go six days Base Camped at minimal cost and relax at a full service RV Park... the money saved is WHY you have an outfitted trailer to begin with. Unless I am unique among trailer owners... which I hope not. Highway 66....? Not even close to a US Highway 20, which most is two lane and rural once in Nebraska. Although Highway 66 is more developed until you get into the Southwestern US... Highway 20 hits the small towns whose occupants are actually 'happy to see you'.