Outfitting our new to us Oliver LE II

[Tideline77]

Howdy

 

i have been lurking on this forum for over a year gleaning information from you knowledgeable folks ! Patiently preparing and learning

we recently acquired a very lightly used 2022 that the original owners had only acquired a few items to outfit the trailer.

they only used it twice,it’s just like new !

first trip is in the planning stages. 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 recreation.gov…….too many APPS and not prepared yet 

I never imagined outfitting a travel trailer could be so time consuming! I guess ADD has a deep grip on my brain

 😕 I hate shopping and I’m getting pretty lazy also .

with Black Friday coming up real quick I’m asking for suggestions on a few items….maybe we can save some coins on BF

i have searched and searched until my eyes glazed over 

So I am asking for suggestions

we need in no particular order

a truck bed freezer that will fit under a tonneau bed cover 19” max ( not too big )

an outside rug

chairs and table

 Volt meter

30amp and 110 pedestal testers

pedestal surge protector 

bulldog hitch lock……. …$265 for a small piece of iron pipe 🤔🤔🤔

inside trash can …

pots,pans,plates,silverware,knives

a good 10” wok for induction cooktop 

shower floor covering ? Dri deck or bamboo ? 
why is this needed ? The fiberglass floors feels good on my feet’……but the first shower hasn’t happened yet

A fuel can for generator gasoline

Plastic storage bins for truck bed and back seat for clothes and personal items

We  have Acquired coffee maker, water kettle, rice steamer,small space heater ………thanks to all of the information on this forum 

Any suggestions on this list of items is appreciated 

hope to see you out on the road soon and thanks for the wealth of information !

Edited Saturday at 02:39 PM by Tideline77

[dewdev]

Your list is pretty good. Although you might want to make sure you will use each item enough to warrant storing and taking them. Space is a consideration

Here are a couple of additional things that I always take:

- Small plastric storage bins for inside the pantry (take some measurements and look on Amazon) so your items stay in place while traveling

- Since you have a F150, Anderson No-Sway Hitch

- Anderson Levelers

- 3 Anderson jack blocks (to reduce the length of travel for the electric jacks)

- Camco Waste Tank (so you do not need to break camp to empty a waste tank)

- Some replacemnt fuses (check the sizes that you have in your trailer)

- Small electric Dehumidifer

- Tire changing iron to loosen the wheel nuts in case of a flat

- A second 30 amp power cord (and adapter to connect both cords) for time when one cord can not make the distance to a CG power pedistal.

- Two water hoses to connect to a distance water source.

-  TPMS system to monitor tire pressure and temperature while in transit.

- Trailer wheel chocks for use while disconnected from the truck.

- Maybe a RV GPS. The Garmin RV 890 is great. You can program your trip, find gas, find CG's and it will keep you off roads that have height restrictions. 

- Lubricant to pour down the waste and gray tanks to lubricate the tank valves

 

Welsome to the forum. Happy travels

 

 

Edited Saturday at 03:54 PM by dewdev

[Corvus]

Congratulations on your 2022 Oliver. I'll chime in on pots, pans and knives.

Check out the Magma line of pots and pans made for boating and camping. The 7 piece set nest together and fits in the galley overhead compartment. They are durable and we are very happy with how they perform.

For cutlery Victorinox makes a wide variety of affordable knives that perform well and they're durable.

When we were outfitting our Oli there were a few people that had an Amazon page with items they purchased for their Oliver. I can't find the links at the moment but hopefully someone else can and post them for you.

[Bob and Elizabeth]

Lodge cast iron has a 6.25 inch mini cast iron wok and a 9 inch. 

[Steph and Dud B]

My 2 cents: 

We've done fine with just the Norcold 3-way trailer fridge. It holds more than we expected. 

Harbor Freight has inexpensive multimeters.

We have the Progressive Industries 30 amp surge protector. It's an outlet tester, too. https://a.co/d/7r1GfAS

We have the Fort Knox hitch lock. A bit cheaper. https://a.co/d/2mTY5Z7

Trash can that hangs on pantry door: https://a.co/d/c1gUm5B

Agree on Magma pots, TPMS, and rubber chocks. Especially TPMS!

I'm too tall for a shower floor cover. We have a small mat that fits the shower floor. During the day it keeps dirt, etc. off the shower floor. In the morning, it becomes the bath mat.

The are other products reviewed on our blog. Have fun shopping. 

 

[Boilermaker Chemist]

I think you can probably eliminate the pedestal surge protector, you should already have a hard-wired  EMS (Electrical Management System) in your Ollie.

Since your TV is  a half ton PU, my advice is to carefully consider what you plan to put in the bed because it’s pretty easy to exceed your max payload capacity. 

I feel your pain on that hitch lock!

[Tideline77]

I overlooked  a few things

We are parked inside with the windows open in insulated building at our house and so far haven’t needed the dehumidifier, but I’m sure we will need it at some point

Natures Head, I got a little tiny trash can for the toilet tissue disposal and a sewer hose for dumping the grey tank came with the trailer

 

we have the Anderson leveling set but not the red buckets for the jack feet to land on

I plan to start out with marine treated rough cut 8x8 cut offs left over from a pole barn build  for the jack feet to land on , if I get tired of loading and unloading these substantial hunks of wood we can make the move to the plastic buckets

we also have the power cords and water hose with inline filter and the water pressure regulator 

 

the previous owner had a full collection of fuses in a plastic box 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
 

we have a big breaker bar and lug nut sockets along with some tools

Edited Saturday at 06:46 PM by Tideline77

[Boilermaker Chemist]

3 hours ago, dewdev said:

TPMS system to monitor tire pressure and temperature while in transit.

I second this suggestion. I installed the Truck System Technologies TST 507 TPMS on our Ollie and our previous TT.  Wouldn’t consider towing a trailer without this important safety equipment. Now on clearance for $149 at TechnoRV!

Edited Saturday at 07:06 PM by Boilermaker Chemist
Added information

[Corvus]

6 hours ago, Tideline77 said:

Natures Head,

Something I recommend over using vinegar in the Natures Head is a pet odor eliminator like Petzyme. Without getting into details I can tell you it has made a big difference in the hot humid Florida climate. This is not just a coverup deodorant the enzymes (urease maybe) do seem to make a difference. There are other brands but their fragrance was a bit too strong for us.

Edited Sunday at 01:05 AM by Corvus

[Mike and Carol]

12 hours ago, Tideline77 said:

shower floor covering ? Dri deck or bamboo ? 
why is this needed ? The fiberglass floors feels good on my feet’……but the first shower hasn’t happened yet

We have a round rug that fits in the square bathroom floor.  It stays there until shower time and then, like others do, it becomes a bath mat during showers for when you step out of the bathroom.  We’ve never seen the need for the fancy teak floor coverings.  They do look cool but seem like a bit of extra work.  Mike

[Tideline77]

9 hours ago, Corvus said:

Something I recommend over using vinegar in the Natures Head is a pet odor eliminator like Petzyme. Without getting into details I can tell you it has made a big difference in the hot humid Florida climate. This is not just a coverup deodorant the enzymes (urease maybe) do seem to make a difference. There are other brands but their fragrance was a bit too strong for us.

My wife Ying  can’t tolerate the vinegar smell so  I was planning on using some other product ! Thanks for the suggestion 

Maybe a little bit of simple green or crud cutter mixed with water and a drop or two of dawn might do the trick,or maybe fabulouso because it has a pleasant smell as do the citrus based household cleaners

we use these at home mixed in a spray bottle for cleaning showers, sinks, toilets………the smell is still strong but not as harsh as vinegar 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 10:37 AM by Tideline77

[mossemi]

We purchased an ICECO electric cooler during Prime Day's in 2023.  We also purchased a 100AH 12V LiTime lithium battery for an optional power source.  It’s not very big and it does fit under the tonneau cover as many of the electric coolers do.  It has proved useful over about 3 months of camping.  We recently used it during Hurricane Milton while the electricity was out.

Mossey

[Galway Girl]

We built this guide based upon 4 years of travel:

 

https://4-ever-hitched.com/ggs-blog/f/oliver-outfitters-guide?blogcategory=Camping+Equipment

 

Give it a look.

 

Craig & Rose hull 505

[jd1923]

On 11/16/2024 at 7:37 AM, Tideline77 said:

So I am asking for suggestions

Less is more, IMO. Go on a couple short local trips. Make notes of things you wish you had. Things you have you and didn’t use remove when you get home. Bothers me to buy gadgets that don’t get used. Recent trip to Texas, realized we needed a fly-swatter (not necessary in AZ). Stopped by Walmart and spent $1.49 plus tax.

All you need to get started are your basic bathroom and kitchen needs.

Also with merely a half ton truck and rather small engine, weight really matters, unless you’re not ever traveling in the  mountains! 🤣 I would keep your Oliver under 6400 lbs. We do so and we have a 3/4 ton TV. Understand your truck GVWR and stay well under. Again, less is more!

[Tideline77]

2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Less is more, IMO. Go on a couple short local trips. Make notes of things you wish you had. Things you have you and didn’t use remove when you get home. Bothers me to buy gadgets that don’t get used. Recent trip to Texas, realized we needed a fly-swatter (not necessary in AZ). Stopped by Walmart and spent $1.49 plus tax.

All you need to get started are your basic bathroom and kitchen needs.

Also with merely a half ton truck and rather small engine, weight really matters, unless you’re not ever traveling in the  mountains! 🤣 I would keep your Oliver under 6400 lbs. We do so and we have a 3/4 ton TV. Understand your truck GVWR and stay well under. Again, less is more!

Thanks

 You

 

Good advice to start out with bare minimum and outfit as you go

Adding stuff as you determine you need it.

 

 

I have done a fair amount of homework on the TV and weights but obviously don’t have everything dialed in yet

 

 

[Corvus]

5 hours ago, Tideline77 said:

I have done a fair amount of homework on the TV and weights but obviously don’t have everything dialed in yet

A little off topic but are you familiar with CAT scales? They only charge per visit so no upfront layout. A useful tool especially if you have some nearby where you can get weights for multiple configurations.

Edited Monday at 12:55 AM by Corvus
Inserted link

[ScottyGS]

1 hour ago, Corvus said:

A little off topic but are you familiar with CAT scales? 

If you just want to get a weight on your Tow Vehicle you can go to your local dump and use their scales for free.   Cat will give you front and rear axle and trailer.... very useful.  I'm pretty sure they charge about $15 for a weight and $5 for a re-weigh on the same day.  So, yes.. very useful to have.  They have an app for your phone too. 

Scotty

[Steph and Dud B]

On 11/16/2024 at 1:35 PM, Boilermaker Chemist said:

I think you can probably eliminate the pedestal surge protector, you should already have a hard-wired  EMS (Electrical Management System) in your Ollie.

This has been discussed in other threads but the advantage of the pedestal surge protector is that it's disposable if it takes a hit whereas the onboard unit will need to be repaired. Also, having one on the pedestal means you'll never be without protection. After a surge you'll still have the onboard unit to protect you while you wait for your replacement pedestal unit.

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, ScottyGS said:

If you just want to get a weight on your Tow Vehicle you can go to your local dump and use their scales for free.

Last summer after our first Oliver camp, when we returned I drove our rig to the Prescott “Solid Waste Division.” No Cat Scales anywhere near our mountain county, 50 miles from any Interstate.

I go there often to recycle engine oil and antifreeze. Just told the attendant the same, took a pic of the weight readout each time. Full rig was 13,220 lbs.

When we got home, I told Chris, we’ll unload tomorrow. Went back the next day, tow vehicle only.  Chris and our dog Charley was not with me next day so adding their approx weight and water used in the Oliver, the TV loaded came to 7,220 lbs. Net weight was only 6,000 lbs for the Oliver, fresh tank full.

I was so happy. We’ve added another 400+/- lbs to the Oliver yet still very good on GTWR. Our TV GVWR is 8,800 Lbs which gives us 1,580 available lbs. We’ve added some there too but still have 600 lbs available in the Oliver and 1200 in the TV. We also have 35-gal fresh tank full in the TV!

Everything runs nicely, tows up steep mountain roads with OD off smoothly at 55-60 MPH, happy with that. It’s an older diesel. We had a Class-C and we were always fighting the 14,000 GVWR.

[Tideline77]

If you have the 5.9 Cummins …….that one will run forever

this is an interesting video of a tear down

 

 

 

[Tideline77]

8 hours ago, Corvus said:

A little off topic but are you familiar with CAT scales? They only charge per visit so no upfront layout. A useful tool especially if you have some nearby where you can get weights for multiple configurations.

thanks

the local farm supply has a scale for weighing fertilizer trucks and cattle hauling trucks,other Ag commodities 

my background is in perishable food distribution so I am knowledgeable about truck scales,axle weight,etc

 

Edited Monday at 09:23 AM by Tideline77

[Patriot]

@Tideline77

Shortly after taking delivery of our 2020 LE2 we had a local shop install 10 mil XPEL PPF (paint protection film) on both front corners of our Oliver. I also had the LP storage area, and a strip run down under the quarter panels. It’s not a matter of if you will get stone chips on your pretty gel coat, from road rash and missiles, but when. 

With well over 25k on our Oliver I can say it was really worth the install, and has really protected the gel coat especially the front corners.

It’s not cheap, but neither is repairing chipped gelcoat and getting it to match.

https://www.xpel.com/

 

Edited Monday at 01:01 PM by Patriot

[jd1923]

7 hours ago, Tideline77 said:

If you have the 5.9 Cummins …….that one will run forever

this is an interesting video of a tear down

Thanks Robert & Ying! I have seen that video before. Like that guy. You can learn a lot about engines and engine care by watching his videos. He is soooo good at tear down which I have done on some old cars, but much more slowly!

Yes, we have the 2nd Gen Cummins 5.9, only 165K miles now which is only a baby for the Cummins (especially one that is 24 years old). We have extra available GVWR since ours is a 2WD which weighs less and a long bed which takes more weight. My numbers show a 1/2 ton truck is adequate if careful with your extras. It appears you are well versed in GVWR and trailer capacity.

Re the comment above on extra pedestal mount EMS... When you find the previous thread, you'll see I'm against that, yet most Oliver Owners are in favor. The onboard PI EMS is all you need. Ours and the older hulls did not have one, so I installed the OEM model. I put the display in the Oliver trunk where I keep the shore power cord. If present, I can read an error code immediately and disconnect if needed. It will not get damaged but just do its job and send an error code (rare occasion). If you use a redundant EMS, you're just wasting money spent on the internal EMS.

It's not just the few pounds of weight for me, it's the hassle of extra electric devices, water filters, antennas, and so much more that others carry. One of the fun parts of campsites (prefer boondocking) is watching all the rigmarole that RV'ers go through in their campsite setup! 🤣 

[jd1923]

@Tideline77 btw congrats on your lightly-used 2022. June of 2023, we found a 2016 obviously a bit more used.

Of course, you'll need a small Weber or other brand grill. We love our LP fire ring. I never want to start a real fire anymore and you rarely can in the SW. We add a cooking grate on our fire ring to cook bake potatoes or veggies, anything but animal fats. Why not keep yourself warm while cooking! We keep ours in the front generator basket: Heininger Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit 5995 - The Home Depot

You must remove the regulators on LP devices to run off the Oliver tanks. I purchased an extra 12' LP line and a Y-connector to attach both grill and fire ring.

Strongly suggest these Anderson products. I use two 8" rounds for the rear levelers but use the stackable 1" blocks for the front since to level sometimes I need 3" and sometimes up to 15". And the dual wheel ramps will nicely add 4" to the low side in a minute! Andersen Hitches Trailer Jack Block (3608) with Magnets, Red, 1 per Pack, Plastic - Walmart.com

Andersen Hitches Camper Leveler (3604) | up to 30,000 lbs | Red | 1 per Pack - Walmart.com

MUST HAVE ITEM! I get level most times without leaving the driver's seat. Chris places the Anderson levelers while I'm backing up, reading heights from the app: Amazon.com: LevelMatePRO LogicBlue Technology - Wireless RV Leveling System, Bluetooth Leveler for Campers, Must-have Accessory for Travel Trailers, Effortless Setup for Phones with App : Automotive There also is a similar product made by Beech Lane of North Carolina, though I prefer the LevelMate App.