Made my decision …

[DanielBoondock]

Hello,

   I’ve been on the forum for some years and I’m closing into retirement and making my decision. Started with Ollie years ago, drifted over to the Escape, then Bigfoot camps as I thought the Ollie too expensive, small and overbuilt. Now with the tariffs I was forced to reconsider them as they are US based, and realized it was for me. Escape 23 is pretty expensive now for what you get. Bigfoot length/width was silently bothering me for handling, plus the old school decor isn’t great. I toured one, a big issue is interior height. My head brushes the ceiling and I barely fit in the bathroom. I’d have to crouch to shower. Plus I’d have to do a bunch of mods, they don’t even offer lithium, and the tongue weight pushes the limits on my TV. 

   So with the Ollie I’ve got the interior height I want. The size is fine for a couples camper, plus an easy to tow and park size. Especially with the Black cushions it’s an elegant interior. Finally, I’m retiring from engineering and don’t really want to DIY. Done enough engineering projects in my time, once you start you’re never done 😅. The Ollie is the only one that comes exactly as I want. So I’ll be placing an order later summer

• Platinum twin
• Composting
• Street awning 
• Platinum batteries (more than I need but might as well, plus I like the integrated heating)

   Now to make the horrific price easier I’m actually extending my retirement date. It’s free money if it’s past my nominal date, right? 😅

Only thing is I might actually buy sight unseen. No nearby dealers, nor LE II twin. Shouldn’t be a problem …

Cheers

[jd1923]

57 minutes ago, DanielBoondock said:

I’m retiring from engineering and don’t really want to DIY. Done enough engineering projects in my time, once you start you’re never done 😅. The Ollie is the only one that comes exactly as I want.

All the points you made are good, but don’t fool yourself that the experienced engineer in you will not come to surface in retirement. You will retire but your mind should still be active. For example…

You can buy the OTT Platinum Package or save near $10K and install a Victron inverter/charger system with your own LiFePO4 battery choice! 🤣 I imagine you’ve followed the Mod section of our forum.

Either way, you made the right choice in choosing Oliver. Welcome to the club!

[Patriot]

@DanielBoondock
I have seen some very good deals/significant savings on late model preowned Olivers very nicely equipped on the Oliver Travel Trailer for sale FB page.
Some prices so reasonable, it almost seemed too good to be true. In my observation well maintained and cared for preowned Olivers typically sell quickly.

At a minimum, maybe consider the factory tour in Hohenwald Tenn, as it is well worth the trip. Personally, I would never consider purchasing anything sight unseen especially a travel trailer new or preowned, just me. I certainly do understand everyone has a different comfort level. 

A big Congrats on closing in on your retirement, there is nothing like the freedom of being able to do what you want when you want and not being on the “work wheel”.
 

Patriot🇺🇸

 

Edited Saturday at 11:51 AM by Patriot

[FloraFauna]

8 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

Hello,

   I’ve been on the forum for some years and I’m closing into retirement and making my decision. Started with Ollie years ago, drifted over to the Escape, then Bigfoot camps as I thought the Ollie too expensive, small and overbuilt. Now with the tariffs I was forced to reconsider them as they are US based, and realized it was for me. Escape 23 is pretty expensive now for what you get. Bigfoot length/width was silently bothering me for handling, plus the old school decor isn’t great. I toured one, a big issue is interior height. My head brushes the ceiling and I barely fit in the bathroom. I’d have to crouch to shower. Plus I’d have to do a bunch of mods, they don’t even offer lithium, and the tongue weight pushes the limits on my TV. 

   So with the Ollie I’ve got the interior height I want. The size is fine for a couples camper, plus an easy to tow and park size. Especially with the Black cushions it’s an elegant interior. Finally, I’m retiring from engineering and don’t really want to DIY. Done enough engineering projects in my time, once you start you’re never done 😅. The Ollie is the only one that comes exactly as I want. So I’ll be placing an order later summer

• Platinum twin
• Composting
• Street awning 
• Platinum batteries (more than I need but might as well, plus I like the integrated heating)

   Now to make the horrific price easier I’m actually extending my retirement date. It’s free money if it’s past my nominal date, right? 😅

Only thing is I might actually buy sight unseen. No nearby dealers, nor LE II twin. Shouldn’t be a problem …

Cheers

I am a few years ahead of you.  Also an engineer who still is nagged by projects well into retirement but when it comes to my Ollie, it is not on my project list and I hope it never is.  It's my escape from all of that.

Don't worry. I bought mine sight unseen as well.  A couple of issues had to be worked out with my Ollie the first year but the service department worked well with a local RV place (not a dealer).  I currently have no trailer issues.  I have not regretted the purchase despite the price and have not found an RV of any type or price that I would rather have.

I went through a similar process of elimination and arrived at the same point as you.  I also went with your options minus the street-side awning.  Without a basis I feel the awnings could become a maintenance issue.

Hope you retire soon - life is short.

 

[HDRider]

It was the best choice for us.  I hope you come to the same conclusion.  You forget about the high price in a decade or so... 😉

 

Here's wishing many miles of smooth rode for you.

[topgun2]

3 hours ago, FloraFauna said:

Hope you retire soon - life is short.

Amen!

Unfortunately, I've know way too many members of the Oliver "Family" that have purchased their Ollies but then really didn't get the chance to travel with it as they had hoped due to all of those things that life tends to throw at us (health being the main one as we get older).

Assuming that you can afford it - retire as soon as possible and get to doing all of those things that you have on your "bucket list" as soon as possible because you just never know what is coming at you.

Congrats on your decision.  I know that many people feel that we members of the "Oliver Family" are VERY biased.  But, I believe that there is a solid reason for that bias.

I assume that you have contacted Oliver about arranging to see one of the trailers in person.  If they can't arrange something for you then come back here and let us know where you are located.  One of us just might be traveling near you this summer and could arrange a meetup.  I fully support and agree with Patriot's comment above about arranging a factory visit - do this if you can.

Bill

[DanielBoondock]

On 5/9/2025 at 8:11 PM, jd1923 said:

All the points you made are good, but don’t fool yourself that the experienced engineer in you will not come to surface in retirement. You will retire but your mind should still be active. For example…

You can buy the OTT Platinum Package or save near $10K and install a Victron inverter/charger system with your own LiFePO4 battery choice! 🤣 I imagine you’ve followed the Mod section of our forum.

No haven't followed the Mod section, see above 😅

Actually the engineering isn't done when I retire, my son is graduating in CompSci in a month and he's got a startup I'll be working for. I'll be mentoring on the engineering side but working in the 'creative' side. Not full time, but something I want to do anyhow.

Good tip on the batteries, yeah maybe I don't know ... on the other hand time is money and I can earn that $10k in no time in my job, less time than it would take for me to DIY at any rate 😅

On 5/10/2025 at 12:05 AM, Patriot said:

@DanielBoondock
I have seen some very good deals/significant savings on late model preowned Olivers very nicely equipped on the Oliver Travel Trailer for sale FB page.
Some prices so reasonable, it almost seemed too good to be true. In my observation well maintained and cared for preowned Olivers typically sell quickly.

At a minimum, maybe consider the factory tour in Hohenwald Tenn, as it is well worth the trip. Personally, I would never consider purchasing anything sight unseen especially a travel trailer new or preowned, just me. I certainly do understand everyone has a different comfort level.

Thanks. Yeah going to Tenessee without a rig isn't going to work. I'm 'traveled out' (meaning flights/hotels) from years of intnl travel for work. Can't stand it, and my wife too. As for used that's not for us, wife is a germ-a-phobe and wants a clean trailer and not one with used tanks. Plus impossible to find the set of options we want.

I bought $25k worth of ebikes a few years ago sight unseen - also part of my retirement gift - with 200% satisfaction. I'd like to see it but this works for fine for me if I need to. There's one or two owner trailers within an hour we could tour but none with the right size or options

On 5/10/2025 at 3:37 AM, FloraFauna said:

Don't worry. I bought mine sight unseen as well.  A couple of issues had to be worked out with my Ollie the first year but the service department worked well with a local RV place (not a dealer).  I currently have no trailer issues.  I have not regretted the purchase despite the price and have not found an RV of any type or price that I would rather have.

I went through a similar process of elimination and arrived at the same point as you.  I also went with your options minus the street-side awning.  Without a basis I feel the awnings could become a maintenance issue.

 

Thanks! Yeah I just said above I'm comfortable buying sight unseen and have done it before. In my work life you spend all your time making decisions and making something entirely in your head. You did a good job if the prototype is anti-climatic and an old friend. Anyhow by the time I make a decision on a vehicle, bike or trailer there's little need to actually see it I've found as nothing would change the decision.

One small slight counterexample of that is my tow vehicle. I was deciding between the new Silverado EV and Sierra EV, but had an opportunity recently to see them together. What I found was the design language and presentation of the vehicles was a bit different than what I expected from the internet. Anyhow my decision switched from going for the Silverado, to the Sierra.

This is different though - I've already been in a Bigfoot which is the only real competitor, and I've toured Escapes from the outside. So I pretty well know what it's like inside these things. As I mentioned the head room and decor with the Bigfoot ended up being the main drawbacks. Also the bathroom - I'm tall/thin and could barely fit in the Bigfoot drybath. I think the Ollie wetbath will probably work better. One, it's got enough headroom and two, since it's a combined space there's more total space. That Bigfoot shower barely fit me, I wasn't sure how I'd even use it, with a stool I guess.

On 5/10/2025 at 5:00 AM, HDRider said:

It was the best choice for us.  I hope you come to the same conclusion.  You forget about the high price in a decade or so... 😉

Already forgotten 😅

I've got some ridiculous raises recently, either because of the inflation, or maybe because they know I'm retiring 😅And also I've downshifted into a easier more relaxed job, so I'm now outstandingly overqualified and overpaid for what I actually do. I'll still be having whats generally considered an early retirement, just with a guilt free traveling rig and a pile of extra money to boot.

Anyhow no need to retire tomorrow, with this rig being in California we have more than enough to do within a day's driving.

22 hours ago, topgun2 said:

Amen!

Unfortunately, I've know way too many members of the Oliver "Family" that have purchased their Ollies but then really didn't get the chance to travel with it as they had hoped due to all of those things that life tends to throw at us (health being the main one as we get older).

Assuming that you can afford it - retire as soon as possible and get to doing all of those things that you have on your "bucket list" as soon as possible because you just never know what is coming at you.

Congrats on your decision.  I know that many people feel that we members of the "Oliver Family" are VERY biased.  But, I believe that there is a solid reason for that bias.

I assume that you have contacted Oliver about arranging to see one of the trailers in person.  If they can't arrange something for you then come back here and let us know where you are located.  One of us just might be traveling near you this summer and could arrange a meetup.  I fully support and agree with Patriot's comment above about arranging a factory visit - do this if you can.

Thanks! Nature and the arts is our thing, we spent grad school in Illinois but never went to the Chicago Lyric (Opera). Couldn't afford it 😅so we'll go back for a visit among many others.

Yes the factory said there's a couple trailers within an hour - the nearest dealers are 12 hours away. But the local owner trailers are either single axel, and the other I think might be the double (which is important as it's the right size) but isn't the twin. That's fine - we might do it, but as I talked about above it won't matter much, by process of elimination there's really no other choice.

[DanielBoondock]

If interesting, some more points in my thinking behind Ollie vis-a-vis Bigfoot/Escape/Airstream

• External ports
  All the sewer water connections flapping in the breeze under a trailer is pretty ugly, I've long thought. I love the bumper waste drain solution. Topping that, they moved the fresh water inlets to the rear bumper too, with now I believe only the black water rinse and optional propane near the front. Design is about obsessively refining small details, which I've done for my life, so appreciate the energy put into this. All the others including Airstream have them flapping in the wind
• Lower skirt
  Trailer frames are pretty unattractive - one of the great looking design features of Airstream is that they hide the frame behind the belly skirt, except for the fork of course. Ollie beautifully skirts this in fiberglass. And going aluminum, while it introduces new issues like galvanic currents (which they fix by having some zincs), is a better choice. I hate to see dinged and rusty trailer frames.
• Repairability
  The Ollie is eminently repairable - even the tanks can be pulled out without having to gut the trailer. Even with the double hull everything appears to be accessible
• Efficiency
  Speaking of towing here. We're electric so appreciate good aerodynamics. Two things, first is that the front space is filled with that propane bay. Towing a trailer creates a low pressure suckout between them which introduces drag, so filling that with something helps. The Bigfoot also has this. Two is the general shape, while there's plenty of roof gubbins which rob efficiency, it appears to be not too bad.
• Durability
  Hands down Oliver. Airstreams are beautiful but absolutely ridiculous. You know why they used Aluminum? I believe it's because all that post war scrap coming back, the early Airstream aluminum probably fought over Europe. It was cheap, and part of the mid century design language. Gorgeous, and like much mid century, impractical. And on the Bigfoot I was disappointed with the fiberglass build quality. To be sure it's more than adequate for the job, but there's something to being overbuilt. From the online factory tours it's obvious the Oliver is overbuilt in this department, with the beautiful honeycomb solution they use - strong and light.
• Now about that double hull ...
  To be honest initially (many years ago) this turned me off. Thinking of building engineering it's actually a bad design, as it creates three climate zones. Inside, between hulls, and outside. This results in the likely hood of condensation in between hulls, which they have to mitigate by having breaters. A house, for example, has a single vapor barrier, the Ollie has two which is the wrong way to go about it. With your house there's little possibility of condensation forming as there's just that one barrier.
  But does it really matter? I'm curious to find out if owners have seen this as an issue, and at any rate if I'm in a humid climate a small dehumidifier could be placed in between. Inelegant solution but sometimes you have to do that. Anyhow, one benefit is that the three zones should help with keeping the trailer cool/warm as there's a buffering zone between the two.

So on physical design, size, design language, features, practicality, aerodynamics it wins hands down. Now about that price ...😅

[topgun2]

57 minutes ago, DanielBoondock said:

Now about that double hull ...
To be honest initially (many years ago) this turned me off. Thinking of building engineering it's actually a bad design, as it creates three climate zones. Inside, between hulls, and outside. This results in the likely hood of condensation in between hulls, which they have to mitigate by having breaters. A house, for example, has a single vapor barrier, the Ollie has two which is the wrong way to go about it. With your house there's little possibility of condensation forming as there's just that one barrier.
But does it really matter? I'm curious to find out if owners have seen this as an issue, and at any rate if I'm in a humid climate a small dehumidifier could be placed in between. Inelegant solution but sometimes you have to do that. Anyhow, one benefit is that the three zones should help with keeping the trailer cool/warm as there's a buffering zone between the two.

Note the "scupper holes" on the bottom of the outside hull.  These are meant to draw any moisture that is trapped between the two hulls to the outside and as with a boat this effect gets greater the faster you travel down the road.  However, unless you vent the interior (well) you will likely encounter situations where the interior of the Ollie can get humid.  There are many ways to combat this since it is caused by the inability of the basic fiberglass to "breath".

Bill

[DanielBoondock]

6 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

Note the "scupper holes" on the bottom of the outside hull.  These are meant to draw any moisture that is trapped between the two hulls to the outside and as with a boat this effect gets greater the faster you travel down the road.  However, unless you vent the interior (well) you will likely encounter situations where the interior of the Ollie can get humid.  There are many ways to combat this since it is caused by the inability of the basic fiberglass to "breath".

Bill

Yeah I mentioned the scuppers in the post, but not sure what you mean about 'drawing the water out' when you drive? Seems like they should just act like drain holes is all, unless there's something I'm missing I don't see how there's an airflow mechanism other than this passive system with low free air space (scuppers with mesh covering don't support much passive airflow)

On interior condensation, I see in some of the factory tours they talk around this as if condensation won't happen but that simply can't be true. It's a highly unusual design which creates new problems, there's three climate zones, so now you have to worry about condensation in the in between hulls. I'm not bothered about cabin condensation as that can be detected and managed, but I'm curious about real world experience with inner hull condensation, how prevalent is it?

Dan

[rich.dev]

57 minutes ago, DanielBoondock said:

I'm curious about real world experience with inner hull condensation, how prevalent is it?

Well since you asked 😜, we have experienced what I believe to be inner hull condensation just recently! We are moochdocking in a location where it started raining then snowed, and then temps dropped significantly. The next day we experienced water dripping from below all our windows. 

I know from reading post on this forum that a roof leak, rear Oliver sign or exterior lights above the windows can let water run down inside the air gap between the inner and outer hulls and appear as a window leak. However, all our windows leaked, and I couldn’t find any leaks on the roof, rear Oliver sign and external lights above the windows, so I’m fairly certain that under the right circumstances (like what we experienced) condensation between the hulls can do the same thing. I removed the inside window trim and noticed small water drops on top of the metal window frame that I suspect was caused by condensation.

I have to add that I filled the scupper holes with copper steel wool to deter pests/rodents from gaining entrance. I now wonder if that affected the airflow between hulls causing condensation on the metal window frames? 

 

Edited Sunday at 03:43 PM by rich.dev

[topgun2]

58 minutes ago, DanielBoondock said:

Yeah I mentioned the scuppers in the post, but not sure what you mean about 'drawing the water out' when you drive? Seems like they should just act like drain holes is all, unless there's something I'm missing I don't see how there's an airflow mechanism other than this passive system with low free air space (scuppers with mesh covering don't support much passive airflow)

Sorry, I must have missed your mentioning the scuppers in your post.

They do act like drain holes in the event of a leak.  However they also act like vent holes particularly when you are moving down the road - much like scupper holes in a boat.  Using the Venturi effect a difference in air pressure is caused between the outside air and the air between the hulls.  This, in turn, draws air through the area between the hulls and out the scuppers thus drying the area between the hulls.  The faster you drive, the more air that is drawn out.  Physics.

Bill

 

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

Now about that double hull ...

The main reason to go with an Oliver!

3 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

even the tanks can be pulled out

When you get yours, please show me how this is done...

3 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

deciding between the new Silverado EV and Sierra EV

🤣(looks like we failed to convince you in another thread)

On 5/10/2025 at 3:37 AM, FloraFauna said:

Hope you retire soon - life is short.

Just celebrated my 70th birthday and no retirement plans here! I enjoy working my parttime semi-retirement job (contract instructor for the last 10 years) and hope to continue in good health for many years to come (vocal chords keep working)! Though I haven't punch a clock, 40+ hours a week, most of my life. Most of our friends in town are retired and they do about the same thing everyday (boring)! If I'm not working for my job, I'm always working on something else and I love it!

We've enjoyed 47 overnights in our Oliver over the last 6 months and leaving for a 5-week trip just after Memorial Day, back home by the 4th of July! 47 overnights in 6 months days comes to 25% time away in our Oliver! If it was any more time cooped up in an Oliver, that becomes the job. That's just me, and Chris & I love sharing this life together! 

[topgun2]

13 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

When you get yours, please show me how this is done...

Basically this procedure is simple - but - I sure would not want to do it.

Disassemble the rear area where the bumper is attached, disconnect the tank from its fittings to internal plumbing and from where it is attached to the interior frame, slide the tank out the rear.  The black tank is a bit different.

Bill

[jd1923]

12 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

Basically this procedure is simple... slide the tank out the rear.

  🤣...   🤣...   🤣...    ...

[Jason Foster]

8 hours ago, topgun2 said:

The black tank is a bit different.

Black tank removal procedure:  

 

[tallmandan]

On 5/9/2025 at 8:02 PM, DanielBoondock said:

a big issue is interior height. My head brushes the ceiling and I barely fit in the bathroom. I’d have to crouch to shower.

Just a quick note about headroom from another tall guy.  It sounds like you haven't yet been inside an Elite II so you may not be aware that the bathroom celing height is lower than the main cabin.  The main cabin is 6'6in but I'd say the bathroom is 2 or 3 inches less.  If someone here knows maybe you can correct me.  Just wanted you to be aware.

I don't know how tall you are but I'm 6'5" and I do have to crouch to take a shower.  I shower quickly as we are usually boondocking without water hookups and I just deal with it.  For that matter, the 75" bed is not quite long enough for my 77" body. I've removed the nightstand and have a few mods I've done to allow me to better stretch out when needed.

Now, My main point is that I'm fine with it -- because of all the other points you mentioned!  It's a fantastic trailer and I don't think there is anything else out there that can measure up.  The feeling of it from inside is unlike any other RV I'v seen - so clean, bright, modern and you can just sense the solid quality from front to back and top to bottom.  

Congrats on your upcoming retirement! 

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, tallmandan said:

The main cabin is 6'6in but I'd say the bathroom is 2 or 3 inches less.  If someone here knows maybe you can correct me.

Dan, you are correct. I have not measured it but I'm 6'2" and if I stand up straight, the top of my head will fully contact the bathroom ceiling. So it's 6'2" or just a bit shorter. I was never interested in those fancy teak wood covers for the shower floor as that would lose another 2". I can almost lay flat on the bed if it wasn't for the curved corner. I'm a side-sleeper most of the time so the bed just fits but it's tight.

[rideandfly]

16 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

• Now about that double hull ...
• To be honest initially (many years ago) this turned me off. Thinking of building engineering it's actually a bad design, as it creates three climate zones. Inside, between hulls, and outside. This results in the likely hood of condensation in between hulls, which they have to mitigate by having breaters. A house, for example, has a single vapor barrier, the Ollie has two which is the wrong way to go about it. With your house there's little possibility of condensation forming as there's just that one barrier.
  But does it really matter? I'm curious to find out if owners have seen this as an issue, and at any rate if I'm in a humid climate a small dehumidifier could be placed in between. Inelegant solution but sometimes you have to do that. Anyhow, one benefit is that the three zones should help with keeping the trailer cool/warm as there's a buffering zone between the two.

So on physical design, size, design language, features, practicality, aerodynamics it wins hands down. Now about that price ...😅

In the winter when heating with a portable heater we use 99% of the time, we find condensation between the hull in the rear section (in our experience), if a de-humidifier is not used. We use a small de-humidifier in the rear upper storage "Oliver Sign" area and another one on the kitchen stove top area to resolve this. Checked other areas between the hulls and did not find condensation present.

[jd1923]

9 hours ago, rideandfly said:

In the winter when heating with a portable heater we use 99% of the time, we find condensation...

When you use the built-in LP furnace as designed, air is circulated through the basement (a few added vents as seen in other posts will help). Winter is generally not a humid time of year when running heat inside. When we lived in Chicago, we would add water in the pans above the radiators to make inside of the home bearable. Forced air systems, forget about it!

Why cause humidity with one device and then have another to correct the self-made issue? Also a lot of extra stuff to carry! Use of space heaters are also know cause for basement plumbing freezing that has been noted in a few other posts lately. Space heater will only heat the inner-upper shell and not much more.

[rideandfly]

There has been several other post about humidity issues when camping with Olivers. Normally when we camp in temperatures cold enough to freeze the basement plumbing when using a portable heater, it's only for a couple of days and we don't even de-winterize Ollie making use of the campground's showers. When camping in the South East in the winter, sometimes we have humid weather.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 05:17 PM by rideandfly

[DanielBoondock]

On 5/11/2025 at 8:48 AM, topgun2 said:

They do act like drain holes in the event of a leak.  However they also act like vent holes particularly when you are moving down the road - much like scupper holes in a boat.  Using the Venturi effect a difference in air pressure is caused between the outside air and the air between the hulls.  This, in turn, draws air through the area between the hulls and out the scuppers thus drying the area between the hulls.  The faster you drive, the more air that is drawn out.  Physics.

I’ve got advance degrees in Physics so should have guessed 😅 

Actually I did suspect Venturi, however I’d think you’d need a path for the airflow. Perhaps it goes in some and out the others - or something. Can’t help asking; whats the basis for this, direct observation, measurement or? 

On 5/11/2025 at 8:26 PM, tallmandan said:

Just a quick note about headroom from another tall guy. …

Now, My main point is that I'm fine with it -- because of all the other points you mentioned!  It's a fantastic trailer and I don't think there is anything else out there that can measure up.  The feeling of it from inside is unlike any other RV I'v seen - so clean, bright, modern and you can just sense the solid quality from front to back and top to bottom.  

Congrats on your upcoming retirement! 

Thanks! Yeah sounds great, I’m not worried about it

On 5/11/2025 at 11:37 PM, rideandfly said:

In the winter when heating with a portable heater we use 99% of the time, we find condensation between the hull in the rear section (in our experience), if a de-humidifier is not used. We use a small de-humidifier in the rear upper storage "Oliver Sign" area and another one on the kitchen stove top area to resolve this. Checked other areas between the hulls and did not find condensation present.

Great tip thanks! I was wondering about a central location that would get both sides, that ‘attic’ would be one with that vent installation you did. 

So humidity is only a cold weather issue, not a hot weather one in a humid climate? This is really the only issue that bothers me. We restored a century old house and I learned much about building construction; moisture is the bane of any dwelling and must be avoided, even in a no/low wood design like the Oliver

On 5/12/2025 at 9:53 AM, rideandfly said:

There has been several other post about humidity issues when camping with Olivers. Normally when we camp in temperatures cold enough to freeze the basement plumbing when using a portable heater, it's only for a couple of days and we don't even de-winterize Ollie making use of the campground's showers. When camping in the South East in the winter, sometimes we have humid weather.

Thanks! I’ll check those out -

 

Dan

[DanielBoondock]

On 5/11/2025 at 8:41 AM, rich.dev said:

Well since you asked 😜, we have experienced what I believe to be inner hull condensation just recently! We are moochdocking in a location where it started raining then snowed, and then temps dropped significantly. The next day we experienced water dripping from below all our windows. 

I know from reading post on this forum that a roof leak, rear Oliver sign or exterior lights above the windows can let water run down inside the air gap between the inner and outer hulls and appear as a window leak. However, all our windows leaked, and I couldn’t find any leaks on the roof, rear Oliver sign and external lights above the windows, so I’m fairly certain that under the right circumstances (like what we experienced) condensation between the hulls can do the same thing. I removed the inside window trim and noticed small water drops on top of the metal window frame that I suspect was caused by condensation.

I have to add that I filled the scupper holes with copper steel wool to deter pests/rodents from gaining entrance. I now wonder if that affected the airflow between hulls causing condensation on the metal window frames? 

 

Yeah this concerns me. I said above my first house was a 1900’s we restored. The back wall leaked, this was an older part of town and the drainage system was non existent, so managing water and moisture was a major problem. It gave me nightmares for years to tell you the truth, water/moisture will destroy a house or a trailer in no time, grow mould, musty and give you halitosis. If I saw drips it could practically ruin a trip - that’s just how I am about it now. 

There’s a video on the Oliver channel about caulking your windows, and I believe more recent models they use both butyl tape and silicone, while earlier they just used silicone. Maybe check the seals? And on the scuppers I believe newer models have wire inserts to prevent unwanted guests, so they seem to think it’s not a problem. 

But otherwise I’m not clear on why the windows would be clear of condensation but you get it on the window inner frame like that. 

[rideandfly]

1 hour ago, DanielBoondock said:

Great tip thanks! I was wondering about a central location that would get both sides, that ‘attic’ would be one with that vent installation you did. 

So humidity is only a cold weather issue, not a hot weather one in a humid climate? This is really the only issue that bothers me. We restored a century old house and I learned much about building construction; moisture is the bane of any dwelling and must be avoided, even in a no/low wood design like the Oliver

Thanks! I’ll check those out -

Dan,

We try not to camp where AC is needed in the summer. Head to higher elevations where AC is not needed.

Speaking of our home and humidity, I sealed our home's crawlspace and started running a de-humidifier all summer where the HVAC Ducting supplies the home's cooling. Keeps the crawl space around 45 to 50% humidity. When the crawl-space was not sealed and vents open, sometimes HVAC ducting would drip with condensation in the summer.

[Ronbrink]

12 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

So humidity is only a cold weather issue, not a hot weather one in a humid climate?

Humidity is definitely an issue in hot climates, especially when outside relative humidity levels are high. The Oliver’s interior can become muggy feeling if the HVAC is inefficient in removing excess moisture and thus, dehumidifiers are subsequently used with varying degrees of success. Proper ventilation practices can help alleviate this issue, as well as other moisture management measures within.