Just assigned Oliver hull 1743

[Douglas Rink]

Good day all! Wanted to share my hull number and the selected name of my Apex 23 that I’ll be picking up Oct 7th at the Mothership if all goes according to plans. 
 

In honor of the hull number I’m choosing a name taken from the writings of Thomas Jefferson (who was born in 1743) along with a “tongue in cheek” nod to part of military career as an Infantry Officer. His “Cannons of Conduct” contain 12 wonderful recommendations about how we should live our lives that I wholeheartedly agree with. So hopefully all will welcome myself, my pups and “Cannon Fodder” to the group. 
 

Cheers! 
 

Douglas

[taylor.coyote]

Amazing coincidence of 1743. 

Congratulations, Wow an Apex. I hope you enjoy your trailer and this user group as much as we have over the years.

Where do you call home?

 

[HDRider]

I still remember the excitement I expect you are feeling.

 

Does the Apex let you pick your options?

 

I am curious what led you to pick an Oliver.

 

You will find this forum a very valuable resource as you learn your way around.  Just ask.

 

Welcome to the family of Ollie owners.   I hope we see you on the road.

[Douglas Rink]

Thank you both! I’ve definitely been impressed with and feel incredibly welcome to the group. 
 

Answers to your questions:

1. Home is Clover SC (just across Lake Wylie from Charlotte). 

2. There were a few options for the Apex and out of those I chose the rear hitch for my bike rack, and the Anderson weight distribution hitch. I’m also having an OGO composting toilet installed (prefer over the brand Oliver offers). 

3. I decided to go with the Oliver for the two main reasons of their quality build and 4 season capability. As I prefer to camp more off the beaten path having the Apex model option sealed the deal. 

I’ll be at the Rally in October and hopefully will meet y’all there! 

[mossemi]

Congratulations and welcome!  The OTTO Rally will be a great experience for you and the rest of us will get a chance to check out the new Apex model.

We'll look forward to meeting you in October!

Mossey

[HDRider]

5 hours ago, Douglas Rink said:

Home is Clover SC

I lived in Fort Mill.  Kept my boat on Wylie.  Still have friends in the area. 

[Douglas Rink]

No way! I’m in the River Hills Community. Small world indeed. 
 

I’ll definitely be in your area at some time in the future as I love to fly fish and the White River is fantastic to do. 

[Steph and Dud B]

Welcome to the group. Cool name!

[Boudicca908]

On 8/19/2026 at 8:26 AM, Douglas Rink said:

I’ll be at the Rally in October

It's a great way to begin the adventure -- there is a lot to learn at the Rally and a great group of people you will meet. Congrats! Love the name!

[DanielBoondock]

So that's very roughly about 60 hulls since March, 230 days, so basically a new trailer rolls off the line every 3-4 days. Sold units will be less than that due to protos and scraps, my number got bumped up during the order as the factory took the one I had for some reason or another. With Apex and the 27's that's at least three, so call it 55 maybe. Projecting out that's maybe in the ballpark of 80 trailers a year. 

[DanielBoondock]

On 8/19/2026 at 7:26 AM, Douglas Rink said:

Anderson weight distribution hitch

You're having the factory install it? Question them about chain tension. When I picked up in March the two techs told me they prefer keeping it 'a little slack'. Basically hit the chains and you should see a little bounce. Ever since I've been puzzling about this, there is simply no way that can be providing any weight distribution. Easier to hitch, but no WD. 

Now technically I don't need WD, the GVWR is just at the rating above which requires for a WD hitch, but they recommend using one at all weights. Anyhow, after consulting with AI which read the instructions and instructional videos I was reminded about the red plastic puck compression. It's too much tension to use a wrench, you have to lift the back end of the truck, tighten, then lower and tension the chains. 

Long story short I did this and it rode better. Not remarkable - I didn't have squat before, this Sierra EV has independent rear coil suspension (dedicated rear motor and no transmission!) and handles the 700 lb tongue wonderfully. But now it handles it even better. With all the power and torque of the EV I basically can't tell it's back there. Hitching isn't that much harder, I simply attach the whale tail before lowering onto the truck when hitching. When unhitching I just raise the truck rear a bit until it loosens up. 

Anyhow do this, if they recommend slack chains again for you push back on that about the WD and find out why they recommend it. Makes no sense to me unless you want to throw away half the reason for having this hitch. I don't need anti fishtail as the truck as rear steer and it built in (it just turns the rear wheels to counter any fishtailing), and anyway the Oliver is hardly prone to it. 

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

When I picked up in March the two techs told me they prefer keeping it 'a little slack'. Basically hit the chains and you should see a little bounce. Ever since I've been puzzling about this, there is simply no way that can be providing any weight distribution.

Dan, you are correct and if "two techs" made such statements, the were absolutely WRONG in stating such nonsense! See PDF page 11 of the Andersen Installation Instructions which I have also captured in the picture below. It states first hand-tight and then use socket and tighten to 3-4 more threads showing. The WDH only works from the chain tension. If you kick on the chains properly adjusted you should hear a bass note hum from the tension! 😎 

I used the Andersen before we upgraded to Alcan Springs. My older Dodge 2500 is borderline, owners manual stating it's needed when over 500 LB tongue weight or 5000 LB tow weight. The Oliver exceeds both numbers. The Oliver would cause our rear to sag 2" and the Andersen when adjusted would bring the height back up to perfectly level (see pic). Without the Andersen we would have serious porpoising. Turns out the Alcans allow the Oliver suspension to manage itself eliminating the porpoising, so we stopped using the Andersen WDH after the suspension upgrade. 

First thing to do for your 9K LB 2500 series EV truck is to remove the Andersen WDH! CAUTION: If you remove the Andersen WDH also replace the ball hitch <OR> if you continue to use the same ball mount provided by Andersen, lock the base with the collar pin. If not there is only a circlip holding the hitch ball in place. 

If @Douglas Rink is towing with a 1/2 ton truck then it is suggested but a waste of money for the 2500 series truck. Anybody need a good used Andersen WDH with a new 2 5/16" ball and cone?

Andersen-WD-Hitch-Installation.pdf