Silly question...

[Overland]

On the marketing photos that Oliver uses for the Elite II, there is a narrow, horizontal indentation on the front of the trailer, just above the graphic. It was obviously intended for something, but I guess it was removed from the mold shortly into production since I've never seen it on any Oliver out in the wild. Does anyone have a trailer that has this, or know what it was intended for?

[ScubaRx]

I can answer that question by way of a little company history and some photos.

 

The first 17 foot models of the Oliver rolled off the line in 2007. The shells were drawn from molds that had been hand made. The molds for the 23.5 footer were CAD designed and made for Oliver in late 2008. At that time it was referred to as the 22 footer. There were three of these bigger units produced before all Oliver trailer production ceased in 2009. One unit was sold to a customer and the other two were retained by Oliver.

 

In early 2013, Oliver made the decision to restart their trailer line with the plan to initially produce the larger 22/23.5 foot model. I was privileged to join the Oliver family and several members of the administrative and production team at the Townsend FGRV Rally in Tennessee in April of 2013. I had been asked to attend with our original 17 footer and provide ideas for the new model from an owner's perspective. The two surviving 22 footers and an additional 17 footer were brought from the Oliver factory making a total of four Oliver's in attendance at that rally. The idea was to generate interest in the re-introduction of the Oliver Travel Trailers.

 

I dug through my photo archives to find photos of the "Vintage" 22 footers.

 

 

At the factory in January of 2009At the factory in January of 2009

 

 

At the factory in January of 2009At the factory in January of 2009

 

 

At the factory in January of 2009At the factory in January of 2009

 

 

At the Townsend FGRV Rally in Tennessee in April of 2013. Our original 2008 17 footer on the left and one of the 22 footers on the right.At the Townsend FGRV Rally in Tennessee in April of 2013. Our original 2008 17 footer on the left and one of the 22 footers on the right.

 

So, there you have it, that area was originally use to display three marker lights. These lights (as well as the raised area they were mounted on) have been eliminated in the models coming off the line now and replaced with the smaller lights on either side.

[Overland]

Awesome - thank you!

 

I knew there had to be a reason. And I kind of like those lights - I wish they'd have kept them.

[ScubaRx]

I believe the problem with them was that they did not meet RVIA standards.