ADVENTURES Begin AFTER Leaving Home!

[BoondockingAirstream]

An Oliver I or Oliver II can go anywhere your Tow Vehicle has clearance. The Oliver II with the double axle is the most Boondocking Positive 'Luxury' Trailer on the road.  Or Off the road.

The Rocky Mountains States have thousands of FREE Boondocking.  Minimal Cost at National Forest Campsites with a table and an 'out house'.  Sometimes water from a pump, or a river nearby. Although I would use the Pump Water for washing and pet water... as it can contain sand or grit.  It is the best tasting water available... and no chlorine.

If you have 16 inch E Rated Tires... 65psi to 70psi is advised.  I use this range on our 27 foot Airstream.  Also the 25 foot, which is very close to the Oliver II.  Many 'dry camps' are used by big game hunters in the Fall... and open for YOU the rest of the year.  Bow Hunters tend to stay in town and drive out in the morning to hunt.  They also use ATV's for the short time to hunt.

The first time you explore the NFS or Bureau of Land managed public land... it is often vacant or other campers. As you get closer to a large town or city... more weekend campers. So find your spot on a Monday to Thursday.  🙂  Great camping spots are found by those who think strategic options on improved gravel and dirty roads.

When you are traveling... and need a place to spend an evening... truck stop service stations are great for the evening. Even those Service Stations with lots of parking, if you are considerate and keep away from incoming customers and away from trash pickup, air pressure and dump stations.  We have never had an issue.

Those who 'camp out' at a Walmart or a Costco, set up a grill in the parking lot, some lounge chairs, a rug... will most likely look like you are planning on staying. This is why many larger parking lots have to ask YOU and those living for free on their property as asked to leave. They cannot ask someone to leave living there, but let you stay as you are temporary.

Casino Parking Lots with trucks... is also a good temporary Boondocking site.  Often many players come, stay in the Parking Lot and go into the Casino.  Smaller Casinos in Nevada towns... welcome overnight campers and visitors.  Get a Casino Card also...

Don't know where to camp in the National Forest?  No worry...  see an interesting area... and an exit heading that way... explore.  Go as far as you feel comfortable.  You will get more comfortable over time. We find one spot... set up  camp, and then detach the tow vehicle and go further into the mountains or hills.  Make it an adventure.  The first week you will be learning.  The second week... you will be giving others... ADVICE!!!

Just learn the clearance of rear bumper DRAG.  Watch for brush alongside the road. Low hanging branches. Rocks in the road...toss them to the side. Bring branch long handled cutters.  You will gain confidence, add a shovel... some tools... a GPS and take a camera.  To recall all the wonderful places you... discovered! 

If our Airstream can do it... any Oliver can.  We are planning on finding an Oliver II to explore the Rocky Mountains.  They are hard to find, but we are patient. Enjoy your Oliver.  You just have not pushed YOUR Limits... your Oliver can handle anything YOU can with your tow vehicle. We look forward to discovering an Oliver far into the back country. We will have stories to share and good company is always appreciated.

 

[BoondockingAirstream]

The Blue Toyota is towing a 23 foot Airstream.  The maroon F350 a 27 foot Airstream. The 23 foot Airstream is the shortest double axle and like the Oliver II, it falls into the 23 to 25 foot Airstream range.  Our 27 foot will go to ALL of the locations our 23 and 25 foot managed.  If we can do it, you can do ANY.

[John E Davies]

Great pics, but you never mentioned DUST. Too many spots along forest roads are absolutely horrible for dust, you can mitigate it a little by choosing a pullout that is several hundred feet upwind of the road, but that is often an impossibility. And sometimes the wind changes direction.  In some forests the bull dust is ankle deep along busy roads, and the trees are powdery grey on both sides. I know of many lovely campsites but will not stop in them because of this.

Do not venture out of cell coverage without a satellite communicator. 

Do not tow when the roads are muddy.

Do not tow with a 2WD tow vehicle, never, ever.

A roadside assistance retrieval will be much more complicated, make sure your plan has an excellent “free tow distance”. My AAA RV policy is for 200 miles. A tow will be done IF the big tow truck can reach your vehicle. If it can’t, then you will have to hire a 4WD specialist company, and that can cost at least $1000.

Your truck and trailer are insured for on road use, in the event of an accident on a remote forest or desert track, they may deny the claim.

Long stretches of washboard or potholes will beat the heck out of your TV and trailer. And the passengers. And the potential for major damage is high if you are careless or unlucky.

The risk of running into a dead end is high, so you must always scout an unknown side road before venturing down it. This is awkward at best. But if you get trapped a few miles back on a single lane track with no turn around, you are screwed, pardon my language. In that case, we may all read about your adventure in the tabloids…..

I disagree 100% about the LE2 being fine for this, the LE1 would be perfect IMHO, with a few mods. Your first statement is invalid.

I am not trying to scare anybody away from doing this, just be very aware of the potential risks as well as the benefits. It is not for the faint hearted or careless Ollie owner. You must be self reliant and ever alert. Google “RV stuck in forest”. Here is a video, fast forward to 15 minutes…. Do not be this Darwin Award candidate. The tow truck could not make it, but the Kubota was fine.

New Hampshire Trip Gone Wrong Camper Got Stuck In The Middle Of The Forest

PS my LC200 with offroad tires will walk over terrain like that without a glitch, IF it is dry. I won’t (willingly) attempt that stuff in the mud. A winch and recovery boards should be standard equipment if you ever do. If that guy had had a winch he would have been able to self-recover in a few minutes. The most popular Land Cruiser forum is IH8Mud.com. I totally agree with the name.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Geronimo John]

1 hour ago, BoondockingAirstream said:

If you have 16 inch E Rated Tires... 65psi to 70psi is advised.

In addition to JD's sage advice, I would not recommend 65 - 70 PSI in our OEII E-rated tires.  YES, they are rated for 80 PSI, and you yes you could use this high PSI.

In fact it was as recent as 2019 that many of us were using pressures in the 55+/- range.  I liked that higher pressure for on road and high speed freeway use only.  But as has JD and others, we have taken it down to the 45 to 50 psi range to soften the otherwise harsh ride that we were causing our Oliver's (Bouncing cushions and kitchen ware). 

More importantly, off road you really need to consider a much lower pressure to avoid rock punctures.  Suggest searching tire pressure threads and take note the date of posts and recommended pressures.  You'll find that over the past 4 years or so, both the on-road and off-road recommendations have come down quite a bit. 

Mahalo,    

[Ralph Mawyer]

FWIW, Oliver now officially recommends and is delivering EII tires at 55psi, per the latest new owner walk-thru video.

[BoondockingAirstream]

Boondocking Off the Grid with a single axle has more chances for "bumper drag" than a double axle. This is out of a Service Station or a Boondocking road.

Experienced Boondockers in the Rocky Mountains that get into NFS and BLM and County Roads... 4x4.  

Experience is learned over time.  Common Sense is more important. You either have it, or you would like to.  It is not taught in a classroom.

The Van in the ditch... was not towing the Kubota.

Tire pressures vary. Tires.  Load.  Tire ratings.  Maybe rated to 80psi... but the trailer manufacturer advises.. otherwise.  You learn by experience.  It is a debate that goes on and on and on....  Common Sense is a form of Air Pressure, as well.  Take a bicycle. Says 90psi, put in 35 psi.  You will have no argument that HIGHER is better in that example. Trailers and Tow Vehicles are no different. Want to travel on 45psi or 70psi or 80psi... each individual will find a comfort zone.  My trailer is different than yours.  I haul different weights off the Grid.

A C Rate tire is not a D rated tire is NOT an E rated tire. Tire pressures are the least understood trailer issue. Then comes Hitches. Then comes Tow Vehicles. Then comes... who is going to pay for all of this?  Not me, I hope.  🙂

I have Michelin Tires on our F350 Diesel 4x4 and  16 inch E rated tires on our current 27 foot Airstream. Work for ME.  I cannot judge nor push my preferences on others.  The Airstream had 15 inch wheels and tires.  I sold them immediately and always gone to 16 inch E Rated Michelins.  Not complaining.  I am a Neanderthal with a thick skull and learned that Tires make a difference where we travel.  It also helps if you are a good driver with good eyesight.  

I would really, really, really enjoy doing an Off the Grid Oliver2 Boondocking Trip.  A Private Message would work. We OTG from the Mexican Border to Canada.  We want to see an Oliver2 up close and enjoy a great camping experience in the process.  This is Off the Grid, dust, uneven roads possible and maybe get to a point where... this is the END of the ROAD for a trailer and set up camp.  Life is short.  Today is one less day to try something... new.

[BoondockingAirstream]

I do not how to Edit a post after posting to correct grammar, make a correction or add a sentence..  I am a bit new at posting.  I am a Neanderthal.

I wanted to add... many say an Airstream is not meant to travel off the asphalt road.  I would hope that Oliver Owners do not believe the same.

One advantage I wanted to ADD to the single and double axle conversation.  Changing a tire on a double axle is very easy.  Also when crossing a dip, the double axle is superior.   Next time you see a single axle Boondocked, as about Bumper Drag.  Airstreams, the longer the trailer... the more chance of Bumper Drag. That is why an Oliver has an advantage... length.  

[topgun2]

2 hours ago, BoondockingAirstream said:

I do not how to Edit a post after posting to correct grammar, make a correction or add a sentence..

There are three little dots at the upper right hand side of each post.  Left click on those and a drop down menu will appear that will show the word "edit".  Left click on edit and have at it.

Bill

[John E Davies]

15 hours ago, BoondockingAirstream said:

 

One advantage I wanted to ADD to the single and double axle conversation.  Changing a tire on a double axle is very easy.  

A tire change on either Ollie is dead simple if you use the onboard electric jacks as they were originally intended, as jacks.

As far as the rest of your assertions, having towed my double axle off pavement, I will pass on discussing that. These trailers are not suitable as delivered. IMHO.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Steph and Dud B]

15 minutes ago, John E Davies said:

A tire change on either Ollie is dead simple if you use the onboard electric jacks as they were originally intended, as jacks.

I've been wondering about that. The jacks look sturdy and are right near the marked jacking points on the frame but I've heard horror stories on SOB trailers about frame damage using the leveling jacks to actually lift the wheels. Seems like the jacks are a lot safer than a bottle jack on the side of the road, but I'd hate to bend the frame or fail a jack. The little tire change ramps look good, but wouldn't they overload the remaining tire (unless you added air to the other tire first to bring it up to its max load limit)?

[Mike and Carol]

13 minutes ago, Steph and Dud B said:

I've been wondering about that. The jacks look sturdy and are right near the marked jacking points on the frame but I've heard horror stories on SOB trailers about frame damage using the leveling jacks to actually lift the wheels. Seems like the jacks are a lot safer than a bottle jack on the side of the road, but I'd hate to bend the frame or fail a jack. The little tire change ramps look good, but wouldn't they overload the remaining tire (unless you added air to the other tire first to bring it up to its max load limit)?

I’ve changed and removed tires several times with the on board jacks.  There are lots of threads discussing this.  Mike

[BackofBeyond]

20 hours ago, John E Davies said:

Great pics, but you never mentioned DUST. Too many spots along forest roads are absolutely horrible for dust, you can mitigate it a little by choosing a pullout that is several hundred feet upwind of the road, but that is often an impossibility. And sometimes the wind changes direction.  In some forests the bull dust is ankle deep along busy roads, and the trees are powdery grey on both sides. I know of many lovely campsites but will not stop in them because of this.

Do not venture out of cell coverage without a satellite communicator. 

Do not tow when the roads are muddy.

Do not tow with a 2WD tow vehicle, never, ever.

A roadside assistance retrieval will be much more complicated, make sure your plan has an excellent “free tow distance”. My AAA RV policy is for 200 miles. A tow will be done IF the big tow truck can reach your vehicle. If it can’t, then you will have to hire a 4WD specialist company, and that can cost at least $1000.

Your truck and trailer are insured for on road use, in the event of an accident on a remote forest or desert track, they may deny the claim.

Long stretches of washboard or potholes will beat the heck out of your TV and trailer. And the passengers. And the potential for major damage is high if you are careless or unlucky.

The risk of running into a dead end is high, so you must always scout an unknown side road before venturing down it. This is awkward at best. But if you get trapped a few miles back on a single lane track with no turn around, you are screwed, pardon my language. In that case, we may all read about your adventure in the tabloids…..

I disagree 100% about the LE2 being fine for this, the LE1 would be perfect IMHO, with a few mods. Your first statement is invalid.

I am not trying to scare anybody away from doing this, just be very aware of the potential risks as well as the benefits. It is not for the faint hearted or careless Ollie owner. You must be self reliant and ever alert. Google “RV stuck in forest”. Here is a video, fast forward to 15 minutes…. Do not be this Darwin Award candidate. The tow truck could not make it, but the Kubota was fine.

New Hampshire Trip Gone Wrong Camper Got Stuck In The Middle Of The Forest

PS my LC200 with offroad tires will walk over terrain like that without a glitch, IF it is dry. I won’t (willingly) attempt that stuff in the mud. A winch and recovery boards should be standard equipment if you ever do. If that guy had had a winch he would have been able to self-recover in a few minutes. The most popular Land Cruiser forum is IH8Mud.com. I totally agree with the name.

John Davies

Spokane WA

Oliver fans, soon to be, new and experienced:

Although my last post seemed more dire towards the RV experience than I had intended, Covid crowds and such, our target camp spot was usually somewhere off the beaten track, not the KOA ( or similar) experience, and JD's comments reflect his cautious nature towards protecting his Oliver from the elements and what mother nature can throw at you. I always heeded JD's cautiousness when I headed down an unknown path with our EII in tow. 

I however, am,  perhaps, a little more adventurous, when it came to taking our Ollie off road. I have driven down more than a few paths- sans Ollie - just to make sure I could get in and out with the twin axle Ollie EII. MUD - well that is something I avoided - all bets are off when its a slippery slope slough through the back roads.  The EII does "ok" off road - mild off road - but take your time - and know your limits. As has been noted - the twin Ollie is not really designed for this. I have many pics of our (former) Ollie in great places - off the beaten path. And the amount of back country available for boon docking in the west is enormous. And for the eastern located folks - mind blowing....in comparison. 

I must say there is something to be said for the Ollie EII size - one can park the thing - given good parking skills- almost anywhere. And there is something to be said for the creature comforts of the Ollie - parked on the outcrop of a plateau, somewhere down an old forest road. Overall our Oliver was one of the best - if not the best- rigs for comfortable, variable location, self supported camping - reliable and solid. In our experience - the Ollie  sits somewhere in the middle of the continuum between tenting - and the full blown big park only Bus RV. I must admit - as prices for the newer rigs rise - it becomes a little harder to justify given our  decades of exploration. 

And the gist of my post - Adventure after leaving the nest - home- I found myself (we) missing a little more of the backcountry we once enjoyed when we we more mobile - off road.  When we return to the "RV" world, it may be with an older single axle Ollie - prepped with a few mods to handle the more off road paths I avoided before.  One persons Adventure is another's - well you can fill in your definition.  Sometimes I felt a little less, simpler - less like home, was what I needed, less Oliver- less work to seek our adventure. The future - we shall see - but the Oliver experience is the example of what one should seek in mobile adventure platforms - certainly a great company, product, and fan base.

In closing - the world is your Oyster, and the Ollie is a great companion in your discovery of the the pearls to be found in the outdoors and in the outback of nature. Go a little farther - back of beyond- as Ed Abby would say, find your special spot. 

We will see you down the road - dusty and a little the worse for wear, but down the road alas.

RB, CB, and Harley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mossemi]

Very eloquently put, as usual for RB.

Mossey