Popular Post John E Davies Posted July 28, 2023 Popular Post Posted July 28, 2023 It was quite painful to sell, but this was the correct move at this stage in my life. For privacy I won’t say who bought it, but he is a member and if he wants to announce it, that will be on his dime. I emptied out the RV bay for the first time in six years, washed the floor using a push broom and Dawn detergent, and lots of water, and moved my LC200 over to that spot. I now have a vast area to park a vehicle or do workshop type projects, and my wife now has a big corner dedicated to gardening, with two big workbenches, power, light and pegboard. A happy wife is a happy me… Plus I have even more room for my indoor 10 meter airgun range. We will continue to travel and explore the back country at times, but we will stay primarily in motels or B&Bs. But if we encounter a splendid isolated pull-off overlooking a great vista, we can pop the Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon and rough it for a few nights. It takes about a minute to crank up, and three minutes to put back down. It is pretty darn crude compared to an Ollie, but it is a simply stunning tent. I was really afraid that there would be a big mpg hit from the tent, like with the Yakima RocketBox Carbonite Low, but I was delighted to discover that I got 16 mpgs going to the dealer with bare round bars, and 17 coming back, and no noise at all at 72 mph. That is good mileage for a Land Cruiser with LT tires, they are gas hogs. It’s way better than the 10-12 I got towing “Mouse” at 62 mph. I may install wimpy Geolander AT G015 tires after our next big trip, they will save 52 (!) pounds of rotating mass and I expect to gain another couple of mpgs. They are great “tweener” tires for an Outback, RAV4 or LC200 that isn’t doing lots of rocky stuff. I have had two sets already on other vehicles and I am impressed. We plan to attend the Total Solar Eclipse rally in Fredericksburg next April, but we will be forced to sleep in the ground due to stupid CG rules. If anyone wants a dirt cheap big heavy Eureka! tent and fly in fine condition, come by and talk to me on Tuesday morning after the crowds have departed. After the eclipse, we will head home via the Utah parks and hopefully spend a few nights on the delightful White Rim Road in Canyonlands NP. I will continue to hang out here on the forum, but my posting will be dramatically reduced. The members here feel very much like family, I can’t just go away. John Davies Spokane WA 6 6 5 2 SOLD 07/23 "Mouse": 2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.
MAX Burner Posted July 28, 2023 Posted July 28, 2023 13 minutes ago, John E Davies said: I can’t just go away. PLEASE! Do not do that, JD.... See you at the eclipse! 1 2 Art, Diane, Magnus & Oscar (double-Aaarrf!) 2022 TUNDRA 2017 LE II; Hull #226 "Casablanca" HAM call-sign: W0ABX
Shawna and Scott Posted July 28, 2023 Posted July 28, 2023 Congrats on your sale, I sure it must have been tough. I hope you have stay on the forums, your advice and mods instructions has helped many of us save a lot of frustrating hours. I mentioned to someone interested in Olivers the other day that is feels like a real big family!! 1 4 Vincent, Ohio | 2022 Elite ll, Hull #1182, 2014 Ford F150 3.5L EcoBoost, Max Towing PKG
Moderators SeaDawg Posted July 28, 2023 Moderators Posted July 28, 2023 Congratulations to you, and the new owner. They got a phenomenal trailer. Just a thought. We've airbnb'd it, and cabin camped, around Europe , Scandinavia, and South America, and some places in US and Canada. Just a thought. It will be different, but, hey, you don't have to maintain the airbnb's. (I will admit to fixing minor things, like dripping faucets and loose toilet seats in some.. lol.) Maybe time to explore other venues. Enjoy the next chapter, and the freedom afforded by your wife's retirement. I know neither of you will be just "sitting around." (Your tent is amazing.) I'm very glad you plan to hang around, even if on a limited basis.. Your posts have helped so many people.... more than you'll ever know. 1 7 2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4 2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12 Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes.... 400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries . Life is good.
Moderators SeaDawg Posted July 28, 2023 Moderators Posted July 28, 2023 40 minutes ago, John E Davies said: The members here feel very much like family, I can’t just go away. We feel the same way about you. 1 5 2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4 2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12 Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes.... 400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries . Life is good.
Moderators Mike and Carol Posted July 28, 2023 Moderators Posted July 28, 2023 Congrats on the sale! Best of luck with your future travels, please keep us up to date here…. Mike 1 3 Texas Hill Country | 2016 Elite II #135 | 2020 Ram 2500 6.7L
Tom and Doreen Posted July 28, 2023 Posted July 28, 2023 Best wishes, John, enjoy your future adventures!! Thank you for all you've done for this forum and we look forward to hearing from you again! 1 3 Tom & Doreen • 2023 Elite ll • Hull #1321 • 2023 Tundra Platinum Crew Max • Cheshire CT
Katjo Posted July 28, 2023 Posted July 28, 2023 Congrats on your sale! Enjoy and best wishes on all your future endeavors. 1 3 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 2021 Oliver Elite ll Hull #732 Michigan
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted July 28, 2023 Moderator+ Posted July 28, 2023 John, I'm glad you sold your trailer and I hope that your future plans work out. It's good to know you plan to hang out here and help to answer technical questions. Hasta la vista! 1 3 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved dogs Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4
Frank C Posted July 28, 2023 Posted July 28, 2023 Congratulations on the sale, and best wishes on your future camping plans with the new rooftop tent setup. That looks pretty cool. Glad you’ll be sticking around on the forum. 1 2
MnM Posted July 29, 2023 Posted July 29, 2023 Congrats on the sale. You’ve been HUGE resource here and I’m glad you will continue to look at the messages. See you at the Eclipse - believe we are just 2 spots down from you there. 2 Mike & Marianne Hermann, Scottsdale AZ 2022 RAM 2500 Hemi 4x4 Elite II Hull #1337
Moderators bugeyedriver Posted July 29, 2023 Moderators Posted July 29, 2023 Don't go away. You ARE family. 1 Pete & "Bosker". TV - '18 F150 Super-cab Fx4; RV - "The Wonder Egg"; '08 Elite, Hull Number 014. Travel blog of 1st 10 years' wanderings - http://www.peteandthewonderegg.blogspot.com
John E Davies Posted July 29, 2023 Author Posted July 29, 2023 1 hour ago, MnM said: Congrats on the sale. You’ve been HUGE resource here and I’m glad you will continue to look at the messages. See you at the Eclipse - believe we are just 2 spots down from you there. We sold our RV spot to MAX burner, because the management would not accept our new Autohome roof top tent in that spot. We will be in the big grassy tent area close by, in a Some Other Brand family sized ground tent. But we will be wandering around the entire area to meet and greet Ollies. My brother in law will be getting re-married on Saturday, April 6, all day at nearby Enchanted Rock. Otherwise we are free to wander. John Davies Spokane WA 1 SOLD 07/23 "Mouse": 2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.
jd1923 Posted July 29, 2023 Posted July 29, 2023 JD, I feel your pain from similar past loves! One of mine was a '59 Chrysler 300E that I purchased in 1994 and sold in 2010, after fully restoring her, both in appearance and rebuild of every mechanical system. We had a great club too, and this forum reminds me of it (so glad to be here)! We made many new friends over the 16 years, and twice a year we drove these old beauties, somewhere across country to get together, way too much car talk in hotel parking lots over beers. We are new here, becoming Oliver owners on June 7th (Chris' birthday, what a surprise)! The first thing I noticed on this forum was the multitude of upgrade & maintenance posts, you had worked, with engineering precision, providing full detailed explanations. I have posted a few in my short time, which you have read and commented upon. I hope to post many more, since auto restoration and repair has been my hobby for 45 years. If I work very hard at this over the next 5+ years, posting every possible detail, it will add up to a drop in the bucket, as compared to your contributions here! Yes, please visit your favorite forum, every now and then, and give us a hand! Best wishes to you and yours, in the next stages of your life. Chris and I are looking forward to meeting you and many other owners in Texas, next spring. I'll end with a picture showing our first day, with smile on my birthday girl. Thank you for your help, yes thank you very much. 1 3 Chris & John in Prescott, AZ | 2016 EII #113 | '01 Ram 2500 Cummins!
AlbertNTerri Posted July 29, 2023 Posted July 29, 2023 12 hours ago, John E Davies said: It was quite painful to sell, but this was the correct move at this stage in my life. For privacy I won’t say who bought it, but he is a member and if he wants to announce it, that will be on his dime. I emptied out the RV bay for the first time in six years, washed the floor using a push broom and Dawn detergent, and lots of water, and moved my LC200 over to that spot. I now have a vast area to park a vehicle or do workshop type projects, and my wife now has a big corner dedicated to gardening, with two big workbenches, power, light and pegboard. A happy wife is a happy me… Plus I have even more room for my indoor 10 meter airgun range. We will continue to travel and explore the back country at times, but we will stay primarily in motels or B&Bs. But if we encounter a splendid isolated pull-off overlooking a great vista, we can pop the Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon and rough it for a few nights. It takes about a minute to crank up, and three minutes to put back down. It is pretty darn crude compared to an Ollie, but it is a simply stunning tent. I was really afraid that there would be a big mpg hit from the tent, like with the Yakima RocketBox Carbonite Low, but I was delighted to discover that I got 16 mpgs going to the dealer with bare round bars, and 17 coming back, and no noise at all at 72 mph. That is good mileage for a Land Cruiser with LT tires, they are gas hogs. It’s way better than the 10-12 I got towing “Mouse” at 62 mph. I may install wimpy Geolander AT G015 tires after our next big trip, they will save 52 (!) pounds of rotating mass and I expect to gain another couple of mpgs. They are great “tweener” tires for an Outback, RAV4 or LC200 that isn’t doing lots of rocky stuff. I have had two sets already on other vehicles and I am impressed. We plan to attend the Total Solar Eclipse rally in Fredericksburg next April, but we will be forced to sleep in the ground due to stupid CG rules. If anyone wants a dirt cheap big heavy Eureka! tent and fly in fine condition, come by and talk to me on Tuesday morning after the crowds have departed. After the eclipse, we will head home via the Utah parks and hopefully spend a few nights on the delightful White Rim Road in Canyonlands NP. I will continue to hang out here on the forum, but my posting will be dramatically reduced. The members here feel very much like family, I can’t just go away. John Davies Spokane WA Thanks John for all your input and help. Good luck on all your future endeavors, hope to see you on the road sometime. albert & terri 1 1 Albert & Terri Sterns Paonia, Colorado Elite II Hull #1125 Standard Floorplan / 2017 Ford F250 gas
Allen Lee Rohner Posted July 29, 2023 Posted July 29, 2023 John, Thank you for all your helpful Post, I enjoy reading your articles. Wish you the best! Allen 1 1 2021 Oliver Elite II, Hull # 867, Shiloh, IL 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4, 3.0L Diesel, CarbonPro
Trailblazers Posted July 30, 2023 Posted July 30, 2023 Congratulations John on your sale of your Oliver and starting another chapter of your life. You will be missed on this forum. I have enjoyed reading about your posts, you have been such a great resource They have helped me solve many issues and given me several new ideas. Best of luck in your future adventures! 1 2 Franklin, TN 2018 Elite II #315 Tow Vehicle: 2020 Ram 1500
Bob and Elizabeth Posted July 30, 2023 Posted July 30, 2023 John, thanks for all of your input on the forum. Hope you will continue to be present here. See you in Fredericksburg in April. Wishing you the best on your new adventures. 1 Hull 737 OE ll “LET IT RAIN” 2016 Ford F-250 diesel
Boudicca908 Posted July 31, 2023 Posted July 31, 2023 John, congrats on the sale and I wish you the best in your new adventures. I've certainly appreciated your many informed posts, and I'm just getting started with using and understanding my Oliver and the systems. I do hope you will stay involved, as much as you desire -- and want to thank you for all you've done to help us here. Toni 1 1 Oliver Elite II Twin (delivered 3/28/2022) Tow Vehicle: Chevy Silverado 2500HD diesel
Hokieman Posted July 31, 2023 Posted July 31, 2023 John, Many thanks for your contributions & common sense mods to make the best trailer even better. I am grateful you spent countless hours documenting your mods, your tech library will be a valued knowledge base for Oliver owners for many years to come. 1 2 “Ramble” - 2021 Legacy Elite II #797; 2020 Ford F-250
johnwen Posted July 31, 2023 Posted July 31, 2023 Thanks, John, for all your help and hard work on your library of wonderful illustrations that helped me tremendously! Wishing you the very best 1 2 Oliver II #996 "Bessie", 2019 Silverado LTZ 5.3, Veterans https://wenandjohnsadventure.com/
gatorewc Posted August 8, 2023 Posted August 8, 2023 Thanks for all your articles and advice. Always bringing up questions we all think but do not ask and then providing some answers to make us all think.. Enjoy your new adventures! 1 1 Erv & Sherry Hull # 650 2024 Lariat SD 250 6.2 diesel
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