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centennialman · 06-07-2008, 07:34 AM

Way too much plastic for me (including the inside). I will keep my old girl

53flyingcloud · 06-07-2008, 08:29 AM

Interesting, it seems (correct me if I am wrong) as if no one picked up on the aluminum frame. Sure it's plastic(yuck) but..I am looking at it from outside the A/S box. Picking it apart for ideas that could be added to the A/S concept.
I like the running night lights along the edge. Anyone else find anything that caught your eyes that you thought might be nice to have in your unit?
How abt that 3 way frig?..

Darol Ingalls · 06-07-2008, 08:39 AM

Terry, The specs also say you need an electronic brake controller for the tow vehicle, so the brakes must be electric, not surge. The tongue extention is to adjust the hitch weight. Also, it would be handy to allow a little more distance between the tow vehicle and trailer jack. A couple of my trailers have been too close-coupled and I could not open the tailgate of the pickup. This appears to be a well-thought-out trailer. The interior would probably be more inviting with an off-white, less glossy finish. I like the 3-point leveling system. Looks like you could use the leveling jacks to change tires, too. Darol

3streams · 06-07-2008, 09:05 AM

I like the dump valve area with the faucet! However, It is a bit much molded plastic on the inside. Probably easy to clean but lacking in visual interest. Although the stripper pole adds its own kind of "interest." Something about it reminds me of the inside of a boat. I don't see any access panels to get behind things if you needed to repair anything- I bet you have to take it to a dealer for any repairs. Cool- but I will stick to vintage aluminum!

craftsman · 06-07-2008, 09:24 AM

I like my Olivers in Green

vhord · 06-07-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatPumpkin

Can I get it in Orange?

Yes, but I think they call it a Kubota.

Frank's Trailer Works · 06-07-2008, 12:52 PM

so if the plastic in vintage airstreams cracks so frequently, how do you think all that plastic will? I know plastics have advanced in the past years, but I am doubtful of the longevity.

Darol Ingalls · 06-07-2008, 03:33 PM

Most of the "plastic" that cracked in older Airstreams was vacuum formed ABS plastic. The fiberglas components such as the Caravel shower pans, Safari and Tradewind tubs, and most shower stalls were quite durable and if they were not abused are still in good shape. The ABS was prone to untraviolet deterioration which caused discoloring and cracking due to the butyl ("B" in ABS) migrating out leaving the acrylic("A") and styrene ("S") which are by nature quite brittle. ABS plastics of the 60's and 70's had outdoor rating of 3 to 5 years depending on exposure. Interior parts lasted much longer. Today's fiberglass is much more durable than that of the 60's and 70's as is noted at any marina. Of course it still takes some maintenance if left outdoors. Most of us who take good care of our Airstreams (like inside storage and waxing) should not be afraid of fiberglass. I'm certainly not rushing out to buy an Oliver, but I've sent for their information and will study it carefully. Compared to the Airstream 17' Safari Sport, price alone makes the Oliver something to think about. Darol

Wayne&Sam · 06-07-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

It looks good in white.

The SUV out in front isn't doing the aerodynamics of the trailer any favours.

A for a 2600 lb trailer it must have a lot of tongue weight, looking at the way the TV is sitting.

Fyrzowt · 06-07-2008, 10:47 PM

WD hitch would correct that...

overlander63 · 06-08-2008, 05:44 AM

It's the 52 cases of diet soda in the back of the t.v....

Jim Clark · 06-08-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62overlander

so if the plastic in vintage airstreams cracks so frequently, how do you think all that plastic will? I know plastics have advanced in the past years, but I am doubtful of the longevity.

The interior is much like what in the boating industry is known as a pan interior. A molded shell/Pan is installed inside the hull with all the cabinets, closets, seats, and so on formed. Easier and cheaper than an AS interior, of course it will not fit through the door. They hold up well on boats and are found mostly in the medium to cheap boats, speaking of sailboats here as I know nothing about power boats.

mountainborn · 06-10-2008, 11:53 AM

Hello ! We looked at Casita before we got a Oliver last November. I guess that the diferent insulation packages and the ability to custom order from the manufacturer, made us decide to go with the Oliver.
We wanted a trailer that was light enough to pull with a V6 engine Jeep Wrangler. One thing we wanted was to be able to get into rougher terrain, like the jeep trail system out in Colorado. We leave for Ouray, Co the last week of this month.
We have pulled the Oliver with the tongue all of the way in and all of the way out. The tongue is adjusted and locked in place torqued down binding system and has absolutely no movement . We currently have the tongue all of the way out and have a 3000 watt Yamaha generator mounted on it. Extending the tongue out compensates for the additional weight on it. So the Jeep rides level and tows marvelously ! Solar panels in the future, we love the gen set, but prefer the quiet solar idea.
Here is how it looks:

mountainborn · 06-10-2008, 12:50 PM

Oh, I almost forgot ! One of the things that came to mind when choosing an all fiberglass TT, was that should we get some trail damage from going to those remote places that we just love so, we would have the option of making quality repairs ourselves, at home in the garage. Repairs with commonly available supplies that are available localy was attractive to us.

mountainborn · 06-10-2008, 01:51 PM

Someone mentioned in an earlier post that with the Oliver there was so much white. He, He, here is the Jeep and the TT near Christmas Arizona up in the Pinal Mountains. Dusty mountain trails and the angle of the sun seem to reduce the "white" effect somewhat ? In this photo the tongue is extended and the generator is off.

Here is a look at how the trailer and Jeep sit with out the generator on, and the tongue not extended. Photo was taken in Columbia Tennessee:

We didn't want to mess with a weight distrubiting hitch or a sway bar system and not having to use either of them was a contributing factor also when we decided to buy an Oliver. We have never felt that we might need them as it tows so well. Out in West Texas where I 10 and I 20 come togather the posted speed limit is 80 MPH and we felt that if sway was ever going to be an issue it would show up at those speeds. We never had a problem with anything except our gas mileage sure suffered at those speeds, it dropped down to nearly foruteem miles per gallon.

Aage · 06-10-2008, 10:58 PM

Gotta admit, the exterior has charm, and looks fairly aerodynamic.

Do you have any shots of the interior?

TBRich · 06-10-2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

Gotta admit, the exterior has charm, and looks fairly aerodynamic.

Do you have any shots of the interior?

Here's a link that has pictures of the interior. Copy of Campers Vegas 021 | Oliver Travel Trailers

It does have charm...and I can see why some think it's a "look-alike" for and AS...but not so much in my opinion...

Aage · 06-11-2008, 02:40 PM

No, not a look-alike for an A/S in my book either, but quite compact and complete. I bit too claustrophobic for me.

That vertical chrome bar: what is its purpose? It reminds me of a city bus.

Frank's Trailer Works · 06-11-2008, 05:33 PM

Okay, I have been following this thread... Are you all high? That is a pile of plastic on an aluminum frame. What is so similar to an Airstream? Oh, I see now, it is a travel trailer, oh, it is on wheels.... common. Sorry, my not so humble opinion....