2022 #10: On the road!

We picked up our new Oliver trailer, named Eggcelsior, in Hohenwald, TN on June 20. I posted details about that trip in the Oliver forums here: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/7054-hull-1150-is-home-and-marinating/ but I'll summarize by saying we had a few minor issues that were corrected at the factory before we left Tennessee, and a few that we addressed ourselves on the way home. Overall, it was a positive sales experience and a successful first trip.

Since then, we've done one camping trip in Connecticut and found out we're subject to a recall on the Dexter axles - which has stopped our travels for now. (Not Oliver's fault, details here: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/7070-successful-dry-camping-but-grounded-by-axles/)

The trailer has performed admirably, towing easily and working very well while dry-camping without hookups in a state park for 4 nights. We think we can plan 8+ night trips without hookups in the future if there are bathrooms available in the park. And the Platinum lithium battery package with solar is amazing. No shortage of power at all if the days are sunny, and days and days of stored capacity if it's cloudy. We never used our generator.

Now I want to talk about our real-world experiences with some of the items we purchased earlier:

• Weigh-Safe 4" Drop Hitch. ⭐⭐⭐Beautiful hitch, but probably overkill.  https://www.weigh-safe.com/product/weigh-safe-drop-hitch/
• Blackstone 17" Griddle. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Steph likes it. It does require a bit more maintenance than a regular grill - seasoning the griddle, cleaning, etc. - but it cooks really well and you can make a larger variety of foods with it. It runs fine off the Oliver's external propane port with the optional hose and adapter. https://blackstoneproducts.com/products/17-tabletop-griddle 
• Magma Induction Non-stick Cookware Set - 7 Piece. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Steph loves the Magma.  Great non-stick surface, even heating, heavy duty, stacks for storage.  https://magmaproducts.com/collections/cookware-sets/products/nesting-non-stick-cookware-7-piece
• Xtend+Climb 12.5' ladder. ⭐⭐⭐Used it once on the road to check the roof. Very sturdy but heavy and bulky. We keep it in the Oliver closet. Not sure if the less expensive options would have served just as well.  https://xtendandclimb.com/products/all-products/770p.html
• Camp Chairs. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mixed review on this one. I like them, Steph doesn't. She thinks it's too hard to remove the footrest and the backrest angle is uncomfortable without it. I think they're fine in either configuration.   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0831G9TKK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

• Lounging pillows. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Winner, winner chicken dinner. These are great when you want to use the Oliver bed to read, watch TV, or otherwise recline instead of lie flat. Comfortable and versatile.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085W4NLZ4? psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details  
  
  
  
• The Hook. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Didn't need it for the Oliver basement but it's great to pull things out from under the Diamondback truck cover on our truck.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZDERX0?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details 
• Tool kit. ⭐⭐⭐⭐I used this Harbor Freight took kit several times already. The tools feel kind of cheap, but they've gotten the job done each time. https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-set-with-case-130-pc-63248.html?_br_psugg_q=tool+set  

• Cascade Mountain high back camp chairs. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐These backpacking chairs are surprisingly comfortable and fold up small enough to fit two on a shelf in the Oliver's closet. Nice. We found a better price, and color, at Costco after we bought them on Amazon. 😒

  

  
   
• Chulux coffee maker from Amazon. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This tiny little Keurig knockoff does the job without taking up a lot of storage space. So far, so good.  

  

We'll continue to update our experiences once our axles have been fixed by Dexter.