Oliver Factory Tour: Pls Help Interpret My Findings?

cruising spud wrote:
We currently have a Class C, but I have given a lot of thought to the Oliver/Escape trailers.

BUT, the wet bath really causes me to pause.

So, I too, would say- could you ask the company if they plan to, or is there any way, to make a separate shower?

Thanks.

Spud, the mold used to construct the fiberglass eggshell would have to be changed to accommodate this request. The Oliver staff does not envision this change on the horizon.

Durb wrote:
If in the market for an "egg" style trailer check out fiberglassrv.com. They have a forum dedicated to Oliver trailers. Don't sign on the dotted line before checking out BigFoot. They are also moulded fiberglass but with regular interior finishes not fiberglass like the Oliver. The Bigfoot trailers are 8'-3" wide as compared to 6.5' to 7' width of the Olivers. This allows for a full bath and separate shower plus considerably more interior space and storage. They are also of superb build quality and are in the same price range.

Happy shopping.

//

Durb, thanks for this info. I asked the Oliver folks how they would differentiate their product from Bigfoot. They said the Bigfoots only employ a single fiberglass shell. I have no way of verifying this information and wouldn't know if that was good or bad if it was verified. Care to weigh in further?

Raymond1943 wrote:
I actually met the owner of Oliver Trailers about six or seven years ago in one of the western states. I was in an A class parked overnight in a small gravel lot just outside of a small town. Do not remember the exact town; may be in Montana or Wyoming.

When I awoke the next morning, a very interesting TT was parked next to me. Later I walked over and introduced myself to the owner and inquired about the TT. It did not have a brand name or any markings on the trailer. The owner stated the TT was a prototype he and his son were considering manufacturing. They had some type of business/factory in Tennessee. Their primary business was not related to the RV industry.

The owner stated that he could not find a well made TT so he decided to manufacture his own TT. That trailer had the best quality materials and best workmanship I have ever seen in an RV. The fit and finish was superb! It had many extremely well designed features; I do not remember all of them, but I was highly impressed and I do not get highly impressed very often. The TT was no longer than 22 to 24 feet, but did have a tandem axle.

The owner said they had not manufactured many units because the RV market had taken a downturn. He was hoping when the market picked up, he could start manufacturing and selling the TT. He did not state the price range for the TT.

I would think the price for a TT of this quality would be at the higher end for TT's. If I was in the market for a smaller TT I would definitely check out the Oliver TT's.

//

Raymond1943, all of your observations seem spot on to me? See the Build Sheets above for pricing information.

marpel wrote:
Have been researching a new trailer over the last few months and am quite interested in the Oliver product, so hope you report back on your findings. Actually wish I could take a tour but it's a bit far from Vancouver Canada (although have toured the Escape factory up in this area, also a fiberglass product).

So, wondering about the following:

- Am hesitant about the wet bath and wonder if they are considering a full bath model in the future (or if the current models can be converted to full bath with separate shower).
- how thick are the walls and what is the R-value? (the Escapes I looked at have extremely thin walls with only sheets of Reflectex, or similar, between the inner and outer fibreglass skins).
- it appears they only market permanent single bed configurations, with the ability to lower the dinette table to accommodate a (temporary) larger (queen) bed. Any factory option for a permanent queen bed?
- One of their marketing hypes is less propensity for leaking due to fewer roof seams (along wall/roof edges). However, they still have roof vents and A/C which breach the solid roof. Is the method of sealing the roof seams similar to conventional trailers and if so, how is this any better?
- although heavier than my current trailer, the width is narrower and the edges are radiuses all the way around, especially at the rear. Have they done any tests comparing their trailers and wider traditional trailers, and have any data on the difference in mpg performance, with similar vehicle? (I'm presuming, though heavier, the narrower width and radiuses edges will make for an easier pull - hills should be similar but flat highway driving should show a benefit).

Am looking forward to your comments after your tour is over.

Thanks,

Marv

//

Marpel, the staff tells me there are no plans for a designing a new mold in the near future, which precludes them from altering a lot of things, including a full bath. See pic of mold currently being used.

I'm told the width of the trailer is intentional -- to optimize the view of the pilot. The thickness of walls varies... there is a pic or two which may satisfy your curiosity regarding that. The R-value is R16 throughout the trailer. The sides & bottom are insulated exactly the same way as the roof. The insulation strategy for the Oliver sounds very similar to the Escape: Pro-dex (not Reflectix) is placed between the inner & outer fiberglass shells. I found a discussion about the difference between Reflectix and Prodex here.

Pro-dex vs. Reflectix

They don’t use more than one sheet because the strategy actually depends upon the surrounding air to operate as designed. The air, itself, is considered to be an insulator -- as you already know.

If the rear is left permanently in the king/queen bed layout, you still have a dining table for two mid-ship (everything about the Oliver entices you to use marine-speak). It was worth noting that the bed made available by converting the two-seater dinette is as long as those beds in the twin/queen configuration, although not as wide.

Marpel, I’m told that the method for sealing seams created by adding components is similar to traditional coaches but the manufacturer insists there are far fewer breaches -- owing to the fact that the vertices of two planes are not exposed like traditional box-type TT. There are breaches in the roof created when components are added (solar, A/C, etc...) and the methodology for sealing them is consistent with the traditional way, although, they say it is not necessary to use Di-cor; the manufacturer insists you can buy the sealant from any home improvement store. As an aside, I can tell you that I witnessed four steel plates incorporated into the outer upper shell to facilitate attaching the air conditioner. My tour guide was not within earshot when I made this observation & I failed to follow-up with him once we were reunited.

Another observation... I never walked the roof & I noticed a ladder was not a standard option. I dunno if it is an option at all? I noticed that the manufacturing line used this scaffolding (see pic above) to place the components on the roof. I was told you COULD walk on the roof, but I was thinking, if it were mine, I would do so sparingly. I dunno if that’s a valid conclusion or not? Maybe that’s unwarranted paranoia? Fortunately, there are no branches to clear because there are no slides, so maybe time on the roof is limited to inspecting sealant?

Marpel, there have been no tests to compare the Oliver Trailer to traditional TTs with respect to MPG or anything else. So, there was no data available here. Please see their website for the dry weight of the TT and it’s CCC, etc... Heather did tell me the units are weighed individually after all options are installed.

hussbuss wrote:
These are well built trailers. Better quality than the mass produced junk being by most manufactures today. I ran into one of these at Road America where we were camp hosting this summer. Had a chance to talk to the owner and tour the unit. He was pulling with a VW I believe a Tourieg Diesel. I also questioned the ball hitch. WD hitch not needed or recommended by factory. He has pulled over 10,000 miles with it and no sway problems. Unit is well balanced. Cute little trailer but to small for us. He travels alone. His wife doesn't like camping.

//

Hussbuss, I’m told only the the Anderson system will work with this set-up & it does uses chains instead of bars. Any other solution is not only discouraged by the factory but, in addition, simply will not work, as you imply above.

A word about quality... my tour guide told me that the owners “don’t want anything done cheaply”. All of us appreciate that tenet but how many of us are actually willing to pay for it? As I walked along the manufacturing line, I found that a every part was heavy & substantial -- seemingly equal to its task. I was pleasantly surprised to see home grown parts being fabricated right there in the shop -- no importing from China as far as I could see? Even so, the word “quality”, in so far as our discussion, means different things to different people.

If, to you, “quality” means 6” crown molding, dual lazy-boy recliners and slides that increase your square footage, this is not the manufacturer for you. Oliver may be your choice of manufacturers if:

• To you, “quality” means longevity, quality parts, and innovative design.
• You’re willing to pay a stipend for the knowledge that the travel trailer is “made in America by United States citizens”.
• A Euro sleek, ultra modern, marine-like, contemporary aesthetic is your cup of tea. Indeed, Heather referred to the TT as “a yacht on wheels” and that’s very consistent with it’s marine-like ambiance.

BillyW wrote:
I'm curious about the tongue configuration. How does the generator box fit in? Based on the photos on their website, I don't see where you can attach your preferred wd hitch either. Looks to me like the fiberglass cover goes a LONG way forward on it.

I'm also curious how roomy the restroom/shower is. Don't want to go into too much detail, but I wouldn't appreciate having to wedge myself into a corner to do my business.

Just how well insulated is it?

And last but not least, I'm curious how comfy those cushions that make into a bed are.

//

BillyW, I was told that the frame configuration is an improvement upon the standard A-Frame trailer. See pic of A-Frame improvement above.

The trailer can be configured to host a generator but said generator must find its home in an aluminum utility box that is attached to the tongue in front of the propane tanks. I’m told some people choose to go with (2) 2000W generators as opposed to one because they weigh less, making them easier to lift. This facilitates the ability to lock them in the trailer while you’re away. This sounds logical but, as a practical matter, I probably would not do so, inviting a self-imposed security risk, if truth be told. Have any of you folks had generators “liberated” in similar circumstances? They also told me there is a third-party manufacturer that has designed a receptacle that attaches the generator to a solid steel plate that supposedly deters theft. You guys would have a better idea than I about the logistics of such strategies.

Billy, the toilet area looked plenty roomy to me. I thought my 73 year old mother would be taken aback by the “wet bath” but she reminded me we had seen the same thing in hotel rooms in Italy and declared it quaint, innovative and charming. The wet bath is not a deal breaker for me but I don’t especially like having to pull a shower spigot from the sink. For some reason, or other, I found myself wishing there was a dedicated fixture? It just seems that the single faucet would receive a lot of wear & tear as it travels back and forth? Again, I defer to RV.net members to verify that theory?

Speaking of “doing your business”, I observed that the storage for the waste hose is within very close proximity of the place to connect it to the dump valve. As a matter of fact, you could, if desired, stow & stay connected to the coach at the same time. I have no idea if this is a good idea or a bad one? See pic.

The trailer is rated at R16. The ceiling is no different from the walls -- it’s all R16. The cavity in-between the two fiberglass shells is not heated, specifically, but is kept warm by the proximity of the heater. Heat blankets for the tanks can be ordered & installed ahead of time.

And last but not least, BillyW, I’m glad you asked about the cushions. The standard configuration calls for 4 inches of foam encased in something that looks like a standard mattress cover material. The upgraded version adds another 2 inches of foam. Mom & I both thought it was comfortable enough but how long would that last? I’m told you can get a mattress made for RVs but I’m wondering how much weight that would add to the coach? And I'm wondering if it would take up much of your coveted cargo carrying capacity? One would have to “do the math” based upon your specific configuration, I should think?

theoldwizard1 wrote:
From their web site, they appear to be built like a fiberglass boat.

A uniform first layer of gelcoat is critical. Laying in spun/woven mats and wetting it out should be the step. Do they use more than one layer ? What type of a mat are they using.

I would be surprised if they used "chopper guns" to build up thickness. These are fast but nowhere near as strong as glass matting.

The floor obviously has to be thicker/stronger that the rest. Typically this is done with some kind of "core" material. Balsa wood was used (perhaps still is) for many years until people realized that one tiny crack would allow water intrusion that would rot the wood. Repairs were difficult/impossible on some boats.

Also pay attention to home the shell is attached to the frame.

They look like nice trailers ! They do offer several factory "premium" option that no other TT offer. I would like to hear your report.

//

Wizard, while they do use “chopper guns”, Jason tells me that glass mats are used in select areas where extra reinforcement is needed. Primarily, though, they rely upon a structural honeycomb core and fiber-reinforced foam core material called Nida-Core which is manufactured by 3M. This material is explained better in the videos than the pictures. They depend upon this material to support structural loads. Also, Jason told me that glass mats were used to reinforce areas that required extra strength, but glass matting is not used everywhere. The reinforcement in the flooring is no different than the remainder of the trailer.

The procedure for attaching the trailer to the frame is as follows. Before the outer, lower shell is attached to the frame, a layer of rubber material is used to prevent the trailer frame from marring the fiberglass. The lower shell is attached with half a dozen bolts on either side & my notes say “aluminum frame mat”. The two inner shells, which have already been attached to each other are lowered into the outer bottom shell. Finally, the top cap is lowered into place and the seam that encircles the perimeter of the coach is chemically bonded with a permanent adhesive. Again, one of the videos explains this in detail.

I did notice that steel plates were embedded into the “eggshell” where the air conditioner is mounted to the roof. I also noted that a scaffolding is employed to install components onto the roof as opposed to walking on it.

/CC

DutchmenSport wrote:
Take photos of everything, from all angles. Lots of photos!

Dutchmen, as you can see, I took your suggestion to heart. I hope you enjoy the pics & videos.

Oliver Factory Tour Report
Prepared for
Members of RV.Net
by
“CopilotCompanion”
Fall 2016


Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for my tour of the Oliver Factory. Your input improved my RV acumen but I must place this caveat at the beginning of my report: I am a student... not a teacher. For this reason, I am only able to report my findings. I will make no attempt to vet the replies made by the manufacturer and I will rely upon RV.net members to interpret my findings. With the help of this forum, I am climbing the learning curve relative to RVs, in general, and travel trailers, in particular. Currently, I consider myself in an embryonic state relative to this task. With that disclaimer, I submit my report.

I’ll not try to duplicate the information found on the website for Oliver Trailers. You can find their website here:

Oliver Travel Trailers, Hohenwald, TN

Prior to my visit, long ago, I had asked for a price list. To my amazement, one arrived via email without haggling or gotchas? A PDF of a Build Sheet/Price List for the “Elite” model -- a single axle unit, one of two models produced at the factory is posted above. A Build Sheet/Price List for the “Elite II” -- a tandem axle unit, the larger of the two models produced at the factory is also posted. Ollies come in only two flavors, one or the other.

GREETINGS & SALUTATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF TOUR

Upon my arrival in the Fall of 2016, I’m told several tours were scheduled that week but on this particular day, my very-patient-73-year-old-mother & I are the only tourists. I am greeted by Heather Oliver, daughter of the founder, who takes me on a tour of the “Ollie” in the showroom -- the double axle model. The founder has retired, travels extensively and has turned over the operation of the company to his children. Heather states emphatically that their units aren’t for everyone. The company wishes to manufacture high quality units for discerning customers who are willing & able to pay for it. She likens the construction of an Ollie to a “yacht on wheels”.

Once we depart the showroom, I am lead on a factory tour by Jason Essary. The factory is located approximately one & a half miles West of the showroom. Jason explains that the owners emphasize quality over quantity. “The owner doesn’t want any component to be low quality” he states. Contact information for both of these people is found at the end of this thread.

Jason tells me there is approximately 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Approximately 150,000 square feet of it is dedicated to manufacturing Ollies. The rest of the space is dedicated to manufacturing fiberglass bathtubs marketed under the name “Safe Step” at the rate of 1000 per week. 60 employees are dedicated to manufacturing travel trailers at a rate of 2 per week. When the staff begins to return from lunch, I observe that this is a “Made in America by United States Citizens” operation.

I will now answer the specific questions provided in the thread by RV.net members. Thanks, again, for your guidance & I hope, despite my obvious deficit(s), that you glean something valuable from this post.

/CC

The text of my "Trip Report" & replies of the manufacturer to specific inquiries of RV.net members to be posted tomorrow. Right now, I have a hungry husband and a sedated dog. Duty calls but I'll post more tomorrow, God willing & the creek don't rise!

/CC