@@utrinqueparatusman thanks for commenting. It certainly is compact, which is why we named it Piccolino (Italian for “Little One”). For those of us who value our ability to be nimble over our living space, it’s been a great camper; however, there were certainly times we wished for larger, such as being stuck inside with two dogs during weeks of PNW rain. We’ve decided our perfect solution is a small camper (we got a truck camper in August) to get to places off the beaten path and when we’re moving often. Then, we’ll get a second, larger camper for luxury livin’ and when we’re going to be sitting in spots for weeks or a month at a time. We all have our different travel/RV styles, so it’s great the various manufacturers offer us so many options to find what’s right for each of our adventures. Cheers!
@SportsManVegetal24 күн бұрын
Is there a difference between the Airstream and the Oliver when it comes to cold winters?
@HardAleeAdventures24 күн бұрын
@@SportsManVegetal thanks for asking! 100%. Airstreams tend to be fairly drafty since the bottom skin has numerous gaps around the wheel wells and such then large openings where plumbing comes up from the “enclosed” belly. Incidentally, that’s also how rodents tend to get into them. The Oliver has dual hulls and is sealed well anywhere there is a penetration within the inner hull (plumbing, propane, and etcetera). They also use different insulation. Airstream still uses thin fiberglass batt insulation stuffed in wall cavities. However, at every piece of frame, you have a very efficient thermal bridge made of aluminum. Aluminum is very good at allowing for heat transfer, so you basically have R-0 wherever the framing is. At 17F, our pillows froze to the walls. Not enjoyable. The Oliver uses a Reflectix type of reflective insulation adhered to the hull. There is minimal thermal bridging, so far less transfer of heat to the outside. The biggest issue we’ve had is condensation around the aluminum window frames. Finally, Airstream still uses single-pane, glass windows…and a lot of them. Oliver uses fewer windows per sf of bulkhead and dual-pane. Still glass, but the dual panes do make a considerable difference. We only camped in our Oliver down to the low 20’s, but we were very comfortable. We know of otters who have camped in them much colder without having to winterize water systems beyond disconnecting the exterior shower hose and putting some extra Reflectix in that compartment. We hope this information is helpful. If you’re looking for something for late fall/winter/early spring sports, you’ll be better served by the Oliver.
@dedrichhohorst3127Ай бұрын
Interesting start to the video. Used to live in Milton FL and we closed and moved into our MH at Avalon Landing until we left for NC. Spent some time back at Avalon Landing on future visits to the Panhandle. Great park and interesting odyssey for you in your downsizing.
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@dedrichhohorst3127 thanks for your comment. I’d lived in Pensacola during my Navy days, so it was nice to go back for a visit as we changed the page to the next chapter of our adventures. Cheers!
@alp-156Ай бұрын
Extreme temperatures - In the cold temperatures (Alaska) and warm temperatures (AZ in the summer months, if you have been there during the summer months) did you find the heater and AC units in the Oliver sufficient to keep you comfortable?
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@alp-156 we didn’t stay in Alaska during winter or Arizona during the summer. However, we’ve camped from the low 20s to the upper 80s and been very comfortable. The heater is wonderful and the AC is pretty good and both are relatively quiet compared to other brands. We did opt for the full Truma set up and happy we did. Our only complaint with the AC, like the Donetic in our Northern Lite truck camper, is that the fan stays on and does not cycle with the compressor. Minor, but prefer it to cycle. The double fiberglass hull, tight envelope and reflectix-type insulation seem to help greatly. Because of the tight envelope, you do get condensation, especially around the windows, when camping in colder temps. Just something to be aware of seems to be true of many (most?) campers. Whatever the winning combination is, we’ve been more comfortable, temperature-wise, in the Oliver than our previous two Airstreams.
@alp-156Ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures Thank you and I love the information you have provided.
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@alp-156 happy to help!
@alp-156Ай бұрын
Hi, after one year of ownership of your new Oliver trailer - preference composting toilet or conventional ?
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@alp-156 we’re fans of the composter. I actually swapped one out on our boat previously. No need to find a dump station and no dreadful black tank issues to worry about. It takes some getting used to and the pee jug needs more frequent emptying, but that can be done at any pit privy, rest area, in the boondocks, etcetera.
@alp-156Ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures Thanks for that information.
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@alp-156 glad to help
@ThomasMackay-i8hАй бұрын
Wonder what the AS weighed?
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@ThomasMackay-i8h GVWR was 10,000 pounds, but loaded it was typically under 9k.
@ThomasMackay-i8hАй бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures I would have guessed a rig that size would weigh more but I’m sure your Oliver is lighter besides being smaller. And a lot easier to tow.
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@ThomasMackay-i8h you nailed it! Piccolino weighs under 7,000 loaded and with the reduced windage we were able to ditch the weight distribution hitch and makes for much easier hook up and delightful towing.
@ThomasMackay-i8hАй бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures Nice. I have found in full timing that the less I have to do the better!
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@ThomasMackay-i8h that was our theory. Keep It Simple Sailor.
@JohnAnderson-km1fbАй бұрын
I ran across you both in a dealer’s video as you bought a northern lite truck camper. Are you out of the Oliver? Any new adventures ahead? What do you think of the truck camper vs bumper-trailers?
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@JohnAnderson-km1fb too funny! Yes, we bought a Northern Lite truck camper and we recently listed our Oliver for sale. We love the Oliver for our last big adventure and we’re looking for something more nimble for the future. We only have about 1300 miles so far with the truck camper but are loving the flexibility. We pulled into a grocery store and didn’t even need six spots! The only drawback we’ve found is the increased height/width. The layout of our NL is very comfortable, but the equipment isn’t nearly as good as the Oliver, so upgrades will happen. We also had to do some minor truck modifications due to the weight and raised center of gravity. Upgraded shocks and added Timbren SESs and upper Torklift StableLoads. It rides very differently than towing a TT, but we love how much shorter we are and that will allow far more spontaneous stops since we don’t need to worry so much about our ability to turn around. As to our future adventures. We’re currently in the process of building our home base, but planning on shorter excursions to Canadian maritime provinces, Newfoundland, and back to Alaska taking the Trans-Canada Highway. When life slows down, we’re hoping to get out additional videos. Thanks for checking in!
@alp-156Ай бұрын
HI, Thank you for posting this video. I had been shopping for an AS for a while. Then one day recently i saw "Farewell to our AS." Hello Oliver" and I was instantly sold. I have been watching all the Oliver videos and your travels I could find on the internet. So far, I love this trailer. You have outfitted your trailer with some wonderful ideas, especially wall hangings. Currently looking for a vehicle to tow it then off to Tennessee I go. Thanks again.
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@alp-156 we’re happy to hear our video was helpful in your decision. Our Oliver brought us many months and miles of fun and comfortable adventures. Depending on where you are, we’ve actually listed Piccolino for sale. We went even smaller with a slide-in truck camper 😆.
@brucemitchell56372 ай бұрын
That's a great idea from Oliver to have new owners camp next to the factory for a couple of days to learn all the systems and sort out any potential problems BEFORE they actually leave! Shows that Oliver actually takes customer satisfaction seriously!
@HardAleeAdventures2 ай бұрын
@@brucemitchell5637 we couldn’t agree more. We always like to camp nearby for a couple nights with any new RV, but Oliver has made this so easy. They also let us stay there before and after our service appointment this spring. Super convenient!
@exploringcoasttocoast02032 ай бұрын
Hope all is well. Missing y'all.
@HardAleeAdventures2 ай бұрын
@@exploringcoasttocoast0203 we’re good. Just got off the road and our latest adventure (building our own house) is taking up our KZbin time 😆. We’re hoping things eventually quiet down and we can catch up on some videos we shot footage for, but never put together.
@exploringcoasttocoast02032 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures oh how exciting- good for you- glad all’s well- carry on then and see you later 😂
@HardAleeAdventures2 ай бұрын
@@exploringcoasttocoast0203 thank you!
@Chrylgirl2 ай бұрын
He seriously put the ball on with small Channel Lock pliers ? No wonder they come off on the road!
@HardAleeAdventures2 ай бұрын
@@Chrylgirl sometimes you’ve just gotta make do with what you’ve got. Semper Gumby. Always flexible. Fortunately, with a bit of brute force, we were able to get it tight and it never loosened a bit.
@brianlanglois40862 ай бұрын
I worked as an r v tech for three years, there is no comparison between the airstream and the Oliver. You made a great choice.
@HardAleeAdventures2 ай бұрын
@@brianlanglois4086 thank you! It has been a great camper. It’s always great to get affirmation from someone in the business!
@flygtjej7483 ай бұрын
Christina from TX here; so great to see how you've organized your Oliver for full time living!! I belive the new fridge type has a (much) smaller freezer; don't know if there's an option to get the older type that has a larger freezer. We just got back from a week of camping in Oshkosh and the fridge held everything we needed (the dog stayed home!). We also got the Tooletries idea from Kathy Adams and agree that they are fantastic!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful tiny home and we're so happy you are enjoying your Oliver!!
@HardAleeAdventures3 ай бұрын
@@flygtjej748 Hello Christina! It’s great to hear from you! We had an absolute blast on our 14-months of full-timing in Piccolino. So many miles and so much fun. The fridge did fine for our normal day-to-day, but the tiny freezer didn’t work for Stormy’s raw food. It was easy enough to toss a portable freezer in the truck and we continued on our adventures. We’re glad to hear you’re still enjoying your Oliver adventures!
@MrSTOUT733 ай бұрын
I'm curious how the manufacturer would deliver a unit and the microwave doesn't work? I'd think QC would check something like that??
@HardAleeAdventures3 ай бұрын
@@MrSTOUT73 it was intermittent. It seemed to work when we initially tried it. Then, the next morning it took 10 minutes to bring a cup of coffee to warm. I was just happy they got us right in and swapped it out.
@lee41603 ай бұрын
Sorry if I missed it, but why are you selling the airstream for the oliver? i haven't followed you guys so am not familiar with your history, etc. I'm in the market for a 17-24 ft and considered both of these. Thanks!
@HardAleeAdventures3 ай бұрын
@@lee4160 thanks for your question. If you look at the comments on our Farewell to our Airstream video., you will find in depth answers to this question. The short of it came down to what we believe is better build quality, better insulation, no holes to welcome mice, we ordered it exactly how we wanted it instead of having to make several after market modifications (electrical, solar, suspension, etc.), and all-in-all just a better tool for our Alaska adventures. After 14 months of full-time adventuring in our Oliver and we have zero regrets. If you decide to go the Oliver route, ours will be for sale in a few weeks. We’ve come off the road to build a home-base and will build up a new rig for future adventures even further off the beaten path. Cheers!
@lee41603 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures thanks. We’ve got two kids so sadly the Oliver’s don’t work.
@HardAleeAdventures3 ай бұрын
@@lee4160 it’s compact with two small dogs, so definitely worth considering something bigger with two small humans 😉
@johndanczak4 ай бұрын
Airstream is more than a camper, it’s a culture, an investment, classic, and timeless. It simply can’t be beat. Period!
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
@@johndanczak you sure sound passionate about Airstreams. We just prefer a camper that does the job we need it to do. We aren’t married to any single brand nor are we brand ambassadors. Our “culture” has zero to do with the brand of RV we are using at any particular time and more about the wonderful people we surround ourselves with while on this adventure. We’re happy for you that you have found a product that brings you such happiness. Cheers!
@iosifkovalenko83643 ай бұрын
Airstreams are classy and attractive. But, fiberglass trailers are built far superior to airstreams. Less maintenance and more dependable.
@HardAleeAdventures3 ай бұрын
@@iosifkovalenko8364 we absolutely agree. We owned two different Airstreams and loved the iconic look. For Alaska, we chose function over fashion 😆.
@HardAleeAdventuresАй бұрын
@@xk302a they certainly don’t seem to be being built like they were in the past.
@jw41114 ай бұрын
The Oliver looks like a cleaner design than Air stream. Looks like a great alternative to AS.
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
@@jw4111 we agree 👍. We love that everything is formed in the mold, so no cabinetry to loosen up when driving across Top-of-the-World Highway in AK. We’ve put Piccolino through its paces and only had to tighten up the microwave mount once after around 18,000 miles. We find the quality far superior to our two previous ASs.
@BrianAz4 ай бұрын
I know I am late to the party but that was a smart move! I have watched tons of Airstream users make videos of all the issues and dislikes with what is more of a status symbol than quality per dollar. The size is greater but I hope you enjoy the new rig. I'm new to your channel so I look forward to SUBSCRIBING and seeing how its going with the Oliver which is what we want!
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
@@BrianAz thanks for watching and commenting! We spent 14 months full-time adventuring in our Oliver and loved it. It did feel small when stuck inside during long rainy stretches, but the quality is great. No major issues with around 20,000 miles on it including our trip to Alaska. If you don’t mind the size, we still think it’s the best quality trailer we could find at that price point.
@Loriannlafond4 ай бұрын
We enjoy your videos and hope you continue to make them. We are considering buying an Oliver for our retirement. We would like to know how you feel about taking your Oliver to Alaska. Do you regret it at all and did it hold up to the ruff roads? Thank you in advance for your advice.
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
@@Loriannlafond thank you. We are hoping to do more videos on future adventures, but we’re focusing our attention on building our base-camp in Maine right now. Our Oliver did wonderfully on our Alaska trip. It is small and nimble with a good suspension, but it’s highly advisable to mitigate the risk of damage by driving slow, using rock guards and adding “armor” to the front of the Oliver. These would be the same precautions for any RV heading to the 49th state. You’ll see people up there in 45’ motor homes and giant fifth wheels - they just stick to the highways more whereas we had a bit more freedom to take the road less traveled. Every RV comes with compromise. I believe you’ll be best served by defining what you expect your adventure to look like, then buy an RV that will best serve you for that adventure. If your dream adventure to Alaska is taking the AlCan all the way and driving down the Kenai Peninsula, but mostly sticking to long stays in RV parks, any RV will do. If you want to explore way off on dirt roads and fish back rivers requiring 4WD to reach, a slide-in truck camper might be best. If you want to take the Top-of-the-World Highway or other non-technical, non-highway adventures, the Oliver may be your best bet. Each additional level of adventure seeking takes a smaller rig with fewer creature comforts and less storage. For us, the Oliver was a happy compromise somewhere in the middle with some touches of luxury in a very well-built trailer. Enjoy your adventures!
@Loriannlafond4 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures thank you for your great information. We have alot to think about we are planning to go on the road next spring. If you were to film your base camp build we would love to see it. Good luck to you and we hope to see more of you on KZbin in the future.
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
@@Loriannlafond we are happy to help and we are shooting some footage here and there, so we’ll try to put this chapter to video in the future. As far as our channel goes, we’re still at the Canadian border 🤣!
@Ray967444 ай бұрын
Great video I’m just surprised that the microwave was not working that seems like it would be something that was checked but you never know could’ve blown a fuse
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
Thank you! It was odd. The microwave seemed to work intermittently and the convection oven worked fine. Most likely a faulty magnetron or bad connection. We were just happy they quickly changed it out the next morning and got us on our way.
@ACF6180T4 ай бұрын
IMHO that is a serious down grade, & as a dog lover I'd like to hear Stormy opinion poor guy is probably not a happy camper.
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
We’re all entitled to our opinions. If you watch the videos after our upgrade to the smaller, higher quality camper, IMHO, you can see Stormy continued to love his adventures as we hiked and kayaked all the way to Alaska and he even dipped his paws in the Arctic Ocean. We’re all cozy in our little Oliver; however, our joy comes from nature and our adventures take place in the wild. The campers are just tools to take us there in relative comfort. Glad to hear from a fellow dog lover, and rest assured…Stormy remains extremely happy & healthy in Piccolino. Cheers!
@keith46904 ай бұрын
I've looked at the Gen-Y torsion hitch for when we get our Oliver, but the hitch weight on the Ollie is well below what the torsion is rated for. Are ya'll still using it? If so, yay or nay? Thanks!
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
We LOVE the Gen-Y hitch. When you order it, you can get the correct shank size for your receiver, the amount of drop/rise you want (we went extra for other items we tow) and match your weight range for the projected tongue weight. The Boss hitch is designed for tongue weights from 400-1,100 pounds and pairs perfectly with the Oliver. We use no WD system and it tows better than our previous camper with the WD hitch. Highly recommend and if you ever served in the military, they’ll give you a discount. We hope this helps and enjoy your Oliver adventures!
@keith46904 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures thank you!
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
@@keith4690 you are very welcome!
@missahollis65374 ай бұрын
How would you compile this after owning both an, a stream and Oliver?
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
I would say the Airstream is more iconic and sexier with its shiny skin and in all other ways the Oliver is a higher quality, better built trailer. Neither are perfect, but the Oliver was better suited for the adventures we wanted to take it on. We lived full time for about a year on each. When parked in moderate climates for long durations, the Airstream was more comfortable thanks to it being larger. For long distance travels with shorter (under a week) stops in harsher climates, the Oliver was better thanks to its diminutive size and superior insulation.
@Michaelmontana085 ай бұрын
Funny, we said a sweet goodby to our Oliver and went to an Airstream. It was the better investment and functionality. A wet bath in a $100k trailer makes no sense. We now have a 23 ft International that is super sweet.
@HardAleeAdventures5 ай бұрын
That is funny! We had looked at the AS 23 and 25 as options, but neither would have been what we were looking for the day we took delivery. The Airstreams we owned (a 27 Signature and 30 Classic) were fun, but we’ve very much enjoyed our little Ollie, despite the wet bath. Also funny you mention the wet bath in a $100,000 camper when my current dream camper also has a wet bath and runs a sporty $200,000 before delivery from AU. The Bruder EXP-8. Just goes to show we all have different ideas of the ideal trailer. Luckily, the abundance of manufacturers seem to have something for everyone. Enjoy your adventure!
@Michaelmontana085 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures you make a true statement. Actually, the Oliver rep in Tenn told us it is their biggest mistake with the wet bath. They are working on a solution he said.
@HardAleeAdventures5 ай бұрын
@@Michaelmontana08 that’s a tough one. The only way I could see them going to a dry bath would require eliminating the closet or making a larger camper. Having lived in Piccolino for 14 months, we couldn’t have done without that closet. For a few weeks at a time, it would be a fine, but not as RV nomads. Every rig is a compromise 😉.
@gerrymatheson40204 ай бұрын
@HardAleeAdventures I've been looking at trailers. I really like the idea of the "one piece" fiberglass trailers for strength and rigidity, no leaks, lower maintenance, strong resale value, etc... and while I love the look of the Airstreams I really like the clean white look of most of the fiberglass brands. I actually wish AS still did the white painted Argosy. I'd also prefer staying in the 20' - 23' range. But I like the idea of a dry bath, I really like and want the rear hatch idea, and the slightly wider interior of the Airstream. The rear hatch is only available in the 25' and 27' I guess. I also really like the front twins and the E/W bunk above them. So at the moment my choice comes down to one of the 25' AS models with the rear hatch... or keep hoping Oliver or Escape or someone similar does a fiberglass with those features...
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
@@gerrymatheson4020 best of luck with your decision. One thing we’ve realized is every camper comes with compromise, so rack & stack your wants & needs and see what works best for you. We’ve decided the best would be a slide-in truck camper for adventures off the beaten path, the Oliver for slightly less demanding roads and short duration stays, and a small fifth wheel for mostly highway driving and long stays at each stop. In my humble opinion, there is no perfect camper, just ones with the fewest compromises for our individual adventure style. Cheers!
@1441engraving5 ай бұрын
Great videos of your journey. Would love to see a video of your truck set up!
@HardAleeAdventures5 ай бұрын
Thank you! We had intended to do that, but got caught up in living the adventures and haven’t been creating videos for a while. The truck build is definitely on our to-do list. Cheers!
@tedthomas37275 ай бұрын
I like the AS much better than that replacement.
@HardAleeAdventures5 ай бұрын
Having now owned and traveled full time in both the AS and the Oliver, I would say the AS was much more spacious, but the Oliver build quality, component quality, insulation, and rodentproofness is better. If going solely by aesthetics, the AS wins out. Just my opinion, but it really depends how you’re going to experience your nomadic adventures. Were such fans of nimble, minimalist travel, you might see us with a slide-in camper in the future. That’s the beauty of RV life. We’re all able to find what fits our individual needs/wants.
@user-fh2ml1cd5l5 ай бұрын
Good day I've enjoyed your videos along your journey. Are you planning any adventures in the future? Thanks from Canada.
@HardAleeAdventures5 ай бұрын
Thank you! We’ve come off the road and have lots going on, but unsure at this time if we’ll continue posting videos. We really started the channel for our family and friends. We wanted to share our experiences with them and decided to open it up to the public to share a little info about the places we were seeing and experiences that could be had. Each minute of video took about an hour to create and we just don’t have a lot of extra time. Were still capturing content here and there and may put a few videos together to keep our new friends and few subscribers up to date on our current adventures, but not sure when we’ll find time to put those together. Thank you so much for watching and we look forward to our next Canadian adventures (Maritime Provinces are next on our list).
@johnlafond83015 ай бұрын
I've never had to use a rivet gun. My question is what size and/or type rivet did you use and drill bit size. Thanks in advance.
@HardAleeAdventures5 ай бұрын
I wish I had this info on hand. Oliver sent me the rivet I needed and my friend had the correct size of bit for the size rivet that came with the new light.
@bigdadgo6 ай бұрын
I love Stormy! Thank you for the informative video! 👍🏻
@HardAleeAdventures6 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@thomasdean56516 ай бұрын
To each his own, but those white, plastic looking interiors look like living in a hospital. Absolutely a big turnoff. No color, no natural material beauty...just antiseptic white plastic. Not my thing, but God us made us all different, or it would be a boring world! Enjoy!
@michaelchalabian33076 ай бұрын
A wet bathroom, deal breaker.
@HardAleeAdventures6 ай бұрын
Definitely not ideal; however, it’s all about compromises. If they stuffed a separate shower into the Oliver, you would have to lose something, like the closet. As full-timers, that storage space was far more important than the inconvenience of the wet bath. For us, this was the right tool for our adventures.
@jameskoeq6 ай бұрын
Great adventure! where did you leave you trailer while traveling the dempster highway? We plan to go there this summer.
@HardAleeAdventures6 ай бұрын
Thank you! We left the camper at Gold Rush RV Park. It’s no frills and not cheap, but it’s a short walk to the Dawson City attractions, they have no-hookup sites for cheaper, and they were fine with us leaving it there for the time we were on the Dempster. There is a provincial park across the river, but it clearly states you cannot leave your RV there unattended. Probably not enforced, but we weren’t comfortable rolling the dice to save a few bucks. Enjoy your adventure! It’s an incredible experience!
@BrianAz6 ай бұрын
This is the trailer we want! Our ONLY two complaints are the refrigerator and the microwave. We are concerned that the size for the refrigerator is just too small and if they would delete the microwave from its current location and make a taller refrigerator, we would be able to eliminate that concern. We would rather have a regular microwave in one of the cabinets in the kitchen area. Obviously, Oliver won't be able to do anything like that for us. Sooooo with all that ranting, how do you guys get along with the size of the refrigerator ( if you did not have the extra portable frig and freezer) and for how does it work out without the extra portables? Is the frig inside just too small? We realize we have the back of our truck and the back seats of our Super Duty crew cab for extra "stuff" but as brand new to all this, we worry we are going to miss something important.
@HardAleeAdventures6 ай бұрын
Thanks for your questions. The fridge & microwave were an adjustment, but doable. The microwave is also an electric convection oven, so the only oven in the Oliver. Although it wasn’t used often, it was nice to have the option when plugged in and it did get some infrequent use. The fridge is small and can be challenging to fit enough food in for a week, but it can be done. It takes more cautious meal planning, but you can get used to it. Initially, one of our portable freezers was unused and the other was just for Stormy’s frozen food. Eventually, we had an epiphany and plugged it in and secured it under the dinette. That gave us plenty of extra room (mostly for the fish I was catching). All this is to say it is doable as is, with some possible changes in eating habits (e.g., we got fewer greens more frequently and went from fresh pasta to dry) and more planning. Because we feed our dogs frozen food, we couldn’t have done without the extra portable and both were only used when I’d filled them with fish. The fridge is certainly small and the freezer is almost nonexistent, but one can make do. Pretty much everywhere we traveled, we could just shop a bit more often. When that wasn’t an option, we stocked up on non-perishables and even went as far as to eat some canned veggies. Unless you’re a gourmet chef not willing to occasionally make-do, the fridge is manageable for a couple to (usually) eat (pretty) well. We hope this helps.
@BrianAz4 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures Thanks for the response! Big help and there is nothing better than a first handers experiences in any RV. We have seen plenty of sales walk throughs but they and all fluff. Nice to see one lived in and modified to live even better. The refrigerator is going to be something we just have to take a chance on, I guess. Taking your advice on adapting will have to do. I am used to 8cf of frig space sooo... yeah, I have to adapt. My wife and I still have not seen one in person so that is the next step. Half the fun ins shopping so we are going to have fun with this. Thanks for taking the time to write back, few ever do. Happy trails!
@HardAleeAdventures4 ай бұрын
@@BrianAz we’re happy to help with any information you need. Being able to reply to the comments is what makes opening our videos to the public more fun. Stormy was a big factor in needing the portable fridge/freezer, which fits perfectly under the dinette or with in the back seat of the truck. He eats frozen, raw food, so the minuscule freezer space (think a tray of is cubes and maybe a pint or two of your favorite ice cream) wasn’t going to work. I didn’t turn on the second freezer until filling up the first with fish in Alaska. Were it not for Stormy, we could have gotten by with just the Oliver fridge by shopping more often and only having what we needed for the upcoming week…but, having some extra space for frozen goods in “Stormy’s freezer” was a bonus. Have fun shopping, get your camper, have adventures and figure out the rest along the way. Cheers!
@GeorgeAlexa6 ай бұрын
What truck do you have - what year? Does it do a good job?
@HardAleeAdventures6 ай бұрын
During our trip to AK, we had a Ford F-250 with a 6.2l gas engine and 6-speed transmission. It did a good job, just screamed in those low gears sometimes when going up/down steep grades. In November, we traded it in for a Ford F-350 with a 7.2l gas engine and 10-speed transmission. Both did the job very well, but we’re happier with the new truck and get the same mileage even with the bigger engine.
@HardAleeAdventures6 ай бұрын
Oops…our 250 was a 2018 and our 350 is a 2023. Hope the info is helpful.
@JimMcClellan-i4k6 ай бұрын
I loved reading about all your Alaska Adventures! My daughter saw your trailer in their campground in Palmer, AK and sent me a pic. I was so excited she saw it! Can't wait to follow you on more adventures!
@HardAleeAdventures6 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for the positive words! We had an incredible time in Alaska and it definitely won’t be our last. Palmer was a great town and we were lucky to make it for the final weekend of the fair. We enjoyed our stay, especially Bleeding Heart Brewery and The Fern. We look forward to our next visit!
@rpach66296 ай бұрын
That was a fantastic trip! Well done... and you'll never regret it. Thanks for letting us tag along. Great information and inspiration to all of those hoping to venture to Alaska.
@HardAleeAdventures6 ай бұрын
Thank you! We had an incredible time during our 20 months living the nomad life. We’re not done adventuring with Piccolino, just starting a new adventure and taking shorter road trips. We’ll keep you all posted as we shift gears and head into this next chapter. Cheers!
@keith46907 ай бұрын
My wife and I cannot decide if we want an Airstream or an Oliver. Both have their pros and cons, obviously. We love the idea of owning either. As owners of both which has made you happier?
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and commenting. We loved both for different reasons and based greatly on our usage. The Airstream Classic was luxury living…once we added more solar, a good sized lithium battery bank & a 3” lift. It wasn’t as easy to tow or to find sites for in some areas, but was very comfortable when stationary. We weren’t happy with how drafty they were (including our 27 Signature) or the lack of insulation making it far less comfortable in the heat and cold. Doable, just less comfortable and needed to run the AC/heaters far more. The Oliver is far more nimble and easy to tow on long days and easy to find places to camp; however, it can get claustrophobic if you’re stuck inside with rain for a few days…especially with pets. It’s cozy, but you have to be prepared for the small space. In good weather, we just spend most of our time outside. One big drawback from our AS Classic was the smaller tanks, which made long term boondocking more challenging. We did it, but with fewer showers and more “sponge baths.” All in all, we really prefer the quality of the Oliver. It’s just better built and uses high quality components, just quite compact and requires more creativity for long-term use. If it’s in the budget, you may consider looking at the Bowlus Rivet or Bruder EXP-8. Other very high quality trailers with their own pros and cons, but these would be on our short list if starting from scratch. We hope this info helps and you enjoy your adventures in whatever you choose.
@keith46907 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures thank you so much for responding! We are 99% certain we're Team Oliver, but I ask former Airstream owners every chance I get.
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
@@keith4690 you are very welcome. I think the biggest mistake people can make when starting out is finding the “perfect” camper, then trying to make it fit for their lifestyle. You’ll be much better served to define what RV life means to you, then finding the best tool for that job. Best of luck and enjoy your upcoming adventures!
@FreeBirdUSA7 ай бұрын
How does your gas truck pull your Oliver? Does the RPMs scream pulling up inclines? How long can you stay off grid before draining tanks? Do you leave the Oliver alone off grid while going into town or trailheads, etc? Does it stay warm inside during the winter? Had any problems with pipes freezing while traveling? Can the solar panels and batteries keep up with demand (AC, etc.)? Wife and I want to live full time in an Oliver boondocking, hiking, etc. Have you had any issues with the Oliver so far? I saw some of the rough roads y’all went down in Alaska. Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to make the right decisions. Oh, I served onboard the USS Enterprise CVN-65 while in the Navy 1986-1990. I was a Machinist Mate down in #2 Auxiliary Machinery Room. We produced the potable water, heated water for the galley and hot showers, electricity, and distilled water for the reactors. My GQ station was down in Damage Control Central. I got to visit Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Africa, Brazil, and the Virgin Islands. I served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Praying Mantis on April 18th, 1988. Looking forward to your next video. Salute! 🇺🇸
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Great to hear from another Sailor and I apologize for the delay in replying. Let's just say, "Life happens." Our 6.2l gasser pulled the Oliver great and our new 7.3l does an even better job. Sometimes it does downshift pretty deep going up/down steep inclines, but that's the nature of gas engines and the 7.3l with the 10-speed transmission is a great combo. The 6.2l had fewer gears to choose from, so spun up more often than our current truck. When boon docking, much depends on our own habits/needs. We have a composting toilet, so no black tank. Our grey lasts us about a week if it's just doing dishes and such, like if we're in a park with showers or in AK where we would use showers at roadhouses. If you're way out, you can just shower outside. The shower is the biggest user of water. When showering in the rig, we go down to only 3-4 days before needing to dump. We frequently leave the Oliver alone when going out to explore our surroundings. We don't put a lot of energy in worrying about the remote possibility that it could be stolen or vandalized. That's what our insurance is for. Side note, in over two years of combined travels in two Airstreams and our Oliver, neither of these has happened. We've comfortably camped in Piccolino in freezing temperatures, but only down to the mid-20s...so far. The only issue has been condensation, particularly along the aluminum frames of the windows. We've had no issues with anything freezing up, but have always kept the furnace on during these times. Our typical travel days are above freezing, often because we don't leave until late morning, but we do have the Truma antifreeze kit for our hot water and kept the furnace on during the few times we have traveled below freezing. No problems. The solar/battery capability is very dependent on electrical use and weather. We don't run the A/C much on battery, we just move to a cooler climate :-) When it has been hot, we typically spent our time outside and maybe ran the A/C for 15-20 minutes before bed just to cool things off. In the desert, we only ran our generator a few times to top off the batteries after several days of rain/clouds, but typically had no issues. In Alaska last summer, it was very wet and cloudy most of the summer, so we did have to run the generator about once every 4-5 days if we weren't getting sun. Also, we carry a 230 watt solar suitcase to help keep things topped off. In a month in Mexico, we didn't use a generator at all. Lots of variables, but we've been happy with the setup. Our issues with the Oliver have been fixed in the 2024 models. The touch lights and the fuse switch for the inverter were our two frustrating issues, but both have been changed for the 2024. We looked at the 2024 in Hohenwald recently and are jealous of the upgrades. There are a few areas we would like to see improvements, but overall we still believe it is the best trailer in its size/price-range on the market today. I hope this information helps and that I've answered your questions. It's a big choice and this certainly isn't an inexpensive camper. Best of luck to you in whatever you choose!
@FreeBirdUSA7 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures Excellent! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions so thoroughly. I’ll be following along on your future adventures. Have fun and safe travels. 🤘
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
@@FreeBirdUSA no problem! We’re happy to help and hope you enjoy your adventures in whatever camper you choose. 🍻
@StevesRoadTripChronicles7 ай бұрын
It's been great following you on your journey! Any chance you'll make the Oliver rally in Alabama?
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching! We’ve had a wonderful 20 months on the road, but we just got home and won’t be heading to the rally. We owe our mom’s some time back home 😉.
@user-fh2ml1cd5l7 ай бұрын
Awesome thanks for the journey
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching
@user-fh2ml1cd5l7 ай бұрын
Good day where are your journeys heading?🌞🛻💨
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
@@user-fh2ml1cd5l we’re actually wrapping up our full-time nomad adventures to start work on a house in Maine. We’ll share those adventures as we begin this next phase of building & part-time travels.
@user-fh2ml1cd5l7 ай бұрын
I wish you the best
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
@@user-fh2ml1cd5l thank you 🙏. Much appreciated.
@mtvjackass747 ай бұрын
No place for a CPAP machine? Thats sucks
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Honestly, this wasn’t something we considered. The twin bed layout does have a nightstand between the two beds. I’m guessing that could be the spot for a CPAP machine.
@jdcontracting18057 ай бұрын
Reverse engineered double wall insulated casita is what it is. Watched the owner of Oliver talk bout it. They already owned a bathtub company. Used fiberglass tub experience to make Oliver shell. They had bathtub traveling salesmen using casitas pulled behind sales car. They were getting too cold or hot. So they made a better casita, called the Oliver after their last name. Two brothers, one has passed on.
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Great information. Thanks for sharing that in the comments.
@happycustomer59347 ай бұрын
Your airstream looks nice. I'm sure the new owners are going to be happy with it. It seems pretty open and roomy.
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Thanks! It definitely had more room…and was heavier, wider, more difficult to find sites, and more expensive to repair. We loved our Airstream for what we were doing at that time and love our Oliver for what we’ve been doing the past year. Who knows what the next chapter will bring. 😉
@markv.59627 ай бұрын
Very narrow
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Yup. Helps it tow like a dream and great for getting through tight spots. If our truck can get through, so can Piccolino.
@billmoore49967 ай бұрын
I’m taking my 07 Town and Country van up the Dempster in June 2024. Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated. Safe travels.
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Thank you! Give yourself extra time to get up and down the Dempster, since ferries can, and do stop crossing at times, stranding you. Just have patience and extra food and you’ll be good. In mid-June most things were closed in Tuk. On the bright side, there weren’t many other folks on the road. Make sure to have a good spare tire and emergency kit. It can be over 100 miles to the nearest help, so being self sufficient is very important. Try to bring everything you’ll need from Dawson City as food and supplies get very expensive once you head up the Dempster. Lastly, it’s probably best to have an idea of multiple camping options for each day. The road is rough, so a 200-mile day can be exhausting. Then again, the sun doesn’t set until around midnight, so if you’re still feeling good you can push to the next. Oh, yeah…bring good tunes. Minimal cell reception and satellite radio stopped working part way up 😆. Enjoy your trip, take your time, and enjoy. There’s a ton of great places to explore on your way to the Dempster. Cheers!
@deanmay3387 ай бұрын
Interesting video. Great utilization of space. Love Olivers!!!
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching! It’s small, but with some creativity, we’ve been full time in our Oliver for 13 months now.
@MorusUS7 ай бұрын
Hello sir, i am your channel follower and i watched your all Vlog. I really love them. But now, i decide to purchase a RV, can u tell me why u do not set a washing machine or dryer in your vehicle? Especially the machine which can combine both of the functions and the size is compact? 3月6日
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
Our RV is far too small to install a washer/dryer combo. We just use laundry facilities in the areas we travel. Easy enough.
@Getmoreonlinereviews8 ай бұрын
I'm in the process of deciding on a travel trailer to be a digital nomad. I have no experience living in one. What I've gathered so far is that Airtream holds it value and the cheaper brands don't last though you get more space for your dollar. To me the Oliver looks like "plastic" and cheap based on video. I trust the experience of you and the commenters that the build quality is very good and maybe superior to Airstream. My hesitation would be what will the resale of these be and will the company be around 10-20 years?
@HardAleeAdventures8 ай бұрын
Thanks for reaching out. Definitely a tough decision. We’re on our third travel trailer and it’s never fun to swap them out, so getting one you’ll be happy in for a long time would be great. As to the aesthetics of the Oliver, it’s not for everyone. We are sailors, so the Ollie just reminds us of sailboats. It’s made the same way, which is not a cheap method of construction but is very tough. As to resale, they appear to match Airstreams as far as retained value, but that has mostly to do with market demands. Our first Airstream we had the typical $20,000 depreciation after only a year (2018-2019). Our second Airstream had almost non-existent depreciation since we bought it in 2019 (before insane price increases) and sold in February 2023 (before used market drop). In a “normal” market, it seems you lose a good 15-20% when you pull one off the lot. Oliver is no different. After the initial hit, they both retain value better than the typical RV. As to longevity of the business, I suspect that will not be an issue, but that’s impossible to be sure of. Oliver is family owned, so not beholden to shareholders. This allows them to concentrate on quality and invest in their business. They have just partnered with about a dozen dealers across the US for sales and service as most other RV companies have constricted a bit. Although Oliver Travel Trailers only got started in 2008, the Oliver family has been in the fiberglass business since 1995, so not a fly-by-night business. I expect they’ll still be around for a very long time. With all this said, there are RVs to fill every niche and pricepoint. As we’ve said to many other folks, be honest on how you will use it and what you want your nomadic life to look like and choose a camper based on that…and finances, of course. We can’t all afford a Living Vehicle or to import a Bruder EXP-8. If you’ll be spending long periods in a single place, a larger camper may be better. If you want to be nimble, move around a lot and get to more remote places further off the beaten path, an Oliver might be great. Regardless, we hope you enjoy whatever adventure you choose in this nomad life! Cheers!
@Getmoreonlinereviews7 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures Thanks much for the detailed and thoughtful reply. You've obviously done your research! Does seem like a niche Oliver can fill and that may be enough to keep them going. I did see Airstream is working on the EV/self parking aspect. I'm sure its years off. I find the self park and the power assisted towing to be great features. Long term, it will probably become almost standard so I can see some of the advantage slipping. For Oliver appears to be a leader in innovation. Congrats on your Oliver and I look forward to seeing your updates.
@HardAleeAdventures7 ай бұрын
@@Getmoreonlinereviews I believe Pebble may beat Airstream with their self park/tow assist features. Companies are certainly pushing hard to capitalize off that technology.
@Getmoreonlinereviews7 ай бұрын
@@HardAleeAdventures You're probably right. The established companies often let the "little" guys test out the innovations before they copy and innovate. I suspect there will be a window of 5 years or more for the niche guys to enjoy before Airstream catches up.