Farewell to our Airstream. Hello to our Oliver!

[@robertgilbert5496]

Was in the homestretch on purchasing an Airstream Globetrotter 25 when I discovered the Oliver. I have had my Elite II for 2 years now and I couldn't be happier with my decision. Best of luck.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! It’s great to hear the experience of fellow Ollie owners!

[@kenhuth1762]

Congratulations from our 2018 E2 Hull #381. We looked at Airstream but with a career in the siding business I have seen too much hail damage and was happy to find the Oliver. We were full timers for two years and now have settled near our grand daughter and use our Oliver to escape the Texas summer heat. See you on the road.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! We’ll keep our eyes out for you.

[@amyarmbruster8747]

Congratulations on your Ollie! I got my Ollie almost a year ago… no regrets! Hope to see you on the road!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you and we hope for the same!

[@amyarmbruster8747]

I ordered the same Froli system for one twin bed and if it works well, I will add it to my other twin.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@amyarmbruster8747 we’ve been in 18-degree temps the last few nights and it’s doing great. We opted to not get the upgraded mattresses and instead put a mattress pad over the cushions and a 3” foam topper over that. Very comfortable, even with a bad back, and zero condensation. I hope it works as well for you.

[@texasguy3031]

Congrats! I’ve had my Ollie almost two years. No regrets.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! We’re loving it, just needing to modify how we were living a bit.

[@happycustomer5934]

Your airstream looks nice. I'm sure the new owners are going to be happy with it. It seems pretty open and roomy.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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. 😉

[@brianlanglois4086]

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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@brianlanglois4086 thank you! It has been a great camper. It’s always great to get affirmation from someone in the business!

[@tomm4086]

Congratulations from Hull 1321, we picked ours up this past January. On our trip home it towed so easily I kept checking to make sure it was still attached.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Right? These things tow like a dream. I had initially opted for WD, but deleted that before pick-up and I'm glad I did. With a 3/4 ton truck and torsion flex hitch it is great even in pretty windy conditions in the plains.

[@SteveHorne]

Considered an Airstream Caravel, but decided to go with the Oliver. Can't wait to take delivery in June! Thanks for your great video.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

I believe you’ll be very happy with your decision. Don’t get me wrong. We loved our Airstreams, but the Oliver is more capable for off-grid living, without modification. We still love the iconic look of the AS, but are very happy we joined the Oliver family. I bet June can’t come quickly enough. Exciting!

[@dachshunddadbob6765]

Ha! I did the opposite of you and went with the Caravel 20 versus the Ollie Elite 1. Very tough choice. I don't think you can go wrong with either

[@stevemurray2737]

Great Decision!.. Loved our Airstream but too Vulnerable to Hail Damage. Airstream’s Kryptonite. Keep us posted! Love the Olivers.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you and very true. We got a dent in one corner of the roof. Price tag to repair was almost $5000!

[@retiredandroaming]

Beautiful trailer. It's probably the (most) perfect trailer for us too, with that small size, high quality and excellent insulation. It's currently on the very top of my short list to replace our 28' Class C, having already downsized from a diesel pushed and a 40' 6-slide 5th wheel!!!! We have found that our enjoyment, stress relief, site access, and overall fun increases as we go smaller with higher quality.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Absolutely! You hit the proverbial nail on the head. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@ricktaylor6373]

Nice Oliver! Last summer we talked to a camping neighbor and he had one, gave us the tour and really loved it so out of curiosity I researched them and loved them but they are a bit pricey. Which is ok because I liked how they are constructed and the materials used. We have always been motorhomers but if we switched gears I’d sure enough put the Oliver’s on top of the list! Good buy!👍

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! Yes, Oliver’s are certainly not inexpensive. They seem to be very similarly priced to a comparably sized Airstream. They certainly are built to a high standard, which is what initially attracted us.

[@perrygauthier1174]

Congrats on the Oliver. We also sold our Airstream and got into an Oliver a year ago tomorrow. We have travelled 20000 miles in the first year and didn't have any problems. We are taking a short break and hitting the road again. Cheers from 🇨🇦

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! Great to hear that another Ollie owner has been putting it to the test without problems. That’s an impressive year. We’ll be in 🇨🇦 an mid-May headed to Alaska. Can’t wait. We’re already booked in Banff, Jasper, and Dawson City to push north to Tuktoyaktuk (with our roof top tent, leaving the Ollie safely behind in DC 😉). Cheers 🍻!

[@perrygauthier1174]

@@HardAleeAdventures we use our GoFast Camper for more adventure travel and leave base camp safe. The GoFast has made life a lot easier as I can stand in the truck bed while organizing stuff and can store our bicycles inside the topper💯

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@perrygauthier1174 we’ll have to look those up. Thanks!

[@artlife6210]

Its a very well built coccoon, tight and cramped feeling to the one I checked out at a park recently, I could never live in one of these for more than a week or two but thats just me, but knowing its sealed tight and will probably last 50+years is a big plus, as a infrequently used vacation camper.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Yup. They’re small. We’ve been full-time in our Oliver for nine months with another eight planned before we head home. Certainly not for everyone, but it’s working for us. A few more feet would be great when it’s raining day after day, but that’s not the norm.

[@Sushi2735]

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR OLIVER,!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤ My neighbors adore theirs! Awesome customer service and too many wonderful things to list here. I don’t camp but love their Oliver, Too! Excellent excellent choice! Bravo 👏 You did well!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you. Now having around 12,000 miles on it over 9 months, we really appreciate the build quality. There are certainly things we’d change, but they’re great semi-customizable campers.

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

Congratulations on the new Ollie. We are scheduled to pick up our LE2 about April 18, hull #1373. Having owned a stick and staple travel trailer a few years ago, we decided for retirement we wanted something much better built, and after a couple years of research, we settled on Oliver. It's the perfect camper for a retired couple that enjoys and active lifestyle and few restrictions due to size and capability. The LE2 with solar/lithium package is the perfect boondocker camper. And greatly reduced maintenance requirements is very attractive! The Oliver people are the best, like dealing with your best friends. Enjoy and see you on the road!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! Looks like we had a lot of the same boxes to check off. We also opted for the big lithium/solar option and have been loving it. We carry a 230W Zamp suitcase around as well, but haven't needed it yet. Currently there's plenty of sunshine in the southwest, but we expect to be using it more as we work our way north to AK. Cheers!

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

@@HardAleeAdventures Hey BTW I shared this video and therefor your KZbin channel on the Oliver owner's forum. Hopefully we can get those subscriber numbers to jump! I subscribed and will be following. You're the only channel on KZbin that will be featuring an Oliver, at least for now. Woohoo!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! That is terrific. We'll also try to incorporate some Ollie-centric material for our Oliver family. Cheers!

[@stephanddudb7361]

Greetings from Hull #1150, "Eggcelsior"! We picked her up last summer, replacing our 32' fifth wheel. Looking forward to watching future adventures in your Oliver! Welcome to the family.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! Glad to hear from another happy down-sizer! We're looking forward to having them and will do our best to keep up with the videos.

[@alp-156]

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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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 😆.

[@brucemitchell5637]

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!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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!

[@michelejelneck6339]

We love your videos! Came across them by chance when we were checking for more videos on Olivers!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! We’re having fun putting them together and glad you enjoy them!

[@kevnrob1]

Congrats on you new Ollie! Definitely our go to if we ever go from our van to a trailer. We've been to Casita in Rice, TX and Oliver in Hohenwald and all the non-fiberglass manufacturers in Indiana. Ollie for sure.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

We were seriously looking at vans before going Ollie. We love how easy it would be to stop at places along the way instead of having to drop the trailer first. Pros and cons to each. Wouldn’t it be nice to have one of each 😆?

[@kevnrob1]

All it takes is $$$!!! We could tow the Ollie with our Sprinter. Hmmm. May have to give that some thought!! We've been full-time since 2007. Our 5th wheel is now permanently parked in AZ. Our van is our multi-month excursion rig. The van would be too small for the two of us to full-time permanent. We're out about 6-7 months per year. If we were to go back to permanently on the road again, Ollie for sure.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@kevnrob1 Now that would be a super sweet rig!

[@DanaCormier-po5ib]

I like that trailer,it is very nice!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@DanaCormier-po5ib thank you!

[@mr-mr6ge]

Here’s to more adventures!!!!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

We can't agree more! We hope to see you next time we're in LA!

[@scottelwood8746]

WOW that’s awesome congratulations. Enjoy all your wonderful adventures together just down the road. We have the froli sleep system in our 2022 TAB 400 and it’s great. Have fun and happy camping. 👋

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! You as well!

[@jonathanbellows113]

I’ve heard good things about Oliver trailers wishing you safe travels!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! We’ve been enjoying it, although it is a bit tight for full-timing in extended rainy weather 😆.

[@privatepilot4064]

My Casita wants to be an Oliver when it grows up!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Our Oliver just wants to be a bigger Oliver when it grows up 😆

[@privatepilot4064]

@@HardAleeAdventures I looked at Olivers and I really wanted one but I was impatient and wanted to travel and not wait for it to be built. Big mistake. Not that I don’t like my Casita but comparing a Casta to an Ollie is like comparing apples and oranges. Nice choice you made!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@privatepilot4064 thank you. We love the quality of the build. We were fortunate that we still had our Airstream until about a week before our Oliver was ready. A rented U-Haul, an AirBnB, a night at a hotel and substantial stress bordering on insanity and we were beginning our Oliver adventures. 😆

[@suerop]

This is my first video with you two. Congrats! I've heard good things about Oliver. Love your Stormy! New subscriber now!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you for watching our little adventures!

[@fastcoffee9878]

Sweet rig! I just spotted one a few weeks ago out here in AZ. Looked like a tidy setup✌️

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thanks! Tidy is a good way to put it. 🍻

[@TimmyCramer]

Viewed your trailer in San Diego 2 yrs ago....beautiful and built solid. Subscribed! Timmy C Arizona

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! We’re loving it so far.

[@Michaelmontana08]

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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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!

[@Michaelmontana08]

@@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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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 😉.

[@gerrymatheson4020]

​@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...

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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!

[@jhester492]

Congrats from Hull #648, We Love our Oli. Look forward to seeing more of your adventures!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! We’ll be sure to keep posting.

[@nathanurick8320]

I pull a 40’ solitude but I absolutely love love love these Oliver rigs. I know for me it’s a huge difference in size but I would like to try it. Can’t wait for more videos on the Oliver.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you 🙏! Yes, it would be a big adjustment. There are pros and cons to every rig, but this is a great one! We’ll keep on putting them out.

[@wetspotswimwear1199]

You can make this comment because you are still in your 40' er 🤣

[@nathanurick8320]

@@wetspotswimwear1199 not sure what that is supposed to mean but what I stated was true. Oliver rigs are great little rigs and probably built better than my solitude.

[@wetspotswimwear1199]

@nathanurick8320 what I meant was : because you are in a 40' er, it's easy to say you love love love an Oliver ( being that they are so small ) Like owning a Corvette and saying you love love love a Chevette. Living in the big rv is SO much better

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@wetspotswimwear1199 I guess it’s different for everyone. We love, love, love our little Ollie and we used to live in a larger camper. I think a big part is how you use them. If we were entertaining inside and living in RV parks, we’d probably prefer a 40’ fifth wheel, too. Being out in nature, mostly boondocking, and getting together with friends around campfires. The Oliver fits that lifestyle very well. It’s just great that the RV industry gives us so many options to suit every RV lifestyle 🙂.

[@billysprague6219]

The right tool for the job is always a good practice to follow. 😊

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thanks! We try…don’t always succeed, but always give it a go 😉!

[@dedrichhohorst3127]

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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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!

[@tyb3938]

We sold our house took a year off w two kids in tow in our 27FB. Got a tour of Oliver from a guy who also owned a 34 Airstream. We have towed our Airstream 20-30k miles and barely notice it back there as it tows like a champ, but I wouldn’t want one foot longer. Boondock 95% of the time and that is easy with the 3” lift, but a 25FB would be better. The oliver fit and finish is better, it is lifted in the factory, but I dont think we could give up our airstream windows. A oliver would be nice in tight campgrounds but we normally camp in wideopen valleys, normally 3-5 miles off pavement, then use our Gladiator and seek outside hot tent deep into the wild. Since my folks dont want to get a 3/4 ton diesel I recommended them to get a Oliver and they told me about your channel. Thanks for sharing, enjoy your beautiful new rig!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thanks for watching! We do miss the abundance of windows, just not when it’s too hot or cold out 🤣. The Oliver is definitely a more compact camper and not for everyone, but it does fit our needs extremely well. We have very much appreciated the ability to stuff Piccolino into tight spaces we could never have fit our 30’ Airstream. For us, it’s the best tool we could find for our current journey. We’re happy to hear you have found the tool that works for yours. Cheers!

[@tyb3938]

@@HardAleeAdventures great point on the AC with the windows as we have to run both AC units when its hot. We plan to upgrade our 2015 GMC to the new AT4X with a camper shell and kubota 7000 mounted in the bed running exhaust through camper shell using marine exhaust port. No more gasoline, two 15 gallon over well tanks and milwaukee transfer pump to fill generator or main tank if we need. 16.5 hours run time running both AC units on one tank. I am tired of 5 gallon jerry cans in the heat of the day spilling gas every other refill. Our heater does a better job, cake above zero and down to -28 it goes through propane tank a day and is hard to keep shower drain from freezing. Do you guys rely on solar or do you supplement with generator?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@tyb3938 We do carry a little Honda 2000 for emergencies, but have not used it since picking up our Oliver in February. We have 400w of solar on the roof and a 230w suitcase feeding 640 amp-hours of LiFePO4 batteries connected to a 3000w inverter, so little need for a generator and don’t particularly like the sound. They do take away from a nice sundowner or evening by the fire 😉. During multiple days of inclement weather, we saw our batteries dip down around 45% once. We mostly dry camp, but do plug in once in a while. As nomads, we typically avoid extreme temperatures, but had the lovely experience of our pillows freezing to the bulkhead of our Airstream 27 International when camping in 17 degrees. We’ve only been down to the low 20’s in our Ollie so far, but no freezing pillows. The insulated double hulls, double pane windows, and a tight envelope make the interior temperature quite comfortable in everything we’ve experienced to date. The only issue can be condensation if camping in the cold, which can be mitigated by maintaining a more comfortable interior temperature, changing out the air once in a while, and running a small dehumidifier if necessary. So far, so good.

[@tyb3938]

@@HardAleeAdventures we are back to weekend warriors so in summer even in Stanley it gets so hot we run ac from 2-9pm july and august. Once we retire we will follow you guys up to Alaska chasing cool temps as we would rather be outside than inside w ac running. We have 600 solar and 600 lithium as well. Only need generator in summer. First time cold camping we were like you w pillows freezing to window. We have an easy fix. Installed cover for max air fan so it is open 24/7 rain shine or snow. Condensation with propane heater is your worst enemy. Now we stay warm and dry. We routinely boondock camp from zero to 20 degrees as we are avid hunters and it is total cake except for the one night heater broke at midnight, luckily I was able to take apart, shaking from cold and in the dark figure out the fan sensor had bent from use and false reading fan not working had shut down heater. Without that fix tanks would have frozen solid. Wish our rig had two heaters

[@BrianAz]

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!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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.

[@roycemontgomery978]

wait till you have a problem with the utilities located between the two bottom shells, the light bulb will come on

[@HardAleeAdventures]

I’m sure that would be a difficult repair, not unlike any RV/boat/etcetera that has plumbing/wiring/ducting in inaccessible places. Fortunately, all systems are easily accessible through panels and the runs between access points are fairly short. While nothing I’ve ever worked on (houses, cars, helicopters, boats, & RVs) offers 100% access to every inch of hose, wire, or ducting, Oliver has done a good job at accessibility. Not perfect, but very good. I’m sure some repairs could lead to a lot of cursing, but I’ve already run the Starlink wiring between the hulls and it took minimal effort. Here’s hoping nothing requiring separation of the hulls ever comes up. If so, I guess it would be like any other major repair on any RV, break out the wallet and wince. Thanks for your comment.

[@campingalan]

Hello from Ouray, Colorado! Many congrats on your camper exchange! I hope the new one serves you well! I'm down in the Phoenix area, but heading back to CO today. But....will head out to the Joshua Tree N.P. area for 2 weeks on Wednesday! Safe travels!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you 🙏! We’re very happy with it so far. Enjoy your trip to Joshua Tree!

[@happycamper5900]

Campingalan, be prepared for wind in Ouray. I live in Montrose. The wind is brutal.

[@campingalan]

@Happy Camper Hi there, fellow western sloper!! Thanks for the heads up. I fly for a family out of Telluride. I will be flying back into Montrose in about 2 hrs.

[@johnharper2016]

Looks like you are going from a 30' Airstream to an Oliver Elite II. Big downsize. We looked at Olivers starting in 2017. Nice unit, but the wet bath was the no go for us. Purchased a 2019 Airstream Flying Cloud 25' Rear Bed Twin. It has been flawless (maybe we are just lucky). Happy travels with your Oliver. Hope you don't find the Oliver to small. Expensive Change.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! The wet bath was the hardest sell for Kelly too. It's not the most desirable, but works for the 3-4 minutes we spend in it. It does, however, take a few minutes to squeegee and wipe down walls/floor after. With the shower curtain option, it confines the water to just the shower area, not the toilet, so that's a plus.Enjoy your AS, we'd looked at a 25 and 23 before ordering the Ollie.

[@JTomoser]

Just watched this video on a KZbin recommendation. I’m curious if you considered the Canadian made all molded fiberglass Bigfoot travel trailer? They sell a 25, 21 and 17.5 foot models, each with different floorplans? With the 25 you can get a walk around queen bed or twin beds.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thanks for watching and your question. We did consider other fiberglass campers, including the Bigfoot. What sold us on the Oliver is the double hull design and dual pane windows. It does add some weight, but also makes for a very tight, true four-season camper. I believe Bigfoot uses 1 1/2” of EPS foam inside the fiberglass skin, so around R-8 where there is foam, so likely a good option, we just love having the interior be fiberglass with all the cabinets part of that interior fiberglass shell. No cabinets to loosen up or rot and no potential for mold on the walls. Many good fiberglass options out there, just different design/engineering.

[@1441engraving]

Great videos of your journey. Would love to see a video of your truck set up!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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!

[@patriotone755]

Oliver is such a superior build quality than Thor in more ways than one can possibly count. We love our 2020 LEll. Everything you need and nothing you don’t.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

We agree regarding build quality, although we would certainly make a few minor tweaks, such as a separate low-flow shower nozzle and more under seat/bed storage 😉.

[@jdcontracting1805]

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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Great information. Thanks for sharing that in the comments.

[@MarkRVillano]

The Oliver is a bulletproof trailer, and a true four season rig. Dollar for dollar, it's hard to beat. I'm just surprised that I've never seen one with a custom paint job, but I guess that would detract from the simplicity and ease of maintenance.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Maybe we’ll be the first 😉. The white looks good when clean, but it doesn’t stay that way for long when your out adventuring.

[@larrywiddis470]

I look forward to detailed updates.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

So far do good! We’ve made it to Utah and all is well. Adventures continue.

[@greenrush4313]

I think i seen an alligator watching stormy at 210 in the distance.Thank goodness stomy is ok

[@HardAleeAdventures]

We’re certainly glad he didn’t end up in the food chain.

[@lindasmith5554]

Wow! Much smaller! We full time in a Solitude fifth wheel & travel in a 25 ft. Class C!!!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

That's very similar to what some friends of ours are looking at doing. Unfortunately, their fifth wheel has some weld issues, so that's thrown a wrench into things at the moment. Keep on adventuring!

[@carltuckerson7718]

First time seeing the channel. You two have good vibes. My family RV's (big time) but we are only big trip/weekend warriors. A lot of the time we just pull it to a local state park and spend a weekend away from the house. I scrolled through the comments. Scratching my head a little bit on the swap...and I mean, the Olivers are NOT cheap either...But still a lot of financial wiggle room money-wise swapping from that particular Airstream. I just saw you in the Oliver and I am a tall guy also - I had a No Boundaries 19.8 BHS and I was claustrophobic - but we also had kids in there with us. I'll be curious to see long term. Literally weatherproof RV's for sure - but the downside I think will be that fiberglass bathtub interior. Easy to clean, no doubt. That Airstream was really, really nice. I'm going to follow - I want to see how it goes.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thanks for watching and we appreciate your comments. Honestly, we’re just as curious to see how it goes 😉. It’s been great in the relatively dry climates we’ve been in for the last 7 weeks, but the real test will be when we’re in rainy damp weather for days at a time.

[@MrSTOUT73]

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??

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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.

[@suejones2129]

Welcome to the Oliver family! Hull #944.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you 🙏! We’re excited to be a part of it!

[@brojerhwg5206]

purchase price....?... looks nice... stronger than the Airstream from what i see... happy trails🎉

[@HardAleeAdventures]

They are fairly customizable with a list of numerous options/packages to choose from. Ours came in just over $100k, so similar price point to a higher trim level Airstream, but with far more options included. Not sure what 2024s go for, but base LEII (the tandem axle model we have) was in the low-mid 70s last year.

[@brojerhwg5206]

@@HardAleeAdventures thanks for your transparency....impressive trailer

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@brojerhwg5206 no problem. It seems finding pricing is challenging. It used to be on their website. Maybe more challenging to find now since they are selling through dealers for the first time. We ordered through, and picked up from the factory, which was the only way you could do it until very recently. Cheers!

[@audiomxr]

Could you provide a link to the place you stayed at in Pensacola? Looks really cute!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Sure! The RV park was in Milton, just north-east of Pensacola and north of Gulf Breeze, and it’s called Avalon Landing - avalonlandingrvpark.com/ If you’re referring to the AirBnB, it is also in Milton a few miles further from P’cola - www.airbnb.com/rooms/661066516413093763?adults=1&s=10&unique_share_id=DA5B396D-8782-469D-BDCA-64B79B925B01&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0zKS9LLTdXPTXJKSQ8I9HeuTAIADVLmzRsAAAA%3D&_branch_match_id=1170446340272638462&source_impression_id=p3_1680294380_Y9ElTfuh50baIW0n. Finding places in Pensacola during the winter/early spring is challenging.

[@Ray96744]

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

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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.

[@boondockingamerica]

These are the only travel trailers that will come close to the life span of a air stream.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Yup. I actually think with frame will outlast the Airstream since the Oliver uses aluminum. You still see lots of 60+ year old fiberglass sailboats out on the water, so that’s a testament to the longevity of fiberglass.

[@boondockingamerica]

@@HardAleeAdventures I can not argue or want to argue that point . That is the reason I went with a northern lite truck camper when I purchased my camper. I do love the inner and outer shells on a oliver. Fiberglass is the only way to go on a camper now days.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@boondockingamerica those slide ins look well built. We looked at a Hallmark before we decided to continue with a bumper pull. Sure would be nice to have one of each. Use whichever makes the most sense for the specific adventure.

[@samhklm]

Sorry to see you sell the Airstream. Everyone is cutting back these days. Hope the new trailer will still give you good service.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you. The Airstream was great and the second one we’ve owned. So far, our Oliver is proving to be the perfect tool for us during this next chapter of adventures. If cost wasn’t a factor, we’d probably have ordered a Bruder EXP8. Maybe if we win the lottery, but first we may need to buy a ticket 😁

[@davidprovost213]

Congratulations on your new Ollie! What made you want to make the switch from Airstrwam to the Oliver?? We are considering an Ollie as well 🤓

[@HardAleeAdventures]

There were many factors. The biggest being that we could order it the way we wanted it (solar, large lithium bank, 3000-watt inverter, etc.) and we are boaters, so like the fiberglass build. The other big things are extremely good build quality and still a family company, not a corporation beholden to shareholders where customers are lower priority. The Oliver experience has been incredible. After owning two Airstreams (both pre-COVID builds) and now the Oliver, we would recommend the Ollie to anyone interested in a small, high-quality travel trailer.

[@davidprovost213]

@@HardAleeAdventures thanks for your reply. Looking forward to our adventures in the Ollie as well!! Best wishes !

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@davidprovost213 here’s hoping our tracks might someday cross. Cheers 🍻.

[@SkyCharter]

9:33 Brand new and an appliance is DOA. Doesn't say much about their QC. Glad you all had the opportunity to be Oliver's quality control team.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Oddly, it did heat intermittently, so may not have gotten caught. Also, not sure any manufacturer would actually heat up leftovers to check the function 😆. Likely would just turn it on, which they did during our walkthrough, and it seemed to work fine. We were just happy they quickly took care of it and got us back out adventuring.

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

Actually their quality control is industry leading. But like all RV manufacturers, they buy systems and appliances manufactured by other companies, which they have no control over. If an appliance fails in an Oliver, no other manufacturer will make it right faster than Oliver will, no questions asked. One thing Oliver is also know for is sourcing the highest grade of components possible. When a better option is identified, the new option is incorporated into the design as soon as it can be designed in and tested. I assume you've owned a new RV before. Without exception, factory new RVs of every price level will have a punch list of items that will need repaired at the time of delivery. Even Airstreams are very much a part of this statistic. Depending on the selling dealership, this may be addressed in a few weeks, but can take many months to satisfy. Often times the new owner is forced to deal with the supplier of faulty equipment as the selling dealership passes that burden onto the new owner. If a unit is completely problem free at delivery, it's because the dealership went way out of their way to trouble shoot the unit before delivery to the new owner. That's almost universally unheard-of. Our Oliver Elite 2 was nearly flawless at deliver and still is 6 weeks later.

[@alp-156]

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?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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-156]

@@HardAleeAdventures Thank you and I love the information you have provided.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@alp-156 happy to help!

[@EarthRoamingAdventures]

I've met a couple of Oliver owners and they had both had previously been sailors, wonder if there a connection?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

I'm guessing it's an affinity toward fiberglass. Sailors know how strong and durable it is. At least that was a big factor for us.

[@EarthRoamingAdventures]

@@HardAleeAdventures We sold our long keel Grampion sale boat before we started our land adventure and a one piece fiberglass unit was also a deciding factor for us.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@EarthRoamingAdventures great minds!

[@doug2078]

Just found your channel !! Great video !! Im not an RV owner. But I'm considering it in the future. Im a fan of the all fiberglass RV's Can i ask what drew you to the Oliver ?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

They are built like tanks. To my knowledge, they are the only double-hulled fiberglass trailer. This makes it so all the cabinets, lockers, seating, and etcetera are fiberglass as well, within the inside hull. This also improves the insulation value, having the air gap and insulation, between the hull layers, finally it makes it more impermeable to water intrusion. All good things. We also liked that they are made-to-order, so you can get as basic or decked out a version as you like. They have a well equipped basic camper, then numerous options to get it how you want it and they weren't ridiculous on the costs for the options. All-in-all we had a great experience working with Oliver and they've continued to be great after the sale, helping me trouble shoot a couple minor issues and immediately repairing the few we found before we left the factory coming spaces. All this does come a a premium, but well worth it in my opinion. Hope this helps.

[@doug2078]

@@HardAleeAdventures Thanks for the Info !! Ive heard their double hull design is Awesome. And water proof. Two major plus.Definitely on my list of possible Rv's Thanks again. looking forward to seeing updates !!

[@jw4111]

The Oliver looks like a cleaner design than Air stream. Looks like a great alternative to AS.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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.

[@simplywanda1065]

Congrats on your purchase. I love the Oliver but wetbath not happening. Looking forward to the company building a Legacy III with a nice dry bath. All they need to do imo is make it a little longer and move the closet then put the shower where the current closet is. By any chance did you look at the all azdel and composite Embers? I am wondering how they would compare to Olivers?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Yes, the wet bath certainly takes getting used to. It’s probably our least favorite feature, but a compromise we were willing to make. We had looked at Embers (and Black Series), but the build quality was far inferior. The rust on frames of new ones sitting on the dealer’s lot and just generally poor build quality, in our opinion, took these off our list. If we had an extra $100,000 (plus shipping) sitting around at the time, we would have ordered a Bruder EXP-8, but that’s not happening any time soon 😉.

[@Berrypancakes229]

@@HardAleeAdventuresat first I thought I couldn’t do a wet bath. I changed my mind . I could clean the bathroom at once.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@Berrypancakes229 absolutely! Maximize cleaning time 😆.

[@mikemanjo2458]

Beautiful place to wait! Wow! We have been discussing an Oliver lately, so I am anxious to see how you like it. It is gorgeous!!! I like that froley system. Did y'all order that or did it come with the Oliver? Good to know it was realatively quick to install. We have a standard poodle as well...they're so awesome. Safe travels! Looking forward to hearing more! Jane in SC❤🙏

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you! It certainly was. So far, we’re loving it. We only have a little over a month in it and just hit 2000 miles between TN and UT, so still figuring out how to live in the smaller space, but finding out groove and it’s going well. Just need to come up with many clever storage solutions, which we’ll show in a future video in the next few weeks. We ordered the Froli separately. Oliver offers the addition of an anti-condensation mat, but it’s what we’d used on our sailboat so knew it worked, but provided no additional comfort. This is our first Froli system and we’re sold! It significantly increased comfort and we’ve had zero condensation under the mattress in temps down to 18 F. Being full-timers and doing more than just interstate driving, we definitely put our rigs to the test. We’ll continue to give updates in our future videos.

[@keith4690]

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!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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!

[@keith4690]

@@HardAleeAdventures thank you!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@keith4690 you are very welcome!

[@oldwave1]

We looked at one, then went with the Canadian Bigfoot 25 No regrets either

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Great campers as well, from what we’ve heard. Those of us with full fiberglass campers gotta stick together 😉. Enjoy your Bigfoot and keep on adventuring!

[@davidsnapp3145]

We looked at the Oliver as well - ended up with a Canadian Escape 21NE which worked a bit better for our budget and use cases. Love the fibreglass trailers!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

From what we've heard, those are great campers as well. We've seen several on our travels. Keep on adventuring!

[@MorusUS]

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

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Our RV is far too small to install a washer/dryer combo. We just use laundry facilities in the areas we travel. Easy enough.

[@805gregg]

Still buying a brand that is stuck in the 60's with no slide, we bought a Lance 1995 with the u shaped slideout that seats 7, the floor is 4 feet wide and 10 feet long, we could put an oliver inside

[@HardAleeAdventures]

And we hope you enjoy that, but slides wouldn’t work in some of the places we camp and we just had the joy of helping push someone’s broken slide back in two days ago. To each their own, which is the beauty of all the options out there. Enjoy your adventure in whatever way you choose 💜.

[@fortyseven1832]

Slides turn into maintenance problems down the road. I like these practically leak proof fiberglass trailers.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@fortyseven1832 same here, but to each their own. I know the slides are great for those that want luxury living, just not practical for those of us that prefer the road less traveled 😉. However, we’re also comfy in far less space. The sailboats we previously lived in never had slides 😆.

[@drizzt8965]

lol@@HardAleeAdventures

[@rvfuntimes6144]

Looks a little tight for two grown adults and a sweetie Pie Poddle.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Definitely cozy. It has everything we need, in a compact package 😉. We do notice we’re spending more time outside, which is a positive in our eyes. I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, but it’s working well for us.

[@stuartstuart866]

@RVfuntimes, Haha, I guess it’s perspective, we own a 17 foot Casita so their Oliver looks like a mansion compared to ours. I do prefer the construction of laid fiberglass trailers, as opposed to other construction methods. There are still lots of trailers from the 1980’s and 90’s still on the road that use this building technique. I’m not sure it’s even possible to upgrade from an Oliver, it’s the pinnacle of fiberglass trailers.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@stuartstuart866 concur 👍. Having lived on fiberglass sailboats that get pounded pretty hard in large seas, we can attest to the durability of well laid-up glass. My grandparents had a Scamp many years ago, so it’s like we’ve come full circle 😊.

[@tedthomas3727]

I like the AS much better than that replacement.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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.

[@utrinqueparatusman]

Nice trailer. Just way too small!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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!

[@Chrylgirl]

He seriously put the ball on with small Channel Lock pliers ? No wonder they come off on the road!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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.

[@joemichel4770]

Sorry guys to ask the same question(s). Why? Why an Oliver instead of another Airstream? Airstreams are kinda the top of latter. What influenced your decision especially if you're living in it full time?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

No worries. There were many factors that influenced our final decision. We knew the size range we wanted (under 25') and we wanted top quality, which is why we had also considered Airstream 23 and 25. Unfortunately, we know several people who took delivery of brand new Airstreams in the past year and are having issues requiring rework and long waits to get that done. I'm sure they'll be great once issues are corrected, but that requires to schedule repairs with a dealer or the factory and those appointments are months out. Heading to Alaska a few months after delivery does not allow time for significant rework. We also didn't have time for a bunch of modifications, which would be required to have a comparably equipped AS (e.g., more solar, large LiFePO4 battery bank, large inverter, etc.), not to mention increasing the overall cost after mods. Then there's the comfort factor. I love the choices Oliver has made in developing a very tight exterior skin with a double-hull and minimal points of potential water ingress. This, and the insulation between the hulls, serves to keep heat/AC in when needed. We go far afoot and use our campers in all four seasons, so keeping it comfortable is important. I spent some time working in aviation acquisition and everything revolved around performance, cost, and schedule. Oliver met or exceeded all these. They have exceptional performance that was to be built the way we wanted/needed at the time we needed and at a cost comparable to an Airstream. Although not as much of a segment of the RV industry, Oliver is the top of the line in fiberglass trailers We all look for different things in an RV, so these are just some of the things that were important to us. Little Ollies certainly are not the right fit for everyone. Will this be our forever camper? Who knows, but it's the right tool for the job at this time and I don't see us wanting to change anytime soon. I hope everyone can finds an RV that suits them and allows them to take on their own adventures, whatever those may look like.

[@johnnyledbetter2119]

I like the Oliver's I just don't think I could deal with that shower. Can you stand up in there?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

It’s about the same height as we had in the Airstream. I have to crouch just a bit in both. I do find I have more room in the Oliver’s wet bath, even with the shower curtain closing off the toilet area, so net gain in shower space.

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

It's best described as a "couples camper". Compact and very efficient is the design objective. The small bath is something to get used to, but just like many class B and some class C owners, as well as a large percentage of smaller campers, a wet bath is a compromise that you have to adjust to in order to keep the camper as compact as possible. I'm 6'2" and it's a little snug in the bath but very easy to get accustomed to. I can stand up with my head touching the ceiling. No problems. What I like to tell folks is that I don't camp out in the bathroom. I do what's necessary and then continue to enjoy my camping adventure. The wet bath isn't a library like the one at home, but it very effectively gets the job done. That's all we need it for.

[@jamesi9463]

@@chrisneuhaus7188 Thank you for your info. I am 6' 1" and was wondering about how you fit into the bed.

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

@@jamesi9463 At 6'2" I have no problem sleeping in the bed flat on my back laying out straight. My head is close to the pantry cabinet and my feet are almost touching the rear wall, but I do not feel cramped or claustrophobic. I normally sleep much of the night, whether in the camper or in my king size bed at home, on my side with knees slightly bent. This is very comfortable for me. Actually I usually have two smallish dogs sleeping in the bed with me and have no problems in the Oliver. For us, the LE2 is the perfect size camper for living an adventurous lifestyle. One other item, we are very happy we chose the composting toilet option. No more waiting in line for the dump stations when leaving the campground, no black tank constraints or maintenance issues either.

[@lindawoody8501]

Shocked you had to fabricate the Froli system for your mattress to sit upon on your bed. The factory should have done that before you took possession.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

It comes as a U-shaped dinette, so modifying it for our wants/needs was an option we chose to do. Some of us don’t mind messing about with our campers. It’s part of the “fun” 😆.

[@kensafranek2306]

OMG ,,no safety chains or stabilizer bars ?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Haha. There actually are safety “chains”, but they are wire with a greater breaking strength than the chains it came with. Keeps them off the ground and serves the same purpose. Correct that there are no bars. Stabilizers are jacks under the trailer to help stabilize when parked, which we do have. What I think you may be referring to are for weight distribution bars? Those have been completely unnecessary with our 3/4 ton truck and small, easy to tow Oliver. No problem with tractor trailers or cross winds and we’ve towed it in some pretty nasty winds multiple times. Thanks for asking.

[@deanekonomou7641]

Ok cool but 2 people I know have new ones nice but I like the room in airstream. If they built a 29 ft . And a little wider . I’m in.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

It certainly is not for everyone. We know folks that feel their 45’ 5th wheel is as small as they could comfortably go 😉. We definitely sacrificed some creature comforts going from our Airstream Classic 30, but, for us, losing some comforts was worth gaining increased mobility, access to smaller/more remote campsites, and the ability to do serious 4-season camping. There’s certainly no one-size-fits-all RV 😆.

[@alp-156]

Hi, after one year of ownership of your new Oliver trailer - preference composting toilet or conventional ?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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-156]

@@HardAleeAdventures Thanks for that information.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@alp-156 glad to help

[@gordonhesse7200]

Hope you like white.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

If we get tired of it we can always have it painted like our boat. Forrest green and a gold cove stripe 🙂.

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

Interesting your comment. On a day when the temps at 5 am are around 55 degrees outside, the inside temperature of our one month old Oliver LE2 sitting in the driveway with no systems running will be around 60-65 degrees inside at that time. By 2 pm the outside temps have risen to around 84 degrees and the camper sitting in direct sun light still measures 78 degrees inside, no systems running. My truck, which is a medium red color, sitting next to the camper in the driveway, has and internal temperature of nearly 110 degrees. This is a little experiment I did on a couple occasions after bringing the camper home. We had a typical aluminum skinned, standard constructed Jayco travel trailer with nice colors and graphics on the outside and beautiful interior. The AC unit could not maintain a comfortable temperature inside the camper running continuously on any day that the outside temps exceeded 85 degrees. Once you've experienced the difference, it's a no brainer. In every way the Oliver is superior and easier to boot.

[@michaelchalabian3307]

A wet bathroom, deal breaker.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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.

[@GeorgeAlexa]

What truck do you have - what year? Does it do a good job?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Oops…our 250 was a 2018 and our 350 is a 2023. Hope the info is helpful.

[@garyag45]

👍🤛😎🙏🦅🇺🇸

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thanks for the emoji bomb! 🙌

[@ThomasMackay-i8h]

Wonder what the AS weighed?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@ThomasMackay-i8h GVWR was 10,000 pounds, but loaded it was typically under 9k.

[@ThomasMackay-i8h]

@@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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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-i8h]

@@HardAleeAdventures Nice. I have found in full timing that the less I have to do the better!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@ThomasMackay-i8h that was our theory. Keep It Simple Sailor.

[@texasproud3332]

Maybe y’all should have swapped trucks cause looks like there going to need bigger truck and y’all need smaller one

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Too funny 😂. It’s probably an optical illusion. We both have F-250s. Ours is gas and his is diesel with an additional leaf spring, so both good for hauling the Airstream. Our 3/4 ton is definitely a bit overkill, but it’s paid off, has low mileage, and tows the Ollie (without a WD hitch) like there’s nothing behind us. Sometimes the bigger hammer does the job better 😉.

[@Eric-xp1kl]

I have followed both Airstream and Oliver for years. I like the look of the Airstreams, but the Olivers look like better quality overall. Now that you have had some time with the Oliver, how do you think AS vs Oliver on build quality?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

We both still love the iconic look of the Airstreams, but our experience is that the Oliver build quality is better. Tighter envelope and better insulation makes a big difference in comfort and we love that we could order it the way we wanted it. Their options made it turn-key for our Alaskan adventure and only a faulty light since picking it up. We do wish they had a hand held shower on a diverter instead of the sink faucet that seconds as a shower handle. Just that the flow is too much and it makes water conservation while boondocking more challenging. We preferred the Oxygenics we installed on our AS 27 Signature and came standard on our AS 30 Classic. Small thing and able to be installed after market, but definitely not ideal.

[@Berrypancakes229]

@@HardAleeAdventureswhat’s the price of yours?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@Berrypancakes229 the Olivers are made to order with a wide range of options, so a base LEII may run in the low $70’s or add a bunch of options (e.g., solar, big Lithium battery bank, 3000W inverter, and etcetera) and you can end up over $100k. When we compared this to the Airstream International 23 that started at $109k and would need a lot of mods to be what we wanted, it made our decision pretty easy.

[@Berrypancakes229]

@@HardAleeAdventures thank you for your reply.

[@charlesspidell1447]

Using channel locks backwards

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thank you for that info.

[@greenrush4313]

PEOPLE LISTEN UP:Oliver has also a k-5 splitter reductiner that i must say is awesome.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thanks for the comment. I must admit, I have no idea what the k-5 splitter reductiner is.

[@billredding2000]

@ Green Rush: Yeah, but they don't include WORKING microwaves? What's up with Oliver's Quality Control department? Disappointed, as expected more from them. Especially at those prices. -- BR

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@billredding2000 we should have been more specific. The convection (I.e., heating element) worked perfectly and the microwave appeared to be an intermittent discrepancy. The first time we used it, it didn’t heat well, so I tried with just a glass of water, which it heated fine. The next day we went to use it again, it heated extremely slowly. With 20 years of aviation electronics under my belt, I can attest that intermittent electronic problems are a pain to trouble shoot. I didn’t fault Oliver as they immediately took our trailer back and replaced it while we went to run some errands. I guess we all have different expectations and only having a couple minor things at delivery wasn’t a big deal to us. Others we know who have purchased equally high-quality RVs have had significantly more issues that took far longer to correct. I’m just happy that with over 2,000 miles under the tires and over 40 nights of camping, everything is working and life is good 👍.

[@billredding2000]

@@HardAleeAdventures That's good to hear, as I knew Oliver is probably the Top Dog when it comes to "eggshell" fiberglass TTs so I didn't expect to hear about anything not working. As for me though -- were I to get a TT myself at some point -- my mid-size truck can only handle something smaller/shorter/lighter, such as an Airstream Basecamp-X 16' (their 20' is a tad too large). Of course, I'd not be LIVING in it -- would want something larger if I were, but then I'd ALSO need to buy a larger/more capable tow-vehicle as well. :-( Happy Travels, -- BR

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@billredding2000 great minds…we actually looked at a Basecamp 20 and a 23 but already have the 3/4 ton to easily tow them. Being an old sailor, I was comfortable with moving to fiberglass…less dents in hail 😉. It’s definitely small to live in, but we’re adapting 😆.

[@genskitchenmagic2957]

OMG! You have to put the bed together yourself? Unbelievable.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Only if you want it as a king sized bed. The rear dinette converts to a king. The other option is two twins. We prefer the king sized bed over RV queen beds.

[@Getmoreonlinereviews]

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?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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!

[@Getmoreonlinereviews]

@@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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@Getmoreonlinereviews I believe Pebble may beat Airstream with their self park/tow assist features. Companies are certainly pushing hard to capitalize off that technology.

[@Getmoreonlinereviews]

@@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.

[@rangerider51]

You got to build your own bed? It doesn’t come with one?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

It comes with either twin beds or rear dinette that converts to a bed, like many vans and small campers. We chose the rear dinette configuration and keep it converted to a king(ish)-sized bed. In such a small camper, it’s nice to have options.

[@preyingmathis2517]

Very white

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Yup. Kinda like a lot of boats. Shiny gelcoat.

[@kimmurphy1683]

I didn't catch why the switch. Was it mentioned?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Good question. We talked to it a bit in a previous video (Fireside Chat), but a quick rundown...Our Airstream Classic 30 was very comfortable, however, it had a pretty low angle of departure and approach with limited clearance which made is less apt to go further down the roads less traveled. The 34' overall length (with ProPride Hitch and bike rack) was also restrictive in some of the State and National Parks we prefer to stay in. We also found the insulation a bit lacking and felt the ample single-pane windows, although beautiful in moderate temperatures, made it challenging to keep warm in cold temps (woke with our pillows frozen to the bulkhead in 17F) and cool in hot temps. Lastly, fully laden at 10,000lbs, it was pushing our truck in the high altitudes and steep grades. Gas loses a fair amount of power at elevation and we're currently around 7,000'. All those things combined, plus our preference of an active, outdoor lifestyle, made us want to get smaller. We looked at Airstreams (of which we'd owned two) and Olivers and chose the Oliver as the tool most meeting our specific wants/needs, at this time, without modification. I hope that answers your question.

[@johndanczak]

Airstream is more than a camper, it’s a culture, an investment, classic, and timeless. It simply can’t be beat. Period!

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@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!

[@iosifkovalenko8364]

Airstreams are classy and attractive. But, fiberglass trailers are built far superior to airstreams. Less maintenance and more dependable.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@iosifkovalenko8364 we absolutely agree. We owned two different Airstreams and loved the iconic look. For Alaska, we chose function over fashion 😆.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@xk302a they certainly don’t seem to be being built like they were in the past.

[@paulmanley6223]

8 minutes in and the "why" is missing. Sort of maddening

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Unfortunately, our channel had been set up as a way to share our adventures with friends and family who watch each video (or at least we’d like to think they do 😁). We discussed our plans to swap rigs in a fire-side chat a couple months ago. It appears we now have far more subscribers that did not see those first 20 or so videos, so may be missing some context. Kind of like starting a book half way through. Those videos are still up for those interested in getting, as Paul Harvey would have put it, “the rest of the story.” Thanks for watching.

[@stevehislop]

@@HardAleeAdventures You could´ve just said why:) What a downgrade of a camper.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@stevehislop to each their own 😊

[@retiredandroaming]

@@stevehislop Ignorance is bliss......and being rude behind a keyboard is lame.

[@stevehislop]

@@retiredandroaming You have no argument, which is kind of ...lame:)

[@ACF6180T]

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.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

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!

[@karaeubanks5349]

Help me understand why Oliver's better build quality than airstream

[@HardAleeAdventures]

There have been several previous comments that we’ve answered in detail that answer this. Quick rundown…came with 16” M+S tires and Dexter E-Z Flex suspension system on dual axles resulting in higher ground clearance and improved off-road ability, aluminum frame, better insulation with no holes for critters to enter, secure latches on every cabinet, double-pane windows, soft-close drawer slides, Maxair fan that can be left open when raining, day/night cellular shades, all cabinetry integrated into fiberglass mold (won’t shake themselves off the walls), three DC & dual-USB outlets, and six reading lights located wherever one might want to read. Those were the standard features. Without having to wait months for custom upgrades at a dealer we were able to order it with 400 watts of solar, 640 amp-hours of lithium batteries, a 3000 watt inverter, Truma Varioheat furnace (super quiet and efficient), Truma on-demand hot water heater, Truma Aventa AC unit (smaller and quieter), convection/microwave, dual front/back low pressure LPG connections, a front aluminum storage basket, and dual 120Vac connections to simplify running a generator from the bed of our truck. I’m sure we’re forgetting some things, but that gives you an idea of why we chose an Oliver over another Airstream around the same size. Oliver’s aren’t perfect, but we do appreciate that their build quality surpasses that of our two previous Airstreams. We still believe Airstreams are better looking, they just aren’t as robust as we wanted for our current adventures.

[@karaeubanks5349]

@@HardAleeAdventures if you don't mind me asking what was the price difference between the two

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@karaeubanks5349 prices are comparable for similar sizes between the two. Both post their pricing on their websites. We found that with the options we wanted that would have been above and beyond what Airstream offered, the Oliver came in a bit less.

[@boondockingamerica]

​@HardAleeAdventures the question is which one will last longer. The airstream or the oliver. My agents still use the airstream they purchased new in 1969 when they got married. It has a little over 2.5 million miles on it and is still used for their retirement. They are full-time in it. They winter in the keys at Boyd's, and they spend their summers in the rockies

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@boondockingamerica we’ll have to wait and see how long the Oliver’s last, but I imagine with decent care they could last beyond my lifetime. Since they haven’t been around nearly as long, time will tell.

[@chonkyb3134]

The Oliver looks much smaller….

[@HardAleeAdventures]

That’s is likely because it’s about 10’ shorter and 1 1/2’ narrower 😉.

[@chonkyb3134]

@@HardAleeAdventures , are you missing the Airstream?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@chonkyb3134 when it’s raining for several days at a time, we have missed the space. However, the majority of the time, we do not miss it. We certainly don’t miss the gaps that let in rodents, replacing popped rivets, poor insulation, and having to repeatedly tighten up the metal screws holding up little things like cabinets. Every rig comes with compromises. With the Oliver, it’s just the size, which we’ve learned to be comfortable in.

[@chonkyb3134]

@@HardAleeAdventures , thanks for the reply

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@chonkyb3134 no problem 👍

[@dklswh]

That is quite a down grade from the Airstream, i just cannot get past a wet bath.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

In size, certainly. In quality, absolutely not. We wanted a more nimble, true 4-season camper and were willing to compromise with the wet-bath for the rest of the package. If I had an extra $100K floating around, a Bruder EXP8 may be even better…but still has a wet-bath.

[@Chuck-gd9rr]

I had a Bigfoot 17 with a wet bath and really liked it. Comfortable shower seat and when shower was done, a three minute wipe down always left the bathroom pristine. Ridiculously small but totally functional.

[@HardAleeAdventures]

@@Chuck-gd9rr very true. The wet-baths are fully functional, just takes a squeegee and wipe down after use and removing everything from the bath area prior to showering. The minor inconvenience more than makes up for the ease of towing and fitting into tight areas.

[@ATLJonathanH]

Why so tiny?

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Great question. Ease of towing, no need for larger, and can find a spot in almost all State and National parks. We lived in sailboats in the past, so are comfortable living in close quarters and it fits us well (even though I'm 6'3").

[@chrisneuhaus7188]

I like to ask the opposing question to folks who choose large campers and RVs. Why so big? They are extremely difficult to take anyplace other than modern RV resort parks. They are nearly impossible to truly explore the country in. Bigger than 30' and you can kiss the National Parks goodbye, as well as many state parks and locations off the beaten path. Our Oliver is our sleeping space and occasionally where we cook. We mostly cook outside, but the galley inside works just fine if we need to stay inside due to weather. When we reach our destination, 80-90% of our awake time is spent outside of the camper. We don't go camping or traveling to sit inside the camper. Why would we pull a much larger camper around the country burning more fuel than necessary, and fighting it all the down the road. Ask any Oliver owner and most will tell you the camper pulls like a dream, so much so that many owners claim they can't tell the camper is hooked up the the truck as they go down the road. I know you can get a much larger camper for less money. But take a typical camper and try to bring its systems up to match that of an Oliver and you will quickly approach or surpass the cost of and Oliver, and you will still have a poorly insulated, inferior camper that will loose 75% of its value in five years. There's lots of other reason but I don't need to beat this up.

[@jackstraw7491]

WHY for heavens sake Oliver plastic fantastic

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Thanks for your comment. This question has been answered several times in replies to previous comments. Suffice to say it is the better trailer for us for many reasons.

[@jiggidyjam]

Just one word explains it all. THOR

[@markv.5962]

Very narrow

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Yup. Helps it tow like a dream and great for getting through tight spots. If our truck can get through, so can Piccolino.

[@michellestuck1785]

airstream sorry not sorry

[@HardAleeAdventures]

Airstream was great for what we needed at the time. Oliver is better for what we need now.