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I visited Mesa Verde and Grand Canyon National Parks in Colorado, Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Zion and Cedar Breaks in Utah. I camped two nights in a campground at Bryce with fellow Olliver owners Stan and Carol Moyer. I've attached a few photos of the Ollie and the VW Touareg TDI tow vehicle. Discovered that the Touareg is a pretty good off-road vehicle. Followed a Jeep Wrangler for about 40 miles on the jeep trails in Canyonlands. Don

I agree, and prefer my second idea for that reason. Like I said, putting a water tank where the black tank currently sits isn't the greatest place for all that weight. It would have a big effect on the yaw inertia, which is the biggest factor in trailer stability. At least the weight would be on the front though. Veering way off topic, but it's the same reason I wish Oliver had a different solution for the spare tire instead of hanging it off the back. Anyway, I don't think increasing the size of the current tanks would have too much effect on stability. More weight, of course, but the effect on yaw would be negligible I'd think, and in fact, having a bit more weight at the bottom would lower the overall COG. If you could add, say 5 gallons capacity, that's about 40lbs or so. Replacing the black tank with fresh water, on the other hand, would be around 150lbs, and in a poor location. But if you travel with empty tanks, then no problem. Fill up last minute before heading out to the wilderness.

I'm going for full Troublemaker Status here, but thinking about it even more, I'm wondering if by eliminating the black tank, you couldn't get larger tanks (plural), in their current location. The reason I think that is that the waste line from the black tank is a straight shot from front to back, while the grey tank waste comes out the back of the tank and elbows over to connect to the main waste line. Well, without the black tank, you don't need that front to back waste line, which takes up it looks like 4"-6" or so under the floor. So without it, you could increase the width of the other two tanks, which would add a substantial amount to either or both, depending on how you wanted to split the difference.

Well, I'm not sure I buy that. I mean, from the photos I have, the black tank is easily accessible from the large access panel in the font seat of the dinette. In fact, it looks like that's how you'd remove it for service if needed. So to say that the space can't even be used for storage is a bit of a stretch. Maybe they mean externally, but certainly the space can be accessed from the inside. And they already have water running to it - for the cleanout - so there's room in there to get water. In fact, looking at it, I don't see what the big deal is to have it all installed later if someone were to change their mind. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems straightforward to me. Here's a photo, looking through the access panel at the dinette. You can see the blue cleanout line to the left and of course the waste line to the right. Take the waste line and the black tank out, and you've got a decent amount of space there to do with what you want. Or, like I say, put in a secondary fresh water tank. Of course a water tank in that location isn't the best from a weight distribution standpoint, so that's something that should really be considered.

Instead of trying to create more grey water storage, it seems to me like it would be easer and more practical to place an additional fresh water tank in place of the black tank. Since the location is higher, all you'd have to do is extend the existing fill lines to the new tank and then add a gravity drain to the main tank. Then you'd have over 50 gallons of fresh water storage.

Don, Enjoyed the photo trip report!!!!! Looks like the Touareg is very capable TV for the Elite II! Hope to camp in this this area during the fall of 2017 or 2018! So many places to camp in the lower 48! Thanks for posting!

Buzzy, Thanks! Currently transport Kayaks on the pickup fiberglass shell with Thule racks. Not planning to install a fiberglass shell on the next pickup. Like your idea about a Thule rack on the cab with cover over the pickup bed. The Thule racks should work OK on a Crew Cab, too. We want to transport a 500lb motorcycle or bicycles in the rear bed of the pickup. Like Bob & Camille said, have to keep the TV within the load capacity with TT tongue weight, too. Also like David's idea about the van, but we will go with a pickup. Been reading about 2017 vehicles, but still rumors on some models about gas/diesel engines and transmissions to be installed. Here's the Thule racks we currently transport Kayaks with:

Steve and Tali, A couple of guys at the campground were planning to explore below the rim. We met at the visitors' center and they encouraged me to take the Touareg down. We measured for adequate clearance and I got a permit. Hiked first and then ventured down. Met a couple from San Diego in at the bottom and they convinced me to follow them all the way back to Moab rather than returning to the rim and driving back on the highway. I drove about 40 miles below the rim. Touareg was great. I knew the weather would be warm but I was very lucky until the end of my time in Utah. Last stop was Zion and it was 97 degrees at noon when I finished my first hike and 110 degrees when I reached the campground. I left the next morning for Ouray, Colorado! Great hiking before that at Arches, Bryce, and Cedar Breaks National Monument before that. Next time, I'll visit this area in the fall. Don