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I got tired of seeing my Anderson hitch chains looking rusted and I knew paint was only going to be temporary solution. I considered replacing the chains with plastic/rubberized covered chains but found a lower cost option. I used Techflex Flexo Clean Cut 1 1/2-Inch Braided Cable Sleeve, in black - 10 Feet. Amazon sells it for $8 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VT09LS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The 10 foot length is perfect to cover both chains in my case. It cuts clean with scissors and the ends can be burnished with a lighter. You can still see through the braiding to make sure you have no twisted in the chain and it only took a few minutes to put on over the chains. I used tie-straps braided through the last chain links on both ends to hold them in place.

Interesting, the new transmission offers a MUCH lower first gear which really helps the truck launch from a stop, or accelerate a trailer up a freeway on-ramp. Plus the taller 8th gear ratio plus some aero aids really help the mpgs. The Fast Lane guys saw a 25% improvement over their 100 mile test loop. Jaw drops to floor.... https://www.tfltruck.com/2019/05/2019-ram-power-wagon-you-will-be-surprised-how-much-quicker-and-more-efficient-it-is-than-the-previous-generation-video/ I love my Land Cruiser but this truck gets more tempting every time it gets an upgrade.... lighter empty weight, higher payload, much better performance... woohoo. John Davies Spokane WA

I know nothing about these batteries.... do they have a thermal runaway fire risk like conventional lithium battery packs? If not, how is this prevented? I would really be interested in this mod, but I would most likely wait a few years until my AGM batteries get tired, I win the lottery, or the price drops significantly. Thanks, John Davies Spokane WA

It can and has been done. I’ve got video and photos of mine coming off.

Vector, the ideal location would be lined up in a tray that extends from the dinette to the bed, under the pantry. That would provide a low COG while keeping their weight centered on the axles. It would also keep them closer to room temperature which would aid charging in cold weather. There’s room for at least five batteries there, perhaps six, but the main issue is finding a method to mount them securely. They’d also be a pain to install and remove but perhaps an access hatch under the pantry would solve that.

They don’t, mainly due to their chemistry. It’s the LCO lithiums that can have issues with thermal stability and which are typically used in phones and laptops. Here’s a good primer on lithium battery types that discusses the pros and cons of each. LFP has its drawbacks but it’s the safest along with LTO.

You have 225 usable amp hours (50%)

I've spent some time on the phone with Battle Born. They tell me that their batteries are compatible with the Xantrex inverter and Blue Sky controller in my 2016 Elite II. Among the advantages they promote are: 1) you can draw the batteries down to 0% without damaging the batteries or reducing the lifespan of the batteries; 2) 3,000 to 5,000 discharge/charge cycles compared to 300-500 for my batteries; 3) a 10-year warranty: 8-year full replacement and last 2-years pro rated; and 4) they produce full power no matter what the discharge rate is. I don't know how many usable amp hours I have with my 4 Trojan T-105 deep cycle batteries. Battle Born says 2 of their 12v batteries would give me 200 usable amp hours, 3 would give me 300 and 4 would produce 400 usable amp hours. My camping style is to boondock as much as possible and to avoid times/places where I need to run my A/C. So, I don't use a generator (I don't own one) and I take full advantage of the factory installed solar panels and have a 120-watt Zamp portable panel as a backup. I've been very happy with my set up but I've had to leave great boondocking spots when the weather changes and a couple of days of rain set in. The Battle Born batteries weigh less than 1/2 of the weight of my Trojan batteries. 30 lbs. v. 62 lbs. The dimensions are 12.75L, 6.8W, and 9H--all in inches. The Trojans are 10.3L, 7.11W and 11.07H. I haven't tried to figure out whether I can fit 4 in my battery compartment, but I'm thinking of starting with 2 and upgrading if I need more amp hours. So, I'm interested in finding out if any of you on the forum have made the switch to Battle Born and if so, the pros and cons based on your experiences. Also, I welcome any comments by knowledgeable forum members who have not made the switch. I'm also curious about how many usable amp hours my 4 6V Trojan batteries povide. Cost is obviously a factor. The Battle Born batteries are "on sale" now for $949 per battery with free shipping and no sales tax.

Looks much nicer - good idea!

Here’s a tip - so long as you buy at least one solar panel the same year as you buy the batteries, you can claim the 30% solar tax credit on the batteries, using your trailer as a second home.

Great information. Three things: Like Overland alluded, you can mount them in any physical position, since they will not "leak." They also do not off-gas, so you could conceivable mount them in the basement or in an otherwise unorthodox location, presuming your wiring had good pathways. I've also researched them, and hope that competition and a more evolved product life-cycle (no pun intended) will bring about some price decreases. v/r, Vector

Nan You may not remember meeting us at the Rally. We have the 2019 Oliver Elite II, Clam Outdoor tent, large black Labrador "puppy", and live in the Jacksonville, FL, area. Anyway, I have decided to upgrade to the 2020 model GMC 2500HD Duramax when they come out in the fall 2019. Camping beside KountryKamper at the Rally and admiring his new GMC 2500HD Duramax with matching truck cap convinced me to make the upgrade. So, my metallic gray, 2015 Toyota Tundra Limited, 5.7L, 4WD, Double Cab, matching truck topper will be for sale this fall when the 2020 GMCs come out. This truck currently has 62K miles and been serviced exclusively at the Keith Pierson Toyota dealer according to the recommended maintenance schedule. I purchased this truck in March 2015 from Keith Pierson Toyota and have all service/maintenance records. The dealer provided a lifetime powertrain warranty (that is why I so carefully adhered to the recommended maintenance schedule and serviced at the dealer), but unfortunately I do not believe it is transferrable. I also purchased the "same-as-new" detailing package which provides dealership detailing every 6-months (I enjoy riding in a clean truck but working full-time little desire to detail it myself). Also, purchased 20-inch Michelin tires July 2018 at 46K miles (they have a 70K warranty). In 2018, I added a Tekonsha 90195 P3 Trailer Brake Controller ($145) in preparation for the Oliver electric brakes (my research suggested this to be a top notch electric brake controller). The Kelly Blue Book value for this vehicle is $30K. Knowing this truck to be in exceptional condition, I do not want to trade with the GMC dealer - this is the quality used vehicle you would want to sell as a favor, not deliver to auction. We added a LEER topper (Model 180) in July 2018, with carpeted bed liner, pet screen sliding windows, and height 8-inches above the height of the cab. This LEER cap was around $2K and is not included in the Kelly Blue Book $30K value. However, it is a half-ton truck, but perfectly capable of towing the Elite II (we have towed our 2019 Oliver about 2000 miles with this Tundra - mostly flat interstate between FL and TN). I intend to sell in the fall, for $30K. I only mention in case you are not in a rush and would be satisfied with a half-ton Toyota truck. I hesitated to put this on the forum because I am not ready to sell this truck, but, it will be a great deal for someone satisfied with a half-ton and not in a rush to purchase. Give careful consideration to the type truck you will need and do not consider this truck unless you are certain you will be satisfied with a half-ton truck pulling your Ollie. After all, I am upgrading to a 3/4 ton and others seem to upgrade from half-ton to 3/4 ton too. There are definitely pros and cons in doing so. I will have little trouble selling this truck in the fall to someone in need of a good truck. If you are interested in looking at this truck, send me a PM and we can schedule a day. However, this truck is not for sale until fall 2019 after the 2020 GMC trucks are available.

I have the Battleborns. The only con is their size. But you can fit four in the Elite II tray if you place them vertically. Also, you’ll find that while technically you can use 100% of their capacity, their voltage drops off a cliff at about 90%. Still, that’s a considerable improvement over lead acid, and from a performance standpoint I have zero complaints. The Lifeline rep at the rally said that they will be introducing a similar product soon. Resellers have a good margin so you might be able to find a better deal. I got mine through Inverter Supply. I would suggest that you upgrade your battery monitor at the same time, since it’s more difficult to judge an LFP’s state of charge from voltage alone. A few of us have the Victron BMV, which are highly rated. If you get their Bluetooth version, then you won’t have to mount anything in the trailer. Simply secure the monitor in the hull and use their phone app.

I've put 14000 miles on my 2018 GMC Duramax, about 1/2 towing the Ollie. I am pleased with truck so far - weird though, on the current trip, the fuel mileage has dropped to about 13mpg - running across Texas, and through NM northward. Running 70 I was in the mid 14 range, now not so. Perhaps the headwinds caused most of the loss. We will see....as this was the case on my van. As for the tailpipe location, I have not noticed any ill effects at all. I don't have an issue with the location, would not spend any more $$ to modify.

Teal - Today (May 28) I split the discussion about the porch lights to be under the topic heading of "Amber Porch Lights" so that it might be a bit easier to find in the future. Hope this helps you. The "new" post can be found here: http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/amber-porch-lights/#post-172292

Pictures or it didn't happen. :-)