Leaderboard

I measured the Attwood Air Command inside sound levels, using the same Decibel Meter app on my iPhone 6S, I did not remove the case (Otterbox Commuter). The trailer was inside the RV bay, AKA The Hanger deck, plugged into a 20 amp 115V wall outlet. All 110V AC breakers inside the trailer were turned off except for the air conditioner one. The app was set to measure dbA, which is what the human ear hears. I zeroed the display before each test. My system is different, it has Low/ Med/ High/ Auto fan speeds. The cabin fan runs off one small motor up on the roof The compressor runs off a second small motor. Most other types have a single big motor with two shafts, driving both parts simultaneously at the same speed. For reference: Katanapilot's measurents Location, Baseline measurement, Low Fan, High Fan with compressor running Front dinette seat (phone on table) - 35, 68, 71 Rear dinette seat (phone on table) - 34, 71, 72 Left bed (phone on bed at aft end) - 31, 70, 74 Right bed (phone on bed at aft end) - 32, 70, 73 Standing under A/C (phone held at 5') - 32, 76, 78 Attwood Air Command 16,000 BTU "equivalent" (rated at 13.5K), no heat strip. Location, Baseline measurement, Low Fan, High Fan with compressor running Front dinette seat (phone on table) - 34, 58, 63 Rear dinette seat (phone on table) - 34, 58, 63 Left bed (phone on bed at aft end) - 34, 58, 63 Right bed (phone on bed at aft end) - 34, 58, 63 Standing under A/C (phone held at 5') - 34, 64, 70 These numbers compare favorably to Attwood's own testing from this Powerpoint presentation: An interesting note: The sound level is dominated by the cabin fan wind noise. The readings on High Fan and High Fan Compressor Running were identical. Other than the cold air pouring out, you could not audibly tell that the compressor was operating. This is very similar to the compressor noise level outside the trailer - with a quiet generator going twenty feet away, the AC sound on the roof is hardly perceptible when standing next to the hull. When you walk away a few feet, you can't hear it at all. It is very "neighbor friendly". Compressor snarl: When running off the Yamaha generator (no soft start kit installed on the air conditioner) the compressor is louder when it kicks on, due to the voltage drop. It doesn't happen when plugged into a strong shore power circuit. I will try to test the sound when running off the generator to see what the sound level is. My system was a custom install by the factory in early 2017, they no longer do this sort of mod on the production line. See the attached Attwood pdf files for more info. I hope this helps. It does indeed seem to be much quieter overall. I have never been inside an Ollie with the standard unit running, so I had no way to know the real world differences. I can't say if it is worth the money and time to swap the Attwood for the Dometic, but the sound difference is certainly there. You would lose the electric heat strip, it is only available in the larger Attwood, which is way too big for an Ollie. Plus the condensation drips down the side of the roof, there is no belly drain. And the Olliver techs were not able to mate the AC with the digital thermostat, so I have to run it either from the drop down control panel or from the little remote control. None of these is a big deal for me. One feature I do NOT like: because the unit is running off the thermostat attached to the bottom of the inside console, instead of from a wall stat on the far side of the pantry, the unit short cycles. When the cabin has cooled down to the desired temp, it cycles on and off too quickly. The cold air bouncing off the rear wall and overhead cabinet confuses the onboard controls. If it could be connected to a remote wall stat, this would not happen. It is irritating but not harmful. John Davies Spokane WA RV Atwood Air Command Presentation2014.pdf RV Atwood Air Command Service Manual.pdf

Bulky and somewhat pricey, but worth consideration - https://www.space.com/nasa-space-toilet-ready-for-launch

The Attwood Air Command originated in Oz. I have never heard of the Gree. My personal feelings about Wifi and Bluetooth for RVs is, the less, the better. Certain exceptions like the VictronConnect are great, but for controlling the main systems, I want simple and reliable hard wired controls. John Davies Spokane WA

Labeling is ok.....remembering is the key. We just added it to our set up and take down checklist. 😊

Charlie sent me several guards before the last rally when I gave the class Camping for Dummies. I gave away a couple and still have one. I’ll bring it to the next rally for someone. We’ve had ours on for 4 years, after someone’s backside turned our fridge off! Send him a PM and he should answer. I think his forum name is tractor1. Mike

I have the RV660LMT and really like it. It is a slightly older model, and a larger screen would be welcome. The RV mode is needed to warn you of low bridges, steep grades, etc and it is SUPER ANNOYING. I turned it off the second day of our first trip. It kept popping up constant alerts that I already knew about “curves ahead!!!”, duh, I have been driving on curves for an hour. “Steep grade ahead!!!” True, but many miles away. The RV database is clunky, the icons are big and block details. In general I think it is simply poor programming. For low clearance, use the eyeballs you were born with, anything posted 12 feet or under, stop and double check before proceeding. I have a height placard hanging down to remind me as I drive. You can add additional map layers to this series Garmin. I have 24K topo maps which I can add to the existing road map when out in the boonies. Instead of a single line against a totally blank background, I get elevation contours and other features. The big plus is that the Topo maps are routable. You can add up to four low res camera inputs to the main display, I use one for my trailer backup camera. The Garmin Connect phone app is pretty lame, I never use it. I am a big Garmin fan, for the most part. I won’t buy another brand. The only thing I dislike about mine, other than RV Mode, is the external flash card sticks out the bottom, no recess or guard, and it is easy to accidentally press and eject it. John Davies Spokane WA

Make sure whatever you get lists any overpass that is 10' or less. Oliver's have a tendency to travel back roads and places with low trees and bridges.

Guess that design could use the empty black tank to turn the residue back to drinking water?

I'm wondering if anyone has tested the 11,000-BTU Dometic A/A that is currently being installed in the newer models. Is it substantially quieter (or even a tiny bit quieter) than the 13,500-BTU unit that I assume KatanaPilot measured as "baseline?"

Agree, a label is fine - if you look at it! Damp feet can also be a great reminder. 😬

DOD is important when it comes to off grid camping and how much power your batteries can supply before needing recharged. I've come to the conclusion that weighing the cost/benefits of Lithium vs other batteries is a bit like an apples to oranges comparison. Money aside, choose that which gives you the most satisfaction 🍎 🍑 (I know, it's a peach. But there isn't an orange emoji)

Aha! Thank you both. I was clicking on my name. BTW, having a wonderful time at the non-Rally & wish you were here!

This is super easy..... Little House Fridge Button Guard - scroll 3/4 of the way down to view I have only mistakenly switched to DC once, and I caught it in time before the batteries went flat. The DC "heater" inside the fridge draws 15 amps continuously. It isn't something you want to leave operating more than an hour or two. Here is the DC/AC select button: The plate is clear plexiglass, maybe 1/4" thick or so. Follow the included instructions and install it. Center the guard left and right and also vertically, make sure it is level, and when you are satisfied push GENTLY. Make sure it looks good and none of the buttons bind in the guard holes. Mine were fine, if yours stick, remove and reposition the guard slightly. Once pressed firmly and held for half a minute, it won't move. The lights are easily seen, but eventually the dust will collect back there, so maybe a blast of compressed air might be needed in the future. I can't get my index finger inside the holes, but my pinky works fine. I can't see any of these buttons being pressed by mistake. The plastic will scratch easily and any harsh solvent may cloud it, so be gentle when cleaning the area. Do NOT spritz it with 409, the soap will run behind the plastic and you won't be able to get it all out. John Davies Spokane WA

Tractors 1 (Charlie Y) - RV WIDGET WORKS - is or was a member of our Forum - I've not noticed him here recently though. He is the originator of the shield JD mentions above. If anyone is interested, you might want to try sending him a PM or contact RV Widget Works and cut out the middle man. Bill

Paddled a canoe from Co. to Phippsburg. Did you go through Panama? Imagine that was a rocky trip otherwise. Time is getting close, how you holding up? Rugs all made? Hoping one more trip to St. George.

As John Oliver explains in the winterization video of Oliver University you WILL want to connect the hand pump to the city connection and pump antifreeze through the outside shower, after normal winterization procedure is complete.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest some cooking lessons as a better alternative.

It's important to note that the Elite is smaller, and lighter, than the Elite II. Not for nothing, but the range of available tow vehicles is much wider with our smaller trailers. Sherry

This link should work to go to your signature settings: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/settings/signature/

Hi, Chris. I had a hard time finding it on my android phone, too. go to my account, then account settings, settings area, and near the bottom you should see " signature."

It's really nice for me to see "Mountainborn's topic" pop up in my feed. So, thanks for that, Susan Huff. Larry and Betty, (mountainborn) were the original Ollie pioneers. His grainy cellphone youtube videos brought a bunch of us into the first 50 ownership group. They're both amazing people, with vast camping, life, and outdoor experience, and we feel blessed to count them as friends. Sherry

@bhncb installed a 28 inch 12 volt television, as detailed in this thread:

I would write “or compressor refrigerator?” but then this post would head off in a much different direction and it would soon be about tow vehicle size!😂

Here are the floor plans from the 2016 Elite Brochure.

Actually, it makes no sense to me whatsoever to try and prorate something that you haven't even used yet!! 😏 But we are talking about the federal government! Trust your tax advisor of course. Based on what I know from research and what Larry said about what other customers do, I will be taking the credit for the entire package. Here's a good summary that is in line with other things I've read... https://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-information/federal-tax-credit#:~:text=Solar Tax Credit History&text=As of January 1%2C 2020,your solar system%2C including installation.

Hi Overland, A few corrections are needed. 1) There are many studies that have been done establishing the fact that storing any Li-ion battery at 100% SoC will cause faster degradation by corroding the positive plate. This will shorten cycle life. One study has shown that storing at 100% SoC AND keeping in high temperature will rapidly decrease capacity. Therefore we recommend keeping the battery as cool as posible and long term storage at 40%-50% SoC. 2) LiFeBlue Battery does not need to be removed to be stored if temperatures are above100°F. However, as stated above, cycle life will suffer. 3) LiFeBlue Battery 10 Year Limited Warranty has taken these factors into account. Simply keep the battery within the specified parameters on the data sheet. 4) A separate battery monitor will not show you many thing happening internally. If your battery has turned off at 2AM, you cant tell why. With LiFeBlue, just open the App to see what happened. Here's a list of what our internal monitor will display: App display for Event Protection: High Cell Voltage Low Cell Voltage Over Current Charge Over Current Discharge Low Temperature Charge Low Temperature Discharge High Temperature Charge High Temperature Discharge Short Circuit Protection Battery Warming (low temp models) Hope this helps.

Hello AndrewK, This is true. It is the internal temperature that matters. Just using the battery provides some internal heating that helps replace heat loss with cold ambient temperatures.

Hello Fritz, Statement 1 above is incorrect. With our latest BMS, if the cell temperature drops below about 26°F, the heater circuit will activate whenever you apply charge current. If the current is below 0.05C , charge current will be delivered to the cells. If above 0.05C but less than the minimum required for the heater, the battery will not charge and a 10 minute delay timer will start. When sufficient current is available, the heater will activate. When the release temperature threshold is met, current will be directed to the cells. The charge source can be anything that make 12 Volts, shore power, alternator, generator or PV solar. You can combine charge sources if needed.

I say: There are more advantages to lithium batteries, than the elimination of the need for a portable generator. 1. Easier maintenance; blue tooth battery monitoring 2. Faster charging 3. 80% of battery usable in Lithium vs 50% in AGM/flooded; less worry of dangerous level of discharge 4. Longer battery life 5. Increased resale value (only an advantage if you sell) 6. Solar Tax credit - jury is still out on how much of the cost can be claimed as a credit against tax liability 7. Less weight to carry Running the AC off the batteries is near the bottom of our list of perceived benefits of the Lithium Pro Pkg. 1. We have seldom used our AC in the past 10 years of RVing. 2. We tend to tolerate heat better when we are enjoying the outdoors. 3. I anticipate it will be easier to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the well insulated Oliver.

I feel I need to mention one thing that is vitally important to anyone considering Lithium Ion batteries. If the battery does not have low temperature protection that prevents accidentally charging the cells when they are frozen, you can cause permanent damage to the battery. The damage can then lead to internal short circuiting and possibly fire. Buyer due diligence is necessary as many import batteries don't have this protection.

Hello , All LiFeBlue Batteries sold by Oliver TT have the full warranty. See attached letter of exemption. Oliver TT LiFeBlue warranty exemption.pdf

Hi "Neighbor" I have found it best to have at least 6 gallons of RV antifreeze on hand. During the season they can run out, or the price rises. Off season they don't carry it. I have found I use about 3 gallons every time. I thought that was a lot for such a small system, but the hand pump for the inlets used quite a bit. Also when sometimes I might want to head for warmer climes in early Spring (or Mudseason), I carry a couple of gallons in the closet. We use it to 'flush' with so that we don't have to de-winterize until south of the Mason/Dixion Line. We also blow out the lines twice before adding the antifreeze, so get an air valve/ hose fitting adapter. (I assume you have some type of air compressor and a socket to remove water heater drain if you are getting the standard water heater).Have been doing this for the last 20 years this way and never have had a problem. When working at a CG we used to do 40 some units. It may take an extra 15 to 20 minutes to do it this way, but that is less time than to replace a toilet valve or a piece of plumbing. Stop by if you want to talk about it, or just want to revisit an Oliver...

Lynx: alt-text is life.

Man, I was tickled to death to replace Pine (web browser) with Netscape. It was right up there with going from Windows 2.xx to Windows 3.1.

Netscape🤔, now there’s a history lesson. But most of us here on the Oliver Owner’s forum should remember it once we rub the cobwebs away. Mossey

Glad you like it- I had the auto wipers on my Ford - hated them I don't mind the column - - not a big deal for me I purchased the GMC over the ford just for what you mentioned - the ride is vastly better - and I liked the interior. The new versions - yours- has the trailer TPMs - so that is the only "suction" device i have... i am not a big camera fan - perhaps one day. If GM ever goes back to work, perhaps a 2021-22 Happy trails. RB

"Finally! Going down to the service center in a couple weeks hope to maybe take a peek. " Normally when we send "spies" on a mission they are told to be secretive. Perhaps a full frontal assault will take them by surprise? In any case - the usual applies - if you are caught we will deny any knowledge of your existence. "Family"? What family? Mike? Ride a Triple? 😁

Thanks for the explanation Trainman, appreciated! This unit does receive much high praise indeed after spending sometime looking into reviews on youtube. I fail to understand though why people like using an iPhone in exchange for a real navigation system. My own experience has been frustrating at best. They get hot if left running all the time or else will turn the monitor off just when its inconvenient, they use up copious amounts of expensive data if constantly running a navigation app. Don't get me wrong I use my iPhone for a lot of things including some limited navigation but to use one in exchange of a true GPS device just doesn't make sense to me. However I am also surprised to hear so many complaints about built in Nav systems on autos and trucks. This surprised me too. I'll probably pick up one of those 61 LMT-S soon. Thanks for the recommendation.

Just looked at several reviews on YouTube and this one like many worked as described. I did want one with a 7" screen, backup camera availability if I later decided I want to add one in the future, does have a battery that does give and hour run time if needed which you could carry with you when out of the vehicle, accepts both traffic and weather if you want to add it. There are several other things that this model offers which I don't need or use because our Ram offers all these electronics in our pickup. Buying a GPS and I have purchased several over the years it can be pretty much a toss up on which one you choose as many offer so many options. I personally wanted one with a 7" screen and most 7" Garmin GPS's come with many options as standard. I have never purchased any GPS but a Garmin and have always been satisfied with my purchases. As I have read on sites the iPhone is taking over GPS and as so many phones do offer so many options today, it's hard to say the GPS is worth spending a lot of money for, but I like the screen on the GPS over the iPhone and I can read that 7" screen. trainman

@Trainman, why did you settle on the Garmin 61 LMT? There is such a bewildering array of these devices and much to research. Thanks