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Alright! All good information and I'm bookmarking the Home Depot pages for the crimpers and clamps. I'll note where the access holes go. I'm becoming puffed up about the ability to fix some plumbing issues myself. And in reply to John's post, this is exactly how I learned the fittings were leaking in the first place. Wet paper towels slipped under the fittings. I didn't have the blue towels but I'm sure they work better than Brawny whites I had on hand. Also, I'm the wife in this case so I give myself full permission to buy any tools we need. Ever since my husband learned he's part Neanderthal he excuses himself from any plumbing repairs, saying it's not in his DNA. If you need stitches, he's your man. Plumbing...not so much. Thanks and I've got lots to consider. It's always a good time logging in to the Forum, I've discovered. Better than lurking. Doris and Bill

Our pickup is silver . . . . it hides most dirt well. Only downside: there are a large percentage of Ingot Silver Fords on the road; everyone waves at us 😁

In 2019 we traveled to the SW from the Pacific Northwest in mid-May. We had to modify our route to take us further south when a snow storm came through the Flagstaff area. Sedona was fine. We even ventured up to Payson as we wanted to see the Mogollon Rim; it got down to freezing in Payson at night, but the snow didn't reach that far south. Colorado is to be avoided in February/March unless you are prepared for cold and snow; Monarch Pass is over 11,000'. Most of the storms in the mountain and central SW originate in the PNW; if you watch what's going on there you will get a good idea of what to expect.

One thing not mentioned so far are the many app's and such that are almost indispensable for finding RV and camping locations. Coming from Maine - the shear amount of open and accessible public and private camping spots will be eye-opening. BLM, National and state open areas can be useful - even for a few days - and provide multiple options. while you plan - Southern UT is a great place to explore. Off the top of my head - Campendium, Ultimate Campgrounds, and the other reservation sites (rec.gov, reserve america) are great for finding the perfect spot. I am sure I missed a few. And to add - the weather will be an issue at times - JD's caution on elevation is spot on - We got about 2 inches of snow last summer - in late June - outside of Steamboat - about 10K elevation. Once we got over the shock the next morning- and got on the road - 500' lower - it was all just drizzle. Glad we had 4x4 - we were out in the Nat Forrest - off the main roads. Good luck in your travels.

We camped outside of Flagstaff in August, temps were in the 50s at night.

No specific recommendations, but my first guess would be that the fan on the inverter might be out, though I don’t see why that error would show up while on shore power.

LOL. It sound as if a decision has been made. Have you driven this beast yet? If not, ask the sales droid to direct you to some gnarley, choppy roads to test the ride. You may not be able to find gravel or dirt, and the droid won’t like getting the truck dirty, but broken, potholed pavement will do as a substitute. John Davies Spokane WA

You need to understand one thing about off season travel in this area..... elevation elevation elevation! The South Rim is at 7000 feet and arriving there in Feb will put you in the dead of winter, snow, and sub-freezing temps. They do keep it accessible. I don’t know if the campgrounds still operate that time of year. In 1980 I camped there two nights in January in a van, the temperature never got above 10 degrees F. The North Rim at 9000 feet is even worse, the roads do not even get cleared until late May. You will have to stay down low. Moab area should be fine, it is desert and around 4000 feet. You will not be able to access any of the surrounding National Forest high country campgrounds, but there is plenty of boondocking around the rivers, as well as Arches and Canyonlands NPs. If you get the opportunity to park your Ollie and rent a Wrangler, do drive the White Rim Road, at least the southern part of it closest to the Canyonlands Visitors Center. It is jaw dropping and beyond spectacular when viewed from a 4wd vehicle. There is a big road cycling event March 13-16, plan around those dates. ..https://www.skinnytireevents.com/skinnytirefestival John Davies Spokane WA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BWYO2PM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I have been using the middle sized (200 series) unit for several years in my 225 sq ft bedroom and it has been excellent. It traps a ton of particulates and with the bedroom door closed it makes the room much fresher feeling. For an allergy sufferer it is a godsend. I also use a HEPA filter element in my HVAC system but it can only do so much.... this gives me a “clean room” to stay in if the pollen or smoke is bad. I have used it in the Ollie but it is really too big for that small space. I had to leave it on the floor under the table and pack the area with soft duffles so it would not move during travel. I just received the small one, it will work much better in the smaller volume of the trailer. It uses a single pair of filters instead of two pairs. The small one is a much better fit: And I have space in the closet for it to travel in. It is just a little too wide to fit in an overhead compartment. The medium one draws a maximum of 0.85 amps at 120 volts, the small one draws 0.5 amps, so there will be a measurable energy savings when running off the inverter and batteries. Plus it is a little quieter. There are four speeds. On Low it uses hardly any power, so I don’t worry about leaving it running all the time. OEM filters are expensive, I use the way cheaper generics with no problem. I do vacuum the foam pre-filter often to remove the accumulated dust and I blow out the HEPA filter with low pressure compressed air to extend its life. The units have a filter minder to tell you if the airflow is restricted. Air is drawn in the front and exits out the top, so you can place it tight against a wall, no worries. I really like this design. I researched all the other manufacturers and models and decided on this one for a lot of reasons. The only thing I DON’T like is the easy open filter door (press in two places and it pops free at the top). This isn’t a great feature for a unit that will travel and be handled often. You have to be aware of this and check it sometimes to make sure the door is closed, otherwise.... highly recommended. For those of you camping in the West during wildfire season, this would be very helpful to make the nasty air breathable if you get caught downwind. This is an accessory that you don’t think about, but after using it I would not want to travel without one. Cool fire pic: https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/21/18107016/wildfire-smoke-weather-scientists-complex-nasa-noaa-firex John Davies Spokane WA

Anyone out there that has either camped or fished in the area just west of Buffalo, WY? In thinking about my 2021 fishing trip out west I realized that I had never been due north of Casper and have heard that there was some good fishing without the crowds in the Buffalo area. Certainly there are a number of campgrounds and streams just west of Buffalo but if anyone has actually been there any information would be appreciated. Bill p.s. I prefer small to mid-sized streams with a bunch of trout and no people. Of course, boondocking is always interesting.

Dude I am picking it up Thursday! I am so excited I think I’ll jump a row of school buses in it first. LOL

That was you behind the outhouse, with the mask on?? With the maroon 'Pemaquid' sweatshirt, strawhat , and flip flops???

That is impressive - at least to me - The usual extent of our planning is logging the start and stop dates - a general direction - and head out. Now - this last years trip found a huge increase in the number of folks out - using the parks and outdoor camping facilities. Seems like planning may become more important, especially if you want to stay in the more popular areas. Having a boondocking RV opens up the ability to go and do - at your leisure. Have a great trip!

Craig, I see you will be four nights in Kalaloch, be sure to spend a few hours at low tide at Ruby Beach, a few miles north. It is a glorious spot for rocky tide pools at a minus tide, just watch for sleeper waves, the rocks are kinda far out on the sand. My wife and son really enjoyed the tide pools, I was more than a little freaked out by being that far from high ground. Be “tsunami aware”, always. Know your emergency exit routes and don’t ignore a siren if it goes off. Kalaloch is high enough that you would be safe there.... just don’t pitch a tent on the beach. Sorry to hijack a SW camping thread. John Davies Spokane WA

We are also planning a trip to the SW in Jan/February. I thought I'd share a screen shot of the RV Trip Wizard plan we're developing. One thing I'm also concerned about is availability. My spots down the coast are locked in but after my last stop in Death Valley in Feb we are OPEN... I've not traveled into AZ or Mexico with a trailer before, and I think we may end up being kind of late for planning sites at State/NP. In any case the planning tool is very helpful. Craig

Thanks, John. Its been a few years since I've fished the area around Lander. These days unless you are willing to don the backpack the crowds are simply too much. The Sinks Canyon area is beyond ridiculous on the weekends and even during the week it is a bit silly. This past summer I was camped just outside Dubois and one of my neighbors was from Lander while the other neighbor was from Jackson. Both said that they were trying to get away from the crowds. Bill

Bill, I don’t have any advice for this cool area of WY. But if you are a Longmire fan, this might be of interest, in mid August, no 2021 dates published yet. http://craigallenjohnson.com/longmire-days.htm Have you already fished the Wind River Mountains south of Lander? I know that area quite well but my knowledge is from 1974.... probably it is not of much use.😀 John Davies Spokane WA

I’m tall, kind of a tomboy, and a tough chick. Heh. Used to ride Harleys. Blah blah blah. Once lived in a tent a year and a half building a custom home in a remote area at 8000 ft with NO elec water etc. Been thru some crap. As have we all, I’m sure. One of these days — soon I hope — wanna meet up with some of you guys. 🙂

I def want those features. And I’m used to black vehicles. This beast is right up my alley. I can’t WAIT!

Yes. If I get another Ram (either 1500 or 2500) I will get the Ram Box option. I am not fond of the look of a cap/canopy on a pickup. I prefer the look of a tonneau cover. The seals work well, I’ve not noticed any moisture inside after a rain or after washing. I keep a number of tools, bungies, and other things that I would not want to get wet in there. If the cover of the Ram Box was a drop door design I think more customers would get that option so they had more options as far as covering the bed, but I’m happy with the boxes and the tonneau cover.

Here we go, Tampa, here we go!👏👏 Game 5.😁

Sorry for your loss of Marlie. It's a tough time, losing a four-legged member of the family. Your trip as outlined, to me, looks like a lot of stuff you don't like to do. And a lot of possibilities for cold, snow and ice. I'd probably look at heading back to Aiken, head south to the panhandle of Florida. Spend some months of coastal time in FL, Al, MS, TX, including Hill country of Texas. Head further west and North (and higher elevation) as spring/April approaches. Moab, Zion, Bryce. Grand Canyon, Sedona. All great views, but don't go too early. My opinions. I've been in Moab /Archrs/ etc and Antelope Island and Dunes in early May, and still chilly at night. April would probably be my earliest dates of choice. As John said, elevation makes a big difference.

January is a good time to visit parts of the southwest. We plan on leaving the first week in January to spend all of January in Arizona and then possibly do some southern Utah before coming home. John’s advice is good. January in southern AZ is good, January in northern AZ can get dicey. Flagstaff and even Sedona to some degree will have lots of snow off and on. Southern UT and NV are usually good but can have some occasional weather. Elevation increases cold and precipitation. You haven’t said what kind of camping you do. We avoid commercial RV parks and stay at state and national parks, COE, FS and BLM areas. Right now, NM is pretty much still closed down as far as state parks and other public areas go. AZ is open, we will be staying at Kartchner Caverns SP, Catalina SP in Tucson, Lost Dutchman SP near Phoenix and Fool Hollow SP. The issue you might have with AZ state parks is that they are hard to get into. We made our reservations 6-12 months ago. Same with other public campgrounds, AZ is popular that time of year. Texas is open and has some nice state parks and other public campgrounds. Mother Neff SP outside of Waco is nice and there are a number of nice state parks between Austin and San Antonio. If you are traveling in January/February there can be some inclement weather along I-40. I-10 across southern TX through NM into AZ is pretty safe. Southern UT is nice. Any or all of the national parks are well worth visiting. There are some nice public campgrounds outside Arches and Canyonlands around Moab. Mesa Verde NP is also worth a visit, being in southwest Colorado it doesn’t get the same cold and snow you associate with Colorado. There is also nice camping around Lake Meade in NW AZ and up into southern NV. I don’t have any experience with commercial RV parks. Since NM has been closed down for COVID we do stay at a very small commercial park in Roswell when we’re going to Colorado. Mike

A quick update after our 12 day trip from TX to VA. The two new Battle Born batteries were really great. No issues at all. Installation of these two batteries was pretty straight forward, being able to re-use only the existing cables. Thank you to everyone for the guidance. We had two long drive days (12+ hours) where the we started out with a full charge on the 2 batteries and by end of the drive the voltage had dropped to 12.8V with only the fridge and rear camera on DC. Note we do have the ZAMP PWM charge with 340 watts solar, so I was a bit surprised that the solar was not able to keep up with the fridge better than this. My next step will be to install the 2 additional Battle Born batteries for a total of 4 (400AH), a smart shunt and most likely one of MPPT solar chargers. Still deciding which solar charger to get. Please offer your opinion if you can recommend on MPPT charger for the the Eliite 2 setup. For the four battery parallelization, I am considering using custom copper bus bars rather than wiring. Copying Overlands layout but using six 7 inch copper should do the trick according to my test bench layout. I am wondering if the bus bars connected to each terminal might be too rigid for an RV environment? Thanks again for the help and responses. Mike

I can't really help very much regarding your trip but I'm sorry that you lost your Marley. This should be one heck of a trip with what is basically a new puppy. Bill

The Rebel is a very nice choice for a 1500 pickup, but be aware it has some “offroady” aspects like bigger (33”) All Terrain tires, upgraded suspension, skid plates and a 1” taller height. If you actually want these features (as I do, for boondocking and exploring the VAST network of unimproved roads in the West) then go for it. If you don’t want these features, and you want an easier to enter vehicle, plus a lower bed height, then a standard Ram 1500 would be a more logical choice. In terms of cool factor, the Rebel wins hands down..... I don’t know if this has been mentioned before, if you plan to install a canopy, which I do recommend, do NOT buy the Ram Box option, since the box lids cannot open with a canopy in place. They will work with a retractable tonneau cover. The bed is also a lot narrower when you have the boxes, some people do not like this aspect. Nice truck: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a19561753/2019-ram-1500-rebel-first-drive-review/ Black especially, or any really dark color, is a bitch to keep looking nice, pardon my language, especially when traveling long term. White will match your Ollie, but any light color will be easier to maintain. I really like khaki (desert tan) since it is the color of dirt.... but they don’t offer “Dirt” in the Rebel color chart.😀 Always always, drive before you buy. Make sure it fits you, both physically and emotionally..... John Davies Spokane WA

If you plan to move to the PNW, or just visit, it is important to understand the concept of microclimates. Puget Sound especially has many. Northeast of Olympic NP is the little town of Sequim (“Skwim”) which is very dry since the prevailing wind drops all the rain on the west slope rain forests. Sequim gets 23 inches, the Hoh Rain Forest gets more than 150. The wonderful San Juan Islands near the Canadian border are also dry and relatively balmy.... The systems coming in from the west have to deal with tall mountains, so they move in odd directions and come together in convergence zones in Puget Sound. You can get lots of rain or even snow in a CZ, and a few miles away you might get nothing. Seattle is known for being wet and dreary but annual rain is only about 38”, average for the USA. Olympia, the capital at the south end of the Sound, gets 53”. You will see lots more moss there than in Seattle. Once you get east of the Cascades this microclimate effect still exists, but it is not nearly as dramatic. Your weather is defined mostly by your elevation and which side of (and how close to) a mountain range you live. Spokane gets 17”, twenty miles further east, nestled against the mountains, Coeur d’Alene ID gets 27”.... The further east you get, the more likely you are to experience arctic blasts in winter. We just had a record October snowfall, 6”, and it is getting into the low teens at night. Brrrrrr. John Davies Spokane WA

Can’t comment on its tow characteristics as we don’t have our Elite 1 yet, but we will be using our 2018 GMC Canyon. The tow ratings fall well within the Elite 1 weight. Hope it won’t feel too strained towing the trailer.

Mine isn’t black but it’s close....

Here is an updated graph of LE2 towing mileage; the update includes responses in this thread or additional references that I found in the archives. Data are summarized in this PDF: LE2 Towing Mileage (Table).pdf For illustration purposes, I've aggregated data by general vehicle and engine type (see graph below). The "n" value is the number of mileage data in a group; the higher the number the more reliable the average (although this case the number of data are insufficient to be statistically significant). Nonetheless, these mileage estimates likely fall in the ballpark of what one might expect for these vehicles. I found only three references to LE1 towing mileage (which ranged from 11.5 to 15); these are listed in this PDF:LE1 Towing Mileage (Table).pdf Bottom line: most folks see towing mileage with the LE2 ranging from about 9 mpg to more than 18 mpg, depending on vehicle, terrain, wind and temperature, speed, city/highway, etc. In addition, fuel mileage for various vehicles over millions and millions of miles are compiled at Fuelly.com. Data can be sorted by engine type, and include a mix of towing and no-towing, city and highway, etc. conditions. Fuel mileage is but one of many criteria for selecting a tow vehicle. Nonetheless, I hope thread helps others (like me) for whom towing mileage is one factor in choosing a tow vehicle.

One REALLY effective trick to locate a mystery leak is to place a folded up blue paper “shop towel”, not a white one, under a suspected fitting. If there is a slow drip, it will show up as an easy to see dark blue spot on the light blue background. Don’t buy from Amazon, you can find them for around $2 per roll at any place that sells auto parts, including Walmart. John Davies Spokane WA

I can’t help with the hole locations, but you should buy this wonderful crimping tool. https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-3-8-in-1-in-PEX-Clamp-Tool-UC961/202688118 Use the appropriate diameter stainless steel crimp rings. They are easy to install, and what is more important, they are easy to remove. A crimped copper ring requires cutting or chiseling off. The stainless rings pop off with the twist of a flat tipped screwdriver. https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-2-in-PEX-Barb-Stainless-Steel-Clamp-10-Pack-UC953A/202032891?MERCH=REC-_-plpsearch_multi-_-NA-_-202032891-_-N My hand strength is low and I have to have help for the 1” size, I just slip a couple of steel pipes over the tool’s handles. Once you try this system you will never go back to the stupid copper ones. You can tell your wife that you need this stuff to repair your house plumbing too.... it would also work on irrigation lines, but the parts are kind of pricey for that application. I used mine a while ago to install hot and cold water lines and valves for a bidet toilet seat, it worked great and made my wife very happy indeed! I have never had a clamp fail, but if you are repairing a joint that will be forever hidden, like inside a wall, you can double up (install two clamps instead of one) per connection, and you will not ever worry about a possible failure. John Davies Spokane WA

Also for RAM's when you find one outfitted the way you want, don't forget to check the PAYLOAD sticker on the Door Frame before you sign off. If you can't see the vehicle on the lot, RAM has a way to lookup the payload based on the VIN. https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html Once you put in the vin you'll see out the door of the "factory" payload. *See the image below* While the picture isn't ever correct (see the disclaimer below the picture of the truck) , it should be the correct payload and tow rating. One thing for sure....don't under buy on Payload...the more glitz in the truck, the lower the final payload. Then as a final check, ask for or go take a PIX of the door jamb Payload Sticker before you sign. I found that on some RAM's their ONLINE payload stickers didn't match the final sticker upon delivery. This one matches with a bit of round up to 1282 lbs payload. (This was a fully loaded truck) one with a much lower trim level had a 1700 lb payload.

Keep taking lots of pictures for many great Memories are coming forth. Enjoy and be safe.

Congratulations!!!! You will love it!!

Thanks All. Great info, I'll look at these camp spots more this evening after work. For what it is worth we will be coming from NW Florida and would be more interested in seeing what nature has to offer v/s the more populated areas.

Congratulations! And happy travels. The Ollie looks great, inside and out! Sherry

Congrats on your new Oliver! You could not have selected a better time of year for delivery. May your adventures always be safe, relaxing and enjoyable! David

Nice pics! So shiny and new - its time to go get it dirty! Congrates, now the real fun begins. Bill

676 is a great number - congrats! Hope you have as many great miles and smiles as we have. Hope to see you on the road. Mike

Welcome. See you on the back roads of America. Pack some referral cards in the trailer and tow vehicle, you will soon see why.

Congratulations. Beautiful trailer. Enjoy it!

Nancy, you two are about to embark on probably the best times you've had in a long time. Your new Oliver looks great so from Hull # 050 to Hull # 676, Happy Travels...

Sounds like you are thinking more mountain west than west coast, but in case the latter is in scope, I'll mention that Fort Stevens State Park is claimed to be the largest campground west of the Mississipi. We were just there and the campground is pleasant, and has access to both a nice beach and also nice park grounds including birding opportunities, some great coastal forest, and a historic fort with old gun battery mounts and so forth. It's right next to a few small towns with multiple nice restaurants and stores for supplies, and also quite close to the small and quaint city of Astoria which has yet more food etc. options as well as a very nice museum. Also, late September turns out to be among the nicest times around there, per locals I've talked with, as there's much less of the will-sapping fog that can blanket the area for days at a time during mid summer.