Leaderboard

FYI you can avoid that “fun” by purchasing aluminum at a specialty metals supplier rather than plain low carbon steel. No rust, and much lighter. https://alcobrametals.com/product/1-2-x-081-3003-aluminum-expanded-flattened/ You could get stainless steel but that is overkill for dog claws and two square feet would cost $50. John Davies Spokane WA

Doggy preparedness: 1. A dog first aid kit & book. 2. Skip getting a pretty rug for inside the door. Get two turf-like/shoe-scraper ones, one for outside & one for inside. Grass & sand will still get beyond them, but not as much. 3. Cordless stick vacuum. You don't want the little short ones because the exhaust sends into orbit what you're trying to suck up. 4. A broom with a small head. I found a great one at the dollar store. 5. These towels because, like our dogs, terry cloth never dries. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RSQH0N4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_nShgBHG4HMpAn 6. A way to restrain your pup while on the road. We use this harness & seatbelt thing. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014IJNP3C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PK3MFbZD2V7KW?psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D8XRNWR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mJ3MFbEC4DWCQ 7. We built a platform for the back seat of truck. It keeps dogs off upholstery, makes it easier for them to see out the windows, & provides extra storage underneath. 8. What seems like a lifetime supply of poo bags. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MBY2694/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_c82MFbK96X5RE?psc=1 9. A length of cotton rope & a couple carabiners to give you flexibility of where you tie up your furbaby & the ability to do it quickly. Those plastic coated wire lines are friction burning neck breakers.

A piece of expanded metal from Home Depot ($15). Cut to size. A piece of plastic edging designed for plastic bathroom panels ($2). Four short self tapping screws into pre drilled holes in the door. We did put beveled trim washers under the screw heads to expand the gripping area. Done. The local RV dealer had screen door guards for high $80. In the Spring, with the guard approaching four years old, I probably will remove. It will then be primed and painted and reinstalled. It has developed a few small spots of surface rust. A little steel wool would remove, but how much fun would that be.

Huntington Island was nice as well. A little more remote. We stayed there to tour Beaufort area. The light house and park just past the campground was nice. We liked James Island just a little more. Both good spots. From Huntington we went on to Savannah. This was an area of the East Coast we have always wanted to visit. From Savannah we went to the Florida Keys and then to Naples/Marco Island area.

I did too! But, it’s good advice. Get the basics then add as you need. Between Amazon, Camping World and Walmart getting what you need is not difficult.

Ray - site B8 for the view. It’s the best site in the CG IMHO....F/H also.

My advice: resist the temptation to buy too much stuff that you won't use.

You already have a wealth of knowledge about it without having used it! Thanks for all of the great info. Looking forward to hearing from you again when you've had a chance to use it and have figured out the best way to mount it. Would be interested in seeing pics too. We still have lots of time so no rush. Your delivery date is very close. My wife and I are excited for you. We've also benefitted from all of your research and thoughtful posts so thank you again. 🙂

We came from a Casita, so we learned to travel lite and still doing it today with the Elite II. We camped some 40 plus years ago with a 30" travel trailer and I can tell you we pretty much camp and carry the same things we did back them. Sure we have more update items today, but in general and fork is a fork and a grill is a grill. trainman

Thanks, being a newbie last year we did not realize how full the campgrounds in Florida were. We ended up driving from Savannah to the Cracker Barrel just south of Homestead for the night before we went to the Keys. That was a long drive with the Ollie in one day. That Cracker Barrel is parked full much of the time with campers coming and going to the Keys. Traffic around Miami was not fun. The Keys were great. We had never been to the Keys. We stayed 10 days at Collier-Seminole State Park in Naples. We had been to Naples/Marco Island a number of times on business when I was working. Collier-Seminole was also a nice park. We met up with a local friend that winters in her Airstream in one of the Naples RV parks.

There are some lovely spots between Savanna and the keys . I'm glad all of you found spots. Florida isn't easy in the winter, even for those of us who live here. Might be better this year, as the Canadian visitors are as of yet still restricted . Good luck!

Great! I’m glad that you were able to get the parts you needed.

Is this possible? I failed - miserably .

Try this post for an equipment list. It’s a good start. Mossey

I am a newbie to RVs (does it show?) and excited beyond all belief. Going to go FT w dog. That’s it. You probably see me asking lame qs all over here even though I don’t get the Ollie Elite I til late Jan. Yes, dead of winter. Got a new tow vehicle and all (tomorrow!) and ya’ll have been SUPER patient and kind with me. MUCH appreciated. So, my “plan” is to pick up Ollie in late Jan and hang around Hohenwald a week (or more?) after pickup/delivery. With dawg. Learning. Campgrounds? Nearby Ollie factory, til I feel comfortable towing, operating, doing whatever I need to do to be safe and enjoy it all. No big hurry to “get” anywhere, although I am moving to establish “domicile” etc. — looking at SD. Yeah, I know. Cold. Winter. So yes it will be in the dead of winter and I have no idea what that’s like in TN during “pickup Ollie day” or after. Wherever we may roam. What basic stuff that does not come with my Ollie would I need? Tire chains? A parka? A space heater? MREs? Heh. Hoses? Stuff to keep Ollie from freezing up? A snow shovel? Generator? Which? What “basic toolbox” would I want to have? My sense of humor is weird, I know. But if there are things ya’ll know of that I can order in advance while I have a real mailing address, in Nov and Dec, and most of Jan, let me know. I’m not actually crazy. Just wanna be as prepared as I can. For winter roaming in a new Ollie with muh dawg. Thanks all. Oh. And feel free to message me.

We’re jazzed that the weather is looking great for our beach trip! Starting Sunday and returning on Wednesday. This will be our first time camping right on a beach so we are really looking forward to it. We’ve never been to Edisto Beach; Folly Beach further to the north has been our favorite. We don’t camp right on the beach there but the campground at nearby James Island County Park is awesome. Anyway I hope to post here again after this trip. Keep safe everyone. - Brian

Yep - same one. It even comes out of the box with what appear to be little "rubber" inserts that are supposed to prevent it from sliding out once that thumb screw is tightened. But - mind my words. Or, perhaps it is only the Volvo's that are that slippery?🤪

Yes - very dry.

On our Volvo XC70 we used one of those CD slot mounting adaptors. It worked well except that on a long trip or a trip over rough roads the adaptor would eventually work itself out of the CD slot and the unit would fall to the floor. To fix this issue I "smeared" some E6000 (Shoe Goo would work too) on the parts that came into contact with the upper and lower slots of the CD. It doesn't take much - just something to help improve the grip. Bill

Just received it yesterday. There was about a 2-week wait for availability, but once shipped it arrived in a couple of days. We purchased direct from Garmin as prices are currently the same from all vendors. For $100 less, the RV 780 would have given us similar functionality, but we opted for the newer 890 with the much larger screen. We haven't used it yet, other than powering it up, quickly browsing features, and downloading updates; software was current, though it did download a map update. You should be able to set the device to notify you when software updates are available; as with a smart phone, there are layers of customization settings or you can just use the defaults. I found the icon based interface to be intuitive (dependent on your tech experience); I only wish the maps showed the satellite imagery we've become accustomed to with the Google Maps based Sat Nav in our BMW; perhaps there are map overlays you can download. The 890 has icons linking to RV locations (dump stations, repair shops, campgrounds, national parks) as well as the usual fuel stations, restaurants, rest areas, medical facilities, etc., making it quick to add locations to your route. Yes, you could locate these with your phone (if you have cell service), but then you have to enter the locations manually. You can easily switch from RV to car navigation if you don't need RV specific features. I haven't looked in depth yet, so I don't know if you can customize the menus to only show features you want. A few thoughts, thus far: The RV890 provides real-time traffic (where available) and weather information, through the Garmin app you must install on your smart phone. I don't know if this capability is dependent on cell reception or is satellite based; probably requires the cell signal. Pairing the GPS and my Samsung S10e was a bit confusing; while the Gramin recognized and readily connected to our home network, it did not "see" my phone (nothing new as pairing communication devices is always a challenge). I think the trick is to make sure, before you do the pairing, both devices have Bluetooth turned on. I had success with pairing from the phone to the Garmin. Be aware that the 890 comes with a 22mm mount, probably to better support the larger-than-usual screen; most after-market mounts have a 17mm attachment. Because of its size, the screen blocks a good deal of the driver's view of the road when attached to the windshield, as we knew it would. In addition, by attaching the suction mount on the steeply sloping windshield of our F-350, the GPS could only be used in landscape orientation. We are going to try using a CD slot mount. This will place the screen low enough to not block the view, but high enough the driver doesn't have to look down to navigate. Prior to purchase, we found a work-around: the 890 has an AMPS 22mm female adapter mounted to the back of the magnetic mount; this can be reduced by removing it (held by 4 screws) and replacing it with this 17mm adapter and attaching the unit to this CD slot mount. Another option is a "bean bag" mount placed on the dash; not as ideal but there would be less obstruction than with the screen mounted on the glass. I'm just not sure the arm on the bean bag is high enough to accommodate the larger screen; this method would also restrict orientation to landscape. I will update after we take the 890 for a test drive; the CD mount will be here sometime next week. Update #1 Re suitability of the bean bag mount: I asked, on Amazon, the distance from the ball to the top of the bean bag; a user reported 2.5-3". I think this is just enough for the 890 to fit. However, as I mentioned previously, landscape/portrait functionality would be restricted to landscape. If the CD slot mount doesn't work out, this will be "plan "B". The 890 has a different mounting than previous Garmin GPS units, The back of the unit has a powered magnetic mount, meaning the 12v power cord connects to the mount, rather than the device itself. The ball on whatever accessory mount you choose attached to the magnetic mount on the back of the screen. This allows the screen to be easily removed from the mount which is handy if the co-pilot needs to make changes/adjustments to the route. When taken off the magnetic mount, the GPS will run on internal battery for about 1 hr. The battery recharges when the unit is again attached to the powered mount. This makes removal of the device much easier than wrestling it off the ball/socket attachment. Still haven't taken it for a test run. We've become so accustomed to the Covid "Stay-at-Home" environment that it's hard to think of places to go 😖 Maybe tomorrow.; stay tuned.

One thing I have found is that purchasing a new vehicle with a factory GPS is pretty much paying a big price for it. Most new vehicles will cost you $4000 to $6000 more for the vehicle that has the factory GPS, now yes there is a lot of other stuff in the upgrade package, but not always worth the price you pay for it. We recently looked at two vehicles, a Acura MDX and the Lexus RX, both vehicles in there base model are very well equipped, but for $6000 more you can get a GPS and other upgrades that just don't add that much to the base model, or $6000 worth. Plus upgrades with most auto manufactures are going to cost you to upgrade, but buy a Garman GPS and they come with lifetime upgrades for free. Also in most cases you can't use your factory GPS when the vehicle is in motion, that means pull over and stop. All being said for $250 I purchase a Garman 7" screen that does much more then a factory auto unit. I realize there are many variations with each auto manufacture and some may work better for you and priced accordingly, but in general you pay more for a auto manufacture unit with less features then a stand alone unit. trainman

Susan Huff - just wondering if you might have received your 890 and, if so, any initial feedback on it if you've had a chance to play with it? Based on how many trailers have been sold recently I'm sure there are others that are interested in your feedback.

Good advice by ShallowGal!!!! We had our 11 year old dog Marley with us last year in our Tundra. Unfortunately, Marley (part pug part Shar pei) passed away in June. We miss him so much. He was an awesome dog!! Our lives are not complete with out a dog so on November 14 our new puppy will arrive. He is a medium-sized Labradoodle. He will likely be named Baxter (after the Maine State Park) He will go on our journey with us this year. We have a lot of training ahead of us before we leave in Late January or early February. We like traveling with our dog!!

When we picked up, I honestly didn't bring a lot of extra stuff. Chocks, a few leveling blocks,, first aid kit, bedding. Clothes. For several days I'd add several items. A way to make coffee, and a mug/s. Small tool kit. A few Paper plates and some silverware. I think it's important to be able to focus, and learn, and not be dumpster diving in the pickup bed, looking for everything . Learn the trailer systems. We often have to fly to pick up delivery rvs. One duffel handles my clothes, and other kitchen gear. My husband packs first aid kit and small tool kit. We buy the rest along the way, as needed. One pot, one pan, one cutting board, a few good knives. For me, a tea kettle is indispensable. But, I often buy that along the way, too

I'm pretty sure it's an industry standard size, or close enough. All those rv windows are fairly standard. Our friends replaced 2008 windows, in 2015 , without issue. A tiny bit larger. In an Elite. For us, its the big deal of $250 repair cost a window, vs maybe 600 ? a window. And, what would be the gain? For us.

Be prepared for a little road noise and light pollution if you are in the ground floor room just down the street from the main lobby. David

RB, I’ve never heard of them. I changed out mine about two months ago and made several wiring changes in the process. I went with three Battle Born 100 AH batteries. I’ve been very happy with this setup so far.

Mattnan, thanks and happy to hear that you enjoyed your Edisto Beach stay. We love the mountains but also enjoy surf and sand so we're jazzed to see Edisto. We have a camper friend who spoke well of Hunter Island. I'd be interested in your impressions, we're considering a stay there as well. Be safe. - Brian

Thanks everyone for help with this issue. We just got a call from the RV shop we deal with and they finally got an eyebrow panel from Dometic. So we won't be buying Mountain Oliver's old Dometic fridge after all!

Turns out we’re at a 148 index so we’ve been getting slaughtered all this time without knowing it!

I did wonder about the reflectix. I've known a few people with fogging issues. They all live in hot climates, and all have traveled west. Since we mostly stay east of the Mississippi, and follow cool weather, I wonder if that makes a difference? We haven't had an issue, tol this year, and it's (so far) a small spot in each window. I know we live in hot/humid Florida, but the trailer primarily lives in below 80 temps, with Northern summers. Anyway, I'm trying to decide if we want to 1. Repair the window seals 2. Replace the windows with new glass thermal pane windows or 3. Replace the three side windows (only two fogging) with European acrylic thermogenesis windows, awning style. At the price of the Dometic European windows (Dometic bought out the German company, that bought out the Swedish company...), it's a big decision to make. Most economical is to take existing windows in for resealing/repair. Two of my friends have done that, in Arkansas. One friend replaced all the windows, with glass windows. I'm on the fence, right now. And, I may stay there, until the fog grows, and obscures my view.

The old faithful "reboot" remedy . . . . ☺️

This place is on my short list now that we have our camper and is an easy drive.

We stayed at James Island State Park in late February this year . We really enjoyed it. We had a spot that was very close to the beach. You could hear the waves and walk on the beach. It was pretty convenient to Charleston. We did a carriage ride and trip to Fort Sumpter among other things. Pre covid Charleston had a street fair one Sunday per month that was awesome and very dog friendly. We also stayed at Hunter Island a little further south. James Island was nice and was not very crowded in February!!!. It was our first campground after David Crockett. It was one of our favorites on our trip. Enjoy your stay.

We had the lower pane of our bathroom window fill with moisture. It was covered under warranty. I replaced it myself, using only butyl tape. A great seal and a very clean installation. I have found no need for caulk. As far as a cause of early failure, reflectix does seem to cause the window to get hotter. I suspect it speeds up the seal failure. Andrew

As a kid my Dad and I went to Edisto and the surrounding area fairly often. Absolutely no one was there and I was a fierce pirate 🏝️. Things have changed but it is still a very nice beach. Have fun! Bill

Look at it this way - you had a built in level! 😁

Our bath window failed about 2 years in. Not just fogging, but about a half inch of water trapped between the panes. No warranty either. It wasn’t terribly expensive but it did rub me the wrong way.

Also looking at Commodore for the night before I pick up in late Jan. Very helpful info here. Thanks to all! I have a black Lab and apparently the Commodore allows dogs. I know I’m early on all this, but I’m a newbie to RVs and going FT on the adventure, just me and doggo. Trying to plan where to stay in the area of the Ollie delivery place maybe a week or more til I’m sure I got it down, so to speak. Thanks!

Gee, I haven't got my Elite II yet and I am already thinking about changes just following this thread. Susan's sofa idea was pretty impressive but I definitely need that dinette. Ken, David and others discussing an old floor plan with a desk still has my mind spinning. Desk space is a priority in our house so we are still struggling on how we are going to devote an area for our laptops and other electronic devices in the standard option. Thanks for all the info.

I'll add - if you have time - a visit to the Jack Daniel distillery in Lynchburg is a good tour, - not to mention all the other nice areas to explore -- and I'll offer up our farm as a spot to park (camp) while your enjoying the sights. Distancing is not an issue here....

Nope, I’m a modern day unicorn; a Nashville native. The moniker comes from my initials, the counties I have lived in and, my general lack of creativity.

LOL, my RV660LMT is indeed half useful. “Stop route”, any of the canned commands, work 95% of the time without having to repeat yourself. It is the next step that often tanks, completely. “Find city.” ”What city please?” ”Republic Washington.” ”Did you say Tacoma Washington?” ”Republic Washington.” ”Did you say Wilmington Delaware?” She continues to give increasingly ridiculous suggestions... ”#%*+#£#!!!!!” Types in REPUBLIC while trying not to crash..... There have been some pretty harsh comments directed at Ms Gerty Garmin. On the one hand, it is more than a little entertaining and breaks the boredom. On the second hand, it is a distraction. On the gripping hand, it is dangerous. But I am sure the voice recognition firmware continues to get better. I really would prefer, in my next vehicle, to have Apple CarPlay sync with my iPad Mini 4, so I can use GAIA. But Apple forces you to use a phone instead. GAIA on a phone is harder, less intuitive, and there is way less storage for maps. Apple’s decision doesn’t make any sense at all. John Davies Spokane WA

THANK YOU!! David, I knew I remembered seeing this configuration, but couldn't find it. Why on earth did Oliver stop making this model? I love it! Thank you again!

If we’re without 30A and using the furnace we keep the temp at about 60 and the bathroom door open so it’s cool in the bathroom but not much cooler than the rest of the trailer. If we have 30A and are using our little Vornado heater the bathroom stays warm with the door open. Honestly, the vent in the bath is a good idea but doesn’t keep the bath that much warmer.

Overland, very nice pics of a well organized trailer. I did notice that your head "bumper" is missing over the entrance where you have installed a net. I hate to say it but, I make good use of the bumper in ours regularly. Do the contents of the net make up for this? Cheers

I am working on my presentation for the Rally and wanted to include storage ideas. If all y’all who have posted pictures don’t mind I will incorporate some of them on a couple of my visuals. We can all learn a lot from each other... Mike