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Wrap or drape on the tongue. Done. Nothing fancy needed, no long thought process. Plug into holder. Once plugged in it isn't going anywhere. If it was the right size before, and not 'messed with', it should plug into tow vehicle. Adios!

We’re going to miss Edisto Beach State Park. We’ve enjoyed our stay and we were happy to see a very nice looking Elite II at the campground and meet more of the Oliver family! The ocean is on the other side of the dunes in the second picture so you’re not exactly “on the beach” but close enough to hear the surf and take a nice long walk on the beach whenever you want. Many, many shells on the beach. The first night the no-see’ums were terrible and had us making a hasty retreat indoors. The next day they weren’t an issue because it was quite cool but they were back again today, a warmer day. The showers are convenient and clean, the grounds well maintained. We were able to pick up the free wifi with our WiFi Ranger so two thumbs up for that. The antenna picked up a good selection of television stations. Our site (#27) had absolutely no shade but it wasn’t an issue with pleasant daytime highs. Sites have electricity and water, no full hookups. The dump station is located off site, about 1/2 mile on the way out. I’ll happily give this campground an overall rating of “we’ll be back.” Be safe everyone. - Brian [And yes, we did vote early back home!]

This is exactly how we will install ours...

For sometime, my wife and I have been unhappy with sleeping on the cushions that come standard with Elite Travel Trailers, not to be confused with the larger Elite II, standard with mattresses. I purchased a single sized foam mattress but this too was unwieldy, not fitting either bed well. I had talked to other Oliver owners and was referred to Southern Mattress located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. I contacted them and they indeed confirmed they would custom make a mattress for my Oliver Elite. My conundrum was how I could configure the mattress to access the components and storage areas under the seats. A full sized mattress would be just too much to lift and hold in place as I pulled out storage items, much less to try to work on a component (electrical, hydraulics, water, etc.). As I explained this to my wife telling her I wanted to split the mattress in half, she pointed out it would be very uncomfortable, sliding down in the crack. She said " split it where the bench ends, 1/3 and 2/3s. The crack will be at your knees and you will not feel it". I contacted Southern Mattress and they agreed to cut it where ever I wanted it cut. I traveled to Rocky Mount, North Carolina and found this to be a family owned company. I arrived in late afternoon and the owner took me to his home. There, we hooked up my trailer with electrical and water on a pad next to his home. The next morning I pulled my trailer to the factory and they began to make my mattress. With each step, they asked me to approve the work, include changes I wanted made, etc. they measured the trailer, made the pattern and asked if I wanted extra room to be able to put bed linens on the mattress. The pattern was a good fit for the 2/3 - 1/3 combination. In short, I was very pleased with the mattress. I selected a 5" firm foam with another layer of soft memory foam. That night, I had the best sleep ever in my Oliver Elite. I also had a mattress made for the smaller dinette/bed. I used the single sized foam mattress that I had purchased earlier in the year. Southern Mattress did not object to this. Again, they cut the foam to the 1/3-2/3 combination. Each matress was covered in a premium quality quilted cover, fire retardant and straps sewn in to make moving easy. The mattress was double sewn all the way around to reinforce the straps. By noon, I was on the road, headed home. That night, I slept for the first time very comfortably on my new custom-made mattress. It now slides over easily and stores on top of the other matress while I access the storage and component areas. If you are interested in a quality mattress, custom made, they now have patterns for both the Elite and the Elite II. They can custom make you a mattress and ship to you. They do not press the mattress in a roll. Rather they box the mattress and ship it to you. Southern Matress Company 1812 Cokey Road Rocky Mount , North Carolina. 800-227-8701 Below are pictures of my mattresses in my Oliver Elite. Coy

We have traveled extensively through out the southwest. Our 2016 has the 320W solar and 4 AGMs and has proven to be enough to keep up with our needs. When boondocking we do heat water for coffee on the cooktop but we do occasionally use the microwave. Also, Carol will use her blow dryer every few days. Our south west camping includes west TX, NM, AZ (north and south) southern CA (Joshua Tree) and southern UT. The only time I had to pull out the generator (2K Champion) recently was last fall (Oct ‘19) when we were camping at Grand Teton NP. We had a 3 or 4 day stretch of cold nights and very cloudy rainy days. Furnace ran all night and the solar never fully charged our batteries. I don’t think that is something you will encounter in the southwest. Plenty of sun in AZ! We’ll be there the month of January into February. We spent last January in NM and AZ and had no issues with our solar keeping up. Mike

@DCdude sent me a PM asking me about apps that allow one to record travel destinations quickly and easily. The post that @topgun2 remembered is here, where I briefly posted about my notetaking strategy. As an academic, I have been taking notes for many years. I want my notes in an outline form where one can focus on the task at hand, with extraneous information still present in the document but hidden. I have used these outlines to plan and then write papers and grants, plan experiments, plan vacations, and also to both shop for my trailer. I currently use my Oliver outline to plan trips and to record information from research on items that I am considering purchasing for the trailer. I have used outliner software for many years now. Good outliners allow you to reorganize the contents (up or down, promote or demote), and have powerful search functions. The screen shot on the left shows what my Ollie outline document looks like. Some of the sections in blue (Power, Battery, Solar, Generator, Water Supply, Boondocking, etc) contain notes on these topics from my early research (before owning Ollie), along with links to websites, blogs, YouTube videos, and forum posts. Outliners work by having multiple levels, and on the right you can see how I expanded the Power, Battery, Solar, and Generator level, and you can see that several lower levels can be selectively expanded. Thus information can be hidden or revealed. Here are two screen shots from my Earlier Research section on trailers before I decided on the Oliver. When someone posted about a kitty litter box in an Oliver, I was able to find the solution I had worked out, but not implemented), in the Travel with Cats in the trailer? section, and posted it here. @DCdude's original post asked about recording information such as campgrounds and campsites. Here are screen shots from my Places to Camp section, showing how much info you can easily record via copy/paste. @ShallowGalrecently posted about a nice campground on the Mississippi River, and I put that into my list of campgrounds. So if you want to use try to use an outliner, what to use? Evernote and OneNote were mentioned. I have tried both, but neither were satisfactory for my needs. In fairness, I never gave them a full trial, like I have with other outliner apps, and I had been spoiled by more full-featured outliner apps. I just did a search found two recent websites that discuss outliners. The servenomaster.com web site describes what an outliner can do, and has info on a number of outliner apps. The zapier.com site lists what platform each outliner run on (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, Web), and lists some features, pros/cons, and prices. (They had the incorrect price for the software I use, below.) I have test driven many Outliner programs over the years, and for a long time I have been happy with OmniOutliner Pro, a Mac program. It is more expensive than others, but IMHO OmniOutliner is better than the others. I have used these outliners intensively for my work, so it was a good investment for me. There is an iOS version of OmniOutliner that syncs with the Mac; unfortunately, you have to buy the Mac and iOS versions separately. If you want to try OmniOutliner, I would start with the “Essentials” version for $20, which has fewer features than the Pro version, but probably fine for what is needed here. Mac App store link. A trial version for iOS is free to download; my guess is that eventually one needs the in-app purchase of either the Essentials version for $20 or the Pro version for $50. iOS App store link.

Our dog, and our granddog, are fine with leather. No issues. But neither one is over 20 pounds. And, we keep nails clipped. I think that's the big problem.

Ah, I follow you now I think. You mean you could flip the cushions and still have Ultrafabric on the top and bottom. I was thinking Oliver made it so you could actually turn the cushions inside out and still have Ultraleather 😂

I'm excited about adding some personal touches to our Oliver; my husband thinks I'm crazy sometimes, but he appreciates me, regardless 😁

Btw, Susan, those pillows are really pretty ! Good choice.

We had Ultraleather in our camper van and liked it a lot. After 4 years of use, it still looked new; med-taupe color. We ordered our Oliver Twin with mattresses and ultra fabric dinette; Midnight decor - Grey Jay dinette cushions. We also purchased some extra back cushions from another Oliver owner in Flannel (dark grey) fabric that we plan to use as back cushions for a dinette sofa. As far as I know, the 2021 Oliver cushions are still reversible; someone please correct me if I am wrong. https://www.ultrafabricsinc.com/grey-jay $75/yard

The $299 upgrade price is for the Twin bed with mattresses instead of cushions. The only cushions you get with these options are the dinette seat x2 and back x2 Ultra Fabric upgrade prices for various floor plan options as per the 2021 price sheet: Standard Floor plan (standard cushions) - $949 Standard and Twin floor plans with mattresses - $299 Twin floor plan with standard cushions (twin cushions and dinette - $699 Twin with couch cushions (I'm assuming seat and back cushions on both beds) - $849 Twin with 1 couch and 1 KTT mattress - $649 I asked about additional cushions, just out of curiosity; two dinette seat backs in fabric were quoted at $500. I told Oliver this seems like a lot for2 standard size (not custom) fabric cushions, but was told it is still considered a custom order. I wanted them for side"arms" for transforming the dinette into a sofa, but not that badly. I found two appropriately sized 14"x24" feather pillows at Sierra Trading Post online for $20 each; these will also work as back cushions on the ends of the twin beds plus will add a touch of color. When I ordered there were 4 available. I wish I had ordered all 4; now they are gone!

Jairon, we don't have ultrafabric in the trailer, but I used Brisa on the sailboat, in the main salon cushions, on the recommendation of a friend who works in the luxury yacht industry. I do like it. My favorite sleeping spot is in the salon, on the low side. The Brisa is very soft, and actually does seem to "breathe, " so on hot Florida evenings, it's still comfortable to sit or sleep on the Brisa. I think the ultraleather is probably more durable, (by 20 per cent or so), based on the Wyzenbeek double rub scales, and it's definitely less stretchy to work with. Both are really fine fabrics, and very expensive. For the real beds/berth cushions in the boat, I used a mildew resistant, hospitality grade fabric, as I was concerned about abrasion and stretch. The Brisa is far more comfortable, actually, and now I sometimes wish I had used Brisa everywhere, as my friendsuggested. I definitely have to use mattress pads on the fabric, as it's really stiff. (This is not a fabric Oliver uses. Their fabric choices are not as stiff as what I chose for the boat, by far.) My little dog can't do much damage to anything, as she's only 9 pounds, and doesn't sit on the salon benches and bunks, anyway. I do have a few tiny stains (small spots) on the Brisa, several years in, that I haven't been able to remove. Mine is a pale grey. But, that's the nature of boats. They are otherwise very easy to maintain, and no treatment required. I don't have much experience with ultraleather, as I've only used it on dining chair seats and storage benches. I don't know if Oliver still makes reversible cushions. All of ours on the boat are marine style, with breathable meshy fabric on the bottom. That could also make a difference. Are you using cushions on the bed, or a mattress?

You should ask the factory folks. I would hesitate to say one year's run is the same as the next. I'm pretty sure mine run straight to the rear cubby hole. I have used mine once - just to verify they work.... RB

Guess it is just a foreign concept to me, to lock my self inside a boom box. But then we spend most of our time outside listening to the wind and Mother Nature anyway. Also doubt any better speakers would make our occasional old John Wayne movies sound any better anyway. That all being said I can't imagine it would be that difficult to mount 'quality' surface mount or boxed speakers pointing in any direction. Would think the smooth fiberglass would bounce the acoustics in all directions.

FYI, with the same size tire, and the same load rating (10 sidewall plies, Load E), you can use the old chart, no worries. If there are any differences in recommended pressures between tire manufacturers, they would be so small as to be negligible. You should use tire operating temperature (and tread wear over the very long term) as an indicator and adjust air pressure as needed. And if your interior is showing signs of distress (utensils and dishes thrown around) then lower your pressure a bunch.... or don't drive so fast over speed bumps. 😉 Try 50 psi, lower them gradually from that to where the tires seem to be 'happy'. John Davies Spokane WA

Here's a thread from years ago regarding don's speaker upgrade Unfortunately, early 2017 was about the end of "custom" installations, as far as I can see. But, you can still get some modifications through the service center, after pickup. That's a good topic to bring up with your rep.

I've been spoiled by higher end audio for about 3 decades so the thought of cutting a hole in that beautiful fiberglass for a 5 dollar speaker hurts my feelings a bit 😁 The mounting patterns, sizes, and depths are all different so just getting what you want ahead of time seems logical if possible. I'm getting close to crunch time for my build so I'm just getting picky at this point.

Solar..keeps batteries up while stored..ready to go. Can watch tv to get local weather, so know how to prepare for tomorrow. 4_batteries keep the blower on the furnace running all night and day. Powers the microwave so no heat build that rainy humid day. 30 lb propane tanks keeps us warm all night, all week, all month. The world existed for years without internet or phone service. It is an option, unless you have adult children that worry about what the 'old fools' are up to now...

So, a year after the launch, Tesla is revising/tweaking the original Cybertruck. So,guessing I won't be giving rides at the 2022 rally. https://electrek.co/2020/11/02/tesla-unveil-updated-cybertruck-electric-pickup-design/

I believe solar is one of the most valuable options available - won't evaluate the new Lithium set-up, but my AGM set up has done very well and adds an enormous amount of options for camping - anywhere - in comfort. The 30 lbs. propane is also a value. My other options, hmm, I like the front tray, I like the rear (old version) rear rack, the Truma - mixed emotions - upgraded counter tops - yes, Couch cushions - a waste of $$, I'm sure I am missing something. Oh - I really like the electronic keyboard door latch. Good luck.

Option one - use zip ties and attach it to the round pipe that the power jack head is on... Option 2 - as Frank showed in his Facebook Post, he simply attached with stainless bolts with larger backer stainless washers on the back side of the cowling for stress relief.

Good luck! The new RAMs are beautiful trucks. I am not so patiently waiting for my new truck and Ollie in May. I will be anxious to hear your feedback!

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

It's the middle of the night & Fido needs to go out. You want to be able to grab a flashlight without the need to turn on a light. This Command Broom Holder is the answer. Plus, it stays put when rolling down the road. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G1Y42H0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-YJJFb4833X8E

I would try the cushions plus topper, first. You might also want to look at the Froli system vs hypervent. The froli has great reviews in the boating community, and also adds some "spring", like a box spring, but thinner. We also leave our large dinette set up as a bed. Not sure where the leg is for the table, anymore.😄 We keep three bins of clothes and extra bedding/towels/ gear under the "permanent " bed, or two, and two backpacks and a small duffel.

I've always bought queen bedding and tuck the extra in under the cushions. I bought a full size mattress pad once, by mistake, and it was a real struggle to make it fit. I'd rather have the "extra", and ease of making the bed. If you already have queen sheets, just take a set with you. You'll see what I mean. Most blankets and quilts these days are labeled queen/full, anyway. I take an extra old top sheet to cover the bedding during the day, as our little dog claims the bed as her own daytime. She sleeps on her own bed, on a dinette cushion, during the night. Daytime, she claims the entire trailer as her own.👑 She's a bit of a princess 👸 A few years ago, I bought a queen foam topper for the cushions and cut it down with dressmaker sheers to fit the curves. When I had a fiberfill/down alternative topper, it was fine. I made no alterations. Just tucked the thin stuff under. Btw, I like microfiber sheets (amazon basics are good. Charisma from costco our favorites) in cooler season, flannel in cold, and cotton (thinner Hillcrest sateen) in hot summer only. Good microfiber has a nice feel, and dries really fast at the laundry, or on the line. Seems to stay fresh longer than cotton, which I find holds moisture. We don't have hypervent. But, we have cushions, plus 1.5 inch foam topper, not a mattress. 13 seasons in, no issues. I do have Ikea bumpy shelf liner under part of the cushions. And, we intentionally don't camp much under 25 to 30 degrees at night. I left Minnesota winters decades ago. Sherry

I also bought mine from Souther Mattress in North Carolina. They could not have been nicer to work with and they shipped them in big boxes (and it only took them a few days, too!!). I highly recommend them!!

With a 6'5" bed and decent real payload, the biggest thing holding the Tesla Truck from camper greatness is the C-pillar extending so far back. As a chassis, it'd make an interesting class b/c motorhome.

We were there from Sep 12 thru 16. This year some of the smaller campgrounds went Primitive on the 17th. Some smaller operations like the less popular convenience stores and tours closed after Labor Day and most Park operations go completely off season on the 23rd. Our trip was complicated by the unexpected (but publicized) ten day closure of Going To The Sun Rd. It is crazy busy all the time, there is simply less stuff you can do and fewer open spots off season. The hoards of hikers come in at the crack of dawn and race up the mountain to park at the Pass, a local official called it the Indy 500. It is very unfortunate for a visitor who just wants to stop for a short time. The road construction on GTTS and on US 89 is ongoing, so expect issues next year at least. A reservation at a West Glacier commercial RV park would be prudent, if you cannot get one of the rare reservable spots, until you can locate a free spot inside the Park. Only a few Glacier campgrounds offer them, and in general most are unsuitable for a larger Ollie. As I mentioned before.... St Mary would be the best choice to the east, and the spots are larger there. But you can’t see anything ;( Apgar in the west is big too, but no reservations at all and only trees to look at from your folding chairs. Some CGs are tent only. Some you cannot tow a trailer to... it is a tough place to plan for a visit. https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm GTTS is not open until around July, depending on the snow. It takes them a couple of months to clear it. There is up to 80 feet at Logan Pass... You must allow at least three days in case it is cloudy, to see the high mountains. I feel sorry for the one day visitors on tour buses when it is dumping rain.... John Davies Spokane WA