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Dent Acre's Campground - Idaho - Dworshak Dam - Army COE Campground with Full Hookups . This campground has a tiered system so each row of trailers is higher than the ones below so there are great views of the lake. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233487

From time to time I've viewed the YouTube channel "Mortons On The Move" - particularly when they were touring Alaska. However, it wasn't until I viewed the video linked below that I found out that Tom Morton is an electrical engineer. In any case, in This YouTube Video Tom tests Battleborn Lithium batteries against AGM and regular flooded cell lead acid batteries and shows much of the data from these tests. If anyone would prefer to read versus watch, you can co that HERE. Bill

For RV use I recommend this one. https://www.amazon.com/Uni-T-B4Q094-UT210E-Current-Capacitance/dp/B00O1Q2HOQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Uni-T+B4Q094+UT210E+True+RMS+AC%2FDC+Current+Mini+Clamp+M+W+Capacitance+Tester&qid=1609729532&s=industrial&sr=1-1i It does most common measurements like voltage and resistance, but the most useful feature is the clamp on ammeter. You can use it to measure current without disassembling any wires, though they do need to be separated from each other, not inside a loom or harness cover. For checking your electric trailer brakes it is WONDERFUL. I liked mine so much I left my regular multimeter at home, and gave one of these inductive ones to my son for Christmas. Look through this page to get an idea of how it is used for measuring amps. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2685-how-to-brake-wiring-is-undersized-some-answers-and-partial-solution/ You can use it at home, but really a plug in outlet/ gfci (ground fault) tester with LED lights might be more useful, and it would also be very good for checking a campground electrical post before plugging in.... John Davies Spokane WA

1) Awning - I have 2 domestic awnings, (camp side electric), street side manual. I think the regular electrics now offered would be fine without upgrading. 2) Battery Choices: Here's an interesting article (and video) about Lead Acid, vs. AGM, vs Lithium Batteries to help you decide: https://mortonsonthemove.com/best-rv-battery-test-results/ For our use case we are trying to get the longest run time out of my battery for boondocking, so I'm planning to upgrade to Lithium, and added solar. 3) We have a truma. Pro - it sips fuel, weighs less as it's not a 6gal tank, Con - you still need to run out about a liter of water out to get to the HOT water but then it's continuous. We also take navy showers...I suppose the standard 6GAL water heater has some advantages...but I'll let owners with those chime in. 4) That change can be done later for sure. A lot depends on how you plan to camp. For the composter, there's no current way have it direct urine from the Composting Toilet into the Black Tank so you'll still need to dispose of urine on a timely basis. The weakness with a standard toilet comes if you plan to boondock for longer times. For two of us we can make it about 4-6 days before we are full on the black tank. If we had a composter we could likely go 2 weeks. 5) We have only seen one trailer with standard white and it looked great as well. 6) Again a lot depends upon your specific mobile data use case. Cell Boosters vs. WIFI Boosters The newer cell systems all use MIMO technology so your hot spot device (or phone) actually has multiple antennas built in and they have wider bandwidth because they use signal diversity to combine together the "best signal" possible. If the "cell booster" antenna is a single channel small whip, it may only be useful when the signal levels are extremely low...otherwise your device will have better BW running off it's internal MIMO Antenna. Here's a good article from "The internet resource center" on this topic. https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/guides/mobile-cellular-boosters/ The WIFI booster can also have a "modem" installed in it and that would make it also a CELL booster in function. If I had it to do over, I would simply buy the WIFI Booster, and put in the Modem for my carrier (AT&T)... That kills both the WIFI and cellular boost capability and it also provides a plug in for hotspot's via USB input. (So you can put your phone or hotspot into that wifi booster, and create a VPN for your campsite.) MUST Have - I wouldn't be without solar. There are so many things that solar can provide, one is the ability to charge your batteries while you are in transit. Most of today's 7 pin connectors only drive about 3-5 amps of current, so they can only KEEP your batteries charged, but they don't really recharge while you drive. (In the worst case, if you drive with your fridge on DC, you'll actually get to camp with batteries much lower than when you left. Solar helps a ton keep those house batteries charged. Another other option if you don't have solar is to add a dc to dc charger unit. that directly connects to cables your vehicles battery back to Dc to Dc charger which would be near your trailer batteries. Final take: If I were buying right now...I would 1) Buy standard awnings but put on both sides of the trailer (key to controlling heat in southern locations) 2) Buy as much solar and lithium as I could afford. 3) Buy the WIFI booster but add the modem inside In the long run those investments will pay back mightily improving your camping experience. Hull 505 - Galway Girl

Some of the answers will actually depend, at least somewhat, on which model you choose. And, your camping style. Can't comment on the awning, as we have had two manual Fiamma awnings. First vinyl top lasted almost ten years, with that brand. The battery compartment in the Elite is smaller, and tighter to work in than in the Elite II. I'm a big fan of AGM, for many reasons, but $500 is $500, and would almost pay for two Agm batteries, later. You're in Texas, so cold weather storage isn't a huge issue. We started with the included flooded batteries, and upgraded when they died. If you opt for the flooded, do set up a reminder on your phone calendar to check the fluids monthly. Do you get anything else in equipment with the $500 upgrade? In the Elite, you barely have any countertop in the kitchen, and the tabletop is actually quite nice in the leathered black. Our original white still looks nice, 13 years in. The Elite II has more countertop showing, so that's a matter of personal aesthetics. When we lost our original water heater, we replaced it with a Girard instantaneous. It's really nice , but I don't know if I'd do it again. Boondocking, you can fire up the standard water heater for say, 10 minutes, get the water to a comfy temp, and just shower without the mixer. In an electric site, you can use the free power and save your gas with the standard water heater. It's a pricey coin flip, especially if you typically camp solo. You do have the anode in the standard to attend to annually, so a tiny bit more attention. But, not a big deal. We've never had a cell booster, though I tried a highly-rated mobile one, and returned it. Problem is, you have to have some kind of a signal to boost. We carry two cell phones, instead. One gsm, one CDMA, and if there is a signal, one of us gets it, and shares it via Hotspot. It sounds like you're leaning toward solar, and that's really my one and only must have. It allows us so much more freedom in site choices, and we almost never opt for sites with power, preferring the quiet of out if the way places. We've not yet had a composting toilet. Be prepared. You'll get lots if opinions.

Mossey

Wow . . . a very difficult question . . . so many choices . . . for serenity, I'd say camping amongst the Giant Redwoods in Northern California, at Humbolt Redwoods State Park. For the view, I'd select boon docking at a high elevation (9150') mountain lake at Pinnacles, in the Shoshone National Forest of Wyoming. But for serendipity and a most unexpected wonder, I must choose a public campground on Fogo Island, in northern Newfoundland, at Brimstone Head Park, where you can hike up a hill to one of the four corners of the earth, as recognized by The Flat Earth Society. If you're lucky, you might wake up and discover an ICEBERG has run aground at your campsite! When that happens, extend your stay a few days and relish in the awesomeness.

TexasGuy - Many of us have wrestled with the same items as you are dealing with. To some degree I very much agree with SeaDawg - it depends on your camping style and where you tend to camp. Having said that - 1. I didn't have as many choices as you did on the subject of awnings, but, I chose to go simple. Even with wind sensors I would not trust that sensor to protect what could be a fairly expensive repair in the event the sensor was not fast enough or simply failed outright. Also, since I rarely camp in the desert I have not missed getting the streetside awning. 2. There is no question in my mind about solar since it gives me so much additional freedom and choice. However, that is not the question you asked. I chose the standard flooded wet cell batteries with the addition of the watering system. My thinking at the time was similar to yours - just how much time can it take to add water to those batteries - and I've found that indeed I was correct, it really doesn't take much time at all. Without the watering system I think that I'd have a different answer due to the sheer number of cells and the ability to reach those cells towards the back of the battery tray. I don't remember the numbers, but, with the addition of the watering system, the price difference was not as much as $500. But, even for a couple hundred I would have made the same decision as I did. Both AGM's and flooded wet cells should last 5 to 7 or 8 years with good maintenance. Hopefully at that time the price or alternatives will be even cheaper than they are today. You might also want to take a look at the "Lithium vs others" thread for a discussion about the long range costs of the various battery types in today's market (primarily this discussion only talks about the batteries themselves and not the associated costs of other "supporting" items that you will probably need to run or maintain lithium). 3. I got the standard water heater. That sure is a bunch of money to upgrade to the Truma. When I'm camping all I have to do is to remember to turn the water heater on ten minutes or so before I want hot water. If I forget, then all I have to do is wait the ten minutes. It really isn't like I'm rushing off somewhere and there is always something to do during that ten minutes - perhaps a glass of wine? Then, I simply turn it off - I NEVER just let it stay on since there is no reason to heat water just in case. 4. I also stayed with the standard toilet. Again, I simply could not justify the cost and already knew that emptying the grey and black tanks are no big deal. Add to this the fact that the Natures Head sits higher off the floor, it was a no brainer for me. Yes, from what I hear, composting toilets do save a bit of water. But, there are fairly easy ways around that issue too - portable tanks (heck, even the Nature's Head has a portable tank of sorts), "Double Duty" bags for instance. 5. Contrary to the "saving money" issues above, I did get the fiber granite option. I believe that this is a matter of taste and felt that the standard interior was simply not to my liking. This was a fairly simple way to give my Oliver a bit of decoration without having to tax my lack of decorating skills. Given that both the standard and optional surfaces are made of basically the same material I don't see where one would be "better" than the other. However, with the fiber granite, should you damage the surface below the pantry, or on top of the fridge, or on top of the night stand, these can easily be replaced. 6. I think that ctshort09's comments are good. Certainly do not get the WiFi option if you plan on using it in commercial campgrounds since these places simply do not have enough "bandwidth" to satisfy all campers demand. Since I do not have a cell phone, I rely heavily on email for communication while I'm on the road. I was/am surprised at a benefit of the WiFi booster that I had not considered prior to getting my Oliver - how much I use that booster while actually traveling from place to place. No longer do I have to cart my tablet or laptop into McDonalds, Starbucks, Wendy's, WalMart, Lowes, etc. I simply pull into the parking lot and with my WiFi booster I've got all the signal I need to send and download email and/or get to the internet. Good luck with your decisions. What is good for one is not good for all. Just take a hard look at what you intend to do with your Oliver and let that be your general guide. Bill

Thanks for that info and link ...I just spotted that yesterday as well. I see several folks doing upgrades so I'll try to learn from what others have posted as well. I'm in investigation stage for several upgrades: 1) Replacing 4 - 6V AGM's with Lithium at some point. (My AGM's are 16 months old and not sure what typical life will be..) 2) Also adding a smart shunt to better monitor battery state. 3) Add Dc to Dc Charger for the trailer so the Lithiums can be charged while driving from the Alternator. 4) Adding a battery in the back of our truck for running our ARB fridge which will be mounted in the truck. (That would also need a DC/DC and Solar Suitcase) 5) Adding more solar on the roof. Main Suppliers in Consideration : Comments/Feedback welcome Redarc for the DC/DC charger's because they are rugged and can be in the weather if needed. BattleBorn and ReLion for batteries. Victron for the smart shunt monitor (Bluetooth only version) Any Ideas / comments welcome as I'm in the planning stage. I've not yet calculated my LOADING and Cable Requirements yet but I found this really great page for Calculating DC Loading and Wire sizes. This is from an RV'r who's been around the block and also been a power systems designer in Automotive. Hope the link is of some use: http://www.rv-project.com/masthead/index.php http://www.rv-project.com/tips/wirecalc.php http://www.rv-project.com/tips/dcwiring.php Craig

I don't know all of what goes into making semis stable (I've been around more than a few that didn't seem so - that, or their drivers weren't), but I do know that 5th wheels and semis are inherently more stable than bumper pulled trailers, since they eliminate the double pendulum effect.

We were in beautiful New Brunswick in 2010. Interesting story about your flat tire. We had a flat on the truck just north of the NB line, in Quebec. Fortunately, there was a tire store in the closest English town, backtracking a few miles. We bought a tpms for the trailer as soon as we got home from that trip.

Daniel Jakus who runs Painted Cowboy Transport (http://www.paintedcowboytransport.com/) was recommended to me by the folks at Oliver. His price struck me as reasonable (do the math on driving a tow vehicle to and from there - even gas alone let alone using IRS mileage reimbursement for per mile driving cost...). He was great to work with. I've seen multiple other comments here to that effect and another forum member "theOrca" had one delivered by Daniel a year-ish ago also to WA like me and he was happy with the transport service (he had a few issues with his trailer not related to the transit though and encouraged me to go pick it up myself if at all possible; he has been getting those issues sorted though). Daniel and the folks at Oliver are used to dealing with each other. I was planning to pick up hull #709 in late December but that conflicted with being able to finally get in to have oral surgery for an infection that had been brewing for too long (had been going through the dentist-endodontist-oral_surgeon progression for a while - they seem hammered by folks finally getting in to get their teeth dealt with after holing up for much of the year...) and then letting myself recover. I would have loved to get that orientation they do and was looking forward to some parts of the trip back but I'll admit it was handy to have the trailer just show up at my driveway. I have yet to discover any problem that I would have had them fix on-site but I do have to do the Anderson WD hitch install myself - doesn't seem too bad but having them do it would have been more convenient. Maybe not 5,000+ miles worth of driving balancing convenience though... But it's definitely a bit of a gamble to not do a shakedown until the trailer is 2,500 miles from the factory. Oh, if you have it delivered in cold weather months tell them not to "dewinterize" the trailer before Painted Cowboy (or whoever you use for transport) picks it up as it's going to be unheated for the 4 day or so trip to OR.

DeeKay, As I mentioned a couple of posts above, the black tank is several inches higher than the grey. So you would need a pump to do what you suggest. Also it would be difficult to keep an inlet screen free from debris like hair and soap scum. Draining in the reverse direction, black to grey or black to fresh, would be simple. And yes, the bathroom sink drains into the grey tank, along with the shower. They share a common drain line, which is where the isolation (“travel”) valve comes into play, it blocks that pipe so smelly water does not slosh up into the shower pan when you hit the brakes. PS, I think in another post you mentioned you were getting an Elite, you need to clarify when asking questions, since there are differences in the way the systems are laid out. If you don’t specify, most people will assume the larger trailer since that is by far the most common model. John Davies Spokane WAl

Another thought, if you are retired, and have the time. Postpone pickup by a week or two. Spend a week in Tennessee, shakedown. Then, head east, and North. Follow the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah parkways. Maybe also the Crooked Road, if you love old time music. Go up into beautiful New York state, maybe the Catskills, perhaps New England.. .then Canada. Camp a few miles away from Quebec City,,and drive in.. That's a day trip to Europe. So lovely with the the old city. Follow the St. Lawrence east. Circle the Gaspe. Do that circle clockwise, so you can hug the inside lane. It's fabulous. Maybe visit Bay of Fundy. And my favorite, Deer Island, NB. . Campobello. There are so many choices! And/ or, circle across the top of the great lakes following Canada HWy 1. Come down into Minnesota below Thunder Bay. Stop awhile in delightful Grand Marais. Visit Duluth and Two Harbors, and work your way down through Minnesota state parks, ending in the "pineapple belt" of Southern Minnesota for your event in September. We've done all the Canadian routes i discussed, in separate years. And, camped down through Minnesota and Wisconsin. It's really beautiful in the summer and early fall. (My family is from Southern Minnesota, primarily Steele and Freeborn counties .) I say this because you may not feel motivated another year to drive so many miles east, and the northeast of the US, and eastern Canada offers amazing scenery and camping. Again, only if you have three or four months. It would be a long shakedown, but the trip of a lifetime, imo. Sherry As I write this, I'm flooded with great memories, and a desire to return to New England, and Canada. When Canada reopens the border .

Welcome, you will find lots of help here. You can swap the Bulldog coupler or the service department in Hohenwald can do it for you before they ship it. I do recommend this mod, especially since you have another trailer with the big coupler. While the Andersen mounts bolt on (you cannot weld steel to aluminum) it would be a pain to move those from trailer to trailer, so a second set on your other one makes the most sense. If it has a steel frame, they could be welded on. Take a look through my “How To” threads, they should be useful in helping you to make a decision. See the link in my signature. I also agree about towing it yourself, back to your home. It really is a big trip, but many of us here in the Pacific NW have done it and I don’t recall anybody regretting the decision. Being able to spend a few days in the middle TN area, to make sure everything is working and that you fully understand the systems, is very important. The factory can fix any issues and it is fairly hassle free process. I do remember one owner who was very upset because the Truma water heater did not work from the first day. He made a big fuss here in the forum, then finally admitted that he was in the area near the factory for several days and just thought it was “user error”. He never even called Service to ask about it, and he didn’t give them a chance to fix it before heading back across the country. Then he got mad..... don’t be him, give Oliver a chance to correct any issues there rather than at some random RV dealer who may not be able to get you scheduled for six weeks. John Davies Spokane WA

Well - Bill you have much to look forward towards - Have a great 2021

I don't have an Ollie until Feb, but I just had to reply and say, "THIS IS A GREAT THREAD!" Thank you all for sharing your responses and inspiration. Happy New Year.

My (Chris) favorite is a secluded boat launch on the Tsirku River about 30 miles outside of Haines, AK. It is primarily used by folks who have homes on Chilkat Lake that are only accessible by boat. https://maps.app.goo.gl/qXKAupauU1tLi9N2A

I know many of us are in a mood to say "good riddance" to much of what 2020 brought, but I'd like to say, I'm thankful for many things that did happen this year. Early in the year, my nephew married one of the sweetest young women I've ever met. Much of my family was here. I'm really thankful my nephew and his bride chose a February date for their wedding. It's the last time in 2020 that joy and hugs abounded, and so much family could gather. During our more quiet, more isolated time, since March, we've completed dozens of projects we'd been postponing. And, of course, made new lists. I'm studying yet another language, hoping to be able to speak to some of Paul's cousins when they (hopefully) can visit next year from Italy, without resorting to Google translate on my phone. I've renewed several old friendships over text and phone, as we check in with each other. Most especially, I've reunited with a cousin who was my BFF as a little girl, but we grew apart. We speak often, now. The shared experiences of today have brought renewed memories of our shared childhood experiences. I'm thankful that my mom, with all her health issues, has done well so far, with the help of all my siblings, and great doctors . I'm thankful that the younger members of our family who still work are all employed, happy, and healthy. And the few who did get covid, survived and are back on their feet. And, I'm thankful for my neighborhood, where we can talk over the fences, or on patios, share stories (and eggs, sugar, etc.), and never feel alone in quarantine times. Not to ever make light of this strange year, or minimize the tragedies. I lost one cousin, and there was only a small, immediate family only funeral. For those of you who have lost loved ones, I offer my heartfelt sympathies. I know what loss feels like, and this year, without our customary practices, it's especially and uniquely difficult. Not to be able to travel, and hug my aunt and hold her, and comfort her in her time of loss, was very difficult for me, and for my mom, her sister. In these difficult and very different times, I'd also like to say thank you for the community here. Every morning, I look forward to seeing friends here, as well. I wish you a very happy, and healthy, new year in 2021. Sherry

Smart tiles is the brand, but there are others. I got mine from Home Depot, and they're available at Amazon and other places. The color is Murano Metallic. I thought this one was a little more subtle, but I was outvoted. I added it to the kitchen as well, as you can see in the last photo. Getting it to work on the curved bath wall is a bit tricky. You can't really tell from the photo, but it's fudged to get it to look as straight as possible. The top is straight, but not the bottom, but that's mostly covered by the sink and faucet so it isn't so noticeable.