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Some owners have placed the gutters far enough above the windows so that they still have plenty of access to the caulked area. I placed mine as close to the window as possible and have never looked back. Perhaps the gutters give some extra protection to this area but there does not appear to be any sign of degradation of the caulk. Of course in the event that I would have an issue, my plan would be to simply remove the gutter, fix the window/caulk and then replace the gutter with new - it is not that expensive. Bill

I can confirm that our Elite 2 has the “new” configuration of pump suction. We have hull no. 372 with a pickup date of August 2018. There is a fitting on the top of the tank about 1 foot from the aft end with apparently a suction tube extending into the tank. This is in addition to the 2 tubes on the side at aft end for fill and drain functions. The line at the top routes to the suction side of the pump so is obviously the suction tube. On a recent dry camping trip, we experienced cavitation at about 10% indicated on the level meter. I think 13% was the last good reading and at at about 8% could not draw anything (from memory and don’t exactly remember resolution increments of level meter). When draining (and raising front end) it seemed like a substantial amount of water drained, but I did not measure. Probably no more than 5 gallons.

We just got back from a trip and didn't have much trouble finding spots. I made two reservations ahead of time that I knew we'd need - Great Basin and Palo Duro - but everything else was either BLM or no reservations and had no problems. Could have done USFS at Great Basin, but the campground was mostly empty after the first night, so it was just as well.

I always carry a bag of breadcrumbs. Can't be too careful...

In the never ending search to buy stuff for the Ollie and TV. I was watching videos of the Overland expo on tools and gadgets. I thought the pictured tool bag was a good idea. Although the one in the video was selling in the neighborhood of $150.00 I found this one on amazon for $49.00 there are many mfgs and pricing for this type tool bag. I’m impressed with the quality and the ability to separate your tools in different pouches. It holds all the tools I normally carry. Then roll it up and store it away. I thought this was a good item to share.

I like physical maps, too. But then sometimes... I believe there's a point of reference in the lower right hand corner. But don't be fooled, that bit of river is really just a muddyish area, when it's raining. That's where we were a few weeks ago - beautiful sunsets: But don't travel too far from your trailer with just a paper map, assuming you want to find it again. Here's some perspective , with Snowy in the center: Here's how close those two photos were taken, relative to the entire lake bed: Not too far apart, and not even in the fat spot of the playa - suffice to say that you can easily lose any useful point of reference over the horizon. So sure, if you're a true expert and carrying a sextant, maybe you can get your way back, but good luck and have fun. On the other hand, with GPS, you can actually explore, with only slight concern over having a meal and warm bed at the end of the day. Just watch your fuel and keep a sharp eye out for muddy spots. Also, have a backup GPS, and an InReach, etc, etc. Every tool has its use and use every tool you have. Reminds me of one of my all time favorite maps:

Oliver fans, soon to be, new and experienced: Although my last post seemed more dire towards the RV experience than I had intended, Covid crowds and such, our target camp spot was usually somewhere off the beaten track, not the KOA ( or similar) experience, and JD's comments reflect his cautious nature towards protecting his Oliver from the elements and what mother nature can throw at you. I always heeded JD's cautiousness when I headed down an unknown path with our EII in tow. I however, am, perhaps, a little more adventurous, when it came to taking our Ollie off road. I have driven down more than a few paths- sans Ollie - just to make sure I could get in and out with the twin axle Ollie EII. MUD - well that is something I avoided - all bets are off when its a slippery slope slough through the back roads. The EII does "ok" off road - mild off road - but take your time - and know your limits. As has been noted - the twin Ollie is not really designed for this. I have many pics of our (former) Ollie in great places - off the beaten path. And the amount of back country available for boon docking in the west is enormous. And for the eastern located folks - mind blowing....in comparison. I must say there is something to be said for the Ollie EII size - one can park the thing - given good parking skills- almost anywhere. And there is something to be said for the creature comforts of the Ollie - parked on the outcrop of a plateau, somewhere down an old forest road. Overall our Oliver was one of the best - if not the best- rigs for comfortable, variable location, self supported camping - reliable and solid. In our experience - the Ollie sits somewhere in the middle of the continuum between tenting - and the full blown big park only Bus RV. I must admit - as prices for the newer rigs rise - it becomes a little harder to justify given our decades of exploration. And the gist of my post - Adventure after leaving the nest - home- I found myself (we) missing a little more of the backcountry we once enjoyed when we we more mobile - off road. When we return to the "RV" world, it may be with an older single axle Ollie - prepped with a few mods to handle the more off road paths I avoided before. One persons Adventure is another's - well you can fill in your definition. Sometimes I felt a little less, simpler - less like home, was what I needed, less Oliver- less work to seek our adventure. The future - we shall see - but the Oliver experience is the example of what one should seek in mobile adventure platforms - certainly a great company, product, and fan base. In closing - the world is your Oyster, and the Ollie is a great companion in your discovery of the the pearls to be found in the outdoors and in the outback of nature. Go a little farther - back of beyond- as Ed Abby would say, find your special spot. We will see you down the road - dusty and a little the worse for wear, but down the road alas. RB, CB, and Harley.

Even distress beacons have potential "issues" - they usually need a clear view of the sky to be totally effective for instance. Relatively simple things should be learned prior to venturing far afield. Something as simple as following a drainage downhill has saved a number of people from unpleasant circumstances. Even a compass can break or a map can be lost or glasses can be of no use. Here on this Forum we constantly repeat instructions to new or prospective owners to read, read, read and learn, learn, learn so that they can be more comfortable and in control of their Oliver (or any travel trailer for that matter). These same things can be said for those venturing into places that are beyond their experience, knowledge or abilities. A person who only uses their travel trailer in commercial campgrounds does not necessarily need to have the same level of expertise as another owner who routinely ventures well off the beaten path. But, in any case, there is virtually always something new to learn. Bill

My undergraduate degree is in Economics. Your use of the term "price elastic" makes perfect sense to me in this context. As does the Idaho State Parks policy. Washington residents are not paying Idaho state taxes to support Idaho state parks, so it is fair to charge Washington residents more to use them. I was a Washington State resident for 35 years, but now live in Idaho again, so I have experienced both sides of that issue.

Welcome. This is a good place to ask questions. I lurk over on Escape forums and I think you’ll find a lot of good information here. Mike

Thank you very much for correcting this. I agree with after looking at the manual, and just to be sure, I verified with Zamp that the ZS30A PWM controller goes to 14.4V in absorption mode before returning to 13.6V in float. It does. So a full solar charge should serve to calibrate the batteries' BMS, resulting in a more reliable SOC. So then, if I understand correctly (which clearly is not always the case), the reason to install a PMMT controller is for a bit greater efficiency, which becomes more important for larger solar arrays. I also asked whether Zamp would be building one, and the rep said there had been discussion about this some time ago but he hadn't heard anything recently.

I got my Geology degree in 1975, I know how to use a Brunton compass, and how to pace off distances over rough terrain. I know how to use a primitive spring gravimeter. I also (used to ) know how to type paper punch card computer programming, and how to use a slide rule. I also know how to do excellent pen and ink drafting. Like drum brakes vs disk brakes, at some point you have to embrace the new technology. I embrace digital maps, but the Benchmark Atlas is always within reach. I use those analog waypoints, AKA self adhesive colored dots. for a real God’s eye view of an entire region, IMHO, for that narrow focus, nothing beats a GOOD paper map. FYI the new geologic map layer for GAIA Premium is quite nice. It used to be extremely lame, you had to refer to a color chart, just like those 100 year old maps, to see what was what. But now they give you a neat popup information window with that data. Welcome to 2021. National Park base layer: Geologic layer added: BTW that is White Crack campground, where my wife and I want our ashes to be scattered. John Davies Spokane WA.

We dry camped this year in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota and a few over nights in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska this Spring, Summer and Fall. No restrictions and 'wide open' for hikers and outdoor people in general. The Air was fresh, cool and brisk! A couple camped in Utah at 10,000 feet were staying inside their trailer wearing face masks. They never left their trailer. We found everyone was enjoying the outdoors and not concerned about what City Folk were fearing... no body. Had lively discussions about camping and how to find great camping spots. Known or undiscovered places. Smaller towns had a sign asking you wear a face mask. Many Service Stations did not in some less populated areas. It was hit and miss this Summer. Campsites... no Covid fears. Bow hunters... no Covid fears. Fisherman... the same. It was a wonderful experience getting out and feeling 'normal' again. If you are planning to Boondock in the NFS and BLM or State Lands... it was wide open in the Rocky Mountains. We laid back and aaaaaaah.... 🙂 Planning a Western Adventure? No congestion of campers... the trailer crowd were at RV Camps. The public lands were wide open during peak season. It was a pleasant surprise that we were all... alone. Popular areas like Cedar Breaks at 10,200 feet in July & August, just east of Cedar City, Utah had 80% vacancy in the trees and in the wide open spaces. It snowed and hailed one day... in August by Duck Creek. Enough to cover the ground for several hours. Anyone who says the RV Parks were crowded... they missed out on the wide open trailer accessible dry camps. Those who manage to be comfortable Off the Grid... do not Plan to go out West into the Rocky Mountains. Just... GO and be the 'accidental tourist'. We have done it since 2006 and return to many of our favorite campsites... never to be disappointed that the area was full. We even got a Daily Campsite on the west side of Flathead Lake in Montana... by just driving up and had NON Reserved spots available... for people like us. No Plan. No Reservations. No worry... Try it. You will become Young and Ambitious Boondockers. After a few attempts learning how to manage at the worst spot in nowhere... it is better than having neighbors within five feet of you camped! Any day. Even Meteor City, west of Albuquerque, New Mexico... was great. Blue Heelers, too.

A big thanks for Foy & Mirna Sperring for hosting the rally in Jacksonville. I've posted some pics for your viewing pleasure. We've ordered our LE-2 with an expected delivery date of next April. Jill and I appreciate all of you folks who showed us your Ollies and gave us advice. We have much to learn. . .

That was actually a little state park in Nevada. Really neat spot. It was recommended by a ranger at Great Basin, and I'm glad he did since it's not the sort of place I'd be attracted to just seeing it on a map - pays to stay open minded. Oddly, for the first time we ran across another Oliver there, and then met the next door neighbor of another Ollie owner. The slots are mud, and so constantly changing. Most are pretty short, though a few offer some surprises, if you're comfortable with tight squeezes... Angels landing is a must, though we have some friends who went to Zion earlier this year and didn't do it. Not sure we can talk with them anymore. But I liked Hidden Canyon more -no chains! - but unfortunately it's closed now after a rockslide, perhaps permanently I've been told: Not sure I'll go out of the way to see the bicycles. But if it's on the way, I can be a sucker for a good roadside attraction if it's weird enough. But really I prefer my weirdness in rock form. Anyone familiar with this hidden moonscape?

Starlink is offering a new antenna, half the weight of the original, and physically a bit smaller, as well. https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/12/starlinks-new-rectangular-satellite-broadband-dish-is-smaller-and-lighter-than-before/amp/

If the threading is compatible, you may be able to buy just the trickle valve from High Sierra and add that to the existing faucet - https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/shop/trickle-valves/

That is a gorgeous photo! Wow. Want to go to there.

Its the bathroom exhaust fan. Bill

John - Unbelieveable picture with the June bugs. Where is that located and remind me not to go there at that time.

Thank YOU for confirming with Zamp! I wasn’t 100% sure I was reading those specs correctly. That’s good info for anyone looking to do a simple swap out of their older conventional batteries for lithium.

@Minnesota Oli, and just the likelihood of being able to secure components, with today's broken supply chains, imo.

Thanks, John. I was snorting on this one. Our his and hers slide rules are archived in the office. I know I'd personally have to look up instructions for anything beyond basic math, this many years later. Yes, we still carry paper maps, in additionto gps and phones. But I also love technology, and what it adds to our trip enjoyment, and time saving. I'm with you there. As technology advances, we need to advance, as well.

There's probably a lot more that comes in to play when components are chosen for the Oliver, my 2019 has multiple Dometic products so I'm sure the more components the better the over all price point.

The gains on an mppt controller vs pwm are somewhat minimal, on small solar arrays, like most olivers. There's been a lot of hand wringing on this in the past few years. Yes, you'll get a bit more. Is it worth the work and expense? Maybe. It really depends on personal camping style and needs. I suspect that for most people, the plug and play simplicity of the zamp systems is worth the bit of loss. Many, many new owners come from tent camping, or analog systems, or zero camping experience. For all of them, I'd say zamp is pretty much a great fit. For the experienced and more needy techies, victron or even blue sky may offer more flexibility, and some small gains. Even blue sky, with their great customer service, is far more complicated in changing settings. Victron could easily overwhelm new users. We have experience with both, btw.

Welcome to the forum. Not a bad idea to post here, as well as contact the sales office, as you never know who might be camping up your way. We enjoyed our camping stays on Vancouver Island a number of years ago. Lucky you, to live up that way. Lots of great camping opportunities nearby.

FWIW, Oliver now officially recommends and is delivering EII tires at 55psi, per the latest new owner walk-thru video.

In addition to JD's sage advice, I would not recommend 65 - 70 PSI in our OEII E-rated tires. YES, they are rated for 80 PSI, and you yes you could use this high PSI. In fact it was as recent as 2019 that many of us were using pressures in the 55+/- range. I liked that higher pressure for on road and high speed freeway use only. But as has JD and others, we have taken it down to the 45 to 50 psi range to soften the otherwise harsh ride that we were causing our Oliver's (Bouncing cushions and kitchen ware). More importantly, off road you really need to consider a much lower pressure to avoid rock punctures. Suggest searching tire pressure threads and take note the date of posts and recommended pressures. You'll find that over the past 4 years or so, both the on-road and off-road recommendations have come down quite a bit. Mahalo,

Here's a side view of our Suburban Hot water heater valve with curbside & water heater on left and furnace inlet vent upper right:

This may have been correct for older Zamp solar controllers in our trailers, but if I am not mistaken the current Zamp ZS30A PWM controller charges to 14.4V in Absorption mode, 13.6v in Float. That’s the way I interpret the specs (link below), someone please let me know if I have misunderstood these important details. Converting from PWM to an MPPT is a worthwhile modification, and it’s on my future mods list. In my case, the Zamp PWM is working fine for us with 2 Battleborn 100A LiFePO4. I don’t want to change it out now because of the cutout hole in the wall panel. I’m hoping Zamp will offer an MPPT in a year or so that will be a panel mount and can fill that hole in the wall. By the way, Battleborn recommends charging their batteries up to 14.4V periodically for optimum performance, so they seem to be similar to Lithionics in their protocol. https://olivertraveltrailers.com/wp-content/uploads/oliver-university/Component_Manuals/Solar/Zamp_Charge_Controller_Manual-revised.pdf

BattleBorn told me not to worry about TV alternator damage when connected to TV with 7 pin plug with Ollie's single 100AH BB lithium. They said because of charge cable's small diameter and distance from TV to battery, would not see very high amperage charge with TV connected. So far with BattleBorn battery at 75% charge while connected to TV with engine idling have not seen more than 3.5 amps of charge. Our TV has 180 amp alternator and with ignition turned off, the 12V power supply to Ollie is also switched off.

Good question. I am assuming that since I was charging the AGMs that the lithiums are getting some charge as we travel. I know whenever we arrive at a site we’re at or near 100% charge but that is probably largely due to the solar panels. I didn’t change anything that might affect TV charging. Mike

Not sure I understand. I have a Blue Sky solar controller. Last January I replaced my 4 AGM’s with two Battle Born Lithiums. I did 10 minutes of reprogramming of the Blue Sky and swapped out the 6 year old PD 4045 with a new one that is lithium capable. Done. The system has performed great during several months of camping. If I ever decide to sell, someone will be getting a great set up. No risk. Mike

At a veterans day party last night, we had an interesting conversation with a couple who towed their new 5th wheel 6000 miles on its maiden voyage, from Florida to Quebec and back this year. They only stayed in a few state parks, because their trailer is so tall. They prefer Koa (which we don't), because of the amenities and level spots, lack of offending tree branches, etc. That gave me some heart, actually. Our smaller trailers fit in tinier spots, so maybe we only need to worry so much about the millenials, who tend to choise tent camping and/or buy littler trailers. 😁

Now I gotta find a way to move WA closer to CT, or at least flatten out those mountains in between. 🙂

HERE is a statistical study of camping in 2021 based on a reasonable sample of just shy of 4,000 survey responses. Unfortunately, it does not address any information concerning the supply side of the function (i.e. additional camping sites). Bill

I hope it arrives on schedule, what a great Christmas present. John Davies Spokane WA

How about another pic?

Here's one way to use a black tank that may be available for other uses (e.g., a composting toilet installed). Since the black and grey tanks share the same drainage pipe, an unused black tank is only good for holding extra grey water without major modifications to the plumbing. It's pretty simple to put a cap with a hose connection on the end of the tank drain pipe and then use an inline hose pump to pump up to 15 gallons (in my case) of grey water into the black tank. I never thought having extra grey water capacity would be important, but camping on the East coast involves pretty hefty fines if you are caught draining your gray water into nature. I also assumed that camping with full water / electricity hookups meant unlimited, long hot showers in the Ollie (not the case!). So, 15 extra gallons of grey water capacity could mean you don't have to tow your trailer over to the dump station in the middle of your camping trip because you have to empty your grey water tank.

Finally, we pulled the trigger and placed an order for the fabulous Oliver Legacy Elite II, expected delivery in April 2022. I imagine that we're like of a lot of the Oliver owners; aging baby-boomers looking to see this great country in style. We've never owned an RV. We rented a Class-A motor home about two months ago. We quickly figured out that driving an eleven ton particle-board-and-stapled rig down I-75 just isn't for us. We started researching travel trailers. My bride had her heart set on an Airstream so we went to the local dealer for a tour. Frankly, I was underwhelmed; the build quality was far below my expectations. There were several parked on the lot for repairs—mostly expensive panel replacements from minor dings. The next day we saw an Oliver. The Oliver isn’t built like a trailer. It’s built like a blue water cruising yacht. The solid construction, fit, finish and smart design put this travel trailer in a completely different class from the rest of the industry. The Oliver is robust; everything else is flimsy in comparison. We were sold the minute we walked inside. Anyway, we have much to learn. I’ve owned boats in the past (not the one below) but this will be our first travel trailer. I’ve been lurking around the forum for a few days, gaining some wisdom from you all. My wife and I will be at the mini-rally in Jacksonville in October. We hope to meet some of you next month. I posted these pics for comparison. The interior of the LE II has the look and feel of a cruising sailboat--not a travel trailer.

The product is EZE RV Gutter. Use the search function for the term gutter and you will find more information than you need. Mossey

I second the vote for vinyl gutters. They do help. Mike

Two weeks ago, we had 12 inches of rain in 28 hours. No issues with the weepholes, perhaps because a few weeks before we a had had a brief rainstorm, a clogged weep wept a little into the side wall, and I cleaned them all. For the second time this season. Imo, This isn't really an Oliver issue. It's an rv window manufacturer issue, and not a huge one, just a pesky maintenance issue. I wouldn't enlarge the weepholes. I'd definitely add the vinyl gutter over the windows, as many of us have done.

The picture was taken about two weeks after "ice out", so guessing not much warmer than 34°. The car is all original, except has gotten a set of radial tires. 38,600 miles so far. Not perfect but close for 67 years.

Hammers are good. I got this short sledge at Home Depot. Works great for pounding stakes for the awning and Clam. Very short, easy to store.

This screen door handle is the current favorite gizmo. The more I use it the more I appreciate it.

This screwdriver. I think it's the perfect utility drawer screwdriver that will cover 90% of your needs - for when you don't want to go dig out the toolbox. Compact, but pops out to a usable length, and has a good selection of quality German bits, which lock in place so they don't fall out. I keep one in the trailer, one in the center console of the truck, and one in the junk drawer at the house.

I heard a rumor that Oliver was thinking about offering it. I have one - we had an owner on the forum four or so years ago who could get them for owners at wholesale. So relative to what we paid, that’s a remarkably expensive price. Plus cradlepoint now requires a subscription service plan for support. It’s a great little device - really love ours - but it would be difficult to recommend at that price. And I’d never recommend it for anyone who’s not comfortable with complex tech. It’s a professional router that’s designed for corporate clients whom they assume have dedicated and trained staff to maintain it. User friendly it is not. I’d say that nice though it is, even if Oliver is offering to pay the subscription support costs, give it a hard pass and don’t look back. Satellite internet is way too close to spend a chunk of money on an expensive cell router.

Its $99 a year if you want the nationwide plan. If you just want to dabble for a while, you can play the free trial game. Its pretty easy to put your account on hold and just keep trying out each states free trial. If you travel a lot or even a little really, the $99 a year plan is a no brainer in my opinion. If you're just traveling a month at a time or less, its $15. It works on Iphones and android, beyond that I have no clue.

Ray, good info. For those of us less experienced in navigating off-road it’s good to learn from those who know. I’ve also followed your latest thread on Airforums. Always learning... John, good info as well. I assume you don’t need cell service to use the apps you discuss? I carry an older Garmin to use when we’re out of cell coverage. I’m thinking the paper maps discussed above might be worthwhile to have on hand. Mike