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My guess is that some of those options are actually lighter - Truma and compost toilet. I might think the same about the solar package with lithiums, since the weight savings of the batteries probably more than makes up for the panels. So the biggest hit is probably the larger propane tanks (and you can leave one empty if desired). The weight of the other options is minimal. In other words, like Mike, I wouldn’t worry much about it.

Sure I tried it - but - I never inhaled! 😁 Bill

We have just about every option you could ask for, and I don't think we'll have a hard time keeping our rig under ideal towing weights at all. The GVWR for the EII is 7000lbs, with a cargo carrying capacity of 1525lbs. We, too, are cyclists and anticipate bringing both gravel and mountain bikes (in the tv) on most extended trips. That also means we'll have our bike toolbox, repair stand, pump, etc. I also cook all meals from scratch (or bring frozen meals that I cooked at home). I made a spreadsheet to account for everything I could possibly anticipate bringing with us on a 10 day boondocking trip, and even with aggressively rounding up my weight estimates I don't come close to the carrying capacity of the EII. I think you run out of storage space (especially for bulky items) long before you run out of weight allowance. Now....I think the struggle would be real with an EI with 2 cyclists on board. Solo, I think would be just fine. Here's a link to my spreadsheet if anyone is interested (and hopefully no one finds a fatal flaw!) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_SI7qJR_-7Uo0rUY2nrS83XIjPciVuvnmP2E-ek4hb4/edit?usp=sharing

Search for fiberglass casting tape. It’s a medical product, but it’s a great repair item to have around. Cut a piece the length you need, wet it, and the impregnated resin will activate. Then just fold it over the edge of what you want covered and it should stick.

Just in case anyone has this problem in the future, I wanted to give an update on the plug-in air freshener smell that permeated every inch of our used Oliver. I finally found a product that actually works to remove it! I tried everything the internet suggested: vinegar, vodka, baking soda and many more. Then I saw a can of ZEP Heavy Duty Foaming Degreaser that's been sitting in my cupboard for years. I decided to give it a try. It's a miracle! The only material that it didn't work on was the window screens including the screens in the door. We will have to replace them. I think it might be because the plug-in was right by the door. Thank heavens the smell came out of the floor! I'm still airing out the liners that were in all the cupboards...need another can of spray. One can was enough to spray ALL surfaces down...I wiped with a Magic Eraser sponge which I believe may have helped remove the "film". Apparently those plug ins have silicone oil in them. Unfortunately, we weren't able to save the cushions...those have to be replaced. I'm going with LEATHER because we have dogs! The spray actually worked on the windows, shades, and frames. (I completely removed them and sprayed them down, let them sit for a few minutes and gently hosed them off). I think the mattresses will be OK...we let them sit out in the sun with baking soda on them for 2 weeks and we are leaving them out to air in the garage over the winter. I'm so relieved to be rid of that AWFUL STENCH!! I'm dumbfounded as to why people think those things smell good??? By the way I'll post a picture of the leather cushions when I get them done. I think they're going to be luscious!

We have the Elite II with all the options you listed except we have the 4-6V AGM batteries (which are heavier than the lithium batteries). We also have a heavy Thule bike rack for our fiberglass bikes. I weighed my Elite II (on a certified truck scale), with all the kitchen pots and pans, silverwear and dishes on board. No clothes or groceries or water were in the tanks. Total Oliver weight = 5760 lbs. I would go for the Elite II for the following reasons: 1. If you like to cook and want to have adequate food storage, you need the pantry and the extra Kitchen cabinet drawers. 2. Room to carry tools for the bike (and the Oliver). 3. If you have a second person traveling with you, the extra room is preferred. 4. If you are tall, the Elite II has more head room.

I don’t think you need to be too concerned with weight even if you get all the options you list. I haven’t weighed our trailer fully loaded but I don’t think we’re anywhere near the upper limit. We load the fridge and freezer with as much as we can stuff in. Our pantry is also packed tight. We travel with a full fresh tank and carry bottled water as well. We carry plenty of clothing, way more than 20lbs. Add in pots, pans, coffee makers etc and we’re still good. We’ve got the big propane tanks, inverter, 6 gallon water heater and more. I wouldn’t let weight concerns cause option elimination. Mike

I can't remember but I think it was on the Oliver Owners Facebook page that someone posted that they used this edge trim from Amazon on the fiberglass edges of the uppder storage compartments. I marked the product on my Amazon save-for-later as I have thought about it. It's black so it would only make sense if you have the black cabinet faces I think. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NL4C97O/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A339EJ58RW9U9H&psc=1 If anybody has done something like this, I'd love to see some photos... 2020 LEII, 2021 Silverado 1500 3.0L Duramax

We have the shower curtain and it protects the door and toilet pretty well. We open the window and run the fan. I tend to get wet turn the water off, lather up and rinse. We don't end up with a lot of water all over. We don't have the shower grate but I think this might be a real nice option. Our preference would have been a dry bath with a separate shower. We have adapted to the wet bath and found the Oliver bath works fine. I am fairly large and am suprised how comfortable I am in the bathroom. I know some other Forum members have come up with their own modifications instead of the factory option for shower curtain. We are fine with the factory option and once the curtain is dry we just tie it up. Good luck with your decision.

I've got nothing for you on days 1 & 2 but for day three you might look into the Rock Springs Sweetwater Events Complex for overnight camping. If interested, call or email them prior to leaving to make sure that the first come first served camping area is available for the night(s) you will be there since sometimes a particular event will take most if not all the spaces. Also, if you like donuts as much as I do - don't miss Cowboy Donuts in Rock Springs. Its easy to get to off the Interstate and there is plenty of easy RV parking there. Bill

The control board for the thermostat is mounted on the AC unit. So when you set thermostat to heat it sends a signal to the control board that is mounted on the AC which then sends a signal to the furnace control board which then initiates the start up of the furnace. The work around I mentioned earlier in this post is a way you can make this work without having to pull more wires.

Thanks! The dimming stickers look interesting & worth a try! We have an Elite with less solar / battery capacity, so phantom current draw is more of an issue than it is for the Elite II's. We replaced the factory USB charging outlets with higher capacity ones with no LED; less phantom current draw and faster charging. We put a rolled up pair of socks in front of the surge protector display in the upper rear attic compartment 🙂 We also added an in-line on/off switch to the TV in between factory power cord and the jack on the TV, which was very bright and in-our-face all night since we sleep "sideways" in the smaller Elite. It kills the light when we're not using the TV, is easy to turn on/off, and eliminates yet another phantom current draw.

Ours came with 15" , st tires. We still run st tires on our 2008. Height with original tall ac was 9",4. Probably very, very close, with no rooftop apperantances, and an 8' door.

Here is a recent review of a new 2022 Tundra Limited 4x4. I was a really a bit surprised at the low mpg’s but will take into account the break in period. I also noted that Andre the driver of this Tundra was not happy with the driver seat bottom comfort @5:42 into the review in the Limited level Tundra model. Also the 1400# payload is just a bit underwhelming if you consider gear and passengers. It will be interesting to see more owner reviews on the new Tundra as they roll out of the dealerships. He starts with that right there! 😂

I have ideas and I’m great at spending other people’s money but my elite II is not being delivered until spring. My practical experience is lacking but I’ve read some of the install reports and a common theme is short running cycles. My thought is the unit should be sized so it runs almost continuously on the hottest days but has enough reserve capacity to quickly bring the temp down. To be honest I’m thinking about taking apart the new unit and remote mounting the temperature sensor if possible. That might take care of the short cycle behavior. Looking at total power draw the short cycling might be advantageous, not sure.

If those things coat the walls and other surfaces I wonder what it does to the human lung….

Yup! This one got me on our first night in Ollie. Sun barely peaked up, and the zamp lights came right on!

Some 80 grit Wet or Dry sandpaper works fine, just be careful not to scratch the nearby shiny gelcoat. I wear gloves when I do it to finish off a cut hole. Those slivers are indeed glass, they are transparent and can be really difficult to see and extract. Ouch! Be sure to vacuum up any debris afterwards. John Davies Spokane WA

Don't know how much you need, how thick your edge is or how visible it is, but, something like THIS might work. Bill

I’ll be interested in how well it cools the Elite II. I’m thinking the same thing. Mike

From casually reading I think you can just use the heat portion of the current thermostat. I’ll be looking to do the same thing in 6 months or so. Current thinking is trying out the 9.5k unit and see how it will cool an elite II.

I'm 6'2" + and used our 2002 Casita 17 without issues until I moved to the Elite II this past spring. The top of my head touched the ceiling carpet, but the reality was that I was rarely standing except when transitioning down the aisle. For a purely weekend/week trip trailer, I don't think it would be an issue. Even with cold weather, you'll either be at the table or sitting/lying on the bed. Guessing showers may not be a big priority for a Fri-Sun trip in the winter, but easy to do sitting down. When we bought our Casita my wife and I were probably 20-30 lbs lighter, I'm 230-240 now, and usually slept wall to wall. Most of my trips in the last few years have been solo, since she still works, and I found sleeping diagonally in the Casita was perfect and gave me a corner backrest for reading. I'd find a Casita Spirit with the bed made up and see how it feels. I really don't think you will regret the ease of use of the Elite 1 given your requirements....now finding/getting one is another story. 😉. The ability to hook-up without a WDH and the maneuverabilty is great. Now, if you could just leave your Elite II at the lake... 😉

Had to laugh when the Tang photo popped up. Years ago, while hiking the John Muir Trail in the Sierra's, we had bears nab the food bags we had hanging from a tree. The only thing the bears did not eat was the Tang and Mountain House freeze dried dinners. Slit the bag the Tang was stored in, tasted it and then set it aside. A bear of taste and refinement!

I agree with the above statement about the difficulty/expense of modifying your current garage. However, since you want a spot that is heated and has water/drain access I’d suggest removing the AC unit and replacing with a vent cover. Keep all the parts so it can easily be converted back. What about suing a steel beam, would that gain any height?

Everything looks fantastic! Enjoy and safe travels. We look forward to joining the adventure in mid-January!

With the looks of what you already have plus what looks to be fairly level ground slope on the exterior - if you have "set back" room it might just be easier (and not that much more money) to construct either a garage addition or an "awning" plus parking pad on the side of the existing structure. But, I'm guessing that you have already considered that option which may be against HOA or local rules. Bill

We wish everyone on the Oliver Forums a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay happy, healthy, and safe travels to all from Hull #837.

32.2 gallons should give our new Tundra a 740 mile range (no reserve) not towing, highway @ 23MPG. Will have to wait for Ollie towing mileage to see what the range will be, hoping for 540 mile range (no reserve) if we can get 17MPG towing, will see. Our fuel economy with the 5.7L Tundra towing Ollie without cruise control on and staying in the truck (slow) lane up & down mountains was 12MPG with top speed around 60MPH. Here's standard fuel tank sizes for 2022 Tundras with the SR5 having optional 32.2 gallon tank. Fuel Capacity 22.5 gal. (SR, SR5) 32.2 gal. Available on SR5, Standard on Limited, Platinum, 1794, TRD Pro

@Boudicca908 The first step of your search should be deciding on a half ton (1500, tundra) or a 3/4 ton (250/2500). The weight difference between a diesel 3/4 and a half ton is probably more than the difference between a half ton and a Miata. They drive/ride differently and with the larger your neighbors will come over and ask where’s the 30ft horse trailer to go with it.

I've read about 100 reviews now, very mixed, and my opinion is this would be a decent device for those on an unlimited Verizon plan (like me), who need coverage in tmobile or att areas, including Europe. If and when we go back to Europe, I "might" consider it, but the device depends on a cell signal. I have Verizon. My husband, tmobile. So, we're pretty much covered, anywhere there is actually signal, and his tmobile works best in Australia, New Zealand, most if Europe, and parts of Canada. We've streamed movies, etc., from his unlimitrd phone as a hotspot in many places in Europe. Mine is often best here in the US. I will say, their daypass for international travel is much less expensive than Verizon. Which doesn't work in many countries, anyway. And, they have a holiday sale going on. Major discounts on gb plans, which don't expire. That's a nice feature, and many reviews say the gb plans actually work better than their unlimited. Thanks for bringing this up. It's interesting.

They started out as a way to provide a hot spot for cell service to those overseas. With Covid 19 limiting foreign travel, they turned to seducing USA users. I've had one of the two we purchased for USA use for more than two years. They are 3G/4G and when it works, it works well. They have had a number of software updates that have improved their hot spot. However, I've have had difficulty with connections in the past. It sometimes reported "no partners" are available in the area when I see others using their cell phones. Lake Powell in AZ was one place and the Navajo Reservation in northern NM was another. In summary, I think it may be a good choice as a backup service as their cell phone plans have become more inexpensive and convenient to use, but it doesn't seem to work where there are only 3rd party providers for the major cell phone providers.

Here's Toyota's Tundra trim, package, standard, options, and specification link for the 2022 Tundra. https://toyota-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2022_Toyota_Tundra_Product_Information_FINAL.pdf Our SR5 that's coming in late December has the "SR5 Convenience Package" that includes the 32.2 gallon tank.

I too am interested in the new Tundra. But, I viewed a Youtube vid this morning (I can't seem to find it right now though) that mentioned a couple of things that are at least of some concern. I don't think that you can get a large gas tank in it. There is no "assist" of any kind for getting in the bed of the truck - neither tailgate steps nor steps around the sides (anywhere). Both GM and Ford have variations of these and while I still have no difficulty getting into the bed, I've found that the tailgate step on my F-150 makes it easier particularly when carrying something. I agree with you that it appears that the upgraded engine is the way to go and I've also heard that these will not be available until mid to late Spring. There doesn't appear to be anything "wrong" with the base v6 but it does seem to be any better (or worse) than either the Ford or GM products. If I can locate the vid I saw this morning I'll come back and post it for you. Bill FOUND IT! Tundra Review

I believe that the article I referenced mentions that only the gassers are being talked about. However, the engine designations are cited in my post. Since I'm not intimate with these GM products I can not tell you for certain that all of them are gasoline engines. If I was considering a GM truck I'd be sure to ask. Good luck! Bill

We use a foldable shower stool. Toilet does not get wet. I wipe down the shower door before getting out, and then squeegee the shower pan. Works well, at least for us. I think I prefer this approach to having a shower curtain bulked up in storage next to the toilet and towel rack, although I haven't really tried the latter.

Ha ha, who would have guessed that personal hygiene information would come up in a trailer forum. I’m thinking that the outside shower would be a good option - no addition to your grey water. Added benefit when 60+ people start taking showers outside that helps guarantee that no one will be setting up close to you when you’re boondocking!

Last century when I was in the Army we used 55 gallon drums cut in half and incinerated the ….”stuff” in burning diesel. Seems like an incinerator toilet might need some kind of smokestack?

I agree with the advantages of lithium over AGMs, but our factory AGM/solar set up served us very well over 5+ years. Anyone who goes that route will be fine in whatever style camping they do. I’m glad I upgraded to lithium but don’t regret the AGM days (especially since it was the top end upgrade at the time!). Mike

Were it me (and it's not), I'd probably opt for the solar pro, and see how it goes. Lithium prices keep dropping. You can always add them later, if you actually need them. Depending on the weather, (cooler temps), you can actually turn your gas fridge off for a few hours, if it's cold and full, and be fine, instead of running the 3way on 12v, if your solar doesn't keep up. We used to run ours on propane, traveling, when we had a 3way. (Unless in areas required by law to turn it off.) A 3way is least efficient in 12v. In our case, in the days when we still had a 3way, 200 watts solar, two 12v agm 105 ah batteries, we couldn't keep up running on 12v.

I don't mind paying a bit more as an out of state camper. Maybe not double (yikes), but many states charge extra, or don't offer senior discounts for out of state campers. I don't get senior discount in Canada, either, nor do I expect to. My fees are the only way I'm supporting that spot I'm occupying. My tax dollars aren't supporting them, since state parks get little or no federal funding. State parks get twice as many visitors as National Parks. A lot of states have cut back funding from general taxes, and the only way they can pay their way is through fees. Frankly, it's always been really hard for a Florida resident to get a weekend site in the popular parks in the winter. They're booked way ahead by Northern visitors. Our camper sits through most winters. I wish our parks would charge a bit more for out of state plates, too.

Ouch indeed. As a contrast, the COE campsites (actually run by the National Park Service) along Lake Roosevelt WA are $11.50 off season. And the parks Geezer Pass halves that. And they are beautiful and numerous, though there are no hookups at all. So your $48 gets you eight nights. John Davies Spokane WA .

I posted initially because I like to do my due diligence. I try to identify as many potential issues as possible before committing to an action. In this case the question was: Are we foolish to drop a large amount of cash on a purchase we might not be able to fully enjoy? The feedback here has been helpful. In reality there were 2 questions that needed answering. 1. Do we want to keep camping, even if current conditions continue? The answer to that is yes. Even in the past year we were able to enjoy our current rig. We are looking forward to more camping after retirement. 2. Will the Oliver increase camping enjoyment, even if current conditions prevail? I believe the answer to that is also yes. Compared to our current fifth wheel, we will have more choices with our Oliver: more sites it will fit in, longer camping season, easier to haul long distances. Those things are even more important with the new influx of campers. Last night, just for fun (research?), I was putting random camping dates into the Disney World reservation system. (I figured Disney would be a good model for a hard-to-reserve camping destination.) What I found was multiple dates in 2022 where the only available sites were for campers under 25'. Tried the same thing with some state parks and got the same result. Bottom line, the Oliver will almost certainly get us to places we couldn't reserve with our current rig. And the solar package stretches that even further by opening up easier boondocking. Sure, we'll miss the good old days when things were easier, but the Ollie is still our best bet going forward. Where there's a will, there's a way.

LOL, this isn't really a mod, but I wanted to post this somewhere. It never occurred to me to see if my Cabelas recliner would fit inside the cabin. It measures 24 inches at its widest point, so I gave it a try. It blocks the beds but the rest of the interior is still fairly accessible. It will make a great place for me to hang out on a cold dreary day if I am by myself. There are no other choices that don't force you to be bolt upright or flat on your back. It obviously will not be good with more than one body inside Mouse. Has anyone else tried this? John Davies Spokane WA

I have not posted in a while. My Oliver family has had me very busy in the shop. We are getting ready to go camping and then head to Greece for a 10-day vacation. I will be suspending my crafting for the month of August and will start back up the first week in September. I plan to ship all orders through August in the next week. New orders will begin shipping in mid-September. Below is my current challenge, a 35” x 22” x 1.4” Lagun tabletop in black walnut. While this sounds simple, the challenge is in the weight. Lagun Table Systems have a maximum weight of 50 pounds. It includes the top and any items you are going to place on it. My target weight of 15 pounds for the finished top leaves 35 pounds for day-to-day use. The walnut blank I started with 35” x 22” x 1.4” thick weighed in at 29 pounds. I decided to back cut the bottom in three sections down to ¾” thick, with 1” wide edges and two cross supports. It came in at 15.2 lbs. Beautiful to look at, light as can be, and engineered to be strong for a lifetime of use.

Just finished Winterizing and have the composting toilet. Fearing the geyser of water then pink stuff all over the bathroom and myself when purging the small toilet line, I went to Ace and bought a sink line ($10) and cut the top from one of the empty antifreeze bottles. Worked fine for mess-free winterization of the toilet line behind the Natures Head. Maybe three drops of pink stuff to wipe-up.

@John & Nancy We've used a variety of methods for attaching things to the walls--suction cups, vhb tape, industrial velcro, command strips, and mechanical fasteners. I hung the towel holder on the underside of the cabinet for a few months with industrial velcro. After I was sure I liked it there, Paul lifted the mat on the bottom if the cabinet, drilled through, and fastened with small stainless bolts, washer, and nuts. Been there for over a decade now. The organizer baskets on the backslash walls are held with strong suction cups. The sink is ready for travel, holding tea kettle, coffee urn, and towel. You can see the edge of the towel holder to the right of the sink.

We were going to do this but the chair kept falling into the hot tub. <grin, sorry>

We carry our computers in the truck with us when we travel. I have melmac dinnerware, and use unbreakable wine glasses and tumblers. The Strahl stemless wine glasses are great for the trailer and the patio. Made in New Zealand, have had ours for five or six years, and they travel very well. Still look new. The real key, as you found out in your previous stickie, is to pack things so they cant move around. In our Ollie, I use fabric Skubb boxes from IKEA, and a few old tupperware pieces, to contain smaller items in the upper cabinets. I carry heavy items low. My one skillet and one pot go in the tall drawer, along with lid, cutting board, foil, and a few other items. They nest tight and stay put. I keep my melmac dinnerware in suction cup trays designed for bathrooms, affixed to the back of the "kitchen'" area. Mine were from Target. They work great. I also use paper plates a lot, but for wood-fired steaks, i like real plates. Top drawer, with insert, holds cutlery, knives, flashlight, odds n ends. I use the bottom drawer for canned goods. I like to keep weight low, and lighter weight stuff up higher. I use a couple bins under the bed for storing clothes and extra gear. Our large dinette stays set up as a bed all the time. Since we don't often have power, I have a tea kettle and an old coffee carafe, and a pourover Mellita coffee maker that makes wonderful coffee. They ride in the sink when we travel. I use a Sterilite small dishpan in the sink, and that protects the sink from scratches, and keeps me aware of how much water I've used to do dishes, as well. You'll figure it all out as you go along. Keeping a system and knowing where everything is takes awhile, and then it all gets easy. Setting up and breaking camp is just minutes with our Oliver. I truly hope you enjoy your travels with your Oliver as much as we have enjoyed ours. We've seen places we'd never have gone with a larger trailer or motorhome. Tows great, parks easily, and we love it. Sherry

I can speak from personal experience: The Clam does break down as easily as shown in the video - absolutely no problem - really slick. However, I do not believe that it sets up as easily as shown in the video. Disclaimer - I've have only set mine up six times so far. Basically one has to pull out on the center hub while holding the top and the bottom of the screen room down. It takes a bit of force to pull the hub out and a bit of "wing span" and/or dexterity to hold the top and bottom all at the same time. Once everything falls into place - you grab it properly and pull it properly, you can feel the fiberglass poles starting to bend outwards. At that point it is a snap (so to speak). I'm guessing that it gets easier the more times you do it. Also, at least on the tourist model, popping up the roof is interesting unless you have the shelter already staked to the ground. Think about it - as you push up on the center hub of the roof what holds the sides down? OK, so simply grab one of the sides and push up? That takes some rather long arms. In any case, the setup is certainly no more difficult than wrestling with poles and canvas of a regular shelter. Bill

Linda, You're gonna LOVE your Ollie. December pickup...what a great Christmas present. After 7+ years and 99,000 miles of wonderful wondering in my Ollie, I've "graduated" to nice paper plates. For me, it's all about relaxing, not washing dishes. (also saves water while boon docking) Initially, I had the full Correlle thing going and duplicated just about every kitchen gadget I have in my home. (My wife was a gourmet cook and we enjoyed creativity in the kitchen. I thought I'd replicate that on the road...HA...That lasted about a year) Now I travel with two crockpots, a rice cooker, and four different sized/types of pans. I also take an induction cooktop stove and a portable oven by NuWave. (They work just like the infomercial says) Another way to ease cleanup when using one of my two crockpots is to use a crockpot liner. (Who even knew those things existed?) Simply put leftovers in a storage container and toss the liner out. I keep a nice set of knives attached to a strong, faux-wood magnetic holder (from Williams - Sonoma) which is attached to the galley wall with industrial strength two sided tape. They ride there on the wall and do not fall off during travel. Plastic glasses, but a nice ceramic coffee mug. I use a utensil organizer in one of the drawers, but no cubbyhole containers in the overhead storage. I do have a "system" of where I put things so they are always within a few inches of where they were originally placed. (Jumbled perhaps, but findable) I keep a white plastic dishpan in the sink which is where my Britta filter pitcher and Keurig coffer maker ride down the road. Any precious items such as computers or instruments ride safely on the bed for travel and they go to the front dinette seat at nighttime. Have fun figuring out your plan. Expect it to morph into something different as your lifestyle on the road becomes more clearly defined. Pete