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BLUF: This post has two parts. First, below is a brief summary as to how I became interested in the Nova Kool R5810 as a replacement for our Dometic. The attachment is an installation guide that may serve other OTT LE2 owners as a good starting point should they choose the Nova Kool unit as a DYI upgrade. After reviewing John Davies Dometic “demo” post, I decided I ought to start getting my head around the options to upgrade our Dometic RM2454. My list of requirements for an upgraded refrigerator are: · It must fit into the existing cabinet. · Does not use an absorption design · Has at least the same freezer size as our existing Dometic RM 5424 (11 Liters) · Has more total cooled space than the Dometic’s 4.0 cuft · Will pass through the OE2 entry without full disassembly · Uses the Danfos/Secop vapor-compression compressor for great efficiency NOTE: If you are not familiar with the Danfos/Secop compressors, here are a worthwhile video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl5IWkGSfJY&t=7s Specifications for our OEM Dometic and two proven replacements are as follows: Model DOMETIC ISOTHERM NOVA KOOL RM2454 CRX1140 R5810 Refrigeration technology Absorption Secop Comp. Secop Comp. US Cubic Feet 4.0 Cu Ft 4.8 Cu Ft 5.8 Cu Ft Freezer (Liters) 11.4 L = .4 Cu Ft. 6.0 L = .21 Cu Ft 11.4 L = .4 Cu Ft. Input frequency 50/60 Hz 50/60 Hz Input voltage (AC) 100-240 V 100-240 V Input voltage (DC) 12/120 V 12/24 V 12/24 V Rated input power 65 W 52 W Both the ISOTHERM and NOVA KOOL are huge improvement over the Dometic. But for our Ollie, we need the freezer space that the Nova unit provides. Having an extra cubic foot of refrigerator space and meeting all of the above requirements…. made the decision easy for us. If you are not familiar with the Nova Kool R5810, here is a review: https://www.campervan-hq.com/blogs/gear-update/campervan-hq-gear-update-nova-kool-refrigerators Next was how to install the Nova Kool. I ran across Ken’s (Mountainoliver) post about his 2019 installation of a Nova Kool R5810. Our forum, then PM’s, lead to conversations that were off the charts beneficial. Ken sent many pictures and our communications filled in the holes. The attached “Nova Kool R5810 Installation” document is based upon and uses info from: · John E. Davies thread “Compressor Fridge Info Thread, for those of us considering switching” posted May 11, 2018 in Ollie Modifications. · Randy’s (Try2Relax) 22 JUNE 2018 follow-up post · Ken’s (MountainOliver) 23 SEPT 2019 follow-up to Randy’s Post and much non-posted documentation Combining their exceptional craftmanship (Far beyond my skills), and a few technical Mechanical Engineering mods, Ken and I believe the attached plan may serve other owners as a good starting point should they choose the Nova Kool unit as a DYI upgrade. Ken and I encourage your thoughts and suggestions for further refinement. GJ Nova Kool R5810 Installation Guide.pdf

As most have figured out we're calling ours Ollie-Haus. A little conjunction playing on our last name. We do this a lot. Our home is referred to as Arrowhead-Haus. We live at Arrowhead golf course north of Greenfield Indiana. Our garden shed is labeled The Green-Haus. We grow bedding plants in there in the early spring, and it has green siding. The garage is The Carriage-Haus, cause what else would we call it. 😜

We call ours “the trailer” or “the camper”. We’re so creative…. Mike

While researching Harvest Host locations to stop enroute from Redding, CA to Salmon Creek, WA, I had the rare experience of seeing an Ollie that had stopped at Saginaw Vineyard in Cottage Grove, OR. Ollies are seldom seen in the Pacific Northwest, as they are a long way from their birthplace, but they do have an amazing ability to migrate.

So excited to join the Oliver family. We have been looking for awhile and found Hull 464! Loving it so far. Have you all named your Olivers? We are trying to come up with an original name but we are stumped!

Fabricated a set of rock guards this weekend in anticipation of delivery day. Thanks @Patriot for the idea.

Thanks, Martin - nice looking rig, brother! Here's our new rig after just getting it over the weekend:

Excellent procedural write up! I had forgotten Ken’s Nova Kool installation posting. Thank you both for sharing you experiences. And the thermal switch you are thinking about was part of my refrigerator fan replacement project and has been in service for over 2 years. It’s a winner! Mossey

Thanks! The Tundra matches up nice with the LE II so far... The gray/black tanks were empty & fresh water tank was about 70% on our way back from collecting the rig last weekend. Fairly brutal crosswinds all the way back home about 175 miles, but it pulled fine! Minimal sway (if any) with the Anderson. It'll be interesting to measure the tongue & axle weitghts after its loaded for our next trip.

No name for the LE II, yet - but Diane will come up with something cute I'm certain...

I don't normally name vehicles, campers, motorcycles, etc. But - one morning prior to taking delivery my wife and I were sitting at the breakfast table and she said that I have to name the Oliver. I said "why" and she (three times in a row) said "because". Well, after that third time My "husband alarm bells went off" and I (finally) realized that she was actually trying to tell me something - "duh". So, I said, "OK, what should I name it". She replied, "Twist". Well, it took me about 30 seconds of sitting there with a more than usual dumb look on my face before I figured it out.

When we were given our Hull #461, the name “Ocean Boulevard” immediately came to mind. Haven’t gotten around to putting a palm tree decal on the trailer yet though. And I don’t want to call the trailer “Eric” 😂.

Tom is not a fan of naming anything either, but I am calling her "Olive." Partly due to the Oliver connection of course, and partly because I am a big fan of the author Elizabeth Strout and she has two "Olive" books - "Olive Kitteridge" and "Olive, Again." As an avid reader, that sealed the deal for "Olive," for me anyway. I'm quite sure Tom has performed an eye roll or two when I use it, but so far he's been very discreet about it. 😀 Unfortunately, OTT doesn't allow customization of the back sign any longer or we would have put our hull number there. Instead, we ordered a special license plate - "EGG - 1321" and are looking forward to receiving it soon. Happy trails everyone!

Good work on this GJ and Ken! This will be a great resource for many. Mike

Hello. I will work a few more years to finish paying everything off again, or at least way down, and then once I am ready to, I will again hit the road full time in my LE ll. I actually loved driving my bus but it was definitely stressful going over passes, etc. I do have one dog.

Sounds like you have a good plan to reach your new goals. Hard work and saving money always will pay off in the long run in life. Good luck! Definitely paint that trailer white and use a sharpie for the Oliver name.

Just a bit of a fun and perhaps motivational story. In 2017, I was going through an incredibly difficult divorce from a man I had only been married to for two years. Turned out that he had some very mean and troublesome issues. I found myself in a very broken state; sad, defeated, embarrassed. So, what did I do? I set my mind to save for a school bus, that I would convert into my home. While in the "saving the cash" phase, I bought a toy school bus that sat on my desk, for a constant reminder as to why I was working so hard. I bought that bus. I converted that bus. I lived in that bus for 3.5 years. I am back in a house for now. That bus? That bus will be sold soon and will be the down payment for my new dream; an Oliver! 🙂 So, I had to buy a new toy. It's definitely not an exact replica, but it is working just fine! Tentative plan is to buy the truck in April and pull the trigger on my Ollie order between June and September. I learned in my school bus journey that best laid plans don't always work out but dreams DO come true when you just don't give up!

Thanks for all the input, I decided to go with the Proven.

Good call, will do. Thanks.

That would work. Looks great, nice job!

I have a little bit of that diamond plate left, so if needed I can cut a strip 2-3" wide for the bottom of the flap. Also if it really comes down to it I could get some wider rubber flaps and make my top stiffener a few inches wider. We'll test it out and go from there.

@Ollie-Haus Awesome job Chris! They look great and will certainly reduce the road missiles and road rash from hitting the front of your Ollie. You may or may not need to add an anti sail plate like I did. Total 💯👍🏻👍🏻.

Thanks. Actually, its funny watching peoples faces while they think about it. This is especially so for English teachers. Bill

I'm sure that some of you already know, but, Airstream did (at one time) make fiberglass (laminated) campers. These pictures are of a 1992 model that is currently owned by a couple that are interested in moving up to an Oliver. Interestingly, while this Airstream has laminated fiberglass sides, the roof is aluminum. Bill

Congrats and welcome to the Oliver family! We most often call ours Ollie, but have call it numerous names, Olive, The Camper, Olly Oop, Muhammad “Ollie”.🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Well... "Ollie" works for us (and I'm sure for many others 😁) Charlie

Thanks to all for the "hearty welcome" to the Oliver family. We look forward to meeting y'all on the road... PLEASE NOTE CORRECTION: Our hull number is #226 not my typo-ed "#225" posted earlier. Anyhow, we collected our rig on Saturday in Roswell, NM... It was just all so "Alien" to me, ha! It's a perfect rig for us - Magnus, in particular, loves it (WOOF!). Even in moderate to high crosswind conditions, it towed fantastically with the Anderson WDH behind the Tundra for the 175-mile run back home yesterday afternoon. Here's what our "new-to-us" #226 looks like:

Well the excitement is beginning to build. I've been accumulating all the sundry useful items a few folks have shared for life in our Ollie. I know we want to keep it simple and light, but there are certain necessities that make setting up, function and safety easy to achieve and just make life comfortable. The best news is we were talking about this being the week for production to begin on Hull 1373, and just a couple hours later Josh White sent the email notifying us of production start. Woohoo!

@Rene, what's your goal? Keep the house, and travel, or sell the house and full time? Good luck in your decision. An Oliver rig will definitely be easier to drive than a schoolie, but even an Elite II will be smaller.. That said, we often live five or six months, in the smaller Elite I. Do you have pet(s)? Welcome aboard.

Adding Tundra gears (4.30 ratio) will really wake up an LC200. That would be my choice if I were willing to spend $4K to do it. At this point in my life, I am not... John Davies Spokane WA

Your story is inspiring and I hope your drive and focus is contagious for folks that need help finding a way to fulfill their dreams. Can't wait to read about your delivery day. Looking forward to your progress reports between now and then. 👏👏👏

I actually looked for one of the 3D Ollies however the cheapest I found was for $30! This was $5. LOL! I might paint it white. 🙂

I bought a cheap 2"hitch ball, cut off the shaft and secure it in the coupler mouth with a collar and abus lock. When underway, the collar and abus lock remain in place to lock the coupler to the hitch.

2021 LE2 .... Some pics of my Dometic.......recently uninstalled. Maybe this helps. In the pics you will see there are two layers of foam gasket plus the butyl tape that seals the AC to the roof. The tube penetrates the foam gasket attached directly to the AC. The penetrations are sealed with not butyl tape but something that feels like expandable foam....not sticky at all. When my LE2 was new the AC leaked condensate into the trailer. A repairman determined it was leaking at the "T" connection because of a miss applied clamp. It took him <30 minute to repair. Oliver paid for the repair. Let me know if you need more pics. (this unit is for sale) Steve