Leaderboard

Tire pressures will go up as the tires heat up, be it from ambient temperatures or just from running down the road. Ten percent would be a reasonable expectation. I do think you’re on a correct track lowering the pressure. Depending on several variables, 50-60psi should be your range for a late model LE. The vintage early LE’s were somewhat lighter than the ones coming off the line today. Weighing the trailer when it’s full of fresh water and all camp supplies that would normally be on board is a good way the get an accurate weight to base your tire pressures on.

@Mike and Carol, wish I could see one in person. Thanks for the info. I have a reservation for one, as many here know, but I'm probably 250, 000 tp 300, 000 down the list. Rumor has it that Tesla will be asking for a stronger financial commitment in the near future,and I'm not ready for that til I see one. If it's way bigger than an f150, it won't fit in my garage slot, and I'll stay with my smaller 2005 Silverado for some years more. (I'm not fond of driving huge trucks, anymore, anyway. Did that, and done.Drove big box trucks with my dad, when i was young,,and towed a lot of big trailers. ) My truck is mostly local driving, rarely leaves the four county area. We don't need it for towing, but we don't typically buy anything that can't at least tow our elite locally. We have two trucks, and an ev, so no worries, there. For a little bit more info on the unusual "planar" design, note that the cybertruck uses a special, proprietary alloy. Makes it "bulletproof," and probably impervious to door dings and shopping cart dingss in parking lots, as well. 😄 But,,what about repair costs if in an accident? IDK. Our tesla hasn't cost us anything but tires, and a replacement 12v accessory battery, in the time we've owned it. Great vehicle for commuting/around town_shorter trips. We charge on solar at home, and free charging at superchargers. Longest trip has probably been 700 miles each way. Long trips require more stops, which my knees and back (and our dog) like, but time is surely a factor. If we take the Teala on a trip, wr add 25 to 30 per cent more time. PS most new Tesla stations have added a station or two to accommodate towing a trailer. Older stations, not. https://www.worldautosteel.org/why-steel/steel-muscle-in-new-vehicles/tesla-cybertruck/

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!! My wish for the new year is safe travels for all and many camping trips this coming year. Looking forward to catching up with friends and making new ones this coming year!

“Towing with electric vehicles is a fraught conversation even though only a minority of Americans actually use their vehicles for towing on any regular basis. Regardless, it has become a goalpost for EV acceptance in the market for some people. By now, it shouldn't be news that towing with an EV reduces range, just as it does when towing with a combustion-powered vehicle. It shouldn't surprise you, then, that our new Tesla Model Y doesn't go very far when towing a trailer.” 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range Yearlong Review: How Far Can You Tow With a Tesla? Nothing earth shattering in the article, but they do provide some interesting range figures. John Davies Spokane WA

Deb and I will be heading to Florida for the Eggs 'n S'mores Rally at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park near Live Oak January 11-15. I know that a handful of other Olivers will be in attendance, as well. Stop in and see us in "Curiosity" on site #95 on the inner loop!

Well I for one am glad the thread was updated! I'm new to towing, with my new-to-me low-milage 2021 LE l, and just inflated my OEM tires to the sticker pressure (80lbs). After some short trips (4K miles of towing), I got a Tireminder and noticed my tires going up about 10% in pressure while towing. Seemed high to me, so I decided to double check and ran into this and a couple other threads. I'm now running them at 60lbs. It feels much smoother! Thanks for bumping the thread forward! Geoff

While EVs may be coming and ICE engines going, it cannot be accomplished on an arbitrary date. Population density and relatively shorter distances in the northeastern corridor of the nation are not the same conditions as west of the Mississippi. A reliable and well spaced charging station infrastructure must exist before mandating the end of ICE vehicles. And then, we will need a reliable 24hr energy infrastructure, capable of supplying the enormous amount of energy to replace all of the BTUs found in the gasoline and diesel in all the vehicles plying our nations's roads. We do not live in ' Fifteen Minute Cities'. We hit the roads and explore . . .

The 12VDC winter filter is all that came with our Ollie. I’ll order the other so we can decalcify the unit.

Our Elite weighs in , ready to camp, at 3960 pounds. About 400 on the tongue. We've had three sets of st tires,all of which we've replaced as "timed out" Duros,maxxis, which we loved, now, a regional brand, recommended by our local tire guy. We run 55 to 60 cold. Could run lower, but we have no issues with earthquake shaking the interior,,and a little higher pressure than necessary eliminates, in our minds,,some tire roll. We buy high speed rated st tires, as we don't love the slow lane, if we MUST drive the interstate,

I think you are right on this Steve. I am going to go with 55psi.

@Coddiwomple From the way I'm understanding this chart (I may be off whack), that particular size ST at 45psi would support 2020 pounds for a total trailer weight of 4040 pounds. A fully loaded Elite ready to camp, I suspect would weigh close to 4500+ pounds. I believe, if that is your true weight, it would be better to go up to 55psi. To carry your GVWR, you do need to be at 65psi.

We have a 2023 Elite 1 with Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R15 tires. We were told to inflate to 65psi. I just found the load chart and it indicates that we should be inflating to about 45psi if I am reading it correctly. I am assuming the weight listed in the chart is per tire (so half the total weight). On the scale, the trailer weighs just under 4,000 lbs loaded. I uploaded a snippet of the load chart. Can someone confirm this?

Merry Christmas to All in the Oliver Family... May 2024 bring in Peace, Happiness, and Prosperity to us all Cheers! A & D

Awesome. Merry Christmas

The reason I posted this is because a lot of us like to discuss new technology. There’s no suggestion that this would apply to the construction of an Oliver, it’s about a potential tow vehicle. I have no personal experience in working with steel or stainless steel as you do, I’m just going by the Tesla information that their truck panels are a special alloy that can’t be handled like normal SS. Mike

We do not have the anti-freeze kit. probably should have it, based upon our location... Does the screen on the De-Cal tube just keep the De-Cal tabs in place and ensures the particles from there are smaller than the mesh. Does outside water pass thru it on the way to the WH? Or is the only filter for the WH, the one in-line at the water pump?

Do you only have the plug in 12volt anti-freeze heater kit option installed instead of the standard filter? If so, then yes you will need a standard filter to do the de-calcification process. They are available on Amazon from Truma, but pricey! And check in the Truma compartment thoroughly by opening the outside Truma access door. Some owners (and Oliver service folks) tuck the standard filter into the Truma unit in the area of the wiring harnesses. It just fits in there for storage but can be well hidden. Truma AquaGo Replacement Filter | Compatible with Truma AquaGo Hot Water Heater https://a.co/d/3KBZRdb

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year! Enjoy the Oliver video! Mr and Mrs Patriot🇺🇸🎅🏻🧑🏻‍🎄

Not advice 😄 I just never use compressed air. When we recently winterized, it took my wife and I maybe 20 minutes really taking our time. I think Oliver puts their winterization instructions in place to ensure that it’s easier for folks who might not own an air compressor and may not clearly understand that ALL water must be removed from the system lines or diluted with antifreeze. Side note: Tightening the white compression fittings is a regular inspection point for me. If one of those compression fittings is slightly loose, compressed air likely won’t get the rest of the plumbing clear of water. We don’t get long deep freezes here in Western NC, the land of long summers and short winters and I still use AF. All this said, I would never know that I have cleared every bit of water from my lines, so being risk adverse, I choose to use RV safe antifreeze and sleep really well. Surely others will chime in, and if compressed air works, I say go for it! Patriot🇺🇸

ICE engines will fade from vehicles, but hopefully ground based ICE generators will expand in rural areas to support grid-independent DC fast charging facilities. Using technology available today, these hybrid renewable EV fueling complexes can be built with a combination of on-site solar and/or wind power, some flow battery storage, and ICE generators with on-site fuel storage. The ICE generators would burn locally produced renewable diesel (not biodiesel) made with agricultural or forest biomass. All at lower cost than today’s grid-connected fast chargers that rely on expensive, increasingly unreliable grid supplied energy. And unlike every charging station in place today, these chargers would continue to work when the grid goes down. Rural economies would be the big winners.

Yes to all the above by @Frank C We have both filters. The above filter for decalcification summer use, and the other (optional) anti freeze 12v filter for winter travel. @Wandering Sagebrush Is it possible the previous owners may not have purchased the optional winter travel filter? We are really spoiled having the Truma on demand endless hot water, especially when using full hook ups and when it comes time for winterizing.

I went down the same path, had brackets like this on my Amazon Wishlist! Also thought of 'Z' brackets and other removeable options. The folding option was not going to work for us because we just purchased 12" tall mattresses from Brooklyn Bedding (a Phoenix AZ company, see rvmattress.com) and with the taller mattress the shelf would not fold down 90 degrees. Then when I found this great steel shelf the magnets seemed the way to go. Wish they had a 30" shelf, to hover over the 30" wide mattress, but choices were 24" or 36". Thought for a day or two of buying the 36" length and cutting it down to 30" but I would have had to get a machine shop to cut this steel exactly square so that it would look right. My advice, choose your shelf first and then select the mounting. Yes, VHB either way and purchase 3M 4950 VHB. I had another 3M VHB, black in color and thinner. I used it to mount the aluminum bar to the shelf, but it is not as strong, so I did not believe it would support the shelf. I wish I could post a video of me taking this shelf on and off. When the magnets grab, it loudly clicks into position, and you can feel how strong the mount is. If I was to do this again, with the same parts, perhaps 5 magnets vs. 6 would be the perfect recipe.

That's good enough reason and we all enjoy frequenting here for many reasons. Thanks Mike! ☺️ Some of my writing can be merely for exclamation, e.g. "Why are we talking about this here?" Didn't mean it literally, so please take no offense! This has been a fun post, even for us EV detractors! I've mainly seen stainless steel fab'd in the restaurant industry, where they curve the counter ends using a press and bend/shape SS panels to make exhaust hoods, etc. I didn't watch the video either and these fenders must be more than SS, as most stainless is relatively soft, and not at all "bullet-proof." You got me thinking of the DeLorean, after I posted that picture. I ended up watching some of Back to the Future which I had not seen in 30 years! 🤣

Merry Christmas everyone! Hoping for a New Year full of travel and camping for everyone! Nice bottle of Amber Falls wine in the video, they are a HH if you want to do serious tasting then just walk back to your Oliver! Mike

Agree 100%, very tough stuff! With the $16k "range extender" best case scenario towing range of 230 miles - not bad if there's chargers available. But out west...? The question is can it charge while towing with RV solar packages...?

Lucy, you got some splainin’ to do.😂

So, as Jimmy Buffett asked, "Is it ignorance or apathy?"

Unfortunately - probably not.😉

Rear-wheel steering on a 3/4 ton pickup would be really nice to have, though!

I went back toy charger and it is the regular USB, which will plug in just fine. This must have been a brain fart on my part. Not sure how I was thinking there was a "C" end.🙃

Our trailer has USB A ports. The oval end means you have a USB C cord. USB A to C adapters are available on Amazon and other places so you should be good. Mike

Pete, it is just two doors down from us, on the corner of Keeneland and Delta Dawn. It drove by yesterday and then we saw it on our walk parked in the driveway later in the day. Mike

I went onto the website and watched the video. It was generic but very well done. Anyone who's spent as much time in remote wilderness places as we have know how to build and tend a fire. But it's a good lesson for anyone who wasn't in the Boy or Girl Scouts. I went on and applied for the California Permit. We visit California every year while we are in Quartzsite, but I'm about as likely to build a fire as I am to try to pet a rattlesnake. We really don't like fires mainly because they stink and most campers don't have a clue how to tend one to keep it from being smokey. On a winter's night in the desert it's the perfect time and place for a good ole propane fire-pit in the clam.

Given that yours is a 22 i dont think itd be too much of an issue, i believe the only venting that is used comes out the top and bottom on the front facia of the convection microwave on mine. just check with oliver they can probably even sell you everything needed to do it. I love mine and use the oven function quite regularly moreso than the microwave. if it ever gives out i may even try and forgoe the microwave alltogether and find a propane oven or just a toaster oven.

@Heather and Eric We have the convection microwave and absolutely love it. We upgraded to the convection microwave when we placed our original OLEll order, And I can tell you it really works great with zero issues regarding high oven heat. There is nothing like a roasted chicken with sides on a rainy cold night. Or the ability to heat up homemade chili or bake a lasagna while traveling. On our recent 6000 mile trip out west we used our convection/microwave a lot and we’re sooooo glad to have it. It’s hard to imagine not having a way to enjoy hot food. You can’t always rely on a campfire or grilling if there is a fire ban or it’s raining or high winds. We also carry a Weber Q1200 and it gets a lot of use as well. A quick call to Oliver will likely provide the answer you’re looking for. I would bet the conversion is not that difficult especially since your Ollie is a 2022 model. Please post up what you learn. 👍🏻😊 Happy Camping and Happy Cooking! 👨🏼‍🍳 Patriot🇺🇸

Gotta love this comment, "once!" I never thought the microwave/convection oven was such a great idea. At home we love our Emeril Air-Fryer. Couple years ago, his small model was on sale for $100 (now $200) and I bought two at the time (it measures 19x15x10"). We keep it under the front dinette seat where it fits nicely. In fact, there's enough room down there for a small pressure cooker and Chris' blow dryer too! I have a rubber mat under it and a short appliance extension cord so we can run it anywhere, inside or outside. At 1500W it can also run off the inverter when our batteries are good. merileveryday.com/shop/air_fryer_ovens/emeril_lagasse_power_airfryer_360

Our 2008 originally had a small convection microwave, with a round marine vent on each side of the cabinet. Since we rarely camp with power, it was pretty much a bread box. When it finally died, we converted the microwave cabinet space to a little "pantry." Do you actually use your microwave much? If not, you might be better off with a cabinet, and carry a small but effective toaster oven or air fryer that you could pull out and use on the counter. (A number of folks here have a small Breville. )

One of the concerns about installing a microwave / convection oven is the ability to allow any extra heat between the hulls to dissipate. Many hulls did not come with adequate vent holes in the cabinet walls to enable the heat to escape. While the oven does vent heat out of the front, there is a concern about any extra heat trapped between the hulls. Fortunately, The Wonder Egg - Hull #14, has extra vents in the side walls behind the oven, so I have gone to the micro/conv. option. The unit is deeper than the oven it replaced, so a plenum was added to accommodate the extra depth, resulting in a minor loss of space on the "chopping block" in front. It cooked a fine, crispy chicken once. Woohooo! Should you go with that option and your trailer does not have cross ventilation behind the oven, you may consider adding some before making that modification. How many, and how large, is up to you. I would think the more, the merrier.

This mod might be a bit problematical. For a number of years, owners of Ollies requested convection microwaves. Unfortunately, the reason that I was given was that the area where the microwave is located simply didn't allow for the additional heat that a convection oven would generate. I have no idea of what may have been changed such that we finally got this choice of oven - that change could have been structural and/or regulatory. In any case, if you are considering this change, I'd recommend that you make absolutely sure that it is safe before you do it. A discussion with Oliver Service just might yield valuable information in this regard. Good luck! Bill

On I-10 in AZ and NM they post what to do in a dust storm, same as above.

I am of the persuasion one can never have enough tow vehicle, (within reason) so with that in mind and as others have suggested I would not use an Ascent to tow the Elite 1. I like Subarus just not for towing. Trucks or heavier duty SUV would be a far better choice. Hope this helps.

You need to understand that the tow ratings are for ideal situations, low, flat and no wind, and that as you go up in altitude the rating decreases, typically a 20% decrease by the time you reach 10,000 feet.. This is why you need to buy more truck than you think you need. https://thebossmagazine.com/impact-of-weather-terrain-towing-performance/amp/ My Land Cruiser has a big V8 and it is just barely OK for the big trailer in the mountainous West. It would be perfect for an LE1! John Davies Spokane WA

If a Chevy Express does have a 10,000 pound tow rating it might be a good choice. That would probably be the cargo version. I think the passenger versions have much have much lower tow ratings, which is too bad. Years ago, we towed a trailer roughly LE2 size/weight cross country with a Ford E350 passenger van with the V10 engine. It was a great travel vehicle: tons of power, lots of interior cargo space, and captains chairs for all of us. Only got rid of it when we went to a fifth wheel. Wasn't there an Ollie owner on the forum towing with a full-size cargo van?