Leaderboard

We are cruising out of Jacksonville. This past January, we made arrangements with Retro Reno there in Jacksonville to work with CGI as a spot to do our ceramic coating and they'd told us to stop in if we passed that way again. So we contacted them late this summer to see if we could rent a spot. Since we were last there, they've become Escape and Casita dealers, and built a new shop, so I was concerned that they might not have room. Daniel called me, looked at their schedule, and said they would have room for us. He also offered to have us camp there the night before departure, and he will drive us to and from the ship port to avoid parking at the dock. All at a price I was comfortable with, and only a bit more than the RV/oversized spots at the port. I was dreading leaving the trailer at the port with the e-bikes on the back and valuables inside! So this was a huge relief for us.

State parks are primarily supported by state taxes. I have no problem paying extra to camp in state parks outside my state. Prime camping season in my state is winter. Out of states book it up, routinely. Makes it harder for families to book sites in season. I totally support additional fees for out of state. I've never complained in the states that charge me extra. I get it.

We’ve had our Clam for a number of years and don’t use it in warm/hot weather. The screen is so fine that it blocks any breeze. We do use it in the winter and during cool and cold weather. When it’s really cold we attach the sides and the propane fire pit in the middle keeps things toasty. Mike

Part of the challenge is many fire departments are not equipped or lack specialized training to deal with the hazmat of lithium super hot battery fires. 🔥 It also poses a great question, will EV owners eventually pay a higher insurance premium to park and charge their cars and trucks or in this case an RV in their home garage or on their property? Insurance companies are always looking for a reason or excuse to raise rates. If I were a betting man I say the carriers will raise their rates. Oh those unintended and consequences. 😏 Interesting times. Open Source info… Yes, lithium battery fires are very difficult to extinguish and require specialized tools: Thermal runaway: Lithium batteries can overheat and cause other cells to overheat, which can lead to repeated flare-ups. Reactive materials: Lithium batteries contain reactive materials that make traditional extinguishers ineffective. High temperatures: Lithium batteries burn hotter and faster than other fires. Exploding: Lithium batteries can explode, sending sharp metal shards flying. Toxic fumes: Lithium batteries emit toxic fumes.

Deb and I are trying wintering in Florida this year for a few weeks. We couldn't get into state or federal parks in the southern half, due to all the snowbirds who've planned further ahead than us. If you're near where we're staying, drop us a message and maybe we can meet up! Eggs 'N S'mores Rally at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park near Live Oak January 15-20 Blackwater River State Park January 20-26 Fort Pickens January 26-31 A couple of nights at Best Western in Tallahassee to stretch out January 31-February 2 Salt Springs Recreation Area February 2-12 Retro Reno in Jacksonville February 12-13 A four night Carnival Bahamas Cruise for a change of pace February 13-17 After that, we'll wander north, with possible stops in Savannah GA and/or Columbia SC, depending on the weather.

I always have my 4 sided Clam with me since it nicely fits into the closet. I never use it if its: hot or if I'm simply stopping for only a day or two. But, when the bugs are bad and the temps are below the mid 80's I provides a great place to read, relax by a stream, and have a beverage (or two). It is also a great place to sit when there is a light rain. Simply put - the Clam gives you options. Bill

Thought about one. Found really good price Amazon used and ask myself, do I want to carry one? Which led to the answer no. And that was before reading this. @DavePhelps love the windsock pic. Reminds me of a past trip to Moab!

Our Oliver lives indoors when not in use and is plugged into the facility’s 15A service outlet. When the charging aspect of the Xantrex 2000 failed, a dedicated charging system was installed to maintain SOC. The LFPs slowly discharge over extended periods of time from minimal draws and when 75% SOC is reached the system will turn On, fully charge the battery bank, then turn Off. Only time will tell if this practice is a detriment to these batteries.

We have a five sided clam and have used it some, but we have not used it in the last 2 years. It really depends on where we camp as to how much we will use it. As of late it’s been left at home on our long trips out west.

Mike, why don’t you just use some of the leftover orange shag carpet from your Chevy van project? 🤣

One of the great things about the four sided Clam is that it can easily be stored in the Ollie's closet. Its more than enough room for two people, chairs and a small table. With three people it is cozy but doable. Four people in there should know each other fairly well. Five people is best done with at least one person standing outside.😁 Bill

But just don't do this on your wet bolts with splines. A great way to spin the splines off. Can't say for the shackles, but for the EZ flex it will result in the center bolt walking out of it's desired home. There are ancient threads on this topic. GJ

So after some years with our 8 in KTT latex mattresses they became too heavy and firm for my bones. Ordered some new ones from Tochta and they are much softer. I believe, the thought process for KTT was to keep the mattresses firmer due to being used for seating, as well, but I care much more about the recumbent position. So, if anyone is interested in them, come and get them. Local pickup only. If no-one responds within 2 weeks, I will make other arrangements. Great mattresses for the right person. Excellent condition, light water marks from window drip somewhere down the line. PM me. *********** MATTRESSES HAVE NEW OWNER, NO LONGER AVAILABLE *********** Best, M

Perhaps Black Friday is a good day to start a thread about 2024 potential gift items. I have used one pound bottles of propane for a long time but have always hated the thought of simply throwing them away when they were empty. Yes, I tried recycling them but found that difficult to do given the few places that will accept them. Yes, I tried connecting a hose to a larger tank but found that to be a bit cumbersome. Yes, I tried a five pound tank but didn't like it. Finally, a couple of years ago I saw a one pound tank (Flame King) that was (legally) designed to be refilled. But, there were a couple of design items of that tank that I didn't like. Finally, about a year ago the company that makes the Big Buddy/Mr. Heater propane heaters can out with a refillable one pound tank that seemed to be what I was looking for, so, I bought a couple - a Fuel Keg. To use this tank I also needed what they call the Refill Kit. I've now used these tanks and refilled each of them three times with no problems. It is a simple process that takes less than five minutes (from dead start to putting everything back where I got it). A full one pound goes into each tank during the refill and they work exactly like the old disposable tanks but you simply don't throw them away. Assuming that you can purchase the throw away tanks for $5.00 each and I refill each of the refillable tanks about ten times I will start to save money in addition to not adding to the landfill. There are a ton of review videos (like THIS one) or (THIS one for Flame King) on YouTube. Happy shopping! Bill

When towing with a truck, the majority of ‘stuff’ brought along on a camping trip or road adventure is conveniently stowed within the various holds of the Oliver and bed of the TV. However, even though my former crew cab Silverado 1500 had a storage box under the rear seat, it was mostly used to accommodate service tools and supplies for the truck and thus, found myself utilizing the rear floorboards and seat as additional cargo space when traveling. There’s peace of mind knowing cargo carried in the bed of a truck is adequately secured, not so much for that behind the front seats! All one needs is something going on from behind when something tragic is happening up front, no bueno! We’re required to wear seatbelts for good reason, proper securement of vehicle interior cargo should be of equal importance. I would be interested in learning how owners with trucks/SUVs safely carry their cargo within. My awareness of cargo securement was heightened recently with acquisition of a converted cargo work van as my TV; specifics are detailed in a forum post last October under ‘Towing an Oliver’ and titled ‘2019 GMC Savana 2500 Cargo Van’, if interested. Unlike service utility work vans that generally have a partition or cargo net, along with containment shelves and boxes, to secure cargo and ensure personal safety; conversion and passenger vans are more designed for ‘people’ cargo. In the aforementioned forum post, I addressed cargo containment, but cargo securement was still under consideration. Here is what I did to address the subject matter: Maiden voyage to Texas Oliver Rally, Inks Lake SP; cargo contained, but not secured! DC CARGO E-Track system components were obtained via online purchases from Tractor Supply. Each of the Buyers Products boxes were fitted with six of these brackets, three at the top of each end. A 1/4” x 8” aluminum backing plate was used to attach and strengthen these mounts. Backing plate cut to size, holes drilled and tapped for mounting bolts. Containment boxes prepped for backing plate and E-Track bracket installation. Super Sliders affixed to bottom of containment boxes for ease of handling on interior carpet. Three E-Tract rails fastened to deck to accommodate securement straps. Aluminum plate at floor level is runway for folded e-bikes. This box was slid rearward once back box was removed for storage at COW Barn. It primarily contains items typically kept in the TV with additional storage space, as needed, a trunk per se. Ratchet straps best used for non-towing vehicle use. Box securement once e-bikes are deployed. Wider Cam straps best used for e-bikes and subsequent box securement when traveling. Rear box is for camping ‘stuff’, forward as a truck and more ‘stuff’. Driver’s side box securement using ratchet straps. View of e-bikes ready for ‘takeoff’ on runway! Cam strap securing e-bike. Ratchet straps for spare propane tank, generator and other needs. Items too long for the containment boxes are stowed behind at side panel. Oliver-mounted hoist used to transfer box at storage facility. TV moved forward to enable box positioning. Cam straps used for the lift. Containment box lowered onto platform cart. Liking the modular containment storage.

Mike - Thanks for offering these up to a "new" Ollie home. Hopefully someone is in need of a mattress or two. FYI everyone - Mike is a great guy with a bunch of toys in the garage. He and the family are located just outside of Nashville, TN. Bill

I received two of THESE protective propane tank rings and they fit nicely and appear to be well suited for the job.

Don't have a Clam shelter, but have been snug as a bug in my little legacy1 in very high winds. I can't imagine any of these shelters are up to the task of the high intensity winds and micro blasts of the inter-mountain West and other areas. Best to take them down at night. Also, there is a pretty good app called Windy that gives detailed wind information, both current and projected, worth looking in to. Dave

Assume that you mean - with the Oliver in tow? There are a number of posts from a number of owners right here on the Forum about this very subject. And, the answer is "yes". Have fun but be safe. Bill

Well our 4 side has 9 lives. On Cape Cod it was one stake from the ship channel. At Inks Lake several years ago, it ended up 250 yards back on the park Road. Another time it landed in our pond while I had it on the patio to clean and dry The four corner tabs have all come off and been re-attached with fishing line. Holes have been patched. It keeps on ticking. We will continue to use it until we can't.

I actually have a 70s lava lamp in one of the guest bedrooms. No shag carpet, though. Lol

Ken, why didn’t I think of that? I’ve got enough leftover for the floor too! I just need to remember where I put my lava lamp….

Not everyone understands the differences in chemistry. Nor the ip ratings. It may be up to all of us to educate.

Where are you leaving your trailer during your cruise? We get this question every year.

Last tear down of our 5 sided clam we made a mistake and somehow ended up during the next setup having the clam partially "inside out". I'd never saw that happen before. We ended up releasing a few legs from the pockets and and worked sequentially around the perimeter getting the clam rightsize out. That was quite an an origami project. Once setup again I noticed one of the front door braces had lost it's "top corner bolt" and may have been the culprit for getting it turned inside out. We've also ordered a 4 sided version for shorter trips.

Nice video. We’ve been up and down Hwy550 between Ouray and Silverton many times with the trailer, so this should fun. Oatman looks to have the same vibe as Tombstone AZ. Mike

That would be my biggest nightmare. Storage is 1 hour away. We plug in. We have an HOH and can't store at home. Our storage place is an old manufacturing facility converted to an RV and boat storage facility. Guess we will just hope this doesn't become a blanket thing across the insurance industry.

You too Tom! Didn't we meet at the dump station upon leaving? Too bad it wasn't a few days sooner! I met Ron at the Rally and what a pleasure to meet this Southern Gentleman! Can I say @Ronbrink is a nut? 🤣 Or perhaps a pack rat?! Love the guy and I know we've learned a lot from each other on this forum, long before meeting in person. There is NOBODY more prepared than Ron, though I must say, I have not yet met Steve! 🤣 @ScubaRx Hoping we will run into each other soon. I have the first week of Feb open to get down to Quartzsite, or points between! I prefer to pack a bit lighter than Ron, and Steve, but their mods are the tops! EXCELLENT well-presented post here. Thank you Ron, for posting ALL your great work! I've copied more than a couple of your mods.

They were likely getting tooooo many people living in their RVs for 14 days, then another 14 days. There are too many in AZ for sure. The economy is not getting better for many. We just pay for a few days here and there, so it looks like that's just $5 more per day. On our recent trip to Ruidoso NM, we noted there is camping ANY direction just a few miles out of town. If you need hookups, that's an issue, but think BLM vs. State Parks, in most western states for a better experience! Camping | Bureau of Land Management

We have a Sea Biscuit Metal Designs front storage box and can’t say enough good things about it. It looks fantastic on the front of our Oliver, perfectly complementing the trailer’s design. The craftsmanship is top-notch—durable, sturdy, and well-constructed. The extra storage space has been a game-changer for us. It allows us to keep bulky or frequently used gear easily accessible without cluttering the interior or other compartments. We’ve also been impressed with how well it holds up to the elements; the materials and finish are clearly built to last. If you’re considering a front storage box for your Oliver, I highly recommend checking out Sea Biscuit Metal Designs. It’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing—an excellent upgrade for your trailer! Here’s a link to their website if interested: https://seabiscuitmetaldesigns.com/product-category/oliver-travel-trailer-accessories/

@Ronbrink's post about propane tank cover (really nice price on his cover BTW) got me to thinking about a recent purchase I did. A couple of years ago I refinished the tray that holds my Ollie's propane tanks and while I was at it I cut a plastic liner so that the metal bottom on the tanks would not "damage" my nicely repainted tray. Mission accomplished! However, the propane tanks still left a rust ring on the plastic.😟 So, I recently purchased a set of THESE (rubber protective rings) for the bottom of the tanks. I've not received them yet but at that price I was willing to take a chance. Bill

I didn’t think you went to bed that early! Mossey

Happy Thanksgiving!

The BS 17” griddle has served us well and can be used with the Oliver QC ports with a simple adapter. I have a 36” commercial grade flat top at home and there is nothing cooked on it that can’t be cooked on this smaller griddle when camping. Perfect for 2-3 person food preparations, compact, carry bag/griddle cover, easy to clean, fun to cook on, ‘nough said!

Neighbors next door to us recently put their house up for sale and the Agent obviously used AI to spruce up their recently flooded home and property for the MLS pics. I guess the AI never saw an Oliver before.. 😂

So, I spoke to Jason Essary about this particular model. It is called the Elite X. Below is an image of the cockpit...yes, cockpit: He also included a view of some of the luxurious cabin amenities: I mean, check out that state of the art dialysis machine. Or maybe it is an ultrasound. It even comes stocked with pets. Here is a picture of Rodney Lomax checking them out before delivery. Disclaimer: Jason and Rodney have not been consulted regarding this travesty of a comment.

This has been my experience with the Duramax in my Silverado 2500. Quite honestly I thought it would be better but on the other hand the truck never feels overly stressed. Mileage is very speed dependent as stated.

Thinking my mileage is slightly better due to me having the 3.31 differential. Rig runs low rpm’s while traveling highway speeds and the trailer is so light I really do not need the higher ratio diff. Also run with hotshots every day treatment (EDT) added to the tank with each fill-up.

Looks like a motorhome from the Woody Allen movie, “Sleeper”…

And they don’t ever see you!

Live in the west and in mountains 6.7l f350 gets 12.7 mpg and on east coast flats 13.8 mpg. Overall 80k is 13.5 mpg towing EII.

We really like our “Open Roads” card for all the reasons you mentioned and more. On our last 48 day trip out west we occasionally saved 65-70 cents per gallon on diesel. @QuestionMark you are totally on point about being able to safely fill up in the larger diesel commercial truck lanes, we are really spoiled. One of the other nice benefits of the O/R app is forecasting along your planned route and knowing where you can use it. Huge fans here of Open Roads! 👍🏻 🇺🇸🇺🇸 @Dave and Kimberly should you purchase a diesel beast here is the link to Open Roads. https://myopenroads.com/

Just some rough math out of curiosity: Diesel is about 13% more expensive than gas right now. However, my diesel truck was approx. 35% more fuel efficient when towing, so there are savings there, maybe $81 per thousand miles driven towing. Based on that, diesel would have saved us $264 in fuel costs this year (we towed 3260 miles). However, with the higher initial cost of a diesel truck, more expensive maintenance, DEF, etc. we would have lost money overall (assuming a 15 year lifespan for the truck). I estimate we'd have to tow approx. 3X as many miles per year to break even. Diesel might be worth it for a full timer who puts on a lot of miles though, especially if they do a lot of mountain towing.

Followup... I took the truck and trailer to Hohenwald on 11-12-2024. I left the trailer to have some custom bodywork done. On 11-15-2024, I returned to Hohenwald in the truck to pick up the trailer. On the way up the Natchez Trace, driving no more than 55mph, I averaged 23.5mpg (about 160 miles). After the drive home, towing the trailer, the combined mpg (for both trips) was 19.5mpg.

That front wheel drive must be awesome though. 🤪

Was (black/red) tip or ring?😉 Mossey

Perhaps this excerpt by a contributor to the sprinter-source.com forum will provide answer to your question: “The need for a soft start on an RV air conditioner isn't a new problem, this is the case with all 13.5k and 15k BTU air conditioners I've encountered. RVers have always known they experience air conditioner operation problems at low voltage campgrounds, particularly in the high temperature high current demand times of summer camping. The air conditioner compressor won't compete for power, it just doesn't run. The air conditioner fan runs but the compressor won't start if the shore power voltage is to low, because it can't get enough current. Issues with air conditioner high LRAs have become more apparent with the popularity of Lithium batteries and inverters. Folks want to run their air conditioner off Lithium batteries and a 3000w inverter, but dampening the LRA is the only way to do that. The Atmos LRA is 48.5a, Dometic Penguin ll LRA is 52a, and the Truma LRA is 58a. Micro-Air was the first company to realize the RV industry needed a solution for reducing air conditioner compressor LRA, which is why they created the EasyStart. Micro-Air had this market cornered until just a couple of years ago when SoftStartRV started producing a similar type of soft start device. Both the EasyStart and SoftStartRV dampened the Dometic Penguin ll's LRA to around 24a. The lower the LRA the easier for the RV electrical system to run it (shore or generator power or Lithium battery/inverter). All us LTVers have added EasyStarts or SoftStartRVs to our Dometic Penguin lls. The Truma technicians I interviewed at the Tampa RV Super Show made it clear their air conditioner needed a soft start and the if you wanted to use Lithium batteries and a 3000w inverter. They also were very clear that a 3000w inverter was the minimum sized inverter to operate their unit. I believe the SoftStartRV is the only unit that is compact enough to fit inside the Truma Aventa. Based on my observations of the Atmos running off my Xantrex 3000w and 1 of my Lithionics 320ah Lithium battery and then 2 and 3 batteries, I suspect it doesn't really have a soft start. The Atmos brochure says it has a "Low voltage startup function." The marketing for these Gree manufactured air conditioners are quite misleading, using the words low voltage startup, soft start, and inverter compressor in vague terms. I'm installing a SoftStartRV on my Atmos tomorrow to see if it improves upon some of the concerning behaviors I've been seeing. The Truma and Atmos have the identical Rated Load Amperage (RLA) of 10.5a at 120vAC or 136.5a at 13vdc (Lithium battery voltage). The Dometic RLA was 12.9a. The RLA is considered a maximum normal steady state operating current. Air conditioners can run on lower RLAs, as low as 70% under their RLA. In my testing of the Atmos I see it is using less RLA, which is very good. The Atmos heat mode runs about 20-30a more for heat mode. The Atmos brochure says cooling current is 11a (143a at 13vdc) and heating is 10a (130a at 13vdc), but I suspect those numbers have been accidentally reversed, because heat mode definitely takes more current and runs slightly louder in decibels than the Atmos cooling mode.“

I love diesels but I do not love what the EPA is doing to them. I have a 2014 Cummins that gets about 25 on the highway, 18 in the city and about 13 towing. This includes stopping, idling and everything in between. Mine is not EPA compliant, however. Personally, if I needed a new TV, I would buy a Ram 2500 with the Hemi. It gets decent fuel mileage and doesn't suffer the ill effects of emission equipment.

I recall a few posts about some folks overdoing it using the tongue jack to raise the hitch while still hooked to the tow vehicle, raising it really high and putting a lot of stress on the ball (even pulling the ball shank out of the Andersen hitch) or stressing the closure of the Bulldog coupler. I think there’s even a warning/caution on this somewhere in the Andersen literature to only raise it about 1” to 2” above the unloaded ball height. Any more than that and you’re basically lifting your tow vehicle by the hitch. At delivery we were shown to only raise the hitch just enough to just barely unload the trailer tongue weight on receiver on the tow vehicle, and to judge that by watching the ball mount in the receiver to see when it just raised enough to move off the bottom of the receiver. That put enough slack in the chains to allow the tensioning nuts to be loosened by hand to easily remove the whale tail. And then reverse the process when reattaching, then lower the tongue and use a wrench to tighten the nuts, and to count the exposed threads extending out of the nut (6 or 7 exposed) to tension the chains. That process worked well but it was tedious. Now towing with an F-250 so I no longer use the Andersen.

I think you got to the nub of the issue - the 2" is more common. I would add that given the size and weight of the Oliver, the 2" Bulldog is more than adequate for the vast majority of people. Your 2020 Tundra is certainly a nice truck and will tow the Oliver well. You might want to check though - I'm guessing that the weight distribution hitch is required in order for you to maintain your warranty by Toyota - Ford, GM and Dodge all require it for 1/2 ton trucks. Bill