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Yesterday I left home, driving North out of Southwest Florida (aka The Swamp) and to my great surprise, only 90 minutes out, I spied an Oliver heading South on Rte 17 into Nocatee! Thanks for the smiles! A decent day’s drive, in spite of the weather and traffic. Only one pit stop. Northwest Georgia today, and the OTT Mothership tomorrow. I love my Oliver.

Continuing our drive from south Texas to Kentucky we stopped just outside of Texarkana for the night. There are several COE campgrounds 15 minutes to the south and west of Texarkana on the Texas side. We’ve stayed at a couple but usually come back to Clear Springs COE campground. There are a bunch of FHU sites but the ones we like by the lake are just W/E. This is our site for the night, a little rainy but nice.

On our way back from the rally we had to stop at one of our favorite pull offs on the Smoky Mountain Expressway. So glad this scenic highway is in our backyard. Loving all things in the Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge! Mountains as far as you can see.

Use some acetone, it won't hurt the gelcoat and I'll wager the stain will come right off. I use it all the time. Will also remove mildew stains from caulk.

Just a quick note about headroom from another tall guy. It sounds like you haven't yet been inside an Elite II so you may not be aware that the bathroom celing height is lower than the main cabin. The main cabin is 6'6in but I'd say the bathroom is 2 or 3 inches less. If someone here knows maybe you can correct me. Just wanted you to be aware. I don't know how tall you are but I'm 6'5" and I do have to crouch to take a shower. I shower quickly as we are usually boondocking without water hookups and I just deal with it. For that matter, the 75" bed is not quite long enough for my 77" body. I've removed the nightstand and have a few mods I've done to allow me to better stretch out when needed. Now, My main point is that I'm fine with it -- because of all the other points you mentioned! It's a fantastic trailer and I don't think there is anything else out there that can measure up. The feeling of it from inside is unlike any other RV I'v seen - so clean, bright, modern and you can just sense the solid quality from front to back and top to bottom. Congrats on your upcoming retirement!

The hose is soft and pliable even in cold temps. It rebounds to its original flat shape, self draining in the process. I roll mine up in a flat coil for storage. It’s specifically for potable water. When pressurized, if it gets a kink, just give the hose a flip and the kink pops out. We’re a year into this hose and won’t be going back to a “ regular” hose ever again. It comes with a very good warranty on top of all that. Home Depot is the source.

@John and Debbie Here you go and it’s even on sale! 👍🏻 https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Valterra/A10-1314VP.html?feed=npn&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1672411894&gclid=CjwKCAjwuIbBBhBvEiwAsNypvQ1XKW9UZOvykONtRfVuZZ7Oa3mCtQb5eZYfkAeF53AIxmbXV19a9hoC2MYQAvD_BwE This looks exactly like the screen I installed. Patriot🇺🇸

There has been several other post about humidity issues when camping with Olivers. Normally when we camp in temperatures cold enough to freeze the basement plumbing when using a portable heater, it's only for a couple of days and we don't even de-winterize Ollie making use of the campground's showers. When camping in the South East in the winter, sometimes we have humid weather.

While on our way west for three months we’re volunteering at Stratford Ecological farm outside of Columbus Ohio. This is our campsite for the next week.

I wanted to be able to leverage AI to be able to ask questions about my Oliver and get an answer without searching through the owner's manuals. From any answer, I would need a link to the original manual source, so I could get more info or confirm the answer if needed. What I found is called "Google Notebook LM". The way this tool works is by uploading content related to what you want the AI to consider. In my case, I created a notebook and uploaded the specific year model PDFs from Oliver: After uploading those, you can just start a conversation, like this: The circles with numbers in them are links to the original PDFs that you can click and see the source information. I've found this to be a great research assistant for all sorts of things for free. If you're interested in this, you can get it for free from Google here: https://notebooklm.google.com/ Thought I'd put this out there for those that might be interested in this technology. - Steve

@shhQuiet AI….…missed a minor detail. I actually removed and cleaned my interior filters on our Truma Aventa. Not hard to do and will save you a few bucks. Naturally Truma would like you to purchase new filters every 12 months 🫤. Planned obsolescence? 🤔 A little tutorial link…super easy. https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube+cleaning+Truma+aventa+RV+AC+filters&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS1119US1119&oq=youtube+cleaning+Truma+aventa+RV+AC+filters&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigATIKCAYQABiABBiiBDIKCAcQABiABBiiBDIHCAgQABjvBdIBCTE5MjA3ajFqNKgCArACAeIDBBgBIF8&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:572788ff,vid:B90-iekBCD0,st:0

They were new drums and only had minor scraping so turning them was a reasonable option. I’m mostly upset with myself for not just doing the work myself in the first place . Waiting to hear back from etrailer in a claim.

Each trip there reveals a whole new perspective. We still have a stretch of Blue Ridge Parkway between Boone, NC and Richmond, VA to complete the entire parkway. Last trip was fall of '23, before the devastating Hurricane Helene.

We’re 6 or 7 years without ours and don’t miss it a bit.

Beware ordering from https://fitcamx.com/collections/integrated-dash-cams . This is a Chinese company shipping their product from China. With the trade and tariff disputes, my shipment is stuck in customs in the US. Fitcam said that is my problem and refused to issue credit even though they cannot tell me when or if I will get the camera. I resolved the problem through my credit card company.

I gave it some more thought this weekend:

I installed my friction hinges today as well. Takes a little getting used to, though. When I open or close the door, my brain says there is something wrong, don't move the door or it will break. Overall, it is a nice mod and adds more hinges for support.

Black tank removal procedure:

Thanks Chris! Nothing like tried and true field experience. Keeping it simple on the hose front!

They are like fire hoses, they don’t shrink up just flatten out. Very easy to handle and use. We’ve been using these type hoses for years. I don’t have much patience for traditional hoses, especially in cold weather.

Yesterday, a random Ollie is spotted negotiating the turns northbound on the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway -- just wondering where they're headed???

This is a duplicate of a post I made on the Facebook Oliver owner’s page. I’m sharing here for those not on Facebook that may be interested in a dehumidifier option for their Oliver. We were experiencing rainy and cool weather at the rally and conditions in the Olivers were getting steamy. Facebook post: Temperature and humidity outside at Lake Guntersville state park are 62deg and 94% humidity this morning. Inside OllieHaus it’s a perfect 73 deg and thanks to our counter top dehumidifier, it’s a very comfortable 46% humidity with all windows closed. No heat or AC needed. Loving life in our Oliver!! Edit: Here’s a link on Amazon for the dehumidifier if interested: Dehumidifier

Yes, John, Oliver used to sell those upper screens...don't know if they still do. We used small zip ties to hold them in place. Been there for 3+years...no problems. Good Luck, John Amended...forget the zip ties, not needed. I was reverting back to my old Casita days :) Patriotus gave you the correct info! And the mother ship may still have some in stock. John

I'm not sure how you can enjoy a roomy spot with nice grass and a view. Hope you can make it through the week 😉

For the amount that I use any of the four potable water hoses I presently have I'm too "cheap" to simply throw any of them out. I did buy one of those Zero G hoses a couple of years ago to be used when needed for length and/or as a backup in the event something happened to the other one I carry. However, when it comes time I'll certainly look at this Gorilla.

Boy - I can just taste that beer you owe me. Cracking it open on that deck overlooking the lake would be awesome! Bill

I plug our Elite II into a 120V GFCI protected receptacle in my garage (current code requires all garage receptacles to be GFCI protected) when packing for a trip. With a 20 amp to 30 amp adapter, connected to the Oliver's 30A input, it works fine. FWIW, when storing our Elite II, it is connected to a dedicated 30A receptacle in our storage shed. I always use 30A receptacles at campgrounds, again with no issues, unless the campground power supply is bad.

I think I will be thinking the same. It rained yesterday and the water coming down the side didn’t bother me. The junk that collected on top and was almost permanently imbedded into the seal, brackets and fiberglass concerned me more.

Im familiar with the wind catching the door and thankfully it hasn’t yanked it away from me so far. Now, Im not all that worried.

I would not know where to begin to contact US Customs. But, I do not believe it is my problem. Instead it is Fitcam’s problem. Fitcam should contact US Customs and pay any tariff or duty above the price they agreed to sell me the camera. Granted, the vendor and I found ourselves in the middle of an unusual situation. Caveat venditor.

In the winter when heating with a portable heater we use 99% of the time, we find condensation between the hull in the rear section (in our experience), if a de-humidifier is not used. We use a small de-humidifier in the rear upper storage "Oliver Sign" area and another one on the kitchen stove top area to resolve this. Checked other areas between the hulls and did not find condensation present.

Yep seems odd at first and the you'll learn to love them. And no more banging door in the wind creating the interior stress cracks!

Dan, you are correct. I have not measured it but I'm 6'2" and if I stand up straight, the top of my head will fully contact the bathroom ceiling. So it's 6'2" or just a bit shorter. I was never interested in those fancy teak wood covers for the shower floor as that would lose another 2". I can almost lay flat on the bed if it wasn't for the curved corner. I'm a side-sleeper most of the time so the bed just fits but it's tight.

Here are the 2025 brochures we received in our SWAG bag.

Storage is a premium in an Oliver. I like this idea and will be upgrading in the near future.

I replaced the retainers today. I ordered a package of 70 for $13. They fit like a charm and if they die every year, I will have enough to last 35 years.

Oh Ya!, that dreaded cold weather memory

When we get home. Carry 3 water hoses cooler in the bed. This looks like a winner.

The main reason to go with an Oliver! When you get yours, please show me how this is done... 🤣(looks like we failed to convince you in another thread) Just celebrated my 70th birthday and no retirement plans here! I enjoy working my parttime semi-retirement job (contract instructor for the last 10 years) and hope to continue in good health for many years to come (vocal chords keep working)! Though I haven't punch a clock, 40+ hours a week, most of my life. Most of our friends in town are retired and they do about the same thing everyday (boring)! If I'm not working for my job, I'm always working on something else and I love it! We've enjoyed 47 overnights in our Oliver over the last 6 months and leaving for a 5-week trip just after Memorial Day, back home by the 4th of July! 47 overnights in 6 months days comes to 25% time away in our Oliver! If it was any more time cooped up in an Oliver, that becomes the job. That's just me, and Chris & I love sharing this life together!

Glad to hear your positive review. It will be a space saver and much easier to manage. Thanks!

I’ve had enough of “steamy”. I ordered one of these today.

This post is just an FYI. On the way back home to TX from the rally, we looked for a convenient overnight stop along IH-20 and made an uninformed selection of Roosevelt State Park just east of Jackson MS. It turned out to be a lucky guess. It's just 5 minutes off the interstate and has some of the best campsite parking pads that we've run across anywhere. The premium sites are better than what most private RV parks have to offer; they're large, level and deep. Only one of the premium sites isn't on the waterfront, #37, which is the only pull-through. We picked it without seeing it or any of the other sites because we didn't want to unhitch for our quick overnight stop. It turned out that all of the premium sites are deep and level enough that we wouldn't have had to unhitch our trailer. Our luck was even better because through the 22nd this month the sites are half price. The park staff told us that they had been closed for renovations for about a year and recently reopened. The special pricing is to encourage people to rediscover the park. Regular daily prices are $47 weekdays & $57 weekends for premium, or $37 or $47 respectively for regular sites on weekdays or weekends. The regular sites are also nice, but they consist of smaller asphalt strips that aren't as large as the premium sites and may require you to unhitch to level the trailer. The state park prices are less than what many less desirable private RV parks charge and was especially a bargain at $23.50 for our one-night stay. We plan to go back before or after next year's rally, expecting to pay the regular daily price. In the picture you can see the size of the site. We didn't take a picture of a waterfront site because it was raining most of the time we were there, but all the premium sites have similar sized concrete pads, easily big enough for 4 LE2s (though only enough hookups for one). Steve

Yes, I am happy to continue to wait for the Lithiums to drop even further. My AGM’s are still holding out just fine and I look to get a least another year or two out of them. The market in general for discretionary spending appears to be in a long pause. It appears folks are circling their wagons until the dust of uncertainty clears. No economic expert here, just an observation.

Battery prices are falling - fast. Compitition is a good thing. Also, the RV market (both new and used) is still not in good shape after the Covid panic buying. Hopefully things stabilize soon. Bill

It's a 2021 3500xd cargo van with 144" wheelbase rated for 7500 lbs towing, 750 lbs tongue weight. Cargo capacity is 5600 lbs. The relatively low towing limit (for a one ton truck) is because of its unit body construction. The dually rear wheels keep the rig quite stable, even in the severe crosswinds we've encountered on IH-10 in New Mexico. The 1500 and 2500 Sprinters as well as the extended body 177" wheelbase 3500's have a 5000 lb max tow rating.

Nice site and great info on a good deals! Care to share what your towing capacity is on your Sprinter?

I’m pretty selective on window stickers. CGI made the cut.

All I do is when we return from camping trips, I pressure wash all the dirt off our trailer (and there’s so much dirt out here)! I hit the windows straight on with 3000 PSI water pressure and you see the dirty water come out of the drain holes first, followed by clean water. If I do not see this out of EVERY drain hole I would address this afterwards. As I am blasting the windows, Chris is inside with a towel to collect any sprayed water to the interior and there is generally little to none. And our Ollie can get very dirty!

Mount-It https://mount-it.com/products/mount-it-under-cabinet-ceiling-tv-mount-lcd-cm211 Specifications SKU: MI-4211 Compatible Screen Size: 13" to 27" Weight Capacity: 44lbs Tilt: 90 degrees Swivel: 90 degrees Height Adjustable: 5.125" VESA 75x75mm, 100x100mm If you are looking to install a larger TV, Mount-It does have a similar mount that allows up to a 37" TV. NOTICE: We have not installed one of these and I cannot guarantee a good fit. https://mount-it.com/products/mount-it-fold-in-under-cabinet-ceiling-tv-mount-mi-4222 NOTICE: This mount is for the Elite II models Only!

Not really "Wild" but it was an "Adventure" and it is an Ollie... This was taken down on the beach at Rocky Point in Old Mexico a couple years back...