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***Long Post*** XPLOR Hull #634 Victron 3000 watt inverter, Victron 12v DC to DC charger and Epoch lithium battery upgrade. Note: To discuss options and pricing, please contact Jordan Hall at Inverter Services, White House, Tenn. Our OEM AGM batteries were getting long in the tooth and it was time to upgrade our batteries to a complete lithium battery system on our 2020 Oliver LE2. Our good friend, and former Oliver owner Jim Posey, highly recommended we speak with Inverter Services in White House, Tennessee. I called and spoke with Service Manager Jordan Hall and discussed our needs and options. Jordan and his team at Inverter Services were excellent to work with and have a lot of experience working on Oliver travel trailers. Our tech/installer, Easton Ford, kept us updated on our install progress with photos and discussions as needed. We found Easton to be extremely detail-oriented and dialed in and focused on our project. We were originally scheduled to have this work done next March. After returning from our 54 day New England and Canada trip, I decided to call Inverter Services and ask if they had any cancellations. They did and we immediately took the cancellation. They are typically booked 6-7 months out. So we hitched op Oliver and headed to White House, Tenn to leave our Oliver with the team for 2 weeks. Important note: Inverter Services supports the RV and Marine industry in ALL things lithium battery and electronics. This is one of the most detailed and thorough, cutting-edge companies we have ever done business with. I chose Inverter Services to do this install because this is not my area of expertise and it absolutely is theirs. These guys are experts in their field and I admittedly am still in the learning process. Based on our excellent experience, we highly recommend Inverter Services in White House, Tenn if you are considering a lithium upgrade. We chose all Epoch & Victron following products for this install. (2) Epoch 300ah lithium batteries (internal heating elements) -https://www.epochbatteries.com/.../12v-300ah-heated... *Victron MultiPlus-II 3000w Inverter/charger *Victron GX 70 Touch Screen *Victron Smart Solar MPPT *Victron Orion XS DC-DC Battery Charger **We also had the RV Soft Start installed on our Truma Aventa AC. Inverter Services provides tech guidance/support/firmware updates as long as we own our Oliver. I cannot stress enough the pride this company takes in their work. As I think most would agree, Victron components are a class all their own and leaders in the Marine and RV industry. Post install, we have on board 600ah of lithium battery power, and with our extra 90W Zamp panel now configured to lithium, we have approx 410 watts of solar. This will certainly give us more options on the roads less traveled and boondocking. Still lots to learn on this new system. Now having the 12v DC -DC charger I don’t think we will see a need to carry a generator any longer. Thanks to all those on the forum who made the Lithium upgrade happen. ⚡️ The information gleaned here helped me decide the direction I wanted to take this install. ⚡️Happy Camping and Safe Travels! ⚡️ A few install pics- The Victron GX 70 touch screen fit the existing opening with no cutting or trimming of the fiberglass. Our system at a glance. The touch screen nice option if no cell service is available for the Victron app. Although with our SL mini that’s not an issue. Very happy with the touch screen and the Victron app. We can set the screen to time out at 5 or 10 min or longer and then go dark for sleep mode. Zamp 90W suitcase. 12v DC to DC Andersen connector. On our way home we camped at Cumberland Mountain SP in Tenn and gave our new system a shake down. It’s nice to not have to plug in. 😊

I’ve towed my Elite II well over 100K miles since 2016. I towed with a Toyota Tacoma for 5 or 6,000 miles. I towed with two different Ram 1500’s (both 5.7L V8) for 50,000+ miles. I am currently towing with a Ram 2500 6.7L diesel, around 60K miles towing. Impressions: 2012 Tacoma (I-6, TRD Supercharger): maybe 200 miles per tank. Always looking for and stopping to fuel up. At or over load limit even with the smaller bed. 2016 Ram 1500, 2020 Ram Rebel (both 5.7L V8): Much more comfortable towing. Towing range much greater. Still aware of payload limit, but nothing like the Tacoma. Good tow vehicles. 2020 Ram 2500 (6.7L I-6 Cummins diesel): Am I towing? No worries about payload, towing range good. Engine brake does 90% of the braking when going downhill. Big diesel stays at less than 2,000 RPM most of the time, pretty effortless towing. My bottom line is that a half ton is a good TV and daily driver. Tacoma, Colorado, etc are marginal TV’s usually operating at the upper limit of their capacity, significantly reducing the margin for error. 3/4 ton and up are ideal, enough truck to stay well within limits and offering flexibility, safety and a very pleasant towing experience. Mike

Scott called me the other day about an unrelated matter but while we were on the phone I asked him about the vinyl decals. He stated that he was not exactly sure about the cost to the customer for the front Big “O” and the two rear sides. There was a time that they cut all their own vinyl lettering. Because of this we could usually get whatever we wanted as far as colors etc. As most of you probably already know, the person that did all the computer work for the graphics and ran the vinyl cutting machine has left and there is nobody there now that knows how to operate any of that system. For that reason, they are farming out all their graphic work. That is probably why the price is so high. It’s been several months since I was at the factory, but at that time back in the service department there was a huge pigeon hole type cabinet with the “O” graphics stacked inside in all different combinations of colors. There were the big ones and a smaller version that was only six inches across. I don’t know if that was new old stock. I would doubt Scott knew they were even back there. In additional news, for those of you that had met Jason Ballentine the service manager know now that he has left Oliver and they have a new service manager. His name is Randall Mayberry. They have a new lady (I don't recall her name) that is working behind the desk as you enter the showroom outer office. One of the former salesmen, Jason/Justin Lindsey/Lindley (you will note that I’m terrible with names) has returned and they now have a staff of three full time sales personnel.

We recently were at Oliver, had a nice conversation with Scott, Jason Essary and Matt Duncan. We also had the opportunity to meet both of these new to Oliver folks. Just posting up for those who like to put a face with a name.

I can confirm this, having removed and replaced a bathroom window. Proper (and judicious) application of butyl rope compressed between exterior window frame and hull is what keeps water out. A THIN application of caulk is all that is needed at the outside edge of the window frame.

Thank you!

Thanks! Plan on 1-2 weeks depending on what you’re having done. They had the SoftStartRV in stock for our Truma. They typically have a 6-7 month wait time for an appointment, they are that good and 💯worth the wait based on our experience. I happened to a call and ask if they had a cancelation, they did. I was originally scheduled for March.

David, Great looking installation, looks like you picked a quality company, too. Looking forward to seeing this installation learning more about it!

Thanks Mike, We were due for the upgrade and this system gives us many more options. Cannot say enough about Inverter Services. Cumberland Mountain SP is well kept, with level sites and it was super quiet which we like with only a handful of late fall campers. David

David, great write up! Looks like they did a great job. We’ve stayed at Cumberland Mountain State Park a bunch of times, one of our favorites. Mike

I’m going to do a 180° on the above statement and explain why. Granted the Atmos 4.4 is really quite even in fan Turbo Mode, which is generally only used to initially cool down a very hot interior. Once a temperature comfort level is reached, fan Low Mode is all needed. Regardless of the selected fan speed or a/c demand, this unit operates at such a low dB in all modes and the soft start-assisted compressor is hardly detected when running and thus, “the continuous fan run when in Cool Mode” is not bothersome, unlike the former DPll noise maker! Although Dry Mode is very efficient in regulating humidity for short runtime durations, it is not a panacea for control of the dreaded humidity spikes that can occur under high RH or ‘other conditions’. For example, while sleeping at night with the a/c in fan Low Mode, I would often awake to high cabin humidity levels simply due to respiration and thus, my statement that “high cabin humidity is a rare occurrence” is not true as once thought! Why the turnaround then? After eight months post Atmos 4.4 install and thinking ‘it doesn’t get any better than this’, I came across the Cielo Breez Max smart thermostat and set a new norm! Now six months in and no regrets, I’m thinking ‘this is the best ever’; no continuous fan, no humidity spikes, no ‘noisy’ dehumidifier taking up counter space and Comfy Mode is only a switch flip away! If you are reading this you likely have also read my praise of and experiences with said Cielo, or that of others. The installation is simple, operation intuitive and easily programmed to most a/c units with IR remotes.

No, the Turbro unit is identical to the Pioneer. And while much quieter than the Dometic, it's not as quiet as the Atmos and some others. On the plus side, it runs on about half the watts or less than standard compressor models and it's a heat pump too.

Good to meet another retired railroader! The NW & NS Engineers I knew were senior and had the best runs, probably why they were happy, thought it may also have something to do with operating powerful diesel electric locomotives. I never operated a Locomotive, but got to operate locomotive simulator one time, very interesting. We used to build and rebuild intermodal cranes & parts in our shop, sometimes when a crane was to be relocated we would disassemble and reassemble intermodal cranes at their new locations. Our gas TV does a good job towing Ollie, but really appreciate Diesel Trucks with engine braking feature towing down large mountains, too.

T & R - No doubt - get the upgraded Andersen (assuming that you can afford it). In my experience, it is night and day better than the old system they had and you will not have to deal with that terrible noise from hades ever again. Bill p.s. thanks for the update on pricing!

"Retired from the railroad, never met an unhappy Diesel Locomotive Engineer! 😁" I too am retired from a rilroad after 30 years and I've not seen many happy diesel locomotive engineers while on the job; there are tons of them that are very happy after retirement! 30 years UP in the los angeles basin working strictly on intermodal cars. Inspect, diagnose, repair and test.

I just heard today that Norcold is entering bankruptcy and intends to liquidate all of its assets. Apparently the sale of these assets will not cover their remaining liabilities. If this can be confirmed and you have a Norcold fridge (or anything else for that matter) now just might be a good time to stock up on any spare parts you think you might need for the future. Bill

No worries yet! Not all is lost! There are already companies making aftermarket parts and I’m sure there will be more coming because these units are used all over the world and there is still a demand for parts. I wouldn’t rush out to buy new spare boards without first checking what aftermarket parts are available for your model. Companies like Dinosaur Electronics already sell generic replacement DC boards that fit most Norcold units. Even Amazon carries an aftermarket power board. I’ve previously posted about an Oregon company IFiXiFi that makes quality aftermarket freezer door hinges that are also known to fail and have not been otherwise available. Cheers! Geoff

Bigger trailer, bigger truck. Though "technically " you'd be within the legal limits, your travel joy will be increased with a bigger, heavier truck. Dragging 7k up a mountain pass, one time, in your Colorado would likely tell the story. And, hopefully, a great brake controller coming down. Casita typically have a heavier tongue weight, but not as heavy as an O2. Your Colorado would likely be fine for my elite 1, but towing a 2, other than on flats and gradual ascents/descents, I'd want some more oomph, and vehicle weight. I know it's hard to think about trading up trailers, and vehicles at the same time. My 2005 Silverado is about the same size as a current Colorado, but heavier (6k). I have a similar tow rating. Id personally only tow a 2 in Florida flats. Id be nervous going our route to NC, at highway speed, and up green mountain gorge, with your TV. Your anxiety will be decreased, and travel joy and cargo capacity, will increase with a bigger vehicle.

We've towed various trailers with everything from a V8 Ford Explorer to a diesel F350 dually. I concur with the previous posts that you might need, and would definitely be happier with, a larger tow vehicle.

Yes just read an article about this on Apple News a couple of days ago. Meant to post and link the story but have been busy with some house projects and forgot to do so. Don’t recall all of the specifics but Bill is correct they are in bankruptcy.

The First place to start is the driver side door of the Colorado. The payload of the truck will be listed there. This is the maximum weight allowed to be carried by the truck. Next... Start adding the weight you will be putting into / on the truck. Start with the tongue weight of the Oliver (650 lbs.) Next would be the passengers (be honest). Then account for anything you have added to the truck as an aftermarket accessory.... Bed Caps typically weight about 300 + lbs. Finally any camping equipment that will go in the truck... stove, generator, camp chairs, tools, etc. Subtract that number from the max payload capacity limit. If you still have a positive number, you have passed the first test. (you still have more math to do) I would be interested to see how your numbers work out if you would be kind enough to share. Also would strongly advise against the Chevy Colorado ( or any other medium size truck ) as a TV. Best of Luck, Scotty

Can I be the "flag guy" for that drag race between you and Patriot? - Please!

Bill, Thanks! It has the 6.8 Mini-Zilla gas engine, a de-stroked 7.3 Godzilla, with 10R100 transmission. It's an old school gas V-8. Really like how it tows Ollie, too.

We just moved up to a F-350 and really enjoy towing Ollie with it. On our previous 1/2 ton tow vehicles I added rear suspension systems to reduce rear end sag, these modifications are not needed with the F-350 when towing Ollie. Really like the increased payload with the F-350, a couple of our past TV had to monitor the TV weight with Ollie connected to be sure we did not exceed the TV axles & gross weight.

Short answer - YES

T & R - Absolutely no reason to be hesitant replying to any question. Specifically, your response to the question asked is right on the mark. Indeed, there have been many discussions here on the Forum concerning this exact subject (and with other similar tow vehicles to the Colorado). The tow rating is not the only limiting factor on these "mid-sized trucks". Heck - even 1/2 ton trucks tend to run up against limitations due to payload capacity. Thanks for your reply. Bill

I'm hesitant to reply to this since we're new Oliver members/owners but the rule of thumb I've been told is trailer should be no more than 80% of your TV's rated tow capacity. For your Colorado that's 6000#. I think towing right at your rated capacity is also going to cause more wear and tear on the TV. Another consideration is your towing experience. If you're crawling up hills at 45mph in a 70-80mph speed zone it's not going to be pleasant. Lot's of questions on this forum on towing so try the search function, or better yet search with Google. Tony

First of all, credit to the Oliver owner that shared the installation of these on his screen door, great idea and product recommendation! I finally got around to adding a push bar to our screen door for ease in exiting and closing, and also resolved an ingress problem, as well. Although both installations offer support, my decision to mount one on the closet door as a grab handle when entering to help pull one’s self up and in, proved especially beneficial! Also, each can be used as a towel or clothing rack. Respective modifications were made for custom fitment, here’s a look at the final outcome:

It was an easy sell, too. Once my wife found out that it was a heat pump, and that we wouldn't have to run the noisy propane furnace anymore, it was a done deal!

FYI - Im creating a spreadsheet of air conditioner options from my LE1. As stated earlier in this thread Cree apparently makes the Cree Eco Cool and the Atmos 4.4. Based on the attached photo Cree may also manufacture Tosot brand AC units. This photo is from the Tosot website's "about us" page showing a Cree manufacturing plant.

Waiting may be good, but be prepared! I waited over four years and finally decided on the Atmos 4.4, no regrets! I especially love how quite it is; this ‘light sleeper’ no longer needs earplugs at night, and we can easily watch TV and carry on a conversation at the same time regardless how far apart or chosen fan speed. As for the continuous fan run when in Cool Mode, not a concern of mine. If ever a spike in cabin humidity is detected, Dry Mode is activated which rapidly drops the moisture level. However, a small room dehumidifier helps to mitigate such issue and high cabin humidity is a rare occurrence. I truly like the feel of continuous air movement via the ‘swing function’, whereby up and down circulation is felt at the furthest reaches within while factoring in the higher operating CFM rating of these units. The ‘cool breeze’ is an added comfort and talk of mods to make change are unnecessary measures IMO. Like others I too am disappointed in the cost increases and thus, so glad I didn’t wait any longer for the ‘ultimate’ unit that may or may not become available and at what price. ‘Nuff said!