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Showing content with the highest reputation on 11/25/2021 in all areas

  1. Carol and I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving wherever you may be! Mike
    7 points
  2. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
    5 points
  3. As we sat down to breakfast this morning, 10 wild hen turkeys flew over the back deck! Hope they are having a good safe day too. Happy Thanksgiving especially to those on the road. Bill
    5 points
  4. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍽🍁
    5 points
  5. I just ordered this RV Lock for the front door. It is currently $144 -- normally $240 (shipping is $11.99 - no sales tax in TN). Please post any other good Thanksgiving/Black Friday deals you find that may work for our Ollies. https://www.rvlock.com/collections/frontpage/products/rvlock-v4-0-w-integrated-keypad-for-rvs
    4 points
  6. 4 points
  7. Wishing all a wonderful Thanksgiving, I need to buy a flexible belt.
    4 points
  8. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! May your turkey be juicy, your stuffing moist, and your Ollie shiny!
    4 points
  9. Here is the packaging of the Mega Dinette Top I bought from Foy. I bought several items from him and all of his items are packed with this level of care.
    4 points
  10. We were originally 13 Jan, then 5 Jan, and now back to 13 Jan...hull 996. We hope for no more changes and think OTT must be doing the best they can, considering supply issues. That's as of 22 Nov. Happy Holidays ya'll 🙂 John
    3 points
  11. We have only had our LE2 for a few months and prefer dry camping locations. We are grateful for the window placement and haven’t lacked view spots due to window size. Below picture is taken from inside our LE2 at Cape Disappointment State Park located in Ilwaco Washington.
    2 points
  12. I think Topgun2 is right, you can only answer this question for yourself. A close friend just purchased an Airsteam for this exact reason. He liked being surrounded by windows and I will admit, in the right campground, it's a plus. One consideration is to think about the type of camping you're likely to do. Boondocking and remote campsites will offer great views. However, these days I find for the most part, campgrounds are conjested with not much space between the sites. Add to that someone pulls in next to you with a slide and you're window to window. Times like these I'm happy for the Oliver's strategic placement of windows. Also, we spend most of our time outside the trailer when camping. Best of luck on your decision. John
    2 points
  13. I agree with the advantages of lithium over AGMs, but our factory AGM/solar set up served us very well over 5+ years. Anyone who goes that route will be fine in whatever style camping they do. I’m glad I upgraded to lithium but don’t regret the AGM days (especially since it was the top end upgrade at the time!). Mike
    2 points
  14. Were it me (and it's not), I'd probably opt for the solar pro, and see how it goes. Lithium prices keep dropping. You can always add them later, if you actually need them. Depending on the weather, (cooler temps), you can actually turn your gas fridge off for a few hours, if it's cold and full, and be fine, instead of running the 3way on 12v, if your solar doesn't keep up. We used to run ours on propane, traveling, when we had a 3way. (Unless in areas required by law to turn it off.) A 3way is least efficient in 12v. In our case, in the days when we still had a 3way, 200 watts solar, two 12v agm 105 ah batteries, we couldn't keep up running on 12v.
    2 points
  15. More and larger windows would be great. Some of the places we’ve camped lend themselves to just sitting and taking in the scenery. I agree with Sherry that a front window would be cool once on site, but if you don’t protect it while traveling it will end up chipped or cracked. Some come with a cover that you use while traveling. The back window offers a view, but it isn’t a large window. I wish all the windows were larger but am happy with what we have. Also, maybe a small window in the kitchen, could be used as a pass through to the grill master outside! Here’s a shot out the back window when we were camped at Indian Cove Campground in Joshua Tree National Park in January a few years ago.
    2 points
  16. Tough question that only you can answer for yourself. The only time I've wanted larger windows in my Elite II is when watching a bear, deer, moose, elk walk through my campsite - this would have saved me from having to jump from window to window. Bill
    2 points
  17. We can't imagine AGM batteries after having lithium. There are so many advantages to lithium batteries. While everyone knows they last longer, few think about the advantages of the built-in battery monitoring systems. No longer do you worry about over-charging, having to have a trickle charger, depleting them to zero, etc., etc.
    2 points
  18. In regards to lithium life span, those numbers are based on full discharge cycles. A set of batteries in a home solar installation, where they are deeply discharged every single day, will work orders of magnitude harder than on RV trips with partial discharges. My Battle Borns have been used for one season, and rarely did they ever drop very far below 50% state of charge. In about 45 days of use, the Victron Connect app shows just 12 cycles. Obviously if you are full timing off grid, you will stress them more, but at the rate I am going they will probably last for the rest of my lifetime….. and be healthy for the next owner. The expected life is 3000 to 5000 cycles. John Davies Spokane WA
    2 points
  19. Welcome to the forum and to your future Ollie. We too came from a 12v compressor fridge background, running a Dometic 35CFX on 100W solar and 160aH of AGMs. When deciding on options for our Ollie I asked but was told there were no 12v compressor fridge options, so ours too was delivered with the standard 3-way. After using the standard fridge on propane I can honestly say I like it. It keeps frozen items frozen and cold items cold and does not use much propane in doing so. We still have the dometic in the tow vehicle, powered by the same standalone solar and battery setup and are using it is a backup freezer. As for additional gray water storage, we carry three 6 gal water jugs in the tow vehicle. Two are marked for gray and provide additional 12 gal capacity where we cannot legally empty to the ground with a garden hose (we also have the composting toilet, so no black water). The third container is for potable water only and is used to ferry fresh water to the trailer where it is added to the fresh tank thru the boondock port at the rear. This Forum is great and we learned a lot before and after placing our order, refining the options we wanted through experience of others and asking questions
    2 points
  20. I'd be willing to bet that Foy's wife - Mirna - has a hand in that packaging somewhere too.😀
    2 points
  21. Ok, we’ve read the reviews and seen the photos of Foy’s wares, and know of their well-deserved stellar reputation. I’ve just received my order, and it does not disappoint. An unacknowledged talent he possesses is packing and shipping. Imagine the care and attention to detail exemplified in his wood products, extended to packing and shipping. Rest assured, the items are crafted with care, and packaged to arrive in pristine condition.
    1 point
  22. Just to head off a small stampede of owners that think otherwise....... the issue is not strength of any of the Anderson components. But rather wear of the ball itself. This is especially the case of those needing extra weight distribution (Ergo high chain tension) such a Sequoia's, Land Cruiser's, and some half-ton trucks. The increased size of the 2 5/16 ball provides a larger contact wear surface at the ball.
    1 point
  23. If you stand them up like your current AGM batteries you’ll only be able to get three in there. Some have turned them on their sides and got four in. Not sure of the specifics of that, but someone will answer. Here’s what two Battle Borns look like. If I remove the spacer in the front I would be able to get one more in standing up. So far two have been more than adequate. Mike
    1 point
  24. Here is Muncho Lake BC. One easy mod you can do is remove both Exit stickers from the glass, and put a single one above the window opening. That way your eye does not focus on the stickers. I also removed the screen permanently, we never open that window, so that improves the view. John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  25. I'll leave the removal process to others. In my 2008, the slide up a bit, flex a bit, and out they come. Rear window us a bigger pain, though. Don't give up on the air freshener smell til you've removed them, hosed them down with a bit of laundry detergent, and left outdoors for a bit. I don't like artificial fresheners, either. I get it.
    1 point
  26. Faust - Yes, you can remove them and some are more difficult to remove than others. In my case, the bathroom window always gives me trouble. With the main windows on each side of your Oliver you should be able to slide these screens in the tracks. In doing this you can note that they are held in place via springs (kind of like a leaf spring on a truck). Normally these springs are at the bottom of the screen but if the previous owner reversed them they may be at the top. In either case, press the screen towards the spring. Once it is depressed enough, you should be able to slide the end opposite from the screen towards you and from there it is easy to get out of the track. The rear window (at least on the Elite II has a red tab at the bottom of the screen. Pull the tab up and towards you to release the screen. If you decide to replace the screen material - get the "small insect" screening (available at Lowes, Home Depot and Ace). This will help keep very small critters out. Bill
    1 point
  27. Lead acid and agm are old (but tried and true) technologies. We're on our 5th season with current agm batteries, 2 x 12v x 105 ah. Ideal for us? No, especially with our dc compressor fridge, which uses 60 to 70 ah a day. But, I'm in no hurry to upgrade, as I hope/suspect they'll last another season or 3. Current cost is roughly $110 a season, plus generator fuel (minimal) when we need it. We could and would definitely use the extra ah of lithium, but I'm still on the fence. Will we ever recoup the cost, if we go lithium? I don't know. Would it be easier, for sure. I have to monitor power all the time, and solar input, with the 60 to 70 ah of the compressor fridge, with our puny battery setup, and mostly camping without electricity. It's a big decision, which can be changed up later, imo.
    1 point
  28. Thank You. Lots of great information👍
    1 point
  29. Hey thanks for posting this! I have been thinking about this upgrade and just placed my order.
    1 point
  30. If you are looking for an external add-on solar panel the Renogy 100w Solar Suitcase is priced now at $187. I paid $219 a few months ago. I'm very pleased with how well it works with the included waterproof charge controller. The included case in very nice as well. I would not say it's light weight but thats because it's well built. https://www.amazon.com/RENOGY-Foldable-Suitcase-Without-Controller/dp/B00LXG4AXS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=30E4LIP4PIHPL&keywords=renogy%2B100w%2Bsolar%2Bpanel&qid=1637861790&sprefix=renogy%2Caps%2C251&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExMjc5Vzg0SldWVkJCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTUzMTc1MzNBWDlaMEJWS09aSyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTg2MTY3M1ZMQlJRSk05VUo3VCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1 EDIT: Sorry - that is the link for the panel WITHOUT charge controller. The panel WITH controller is still $219. I didn't realize when I posted. Link with controller: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079JVBVL3/ref=twister_B07W1267XJ?_encoding=UTF8&th=1 2020 Elite II, 2021 Silverado 1500 3.0L Duramax 4x4
    1 point
  31. Battle Born has a big sale, and there is free shipping, as always. The 100 AH one many of us like is $799, down from the regular price of $949. https://battlebornbatteries.com/product-category/lifepo4-batteries/ Keep in mind that for the IRS solar tax credit all purchases for a solar system must be made in the same calendar year. So also buy the cables, terminals, add-ons and maybe even an MPPT controller before the end of the year, for your winter project. And if you already took the credit for a factory solar option, you can’t take it a second time. John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  32. New here so please bear with. Wife and I were camping less than 2 hours from Oliver's factory last Oct. . We had just seen a gentleman camping in an Elite, hull #819. So we called and asked to take a factory tour. Needless to say, we are now in line to get our Elite II in July '22 . We have an appointment to visit in Jan. to spend more time in a showroom model to make final option choices. We have been camping for the last 2 years from our CanAm Spyder motorcycles pulling a Leesure-Lite popup and a modified RT-622 CanAm trailer which we added 200 watts of solar to for power. That allowed us to use a 12v fridge/freezer and a 500 watt LiPO4 solar gen. to run my CPAP and all our electronics. That said, I researched equipment, and followed many forums for almost 3 years to get the most efficient and lightest weight items I could find, and afford. Here's where I am struggling. I would like to upgrade to LiPO4 and solar system in the Elite II, but their options don't seem quite right. Watts of solar to ah of battery storage should be at least two to one, not every day is a sunny day. In other words, their 340 watts solar and 630 AH battery is almost backwards. Also, as much as I would like to have enough battery capacity to run the air conditioner I would rather have a 12v unit, like the Dometic RTX 2000, to be more efficient. The idea of trying to collect enough sun with only 340 watts to replenish the power used on the AC unit and also the loss from converting from DC to AC to run it has me a bit nervous. I am familiar with the brand "Zamp" they have some good products however when trying to get all the power you can from an under sized solar array a MPPT charge controller would be ideal. Again, coming from camping off motorcycles where weight is a major factor, having to step up to 30# LP tanks is hard for me. Unfortunately, with an absorption style fridge, even if you can run it from the onboard electrical system, you will deplete your batteries too fast unless you are on shore power. So, for long term boondocking LP is really the only option. Finding a compressor style fridge would be ideal. Their composting toilet seems ideal for us who like to boondock a lot. I just wish that option included a conversion of the black tank to grey water storage. Sorry if I seem to be only focused on my perceived short comings of what I think is a GREAT camper, or we wouldn't have put down a deposit for one. I have spent a lot of time reading the Mods section of the forum here and I find many are converting stock items to what I have talked about here. Even switching to lithium, it sounds as if you lose the ability to charge while towing unless the new owner installs a DC to DC charger on their own, maybe I missed something. I hope I don't come across as a "Debbie downer" when I say it seems like I will be removing A LOT of $ items to modify to above ideas to get it "just right" for us, as soon as we bring it home from the factory.
    1 point
  33. My wife and I are taking delivery of an Elite II next summer as well. We haven't yet been required to make a final commitment on upgrades, but we are leaning toward the Lithium Pro Package over the Solar Pro package. In response to an earlier, similar post inquiring whether to go with wet cell or AGM, I stated the reasons we have tentatively chosen the Lithium Pro Package. I have edited it to more specifically address your LIFePO4 vs. AGM query: "We are presently planning to spend the extra $$$$ on the Lithium Pro Package [over the Solar Pro Package], for many reasons: (1) we view it as "future proofing" (it's a lot easier to have the more robust 3kw inverter and wiring infrastructure installed during construction); (2) we hope to be able to run the AC with just our 2kw generator, which requires the Micro Air Easy Start [included in the Lithium Pro Package] (which is also much easier to install in the factory before the AC goes on the roof); (3) we want to be able to run the AC, albeit for only a short time, on the batteries; (4) LiFePO4 accepts a full charge much faster than lead/acid, and so is more efficiently recharged with solar; (5) 390Ah of LiFePO4 provides much more usable battery capacity than 400 Ah of [lead/acid/AGM batteries], because only about 50% of lead/acid capacity is usable before recharge compared to 85% with LiFePO4; (6) payload,and therefore trailer weight, is an issue with our 2019 Tundra 5.7L Double Cab tow vehicle, and LiFePO4 saves a couple hundred pounds vs. [AGM] and (7) the increased cost is offset to some extent by the 10-year probable life of LiFePO4 batteries." I will add with regard to the first point, future proofing, that we plan to own our Ollie for a couple of decades, and we believe that the price of LiFePO4 batteries vs. AGM will continue to drop over that time as lithium R&D costs are recovered. We do not plan to spend the additional $4400 for the 630 Ah Lithium Platinum Package because we believe 390 Ah will be enough. But, if, over time, we decide we really want more battery capacity, it will likely be less expensive later, and we can add it without having to also upgrade the inverter or any internal wiring. I expect you know you will likely get between 3 and 5 years of service from AGMs. So, over the probable 10-year life of the LiFePO4 batteries, you will be required to replace the AGMs at least once, maybe twice. Today, you must pay at least $800 for 400Ah of AGM capacity. And, I note you have purchased a Honda 2200i generator. If you plan to run the AC using that generator, you will still need to spend the extra $400 for the MicroAir Easy start if you don't opt for the Lithium Pro Package. So, over time and considering the cost of the MicroAir Easy Start, the "net" cost differential between the Solar Pro and Lithium Pro packages falls more in the $2400-$3100 range, not $4300. For these reasons, we are still planning to spend the extra on the Lithium Pro Package. Hope this helps with your decision.
    1 point
  34. Thank you MountianMan, Mike, and Bill I understand a lot of your responses, and we will probably live with the stock configuration for most of the first year. Most of my points I was trying to make come from having those 3 years to prep for our motorcycle camping. Then I ended up not only putting everything together (one piece at a time), I also modified our popup camper to the point of major modding the axle to make it work with all those choices. Thanks again Robert & Deb
    1 point
  35. We found that our 4 AGM batteries and 320W of solar worked well when we were off grid for extended periods. I run the fridge on propane while traveling and we were always fully charged when we arrived at our next location. Mike
    1 point
  36. Dear "Debbie", Decisions, decisions! Most (if not all) of us have made changes to our Olivers - some big, some small. It's a great canvas that allows this sort of thing. My take on the whole "solar thing with the large battery capacity" is that Oliver was trying to address the need of some customers to have air conditioning available for use for relatively short periods of time without the need of being plugged into shore power. Obviously a limiting factor for the solar array is the space available on the roof - yes, there is still more room for additional panels on the roof but at what price point? For me, the decision would be fairly simple - do I really NEED to have the air conditioner run off the batteries? In the six plus years I've owned my Oliver there have only been two times that it would have been nice to have this feature - I can virtually always find a campground where I can plug in if necessary and I can do that a bunch of times for that $ you are talking about. The whole MPPT controller story is discussed here on this Forum multiple times. Yes the MPPT is a bit more efficient but the change to the current controller was done (at least partially) to make the whole solar process easier for owners. In most situations it seems that this current controller works as intended. The black tank conversion has also been discussed at length here. But, given the seemingly limited number of owners that have actually done something in this regard it would appear that it is either still a "work in progress", too difficult to do the conversion for the resultant benefit, or simply a "nice to have someday project" versus something that really impacts current camping utility and enjoyment. Finally, the running of the fridge on 12volt versus propane has also been discussed here on multiple occasions. As MM198 says above, the fridge is really efficient running on propane. If you are nervous keeping your propane lines "open" while traveling, there is a product called "GasStop" that should alleviate that worry. If you are still nervous then you should know that a number of people simply do not open the fridge door while traveling and unless it is very hot or the travel day is exceedingly long, the interior of the fridge stays cold enough until you are stopped once again. Unless you are planning on doing a fair amount of winter/cold weather camping, the 20 lb propane tanks should be enough for the reasons Mike & Carol cite above. Finally, WELCOME! You'll find that many of us here came from a motorcycle background. Right now you are in what I believe is the "hard part" of owning an Ollie. Trying to make all of the decisions on options, trying to come to grips with the money spent on a relatively small camper, trying to get working knowledge on the Oliver systems. Please know that all of this is really not that difficult. And you still have plenty of time to get comfortable with this Family. Bill
    1 point
  37. WHAT? - No crate?🤣 I really don't think that either Foy or Mirna ever worked for a shipping company (USPS, UPS, FedEx and the like) but, somehow, they must have learned about the abuse packages take when out there is the shipping world. Good job.
    1 point
  38. I checked with the cost to tow it to Portland, Oregon and it was something like $1.65 per mile which brought it to over $3000 if I recall. I thought no thanks.
    1 point
  39. Painted cowboy? Don't know if still the same, but here's a thread. Best to call your reo, obviously. Everything changes over time.
    1 point
  40. There is a specific company they use I think it's Cowboy something. There is a guy from Washington/Oregon that purchased right before us that had his delivered and was very happy with the service. Maybe he will see your post.
    1 point
  41. Yes - I believe that it is TN State law that requires proof of insurance prior to delivery. Good luck! Bill
    1 point
  42. We were notified about a month ago that our delivery would slip from Feb 22 to Feb 28, and they are still showing Feb 28 as we are about to finalize and make the first payment. A slip toward warmer weather is not necessarily a bad thing for us.
    1 point
  43. Mine moved from Dec 9 to Dec 22. It's only about a 4 hour drive for me, so thankfully no big headaches on rearranging long-distance travel. Same reason - suppliers.
    1 point
  44. The rate can vary wildly, depending on your own data (driving record, claims, towing experience) and where and how the trailer is stored. My Progressive RV policy is $465 per year, stored in a secure indoor location at my home. Sometimes they will try to bundle roadside assistance, you can decline that if you have that already. John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  45. Thanks for the information and suggestions. We are going to stay at the Commodore in Linden as we have a dog. I spoke with Kathy at the Commodore today she seemed very helpful. I also spoke with Mike at Oliver service this afternoon. We are to tow our Ollie from the Oliver campground to service at 8 am. Then we fill out paperwork etc. He said we didn't need to do any specific preparation. We are going to stop at Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Dolly World, and some of the Smoky Mountains on our way to Honenwald. We may check out some of the suggestions. We are planning to hit Memphis and Nashville on our way home from Utah in early April but the Gaylord sounds worth checking out for sure during Christmas season.
    1 point
  46. I believe the drum brakes Oliver is currently installing are mounted on Dexter "Nev-R-Lube" axles. Dexter touts those axles as a "sealed cartridge bearing system," with a 5-year,100,000 mile warranty. So, even though I won't have to annually grease the 8 sets of wheel bearings on the Elite II I am committed to receive next year, I will plan to the pull all four drums annually to check the brake shoes. Thanks for the reminder! That said, I am with John Davies on this one. Having worked on many sets of both drum and disc brakes on my vehicles over the past 40+ years, I prefer disc brakes by a large margin. If Oliver offered them as an upgrade, I would pay that premium.
    1 point
  47. We are impatiently waiting on the 2022 Tundra, too. Our 2016 Tundra looked fine with Ollie, too:
    1 point
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