BackofBeyond

No idea if we will make the date - but reservations - made. Section E.

Welcome - my spouse is a NW Texan. Good wishes on your future travels - I am pretty sure I've spent more time traveling across TX than anywhere - E to W, and back - probably 40 times - not counting the north south trips. RB

Perhaps - From my experience - the electronics in todays TV's are much more complicated than ever - the buss systems and communication across the buss and between the various modules and control circuits are subject to damage from unrecognized voltage. Hi/low, not expected, whatever - I know where the OEM would be if I brought my TV in because it no longer functions correctly due to a damaged module somewhere. The cost of replacement for a simple ECM could run into the stratosphere. I would think - regardless of battery type - the RV manufactures would have develop their systems to protect not only the OEM systems but also the accompanying TV systems. A simple one way flow system seems doable - the DC to DC chargers do this - Or as in this instance maybe cheap out - just cut the charge channel out entirely. My $$ is with the no charge from the TV. Yes -ridiculous.

Oliver owners have posted a variety of theft prevention locks, chains, coupler locks, etc. While a determined and well equipped thief can defeat almost any theft prevention device, it is worth remembering - The vast majority of places we camp/park our Oliver's are usually not high theft areas. It is jut not a target rich environment - especially if your out boondocking. I use a lock and coupler covering device that would be hard to overcome - but not impossible - heck just unbolt the coupler off the frame. Run a HD hardened chain through the wheels, works but still - defeatable. I'm one that doesn't worry about it much. Casual theft - may be a larger risk - breaking into the RV, stealing chairs, grills, etc, is perhaps something that happens more frequently, but I've not experienced it in 40+ years. Oliver's are very rare - a stolen one would be rather simple to find I would think. A few all points bulletins posted here and on the FB place would have a good response I would think. RB

Ok - old grumpy guy comment....... - I just don't understand the need of some folks who seem to need daylight - at night - and then leave them on all night. A few nice - mood inducing awning lights work well - but the stadiums - hmm. Therefore I try to stay as inconspicuous as possible with the lighting. I remember a pod of AS owners that all wanted their running lights on while parked in the CG - I guess its Christmas all year. Me being inconspicuous is not easy - by the way.

1- Navigation has not been an issue on public roads - campgrounds and boondocking - it can be - you just need a little foresight. If in doubt I'll go look - but honestly the Oliver is pretty easy to shoehorn in some small spaces. I got applause in Glacier once - the guy behind me was sure it wouldn't fit - nailed it first time. 2. Many apps available - you'll learn very quickly what to do. It has never been an issue. If in doubt - check it out. 3. Routine travel - just make sure you can see your exit - whether its a gas station, store, or whatever. I usually park in the out lot - take up 2 spaces. You certainly don't do drive up - but I suppose you could in some places. Gas - fuel- is usually really simple - diesel takes a little more looking at the pumps...... 4. See 3, but not an issue. I love the fact I can stop and stay almost anywhere its not illegal. 5. Never bottomed out - which I think you mean a steep entrance/exit angle. Even with the bike rack hanging way off - no. But then you should look ahead and evaluate - if in doubt... No worries you will soon become comfortable. You can always find a big lot - go practice doing stupid stuff - and your confidence will grow. Honestly - I think the biggest risks are other drivers - not paying attention (cell phones) and that is towing or not - People are too preoccupied most of the time. I love telling my SO - watch this nut.....look what he/she is doing - duhh. (A Hold my beer moment) And if you notice a vehicle or two - following you into the gas station, or the wally world - relax - they just want to look at your Oliver. It happens - a lot. RB

I must admit - i rarely use that light - i prefer the lower ones - if at all.

I am continually amazed at the number and sophistication of the attacks on our internet related purchases, and financial transactions. More frustrating is the customer service portals that keep you on the phone - pressing one number alter another- just hoping to end up with a real person. Happy to see Amazon does employ real people. Your cautionary tale is certainly one we all should keep in the forefront as we go about our daily lives. Your tale reminds me of some fake fuel purchases made during a trip in 2019. Convincing the bank we didn't make the purchase took an act of congress. Given we were in WY, and the fraud was in Florida, and the bank officials could clearly see the transactions, minutes apart - it was frustrating. So beware is a good mindset. I have gone to the fullest - strictest- most restrictive protections on my financial accounts - it is a hassle - but so was earning the $$ in the first place. It goes against my person - but I've come to distrust everyone and everything until proven otherwise. Well maybe not - fully - but it is there in the back of my mind - beating on my conscious. Appreciate the heads up Topgun. RB

Are you sure your on the correct setting - are you trying to engage just the furnace - not the heat strip in the AC unit? I know i did that early on - when learning how to operate the system. Good luck.

Well we all have opinions. I towed with a 1/2 ton, and now with my 2500 (19,000 miles towing, 43K overall), overkill is not what I'd call it, more appropriate - it performs better in every situation except tight parking lots. As has been mentioned - the most capable statistic of the larger TV is payload. I also believe the added power of the diesel is well worth the upgrade. As they say, I've been with and with out - I'll take with every time. I drove all the competition in 2018 - the Ford was much rougher ride unloaded. The GMC has decent manners unloaded and is really good loaded. I once had a 2007 HD GMC - now that was a stiff suspension!! Worlds apart from the trucks of today. If I were in the market today - I would seriously look at the Ram and the GMC - I'd want to drive the gas versions of each of the HD's - even try to talk them into letting me haul the Ollie around a bit. I'd even try the 1/2 ton ones if the payload was appropriate - I believe I saw one in the 23oo lbs. area, Not sure however. But now that I have the requisite chips, scrapes, and depreciation on the current one - I'll probably just drive it for a good while -.like forever 😉

I will add this - although I am not sure if anything has changed since 2018 builds. The latch on the battery tray slide has a history of breaking off - shearing - and the door then becomes the only thing keeping the tray and its contents from sliding out. I drilled a 1/4 hole through both of the slide arms and secured with a double nutted bolt. It is not coming out with out taking the bolt loose. If I needed an an additional locking mechanism - this is where I would do it. Its cheap too. If I were a thief - the lockable latch just does seem that difficult to overcome. But then what passing by thief has the tools and time to disconnect the batteries - RB

It was long way down that rabbit hole - about 20 ft., but that's a SWAG. SWAG - Sophisticated Wild Ass Guess.

Welcome.

I always wondered what the future Hot Rod folks were gonna do in a Tesla and e vehicle world. Seems there is life in the next 50 years for the old car guys... Is This GM’s Answer to TESLA? - YouTube

Low charge - No worries, they can put a charging station anywhere nowadays

no worries, I was sharing your confused remembrances. Blue light special on blue tarps - yikes - I missed it,

I like our Truma, not absolutely sure its worth the added cost. Despite instructions - we only turn it on when needed. We don't leave it on otherwise. So n that respect, I can't see a much more power saving water heater than the Truma - other than my old solar water pouch shower.....

Its the kids bikes - for sure. Us grumpy old men and all. Blue tarps, older vehicles - well there was a time when I practiced tarpology, in fact - I have a PhD in Tarpinism. WW kayaking is camping way back in, with lots of cool gear , usually when it is raining, has rained, or is in the forecast. Tarps bring back good memories.... I hate to admit - fondly - there may have been a party or two, maybe some imbibing, and perhaps a lullaby or two wafting through the trees. But, as I look back, there was rarely anyone else around but us nut cases, with plastic boats, breaking ice to get in our gear. Ahh, that's why I like boondocking - the memories. And big campfires, Was usually plenty of downed wood to choose from. Smell, what smell. Certainly not the musty, moldy smelling, wet, polypro hanging on the bush, drip drying. Ok, your right, I'm a little grumpy these days. - its those darn kids and their bikes. But if you spy a a yellow n purple Kayak, laying next to an Oliver, shoe horned into a spot, near a swiftly running creek, or river - It is probably me - sans a blue tarp. Good tidings all.

As technology has improved, and multiplied across the platforms, quality - both build and component, has improved greatly. It has been an interesting journey - what was once the Big 3 US auto manufacturers - is now a very broad based industry - of many foreign held auto manufacturers, building vehicles from coast to coast, border to border, all using components from similar suppliers, a good many built in the same plant, by the same folks. Product differentiation - esp. in the interior design, powertrains , and tech offerings are really moving forward. If I had a worry - its the ability of the dealer network to keep up with the technology and tech's needed to diagnose and repair in the field. A hybrid - like the Ford - has a good many more systems - having to communicate across the vehicle buss, - than does - say a pure electric Tesla. If i wanted a simple truck, I'd need to go back a looooong way. Luckily, my current TV has been issue free - My first thought after reviewing the Ford was - wow that's cool - but that's a lot of stuff - complicated stuff. Seems for the $$$, a simple generator would be easier. I'll give it few years - not a Luddite, just cheap.... RB

Ok, a question - Why is the new Li Oliver system not designed such that this issue is not - an issue. Seems like an engineering error - omission. The Dc to DC is a cheap - simple solution - similar to what I did on my last van conversion.

QuestionMark, Thanks for the updates. As an Oliver owner, I apologize for the poor initial quality issues you have experienced, Us Oliver owners are more accustomed to promoting them, not defending. As for your items - Many of them are just unacceptable - period. We pay a premium price for these units - and although Oliver quality is above industry average, your experience is not. I could guess at what caused this poor performance, but that's Oliver's problem to solve. When you have a 6-8 month backlog, with customers clamoring for product, quality too often takes a back seat. Clearly, Oliver has some work to do, with 700 units - and growing - Jason and crew will need - yet, another building to repair the quality back in. Good luck RB

Admittadly, I am a beginner in the Solar set-ups, but I do have a long standing - once professional- experience in the electrical world. The various posts remind me of my motorcycle racing days - we were always looking for the next best set-up - power, suspension, you name it. I find it fascinating. Really enjoy the conversations. How far one goes towards the hot set up - really depends on your goal, or in some cases, its a continuing fascination with just making the Oliver a better solar home. But to Mossey's point - for the casual user - me- with the original AGM/Zamp install - wanting a little more - would it not be a dollar wise choice to just use a good remote panel set up, with a nice quality 10 gage cord, using the installed Zamp port - and add a charge controller as indicated? As it is tied directly to the battery bank, the rest of the system can gone on until the AGM's reach their usable lifespan. At that point - upgrading to Lithium's, new controller - etc. - would seem a wiser choice. I agree, the standard SAE is not the best - but given a regular inspection, it works fine, I've been using them on the farm - out in the element's for a while now and my solar charge on tractor/battery equipment is doing fine. Not the optimum set-up but working. NOW - if its your goal to run large loads - say - the AC - then have at it. To me the dollar value doesn't cut it: - a value gen set - while a little more cumbersome - just makes more sense. If I was starting over with my Oliver build - well - the options are certainly there. I still think - for me - it would be a balance of performance over cost. Carry on - all. I'll sit on the sidelines and learn. - JD , your reference site was great - thanks much. Edit here - what is a good estimate on the life span of the AGM's - kept in good condition, never abused?

Several have done just that - run a small electric heater. I would also open up an air passage to the lower enclosed areas to allow the warmer air to circulate through. Might add a little insulation to the outside of the exterior shower - between the hatch cover - just in case. RB

I noticed mine was leaking a bit - under pressure. Not gonna worry about it. Plenty of anti freeze everywhere, the filter is out of the Truma. Nor sure why I would replace it unless it just really lets loose. RB

In 20 years we have only had a blizzard one time, it lasted about 10 minutes. Snow in Middle TN - while not rare -doesn't last long- a few days at best. On the roadway - maybe a few hours - a day. A bigger worry is ice on the roadway. It has been my experience - bad drivers are everywhere. TN is one of the top destinations for people migration in the US. About 700,000 left CA last year, I know many that settled in Mid TN, along with a few Arizonians, New Yorkers, and so on. A melting pot to be sure. The States That Residents Are Leaving And The Ones They Are Moving To (forbes.com) Along with missing teeth, inbreeding, and perhaps driving in snow, the "south" has left behind the cliché it once represented. Nashville - its a badge of honor to claim originality - FWIW. No - you will not need snow chains - bring a smile, a good disposition, - you'll be fine - , RB