BackofBeyond

Certainly interesting. Yes - looking to the write up on performance while towing. RB

Hey Kevin and Theresa Welcome - We will be in the Flag area memorial week and on - perhaps we can meet and say hi - we will have Ollie in tow. RB

I have left the vent open - but it was in error - and your right it doesn't make much difference on the inside temp's. However, I have thought about a cool looking deflector - AKA - the roof mounted bike racks- mounted to the solar panels - Say a blue tinted plastic - with some graphics matching the Ollie. Not sure what good it would add - but hey - then I would have something - JD would have to catch up........😀😄 ( I am so far behind on his new improvements to Ollie)

Well, as has been said - how you set up your Ollie and the solar - should depend on how you use the RV - for me its the amount boondocking you do - or not. Honestly, with the increase in the numbers of folks that are now RV'ing and pretty much filling most campgrounds, not having the ability to stay off grid - comfortably - is a real issue. As much as I detest detailed trip planning - (where we will park) - I have attempted to secure sites for June/July across several of the western states - and -not to my surprise - a few places I would like to have found a fri/sat spot are packed full. Luckily, most of where we plan to head has lots of great - free - boondocking. With this in mind - I finally added a small gen set - just for the days the Sun is on strike. (and for running the AC when we are trekking across the plains in summer) Having a fully capable off grid RV really adds to the versatility of the experience. Now I will say - if commercial RV parks are your thing - you can find a spot in most places - well - it was tough during spring break in Florida. But having the ability to park in B.O.B. places- for weeks on end - are , well priceless. RB

I don't understand! What is all the fuss. I use a heavy thick black grease - just goop it on, smear it around real well - and then use a torque wrench with Loong bar with a special tool end to tighten and take off. Works beery beery well. 😵 NO wait - that was a dream/nightmare - neverminded. Still recovering from that Russian pop music fiasco......

Thanks - we will need to keep this in mind - we have been to FT Pickens several times - an alternative is nice. RB

h,mmmm there are several posts on this topic. But yes.

even twice - i don't know what you said 😵

Very good info - correct for my area!

Can't speak for the rest of the country - but in my neck of the woods we have plenty of sources for non ethanol fuel - high octane and other - I only use non ethanol high octane in everything but the truck, the Honda SUV, and the tractor. Never have issues, long term or other. Good travels all. RB

I must not have been camping quite long enough - still carry more than I need😵

Still - it is a decent buy. Reviews appear to support it as a good unit. Think I may pull the trigger - thanks SEA dawg. Add: I ordered one! Running till empty - only required for Looooooong term storage - all my gas equipment gets this - run empty. - except my blowers - I use them all year. RB

Drifting a little more: I don't know anyone that believes the Toyota is not a good truck. Toyota has a well deserved reputation for quality and reliability. Where Toyota seems to fall behind somewhat is in the HD market - and it is by choice. Seems Toyota is content with robust sales and subsequent incremental profit margins. Although - many seem to believe the Tundra is not being refreshed enough to keep pace with the others you mentioned. Similar for the Tacoma. Were Toyota to produce a real HD vehicle - with the reserve power and suspension to handle a well laden TT and full payload - it would be one of my first test drives. They don't offer a product to fit my requirements, thus the SOB. On a side not - a real in depth research effort on TMM is well worth the time - if your interested in such things - GM had a full staff doing such as part of the NUMMI project. My time there was very illuminating and worthwhile. NUMMI: for those that didn't know -NUMMI - Wikipedia Oh - by the way - Elon now produces the TESLA in the same location - Happy Trails all RB

Around these parts Brad is well known as a master of the guitar. There is an interesting video with Joe B interviewing Brad. They talk guitars and such..... Live From Nerdville with Joe Bonamassa - Episode 17 - Brad Paisley - YouTube RB

Harsh - given the current cultural environment - perhaps one could describe the performance as: The Tacoma tries very hard to overcome the shortcomings of its heritage, certainly it had the intentions to be the best TV it imagined it could be, but in every case, lives up to the potential of what could have been, given the state of design inherent to a process that was not optimized to produce a modern full featured high powered unit that EVERY RV owner deserves but doesn't have the opportunity to obtain. More representative of the Tacoma's performance would be to say it is top of its class - any issue with actual results is most likely the fault of the RV in tow - a mis match of expectations and .................. RB

Our 2018 E II had full set of diagrams - The electrical was fairly accurate/complete. Plumbing, etc., all there. Part and parcel of modern manufacturing is a thing called "standardized work" - the operator instructions for this are derived from detailed documented processes developed from the engineering spec's. To say that each unit is built in a manufacturing environment in a state of process "flux" would certainly explain the various mis-builds reported here in the recent past. Perhaps this is somewhat accurate, but I doubt it - well hope not - anyways. Keeping manuals, unit specifications, system diagrams, operating instructions and all - is a complicated and time consuming task, one that requires utmost accuracy - on a constant basis - and tied to build point breakpoints for changes. I could understand Oliver not wanting to publish in mass - but not acquiescing to individual requests. Interesting. To say the service department doesn't have the benefit of such material boggles the mind. Well mine anyway. So - to the poster out there headed to the plant for a tour - pay particular attention to the wiring station - ask them how they know what to do for each unit- your feedback would be interesting to hear. I could see the why not - If online documentation had some errors - this forum would be busy pointing out the inaccuracies , and making corrections - in an endless stream of posts and consternation. Trouble no manufacturer wants..... But to be the best - well, never mind. Good travels all. RB

I had a very detailed response - but never mind - This is not something that should be occurring. Oliver relies on Jason and crew to carry the day for the manufacturing foibles. Glad to see the problem is on the fix. Best in class - well it is a low bar.... RB

or RV exasperation,

We begin again,

John. I hope the Canadian's open the borders in time for summer travel, but I don't have a lot of faith it will happen. As you said - the West still has a lot to be explored. Hope all works out - Heck - you still have that little hamlet of a state - Montana to really delve into.😜

You do need a certain amount up front - one must offset the load attached to the rear 11/4 " carrier. Balance is important- The art of front to back distribution - exposed: Simple really. Happy Friday. RB

I regularly tow with a JD 3038E - top speed about 5 mph. Good turn radius, wonderful rear vision. Really sucks on the Interstate. But on the other hand - in 4WD it rocks..... Sorry - I'm off topic I thought it was : towing on the farm - - it must be those damn Russian electro pop video's rattling around in my head..... It is not my fault. RB

of Medusa merger

Well, Mr. Snowball - that is music I would never have heard - but for your Friday follies. Interesting stuff for certain. Here is an artist I haven't seen mentioned here -. Double cheeseburger for me. I get one once a quarter. RB

Soon, better roads,