Patriot

On this second day of winter….the hounds of winter.

RIP Chris Rea. Thank you for all your great music.

Another vid from Will on a new issue with BB’s.🤔

Looks familiar 😄

Chris, great question. This is what I came up with in a quick open source search. I thought it was worthy of posting here with regard to Li bats. I did some limited work with the CPS folks in my former career mostly on imported consumption products. https://www.compliancegate.com/lithium-battery-safety-standards-united-states/#Consumer_Product_Safety_Improvement_Act_CPSIA

😄

@John Dorrer Thanks for posting this dangerous safety concern. I know there are several owners of BB’s here on the forum and they will really appreciate this heads up. edit - This could really become a PR nightmare for BB, lets hope they get out in front of it super fast.

@taylor.coyote I recently had a complete Lithium upgrade professionally installed with 2 Epoch 300ah batteries which do have built in heaters. The Epochs fit perfectly in the OEM battery tray. I selected ALL Victron components to include the Victron 3000 watt inverter/charger and the DC/DC charger. Our DC/DC charger is a game changer for us and eliminates the need to ever carry a generator again. Our Ford 6.7 diesel has dual alternators which made my decision pretty easy to roll with DC/DC charger. I considered Battle Born but the preferred the (2) single 300ah Epochs. If one goes down you have a back up. “One is none and two is one”. Charging our house batteries via our TV while on the roads less traveled is certainly a nice option to have while traveling rain, shine or in darkness. ⚡️Have fun with your conversion!

Vince, Sounds like you have a solid plan. Wishing you a seamless install and congrats on getting rid of the 747 “Deafening Demonic” jet engine😄. Just think, post install with a super quiet AC you will be able to sleep peacefully, hold a normal conversation, talk on the phone, watch a movie or listen to music. It was great meeting you at this year’s Oliver Rally. After Oliver installed out Truma, Aventa I brought my Dometic back home and sold it on FB marketplace pretty quickly for $600.00. It now sits on top of a food truck somewhere here in NC. 🤔 Let us know how your install goes! Happy Holidays to you and your family my friend!

I will give Casita a little credit. They are certainly taking “little bites” out of the fiber glass travel trailer market for folks who just cannot justify 90-100k for an Oliver. Smart forward thinking with their R&D folks with a larger/longer camper and dry bath to boot. And oh gee, how interesting? Casita must be listening to their customers! 🤔 Might be just me, But I bet they sell quite a few baskets of those eggs! 😄 https://casitatraveltrailers.com/lc/

With approx 11,000 miles logged on our Alcan running gear we have not had any issues with our gear moving around at all. I agree with Mike the trailer seems more planted when towing. I also run 55# tire pressure. I even leave a pair of reading glasses on a small shelf near my bunk and they stay put.

A little more detailed info on battery storage I received from Epoch. ⚡ If You Must Leave the Battery Installed Cold climates: • Keep the battery connected to a powered LiFePO₄ charger or maintainer so the internal heater can operate. o The heater only runs when the battery is plugged into an active power source. o Solar panels alone usually can’t provide enough energy at night or during long cloudy stretches. • Do not attempt to charge the battery below 32 °F (0 °C) unless the heater is operating. Temperate or warm climates: • A small solar maintainer can work if days are sunny and parasitic draws are very low. • If possible, connect to shore power or plug in occasionally to ensure a full top-up. • Avoid long periods at 100% charge — this shortens battery life. 🔌 Before Storage 1. Charge to about 50% SOC (roughly 13.1–13.2 V for 12 V systems). 2. Turn off or disconnect all non-essential loads. Even a tiny 50 mA draw can drain 36 Ah per month! 3. Use a battery disconnect switch or pull the main fuse if possible. 4. Confirm heater power if you plan to leave the battery in a freezing location. 🧯 Step 3 – Understand heater and charger operation • Epoch batteries with internal heaters must be connected to an active charger for the heater to receive power. • The heater automatically turns on when the internal temperature drops near freezing and turns off when warm enough to charge. • If no power source is available, the heater cannot run, and charging below freezing must be avoided. ⚠️ Never try to “force charge” a cold battery. Doing so can cause permanent damage. 🧭 Step 4 – Check occasionally • Installed batteries: check voltage or Bluetooth app monthly. • Stored indoors: check every 1–3 months. If voltage falls below about 13.0 V (12 V system) or 26.0 V (24 V system), recharge briefly to about 50% SOC. 🌡️ Summary Table Storage Location Climate Recommended SOC Charger Needed? Heater Power Notes Indoors (best) Any 40–60% No N/A Check every 2 mo. Installed + Shore Power Cold/Temperate 40–60% Yes – active Yes Ideal if removal not practical Installed + Solar Only Temperate 40–60% Possibly Maybe Risky in long cloudy/cold spells Installed + No Charger Any 50% No No Disconnect all loads; check monthly ⚠️ Quick Reminders • Do not charge below 32 °F (0 °C) unless the internal heater is powered. • Avoid storing at 100% charge for more than a few weeks. • Avoid high heat (above 86 °F / 30 °C) during long storage. • Use only LiFePO₄-compatible chargers (Victron, Epoch, or similar). • Always follow Epoch’s voltage and temperature specifications for your model. 🏁 Spring Startup 1. Inspect cables and terminals. 2. Reconnect any disconnect switches or fuses. 3. Bring the battery to full charge before first use. 4. Verify normal operation in the Epoch App or Victron monitor. Questions or Support If you’re unsure which option is right for your climate or setup, contact your authorized Epoch dealer or support team. They can help you confirm heater operation and charger compatibility.

@Kpaladin Welcome to the Oliver family. Wishing you many happy miles and smiles in Casa Blanca a nicely equipped and well maintained Oliver. Like others have said whatever we can do to help with any questions, please ask. Safe Travels! Patriot

Art, Going to reeeeally miss you here, but glad you’re only a txt or phone call away brother. When Kathy and I head out west again we will be sure to drop a line and connect in New Mexico. Same goes if you ever guys ever come east to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mtns, you’re always welcome at our home! A big huge congrats on the new Brinkley I 235 and new TV too! It was great talking with you last night. Kathy and I wish you and Diane many happy miles and smiles!! David & Kathy

Epoch Lithium Battery Storage Info- I reached out to Epoch Battery Lithium battery customer service (Stockbridge, Georgia) regarding our recent install of (2) of Epoch 300ah (self heating) batteries in our OLE2 and correct SOC during short term winter storage. They responded quickly and this is the guidance they provided. This information is for anyone that now owns or is considering a swap at some point from aging AGMs over to Epoch 300ah batteries. Epoch recommends 1-6 months in storage a 50-70% SOC. Epoch does not recommend leaving the batteries plugged in 24x7 via 30amp power and maintaining the batteries at 100% SOC during storage months. Just passing it forward!

They use a really strong industrial strength glue which I do not recall the name of. I do know that they use this adhesive in ALL their RV and Marine fiberglass installs. The next time I speak to the good folks at Inverter Services, I will try and remember to ask him about the adhesive they use. 👍🏻

Here are my thoughts: edited- We previously owned an Overland Trailer (which had a Max Air fan). We experienced a voltage issue so I had the Orion-Tr 12/12-9 installed to stabilize and maintain 12v power to the fan. Now I do not have to be concerned about possible spikes or a malfunctioning control board. Max Air Fans operating above 13.8v can damage the fans control board. This will prevent damage to the sensitive control board. The black plastic board material used to secure all components is called Starboard or Black HDPE and I can tell you it’s super tough and used in Marine grade applications. Inverter Services uses lots of this material during their installs. Here - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08M6DJNH4/?_ Open Source info on Max Air Fans- *** MaxxAir fans are designed for a 12 Volt DC system, operating within a voltage range of approximately 10.6–13.6V, with an optimal test voltage of 12.8V. Operating above 13.8V can damage the fan's control board and void the warranty, especially if the system is charging. To prevent issues from voltage spikes, a DC/DC voltage regulator is recommended for stable power, especially when the vehicle's charging system is active.

It sounds like a fun trip! 😊 We have had limited experience camping in below freezing temperatures, and not in the mid teens as you mentioned. Our temps were in the mid to upper 20 degree range and only for a short couple of hours before sunrise. Our Oliver was not winterized and we had no issues with frozen water lines. We always make it a point to not to connect to city water with a freeze warning and use our on board water. We don’t drink from our fresh water tank, and always carry plenty of gallon jugs for drinking water. Our typical sleeping temp is 61d and we run a dehumidifier which keeps our interior just about perfect at 55% humidity. We always leave the bathroom door open to keep warm air circulating. As @topgun2 mentions there are lots of variables to consider. I think you will be fine just stay weather aware for sure. Safe travels and let us know how your trip goes!

SOLD on 11/21/25 on FB Market Place.

Steve, glad to pass it forward. If you go with Inverter Services, I think you will be happy with their work. Jim Posey whom I think you have seen on the Oliver FB page referred me to this company. He has had a lot of work done by them on different RVs over the years and believes they are one of the best. I agree.

John, Under the rear street side bed right where the former Xantrex 2000 was installed by Oliver. A custom platform was added to secure the longer a heavier Victron Inverter/charger.

Thanks Bill, We will set a time up for you to come by for sure! 👍🏻

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.

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

***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. 😊