SeaDawg

@Boudicca908, I couldn't honestly recommend the Badlands for tent camping. I think you made a wise decision. But, it's a great place in a hard sided rv. I grew up in the Midwest. Weather can indeed change rapidly. A weather radio is a wise choice for camping anywhere, but especially helpful in the Miidwest.

Yes, thank you. We in the Elite crowd are a minority, and reports are hard to come by. The weight of the ascent and a reasonably loaded Elite seem to be a good match. My brother just bought a gas Maverick, and loves it. I'm still skeptical of this as a tow vehicle, but as a daily driver, he lives it, and the mpg. If we do get to Minnesota this summer, I'll see if we can do a test tow with his truck. It would be fun.

@Mattnan, heels are barred in both our trailer and boats. Thanks for the funny. 😁

Yes, that corresponds with published data. 6'6" interior height, in the II. The original Elite is less, I think 6'1. Though the average height of a USA male is still only 5'9", that's just an average. Lots of you taller guys (and some gals, too, like some of my friends) around.

The first powered dolly we bought, the ez tug, was mounted to the tongue, and the leg and wheel could swing up for travel. It felt stable, but it was underpowered, the wheel went flat. We use a parkit360 now. An older model, without a brake. The frame mount would likely make it more "stable" feeling. I should look into buying that accessory. Dropping the trailer onto the parkit is always a "hold my breath" moment for me, as it's so low. We have the lighter Elite.

Well, 40+ years into boat ownership, I can't name that caulk, from a photo. I'd ask Oliver what they used. PIiant isn't necessarily bad. Good caulk needs to flex like the trailer hull. I'll reserve other comments til you find out what they actually used.

The bison have gone through "our" campsite quite a few times. Totally ok. It's truly their ground, not ours. We're the temporary interlopers. Please, please, keep your dogs on short lead, and in your lap or beside you, and be prepared to move him/her/them inside, quickly. Unless alarmed, the bison just keep on moving and grazing. Don't let your/my dog , or you, disrupt their grazing, and cause an issue. Move inside. This is the bison home range. You're the visitor. We don't mind no hookups. Actually, our preference. I think part of our love of Northern badlands is just that absence of everything else. Fewer campers and people. More wildlife visibility. Plus, the absolute amazing geography. Big plus, and that's from someone who doesn't typically love rocks.

I'm guessing you mean screws into the magdadyne base, not the trailer hull. Most manufacturers either make improvements backwards compatible, or include the possibility of a retrofit kit/parts (usually free) for recently available equipment. Really sorry for your troubles.

I think that would be a better question for Oliver, in a service ticket, with vin number, and hull #. I don't know if any of us could give you a definitive answer. I wish we could. And, are you discussing shades, or windows?

One of our local friends got a new, more powerful ebike this week. He and his wife rode over to show us this morning. His helmet from specialized . Com has a gizmo that detects crashes, and sends a text with gps location to specified person. Pretty cool, I think, since he sometimes rides solo. I'd never heard of anything like it. I think it's this. If anyone is interested, I'll him ask him more about it tomorrow. Today's conversation was mostly about his latest ebike. https://www.specialized.com/us/en/angi-crash-sensor/p/170203?searchText=60519-8000&color=259980-170203

@Alberta and Randy, Oliver will perform the update for you at no charge if you take the trailer to Hohenwald. Open a service ticket, with hull and vin #. They will know if the update has been done, or not, at their facility.

I downloaded the ultraleather color chart. It looks like a taupe to me, on the heavier side of grey/brown. Do you have an upholstery shop in town (especially marine upholstery) that might have a sample you could see? It's really hard to tell from photos, but you can see it compared to others in this chart, below. I'd call it an earthy, darker taupe, if that helps, from the chart. Quite neutral. I do love the grain of the mokume series. I know you have to make a quick decision.

I'm thrilled for you! Good luck on the awning decision.

I read that as the inline fuse from the solar port to the battery, as a fuse is the only thing in between... in our original install. But that was an assumption. You know that old assu#me thing.... 😒

I think our poly mat is 5 x 8, or something like that. All depends on what you want to carry, and deploy. They do kill grass if left out more than a few days, and some grass spots prohibit them. We don't often carry ours. We use a couple good mats before the door, and rugs inside. Never had an issue with small welcome mats outside the step.

Is Oliver using sla batteries for the flooded option? Could you take a photo when you get a chance?

I would, too. In our 2008, we have 2 outlets in the kitchen overhead, q under the dinette, and 1 in the attic. And, one on curbside, outdoors That was actually a lot, in 2008.

The Starke bypass on 301 has helped a lot, imo.

Or, try this? https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/search/?q="Backup camera"&updated_after=any&sortby=relevancy&search_and_or=or

I agree. I love mine, just the way it is. But, I can see a bit wider and a few inches taller for the folks who are taller than me and my husband. Way back in the day, there was a talk about new plugs and molds to make the Elite a bit taller and, maybe a bit wider. I'd definitely add at least 6" to the large dinette/bed area, if that were to happen. It could improve the sales of the smaller trailer, I suppose. We're happy to live with those limitations we have, for the lighter weight, single axle, etc. And, hey, for us, why would we change up, at this point? 24 year old power boat, 44 year old sailboat, 14 year old trailer. We know all the flaws and bonuses, all maintained from new, and can negotiate pretty much everything in the dark. 😏 Next gen, I'll look forward to seeing what they come up with. I'm sure there is room for change and improvements, to appeal to next gen buyers. Kind of excited, actually, to see the ideas.

That's pretty much what came standard in our 2008, (though USB was 12v cigarette lighter plug in 2008, no usb) plus the outside curbside weather resistant outlet. And, the 110 outlet in our attic. And, microwave outlet in the cabinet . People over the years have added on, without too much difficulty. Since we've rarely had 110, we never bothered. You just have to remain cognizant of the circuits and amps, and not try to run everything off one circuit.

Adding an outlet isn't such a big deal. Talk to your sales representative, and see if service can add one for you at delivery, at the outside of the forward small dinette, off the one under the table. Obviously, can't do one in the eet bath.

Will Prowse posted this "basic" beginners video recently, on victron systems. Once set up properly, they're pretty bulletproof. For those whose eyes blur watching the video, I think you'll see why Oliver and others went with user friendly Zamp. Blue Victron gear is awesome. It can also be intimidating, depending on experience. And, I doubt any/many of us need the facility of the cerbogx. With some of the high tech marine systems, yes. For an Oliver, probably not. But, it is very cool... and a lot of capabilities. There are simpler victron installs than this, for sure. (Our boat install is not nearly as complicated. ) If we hadn't purchased a Xantrex inverter a year before we installed the solar on the sailboat, we surely would have gone with the Victron multiplex. And, even more of a bummer, our raymarine mfd screen (on the boat helm) and backbone communication system was the last version before victron integration. Sometimes, it doesn't pay to be too early... but, when you need it, you need it.

Good luck. Beautiful vehicle.

And, zamp equipment is installed on so many brands, finding a qualified service center should be easier for many people . Which Zamp controller does Oliver install with the solar package these days? If it's the 30 amp, and you added the 2 x 90 watt panels, you'd be slightly (30 watts) over the stated wattage capacity of the 30 amp controller.