SeaDawg

We've had similar experiences, with gps and Google maps. Each have taken us to places we should not have ventured. I will say, our latest gps is 4 or 5 years old. We still carry paper maps. Sometimes, we even use them.😁

We have one, very much like this one made by @Trainman There are a number of owners who carry flagpoles, and tall telescoping antennas. Not all of them post here .

Our 2008 Elite's tongue weight is 420 pounds, loaded for a short camping trip. That's 70 pounds beyond your specs, unfortunately. Loaded for camping, we weighed over 3900 pounds. Even if you stripped out heavy options, like the ac you probably don't need, carried only one propane tank, traveled with empty tanks, and opted for a single lithium battery, you'd still overload the Subaru. To make camping an enjoyable and safe experience, you'd need a larger suv, or a small truck, at the very least, to tow an Elite. We've towed ours with three different vehicles, the least of which had a 4900 tow capacity, and that was ok on the flats, but not fun in the hills. Tongue weight for a Casita 17 is also too much for your current tow. You need to stay below 350 lb tongue weight, I believe.You might look at an Escape 17 a or b, if you want to stay in the molded fiberglass world. With a single hull, it's a bit lighter, especially if you can live with a portapotty or composting toilet instead of a full bath, in the 17a. Escape offers a winter package as an option. A Casita 16 is an option, if you don't mind the short head height. So is a Scamp 16, if they still make them. Or, one of the 13 footers If you want to go beyond molded fiberglass, you might look at the smallest Lance, without the slide, and option carefully. Or a small Alto condo safari. Be wary of anything that doesn't have an aluminum cage, and a one piece roof. You'll need to be very careful as you look around, as most trailers advertise a dry weight that doesn't include many of the options that an Oliver features as standard. Some don't even include the very basic necessity of a furnace. Many don't include an awning, ac, etc. Every option adds weight, at least 50 to 100 pounds or more, and it all adds up quickly.

Btw, Dometic bought Zamp this past year. I do think zamp quality is great. I just don't want to open the wallet quite that wide for panels we don't always carry, or use. Probably bought by Dometic because so very many rvs have the zamp port installed, across so many brands. Plus the high quality of their (imo overpriced) panels. Plug and play is great. Until it's too pricey and heavy to deal with. In my sister's rpod, we just ran alligator clip ends to the battery itself, with a panel with an on-board controller. No big deal, as she had no other solar, no other controller. She and her husband started their trailer camping and boondocking career with first trip, with us. She's a veteran tent camper.

Zamp uses some interesting verbage, but Overland is correct. Zamp wires the sae connector for their port reversed polarity of normal/standard sae connector wiring. The connector is not proprietary. They just claim better safety wiring different from industry standard, which is actually true. So, you can make up your own cable, if you want to use a different brand portable, or, you can buy a cable with same connector, and buy a reversed polarity adaptor. Plugging in panels without the correct polarity could ruin your panels or other circuits. Or, you "could" reverse the wires from the port... but label it. And whatever you do, check with a multimeter. The zamp port goes through a fused line directly to the batteries, so you need a controller mounted to the panel, which most suitcase systems include. Or, a controller in the trailer. Zamp panels are quality plug and play, but they're quite heavy and very expensive. We have a different brand, my husband made up the connector cable, and we wired up a slave controller for the portable panels instead of using the controllers on-board the panels. (Full disclosure, we also installed a furrion port, instead of zamp, so this is not our experience. My sister had the ubiquitous zamp port on her rpod.) We set up portable when we'll be in the same spot for awhile. It's too much work, as our panels are not featherweight, either, for an overnight stay. The rooftop panels charge our agms fine if we're traveling, so not necessary.

I haven't seen that here before, and didn't find that failure on a quick Google search. Truma is known for long tests before market introduction. Glad you are ok. Let us know the results.

It depends. We don't usually buy extended warranties. I did buy one on my Samsung fridge, and wish I'd bought a longer one. Love the fridge, hate the problematic ice machine. Love the lifetime warranty we bought on the 2008 ram, because we've kept it so long, and we are way ahead. With the Oliver, even if it had been offered way back then, we'd likely have declined. If something breaks, we'll likely fix it, or replace it with newer tech. Much has to do with your skills, risk adverse thermometer, and pocketbook. But we had so few real issues over the years, I know the insurance company would have made money on us.

Tennessee has a wonderful state park system. There are probably 3 within an hour of Hohenwald, and three more within 2 hours drive, a couple more in 3 hours. We've visited most of them, and others that aren't state campgrounds. Around Nashville, there are a few campgrounds on Percy Priest lake. Not state parks. Maybe state recreation areas. Your plan to hang around, trst everything, enjoy Tennessee, and return to the mother ship if necessary is exactly what I recommend. Enjoy a week or two, if you can. Tennessee is a beautiful camping state.

Meh. "The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything" Teddy Roosevelt. similar quotes attributed to lots of smart folks. Doesn't mean we have to publish them. Just learn from them, right?

@CnC, are you still able to tow level?

Truma refuses to sell most of their products retail. My guess? They don't want their image damaged by amateur installations. And, i get that. Unfortunately, I think many people here are very, very capable, and could do a pro install. But, they don't know that. 😒

And, you've wasted a lot of propane. I've read about that happening on Forest River forums. I've been watching this since it was introduced, five or six years ago. Like Overland, I thought the exposed length of blue thetmal color changing tubing was ugly, and looked like a shoddy install. You'll find a wealth of comments on forest river forums. Some are happy, many say it doesn't work well with an instantaneous water heater. That, i don't know. As much as I think it's a plausible solution, correctly installed, I'll stick with collecting cold water in a kettle, and use it for dishes . (Heat it on the stove.)

I don't know where you are in Minnesota, but all my relatives up there have been reporting some pretty miserable cold weather the past few days. Hope the next three weeks go quickly for you.

I would add to @Steph and Dud B, it's probably hard to find a trailer for 5 (and figure 7 to 8, when friends join later) without slides. Slides leak air and bugs, in our experience. These require constant attention, as does the roof, caulking, and everything else. But, if it's in the budget, and you can devote the time to regular maintenance, it gets the kids out camping. Which, imo, is most important.

Bigfoot and Lance are really nice trailers, and expensive in the sizes to accommodate a family of 5. I think it's important to look at options to get the kids camping, now. As the oldest is 11, it's not long til he or she will likely want to stay home, or bring a friend. I'd look at all the options with a bunkhouse, and a dinette, and hopefully, a sofa, too. Plus a queen to make mom and dad comfy. Mom and dad should go to some rv shows, and narrow the options. Winnebago makes some smaller bunkhouse models, aluminum cage, with a queen, bunks, and dinette sleeping. Plus separate shower or toothbrushing sink. (Remember, 5 people here..) this leaves truck bed room for kid and family stuff... bikes, kayaks, scooters, games, etc. Lance 2185 has a triple bunk model, plus dinette, plus queen. But it's really expensive, even used. Lance, however, probably builds the best of them, and prices reflect that. What I'd look for: aluminum cage, one piece roof (preferably one piece fiberglass laminate like some minnie winnies and geos, and some others, or at the very least, tpo roof vs epdm), at least 2 bunks, and decent sized tanks. Decent sized fridge. (Many winnebago models have a 10 cf fridge, ideal for families. If a small fridge, buy a couple coolers, or a 12v portable cooler.) A lot of solar or expensive lithium batteries is pretty much irrelevant for weekend camping, imo. I think starting next year we'll see some better prices on lightly used campers, as people will be giving up that camper that they barely used. At least, I hope so. I personally probably wouldn't buy at new price from Thor or Forest River. They're not totally junk, but they will need some skills, in all likelihood, to adjust/fix cabinetry, sloppy installation, fix caulking, etc. , even new. And, certainly, if used. But, let's be realistic. They work, have 3 school aged kids, and we're probably looking at multi weekend camping, and one or two long trips a year. Maintain whatever they get, and if they can find a nice barely used model, they won't get hurt too bad in 5 years or so. A big family tent is even less, and really teaches camping skills. Another alternative, especially if you're not camping in bear country. The memories are indeed priceless. Our adult daughter still tent camps with her friends, and occasionally with us. It's affordable and fun. Even when it rains, or it's cold, the stories make for good memories. I have young friends in Georgia who go camping with their young family (8 and 4) almost every weekend. The kids are having the time of their lives, and I suspect they'll be lifelong campers. They started with a tent, then bumper pull.

I think we can all share observations, and experiences, without getting wigged out. Let's calm down, folks, and look at the real world. (And forum guidelines.) These new trucks are a really, really big investment, and everyone has the right to post observations. That doesn't make any poster a "naysayer." It makes the poster perhaps someone less infatuated with what he sees than you, in your opinion. Though we have many Toyota fans here, I am personally not very "brand loyal," so I tend to look at the broad scope, and everyone's comments. We (hopefully) won't need a new tow for a number of years. I see real world observations as a help in making future decisions. I weigh all of them, positive and negative. Sherry

@ChrisMI, we do manage to keep and enjoy both, but I will say that the boat requires far more time and maintenance than the trailer. And, $$$. And, as we get a bit older, the sailing itself is much more challenging physical work. We'll keep both as long as we can use and enjoy them both, and continue to upgrade the boat to make sailing easier. There are many Ollie owners with both, and others who have moved from boating to the Oliver, as we've/they've learned the advantages and longevity of well built fiberglass hulls. I count us very lucky, in this respect. Double lucky, we enjoy the company, camping and sailing, with another younger couple we met with an Oliver, over decade ago. We've enjoyed a lot of sailing adventures, and also Ollie land miles with them, and they're like family to us. And, another younger friend who is like family, too, who enjoys both sailing and camping, and helps us with the boat locally, and tent camps with us. All three are experienced blue water sailors, as are we . Camping and rving, imo, is far easier than sailing, from many perspectives. But, you're right. You don't always have to choose. We did 150+ days in the camper last year, probably only 45 or 50 days on the boat, but boat maintenance was probably 2 to 3 times the hours and dollars to the Oliver. And, even for us retired folks, there's only so much time available for both/each. And, we're lucky, again, that over 30 years ago, we bought a home for us, with a protected dock for the boat. It would break my heart if my backyard view didn't include our boat. Sometimes, you have to just pick. I totally get it. I'm hoping we don't have to make that choice anytime soon.

Gotta love autocorrect. It's made some of my posts pretty humorous, too.

Based on many recent happy owners at pickup, I think this is under control. Oliver has pushed orders out to the future (note the very long wait time), which can try the patience as you wait, but I'd rather that. Every rampup has shown training and growing pains, but systems, imo, are way better these days. And, continue to improve with customer input. My 2008 was one of the "originals." With all the newness of that day, I'd still rather have it than any of the other brands out there. That build quality is baked in. We'll just see how it goes for the next 14 seasons ... 😀

Looking forward to camping photos! Enjoy your new Ollie, and happy motoring.

I found raclette at my local Aldi, in for the holiday season. Otherwise, Sprouts farmer's market, or the fancier/pricier artisan cheese shop. I bought some baby potatoes today, and already have the cornichons, salami, Prosciutto, and vegetables in the fridge, and shrimp in the freezer. The tuna steak sounds really interesting. I may have to try that!

I think this is probably one of the best , most helpful posts ever about preparing for pickup. You can't learn everything without being in your trailer, but you can certainly prepare to learn what you don't know. I'd add, study all the videos in Oliver University. Thanks, @Mainiac

So, tonight my neighbors brought me a most unusual Christmas gift, a Swiss two tiered raclette grill. I've never seen, nor used one, but I think it will be a fun new Christmas tradition for our families to enjoy together. (She was born in France, but her mom has lived in Switzerland for many years.) If any of you have great recipes or ideas to share, I'd love to see them.

I'll be interested in the responses. We built a metal pole barn on our camping property this summer. I've never had problems getting a Verizon signal, but inside the steel shell, almost zero signal. What I do: put my Verizon phone in a windowsill facing a tower, set it up as a hotspot, and everyone else gets good signal, linked to my phone. If I take my phone out of the window, I get a lame signal. Temporary fix, of course. I'll be looking into an antenna and booster for inside the barn. Runs my battery down, so I have to keep my phone on the charger, on the windowsill. Good news: no tinfoil hat, no standing on one leg. Lol.

Pretty cocktail, but I think I'd enjoy the cognac, more. 🙂