SeaDawg

About half the states allow double towing (some call it triple, since it involves three units,) but it's most often legal with a fifth wheel, and sometimes requires a special (cdl) license or license endorsement. Much of the east coast bans it, including Florida, for non-commercial traffic. Every state that allows it has specific rules and regulations. I think it would be a poor choice to try to modify an Oliver for the few states that actually allow bumper pull double tows. It stresses the tow vehicle, and the limits of the driver's skills, imo. One of our most beloved original members (and our original admin) mountainborn, towed a small pickup behind his 5th wheel, for a few years. When they entered a state where it wasn't legal, they unhitched the little truck, and his wife Betty drove it. Mountainborn, however, not only had a fifth wheel trailer at the time, but had some pretty amazing driving skills and experience.

A number of Oliver upgrades and improvements have come from owner ideas and upgrades.

I wouldn't get really excited, like "hold my breath." It's obviously in test mode. Truma would make sense, as a current partner. And reliable German engineering. This unit is not, as far as I've seen, yet readily available. I'm in wait and see mode.

I think I'm the only Elite I so far. Seadawg, hull # 12 2008 The original 13500 btu Dometic (2008) was overkill. Would freeze us out in a short time. Replacement 9500 btu Houghton has only been used and tested a handful of times in Florida spring, so high 80s to low 90s, and worked fine, cooled quickly, and maintained desired temp easily. I like the dehumidifier function, too.

@ChrisMI, I split your post, and the related ones to a new topic.

Interesting. Doesn't look like a Houghton.

And yet, it won motortrend's truck of the year. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/13/rivian-r1t-named-motortrends-truck-of-the-year.html

That's interesting. I don't think I've seen anything about that before. Do you know what they're using, now?

2008. Because, it was the beginning. (And coincidentally, my trailer 😄) Every year is good, imo.

Me, too. @mossemi, have you tried 301? We've only taken it as far as south of Ocala, and then get back on the dreaded i75 to Tampa. I75 is usually pretty congested, but by the time we get to Ocala, we just want to "get home" and suck it up. Traffic lightens for awhile at the turnpike break, and stinks again later. But, we've found us 19 to be really awful the last 3 or 4 years, so we don't do that anymore. I think you're traveling from further east, so have better advice for @Boudicca908. We have to get west, so not so many choices. @Kirk Peterson, I apologize for the thread drift.

I, too, miss @Buzzy. I think all of you have given some great comparisons to look at. Beyond what you've mentioned, I'd note that the 2022 trailers will have the nevr lube axles, if that's important. If the 2017 has solar, it may be 320 watts vs 340, not a big deal. And, that earlier solar package will likely have a progressive dynamics charger/converter, plus a separate inverter, plus a separate transfer switch. New models will have the more fully featured, lighter xantrex xcpro. Whether that's a bonus, or a big deal, is truly debatable, based again on personal preference. We prefer separate pieces of equipment, many times. Others like an all in one. It's mostly personal preference, and what you're used to. And, it's a lot easier to stomach swapping electronics on older equipment than new, if you decide to update to lithium. I think the things that are expensive, and difficult to change, are most important. I'd say, axle, wiring harness, space for full sized spare, space for convection microwave (if that's your preference, not ours) might be important factors. And, the pickup tube refit, if not retrofitted. (Free, but only if you go to Hohenwald for service.) The rest can be fairly inconsequential, imo. Any buyer of a 2017 will surely realize the appliances and electronics are now 4 to 5 years old. And, batteries and tires. All those things can add up, eventually. Maybe later than sooner. Maybe sooner than later. Personally, I'd consider manual awnings to be a plus, but that's what we like, so, again, a personal choice. The majority of our appliances lasted ten years or more, and some we replaced by preference. Tires and batteries, well, that's another story. Add 4 tires, at least, to the purchase price, for safety.

For that health reason, and your inability to recharge underway, so probably deep cycling constantly, I can certainly understand your early replacement. I just wouldn't want Oliver owners to think that 3 years was the life span of agm batteries, for their trailers, if properly maintained/charged.

@Boudicca908, you do, indeed, have some stuff to do, but I'm sure you'll get it done. I think you said you're in SW Florida. As you're looking at campsites for the return "trek home," I'd suggest looking at the route from Hohenwald going through Dothan, Alabama, and then on, and compare. The traffic and scenery through Alabama, vs going through Atlanta (which we truly try to avoid) is much nicer, especially if you can drive through Birmingham on the weekend. The trip from Hohenwald to Tampa, for example, is about 6 miles and roughly 20 minutes longer via Alabama than via Atlanta, and much prettier, and less stressful, imo. More small towns, less true interstate, more limited highways, and we see a little bit of the beautiful farming country of the south. Plus, you can stop and see the Saturn rocket at the rest area near Huntsville. 😊 (Everyone tends to thinks first about Houston ground control and Cape Canaveral when they think of the space program, but Alabama folks were an integral part of getting us to the moon. And, five women who were Alabama space camp grads went on to become astronauts. ) Whatever you do, plan to spend several days near Hohenwald, to try absolutely everything. Leave a cushion in reservations if you need to have anything tweeked. You won't be disappointed camping in Tennessee in spring for a few days. My favorite seasons there are spring, and fall. Honestly, camping in Tennessee is wonderful, and if you have the time, explore several parks. Their state park system is a joy, imo. You should find plenty of availability in TN in late March/early April. Florida, not quite as easy.

I've always enjoyed Marimekko fabrics. Great start to make the interior "yours." Btw, love your screen name.

@ADKCamper, it's quite possible that your Elite windows could use a different weatherstripping. The only Elite owner that I remember replacing the weatherstripping is @Bshaffer. Her trailer, however, is a 2008, and I know the windows have changed since then. You might open a service ticket and see if Oliver can verify the proper product for you.

I don't know Foy, but I've admired the photos. I finally got to see some of Foy's beautiful hand crafted work when we camped with Mike D and his wife. The photos are beautiful. The product is even more beautiful in person. My grandfather and father were master woodworkers. Pretty sure I know quality when I see it. Foy's craft is truly amazing.

We've replaced the hose a few times over the last 14 years. We don't wait for a failure. Like tires, 4 or 5 years, change it out. Even the better ones. Our first "stock" hose was replaced within a year or so. Just didn't like the light weight. I have no idea what the stock hose is, these days.

I would change "must" to "may want to." At least, for many people. With a three way fridge, limiting power, we could camp for weeks on those lithium batteries, with even a few hours of sun each day. (Mind you, we have zero 110 appliances on board, and don't use ac, unless hooked to 110, which is seldom.) Oh, yeah, we can (and do) camp for weeks on agm batteries, with solar, but, so much easier it would be with that enormous capacity. The beauty of the lithium batteries is the depth of discharge allowed, and, the lack of requirements to fully recharge each day. Lead acid batteries live longest with daily recharge. Lithium is actually better with running way under 100 per cent. Our agm batteries last 4 to 7 years, generally. Other than those items, I agree with John. Understand not only with upper limit freedom, but the limits, and enjoy the bounty of electrons.

Ditto.

We don't have a backsplash in our smaller Elite. Instead, I added some storage bins, and picked up some color from my melmac dinnerware.

I gathered a few photos of backsplashes for you. You can see all the posts by doing a search on "backsplash."

Grace Jones has an amazing voice (and range), an amazing look, and she should be featured in the aarp mag. At 73, she shames people half her age. Disco queen, sure. But so much more. Who else got Andy Warhol as a host for her baby shower?

As do your lovely backsplashes and wood top for the lagun.

Bill, since you've had a few Garmin, would you say that the newer models are easier to use than the older ones? We've had several brands of GPS. None rv specific. Some better than others. Our newest one is now probably 5 years old, and probably do for replacement . I use my phone when possible, because it's so much easier than the Garmin interface, but we normally run a gps, also, as a backup for the many times that signal is lost.

I saw this on the Facebook group today We have so many great landscape photos posted here. Hope some of you will submit a photo or two.