SeaDawg

You can buy a hitch pin lock at Tractor supply in Hohenwald if you don't find it before you leave. It may turn up. We have one milk crate in the back where we keep all the setup items. (Blocks, chocks, locks, water hose and filter.) You will also find organizing easier when you actually get to use your Oliver, and see how all the pieces fit.

I didn't find any moisture in the attic this time, but we've had to reseal it every three or four years, as it has indeed leaked in the past. Since the lens had hairline, probably surface cracks, it seemed to be the right time to replace it, rather than reseal this year and replace next.

I didn't find one, either. If you need some measurements, I can try to help. I don't think they've done many changes to the Elite hull over the years.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Judging from many questions on the forum, you are not alone in buying a trailer without towing experience.

It will all make a lot more sense when you see the system put together. You can try your hitch lock without the hitch. Run it through the holes in the "square thingy," your truck's "receiver, to make sure it's long enough, and whether it's the right diameter for the hole drilled in your receiver.

You may still want to purchase the Reese ball lock, or something like it, for use when you are camped. Most of us do. It's one more key to carry, but one more lock to make your trailer a slightly less attractive target. The ball bearing John suggested is a good idea, and no key. But it's not readily visible, and would drop out if the lock on the bulldog collar were defeated.

I found this site, with several types of tonneau covers that work with toolboxes. Even Diamondback makes one. Pricey, though. https://www.autoanything.com/tonneau-covers/20A50299A1.aspx

Fran, I'm curious as to how the dicor held up on your van roof?

I wouldn't carry a genset on its side, as it would probably mess with the oil. There are tonneau covers made to accomodate tool boxes. Undercover used to do that. Not as waterproof, but gets stuff out of sight/mind. Otherwise, I recommend the battered tomato box. 🙂

In our 2008 , anything lost, is , well, lost. Unless you disassemble a lot of stuff. I don't know about yours. You are a long ways ahead of mine, #12

Before this, I've been using stickyback silicone bumpers for cabinet doors. They only last a few months.

So, today's purchase barely makes it under the $20 limit, at $19 . But, I'm really happy to find it, at Costco. I use a larger wok skillet a lot, at home. This little pan has high sides, 6 inch bottom, and 10 inches across the top. It will be great for cooking veggies, and super for skillet dinners. Should be small enough to fit in the drawer, and the smaller pan bottom still allows air to the smev burner. I'll probably retire the small fry pan I carry. For 13 years, it's been one small pot, one small fry pan.

Thanks. I'm missing a few, too! Dometic, if they have them, is far more expensive.

I don't know about your trailer, but we have two switches for the pump. Main switch at the door. Switch in the kitchen. Don't think light would come on though, if main were off. At this point, I'd be looking for a loose connection.

I would highly doubt that there is an audible alarm on the Norcold. Neither our Norcokd nor or Dometic in that size had an alarm. Would be nice if I'm wrong. Sherry

Hurricane season is over. Supply chains are opening up. Get the yamaha, if it's what you really want, but one of the lesser names, purchased from Costco or another source with a good return policy, would also do quite well.

I've said it before, often the best tow vehicle is the one you already own, and like.

We have never used an Anderson with our Elite. It weighs in just under 4000 pounds, loaded for camping. 420 on the tongue, with partial grey, black and fresh. It would obviously be more if we had full tanks, or a basket on rhe front. Tow ratings on our various vehicles over the past 13 years were 4900, 7500, and 8000+ lbs. My Silverado (7500) was our favorite travel vehicle, but we need the 4 x 4 of the ram, so that's what we normally use. Don't load up your trailer with unnecessary stuff. Leave the rock collection at home. Check your payload sticker. And your vin for tow capacity. I'm sure you're likely legal, without the wdh, if you don't go crazy overloading. The Elite Ii is another story. Much heavier trailer.

I remember tracking a friend on Spot when we parted ways in the Yukon several years ago. Being able to follow our friend to "civilization " gave me tremendous comfort, as he was traveling solo, and not feeling well. My concern about battery power is for those concerned about trailer " in- storage" tracking solutions, as many people disconnect from the main batteries in the trailer. We don't, but we live in a mild climate, and solar recharges, even in shade . And, off season, at home, it would be ridiculously hard for someone to open the gates, first move the boat trailer out of the way, then move the Ollie, and steal our trailer out of the sideyard without our hearing it, or the alarm system notifying us. Or our neighbor seeing/hearing it, if we weren't home. Several days' battery is probably enough to know your trailer has moved, and where it's going, for recovery. That's good to know. But, in storage, how long do you think AAAs would last?

I was just looking (again) at theft recovery gps devices a few days ago. The problem is battery power. I do think the inreach is a great idea for hikers. Next time our daughter goes on a hiking trip in Colorado, I really want her to carry one.

Our rooftop solar is most advantageous on the road, and in storage, and we get some charge even if camped in partial sun through the day. We also supplement this with (currently) 100 watts of portable, when our rooftop panels are shaded. 80 watts of portable wouldn't keep my batteries charged, but, we have a dc danfoss/secop fridge to add into the equation of shoulder season camping.

Some of the answers will actually depend, at least somewhat, on which model you choose. And, your camping style. Can't comment on the awning, as we have had two manual Fiamma awnings. First vinyl top lasted almost ten years, with that brand. The battery compartment in the Elite is smaller, and tighter to work in than in the Elite II. I'm a big fan of AGM, for many reasons, but $500 is $500, and would almost pay for two Agm batteries, later. You're in Texas, so cold weather storage isn't a huge issue. We started with the included flooded batteries, and upgraded when they died. If you opt for the flooded, do set up a reminder on your phone calendar to check the fluids monthly. Do you get anything else in equipment with the $500 upgrade? In the Elite, you barely have any countertop in the kitchen, and the tabletop is actually quite nice in the leathered black. Our original white still looks nice, 13 years in. The Elite II has more countertop showing, so that's a matter of personal aesthetics. When we lost our original water heater, we replaced it with a Girard instantaneous. It's really nice , but I don't know if I'd do it again. Boondocking, you can fire up the standard water heater for say, 10 minutes, get the water to a comfy temp, and just shower without the mixer. In an electric site, you can use the free power and save your gas with the standard water heater. It's a pricey coin flip, especially if you typically camp solo. You do have the anode in the standard to attend to annually, so a tiny bit more attention. But, not a big deal. We've never had a cell booster, though I tried a highly-rated mobile one, and returned it. Problem is, you have to have some kind of a signal to boost. We carry two cell phones, instead. One gsm, one CDMA, and if there is a signal, one of us gets it, and shares it via Hotspot. It sounds like you're leaning toward solar, and that's really my one and only must have. It allows us so much more freedom in site choices, and we almost never opt for sites with power, preferring the quiet of out if the way places. We've not yet had a composting toilet. Be prepared. You'll get lots if opinions.

We were in beautiful New Brunswick in 2010. Interesting story about your flat tire. We had a flat on the truck just north of the NB line, in Quebec. Fortunately, there was a tire store in the closest English town, backtracking a few miles. We bought a tpms for the trailer as soon as we got home from that trip.

Another thought, if you are retired, and have the time. Postpone pickup by a week or two. Spend a week in Tennessee, shakedown. Then, head east, and North. Follow the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah parkways. Maybe also the Crooked Road, if you love old time music. Go up into beautiful New York state, maybe the Catskills, perhaps New England.. .then Canada. Camp a few miles away from Quebec City,,and drive in.. That's a day trip to Europe. So lovely with the the old city. Follow the St. Lawrence east. Circle the Gaspe. Do that circle clockwise, so you can hug the inside lane. It's fabulous. Maybe visit Bay of Fundy. And my favorite, Deer Island, NB. . Campobello. There are so many choices! And/ or, circle across the top of the great lakes following Canada HWy 1. Come down into Minnesota below Thunder Bay. Stop awhile in delightful Grand Marais. Visit Duluth and Two Harbors, and work your way down through Minnesota state parks, ending in the "pineapple belt" of Southern Minnesota for your event in September. We've done all the Canadian routes i discussed, in separate years. And, camped down through Minnesota and Wisconsin. It's really beautiful in the summer and early fall. (My family is from Southern Minnesota, primarily Steele and Freeborn counties .) I say this because you may not feel motivated another year to drive so many miles east, and the northeast of the US, and eastern Canada offers amazing scenery and camping. Again, only if you have three or four months. It would be a long shakedown, but the trip of a lifetime, imo. Sherry As I write this, I'm flooded with great memories, and a desire to return to New England, and Canada. When Canada reopens the border .

If you use the harvest host link from Technomadia's site, you'll receive a 20 per cent off code when the hh site opens. I don't know the expiration date. https://www.technomadia.com/logistical-nomadic-resources/ They also list a number if boondocking opportunities and resources for you. Chris and Chris (Technomadia) traveled and worked in their 2008 Oliver Elite for several years, and are rv innovators and researchers. Our original solar panel system used components vetted by them. Sherry