SeaDawg

Great looking truck! Enjoy the drive. I know you'll enjoy the Ford.

One of our favorites, too. The view from the campsite isn't much, but, omg, the views from the restaurant at Pisgah Inn across the road. In the morning. Breakfast view through the floor to ceiling windows is amazing. Layered mountain views seem to go on forever. Even if breakfast weren't outstanding (which it is), it would be worth the price just for the views.

Yes, it was my thought that Goal Zero/Yeti/Boulder/Nomad might have included a more complete answer. If they sell a reasonable solution (controller and adapters), nrvaleo could quickly solve his issue, and use the panels he already owns .

This would seem to apply to the original question. I wish goal zero would publish answers, rather than a phone number to call. Maybe you'll let us know what they say, @nrvale0

It's not "cheating" to enjoy a campsite, and an amazing park. The great thing about our trailers is that we can enjoy a variety of landscapes and access. It's all good. Ps, you don't have to plug in if you don't want to. We almost never do. And we've found that often, the best campsites are the toughest, and don't have hookups. Perfect for us. 🙂

Hi, Larry, and welcome. I suspect you will have a number of questions from folks considering the lithium option. Thanks for joining the forum. Sherry

It's (probably) possible to use your really nice yeti panels. With some adapters. The "addon" module you have on your goal zero battery is probsbly their mppt controller. But it's installed, so fairly permanent. Add another controller inline, the correct adapters, and you might just be golden. If the voltage output is enough to charge your batteries. Which panels do you have?

That's a really beautiful truck. With a price tag to match the horsepower.

The zamp port is wired backwards of typical sae. That adapter won't work, imo, in the zamp port. External ports don't connect (usually) to a house solar controller. You are expected to have a suitcase solar, with its own controller. The solar port is in a line, with inline fuse, that goes from port to battery. Not connected to the zamp house controller. I could be wrong, but that's how its normally done. Does your Goal zero panel have its own controller?

In that line of thought, what's your battery level? Are you plugged in? Led lights will work with a low battery, but our jacks won't.

Welcome to the forum! Sorry about your Sylvan Sport Go. I've admired them at the rv supershow. It's a really clever little camper. If you have any questions about the Oliver, fire away. Lots of people with answers. Sherry

So far, I'm really liking the spice rocket. I put all the pieces in the dishwasher at home when I received it, and nothing warped or melted. Filling the little half sections wasn't too bad, as a small spoon fits fine, though using a small funnel would probably be easier. I don't have a funnel in the Ollie. The little rocket takes the place of all these bottles. Frees up a lot of space. We've had lots of rain, and spices are fine so far. I think I will order another. I can then "double up" on the spices I use most, and leave all the big jars at home. Edit to add: six months later, and several rainy camping trips later, the spices haven't clumped. Garlic, especially, usually hardens in the container. Very pleased with this.

A search brought up this thread. Maybe it will help? Sherry

Probably not me. I love what I have, 13 seasons in. I'll leave the sale problem to our daughter, if she doesn't want to keep it. Sherry

So, picking up in December, do you get 2020, 2021, or a hybrid mix?

We're in North Carolina, but our friend brought Lake Erie Walleye down from PA. Omg. Best dinner in a really long time. Walleye is truly the king of white flakey fish. Cooked it in a foil packet, like shore lunch.

Shop around.

Solar does work great, in the sun. If you travel camp, changing spots every couple days, you'll probably be fine with just fixed solar. On sunny days, the open highway gives plenty of opportunity for charging. Suitcase solar can help a lot in shaded spots. Sometimes. Not always. Have to find your place in the sun for the suitcase. My 05 Silverado with tow package had the fake fuse , or no fuse, can't remember which, 13 years ago. After looking up the manual instructions, adding the proper fuse, the inline charging worked fine with the 7 pin connector. The solar charger and charger/converter work together. Solar gives us the best full charge. The truck only charges when we actually need it, which is mostly never. When we hit a string of crappy, rainy days, camping, we break out the honda 1000. It's all good, 13 seasons in, with a handful of days plugged in. Sherry

That's a very worthwhile question. The center arm of our little awning really helps with support and stretch, imo. Sherry

I agree with Overland. The only likely "simple" (and maybe not so simple) use I could see for the unused black tank would be for extra grey, by plumbing the vanity sink to the black (which is often actually done in many rvs and boats.) Most of us don't use that sink much, so it might not even be worth the effort. Even if you routinely dumped dishwater into that sink from a dish pan, it's not that much water, though it would help. The shower is the big grey water generator. Sherry

But, that's one of my predictors. My knees...

No matter what you pick, I'm really glad you're planning to take your son camping. The gift of the great outdoors is one of the best we can give our kids. And starting young is best. Are you sure granny and auntie don't want to tent camp? I'm not so much opposed to tenting anymore, as I am opposed to sleeping on the ground. A set of discobed cots that can be used as cots, a sofa, or later, for your son and a pal, as bunks, could make tenting a lot more enjoyable. Especially with an Ollie as Basecamp, with kitchen, fridge, and bathroom right next door. My cousins in Norway have taken a family camping trip each summer in a big family tent. Room for Mom and Dad (my age), adult son, adult daughter and husband and two grandchildren. A few years ago, my cousin and husband bought a little camper, and kids and grandkids use the big tent. The multi generation experience is wonderful, and easier with the trailer base. Another thought is a van as a tow vehicle for the smaller elite, that could provide comfy sleeping for two. We camped our way around Iceland a few years ago in a VW Beach. Essentially, a bed on wheels, but it could seat five with the bed folded up. Sherry

I just reread your post. I doubt I'd want a 4 year-old in a tent by himself. Maybe an addaroom screen enclosure, with rain curtains could work. But that's pretty much a fair weather option, imo. Sherry

Not sure how you could sleep three adults and a child or teen in an Ollie 2 . A twin bed model could sleep three, using the small dinette as a more narrow, 25 " wide berth, about 72" long. Fine for a smaller adult or a child. When our adult daughter camps with us, she pitches a tent. Ditto with our nephew, who was 13 when he first camped with us. Our Elite I shorty will technically sleep 3, again, using the side dinette, but the kids really enjoy the tent more than the tight quarters of our little trailer. Sherry

The Oliver Owners' fb page is run by a group of owners. We don't have any controls there. A few of us are members and drop in occasionally. If you would like to pm me you facebook name, I can pass a message on to one of the admins over there for you. Sherry