SeaDawg

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

I got this pitcher for my mom some time ago. She really likes it. The filters, even the lead reduction ones, are reasonable, and the pitcher is small enough for her to lift. Fits nicely in her fridge. I see it fits nicely in your pantry, too.

Thanks, Trainman. I think your trailer looks great. Our original Ollie has the same white counter, plus molded sink. I've not had a problem (surprisingly) with scratches, but I do use dish pans in the sink. And the littler Elite I doesn't really have a lot of counter space, except for the stove cover. I'm guessing your tabletops are like ours, too, kind of a leather finish black. Nice contrast with the clean white. A very clean look. Sherry

😃 I can't count how many photos we have of views thru the rear window. And in the original Ollie's, It's a big awning window. When we were looking at trailers, long ago, so many had a bathroom or bunks blocking the rear view/no window. We jettisoned every one of them. So many campsites afford the best view from that rear window. Enjoy!

Guessing whatda is talking about is using the "pump" part of the macerator to send the grey water further away from the campsite?

Yes, that's far too much bleach for drinking water. Just want to make sure people notice your caps.

As noted in the forum thread link DavidS provided, we've had two, of different brands. Paul rebuilt the first one, one time. 🤔 When it died again, we bought a different brand. When it died, we went back to gravity dump. When we first got our trailer, the home cleanout/dump was too far away for gravity. Therefore, got the maceration. Since 2015, we have a convenient, planned dump for the trailer at home. We don't need or want the maceration anymore. None of our friends replaced theirs, either. DavidS, I'm glad you like yours. I don't think either of ours was the Thetford. Sherry

So I got this GSI spice rocket, via Amazon, today. I'm going to try it for the next trip. A half ounce of some spices is plenty for two or three weeks. I can double up on some that I use more. If properly closed, it's supposed to be watertight. Six spices, in the space of one container, more or less. I'll see bring larger bottles of items that I use a lot of (Mrs. DASH, MRS. Dash Chipotle Sw, etc.) But it should, hopefully, free up some room. If I really like it, I'll get another. It's discontinued, so, I will have to decide soon. Sherry

We use purogene instead of bleach.

I think so, too, but I can't find a post. The closest thing I could find was a post from over a year ago, about the possibility of building a full or queen across the back, east/west, and adding storage. A solo camper friend of mine did something like that in a Casita, downsizing the full bed to a residential twin (39" wide), and adding storage in the remaining space. Left the little camper feeling more spacious, and a lot of extra drawers. Sorry, I don't have a photo.

Very pretty! I'm really missing North Carolina views right now. Thanks for sharing. Glad you had a fun trip. Sherry

so, yes, I found it! My Maverick badge. Just got off the phone with my cousin, who had a Gremlin. Oh, the memories. We both have special memories of the two cars, together. The badge was filed away in a box labeled, Sherry, 70s. Of course. Still looks pretty good, 50 years later. Mine was a 1970 plain Jane, $1999 list. Guessing one badge Ford won't revive is the Pinto? Right? Sherry

Congratulations, and welcome! Sherry

Welcome to the forum, Gatordave. Many of us indeed do believe this is a great boondocking trailer. 12 years of boondocking in ours has confirmed our initial opinion. Lots of folks here to answer any questions you may have. Sherry

I think the anticipated nextgen Tundra has been postponed to 2022.

Welcome to the group, John and Anita! Sherry

Somewhere, in an upstairs closet, I still have the logo. Salvaged when someone hit me in a wide open parking lot. Wonder if Ford will bring it back?

So, rumor has it that the next new Ford product will be a compact truck. And that it will be named the Maverick. Why, oh, why? I drove a Maverick through college. Great little car, and though I occasionally loaded it and drove it beyond its car capabilities, the name does not evoke "truck" with me. Then again, most of today's buyers probably won't remember the little Maverick. Ford's answer to the Japanese invasion. I could (and often did) drive home on pocket change.

Sounds like you're all set!