SeaDawg

So, the chrome bands in the bath fell off. Paul took the chrome strip to his workbench, and scraped the single band of vhb tape off the middle. We applied two new strips of narrower vhb, top and bottom. We left the strip in the sun for a few hours. I cleaned the belly and area with 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol three times. After 15, minutes, we applied the belly band trim with the new tape, ripping off the backing every five inches or so. I rubbed the whole strip, back and forth, with a towel, five times, with special attention to the ends, and the curve. We're camping, so I didn't have painter's tape. I ripped half strips of duct tape, and used pieces of paper towel to keep the duct tape adhesive from sticking to the chrome band. I removed the duct tape 18bhours later. Hoping this will work better, as the original had adhesive over primarily the convoluted surface where the hulls meet. This may not apply to newer trailers. Ours is 12 years old. Sherry

From a 2008 Elite I perspective, there's not much that I would change. I would love to add lithium batteries. And, probably will when the agms/upgrade die. The newer Elite I /shorty has the furnace under the dinette seat, and that's a really good thing. The noise of the fan kicking on is no longer at my knees. We've already changed what bugged us, or are in the process of doing so. 200 watts of solar (added 9/2008) will become 400. Added a port for portable solar. Added a 12v danfoss/secop fridge, and got rid of the 3way fridge. (That's more me, than others. I really like 12v life. Not everyone does.) We rarely have power, but the few times we've run the Dometic a/c, its it's been ridiculously loud. Not a huge problem for us, as we rarely use it, but when I replace it , it will be with something 12v, and quieter . That's about it for me. Maybe I should start a new thread in the best things we have loved, over 13 camping seasons in our Ollie? Sherry

I see that now. Looks like Lifeblue 100 amp is a group 31 case, and too tall for our battery tray. A standard group 27 "barely" fits, height wise. I hope Oliver can either move the batteries, or find a different tray to make it work. Imo, the Ollie Elite I is the ultimate boondocking trailer. The lithium option would make it stellar. With appropriately upsized solar. Sherry

Do you know the model # of your current dometic, in your van/ motorhome? Is it all electric, or a 3 way? Thanks. Sherry

Which fridge do you have? The dometic rm2454 does not have a light. I don't know about the current model Norcold, but most single door 3 ways don't have interior lights, in my experience. Sherry

Not my favorite place for winter, either, though it's often colder in Minnesota (where I grew up) than Anchorage in the winter. Aw1985, where do you stay, or park your current trailer, when you go sledding in Cantwell? I don't think there's a lot open there in the winter. The post office and gas station, probably. The little (but very nice) campground closes, or at least used to, in the fall. Do you go up to Healy? Most of the cabins are closed by October. I'm curious. I've never been there past August. And yes, Cantwell is an amazingly beautiful place. The views from my cousin's dry cabin is a picture book. Sherry

I don't think that's it. There are a number of lithium drop in replacements for group 27 batteries. I know Battleborn advertises one. So do other brands. We have 2 group 27s, in the newer updated tray. It's tight, but doable. I think it may be the limits of the rooftop solar, in the typical rooftop install? But, that can be changed up, too. We have had 200 watts (2 × 100) on our little trailer since September, 2008. We have the panels and other bits to upgrade to 400 watts. The typical 340 would easily fit, with our sidemount that Paul designed, and Oliver fabricated and installed, beautifully. The saddle brackets they made in the machine shop are a thing of beauty, imo. Sherry

Great logo! And great smiles. Glad you're having fun with your Ollie. Sherry

Those are cute. My daughter has a similar set, 110, on her patio. I'm surprised the newer trailers don't have an exterior 12v socket, considering all the standard features you have that were options when ours were made back in 2008. We have one in the eyebrow over the lower fridge vent. It's really handy for charging phones and tablets.

I'd put a remote thermometer in the battery compartment. Foam and reflectix in the battery door . Maybe a heat mat. I talked to my cousin today in Cantwell. Cold summer, so far. We're usually up there, by now.

Get it. And, 🤣🤣🤣

Congratulations on a really nice trailer, from really nice owners! Welcome to our forum, and glad you joined. Sherry

One man's trash is another man's treasure, right? 😅 Sherry

Our grill table was wobbly, impossible to level. I hunted through the tinder and kindling box for material to wedge the legs. Look what I found. Cutoffs from a project, look like mini Anderson levelers, and work just great. 😁 Brats no longer want to slide off the grill to a gritty death in the foliage below. Sherry Ps. maybe I'll clean them up ,varnish them, and keep them with the table.

That's really nice. And, big. The skirting on the bottom is really important, as is the no-see-um mesh. We have a more inexpensive screen shelter that we rarely use. I've told paul that I should add a skirt at the bottom. The bugs just fly thru any gap. Or, just buy a clam. 😁

I remember Reed and Karen Lukens towing their Elite II with an ML350 for the first year or two. I don't know if they used a wdh. Theirs was a diesel. What year is yours?

Susan Huff, this little hanging trash can from IKEA has a lid. Stainless and plastic insert. Doesn't fold or collapse, but it hangs on the wall, or sits on the floor. I think it might be the right size for behind my toilet in the Oliver. I have at least 6 inches unused space between the open toilet lid and the back wall. 8.5 x 5.25 x 11 should fit. I'll look at it next time I'm at IKEA. I think I should be able to hang it on a few command hooks.

That's pretty much what I said to Paul last night. I like the look, though. And maybe they'll pull some folks from the land rover market, which has given up some of the boxy lines that many loved.

Welcome, and I love the name, too. Truly perfect name. A song by Oliver, for an Oliver. Thinking the Hair logo wouldn't work. How about this? Free download, and you could customize with a modern font.

I agree. Enough, that I actually did try to put a deposit down. But, I couldn't. Blacked out in my zip. I loved my little Bronco 2. Sold it when our daughter was coming up to driving age. That bronco 2 vehicle was not safe for a new driver, imo. As much as I wanted her to learn to drive a manual trans, I didn't want it to be on that vehicle, that lifted on corners in rain, on city streets at city speeds. My 88 2 had a really short wheel base, high ride, and I was worried about an inexperienced young driver, even at city speeds. Just call me mom. Now, I wish I had kept it and, "lost" the key . So, we bought an Explorer, and that was her learning car. Boring, but much safer. Sherry

The towing specs are TBD. Which is disappointing, to see on the night of the launch. Granted, I never towed anything but my little sailboats (Sunfish and Aquacat) behind my bronco ii, but I would think the new Bronco should be able to at least tow my Elite I? We towed ours on a test with an FJ, for heaven sake.

The raptor version will be very cool.

I also do dishes outdoors, when I can. Heating water in a teakettle, I can limit water use to a quart or less for dishes, most days. Like you, two pans, and an IKEA drainer, that fits in the top of the black pan, that fits in the sink. White dishpan fits inside the black.

It has been a lot of hype. And I've been following some of it, because I loved that little red Bronco. I doubt I'll be tempted to put down a deposit tonight, though. But I do have an alarm set to watch the launch on youtube.

Since we're in the retro mode today, I thought I would share the launch of the new Ford Bronco, tonight, 8 pm est, on ABC, ESPN, and National Geographic. (See below.) Probably not going to be a tow vehicle for many of us, but maybe those few of us with the Elites, at least on flat land. It's built on the new Ford Ranger, after all, not the f150. I had a Bronco II as my fun car for a number of years. Looking forward to seeing the new iterations. Sherry