SeaDawg

Wolfdds, did you have oliver install a solar port?

A number of people have taken their new Ollies on long trips, though I think many were at least moderately experienced in towing, and camping. If a newbee, a longer stay in Tennessee to learn the systems would be a great idea, before heading out to the great beyond. But, leaving Sarasota, and picking up in Hohenwald, you're already about 1/3 of the way to the Grand Canyon, if that's on your bucket list. For me, it would depend a lot on pickup date. I don't like traveling in the west in the summer heat. I did enough of that as a kid. Interstates are great when you want to put some miles behind you in a day. The smaller roads are usually more scenic. You can always mix it up.... Sherry

Hey, Congratulations! Love the colors of your graphics. Glas you are having fun!

Works for me now, Andrew. ?

And I forgot to say, " welcome to the forum!" Randy, are you new to camping, trading up from a tent or some other brand? The options today are many, I know. Take heart . A lot of options in 2008 are already standard. Just a lot to work through in the decision process. Here's our story, 11+ years in. We camp without hookups 99 per cent of the time. Removed the microwave. Added solar in fall, 2008. Most important to us is solar, and the freedom the small size gives us. We leave the bed made up all the time. Added an inverter in 2009, died a few years ago, no plans to replace it. Never used it much. We chase cooler weather, travel in the eastern half of us, and Canada, primarily. We camp often in North Carolina mountains. Where do you want to go? Sherry

Just curious. Did Xantrex offer a price to repair the old unit? Some folks here are not interested in working on potentially dangerous electronics. Sherry

Yes, check your specs on the truck. The Elite is smaller than the II, less tongue weight, and less weight overall. But, I heard from another Elite owner that uses the Anderson with his late model Taco in another thread. Our Elite is a 2008. I don't know the current weights on new models. Our Elite has served us really well for a couple and one or two small dogs, for 11 years. Have you seen one yet? Sherry

Hmmm. Think we will stick it out with the 3m ultra marine paste wax. More time, but has worked well for many years for us.

I'm loading up our trailer for the first trip of the season. This will be the twelfth season for the Target bathroom organizers that I use in the kitchen. Those suction cups have held up really well, but may have to replace the cups next year. We keep flashlights by the bed, and by the door, on velcro. Sherry

We were at Elkhart Lake six years ago. A lovely , idyllic little town. An hour north of Milwaukee, two hours southwest of Door county. Check the Elkhart lake website. There is something going on all summer. And, it's beautiful country. Wisconsin is ripe with beautiful campgrounds, state parks, and lakes, rolling hills, and bluffs. If you have even a little time, get off the interstate, and discover the amazing beauty of Wisconsin. Ok, I am partial. Grew up near the border.disclaimer Sherry

Awesome. Even if I have to turn my phone sideways. ? So happy for you. Wishing you many miles of happy camping smiles. Sherry

Instead of charging the tank with a five gallon bucket of water, i charge it with a one quart teakettle. and a citrus/ eco friendly pod . Since we actually use the black tank, a quart to start is plenty. No smell, no hassle, 100,000 miles and 11 years . Works for me. I think most of the smell in the old rv days was inadequate venting. In my parents' 70s unit, it took more care.

Our 2008 has a coax feed connection, actually, two. One near the rear bumper, and one on the curb side. we have only used the one by the bumper in a test mode with an antenna, just to see if it wouldwork in an emergency. I don'twatch tv. I don't know about the newer trailers.

Ours is pretty much a long strip of some kind of rubber tubing. It's over ten years old, keeps the rain off my "patio", and, I do travel and live with a lot of rain. 34 inches annual average in my area, and the trailer lives outside 24/7/365. We run a hose up when we can, and wash out the detritis. However. we don't have to deal with a lot of clogging junk..no pines, sticky cottonwood, etc, on a regular basis, at home, or on our camping property in North Carolina. Just leaves. When mine dies, I will replace it. I prefer the gutter to the rainfall in my patio. I think it depends a lot on your region, and where you camp. Each situation is different. Abd, we do have the fiamma awning. Perhaps that also makes a difference. Sherry

I don't think anyone really took it as negativity. Curiosity. really. I'm sorry I won't be there for the debut. Most people know our total commitment to solar--home, and camping. I'm all for anything that can make my solar powered life better. Side note. This year, and last, I've seen a tremendous increase in the number of highly technical contributors amongst our group. For whom, I'm really grateful. We don't all have the same expertise, experience, or imagination. But, we sure can appreciate new ideas. Sherry

Looking forward to photos after the rally debut! Sounds very interesting. Sherry

Some of the folks on our forum are new campers, so, to keep them out of trouble.. Before you dump grey water in a campground, make sure that it's permitted. In many campgrounds it's not ok, and can result in fines or eviction. In other campgrounds, it's entirely permissible, especially out west. Some campgrounds define grey water only as wash water. Other areas say if it has passed through a tank, it's not grey water, and has to be dumped at a dump station. Probably because grey water tanks often contain food particles from cooking and washing dishes.

Dwain, don't let lack of full hookups keep you from enjoying a great campground. You'll see. Start with full hookups, and work your way around.

As far as how long between dumps, it really depends on your camping and personal use If we're in a campsite with a toilet (even a pit or vault), we'll use that in the daytime. That extends dumping for up to a week or more, if we are miserly on grey. I do dishes once a day. Minimal 1 to two gallon navy showers. Use paper plates. Mark our glasses and cups. Don't have to wash glasses daily, just rinse. . If you use a lot of water in grey ( showers, dishwashing, etc) you will have to dump sooner. Some people can only manage two or three days.

Well, the stinky slinky isn't that bad, if you don't get the composting toilet. (Actually, really easy for me to say, because it's mainly Pauls job, but I do assist...and learned how years ago traveling on my own in my parents' rv...) If you've never used an rv dump, or full hookups, watch a few videos (not Robin Williams rv...) When you get the trailer, you could practice setting up and dumping with a half tank of clean water in clean black and grey tanks a few times. You won't be as nervous without the debris in there, and can be more relaxed about making sure you've connected the fittings properly, operating the valves, etc. To accomplish that quickly, run a hose through the bathroom window, hold the toilet open with your foot, and run clean water down the stool. Fill the empty black tank. Don't walk away and let it overflow... it holds less than 20 gallons. Hook up your clean drain hose, and give it a try. Or two or three, til you get it right, if you have a full hook up site. People behind you will get impatient if there is a line at the dump station. Btw, most dump stations have a rock or lid or some kind of weight to hold your hose in the inlet. If not, your foot works. Wear disposable gloves for connecting and disconnecting. I keep some in the driver's side door pocket, and a few in the outside shower. Most accidents happen when the hose flops out of the inlet, or someone didn't get the fitting connected right, or, there's a pinhole leak in the hose. Yucky, but there's almost always a nonpotable hose to wash the effluent down the drain. Use it if necessary. Tens of thousands of people learn this new routine every year.. new trailer owners, new rv renters. Like i said, not that big of a deal. Sherry

And, here's another, specifically about food and goods. Also Canadian government. I consult this each time. Rules change. You'll find a comparable US site, as well, for coming home. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/information-for-consumers/travellers/what-can-i-bring-into-canada-/eng/1389648337546/1389648516990

Here's one link to Canadian traveler information. It's a good place to start planning for your trip, and the information is from the best source, the Canadian government. https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/menu-eng.html I don't think this has the answer to your propane question, either, but it will have answers to many other questions. We've found the border agents to be courteous and pleasant. And you're on the right track, asking questions ahead of time, and getting prepared. Have a great trip!

We've done a lot of Canadian crossings. Never been asked about propane tanks, in a land crossing. You'll get questions about firewood, alchohol, tobacco, and probably extensive questions about weapons. Also, sometimes, questions about produce and meat products. Check the Canadian board for what's allowed before you go. Usually, you get a pass on personal use items, but, everything should have a label, for meats. and any products containing meats. And pet food. They don't like eggs, raw or cooked, for some reason. I use those up before we cross. I usually have no fresh produce, either. Don't carry firewood. Just as in the US, no one wants buggy hitchhikers. Leave weapons at home, unless you have the required permits. If you can answer " no" to all the questions, you'll go through faster. We had a casual search in a small port in Quebec, because the guy wanted to see our unusual trailer. The bigger rigs get pulled over more, I think. We've had more searches ( though few) on the USA side. Much more strict about produce and meat products. Watch your supplies, use it up, and buy fresh on the other side. My philosophy is to spend my money where I travel, and buy local. We've been rewarded with awesome Canadian beef, and fish. Especially, fish. You should check the Canada website, and US website, before chucking stuff. There are small changes every year. Put yourself in the position to be able to answer all the questions truthfully. Then, you're all good to go.

Glad that worked for you. An easy item for the previous owner to forget to clean, I guess. Simple enough to do when cleaning the shower floor. The black t-handle inside the shower for the grey water backflow preventer was actually an advance in the fiberglass egg world, back in 2008. Another fiberglass brand located that valve handle outside the trailer, resulting in some disconcerted folks, up to their ankles in water, who forgot to go outside and open the valve before showering. A few of our friends, who moved up from that brand, had a special fondness for that black handle... :) Maybe the drain popup is just belt and suspenders. I don't know. But I think all or most of the early Ollies had both the valve and the popup.

So, the newer trailers don't have a popup? I never noticed. Our 2008, #12, has both the manual shutoff, and the popup. I keep the popup closed unless actually using the shower, close the valve when traveling. Never really thought about the redundancy. It does help keep dirt and small objects out of the drain, I guess.... Sherry