SeaDawg

We've got info going in two threads now on the Victron multiplus. I spoke with a friend Thursday night who is Victron trained, and designs Victron systems for boats. He always mounts his vertically, but said it was technically allowed to mount on its side, on a bulkhead. He adds little computer fans for exhaust in enclosed spaces. Now, you all have me curious, so I checked out the Victron site. https://www.victronenergy.com/blog/2020/10/30/how-to-install-a-multiplus-inverter-charger/

A lot of deals have continued, of course. I'm almost done with my shopping, but our poor Ollie got nothing so far. I'm looking for a new handheld vacuum for the camper I loved my Dyson, but it bit the dust way too early. Any suggestions?

Our 2008 originally had a small convection microwave, with a round marine vent on each side of the cabinet. Since we rarely camp with power, it was pretty much a bread box. When it finally died, we converted the microwave cabinet space to a little "pantry." Do you actually use your microwave much? If not, you might be better off with a cabinet, and carry a small but effective toaster oven or air fryer that you could pull out and use on the counter. (A number of folks here have a small Breville. )

Tell me more, John?

I'm guessing Scubarx was only thinking about the monocoque fiberglass hull, and molded furniture and inner hull, not the non-structural drawer unit. The wood floors on some other brands of molded fiberglass trailers, and in Airstreams and other brands, and stick and staple framing, have of course been water and rot and separation issues for some owners of other brands. Those issues we'll never have to deal with, as Ollie owners. My 2008, like every other Oliver, has the beautifully constructed (but heavy) drawer unit, and a few bits of (usually laminated or encased) plywood where fiberglass or plastic is impractical. (I have the old school heavy tabletops, for example. There's a thin piece plywood under the fiberglass tabletop.) Lids for my storage compartments under the seats are plywood, with a laminate top. After seeing moisture damage in a bunch of used sob trailers, noting failure in spots everywhere from floors to cabinet doors in various units, we found the Oliver's monocoque construction, and extremely limited use of wood elsewhere (and only non-structural, protected areas) to be refreshing. And, 16 seasons in, no moisture issues with any of the drawer unit, nor any of the limited other bits of wood in my unit. Nor, of course, the fiberglass structure.

@Katjo shared this possible solution some time back. Not sure if she ever tried it, or not, with her folding bikes.

Pretty cool!

@Patriot, that is a great recommendation. Thank you for sharing your personal experience. They're just a little over an hour from our camping property in WNC! We've been through Lenoir, and it seems like a nice little city, with plenty of restaurants (especially great bbq), and plenty of nice (and pet-friendly) lodging. A short drive to Blowing Rock as well, and all it has to offer. This is a big win for those of us in the Carolinas. (Even us part-timers. 😀)

We can take that sailing conversation to private message. 😀

Woodland Gardens near Hot springs is beautiful. The chapel is amazing. I just looked up winter hours. No dogs, unfortunately, during the winter hours. https://www.garvangardens.org/

Isn't St. Lucia beautiful? We need to get back to the Carribean. I'd love to meet up with you, and talk about sailing adventures, someday. There are quite a number of sail boat owners, and power boat owners, on this forum. For a number of reasons. The integrity and longevity of the fiberglass hulls is one of the reasons we chose an Oliver. Our fiberglass sailboat is over 45 years old. Power boat is closing on 25. Ollie is 16 seasons in. Living the 12v life is great. PS jealous of your trips to England, across the great pond. Don't know if we'll get the chance to do that. Happy for you that you did!

@gbergh, we had a close friend for dinner tonight, who designs Victron systems for sailboats. He, too, uses the multiplus, vs multiplus II. I asked him about the mounting positions. He always mounts normal , (letters up) , though victron technically allows sideways mount, on a bulkhead, for proper heat circulation. Even so, he adds muffin fans to exhaust heat, to a larger space, if enclosed. Victron has an overheat cutoff, but who wants that to happen, right? In our little 2008, I have no idea where we could mount a multiplus. It's simply too big. But then, we don't have an inverter, anyway. And, got rid of the 1000 watt inverter we had, as we didn't use it. When we refit our boat for solar some years back, our xantrex was only a year or two old, so, we kept it . (We rarely use the inverter, anyway.) Down the line, when necessary, it will likely be replaced with a multiplus, as many other components are victron. We can find ventilated room for it, somewhere. Thanks for your insight and comments.

Safe travels to you and your wife! That's a wonderful early Christmas gift to each other. Looking forward to your delivery photos.

@gbergh, thanks for the photo and input. Looks like you went total Victron in your Navion. Do you still have the Navion? How long have you had the Victron Multiplus? (I see it's not the multiplus II, so probably at least a year or two?) I can see from your profile photo, you're a sailor , too, (as are we) so I am only guessing that's why you selected Victron. (Boating community has been familiar with Victron for many decades. Not so much in the RV community. ) How has the multiplus helped you, vs oem equipment in your Navion? I know. I ask a bunch of questions. Sorry.

@Ty J hasn't been on the forum for a week or so. I'm tagging him here. If he has notifications turned on, he'll hopefully see these questions.

Here's the thread @topgun2 referenced earlier.

@Emgmtg, that's a curious situation. As you know, the function of the "fins" is to absorb the warm air in the fridge. Where that warm air that bypasses the fins will go, with the gap, is a good question for Norcold technical support, or Jason at Oliver. (Kind of looks like yellow insulation behind the gap in your photo. If that's so, I'm guessing it "could" collect condensation, like the fins. But, im certainlynot a fridge tech.) I don't recall ever seeing a gap like that in any of our 3ways. I think you're a brave guy, replacing your own cooling unit. Kudos to you. Our neighbor replaced the cooling unit in his older motorhome, but he used to run a small-scale appliance repair business, on the side.

Agreed

@Ron and Phyllis, i just saw this, looking at some old posts. I apologize, but last October I was on Chile and Antarctica. I missed some pms, I think. Our older Elite has been fine, with furnace running, bath door propped open, and a bottom drawer and/or hatchbopen, into the teens, at night, if temps get above freezing during the day . Dipping to 29 at night, with furnace on, hasn't been a big deal. With above caveats, and good blankets. Again, my apologies.

That's valuable info, from a retired pharmacist, scubarx. I'm sure the gp would give same advice, as well as warnings in the med. Or, prescribe a different med. Btw, whatever you carry, it's a good idea to check the first aid kit for expiration dates at the end of season, and replenish at the first trip. I have a number of med allergies, and learned my lesson after an accident in Amsterdam, years ago. I like to have a broad spectrum antibiotic that im not allergic to, and my own first aid kit with me, wherever we go. Several years back, a friend camping with us in the Yukon developed a respiratory issue. I was glad I had a supply of guafinesin with me, til he could travel over a hundred miles to the nearest clinic, with a video connection to a doctor. (At that time, it wasn't available over the counter in pharmacies in Canada. I think it may be, now.)

Yup, you got it done, John! Congratulations! Not to push the envelope, but you might want to add trailer model, year, and hull # to your signature, while you're in the zone.

It's funny, and corny, but may just be effective. After all, Escape has more views in 3 days on the bear video than Oliver's video (undoubtedly higher quality) has had in 3 months. (1.2k vs 1.1 k, at this time) And, it found a spot in its major competitor's forum, as well.

Disposing of old fiberglass boat hulls is a recognized problem, not just in the US, but around the world. A lot of research has been done, however, and hopefully before my Ollie is ready for disposal (many, many decades from now), more strides will have been made in recycling fiberglass, keeping old fiberglass hulls out of landfills. https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2020/november/fiberglass-recycling We do have one company in Florida that does fiberglass recycling, and sells equipment to recycle fiberglass, as well. I think their focus is on manufacturing waste materials, however, not big derelict boat hulls. Another large recycling company, with branches in Florida, used to accept fiberglass insulation. Unfortunately, they filed bankruptcy a short time ago, so that may be gone. All that said, fiberglass longevity and strength does give it some points, as longevity is a key point in selecting materials for building.

John, getting to and updating the signature block is indeed not very easy, nor intuitive, as you can see from comments in this thread. You're not alone. Do you work from a pc or a phone? My examples above are screenshots from my phone, but they should be pretty close to what you see on a pc. At least this gives you an opportunity to update the "invisible map." 😞

Something isn't working for you, John. We don't see your map, either. (And yes, it should be visible to you, too, unless you have viewing signatures turned off in your settings.) Sorry. I don't see any signature for you, whatsoever.