SeaDawg

I suspect the Nissan is simply artistic license on the photographer's part... Does look nice, though, huh?

Congrats! Hohenwald is really a nice place to visit, lots of camping within a few hours. I'm sure you're looking forward to May! And, welcome to the board. Sherry

Looks like another great Florida campsite we should visit in the off season. You mentioned the armadillo. I heard on the radio yesterday that the prehistoric relative of the armadillo was the size of a volkswagen beetle, with a big barbed tail. Well, we have a few snakes, but nothing the size of the armadillo ancestor.... Sometimes, our January weather is great, ditto February. This year has been a cold spell followed by warm, over and over again. (Each week has warm and cold, since mid January.) Don't let it discourage you, for next year. Our parks are amazing. And almost always warmer than New Jersey, New York, or Minnesota, by far. Sherry

Flies are a topic to discuss with your relatives, but in my native Minnesota, May is not a big insect month. June, especially late month, may be another story. I hope you stay as long as you can. We loved Quebec, and hope to return soon. The landscapes were amazing, and the people were lovely. We had a wonderful time, even though I only had decades old one semester French, and a dictionary, to help me. It's true, the further you get into the "country", away from the cities, the less English is spoken. However, most folks we found were very helpful in meeting us in the middle of our language limitations. If not this time, the next time. do tour the Gaspe on the ocean perimiter road. Top down is best, as you hug the "wall" of the many cliffs over the ocean. The scenery is breathtaking. More than breathtaking. I'll never forget that drive, and I've been a lot of places in this world, and a lot of amazing memories. I'd rank the Gaspe in the top ten. Sherry

When we camped in Quebec, our dog was at home with our daughter. We did see some folks traveling with pets, but not as many as we did in Ontario. Here are a few links that might help you. Three of the Quebec parks will begin accepting dogs this year as a pilot program: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-parcs-dogs-allowed-1.3432726 A number of private campgrounds accept pets. Here's a link to Good Sam's site: http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/campgroundsandrvparks/searchresults.aspx?city=Trois-Rivieres&zip=&state=QC&country=CAN&name=&goodsam=0&sort=featured&radius=25&camping=0&rvparts=0&rvservice=0&rvsales=0&rvrentals=0&attractions=0&bigrigs=0&internet=0&pets=1&swimming=0&openallyear=0&tent=0&rentals=0&age=0&rating1=0&rating2=0&rating3=0&rating2perfect=0 We camped in the shoulder season (late fall), and many of the national and provincial parks had already closed their camping facilities. We stayed in a number of private campgrounds, and were very happy. Since you have family in Quebec, you've probably already driven the Gaspe Peninsula. For us,the drive around the Peninsula alone was worth the entire trip. Breathtakingly beautiful. We stayed at a private campground, uncrowded, at a site near an ocean cliff. We watched whales from our camp site. Sherry

We had a great time at dinner tonight with Stan and Carol, near their campsite at Fort DeSoto. So nice to spend some time with Oliver friends! Sherry

Yes, the light is great! And, your trailer is beautiful. Happy travels. Sherry

John, I think that would be a good idea. In the meantime, I've disabled the spammer, and deleted all his/her posts. The controls are pretty good, but every once in awhile someone gets through. I try to check the board twice a day (when I'm in wifi range), as do several of the mods. I don't always log in, just check current posts, etc., so I wouldn't see a pm, though I guess you pm'd someone else, as I don't have a message. I'm sending you a private message now with my email. That comes up on my phone, and I'll get it right away unless I'm camping in areas with no service (which is, happily, several months of the year.) Back in the day, we had an enormous problem with spammers, and set the controls to approve members one by one. It was painstaking work that none of us enjoyed. Hopefully, this is an isolated incident, and we won't need to revert to the system of the old days. I will also send the board admin a message reviewing this issue. Thanks for the heads up. Sherry

We still have our orignial prodigy, which we move from vehicle to vehicle as necessary. (All three of our vehicles have been set up for the prodigy, and we've towed at various times with each of them.) I can see why you would want to use the new rf with your suv. The mounts are a bit unsightly, and I still bang my knee occasionally on the mounts in the Volvo and Silverado. Some interesting commentary in reviews on etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90250.html Sherry

Ron was a great contributor while he had his Oliver. I can understand his desire for more space, as he lives and works from his trailer, in some pretty intemperate climates sometimes. Congrats to him on the sale of his Oliver, and good luck with the new Arctic Fox. I understand they are wonderful trailers. Sherry

I can see that, Dave. I only brought ours up because I didn't want a microwave in the first place, and my husband followed someone else's ideas. It was a complete waste for us, as we rarely camp with electricity, and our generator would never power a microwave. Everyone's habits are different.Many folks work the kitchen as you do, with premade meals for first or second nights. It's not a bad idea. I wasn't being critical, at all. Other friends use their microwaves a lot. Just not my habit, and I'm looking forward to a big cabinet in the kitchen when we delete the unused microwave convection oven that no longer works. Sherry

Pete, Wish we had a fb "like" button. Very clear explanation. If the drains get plugged, you'll get water inside in a decent rainfall. This is true of all trailers. Keep them clear. It's not that hard, just hard to remember till it rains. lol.

Most people, I think, pay cash from savings, or use an equity line on their home or stock accounts. Most likely, easiest to work with your local bank if not paying cash from savings or the sale of unused assets. Sherry

We carry the generator (a Honda 1000 to charge the battery) in the truck bed, under cover. With the solar power, we rarely need it, and don't carry fuel most of the time. What is your tow vehicle? I can definitely understand not wanting to carry fuel inside an suv. Most vehicles we've seen in the Yukon, Alaska, and Australia carried jerry cans in a roof rack. Or on a rear bumper of the trailer or campervan. The roof rack seems to be the prime spot. Sherry

Interesting item you posted on the RockTamers, John. I did find that info on the Australian RockTamer website. Haven't seen it in any of the installation material and vids on the US version, but I could have missed it. Here's the AU link: http://rvtowingsolutions.com.au/faq I see that the OZ version also has an optional mesh guard for between the flaps. I haven't seen that here, either. We loved camping in Australia (both times), and look forward to more adventures there. A very interesting array of campervans, caravans, tents, and totally amazing fold-out tent/trailer combos. The Australians love to camp, and are quite ingenious in their gear. Sherry

Pete, that looks like a great find. Have you emailed them? Sherry

That was an option back in the day (2008.) We have one. I used it two or three times as a microwave. Mostly used as a storage cupboard. (It died about a year or so ago, probably from lack of use. Now, it is truly a cupboard. I'm thinking of removing it, and asking Oliver to retrofit the space as a true storage locker.) Sherry

or something like this? http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/towing/accessories/rock-guards/kargard-rock-deflector.htm Or, maybe a group of us need to go on Shark Tank with the idea... made specifically for travel trailers

I wonder if this one from Roadmaster would fit? It might be worth a call...

Topgun, I roll just about everything too. Seems to keep everything neater and less wrinkled. I don't carry an iron in the Oliver. I also have some soft fabric bins from IKEA (Skubb, I think), for organizing the lockers. I've used them for clothing, and also for corralling boxes of cereal, crackers, chips, etc. in the big cupboards over the bed area. Since they flex, they fill most of the useable space. I've also found that Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Ross have lots of fabric bins in various sizes available now, and again during "back to school" days.

I just got a flyer in the mail for Camping World's 50th Anniversary sale. Some things aren't much better than their normal "sale prices," but a number of items are 50% off. 8 x 16 patio mat in win/cream or navy /light blue is only $49.97. Our eight year old mat is giving up the ghost, so it may get a replacement next weekend. The sale is January 15-16, in the stores only, members only. If you're a member, you probably received the same flyer. They're also running a buy one, get one free sale on certain items. Not always the first place I shop, but if they have items I need on sale, CW has a far greater selection in its stores than Walmarts. Sherry

Linda, I don't think you could run the heat strip during the day from the battery power. I think it would drain the battery--very quickly. Heat strips operate from major resistance. I've never run my furnace while driving. Don't know if it's recommended. I'd leave the trailer winterized til I got far enough south to avoid hard freezing weather. Use a bit of water from a gallon jug to flush if you use the facilities on the way down, as you said "dry camp". No point in pushing it, and creating problems in your travels. We don't fill fresh water when we come home from North Carolina in November, till we're in Florida. Have a great trip. Sherry

Looking forward to seeing you and Carol again in February, Stan. Hope you have a great trip. Sherry and Paul

Welcome to the forum! I'm originally from Minnesota (but tropical southern Minnesota... you know, the pineapple belt, a hundred miles south of you...) Lots of great camping in Minnesota, and just across the border in Canada, too. Several years back, we took our Oliver over the top of the lakes, coming back into the US in Minnesota. Grand Marais is a great place, especially in July. Spent some time with my brother in Brainerd, and near friends in Minneapolis, along with a few great state parks on that trip. Sherry

Beautiful new Oliver! I love the fabric you selected for the cushions. Looks really sharp. Happy travels, and many miles of smiles, in your new Oliver. Sherry