SeaDawg

Hi, and welcome! You'll see lots of info if you just poke around. If you have the means, and some decent vacation time accrued, getting to know travel trailers in general, and Oliver in particular, can be a learning experience. It's not hard, but best learned before you launch off on "the trip of a lifetime, " unfamiliar with your gear. I'd recommend several short trips, before a long travel, if you're inexperienced. If you're not ready to buy yet, at least rent a trailer (some other brand.. I doubt you'll ever see an Oliver on rvshare.net) and check out the lifestyle. Some of the owners on rvshare (or outdoorsy) will even deliver to a campsite, so you get some experience camping, without learning to tow. At the very least, see an oliver, if you haven't. Go to the rally next spring for a day or two. Visit the factory, and take a tour. It's impressive, for sure. What would I do differently? Pretty obviously, nothing. We've been happy campers in a 2008, now in our 16th season. Best of luck to you in your quest for "best for you."

I'd put a block or two under those jacks. Just saying... Spread the load, decrease your chance of an accidental "drive-off" bending a jack, decrease the throw of the jack... Stretching everything to the limit isn't ever best protocol, imo, and, if a jack or jack switch fails, it's easier to bring the jack back up, if it's not fully extended. Lube or don't lube. Your choice, but most folks find lubing moving parts (with appropriate lube) to be beneficial (someday.)

To be quite frank, the video is very educational, for those who don't read the manuals. And, as noted, they pushed the issue, on purpose. The last thing you'd want to do, with any ev, or any lithium batteries (phone, rv, you name it) is to run to absolute zero, intentionally.) Most evs still have a 12v agm, that will be destroyed in the process, as was this one. There are, however, alternative uses for evs that are far better. For the near future, until battery life (storage) and performance is increased , the best use of ev is local, imo. Local buses, Amazon vans, Ups trucks, post office delivery vehicles, maybe school buses, taxis, local contractors-- plumbers, electricians, builders, etc. Local commuters, like my daughter, who droves 30 miles round trip, to work, daily, and can even slow charge at work. And, folks like me, who when home, just drive to dinner, my mom's condo, and/ or the grocery store, and can charge on solar. My nephew, a general contractor, drives maybe 100 miles a day, sometimes towing a utility trailer. It could work for him. With today's tech, and charging networks, and limited fast charge capabilities, long range towing is only practical for a select few. This will probably change. If not, we'll be looking more to advanced hydrogen fuel cell tech. The cities are where ev works best, imo. And, in many cities, that's where the smog concentration is most important. I see multiple Rivians almost every day in my community. Abundant Teslas, and other brand commuter vehicles, including ford lightning, as well as ev suvs and cars. I don't see them often on I95, and I've yet to see one towing. There is a reason, currently.

@Wandering Sagebrush, what do you store in the box? How do you "balance" with weight on the tongue? I'm sure other inquiring minds want to know, as well.... That's a huuuuge box!

@rangered, that's an amazing difference in the sound level. Well look forward to your reports as you get to use it, camping. Thanks for the photos and post.

If you've never been in a hail event, what's the point of responding, imo? As with most polls, we'll find flaws. This poll is regarding Oliver travel trailers, only. Not SOB other trailers.

Could you post the video? I've honestly never seen it. With an older, 2008 Elite, we only have two ports (not counting the hose under the seat... don't worry about that, as I don't think you have one.) We sanitize city, even though we virtually never use it, and tank pressure fill. Solution down the hose.

We feel the same way about you.

Congratulations to you, and the new owner. They got a phenomenal trailer. Just a thought. We've airbnb'd it, and cabin camped, around Europe , Scandinavia, and South America, and some places in US and Canada. Just a thought. It will be different, but, hey, you don't have to maintain the airbnb's. (I will admit to fixing minor things, like dripping faucets and loose toilet seats in some.. lol.) Maybe time to explore other venues. Enjoy the next chapter, and the freedom afforded by your wife's retirement. I know neither of you will be just "sitting around." (Your tent is amazing.) I'm very glad you plan to hang around, even if on a limited basis.. Your posts have helped so many people.... more than you'll ever know.

Another question about the xpel, @Patriot. How do you maintain it? Is it inherently uv protective, or do you still have to wax? How do you remove bug and tar splatters? It looks great, btw.

Agreed that 3/4 and 1 ton should be added, if he can still edit. There are many of us who use our tvs as a daily driver, and it IS a compromise (payload/fuel capacity, and wdh), but I wouldn't want to drive around my town in a 3/4 ton truck, every day, nor would it fit in my spot in the garage. We don't require the Andersen with our smaller Elite I, but we still need to be cognizant of payload and fuel capacity. (Payload, more than fuel. My bladder, and my stiff knees, usually need a filling station stop and walk-around before we're dangerously low on fuel. 😀 ) And, my 87 year-old mom can barely make it up and into my 2005 Silverado. Bigger truck would be impossible for her. Life is full of choices, and compromises. We all have to live with them.

Me, either. In fact, I wouldn't tow with a vehicle WITHOUT a tow package. Probably good to leave it in the poll as a reminder of its importance?

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/2576-how-to-bleach-service-tee-to-sterilize-water-during-tank-fill/#comment-43975 You may find some comments here helpful.

That might be another question to add to your poll. 😀 Obviously, more force when driving. I'm sure most folks would pull into shelter, if possible, if a weather alert were issued. I was very glad we weren't there. It looked like snow on the ground, it was so thick.

Looks like it's working now. Thanks for all your hard work. I think many will find this interesting. In my vote, I would note that we were visiting friends an hour away from the campsite, so our TV was not exposed to the hail storm. The steelie marble size hail was all over the ground when we returned, along with lots of shredded vegetation. This was at our camping property. No other campers or rvs there with us, so nothing to compare to.

@Wandering Sagebrush, he left the poll public, so , yes, you can see the responses.

@MAX Burner, could you add $0 to the first question, and "solar Panels" to the last, please? There are a number of us who have experienced hail events, and sustained no damage whatsoever. I'd sure like the poll to be able to reflect that.

Our Rocktamers generally do a good job, but if your travels include many miles of gravel, I'd add some kind of additional protection to the front of the trailer.

I totally agree. And, if, on the slim chance Airstream did, and it followed the same stream as the Nest purchase, there would likely be a bunch of great folks in Chilliwack without jobs in a year or two. (They've tried fiberglass over the years, even before NEST. ) My bet is, they stay in their lane, this time. https://www.airstream.com/blog/nest-isnt-airstreams-first-foray-into-fiberglass/ (The Nest was the only foray into fiberglass, under Thor ownership. ) My hope for Escape, and their employees, is that a local Canadian company buys them out. There's room for all of us in the market.

I noticed this morning that Escape is no longer accepting applications for a new president on LinkedIn.

Congratulations, and happy travels! Well look forward to seeing you on the road, and on the forum. (You know we all love photos!)

I see you have (probably) Marriott points. Downtown Nashville Marriott is one of our daughter's favorite hotels. It's beautiful, newer, and from the photos she has sent me, and I'd never hesitate to stay ( with points.) Pricey, otherwise. Walking distance to all the fun. This one? I'll ask our daughter, if you plan to stay downtown. https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/s/2FVQeEQUgFsmxt8K9 Outside town, not far from the airport, we like Darfon's restaurant. Haven't been there in several years,,but was consistent, back in the day. Very close to the airport. Some decent hotels (and others, not so great(; ), nearby. Do, at least tour the Gaylord,,with the fantastic gardens, indoors, out by the Opryland. It's really pretty, anybtime if the year. (Christmas is spectacular) you don't have to stay. You can wander. Have breakfast or lunch, if you wish.

Were it me, I'd probably book an airbnb in Franklin. I love that town. Great restaurants. Cute town, and downtown. Short distance to Nashville, and all it has to offer. Avoid the rush hour crush (go early or late to/from Nashville, and you'll be fine.) Explore, from there. You're only there for a week! So much to see. My faves in Franklin, 55 south, and Red Pony. Lots to explore in Franklin. So many choices!

Well, if you (and your machine) are up to it, Sailrite has a video on creating your own "bra" for the Ollie front. If you bought discounted vinyl > than 23 Oz, on totofabrics.com, and had the tools, probably could cut the commercial cost by more than half. Going down a bunch of gravel, I'd probably still tape yoga mats under the bra. And, not neglect proper rock guards, on the TV. https://www.sailrite.com/how-to-make-an-rv-front-cover

I split some airstream/Oliver comparison comments to a new thread. You'll find it here: