SeaDawg

@Steve and Cindy, I suspect they are the same. It's just a light ring, added to the base model. This is one of our best easy upgrades, ever. (The installation manual is the same for both models.) We used modern synthetic butyl tape to bed ours, on the outside. I'd highly recommend that, vs. caulk. Having the overhead light in the bath, so bright, but not glaring, is a gamechanger. (Especially since our small light on the wall isn't working anymore. I need to replace that. )

I totally agree with that. We looked at, honestly, everything available when we were looking in 2007/2008 for our "forever" purchase. (We weren't new to camping.) We started at rv lots. My husband and I laughed, and walked out, when a salesman tried to convince us that with a 5th wheel hitch in my 2005 1500 Siverado bed that we'd be "good to go" with the unit he wanted to get off the lot.😪 We looked at (and often crawled over and under) literally "everything. " RV shows, all the molded fiberglass trailers available at the time, and finally settled on our Oliver. We drove roughly 800 miles to tour the then very new production site in Hohenwald. We saw Ollies in various stages of production, and could see the amazing frames and care and materials that went into the trailer. (,My husband, like many owners here, is an engineer. ) We put in our deposit on the way home, over the phone, and never looked back. Our 2008, 16 seasons later, doesn't owe us a dime. Seriously. We probably owe a bigger debt to Oliver, and our little trailer. The adventures have been priceless memories. We'll leave our stout little trailer to our daughter, for her to make more memories with her family.

Sorry. The photo looked Ike it was on the ground.

Well, we've owned two boats, at least, entire time we've owned the Ollie. Our (now vintage, 40+ year old) cruising sailboat, and a ski boat, plus various others.) The Ollie is the least work, and least expense, of any of our big "adventure toys ". (Except dinghies and Sunfish, but I wouldn't count them. Not in the same class.) We do find it true that any vehicle, even a trailer without engine, requires periodic maintenance. If you take care of your gear, it takes care of you. One of those symbiotic relationships. Our tow vehicles are 2005, and 2008. Same holds true. Take care of your truck, and it takes care of you. The payback vs memories? IMO, priceless.

I would like that responder to add a post. Damage, BUT ($0) cost?

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.