SeaDawg

Cortes built their (imo goofy floorplan trailer) unabashedly by copying/cloning/creating a mold plug from a used Casita , creating an "unusual", unfriendly, and weird floorplan. Look closely at their videos. Fit and finish is lacking. The ceo/owner is now the wife of indicted original owner. I've been following them for over two years. If I were in the market, I'd steer clear, honestly. I'm not in the market, as I'll never likely sell my Oliver, but I'd be very cautious if I were looking now. I haven't checked their site lately, but here are a few screenshots, from about 25 months ago, where they were happily using a Casita as a base for their molds/plugs.

If you like two-tone, you could always take your trailer to a marine painter, and get a nice finish, one or two part poly. Lots of mega yachts do the same.

There are other places. you will find them.

Our E1 weighed in at just shy of 4000, loaded for camping, when we had old school fridge. We're lighter now. Tongue, no basket, I think 420. I'll look it up. 5090 towing capacity is probably less than ideal, in the mountains. Worked fine with our Volvo xc90 inflat land, towing capacity 4900.

So do we. Plus a foam mattress pad.

Those look like ant hills to me, and I'd avoid them. In the south, you may see the hill, but not the tiny red/fire ants, until you or your dog is bitten. May not even see a "hill", in Florida . That mound, with no "hole" is definitely to be avoided. Those ant bites are really nasty. Stink bugs don't bite, and spraying them with water or windex will slow them down/weigh them down so they are slow enough to scoop up gently without squishing, and releasing the "stink." I didn't think they over-wintered in trailers.

You'll find something meaningful, or not. Ours has been blank for 15 years. Happy motoring!

The reason I asked is that cushion fabric is often treated, or at least more impervious/tightly woven than mattress fabric. If we went to true mattresses, I'd likely add hypervent, a froli system, or something like it.

@Gliddenwoods, your water heater is surely under warranty. Have you opened a service ticket?

Good news. Which mattress do you have, or cushions, like us?

Agreed We experiment with "stuff," (not as extensive as you, probably. ) But, we started with a very basic trailer. Like you, we report the good and bad.

Try this one. My cousin stored his rv there . https://belleairstorage.com/

Agreed.

I think a lot of good points have been made. I don't think content should be removed, maybe split off to a new topic, but not removed. The thread has wandered quite far from the original poster's intent. We have no idea of the specific trailer's weight, nor their equipment . Even the TV is an educated guess. I'd say, we could all lighten up a bit, since we're all working on conjectures.

I didn't read anything that was "snarky," just trying to be cautious, I guess. We have no idea what the true weight of the unknown trailer is, so there you go. I know of at least one weighed trailer slimmed down to under 5000 pounds, with lithium, but that's an exception. We all try to be kind and considerate here, without compromising safety. Some folks like to stretch the limits, others like to oversize their tvs. We all have to find what's best (and safe) for ourselves. I would agree that the thread drifted in a direction far from the original intent.

Got that. Just threw it in for Elite I owners, like us, who might look at this thread in future years . Thanks for that. Our isotherm/truckfridge requires much less ventilation from what you stated. I don't know why. I'm remembering (could be faulty) about half. We also rarely camp in high heat conditions, but no issues whatsoever in the past years. More ventilation is better than less, for sure.

Level in the cavity isn't a big deal with dc/danfoss/secop fridges. Built for boats. Ventilation is. Btw, I'm not totally sure, but I don't think the Novakool will fit through the "neck" of the early Elite I s.

@Ollie-Haus, I agree.. I don't think Oliver would ever put you on the road with marginal tires. Like us, they do a lot of research. We've run on st tires for 15 years. We like them, and are happy. LT is great, but we feel solid with st. Never felt compelled to change up the original. We can spend days discussing the differences.... Gone are the days of the Goodyear marathons/explodathonans. Life, and tires, evolve. Just no cheap wacko tires, and we're all good.

@Rene, what's your goal? Keep the house, and travel, or sell the house and full time? Good luck in your decision. An Oliver rig will definitely be easier to drive than a schoolie, but even an Elite II will be smaller.. That said, we often live five or six months, in the smaller Elite I. Do you have pet(s)? Welcome aboard.

With lt or st tires, always use a tpms system. We run still on st tires. Very happy. As you will.

If belt(s) on 4 year old tire failed, I'd replace them all, too. Prudent thing to do. Good catch.

I carry a countertop induction burner. Works great, when we have 110. Which, we rarely have.. Propane stove is great.

Well,my usual advice is " love the one you own. " Every vehicle we own is technically capable of towing our 2008 Elite I. Some, better than others. (With the exception of the 58 tr3) It's easy to oversize. Easy to undersize, as well. The price of new vehicles today gives us all pause. And, worth a careful study. Most of us don't "need" a huge diesel. Some don't want yhe andersen hitch, so they get a 3/4, rather than a half ton. You said in another post that your suv is kind of "on the cusp," so that's another thought.

That said, a 3/4 or 1 ton truck is definitely not a requirement. I'd guess the majority here tows with half tons. More power, the better, is true with any tow combination, but, hey. If you already own a half ton with tow package, love the one you're with. Lots of factors to consider.

@Steve Morris, I've taught a bunch of people to use dumps. But, I encouraged them to just put clean into the toilet/ black tank. Cleaner water everywhere. Much nicer experience if there's a first timer mistake.