SeaDawg

There are several of us out there, still loving our little trailers, 15 seasons in. @bugeyedriver probably has more miles than we do with his 2008 Wonderegg. And @scubarx has owned both models, for a total of as many years.

I personally think you will find the Oliver MUCH easier to heat than the Airstream. Even our first edition #12, 2008 (with its wimpier insulation) is easier to heat than any other rv we've ever used. Never had an Airstream. Never really wanted to live in that (lovely) tin can, though we looked at them, several times. Beautiful, but not for us. Not USN. That'd be my husband. I'm tbe apprentice. Yes, we do love (and still own) multiple boats. That's a big part of why we know fiberglass is the way to go. Sailboat will be 50 in a four or five years. Power/ski boat is over 25. Various small craft, dinghy, kayaks, etc. in the garage or side yard. We take care of our stuff, and it takes care of us. I guess that's our mantra. Deferred maintenance kills stuff. House, trailer, boats. The Oliver is the least problematic, in our group of possessions, actually. I truly hope you can take the time to enjoy your Ollie as much as we have. We have such great memories. And, more to come. And, thank you for your service, USAF.

Yes, it would. The US version of the truma water heater doesn't run on electricity, either. I wouldn't hold my breath, honestly. I'd just buy a nice marine rated electric portable heater, or a Vornado. Something at least ul rated. If it gets close to freezing, you still need to run the furnace, to keep the interstitial spaces between the hulls warm . Or, if you usually camp with electricity, install one or two good marine bilge heaters. I am very excited about the vario heat, however. I've had it on my eventual upgrade list since it was introduced in the USA, and I talked for 45 minutes with the service manager in Lakeland. Quieter. More efficient. More controls. Sleep mode. Integrates with the truma backbone for thermostatic controls. It's more expensive than our previous furnaces, but quite probably worth it.

If the new foam is too stiff to squish/sort of fold at the sides a bit and stuff it in, use thin plastic, like a piece of dry cleaning bag, to make the foam slide easier. After inserting the foam, slide the plastic out. I wash the covers on my patio furniture once or twice a year. No issue. Do treat the zippers with a zipper lubricant/protector, especially of you live in a hot/humid climate. Makes them last longer/not stick. Oliver's upholster uses high quality thread and zippers. Really makes a difference in longevity. After fifteen seasons, trailer stored or used outside 24/7/365, I've only seen one tiny thread pop. I think that's pretty remarkable. (As you may have guessed, I've done a bit of upholstery in my life.)

There are a few of us out there who still own and enjoy our original 2008 and 2009 Elite shorties. So, 15th season for us, (and several others I know) something like 150k miles, couldn't tell you how many days used, but over 150 last year, and 100+ (so far) this year. Then again, I know a couple people who sold their shorties, and bought the bigger trailer later. Whether it suits you as a trailer or not really depends. If you're over 6'1", you may find it problematic, especially if both people are tall. The full size bed is cozy, and warmer in the cooler months, but, sure, I'd love to have the few inches extra space of a queen. The crawl-over hasn't been a big deal for us, yet. Maybe when we get older. We'll see. I'm the short one, so I get the inside post, and I don't find it to be a big deal, yet. If you have big dogs, or multiple dogs, you may find the space gets very small, especially in bad weather. We've had two small dogs, usually just one. We leave the big dinette set up as a bed, and use three big bins under the bed for extra storage. The dog(s) sleep(s) on the small dinette seat(s), on their own bed(?s). Otherwise, we have everything we need, in miniature, and then some, to enjoy our time camping. Life in miniature suits us. We don't carry a lot of "extra" stuff. Actually, we carry less every year. If an item isn't part of safety or first aid gear, or essential spares, and hasn't been used in the season, it gets culled at the end of season. Poof-- disappears to the garage archives, or goes to the Salvation Army. Disadvantages of the Elite are few, imo, as I think it's a great boondocking unit, and it tracks exactly behind the truck on narrow mountain roads. A 1500 pickup tows it like it isn't back there, and no Andersen required. Disadvantages-- for its size, it's rather heavy, and of course, it's pricey. A bit less rooftop space for solar, and less space for batteries in the smaller compartment. On the other hand, it's two less tires to replace every five years, and a bit less surface to wax and clean, and with the underbed bins, probably as much or more storage than the elite 2 with twins. Fits into spots designed for tenters, and too small for even an elite 2. As far as backing, couldn't say compared to a 2, but we've not had issues. The distance between ball and axle make it much easier than my squirrely old sunfish and trailer, which had a very short tongue. I've watched my husband, and also one of our friends, back our little trailers between trees with barely 6" on each side to spare. (We do this routinely at home!) Yes, they're experienced. But, you will be someday, too. You get the same marine quality fiberglass and gelcoat, same fixtures, etc. with the shorty. I have no desire to move to the bigger trailer, but that's a personal choice. Every trailer lives big on the outside.

If you find the seat cushions to be too soft, you can always replace just the foam. I know a few people have done that.

Only good news, @John E Davies, when you ultimately change up to a compressor fridge, it's a smaller area to seal. Yours is pretty much identical to our 2008. Interestingly enough, our first fridge was an older norcold. 2nd a dometic. Now, compressor fridge.

I think att and tmobile use the same towers in Canada. Or, at least share. They're both cdma based. And share with another couple majors in Canada. All this is changing, with 5g. None of the above work in many of the more remote places we camp in Canada. Nor, does Verizon. We choose to live with it. They all often do work, however, on many of the highways. Not all. And, in most communities. Not all. Way back in the day, we'd have to stop at visitors centers in towns to hook our phones to the free wifi, and check in, because neither carrier worked, elsewhere, or worked poorly. Not necessary today, in most towns. Most services will work in towns, on roaming. With any Canadian prepaid, you'd probably get service most places. Check prices on roaming, on your service. I've never had your service, consumer cellular. Chances are, they simply have no sharing/ roaming agreement with Canadian services. Til you get it sorted out, you can probably still do the old school thing, and use your phones on wifi at visitors centers, etc. You may find it cheaper to go to a Costco/walmart/rogers/att store, get a throwaway phone, and buy a bit of service for your month or two in Canada.. I doubt your consumer cellular phones are unlocked, to just use someone else's chip. Maybe.

Dry wool socks, weight depends on season, takes care of cold tootsies. (Change socks before bed.). Comforter weight depends on season. We keep the trailer around 55 at night, in shoulder season. Never tried an electric blanket. I will line the side of the hull with a rolled lightweight fleece, if it's cold, but our 2008 doesn't have the newer better insulation.

T-mobile/rogers apparently have a connection in much of Canada. We find our tmobile phone works best there. Not everywhere, but better than Verizon. So many places with zero signal.

Not talking about building a sport or a Casita type trailer, Steve. I'm talking about things like no fibergranite on your countertops. And I, for one,have no desire for a power awning on an Elite 1. The fibergranite used to be a 1500 or 1800 dollar option. I don't know the cost difference between manual and electric awnings, but I'd guess it's at least $500. So, minimum $2k off the price of an Elite, and I sure wouldn't miss them. I love my molded sink and white countertops. I think you have them in your 2, as well, if I remember correctly. Even our original Elites came standard with ac, furnace, etc. I wouldn't suggest stripping those out as an option. Oliver has indeed successfully positioned themselves as the luxe entry in fiberglass world. Lots of things are different, over a decade later.

$3.14 for regular at Costco, Columbia, SC this morning. 😁

Yes, we do! So helpful! The other brand that folks installed couldn't be operated from the closed screen door. Useless, imo. Who wants to open the door, to operate the blind? Thank you, very much. I could see operating your blind from the side, and squinting out.

Thank you, @Patriot. Those photos really help.

As far as the price increases, I don't think Oliver is jacking stuff up, or gouging. Fiberglass is a petroleum product. Raw materials have doubled. I posted a chart somewhere last year. But, you can look for yourself. Everything else has gone up as well. Salaries, insurance, you name it. The Oliver family is an honorable family, imo. During the last downturn, they kept virtually everyone in the plant employed, in other roles, even though they had to close the trailer line. They never let us "orphan" owners down, if we needed help, parts, repairs. Someone always helped. I'm a small town, country girl by upbringing, and that just speaks volumes to me. You don't find that a lot. By all means, shop around. Everything else has gone up, too. My elite 1, in 2008, was probably slightly more than half the price of today's elite 1. I get that. But, what's included in a base trailer today is phenomenal. I really wish they'd roll it back a bit. Include fewer items that should, imo, be options. Many people don't need, or even want, what's in the base package. And, some non-techie folks shouldn't want it. Just my opinion. Happy to still camp in my 15th season, 2008 Elite 1. If our daughter wants it, it will be hers, when we're gone. Hopefully, decades from now. We'll see what life brings. For now, all is good.

You could also try rv.net for a rental trailer, from an owner. We rented a Tab for my sister and her husband, years ago, when they thought they wanted a tab. 5 days told them they loved camping, but didn't love the tab. It was a really good, honest experience. They got to tow, check stuff out, etc. Turned out the trailer had no propane in the tank, so that was an issue. No fridge, etc. Battery was weak, so we loaned them a spare, and a genset. Their first trailer camping experience was boondocking, no power, so a true test.

Thanks. I agree. Short staff, etc, overwhelmed by more and more numbers of campers, especiallythe inexperienced, untrained ones will only lead to more bear destroyed. Even before covid, decades before, I'd be saddened by half burned trash in the fire ring. And not just in the US. Canada, Australia, etc. We've often thought a license to boat would be a good idea. We got our daughter into uscg auxilliary school at 10, I think, so she'd know the rules just weren't ours. Maybe a training course to camp? My observation has been, the cheaper the campsite, less staff, more infractions. Quite probably because of less staff. (Unless, of course, said campsites are really, really hard to get there. Then, it's mostly diehards who understand and follow guidelines. )

If I were going to go to the work to change our for clear glass, I'd "probably " go for the interior shade upgrade above. I do like your thinking. Has anyone installed the Zarcor " upside down," so that you could pull down the shade from the top? Or, how does that work? If I went to the trouble of changing the window, I'd like to be able to just look out the top inch or so. Does it operate with the screen door closed and locked, with the door locked?

We hang a shirt or jacket over the head bump cushion, in our 2008. I made a curtain, used it a few times, and went back to the shirt.

@GraniteStaters, the bears were here first, imo. We are the interlopers. Irresponsible campers should get fined, imo. I think there's a ranger shortage these days.. Irresponsible campers make it harder on everyone, especially the bears, in the long run, as you said. Only the first photo was mine. The others are screen grabs (and the link) from Facebook.

Btw, those are not "cheap" fittings. If you look them up. Sharkbite isn't cheap. Whale isn't cheap. Decide what you'd like to carry, if any.

No, they're not. Whale fittings are "push to connect" fittings. The knurled knob compression fittings are tightened by turning (usually by hand), so that the ferrule compresses the pipe., and creates the seal. Do not overtightighten, as that can crack the fittings. Any of them can possibly loosen with the vibrations of going down the road. Always worth checking.

We tow with vents and windows closed. Unless i miss something. 😒

I get that. The budget stretches only so far. If the truck is a tow only, not a daily driver, another consideration. Just, look at the differences between your upgraded wt, and what comes standard in trims up the line. Fwiw, I hated driving my mom's 2008 ford wt. Seats were terrible. Visibility awful. No amenities. My 2005 Silverado, LS, is great. I get people every year in parking lots, asking me if I want to sell my stepside. (4 times, this year alone.) As old as it is, it still has a great trade-in value, because, well, it's cute. Do your projections and math. Look at mileage, comfort, etc. You'll figure it out. I hate buying vehicles. It's a pita. Nice that you can configure everything on the website, and check it all out, without dealing with dealership hassle. I would encourage you to try drive a wt, though. Before you decide.

There's a diagram in Oliver University. Ours is 6' in length, 24" wide. I don't think that has changed, over the years.