Ray and Susan Huff

Good points! Thanks . . . . . I'll quit losing sleep over it. Are you going to discount the price of the Easy Start module that comes with the Lithium pkg? Yes, it's been said I can be a bit anal 😇

I like it the way it is . . . . . in RVs, everything is a compromise. I would not want to give up the microwave delete cabinet or the galley drawers for sake of a cu ft of fridge storage. We pack what we can and shop along the way, if necessary. We have a high performance cooler; a Coleman - not as expensive as Yeti (not as efficient I suppose, but more affordable and less apt to be stolen). We pack food items less sensitive to temperature (produce) as well as cold drinks, in the cooler. It is also good for pre-cooling items that require refrigeration, such as leftovers. We have three wireless thermometers - one each for the fridge, freezer and cooler. Acurite multi sensor indoor-outdoor temperature and humidity monitor I chose this one because you can see all three temps as well as ambient temperature on one screen; no need to cycle between channels. Bottom line: Food management, while camping, takes some thought and planning, but we manage to make it work. And, you can always carry a few freeze dried meals 😀

No restrictions on the amount of energy provided by other sources, but it is possible the cost of the batteries used to store solar energy might have to be prorated if they are charged from sources other than solar. Makes sense, if you think about it. I will research the details and report any findings.

And that would cancel out any tax credit gained.

Interested . . . . . Do you have some pics you can share?

My tax advisor has found language that suggests, in order to take the full credit for the battery cost, 100% of the battery charging has to come from the solar panels. If not, the credit (for the cost of the batteries) must be prorated based on the percentage of charging that is solar vs alternative sources (120v, generator, or TV alternator). Like most tax laws, the language is vague, at best, and can be interpreted in many ways. I'm not certain you could definitively determine this ratio. I suspect the tax laws are written for permanent structures; since it has been ruled that RV's are considered a second home for tax purposes, perhaps the laws will be rewritten to account for multiple sources of charging power. It will probably end up like claiming a vehicle for business use: we'll be expected to keep a log of the source of all charging. Sounds like a great way to enjoy "Oliver Time"!

Oliver installed lithium pkg includes heated batteries

I say: There are more advantages to lithium batteries, than the elimination of the need for a portable generator. 1. Easier maintenance; blue tooth battery monitoring 2. Faster charging 3. 80% of battery usable in Lithium vs 50% in AGM/flooded; less worry of dangerous level of discharge 4. Longer battery life 5. Increased resale value (only an advantage if you sell) 6. Solar Tax credit - jury is still out on how much of the cost can be claimed as a credit against tax liability 7. Less weight to carry Running the AC off the batteries is near the bottom of our list of perceived benefits of the Lithium Pro Pkg. 1. We have seldom used our AC in the past 10 years of RVing. 2. We tend to tolerate heat better when we are enjoying the outdoors. 3. I anticipate it will be easier to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the well insulated Oliver.

It's my understanding that the LifeBlue lithiums, as installed by Oliver, are heated.

Another consideration is counter/cargo space. Besides additional head space, the Elite II extra length gives you more counter in the galley, a larger fridge, and a big pantry across the aisle. 6" more interior width in the Elite II translates to a lot of elbow room. For what it's worth, there's also a cabinet over the Elite II toilet that you don't have in the Elite. Every little bit helps! If you are considering solar power, the Elite II has 340w vs 230 for the Elite. Elite II has an optional Lithium/3000w inverter solar option; Elite only gives you the choice of 6vAGMs; more available AH with Elite II. Probably the most important consideration is your tow vehicle. What do you plan to tow your with? Elite = 5,000GVW Elite II 7,000GVW; that's huge. It would be nice if Oliver had a side by side comparison on their site. Maybe they do, and I just didn't see it. When we were researching, we knew we wanted the Elite II since the interior space is very similar to our camper van. And our preference is for dual axle. Hope this helps; I'm sure I've missed something

We've occasionally noticed the same on our previous RV (camper van), which had built in surge protection. The smell always went away. Vent the cabin by opening the windows; it's like turning up the radio in a car so you can't hear that funny noise under the hood 😄 Seriously, hot electrical smells are scary when you don't know the source. Keep us posted if you find the cause.

Thanks for the pic. Is that a 6' or 8' bed? Looks like 6'; ours is 8'

Sounds very much like what I do. Though I do like to cook, I'd rather spend my "camp time" enjoying the out doors. Throughout the year, as I prepare dishes at home, I make larger than two person amounts and freeze some for camping. Cuts down on the pre-trip preparation. Pre-cooking the bacon is a great idea - cuts down on the cooking smell inside the trailer. I sometimes do that with sausage. I'm amazed that you can get all that food in a small fridge. We are accustomed to a 6 cu ft Dometic fridge, but it is very poorly designed, so not the most efficient at storage. We usually carry a week's worth of meals, then stock up on groceries along the way, as needed. Very rarely do we eat out. I much prefer the interior of the Norcold, with the wire racks (ours are plastic) and larger door shelves. We plan to carry a cooler in the pickup for our journey from Tennessee to Oregon - December 7 delivery. It's not a Yeti, but a high performance Coleman. We cover it with a down blanket during the day and use large gel ice packs and a remote thermometer to monitor temp. It stays 40-45 deg for two to three days, without replenishing with fresh ice.

We have shower rugs from our van - one from the lavatory and one we used outside the shower( which was separate from the lavatory) when we showered. They will be added to our Ollie gear. One less thing to buy 😁

How long a wait for the ARE? Do they colormatch to your paint?

Correct - no WD needed. We already have a receiver lock pin used for our bike rack.

All but the dog will be under consideration 😀

I need to check if our PU tailgate is lockable. I don't think it is. We don't carry a lot of campground gear and what we do have is very compact. Do you carry a portable generator? I agree that protection from the weather is essential. Thanks

I feel better now 😏

Thanks for the encouraging words. When not in use the Oliver will be stored on our property on a private road without public access.

It's been some time since we have had a towable RV. Our last was a 30ft fifth-wheel with plenty of onboard storage. Now that we are getting an Oliver, I'd like to know just how much do you use the pickup bed for carrying essentials. Our TV is an F350 SD long bed crew cab. It doesn't have a canopy or even a tonneau cover. It is also my husband's primary vehicle, aside from his motorcycle! A few theft-prone items I know we will be carrying: small toolbox, portable inverter generator, and fuel for the generator, bike gear, inflatable kayaks and gear. Other items I'm not concerned about: firewood, water jugs, Beyond these, what do you find you routinely carry in a pickup bed and how do you protect cargo from theft and the elements? For the tools, generator and fuel, a bed width locking toolbox would suffice. And we could secure the kayak/bike gear in the back seat. We're open to any and all suggestions. Thanks

Not sure this is the correct forum for this, but here goes: We are ordering the Lithium Solar package on our 2021 Elite II. I see, by watching videos, that the battery compartment is lockable. Is it keyed the same as the basement? In addition, are these locks the standard RV exterior compartment locks that every RV owner probably has on their keyring? Or does Oliver install uniquely keyed locks? (I'm concerned about the security of the $$$K batteries). If "common keyed" what locks are compatible? And is this something we could have Oliver Service do at delivery? I know, why pay someone else to do something we could easily do . . . . . . I guess because it's easy and contributes to the local economy 😀

I don't think our 2013 F350 Super Duty has a locking tailgate. What do you do about that?

Are you saying the Oliver comes with a locking cotter pin on the hitch coupler?

Not that it matters, but our BMW X-drive will display the pitch and yaw. What I didn't know is that the angle and %grade are not the same. Our private road has a short climb that displays as 18 deg on the BMW display. So is it actually 32.5? I'm going to have to check it out and see if the display says degrees. No wonder I struggle to pedal my bike up that hill!