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TexasGuy

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    GO FOR IT! TALK ME OUT OF A COMPARABLE AIRSTREAM. 😉

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    So my Oliver gets delivered in May.  I am ready to pick it up and go camping!

     For me it came down to the quality of construction and the hardiness of exterior.  I live in DFW and the threat of hail was a big negative for Airstream. Like others I was surprised by the quality issues new owners encountered with Airstream.  I will say Airstream has a lot more interior options and the Oliver wet bath is a concession but how much time are you actually in the bathroom.   I think with small kids a wet bath would be a pain.  With mainly just me no concerns really.  

    Four (easy) questions about truck Payload for Elite II?

    in Towing an Oliver

    Posted · Edited by TexasGuy

    So I don’t have my Oliver yet (May 2020) but just bought my tow vehicle.  I was deciding between F150 and F250.  I went with 2021 Platinum F150 4x4 with 3.5L ecoboost and max tow package.   Payload sticker is 1,535 lbs.  

    A couple reasons.  The TV is my daily driver and I just did not want to drive F250 around town.  My use case for next 5 years or so won’t have me on weeks long trips and I am not a heavy packer. I prefer hiking so no bikes or kayaks to carry.   Inside truck normally just me and 40lb dog. 
     

    In 5 years or so when I start taking much longer trips(weeks at a time)  I will look at bigger trucks.  Of course by then I hope to have a nice Bronco in garage for daily driver.  
     

    I was really tempted by F250 payload but just not ready to make that leap yet.  
     

    Good luck!

    • Like 1

    Time to think about options

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    18 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

    Some of the answers will actually depend, at least somewhat,  on which model you choose. And, your camping style.

    Can't comment on the awning, as we have had two manual Fiamma awnings. First vinyl top lasted almost ten years, with that brand. 

    The battery compartment in the Elite is smaller, and tighter to work in than in the Elite II.  I'm a big fan of AGM, for many reasons, but $500 is $500, and would almost pay for two Agm batteries,  later. You're in Texas, so cold weather storage  isn't a huge issue. We started with the included flooded batteries, and upgraded when they died. If you opt for the flooded, do set up a reminder on your phone calendar to check the fluids monthly. Do you get anything else in equipment with the $500 upgrade?

    In the Elite, you barely have any countertop in the kitchen, and the tabletop is actually quite nice in the leathered black. Our original white still looks nice, 13 years in. The Elite II has more countertop showing, so that's a matter of personal aesthetics.

    When we lost our original water heater, we replaced it with a Girard instantaneous.  It's really nice , but I don't know if I'd do it again. Boondocking, you can fire up the standard water heater for say, 10 minutes, get the water to a comfy temp, and just shower without the mixer. In an electric site, you can use the free power and save your gas with the standard water heater. It's a pricey coin flip, especially if you typically camp solo. You do have the anode in the standard to attend to annually, so a tiny bit more attention. But, not a big deal.

    We've never had a cell booster, though I  tried a highly-rated mobile one, and returned it.  Problem is, you have to have some kind of a signal to boost.  We carry two cell phones, instead. One gsm, one CDMA, and if there is a signal, one of us gets it, and shares it via Hotspot. 

    It sounds like you're leaning toward solar, and that's really my one and only must have. It allows us so much more freedom in site choices, and we almost never opt for sites with power, preferring the quiet of out if the way places.

    We've not yet had a composting toilet.

    Be prepared.  You'll get lots if opinions.

     

     

    Appreciate insight.   From what I can tell on spec sheet the $500 gets you 4 6V AGMs versus wet cell batteries.   In both cases you get same solar setup on roof and 2000kw inverter.   

    • Like 1

    Time to think about options

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    So my build sheet will be due before I know it with a late March production date and starting to seriously look at options and hoping to hear from recent buyers as well as those with more experience in the Oliver.   I am still deciding between Elite or Elite II.  
     

    1. Awning - From my understanding the upgrade gets you a wind sensor, remote and canvas material.  The standard awning is still powered and a vinyl top.  Based on my prior rentals I pulled in awning when out for the day and at night so wind sensor is not a big deal for me.  If you did upgrade was the canvas material a better choice ?

    2. On the Elite II it looks like you can get a solar option with wet batteries and save about $500 over AGM package. Is the AGM performance worth the difference?  I appreciate you have less maintenance with AGM but is topping off wet cell batteries really that hard?  Right now the lithium jump just isn’t worth it until I get more time in RV.  
     

    3. Truma water heater. So 70% of time will just be me and I always take a navy shower in RVs to save on water.  Anyone with standard heater have issues with enough hot water?

    4. While composting toilet is interesting not sure I want to take plunge yet. I will ask Oliver but this feels like upgrade that can be done later.   Thoughts?

    5. Countertops   That seems like a lot of money to upgrade counters. Anyone with std white have regrets?

    6.  Wi-Fi/cell boosters- can these be sourced afterwards and not permanently mounted?  With a mobile hotspot device are they even needed?

    Any specific options you have found to be must haves.  I’m sure these have all been asked before and sorry to ask again but having in one place to reference is helpful to me  

    Thanks!

     

    • Like 1

    Customer design input-Larger Ollie

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    So Escape is getting ready to launch a new trailer with dry bath, twin or large bed in front with dinette in rear.  Length is about same as Elite II but trailer specs are about a foot wider.   
     

    I looked at Escape before placing order for Oliver.   They are nice trailers but the interior to me is still stuck in 1980s.   It reminds me of Pace Arrow my grandpa had in 1980s.  Just a preference thing.  I also looked at Casitas and the carpet on wall is a no go for me.  
     

    Sewer Hose for Elite 1 (2021)

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    37 minutes ago, SeaDawg said:

    Btw, since you are new to camping and rvs, as many people are when they buy their first rv, I'll offer this idea that I've used with several friends new to rv camping.

    Practice learning to dump with clean water. It's a bit of a waste of water,  but so much easier on the nerves. Fill the grey tank to maybe half using a faucet, and the black with clean water by just depressing the foot pedal for a good long while, or run the shower wand into the toilet at the same time. Half full is enough when there are no solids or tp in the black tank, but do whatever you like.

    Hook up and dump. If you do make a mistake, the only thing you're spilling is clean water. No panic.

    This works really well if your first campsite is full hookups, but I'd fill the fresh tank, and work from there. It can flush some of the plastic taste and smell from new plumbing, at the same time.

    Sherry

     

     

    This is a great idea!  I’ve dumped grey tanks many times on RVs I have rented.  Given it is dirty dish water or shower water it never bothered me.  
     

    Never done a black tank as rentals had a cassette toilet and my rule with family was I’d take care of cassette unless someone went #2 and then you had to do it.  With just pee it wasn’t bad. I’m not sure I want to deal with sewage so thinking hard about composting toilet.   The pee jug doesn’t bother me but do wonder if composting part really does work. Does it really not smell.   I’ve got a bit more time with to decide...

    • Like 2

    I messed up

    in Towing an Oliver

    Posted

    16 minutes ago, BackofBeyond said:

    I'll add - I really love my 2500 diesel -however - Ford and GM have new large displacement gas engines out this year - Ram can't be far off. Give them a few years - I may look at the gas powerplant - GM still mates it to a 6 speed - due to availability-  About 450 hp and torque - at 5k rpm vs 2k for diesels. 

    Why- initial upfront $$ of diesel (ok I've eaten that,,,) is a bummer - gas is mo better $$

    Less $$ operating - between oil changes, fuel filters, DEF, the gas engine is more economical - fuel mileage a little less, but fuel is cheaper.... 

    And when the world opens up again - diesel is a little less available north and south of the US. 

    BUT - my current TV is really perfect, and it paid for  so.... 

    Interestingly, as I have searched local dealers inventory the 7.3 is hard to find especially when you get to Lariat or above trims.  
     

     

     

     

    • Like 1

    I messed up

    in Towing an Oliver

    Posted

    26 minutes ago, Jairon said:

    The F-250 is rumored to have an interior overhaul for the next model year. 🤪

    Yeah.  I heard the same.  Guessing they may get new big screen from F150 and maybe other tech updates like the self drive stuff.   Not sure I want F250 on self drive mode.  🤣

    I messed up

    in Towing an Oliver

    Posted

    So my Oliver isn’t coming until May and as I continue to look at build sheet I’m pretty sure I am going to get Elite II versus small Elite.   It just works better as I thought about how I plan to use trailer.

    My mistake was looking at F250 this weekend.   I have 21 F150 on order but with delays it won’t be ready by end of year which is when I need it.   So off to dealer to look at F250.  I think I have been watching too many YouTube videos on towing as the thing I got most excited about was the payload sticker at about 2,850 lbs. 😂  The F150 would work just fine and I can stay within numbers with Elite II but I love the mountain west and long term think a diesel HD truck will make trips easier.  
     

    Plus living in Texas a F250 is really just a normal sized family vehicle.   

     

     

    Tow vehicles for the Elite I

    in Towing an Oliver

    Posted

    Surprised to see F-150 over payload on the Elite.  Any idea of weight for cargo in truck bed and your tongue weight?  

    I have 2021 F-150 Supercrew 4x4 on order to pull my Elite coming in May so no experience yet with TV.  Appreciate feedback from those already on the road.  
     

     

    • Like 1

    Place to Live Best Situated for RVing

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I’ve lived all over the US and the western US is top of my list when I retire. I love the area around Bend Oregon plus coast is not that far.   I’d probably head south for part of winter but that is what the Ollie is for!  Texas is home so I have thought about having a small place in the Hill Country for winter between Austin and San Antonio.    

    • Like 4

    Thoroughly Confused Soon-To-Be Elite 1 Owner

    in Towing an Oliver

    Posted · Edited by TexasGuy

    So I have been looking at a new truck for my TV as current driver is going to my son plus it cannot tow an Oliver.  I have be really surprised how high the prices have been in the used truck market, at least in DFW market.  If you are open to brands you might see if you can get a deal on 2020 F-150 as new design for 2021 drops in November.   If they incentivise them enough it may not be much of price delta to a used truck.   Just depends on the market where you live.  I was looking at 2019 and above models.  
     

    Good luck.   I get my LE in May so I have to wait longer.   

    • Like 1

    Which size?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    So I still have time with my build sheet and I am starting to waffle on the LE vs LEII.    I really like small size option of LE but one reason for getting trailer is to spend time with my son who is 16.   I’d love to have his older sister along but she isn’t much of a camper 🙂

    In the LE the smaller dinette seems too small for an adult to sleep for extended period of time. Anyone close to 6ft actually sleep there  ? I was looking at specs again and those dimensions are concerning.  

    The LEII twin option is appealing as it gives him a good bed and when we can talk her sister into coming there is a third bed for her.  Despite sleeping in a king at home the width of twin in LEII is pretty much the space I actually use.  The 40lb dog is a real bed hog!

    The LE height is also a slight concern   I am just over 6ft and I think extra height in LEII might be very welcome.

    Any LEII owners have issues camping in national parks due to trailer size? We plan to visit many of those.    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Counter/tabletop Options

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    4 hours ago, MarylandDave said:

    @Overland, that wood accent below the pantry is exactly what I envisioned. Looks beautiful. We did a black walnut counter in our house and it just gets prettier over time, without any watermarks or dings that don’t add to the appeal. (Drop a pan? Looks even better!) I might just get the free top option and find someone to make me pieces for the pantry, under micro, dinette, and nightstand. Agree with @HMD1056 about the kitchen and bath counter.
     

    Of course I need to actually send Phil my check first. My wife wants to see a Casita to make sure the Oliver size/quality/appeal differential warrants the extra (double) cost. 

    So I went to the Casita factory recently.  A couple things I noticed.    The carpeted walls and ceiling was a deal breaker for me.   Once I saw in in person I knew I couldn’t get past it.   The cabinet doors were pressed wood and just had a cheap feel.  If you are handy can probably replace those easily.   I liked the exterior and the options of multiple floor plans.  They are lighter since a single hull.  The plumbing underneath is exposed.  
     

    Good luck!

     

     

     

    Post your Payload + Cargo Weights

    in Towing an Oliver

    Posted

    So the TVs I have look at in person have between 1400 -1700 on door jamb  sticker. This includes F-150, Expedition and RAM 1500.    I will be towing the smaller LE I. I really like LE II plan but don’t need it with just me and dog and smaller trailer size is appealing.

     Plus a LE II would make it super easy to justify a nice diesel F-250 !

    • Like 4
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