ScottyGS

I have just replaced the 4 AGM batteries on our 2016 and have been happy with the performance they have given us over the past 5 years. However.... We are planning on increasing the time spent camping going forward over the next 5 years. So I have been researching Lithium Batteries for some time now. The point I took from the video you posted is... The choice to go AGM vs. Lithium's depends on the amount of load you plan to put on the off grid electrical system. So... in making the choice I would advise that people consider how they want to use their camper and what the load will be. There are people... (just saw one last week) who order LE2's with NO solar. That would not be my choice but if you plan to camp mostly at RV parks... it could make sense. We are looking at MORE off grid camping with A/C use when we "need "it and all the other demands that type of camping puts on the system. For us it's Lithium by a wide margin. As to the system being overpriced. I think you have to consider the whole price of the camper. I have been a defender of the 2023 price increase that Oliver came out with because I truly do NOT believe they are "profiteering". Inflation and raw materials cost have skyrocketed. And, if you look at the price increase history of our trailers, it's clear to see that Oliver has not given us linear increases. (that is a steady percentage or dollar increase every year) There are peaks and valleys with the two biggest peaks being 2016 and 2023. I have worked for companies with a maximum profit strategy and the price actions that go with it and that's not what I see from Oliver. As to doing the upgrade work yourself.... there are those on the forum that have done it. Not me thank you. But for those with the tech skills and desire to tinker it's a way to save some money. I would pay to have it done for me. Anyway.... hope this has helped. Best of Luck no matter what you decide. Scotty

Maybe that is one of the factors that contribute to stable sway free towing manners.

Jim! I need the internet because I refuse to think ahead! Only joking... I would rather have and choose not to use connectivity ... but also realize that not everyone can do that. Those dopamine hits keep us coming back to the magic rectangle. And... that will change how things go when we do get away from it all. I wonder what other new tech will cause things to change ... ? for the better or worse. Certainly with battery tech improving.. more folks will feel comfortable camping "off grid". I would hate to see BLM land become like the most crowded RV parks. But I bet we'll see more impact. Hopefully not too much, too soon. Happy Camping! Scotty

I've been doing some advance planning for a 2023 trip to this area. One resource I have found very helpful is Sean and Kristy's youtube channel "The Long Long Honeymoon". I would search on that and the names of some of the NP's you plan to hit. Not sure they will have winter specific tips but they do pack in a lot of good info. And you get to see some of the campsites you may be planning on staying at. Good Luck, Scotty

I agree that it's nice to be out in the world and not connected. Gives you a chance to truly relax. But I also realize how easy the internet makes research and planning during a long trip. Also, last summer we were in the Black Hills and had to leave early due to a family emergency back home. It was dicey getting information as to what was going on. Glad for the cellular boost because without it we would not have had communication with home. It will be interesting to see what Starlink does going forward. I think many of us would invest in the hardware if it meant that we could take our internet connection on the road. Also makes me wonder if having hardware installed in the trailer is the right call. If tech is changing this fast maybe a portable solution is better. Easier to change when the technology does. Scotty

Does not look like a DIY job. Not for me anyway. If you're not near Hohenwald... Check for a boatyard that does fiberglass repairs. There was a thread a while back about someone who drove into an overhang and put a triangular hole in the front corner. He took it to a boatyard and you could not even tell.

1001 uses..... Never leave home without your Rubber Mallet!

1994 to 2001 were the Giuliani years. I've lived in the shadow of NYC most of my life. Those years were the apex. Stay in populated areas in daylight and you'll be fine. I certainly would not be walking at night down a lonely street anywhere in the city these days.

So ... If your TV is an F150 and you are pulling an LE2. The larger Anderson would be overkill? Would it provide any benefit? I have the 2" now and no issues other than having to get it replaced due to the moisture related screeching. (yes that is a horrible sound - like your trailer frame is being ripped up by an invisible monster) The new 2" ball works just fine, no signs of wear with about 20k on it. $400 difference is not a lot of money (in the scheme of things). So if you were buying a new LE2 and towing with a half ton... would you go to the larger ball absent the cool factor?? Thanks in advance, Scotty

Oliver is very protective of owner information. If a directory is to be created it would have to be a private endeavor. And even then I would not post a link to that info here. Owners are very proud of their Hull #'s. I think it's a great tradition and glad that Oliver came up with the plaque idea. We got ours (#145) at the 2019 rally and mounted it above the switches LH side of the entry.

If you are looking to 1 or 2 full days in NYC... then Liberty Harbor would be a good location (not a great campground). You can walk to the Path (subway- at the end of Essex St.) and be in lower Manhattan in a short amount of time. You'll come in off the NJ turnpike to 78 .... OR.. Rt 9 to 78. Either way be prepared for traffic and rough roads. Batten down the hatches inside your Oliver and avoid rush hour. Think of it as a tactical mission... get in ... sight see... get out. Steph and Dud's plan of camping upstate upstate at Newburgh but near a train that you can take to NYC is good too. There may be other state parks or independent sites near public trans as well. Take snacks and sight see from the train. Plus when your day is over you'll enjoy relaxing at a real campsite. If you usually travel armed you might consider leaving that particular piece of equipment home. NJ and NY have some of the craziest gun laws in the country. And armed or not, never give the police permission to search either your Oliver or TV. Once you stop for the night the fed firearm transportation act no longer applies to you. Good Luck and hope to see you at the rally. Scotty

Took the side roads on our trip last summer and passed a sign that said "Tunnel Ahead - 10 foot clearance". Ok.. so that's getting close to our trailer height.... Approached very carefully and found that we had more that a few feet of clearance. Not even close. Which led me to wonder.... Are tunnel heights measured to center? Or, to the side? Are there highway construction standards that measurements are supposed to conform to? A lot of tunnels have a curved roof.... the Oliver is higher in the center than at the sides, so that should work for us. Inquiring minds want to know! Any highway experts out there that can shed some light on this topic. I did an internet search and now know more about measuring the airflow speed in a wind tunnel than I ever wanted to know. But not so much on this. Thanks in Advance, Scotty

For all you Star Trek Original Series fans out there.... If you are ever near Ticonderoga NY take the Star Trek Original Set Tour. https://www.startrektour.com/ I thought it was going to be a cheap tourist trap kind of thing. I could not have been more wrong. It's about as perfect a re-creation of the original set that could be made. Very enjoyable.

Nice campground just west of Medora named Buffalo Gap. No hookups. Water available and vault toilets. First come first serve and $20 per night. Oh and the musical was a lot of fun.

To be fair... it's easy to over look the importance of using a WDH with a half ton truck and an LE2. The damn thing tows so well. In practical application you don't really need the Anderson hitch. Until you start to look at it from a legal standpoint. You're not just risking your trailer and TV.. but your house, retirement savings, financial portfolio... etc. Imagine how life would be if instead of figuring out where the next road trip will be ... you got to spend that time saying... "Welcome to Wal-Mart". Thanks for the free legal advice... $850 / $1200 is cheap insurance for the Anderson. Scotty

https://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/vocational/article/15047718/get-sued-the-easy-way-tow-trailers-with-pickups

Anita sent us a package of samples recently and it arrived in 2 days. TN to WNC, about a six hour drive. Surprisingly fast service from USPS these days.

Thanks for a great towing report. You have truly set the bar high for this type of feedback. I agree with John Davies on travelling speed. IMO.. the biggest not talked about problem with Oliver trailers it how easy they tow and how that can lead us to travel at higher speeds than we might with a less forgiving trailer. We tow our LE2 with a 2016 F150. I use cruise control a LOT on the highway because it keeps me at or under 65 mph. Under manual speed control you often look at the speedo and see that you're going over 70 and didn't even know it. I always check my tires and do a complete walk around at rest stops, but you never know. And, there is no shortage of idiots out there who for some reason love to cut in front of folks pulling trailers. Best of Luck to you with your new rig and welcome to the family. Hope to see you on the road someday. Scotty

Apologies in advance for taking this in a slightly different direction. My thoughts are: If you have the 630 ah package a solar suitcase would be a very good addition to have. Math without additional solar would be: 630ah of batteries X 12v = 7560 watt hours X 90% = 6804 usable watt hours. Divided by 340 watts of Solar. 6804 / 340 = 20.01 Hours to recharge from 10% to full. Or roughly TEN hours to charge from 10% to 55% OR 45% to 90%. Add a 230 watt suitcase and charging from 10% to full could be done in one long sunny summer day. I realize a LOT of other factors go into this but would appreciate a sanity / reality check on this as to the assumptions / math / etc. I have been used to our AGM's topping off by 10 am or so. Just want to be ready for what the expectations performance wise will be with 630ah of Lithium. Thanks in advance to those that don't view electricity as a form of witchcraft. Scotty

We have a mat like this one. It's poly pro and folds up like a map. I use a broom to sweep off anything that collects and store it in the truck bed. There have been times when it's rained and I've just folded it up dirty... then you just have to sweep it off when you put it back out. It's breathable so doesn't hurt grass if left down for a day or so. Also it's a good idea to have a mat. You'll be glad of it when you have to camp in a grassy area that has not been mowed recently. Helps keep dirt and pebbles from getting into the camper too. And you can kick your shoes off and leave them near the door before going in. Not too expensive and should last a good long time. https://www.campingworld.com/reversible-rv-patio-mat-octagon-design-670190.html?dwvar_670190_color=cerulean

There are three free campgrounds along the Natchez Trace. Merriweather Lewis near Hohenwald at mm 385, Jeff Busby at mm 193, and Rocky Springs at mm 54. I have camped at Busby and Lewis and would expect Rocky Springs to be similar. No hookups. No Showers. Campground is a bit rough but because of that you don't need a reservation and its free. I like FREE. In November you can probably find a campsite in the middle of the night but I would arrive so you can level and do whatever needs doing before full dark. There is a nice hike at Jeff Busby that goes to the top of a overlook with a view. You could drive up there too. All campsites are patrolled by the park service and I can't imagine you would have any trouble that was not self inflicted. The drive along the parkway is slow and curvy but fairly relaxing even if you are pulling a trailer. I would imagine 2-3 days for the length depending on how many stops along the way. Enjoy.

So you'll have about 20 days between getting your new truck and picking up your Oliver? Including a drive from Tampa up to Hohenwald... If I have that correct the first plan would be to read your manual and plan those 20 days to break your new truck in. Whatever they say, you should do even if it involves driving around town every day for a week. If your backing skills are new or non existent, you should look to reserve campgrounds with a pull through site. You can stay at Wal-marts and if the lot is big enough practice your backing there. Is your TV an F-150? Pro Backup Assist is very helpful to newbies. Huntsville has the space museum if you are looking for entertainment. The parking lot has RV spaces that are pull through. Not too far from Hohenwald All Stays App will help find campsites and other stuff you will need. Cheap at $10. (at least that's what I paid years ago.) Pulling an Oliver forward is very very easy. Just make sure to make your Right Turns on the late or wide side to give clearance for the trailer. In other words... when turning right hug the cetner line of the road you are turning on to.... and keep an eye on your trailer wheels in your passenger side mirror. And if you have to go on the interstate... 62-65 mph is the sweet spot. All for now... You'll do fine. Good Luck and have fun.

I got a feeling they might be planning that for the new Elite.... maybe hits the street in 2023.

Rear ceiling has 120v over the curb side bunk and USB over the street side. 120v under the forward dinette seat. 120v and USB over the kitchen. There may be more but those are the ones I am sure about.

YES! Get the Larger Ecoboost engine! You won't be sorry.