Wayfinder

For those who could not make it to the rally. Here are some Apex shots up close. I had very little time to slow down at the rally and dig in deep into the Apex, but here are some very quick shots under the dinette and driver's side bunk, dust and all. Also attaching some exterior pics, including the single 48v Ecoflow battery. Sorry I don't have better info. EchoFlow 48v Battery https://us.ecoflow.com/products/lfp-battery-for-48v-system?variant=40520684765257

Many do not know yet, but some do, Aaron had several of us act as "regional leaders" at the rally in an attempt to gather and organized information from folks in their respective regions about creating "micro rallies". We will be working towards a better solution to have folks fill out a basic form to provide their ideas and level of participation in these micro rallies. This will help identify folks who would want to organize, help organize, or simply participate in a rally. We had a good number of new Oliver owners, some of which have never joined a camping rally before. Exciting times for them to come. More to come as we get it. For now at least, here are are the regions are grouped (By Oliver): Region participation by 2026 Oliver rally attendee count (Created by Oliver) Region Name Region States Attendees Florida FL 34 Home Region West TN, KY, AR, MS 39 Home Region East Al, GA 33 Atlantic & Northeast NC, SC, VA, WV, MD, DC, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME 38 Central & Great Lakes OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, IA, MO, MN, ND, SD, NE, KS 42 South Central TX, OK, NM, CO, LA 35 Northwest & Rockies WA, OR, ID, MT, WY 5 Southwest & Pacific CA, NV, AZ, UT, HI 5

I've added the Texas Rally info to the new rally map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1dsUQmPEsXOhV3KgTIkwI1QzIeWChkCw&usp=sharing

I do miss the comfort of the RAM Air on the 1500. Plush.

I have created a Google My Map of known Oliver owner rallies as well as a link to the fiberglass RV Map maintained by another. For that external map, see the RED star icon in the Atlantic ocean. It will take you to the google map for general fiberglass rallies for 2027. The map I created is a private map, and only those with the link will be able to find it. Then again, this is an open forum, so forget what I said. All this info is public knowledge. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1dsUQmPEsXOhV3KgTIkwI1QzIeWChkCw&ll=38.15274742744178%2C-102.1311338875&z=5 This should be for open rallies only. If you want a private rally, then don't tell anyone you don't want to show up. 😉 A life lesson. Let me know if you want anything added or suggestions for changes.

I'm going to save $2000 and a week of troubleshooting and check the last issue first. I always start at the bottom and not from the top. So silly. I could not wait to see what happened, but I read the entire thread. Still, we all learned something. 😉 Was that a loose or completely disconnect battery connection?

For rallies. I have recently discovered someone trying to maintain at RV LIFE Community / fiberglassrv.com, or simply Google "rvlife rally map" and find the current year's listening. 2027 rallies: https://www.fiberglassrv.com/threads/2027-rally-map.2181770/ Google Maps directly for 2027: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1I8mtXQU3Pky2XBNV9VoyNyjY9i-XWPw&ll=42.650591549794484%2C-101.6669803122351&z=4 I've recently attended, or will be attending, these fiberglass rallies: Falling for Fiberglass: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fallingforfiberglass Thanksgiving in the woods: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1249062990470466 Eggs on the Hiawassee: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eggsonthehiawassee/ Spirit of the Suwannee: not sure of site yet. All great rallies. If the weather is cool enough, the boondocking/overflow at Hiawassee is not bad, but again, weather dependent. Some time people double up on sites too if site renters allow it. This end of year is pretty full for me for rallies, but more to come. Next year we're likely leaving Hiawassee a day early to head up to the Maine Oliver mini rally in Boothbay. Richard is the organizer, PM me if you want his contact info.

I too just upgraded from a 2020 RAM 1500 Limited with RAM airbags to a 2024 Ford F-250 FX4 Lariat with stock springs. I'm not in love with the comfort level for the F-250, that's for sure, compared to having RAM Air, but I needed the payload. We really can't have both TOTAL comfort and payload. For those who have never driven a RAM 1500 Limited with RAM Airbags, it really is comfort. I also no longer run with the Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) and I don't miss it at all. I switched over to the Shocker Hitch with the riser ball mount option to ensure trailer is completely level while towing. It does make a huge difference on both truck and trailer when hitting bumps, having the Shocker hitch. I also like doing really tight U-turns when needed, can't quite do that safely with the Andersen WDT nor with a storage box on the front of the trailer. I'll never have one of those either. I will also be adding a cap to the truck soon adding even more weight to my truck since I also have a DECKED drawer system full of tools and goodies. With the cap I will be carrying more common parts I seem to need on the road to help folks.

@jd1923 my screen was WAY up in the pipe, there was no reaching it with a finger. Only a bright flashlight revealed the screen up in the pipe. Not sure if they are all like that was products change constantly, but you'd think there would be a screen somewhere.

I’ve held many work-related video calls on the Gen 3 without issues… with an open sky. One could likely play an online game too, such as World of Warcraft, but maybe not a first person shooter (FPS). The latency requirements are high and one would be getting killed a lot in the FPS game.

I don't yet have the mini, but I still use the Starlink Gen 3. I had purchased a tri-pod mount adaptor from Bantha Overland on Etsy. I just checked and he has a few 3D printed items for the mini as well. I'll use him again as the first mount was a good solid solution for my heavy-duty camera tri-pod. I like having items that are multi-purpose, to save weight & gear, i.e. a camera AND Starlink Tri-Pod, etc. Also with the mini, I want to check out all the cool cases/mounts available. Veritas Vans seems to have an interesting solution for the mini. I'm also thinking 3M tape magnets so I could put the mini on top of the Ollie, or on top of truck cap. Which ever works best at the time. Lastly, I think this is more true for the mini, but recently I took a chance and started pointing my Starlink Gen 3 in any direction in the opening of trees (within South Georgia). I was amazed that I did not see any speed test reduction compared to pointing dish North. Try that out. It sounds like the mini pretty much can point anywhere too these days.

@jd1923 I too love watching "My RV Works". I also still have the Dometic RM2454. My fridge will not stay on left 5. The light usually goes out after a while or immediately depending on ambient temps (so it seems). Not sure it's the eyebrow or board. I've been wanting to delve into it more, but I'm a bit afraid I will break something worse. I'm such a scaredy cat. I don't mind breaking it with someone with me or if it doesn't work at all. LOL. I'm so complex.

Welcome @Chuck and Beth. I took nearly 10 years to decide on a camping vehicle/format. Can't say I rushed into things. Enjoy it and continue to learn how things work on your Ollie here in the forums.

@ronbrink Which flagpole and suction cups setup is that on the Ollie? Thanks,

I'm also considering placing the Starlink mini on the cap of the truck, that way it's always available for the truck or camper use. But put it on a removable mount to find clear sky if under light tree-cover.

@jd1923 I'll drive out to see you soon enough. I'll bring your favorite ice cream and drink.

I wish I had see the performance of the RecPro before I put it on this year. I'm not happy with it. I will try Trim-LOK next time. It won't be long before the rest just falls off.

Does everyone's outdoor shower head basically stink? As in horrible water pressure? I even replaced mine in the past two years with the same model as original, because original cracked as they all do. Maybe I have junk in the Pex line to the shower head, or the head stinks. I'm sure there's a thread around here somewhere. I figured I'd ask since it's being talked about. Thanks.

When I installed my accumulator tank in my old #110, I put a new mounting board up for it, I think it was PVC board maybe. Anyways, my first attempt to glue it to the fiberglass hull near the water pump did not hold long. I then tried Gorilla Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive (white). Oh man, was I impressed with that. That board has not moved since, and may never. I've used it now on other projects. It seems good to me. I'm also surprised that the remainder of the adhesive, in the opened tube, has not hardened up yet, nearly two years later. Then again, I keep it in the air conditioned house. I need to add a small tube or two of this to my tool packing list for long travels.

@jd1923 I'm going to be keeping things as simple as possible when I travel all around that nation soon. I'm hoping just having a Starlink mini will be good enough. Naturally trees as obstructions will kill the Starlink performance. My first thought when I see all the cool things you've done with the cellular booter and stuff is.... "No! I'm doing all that. I just retired from my IT job." Give me all the bad things I'm not thinking about. Maybe I bring some old DVDs, books, and cuddle more with the woman. 😉

Yeah, I like having a freezer for ice and a good ice pack for the back & neck. Looks like the Nova fridge uses a lot less power at about 4.5A on 12v. My old 3-way burns at least 10amps on DC, but my 4 good AGMs sustain that all day, with Solar coming in. I'm estimating that the Nova, without a freezer, might run on a Jackery 1000 for approximately 30 to 35 hours. I always travel with at least one of my Jackery 1000s portable power units, for among other things, running my 12v Truma Cooler that I either carry in the cab of the truck or in the camper itself. The Truma cooler runs at least two days on that portable power unit, and I seldom charge past 85%, depending how hold I want things and the ambient temps. I'm estimating that the Nova, without a freezer, might run on a Jackery 1000 for approximately 30 to 35 hours. But that remains to be seen, and weather dependent. In theory, and if I put my money where my mouth has been, I'll be retired in 122 days. (Fine, yes, I'm counting)

I will get an external screen cover to put around the overflow pipe, like those that cover furnace exhausts.

I grabbed my borescope and not only grabbed some pics of the rusted screen in the overflow pipe, but a short video of my borescope magnet attachment trying to pull more screen out. Some of the rotted screen simply fell out upon touching it. I got the rest out with a long angled pick. Also, I had drained my fresh water tank on Sunday after a trip, but did not raise the nose of the camper high enough to remove enough water. You can see the reflection of the borescope light in the water. So I raised the rear jack stands, and raised the nose up a good bit more to drain even more water. I bet no one has shown the inside of the water tank before. LOL I can now see how an old rusted screen mesh could block the overflow. Also time to clean tank. fresh-water-overflow-screen-removal.mp4

That's all I can figure happened - the overflow got blocked. Since my screen in the overflow is falling apart with rust, it's letting most of the water out fast. I was wondering of those plastic strands, from making the tank holes, blocked that person's overflow, instead of going through the pump screen. When I purchased my #110 used in 2021, the pump screen was full of those strands from the drill holes. But have not seen them since. I also got push-back that the trailers do not have built-in 40-50 lb water regulators. Well, mine came with them in the basement, under the floor board (discovered last year when replacing check valves). I typically push 70 PSI of house water into my fresh tank all the time. Now I'm scared to let overflow too long just to help flush things. So far, so good though. Knock on fiberglass.

Has anyone taken a pic of the inside of their fresh water tank overflow, near the walk-in door? Here's mine. Looks like there's a metal screen falling apart. At least my tank won't blow up like a ballon and warp the trailer. That's something. 🫣 I'm wondering if this inside piece does unscrew from what appears to be the outer ring.