Mike and Carol

Good review, Jeff. I’ll have to check out the Unique stuff. We usually don’t use anything in the gray tank while we’re traveling and add Happy Camper when we get home. Black tank is a detergent pod and a capful of Calgon water softener which probably wouldn’t be good for a composting toilet! Mike

I don’t have any information on the newer Oliver’s, but, if you don’t have a cut off switch you can always just disconnect a battery cable while in storage. Also, if there isn’t a cut off switch they are pretty easy to install. Mike

I just click on “unread content” and it shows everything I haven’t opened. Mike

We keep both vents open which is generally enough. We’ve had the bathroom window open during rain and it’s not really a big deal, like Mcb said. EZE gutters around the windows also help. Mike

Yes! You would be an expert on both!!

Looks good! I know of an Oliver that is Tennessee orange with their logo on the front. Maybe they’ll show up for the game this weekend and park next to you! Mike

Hey Ralph, I don’t know anyone that downsized. Pete (bugeyedriver) has an older Elite and lives near me in Fair Oaks. He’s a solo camper. You could PM him to see if he’s in town. Mike

We have AT&T and have had pretty good service. From what I’ve read the two best for RVers is Verizon and AT&T so you should be good. Mike

Dan, that’s great to hear. Enjoy KC, we just left there and are now in Branson. I think you’ll find you can dry camp longer than you think! Mike

If you have shore power I would put the generator away and connect to shore power. If the microwave doesn’t come on I would check to ensure that it is plugged in (check in the left overhead above the microwave. If it is plugged in, I would check whatever GF outlets you have to ensure they aren’t tripped. I believe there is a fuse in the breaker panel for the microwave, I would check it too. Mike

We’ve got a bunch of sheared window screws. I haven’t done anything to repair, it doesn’t seem to affect the windows much. We haven’t had a condensation problem because we usually have both vents open, it’s one of our set up tasks so even if fireside wine is consumed we’re good. Mike

Are you on shore power or on generator? We don’t use our inverter when on either one, the AC outlets are powered directly. As SeaDawg mentioned, be careful not to run more than one high wattage things at the same time. Mike

Welcome! Glad you’re considering and Oliver along the Escape and Bigfoot. Each are a bit different. Tennessee isn’t too far from Maryland, a trip to the factory is educational as far as build quality, features and factory support. Let us know what questions you have. Mike

I’ve got the older 320W solar panels. We don’t use the AC much at all. Too loud. No, we’ve never run the AC off of the batteries. The two BB’s do fine running everything else. We’ve never been below 80% in the morning after running the furnace, lights, occasional microwave, etc. Mike

Looks like a spot to put lots and lots of solar! I’ll be watching this…. Mike

My install is similar to John’s. 2 BB 100aH with room for a third. After a lot of camping I’m not sure I need the third.

Here are some quick thoughts… As far as your RV goals go, the Oliver is a good match to all of them. As far the 10 year service life, an Oliver would be much more. Ours is going on 6 years, 60K+ miles and still looks and feels new. Challenges… you learn to minimize camping stuff. We can carry enough clothes for a couple months inside the Oliver. Chairs, grills, Clam, fire pit, etc. go in the truck bed. The wet bath seems like a pain to the un-initiated but it’s not. The dinette seats will not be anywhere near as comfortable as recliners. We sit outside as much as possible, camp chairs are more comfortable. We do use the dinette when the weather is cold or rainy and don’t have the Clam set up. Our twin beds serve as good reclining spots for reading as well. I’ve only been on a ladder to get to the roof once in all of our travels. I’ve never actually been “on” the roof. A collapsible ladder works fine, which I use after each trip to clean the roof. It stows easily in the truck bed. Specifics…. We have twin beds with mattresses and they are very comfortable. We had 4 AGM batteries for 5 years and I have no complaints. When they needed replacing I used two Battle Born 100aH batteries and they are working fine, too. How much money do you want to spend? We only have one awning and leaning a ladder against it has not been a problem. I did cut two pool noodles that wrap around the ladder to protect the trailer finish. I’ve never winterized or used that outlet to fill the fresh tank (different valve configurations for each operation). Hope this helps a little. You’ll get more input in the coming days! Mike

If we have electricity we use an electric space heater. We’ve got a small Vornado that is quiet and does the job with three settings. On the lowest setting we can also run the coffee pot, so life is good! We were just in CO and northern NM with night temps around freezing and the little Vornado kept us toasty! Mike

Just a pic with a lake reflection…..

With my trailer, the AC comes on with the furnace if I have the fan set to low or hi. If I set the fan on auto, the AC does not come on with the furnace. I usually have the fan on Low when I run the AC and then when I turn on the furnace the AC comes on and I always roll my eyes that I forgot again to set the fan on auto first. Mike

We had a discussion about military RV parks, usually called Famcamps a few years ago, HERE. It’s important to remember that access to military installations, to include the commissary, exchange and outdoor recreation facilities (Famcamps) are a DoD benefit for active duty and retired military folks. Non-retired veterans get benefits from the VA, not DoD. Some Famcamps are better deals than others, we’re paying $25/night here with FHU. We paid $50/night at Fort Belvoir a few years ago. Mike

We’ll be doing that today, it’s just across the road. Not sure how many apparatuses will get used! Mike

I believe this is so you can drain the fresh tank without lifting the mattress. I can do it, but the contortions leave me with muscle cramps. It’s easier to lift the mattress. I think a bigger access port would work better. Mike

I took this picture today after we arrived at McConnell AFB in Wichita, KS. We were struck by the size difference of our Oliver surrounded by some huge trailers…. Mike