Overland

Saw that. Looks like the Outland Firebowl sold under another name. I'm curious what Oliver sells them for - the Outland is occasionally on sale at Amazon under $100. We've had ours for quite some time and it's held up very well. It's a bit clunky to carry with us, but 100% worth the trouble.

Of course, it's New Music Friday Saturday. ••• First up, a few new singles from Mattiel out this week: • A wild one from the Tune-Yards: • Some pure unapologetic disco from who else but Roisin Murphy: • And since I missed last week, I'm sure you guys are eager for an electronica fix: • And probably something a bit punky as well: • And I'll finish with Flock of Dimes, really nice:

I rewatched about half of Ted Lasso the other day, and one of the episodes featured this amazing guy:

Got some catching up to do. First, some mood music. An album that just should be in everyone's library: That would pair well with a little Turntable Soul Music. Again, an album everyone should own. Featuring Katherine deBoer's amazing voice: Heck, let's just fall down that rabbit hole. This is post is now all about Kathrin deBoer:

Ok, Bug Tip 1 - the side lights on the trailer will attract bugs right to your door so unless you want to spend a romantic evening hunting down little flying things in the trailer, use a lantern located away from the door to light up your campsite instead. Bug Tip 2 - some of the new LED flashlights have a UV setting, so you can use it to inspect your camp for scorpions. 🦂 🦂 🦂 Bug Tip 3 - clam tents seem like a pretty popular choice for owners who want to camp in buggy weather but still be outside

I do the fresh tank fill and city water ports. The boondocking port will drain on its own since there’s no check valve, so I just uncap that while I’m doing everything else to make sure nothings in there. If I’m putting up the trailer for the full winter then I’ll sanitize the fresh and grey tanks first. If you aren’t doing that, then start by draining all of your lines. You can do that by running your pump with a faucet open, or if you’ve got a Truma water heater, open its drain valve and you can pump the water out through there pretty quickly. Then blow out the fresh tank fill with your compressor using an attachment like either this or this. I think I use 80 psi, which I think should be fine for everything. Then open a faucet and do the city water port. I don’t move any of the plumbing valves from normal. Do each faucet separately - kitchen, bath, and outside shower - and be sure to do them with the valves turned to both hot and cold. You’ll get a fine mist of water for a while. I’ll repeat that two or three times for each faucet until they all seem clear. Before the last time I’ll run the pump for a bit to make sure it’s clear (take off the filter so that you know you aren’t pulling any new water in from the tank.) I’ll also open the truma drain while I do that just to make sure no water has settled in there. I don’t have a flush toilet so I’ve never looked up how that’s done. If you want to blow out the sink traps, you can by adding an air valve to a small plunger. I think it’s the same little adapter I linked to above, just screw it into the plunger where the handle would go. Just be sure that the hole goes all the way through, and cut one if not. It works really well, but if you do it that way, make sure you plug your drains or in the spring your trailer will smell like grey tank. I leave all the faucet valves open through the winter. If I’m on the road and it’s going to freeze, I’ll just blow out both ports quickly to get water out of the check valves. I think that’s it. I’m having to run through it in my head so I may have missed something.

@topgun2 I don’t think you have to worry about elk eating your wiring but a female moose will nest in the engine bay if you leave the hood open and young grizzlies will just steal your truck outright and head straight to town, so lock it up.

Something to consider is that you can pretty much wipe the non-stick version clean with a paper towel, and so there's a lot less wasted water when washing. Like I said above, since we're not full timing or anywhere close, I have to imagine that for us the finish will last for years. At home, I give a non-stick pan two years at the most, regardless how much you pay for it. Though we bought some Green Pan cookware recently that is holding up surprisingly well. We did stop using the carry case that's in the photo and started using a bungee instead - it's definitely more convenient.

This might be a good opportunity to update that I haven’t used antifreeze since my first winter with the Ollie (compressed air only) and haven’t had any issues yet. Well tested with nine days below freezing this February with no heat going in the trailer. John, I believe the plastic PEX fittings are polybutylene vs nylon or acrylic so they may not react with the antifreeze the same way.

Anyone else been eyeing the cold boxes that they're shipping the vaccines in and thinking there's bound to be bunch on eBay in about a year?

Ah, so it is a touchscreen, just not Victron's - I get it now. I thought you were saying that it was just a display. It sounds like you've got exactly what you'd have with the CCGX or Victron's touch control, so, awesome! The CCGX is fine, no complaints, but the touch screen (both yours and Victron's) is larger and I imagine easier to use rather than the clicky buttons. I'd prefer the touch for sure, but it would be a big expense relative to what I'd gain. Plus I've got a big hole where the CCGX is now, so I'd have to figure out what to do with it. Then again, if I can do it with a Raspberry Pi for not much money, and get a screen big enough to cover the hole.... Can you list what parts you bought? I can think of two or three people here who might be interested in following your lead. Have you given any thought to replacing the tank sensors so that they work with the Victron? I think about it every now and then but have never looked into what it takes - I just know that the SeaLevel sensors are proprietary and won't work with the Victron.

Geo, have you ever tried 'burping' the tank when it's at 80% and full? Try changing the angle of the trailer with the jacks at that point and see if you don't hear some gurgling and suddenly get extra space in the tank. Ours does the same, but once you burp it, it will go past 100 before any water shows up in the shower pan. A couple of other people have said the same, and I think it's a weird issue with the venting. Usually 80% is about where we need to tilt back the trailer to get to the remaining fresh water anyway.

We can hear ours, but that's probably because the upper vent for the fridge is right by the compressor. That might be another advantage of the 115, since the compressor is on the bottom. I installed a little fan inside for air circulation, which runs full time when the fridge is in use, and that you can only hear when the fridge door is open.

Also check the bath window. A surprising amount of water can get in through there if it’s left open.

The 115 freezer is a good bit bigger, which is the advantage of the 115 over the 130. We compensated by getting a fridge/freezer for the truck and just use the trailer freezer for ice trays.

Yes mine’s the 130, too. The 115 is a bit taller but it won’t be a problem. I doubt if the factory would install it on the production line but you may be able to get them to do it in service after. I’d say if anything see if they can delete the fridge on the line and not cut the hole for it. Covering the extra space for a retrofit is the most difficult part.

Depends on rank, right? I’ve met an SGM or two who seemed like they dined exclusively on Steaks, Metal.

It all looks very similar. So you’re using VRM for control? If so, then I think you have the same control as a CCGX. Basically duplicates all the same menus. Very cool.

No offense Bill but those stakes already look bent in the product photos. 😂

Cool. So is there any control functionality in the display or via software?

So is that not the touch display?

I’m starting a Go Fund Me now. Help fund a commemorative hammer to help a poor overlander complete his Snow Peak collection.

I do not however have the copper tipped hammer. That’s too much even for me. Unless you know of one on sale somewhere.

I plead the fifth. (It’s nice.)

Well after reading that I feel like I’ve disappointed someone by not oiling them. I also feel like I’ve backed myself into a corner on those shoes. I’ll stick with my cariuma’s for the moment though. Hipster tent pegs and hipster shoes - can’t really separate the two.