Overland

I’m pretty sure that the smaller number on each is the weight limit for a trailer without brakes. I think of the two, the Ford will probably tow a bit easier, despite having the lower horsepower number, since it has a turbo engine. Also a bit more payload. Does it have any towing gizmos like cameras and backup assist?

I'm starting to like these guys -

So with the power awning, can you roll it out just a few feet to keep rain out of the windows or is it an all or nothing deal? And if you can, would it just roll back in if there’s wind or rain? The ones at the rally did seem pretty sturdy.

You two are just living the dream, aren’t you?

lol, I guess it pays to be first. For a while we were unsure about Snowball, but then it grew on us and now we love it - it is a great name, at least we think so. There were a couple of winter/snow themed trailers at the rally besides ours. One had a really great custom graphic of snowflakes on one side and a sun and clouds on the other. It was extremely well done - my wife met them but I was never able to get over there to talk with them. And someone near us had a sort-of-snowflake on the front of their trailer made of circles. It was also well done - they had a cool LED 'cloud' light on their propane cover that I wanted to go ask them about, but again, didn't find the time. Something about Oliver owners that we go the extra mile to make our trailers unique. All airstreams look alike; but more often than not, an Oliver is going to have something about it that's unique to their owners. I hope that keeps up as the numbers grow - it would be a great tradition.

Well I said I was going to try out 40 on the rally trip, but of course I forgot. I'll save that experiment for another day. I'm curious if percentage gain on pressures and temperature is more or less meaningful than the maximums reached.

lol, no, unfortunately. Though my idea of an Elite III has 34" tires and a front to back skid plate. One of our Oliver family recently went over to the dark side, so to fit in at the rally, they made a sign for their trailer that said Legacy Elite III. The slide outs gave them away though. Also very poor articulation between the truck and trailer.

I saw the prototype camped next to Steve and Tali. That thing is huge!

Hmmmmno.

I’m a bit surprised, since I had originally assumed that the Gladiator would be a Ram with a Jeep-like body and maybe a different 4wd system. But it’s really more like a longer Wrangler. For an offroad truck I still like my raptor. It’s not the best at anything it does but it’s a good compromise, at least for me.

Mike, where did you buy the lights? I’ve looked but can’t find anyone that carries the amber ones. Were they a special order?

My wife and I both had a great time. Coy, Foy and Mary Kay did a fantastic job, as did all of the Oliver folk and volunteers. We enjoyed every moment, met a ton of people, and found the talks really informative. Our only regret is that while the first few days were liesurely, Saturday afternoon and Sunday got really busy and so we didn't have time to get out do some of the things we'd hoped to. I especially wanted to get by to see Raspy's trailer but never got the time.

Here's the Ike Gauntlet test of the Gladiator. I'd say that Jeep was a bit optimistic on the tow rating, at least for the gas version. Seems like a 5,000lb truck, not 7,000. 7,650lbs is no more than a marketing department dream. Probably a good choice for an Elite, but not an Elite II. I'm sure that the diesel model with a real tow/haul mode will be better (if it doesn't overheat). But to me the truck looked a bit squirrelly, especially under braking, even though they said it drove well.

There's a place in Iowa, Ainley Kennels, that will make custom aluminum drawers & slides. I talked with them last year about making something for my truck, but never followed through. But they were going to make one for me that had two 12" tall drawers, a 20 gallon water tank, and a full extension slide on top for around $2000, which I thought was pretty reasonable. I think it was a few hundred more for a 6 ½' bed. I should get back on that - it would sure simplify things.

For people at the rally who asked for links to these items - Small Cargo Net (over each bed, dinette, door, and the two in the closet) Large Cargo Net (below the street side bed and under the attic) Map Pockets (by the front door and each side of the nightstand) Towel Bars (24" on the closet side, 18" on the dinette side) 1 ½" Stainless Mushroom Fitting (for running power cord into the attic) Deck Plate and Key (covers the hole on the spare tire cover) Recessed Anchors (for the bungees that hold the drawers in place) Shower Curtain Rod - Tubing (need 3 feet), Round Base (dinette wall), Lifeline Base and Clevis Slide (front wall) Shower Head (please read the separate thread on this since it's not a straight swap for the current one) Lagun Table Mount and Folding Table Top (I think I bought both from the UK store but it may be cheaper to order them separately. Be sure to check out the other style tops that they have, most of which are available in multiple sizes.) Folding Shelf Brackets (search for the counter extension thread to see how I had to modify them) Shower Door Magnet Luminoodles (pantry and access port lighting) Hopefully that's it. Thanks to all who came by - great to meet everyone. If I forgot anything, please let me know.

Personally I was expecting between 4 and 5 hours, but the AC was just working too hard. Maybe had I set it at something like 76 then it might have cycled on less and given me more time. But it pulls 1500W when running and I was getting 500W from my solar (rated 640), so to break even it would have to run less than 20 minutes per hour, whereas it was probably running more like 45 minutes per hour. I can’t get the math to jive though. 400 amp hours of battery capacity should give me 4800 watt hours. And if I can use 75% of that, then I should be able to use 3600 watt hours before the inverter shuts down. The AC was pulling 1000 more watts than I was gaining from solar, but was on only ~75% of the time, so I should have only been using 750 watts per hour. 3600/750 should have given me 4.8 hours. Granted, some power was going elsewhere but not that much, relatively speaking. So either there are errors in the numbers shown on monitor or I’m getting less out of my batteries than advertised, or a combination.

Between 3 and 3.5 hours. Apparently the limit is the low voltage limit on the inverter, which is set at 11.5 volts, per Battleborn’s instructions. The voltage was starting to dip into that range when the AC compressor was running. But then it would pop back up to 12.3 or so after the inverter switched off, and so after a minute the inverter would come back on. I let it cycle like that a couple of times but then plugged back in. The battery monitor never went below 25% but then it may not be well calibrated since I’ve only had the batteries that low I think once before. It’s supposed to learn with usage so I’m curious if it would show a lower percentage if I were to try this again.

Reed got his awnings from Little House Customs, so they’re identical to what many Casita owners have. I think I’ve seen one other Ollie with them, and perhaps there are others.

Sure, I’ll take a few and post them in the rally thread. Definitely not going to make it to 3pm. Probably not even 2. I’m at 26% now and just got a low battery warning from the inverter. There must have been a brief dip in voltage that set off the alarm because after shutting down it came back on after a minute or so.

I closed the rear shade partially to block some direct sun but otherwise no. But the awnings are out. It was about 78 to start and 81 now. Dometic AC and yes lithium. We’re getting 500w out of the solar at noon and the AC pulls 1500w when it’s on. You cant have my jack. Probably the most valuable thing I have with me that I’m willling to part with is a chocolate cookie.

Not much going on at the rally today so I thought I’d unplug the trailer and do a little experiment running the AC just to see how long the batteries would last. We don’t travel much in AC weather so this is really the first time I’ve had a good chance to test the limits of our system. I started at 10am with 100% charge. AC set at 72 and we’re in full sun with no clouds. 640 watts of solar and 400 amp hours of battery storage. I’ll plug back in when the batteries hit 20%. Any guesses as to when that will be?

There is a transfer switch that will disconnect the inverter when on shore power or generator, so for 120 volt service you’re limited to what the generator can produce. Your 12 volt system is always working, even when being charged. There are hybrid charger/inverters that will supplement 120v shore power with battery power but Oliver doesn’t offer that option yet.

Steve did - see his post just before yours. Oliver put hydraulic disks on my trailer as an experiment, and I think one other that was in line along with mine. Perhaps more but I don’t think so. That was a while ago and I don’t think they plan to offer the option anytime soon. I think Steve’s components are better, but then I’ve never towed his trailer, nor he mine, so I only feel that way because he seems content with his and I’m sort of meh about mine.

Lol - I went with the 25 year plan on mine. Much cheaper per year and it will last over twice as long. Coincidentally, I was washing my truck yesterday before heading down to the rally and noticed that my right rear wheel is missing a lug nut. I’d taken it in for service last month before our trip and they rotated the tires. Glad I just lost the nut and not an entire wheel.

There were three reasons that it didn't work - 1) they said the stability was questionable just moving it around the factory, 2) because of my hitch config, the trailer already travels nose down a bit even with a 4" rise on my hitch, and 3) it looked totally silly. I also think that a lift would make the trailer more difficult to level - not a huge deal, but you'd have to carry some extra blocks I think. Also an extra step to get in and out. That was a 4", maybe 5" lift, so obviously something lower would mitigate all of the above.