Steph and Dud B

Many states are decriminalizing calcium. I'm worried it will be a gateway mineral and lead our camper to harder stuff. 😁

Congratulations. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

We have a locking aluminum toolbox below the bedrails at the front of the 8' bed with a TruXedo soft tonneau cover over the top. Gives us some locked storage but full use of the rest of the bed.

We've used Lynx Leveler blocks for all our RVs. I like them because you can use them for other things, too, if needed (sewer hose ramp, picnic table legs, etc.).

Those are really nice and their smallest travel trailer (model 2015) is about the same price point as an Ollie. Pluses: toy hauler/tons of storage, roof rack, drop down queen bed, couch, full dinette, big tanks, built in generator, more interior space, dry bath, local dealers. The big negative we can't get past: poor thermal performance. With the all aluminum construction they apparently get very hot/cold easily, especially radiating through the rear ramp door. Definitely not 4 season. However, if you plan to stay in moderate temperatures, or with full hookups/running the genny in the extremes, they look very nice and we consider them a close second to an Ollie. If you prioritize hauling gear/interior comforts over travel/4 seasons I'd consider the ATC the winner over Oliver.

Hitch extensions significantly lower the capacity rating of the ball and increase the propensity for sway by moving the pivot point farther from the truck's rear axle.

Several turns doesn't sound like they just wiggled loose. Hate to see sloppy work on 120v electrical systems. That, and propane, really need to be done right. Interesting that the front receptacle is not protected by the EMS. I suppose that's OK of you're only feeding it with a generator? Haven't people had trouble with the EMS balking at generator power, it was that just because there was no ground bonding plug installed?

We have a simple weather radio in our fifth wheel. Have found it to be effective in most areas we camp. It does have an old-fashioned extendable antenna, like the old TV "rabbit ears," that improves reception. It squawks when there's an alert and we push a button to hear what the alert is. It is NOT one of the fancy programmable ones where you can select only the single county where you want the alert. We found those are too cumbersome for campers on the move (although that is what we have at our house). Will have to figure out where to put the radio in our new Ollie...

John has some good points. Are you drinking the tank water and is it chlorinated? We fill with well water at home. We don't use it for drinking and I drain and replace the water after 1 week. I'd be more comfortable if it was filled with chlorinated city water.

Very nice looking rig. Congratulations and enjoy!

https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/tca-now-testing-new-truma-aventa-air-conditioner/ "Significant noise reduction, which has always been an issue with RV air conditioners, has been achieved in the Truma Aventa by using a thick, noise absorbing EPP foamcore, while the compressor is mounted on shock absorbers to avoid vibration." Be still my heart!

Is that a Penguin II?

Thanks for all the info. We ordered a red Clam Sport and side panels. Buying some new Ollie toys for Christmas as we impatiently await our summer delivery.

GM has a site here: https://www.onstar.com/us/en/support/3g-network-shutdown where you can enter your VIN to check the impact on your vehicle. Scroll down to Which GM vehicles are impacted by the 3G network sunset? and follow the link provided there.

Looking at Clams now. We often camp with friends who also have a small camper. Until now, we hung out in our fifth wheel in bad weather. That won't be an option anymore, so looking for a Clam the 4 of us can hang out in, even in the rain. So, it should have rain walls, too. We can get a smaller Clam and the add-on walls. I also see a 12x12' Clam "Pavilion" with roll down side walls built in. Wondering if that would be too large? So, does anyone have the large Clam and, if so, how do you like it?

Absolutely. You have the original!

Winterizing the water system of an RV isn't bad. Takes maybe half an hour for our fifth wheel: reconfigure the valves, drain the water heater and low point drains, wife feeds the antifreeze into the hose while I operate the sinks, toilet, etc. inside. Our campers have all wintered outside in Connecticut. If a mild cold snap hits us before we winterize we plug in to shore power and run the propane furnace on its lowest setting with the interior cabinet doors near plumbing left open. That's been enough for a quick overnight dip into the upper 20s but we've never pushed it further. The better protected Ollie should do better. But we wouldn't try an entire winter unwinterized up here.

I think this was already posted on the FB page, but thought I'd share it here, too. Just received ours and really like it. On sale now for $20, too! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1114865312/oliver-rv-trailer-replica-3d-printed?plkey=52690cb2c013cb1e2dd6da2b634fac078e23fa5c%3A1114865312&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=trailer+ornament&ref=sc_gallery-1-6&pro=1

Shuttlecraft!

As a lifelong Trekkie it's killing me that I don't see it! Now that I think about it, Tribble would be a cute name for an Ollie. Cute little round funball.

I thought about that. Have done it in previous RVs during cold snaps before the water lines were winterized. But, isn't the battery compartment isolated from the interior cabin air?

We wouid like to leave the lithium batteries in the trailer during the winter so we have an option to leave on short notice if we wish. I understand they can be stored in cold weather with the following limitations: no charging below freezing, no discharging below -4 F, no storage below -14 F. The temperature here in CT rarely drops to -14, but it can. How could I keep those batteries warm in the event we had a severe cold snap? Aren't there factory-installed heating pads below the batteries? Could I turn the batteries back on and run the heating pads while connected to shore power? I have 15 amp shore power available where the trailer is parked.

If they've had enough beverages they might forget the chair!

Google Maps does allow you to download the map data for use where cellular service is unavailable. Of course, that only works if you anticipate the problem...