FloraFauna

I think this is about right by my informal data and 62 is way better on the suspension than 70 mph. I don't have the patience for 62 so I will be more in the 65 to 67 mph range but keeping it under 70 dramatically improves the mpg and it just is a safer and less jarring drive. This is another reason to get off the interstate as well where the speed limits are lower. It may be only a few miles per hour difference in the end, but fuel consumption/drag and the dynamics of hitting bumps are not linear with speed.

When I think of mpg difference between my Duramax diesel empty vs pulling the Oli, it is easy to understand how a comparable range drop (or worse) occurs with an EV truck. I don't see EV trucks replacing my diesel for a long time unless they significantly increase the size of the batteries for towing. That said, I am suspecting my next car will be an EV but I think I will lease as the technology is still changing.

Not the lightest and probably not the quietest (although it is not loud). Most importantly it fits under the tonneau cover in my truck bed. I run off the propane so I am not mucking with gas cans. This and the size (both dimensions and power output) were primary considerations in my choice. Price is right. Powers the Ollie including AC with ease. Champion Power Equipment 5500/4000-Watt Electric Start Gasoline and Propane Powered Dual Fuel Inverter Generator W/CO Shield and Quiet Technology 201469 - The Home Depot. I use ramps to get it up in the back of my TV. Since I have the full battery package and solar, I only take it along if I think I am going to need the AC (which is not often). Provides a minimal home backup source until I do something bigger and better.

Same here.

I am using an older (now) Stihl BGA 86 running at 36V, 459 cfm and 154 mph. It is a camping essential for cleaning off our mat in front of the Olie door but never thought of using it for drying off the Oli after washing. So, thank you guys for yet another great idea.

What is the tool you are using in the last picture?

Looks like yours is bit taller than mine but I can still reach to the middle of my Oliver as well. Sometimes I use a microfiber wash mitt on a short pole. Nice thing about this is the setup is minimal - roll into place and go. The limitation is that you need to go up and down to move it.

This unit was a Peltier-type unit. Not the compressor-refrigeration-type that you suggested, and I knew this when I purchased it. I have an old Peltier-type refrigerator that has worked well for 20 years and is extremely efficient so I thought I might get some additional power savings with a dehumidifier operating on the same principle. I also liked the smaller footprint. This unit claimed to dehumidify 850 sq ft - not in my reality. See: Amazon.com - UBBO Dehumidifiers for Home, 850 sq.ft 95oz Dehumidifier with Drain Hose Timer Sleep Mode Auto-Off 7 Colors Light, Dehumidifier for Bedroom Bathroom Basements RV White So yes, your point and recommendation are still valid. We find that in cold weather the back windows and back corners of the Ollie can collect condensation. We continue to experiment with cracking windows and ventilation patterns. We have also found that rotating the head of the beds from the back corner to the center of trailer combined with judicious window cracking is one approach to avoiding condensation in the back (and it has a side benefit of your head not getting cold in the back corner). Your dehumidifier recommendation has to be more effective than what we tried but still not sure I want to trade the battery energy if I can manage the humidity other ways. The fresh air aspect is another consideration. (And I have not lost the link to the unit you recommended - still an option.)

I purchased one of those small dehumidifiers based on this discussion but returned it after one session. It lowered the humidity in the trailer from 78% to 74% after 6 hours - I was not impressed. I found it is much easier to control the humidity (assuming it is cool enough outside) by ventilation as you describe. The notion of fresh air and ventilation appealed to me and a small dehumidifier is just noise and nuisance in the system. I am boondocking almost exclusively, so power consumption is an issue. I also am generally not camping in wet, humid conditions. The biggest issue is when it gets cold at night - humidity and condensation will go up if windows are not crack and furnace is not running.

I DO enjoy this forum. I may not contribute as much as some of you but I find myself looking every day and learning something new every time I look. This thread is no exception. My takeaway is that both sides make valid points. I am also convinced that DanielBoondock knows what he wants and knows the tradeoffs. As he correctly points out there are tradeoffs both ways. RVing involves lots of experimentation. I am anxious to learn what he learns. There are lots of different ways to enjoy the experience.

I had a problem similar to this when my Ollie was still under warranty. My microwave and AC were unusable when off shorepower as the 3000 watt inverter would shut down. I can't recall if my voltage drop mirrored yours, but the behavior was at least similar. As such, a repair facility with OTT and Xantrex' guidance made the repair. I am not 100% certain what was done but I know there were issues with redundant and/or undersized or defective circuit breakers as it came from OTT. (There are only so many things you can check in the OTT campground if you stay a night or two there as part of shakedown following new trailer pickup.)

Water carry: Don’t know about the others (but probably average), but the Oliver is expressly designed for fresh water carry. Important for Boondocking and I want to bring water with me just in case the campground water is having issues For us, this is the main OTT limitation. We boondock almost exclusively and water is what we run out of first even with a composting toilet. I ultimately added an auxiliary 35-gallon tank in the back of my TV as my 3/4 ton has the capacity (wish I had opted for 40 or 45 gallons). We fill both tanks with softened water from the trusted home source and we are good for almost a week. I have a custom pump setup to simply refill the freshwater tank so I don't have to fool with the valve configuration using the Ollie water pump. This also serves the purpose of a backup water pump if ever needed. So all told, I am adding several hundred pounds to my TV payload - something to consider if you plan to boondock much.

I am a few years ahead of you. Also an engineer who still is nagged by projects well into retirement but when it comes to my Ollie, it is not on my project list and I hope it never is. It's my escape from all of that. Don't worry. I bought mine sight unseen as well. A couple of issues had to be worked out with my Ollie the first year but the service department worked well with a local RV place (not a dealer). I currently have no trailer issues. I have not regretted the purchase despite the price and have not found an RV of any type or price that I would rather have. I went through a similar process of elimination and arrived at the same point as you. I also went with your options minus the street-side awning. Without a basis I feel the awnings could become a maintenance issue. Hope you retire soon - life is short.

Related to this, has anyone used the dehumidfy mode on their Truma AC? Does it use significantly less power than simply running the AC? Looking at this issue from a humidity control approach while boondocking.

I assume you only run this when on shore power?