Made my decision …

[dewdev]

On 5/11/2025 at 8:55 AM, DanielBoondock said:

 

One small slight counterexample of that is my tow vehicle. I was deciding between the new Silverado EV and Sierra EV, but had an opportunity recently to see them together. What I found was the design language and presentation of the vehicles was a bit different than what I expected from the internet. Anyhow my decision switched from going for the Silverado, to the Sierra.

 

Reading through all the entire posts, it is quite evident that @DanielBoondock has really done a lot of research about which RV fits his needs. (It is what us engineers do).  I think, Daniel, that you need to do similiar research on your tow vehicle as the EV's will have a lot less mileage range then advertised when towing the Ollie. You may not have the mileage range you need for your camping adventures. You will find some helpful information on this web site about EV towing an Ollie. I just wanted to draw your attention to this matter.

Edited May 14 by dewdev

[rich.dev]

21 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

There’s a video on the Oliver channel about caulking your windows, and I believe more recent models they use both butyl tape and silicone, while earlier they just used silicone. Maybe check the seals?

Yah I saw that video, mine is a 2023 and the outside caulking around the windows, Oliver sign and external lights above the windows are still good.

21 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

And on the scuppers I believe newer models have wire inserts to prevent unwanted guests, so they seem to think it’s not a problem.

Yes my 2023 has the wire/mesh inserts, I was covering the fresh water and AC drain tubes with copper steel wool, so I figured while I’m down there I might as well do the scuppers as well. 

21 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

But otherwise I’m not clear on why the windows would be clear of condensation but you get it on the window inner frame like that.

We did see some moisture/condensation on the inside of the windows, but not much. I thought maybe because the windows are dual pane, ie better insulation, while the inner frame of the windows are metal and in between the hulls so more potential for condensation on them like in my picture, but I can be wrong! Anyway, I did add some butyl tape and silicone around the inner window frames so time will tell. I’m also thinking of spraying some foam type insulation around the inner window frames. Thoughts on that? 

 

 

 

[DanielBoondock]

8 hours ago, dewdev said:

Reading through all the entire posts, it is quite evident that @DanielBoondock has really done a lot of research about which RV fits his needs. (It is what us engineers do).  I think, Daniel, that you need to do similiar research on your tow vehicle as the EV's will have a lot less mileage range then advertised when towing the Ollie. You may not have the mileage range you need for your camping adventures. You will find some helpful information on this web site about EV towing an Ollie. I just wanted to draw your attention to this matter.

Asking if I've done my research is like asking the Pope if he knows what a Catholic is 😅

Yes I'm fully aware of the range loss towing for both EV, ICE and any other vehicle you care to mention (steam anybody? Jay Leno has a couple). Range loss is a function of aero not power train. The truck I'm buying has 500+ miles range which is equivalent to the ICE version. Except the truck is vastly more efficient while driving, real world results is that a single day noontime lunch charge is all I'll need. Not an issue.

At any rate, as everybody here knows the Ollie should be a good towing companion. The shape has some nice shoulder rounding, the big propane helps prevent the low pressure suckout that occurs between the two, the underbody is flat and clear of obstacles, and the roof should be relatively decent with some mods. One tweak I asked the factory about is if they could lift the rear of the solar to match the height of the AC so as to act as a smooth ramp for the laminar flow. They aren't able to do it as their solar bracket supplier doesn't have ones tall enough, so that'll be a mod I'll do at some point. I have access to a machine shop so can custom something up. Otherwise the two awnings should act as rails to prevent mixing of the side and top flows, this is a trick GM uses in the Silverado/Sierra on the bottom.

Anyhow now that I've made my decision I'm getting impatient to make this happen, but there are various factors that make the timing for an order later in Summer.

[Boudicca908]

On 5/11/2025 at 7:55 AM, DanielBoondock said:

There's one or two owner trailers within an hour we could tour but none with the right size or options

So — where are you?

A lot of us are mobile, and I’ve shown my Oliver many times while I’m on the road. If you post your general location here on the forum, you may find an owner within reach. (Maybe I missed it, in the thread here…?) 

Elite II, twin bed, Lithium Solar package with composting toilet and curb-side awning model Owner… heading West from Tennessee on Friday. 

[DanielBoondock]

North of San Francisco. No worries actually, speaking of research this has been an obsession for about five years as I’m rounding into retirement, I’ve run through everything and there’s no other choice, seeing one won’t change my mind to be honest. We don’t need to see one actually, too much bother 😅 

I mean we all know this is a balancing of compromises, so you have to pick your poison. Listing out my unmet wants just for my own sake ..

Want: Bigger twins
Downside: Would be a bigger trailer, but I like the narrowbody 25 actual foot size for towing and campsite availability 
Solution: If it really bothers - probably won’t - but if it does we can rig it into a queen size

Want: Bigger dinette 
Downside: Same issue 
Solution: Make more use of the beds and outside

Want: More storage so the trailer can always be ready to go
Downside: Same issue, also I like the exterior beauty of the Oliver with only a few doors
Solution: Outside front/rear 3rd party storage, that rear bumper with the dual rails that can be configured bike hitch or storage tray is brilliant

Want: Bigger fridge
Downside: Could have been done - the Bigfoot fridge is awesome - but it would rob that upper cabinet
Solution: Just get an electric cooler

Want: More thermal insulation, not just radiant 
Downside: I’m overthinking this one  😅 
Solution: Kick back and have a beer 

 

That’s it. Everything else is pretty much exactly as I would do it myself. There’s a hundred other positives I haven’t mentioned like offroadbility, boondocking, composting as a standard option … Did I mention I’m a ambient light freak? Oliver even did three level lightning which is optimal. Upper, midlevel and down pointing floor level. Nobody does that, they usually just do the awful overhead interrogation light style  😅 Oh and if that’s not enough, they did bi-level lightning outside, the uppers and the lowers, it’s just too much. 

[DanielBoondock]

Just for fun and my own sake, tl/dr all the positives

• Tongue Weight: Lowest in class, Bigfoot is as high as 1k, I have tongue and payload limits I’m working with
• GVWR: A touch on the heavy side for it’s size but well within my limits 
• Size: True 25’ like the Escape 23’, but the Ollie is a 7’ compared to the 8’ of the Escape. The Bigfoot with front storage is a 28’
• Fiberglass: Best in class with the custom honeycomb and mat patches in strategic locations
• Lighting: Best in class, tri-level interior and bi-level exterior
• Options: Best in class. Escape famously is configurable but mostly with low level ones (who needs a second exterior shower?), you can’t option out the stuff you’d want control over like batteries/solar. Bigfoot likewise has no power options and only options things like skylights (which are a bad solution to a dark interior)
• Build Quality: Best in class, I mentioned fiberglass above but the frame is equally boss
• Decor: Subjective but best in class IMO. Bigfoot is old school, Escape is, sorry just cheap looking. Ollie is classic will never go out of style
• Fixtures: Best in class marine quality
• Outside presentation: Best in class. Frames are ugly, only the Oliver hides it, and with fiberglass body no less
• Usability: Four season, Escape is three, Bigfoot is four
• Towing: Probably best of the three by a small margin, aero, lack of external gubbins. Bigfoot has a good front, good bottom but poor top and back, the Escape has a poor shape and bottom
• 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
• Repair: As far as I can tell the Oliver is the most well designed for repair. As mentioned above, even in the unlikely event of a tank issue you can even swap those without too much trouble
• …

[bugeyedriver]

Daniel, I can tell you've had a great time researching and deciding on your trailer.  It reminds me of myself, 18 years ago.  I had one year until retirement and did extensive research into all available fiberglass trailers available at the time.  During the search, someone on the FiberglassRV forum mentioned "a new guy in town", which was the Oliver family's foray into the travel trailer industry.  I met Jim Oliver and he told me about his family, his company, and his dreams for the Oliver travel trailer. I was sold. 

Being in on the ground floor, so to speak, I was coordinating with an eager company who wanted high satisfaction for each and every buyer.  Their production was in low numbers, and fortunately, for us early customers, the company was nimble and able to make modifications on-the-fly the the build in order to fit our every wish.  While not an engineer, I still had several personal desires they accommodated which were not in the original design.  Now, with more than 140,000 miles of wandering, I am convinced I made the right choice.  You did too!

It was an exciting year!  I know you are having a great time dreaming of your Elite II and looking forward to retirement. Enjoy the anticipation and may you have many wonderful years traveling throughout this great land.  See you down the road . . .

 

 

 

[DanielBoondock]

8 hours ago, bugeyedriver said:

Daniel, I can tell you've had a great time researching and deciding on your trailer.  It reminds me of myself, 18 years ago.  I had one year until retirement and did extensive research into all available fiberglass trailers available at the time.  During the search, someone on the FiberglassRV forum mentioned "a new guy in town", which was the Oliver family's foray into the travel trailer industry ….  Now, with more than 140,000 miles of wandering …

It was an exciting year!  I know you are having a great time dreaming of your Elite II and looking forward to retirement. Enjoy the anticipation and may you have many wonderful years traveling throughout this great land.  See you down the road . . .

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement! Just what I needed … I’m at that stage of ‘having trouble’ shall we say, with doing the last few years. Fact is my theoretical date is early next year, which would be 59.5 same as my Dad and brother, why not … but I’m tacking on a few years to earn guilt free extra dollars to pay for this rig and this and that. Oliver jacked up the price like crazy last few years and EV trucks aren’t cheap yet as they’re just releasing. Meanwhile there’s various factors I’m waiting to settle out - interest rates, production start for MY2026 on both the truck and the trailer, anyhow now that I finally settled it’s a bit of being impatient. 

Good news is, maybe I can pull this all together this year and be camping in the new year. That should make the final couple years fly by as I’ll practically be retired, just with that pesky day job to attend to still 😅

Dan

 

[FloraFauna]

• 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.

[jd1923]

5 hours ago, FloraFauna said:

I ultimately added an auxiliary 35-gallon tank in the back of my TV as my 3/4 ton has the capacity.

And I thought we were the only ones to do this! 😂

[Patriot]

On 5/14/2025 at 6:46 PM, DanielBoondock said:

The truck I'm buying has 500+ miles range which is equivalent to the ICE version.

Interested to hear about your range reports when towing in the high mountain passes as well as the flatlands. Obviously 500 mile range loaded and towing is not what your expectations are. My SWAG is maybe a 250-300 mile range loaded might even be ambitious. I suppose you can plug in at CGs but there will likely be an additional fee. 

[EurekaJ]

Dan, I've enjoyed reading this thread.  We seem to be on similar timelines - I am about 18 months out from full retirement at 62.  I initially planned on 60 but the extra couple of years helps with the finances and covers the Oli purchase. 

Having immersed myself in possible options, I pretty rapidly ended up in the fiberglass segment.  About 7 months ago, I ended up with Oliver at the top of the list for the same factors you've listed above.   It sounds like I'm geographically closer to Hohenwald than you but it is still a long trip (from DC).   Despite not visiting the factory, I'd tentatively decided on the Elite  II about 7 months ago and was planning to visit the facility and order new hull in the spring.   Then, in January, I lucked into a two year old hull with all of my desired options less than three hours from home.  During a two week shakedown trip in March, I rolled through Hohenwald for an introduction and tour.  Both sales and service seemed really happy to see me despite not purchasing new.  This is a real community!   There are quite a few small projects that I have planned for comfort, convenience and power connectivity, but all in all, I know this was the right choice, especially for four season and boondocking capabilities.  I plan on hitting the road for some much longer trips starting in early 2027 and hope to get to Guntersville in early 2026 to learn even more from the experts.  It is so hard trudging through the work day with the end in sight.  

Please keep us posted as things progress.   Warm regards.  

[jd1923]

6 hours ago, Patriot said:

Interested to hear about your range reports when towing in the high mountain passes as well as the flatlands. Obviously 500 mile range loaded and towing is not what your expectations are. My SWAG is maybe a 250-300 mile range loaded might even be ambitious. I suppose you can plug in at CGs but there will likely be an additional fee. 

Yep, no Boondocking in store for @DanielBoondock! 🤣

Get a Tesla Model S to scratch your EV itch. Then after all the nonsense, being a GM guy, get the GMC Sierra Denali with the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel and 10-speed Allison. 😂 When I win to the Lotto, I'll get one too (though I'd have to buy my first lotto ticket)!

Daniel has not yet responded to the dozen EV TV criticisms posted in this thread and the first one he started. So Daniel, especially since you've updated your forum signature, I'm asking and I'm not alone.

I'm not interested in performance specs, blah-blah-blah, instead wondering how you believe you can charge while traveling across the country, even boondocking, going anywhere you want without the chronic worry of the next charge station. Those of us with diesel TVs can drive 300 miles one-way up a dead-end road, boondocking along the way, we have enough fuel to return.

You cannot make that claim with any EV. Likely your one-way trip towing will be limited to 100, 120 miles or so. And when you run out of power on some stretch of highway, you cannot merely grab a gas can and hitchhike down the road or walk to a local farm where there's always some diesel to borrow. You'd need a tow.

Most Oliver owners worry enough about SOC% on their house batteries. We carry enough Ah, fresh water and fuel to camp 10 days off-grid.

[DanielBoondock]

3 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Yep, no Boondocking in store for @DanielBoondock! 🤣

No. Haha right back at ya

Quote

Get a Tesla Model S to scratch your EV itch. 

No, Tesla sucks IMO. I’ve been driving GM EV’s for seven, eight years. 

Quote

Then after all the nonsense, being a GM guy, get the GMC Sierra Denali with the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel and 10-speed Allison. 😂 When I win to the Lotto, I'll get one too (though I'd have to buy my first lotto ticket)!

Full stop. I’ll put it out there - I’m done trying to discuss EV’s with people who haven’t driven them, don’t know anything about them, and refuse to entertain them, but just want to reinforce their beliefs. I don’t know where you are on this - not trying to paint you one way or another -  but FYI I’ll answer any reasonable questions but that’s it

Quote

Daniel has not yet responded to the dozen EV TV criticisms posted in this thread and the first one he started. So Daniel, especially since you've updated your forum signature, I'm asking and I'm not alone.

On this one? I think you’re responding here to another thread? If there’s anything here about EV’s I must have missed it. There’s another thread where it came up but I haven’t been following that one, life is short …

Quote

I'm not interested in performance specs, blah-blah-blah, instead wondering how you believe you can charge while traveling across the country, even boondocking, going anywhere you want without the chronic worry of the next charge station. Those of us with diesel TVs can drive 300 miles one-way up a dead-end road, boondocking along the way, we have enough fuel to return.

I’m wondering how you can believe that it’s not possible to charge across the country, with the tens of thousands of DCFC that are going in? It’s clear you’re not aware of the Ionna consortium which is going to have more charging than Tesla in a few years, they’re blasting them in at a furious rate as we speak. Or every single Pilot/Flying-J will have them with another GM effort - how many are there of those? You ever gassed up at a Flying-J?  Not to mention the existing Tesla, EA, EVgo and others. Maybe you’re not aware that wherever people go, there is electricity? 

 

Quote

You cannot make that claim with any EV. Likely your one-way trip towing will be limited to 100, 120 miles or so. And when you run out of power on some stretch of highway, you cannot merely grab a gas can and hitchhike down the road or walk to a local farm where there's always some diesel to borrow. You'd need a tow.

Everything you said there is incorrect, people are making real world trips of 200+ miles before needing a charge, towing, today, with the latest GM EV’s. You can use V2V to charge in extremis, or just a generator or portable DCFC. And nobody ever is in that situation, charging is ubiquitous. 

Actually it was a mistake for me to ever mention EV’s on this forum, sorry folks my fault, I changed my sig, please ignore …

 

Edited May 17 by DanielBoondock

[jd1923]

10 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

Full stop. I’ll put it out there - I’m done trying to discuss EV’s with people who haven’t driven them...

Maybe you’re not aware that wherever people go, there is electricity? 

Yes, boondocking means no electricity unless you bring it with you. Generators aren't campsite cool any more, and more so for EV owners. Many of us use solar and the alternators on our combustion engines to charge the house batteries. We enjoy time at the campsite, and it's hard enough to find a good one, without worrying about where to charge in-between. EVs are great for commuting and for trades people who drive 100-200 miles on the job and come home each night. They are not practical for travel, let alone towing a trailer for weeks at a time.

OK, I'm done having fun and will stop, so that we stop insulting one another. I wish you the best with your new Sierra and Oliver when the time comes for you.

Edited May 18 by jd1923

[Jason Foster]

I drove an EV once. Looked like the attached picture. Batteries were good for a while, no real way to tell how much “gas” was in the tank. Would leave me stranded hauling my own clubs. Then the batteries started losing their maximum capacity. Once they were down to about 50%, I went to replace the batteries, found out the cost and sold it for a gas powered one which lasted a long time and never left me stranded. I can even keep a gas can on board to extend my journey. 
 

I once saw a Tesla Cybertruck sitting on the side of the road hooked up to a gas generator.  I expected a bunch of solar panels, but I guess gas was faster and more reliable. 

[Jason Foster]

12 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Yes, boondocking means no electricity unless you bring it with you. Generators aren't campsite cool any more, and more so for EV owners. Many of us use solar and the alternators on our combustion engines to charge the house batteries. We enjoy time at the campsite, and it's hard enough to find a good one, without worrying about where to charge in-between.

I wonder, though.  Wouldn’t true boondocking, with regard to the EV lifestyle of “lets save the planet”, not use gas of any kind?  In this regard, the trailer would need to be completely electric.  No refined gas of any type, including propane. No generator to recharge the batteries and in the extreme case, no reliance on the electric power grid that more than likely uses some sort of coal/ nuclear power generation even though a percentage of it is solar and/or wind generation.
 

We could go further and adopt the planet saving lifestyle of plastic elimination, since plastic pollution and microplastics are arguably more harmful to us and the environment than the carbon emissions that are driving the EV market.  However, EVs wouldn’t work without plastics, neither would our electronics, solar and wind power, water delivery or modern medicine.  Even the clothes we wear include some kind of plastic and are produced in factories overseas with a horrible carbon footprint.  Then we have the ocean transportation from those countries that use massive amounts of heavy crude.  
 

With planet saving practices in mind, perhaps the Amish lifestyle is preferable but even they have adopted modern methods in their farming and business practices to stay relevant. But, wait.  Don’t they live in wooden houses?  We can’t do that either, because that would require us to cut down multiple trees, and the axe has a metal blade, made using a smelting process and formed with heat using coal.  We are now living pre industrial AND pre bronze.  In fact, true “save the planet boondocking” would be living in a cave, drinking unpurified lake water, wearing animal skins and whacking the ground with rocks.  Welcome to the stone age.  
 

This is my interpretation of EVs and boondocking as a whole.  Yes, I like the complexity of using batteries and the sun for power generation, but I don’t believe for a second that I am saving the planet doing this. I enjoy this lifestyle because it is quiet, until I start up my deleted Cummins and scare bambi out of the woods. 

[DanielBoondock]

18 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Yes, boondocking means no electricity unless you bring it with you. Generators aren't campsite cool any more, and more so for EV owners. Many of us use solar and the alternators on our combustion engines to charge the house batteries. We enjoy time at the campsite, and it's hard enough to find a good one, without worrying about where to charge in-between. EVs are great for commuting and for trades people who drive 100-200 miles on the job and come home each night. They are not practical for travel, let alone towing a trailer for weeks at a time.

OK, I'm done having fun and will stop, so that we stop insulting one another. I wish you the best with your new Sierra and Oliver when the time comes for you.

Actually jd I never insulted you. FYI I’m a retiring engineer in the automotive industry, I’ve designed test equipment for SDV’s for 30 years, so knowing real world how vehicles perform in the real world is literally my business. And also why I don’t have the heart for a food fight on this versus that, too much like work. I’ll just suggest that your information is out of date and leave it there. 

But thanks for the kind note at the end. 

[Boudicca908]

On 5/14/2025 at 8:33 PM, DanielBoondock said:

speaking of research this has been an obsession for about five years

I can relate to that!  And then, the moment I stepped into an Oliver (in Punta Gorda FL) I knew in my heart that I had found my home on the road! 

[davekaro]

On 5/16/2025 at 6:58 PM, DanielBoondock said:

Meanwhile there’s various factors I’m waiting to settle out - interest rates, production start for MY2026 on both the truck and the trailer

Is there anything specific you are waiting for in the trailer that MY2026 will have that is different from MY2025? When do the 2026 models go into production?