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[jd1923]

On 10/14/2026 at 1:07 PM, jd1923 said:

Turns out these parts as pictured will be at The Rally next week 4-Sale. A good traveling spare set would include a left and right hand set to cover a full axle rebuild. Anybody who can change a trailer tire can mount this hardware on roadside if necessary (think Alaska trip). The hubs come off with a small circlip and one large nut. The brake backing plates connect with 5 nuts on the axle studs (you can see 4 of 5 nuts in the picture).

LAST CALL! These are at the Rally now, so please write me if interested. Thanks, JD

[Geronimo John]

On 10/6/2026 at 5:41 AM, jd1923 said:

Why has OTT not considered/offered an integrated Victron package? We can look at the mods section to see that some 10+ owners have removed a working Xantrex inverter to replace it with a Victron Multiplus.

Likely:  10+ / (the current number of OTT Owners) = a stastically insufficiant number of reasons

However, if money grew on trees, many of our owners would like to have the "Gismology" of an all Victron Package.  But likely more would not want the complexity of them.  Keeping life simple is also a virture for many of us.  

Just the musing of an Ole Retired Fart!   🙂

GJ

[HDRider]

6 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

Keeping life simple is also a virtue for many of us. 

Put me in that camp.

[mossemi]

I will add my own ORF musings!  
I think we all embrace any technology that is capable of making our lives easier, as long as we can figure it out.  
My first bite of the Victron apple was adding a BMV 712 battery monitor and I continue to add Victron equipment as I find it beneficial to maximize my battery usage.  And Victron’s technical support is truly world class.

And if you have any doubts about smartphones making you stupid, just leave it at home when you head out camping!  After all, the only phone number I remember off the top of my head is 911!

Mossey

[jd1923]

12 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

However, if money grew on trees, many of our owners would like to have the "Gismology" of an all Victron Package.  But likely more would not want the complexity of them.  Keeping life simple is also a virtue for many of us.

How much does OTT charge for their Platinum package? The 2027 Oliver EII Platinum is $101,000. The EII Standard is $85,000. OTT's "most popular" package adds $16K for an array of electrical options. Now that's truly "money growing on trees!" 🤣

You get a 3K Xantrex inverter, 400W solar with SC from Zamp or Victron if you're lucky. Of do you? Would OTT instead install a "Rich Solar" system like we've seen recently? Add 640 Ah in Lithionics. What make shunt is used? It could be a Victron. And then some off-brand DC-DC charger that should NOT be wired to the 12 AWG AUX wire in the trailer harness in the first place!

With 3-4 brand names OTT must drill many large holes into the pretty interior hull of your Oliver for multiple screens! If you prefer apps, you would need to learn how to use ALL of them. "Keeping life simple" is not happening here, not at all! Simplicity no, complexity is the word and there's only a few of us Oliver Owners on this Forum that understand most of it.

In a fully integrated Victron system, add a screen if you like or not, and one user-friendly app is all you need to see status of all devices. Our hull has 6 Victron devices and 2 more in the TV. Include 900 Ah in heated LiFePO4 batteries and we have spent a total of $5,000 in Victron components, buses and all wiring, everything (labor not included).

The DIY-capable owner should buy the new 2027 EII Standard and add their own solar-inverter/charger/lithium upgrade. For those incapable or not wanting to do the work, they'd have 10K for labor in buying the Standard over the Platinum model.

Yes, 10+ have upgraded to Victron, discarding what was installed OEM. How many would make the choice if a Victron installation was offered? This is the real question.

Want true simplicity? Skip all these upgrades, buy the Standard package and plug into 30A shore power!

Or OTT could offer a fully integrated Victron system, first for superior overall performance and for the simplicity of the integrated system! 😎

Edited Thursday at 05:53 PM by jd1923

[Dean and Mary]

I am still in the process of completing my full Victron upgrade, which has taken more time than expected. Most of the delays have been due to limited installation space and having to wait for additional, unforeseen materials such as wire, wire mesh, lugs, connectors, bolts, screws ...

John made several excellent points about the simplicity of having a single display in a Victron-based system. While a Victron upgrade is a very robust and capable solution, it does require configuration and programming of the various components. If the installation is performed by a professional, the programming is typically included as part of the process. Once everything is set up correctly, the system is actually quite straightforward to operate, especially considering the level of capability and functionality provided by such a comprehensive upgrade.  At least that is what I hope to find once this project is complete. One display instead of multiple apps is one of my goals in this upgrade.

I've been keeping track of nearly all of the project expenses in a spreadsheet, and I'm now over $5,000 invested and more than 100 hours into the installation. Once everything is finished, I'll start a new thread with a complete write-up and details of the upgrade. 

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, Dean and Mary said:

I've been keeping track of nearly all of the project expenses in a spreadsheet, and I'm now over $5,000 invested and more than 100 hours into the installation. Once everything is finished, I'll start a new thread with a complete write-up and details of the upgrade.

Dean, many of us are looking forward to seeing your work and new Victron system! 😂

I think I have +/- 1000 hours in +/- 40 upgrades over 3 years, likely 200 hours in electrical upgrades alone.

Yeah, I'm in Excel for everything from paying bills to keeping to-do lists. I have an Auto Maintenance worksheet with a tab for every vehicle we have or have owned. One for the Oliver of course, another for the TV and everything else. It denotes the dates of expenditures and maintenance completed so to keep a full history and what's needed next.

My $5K included 900 Ah Epoch Essentials mostly at 2024 prices ($2,819 total). Today, I would go with a cheap model since the batteries I have cost $3,750 list price today.

We spent $2K in Victron devices; a SmartShunt, the MP2 and two interfaces (Bluetooth and MK3-USB-C configuration interfaces), a 30A MPPT SC, the 50A Orion DC-DC charger, 15A SC for TV solar and 12|24 DC-DC for Starlink power. Then a 400A ANL fuse and housing, two 400A buses, 35A breaker, 4 and 10 AWG wire, etc.

The first reason costs are higher now is two years of inflation (cost of copper!) but in comparing systems it's mainly the cost of dual 50A SCs (vs. my single 30A) and the "Victron Lynx Distributor, Cerbo GX MK2 with GX Touch 70 Display." Instead of a cabin display (I read my app more often when outdoors or from the driver's seat), I went with a simple VE interface for $83 which reads temp and is a Bluetooth interface for the Multiplus II.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FCV43LQ/

The two GX devices are likely $500+ depending on where you buy them (do not suggest Amazon), more when buying from a "professional installation company." I went without Cerbo accessories for not wanting additional device integration, nor a cabin display.

I used basic 400A 8mm pure copper buses, a pair for $40, where Lynx Distributors can be $200-400 each.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D59Z9S7W/

We all have different needs and I can tell you, when you do all the work yourself, have ready all the parts you need to minimize time (drawings, good planning), and buy all the hardware you want that makes you happy! 😎

As it costs 2-3 times as much to get this work done for you, labor included!

Edited Thursday at 08:07 PM by jd1923

[Dean and Mary]

20 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Dean, many of us are looking forward to seeing your work and new Victron system! 😂

I think I have +/- 1000 hours in +/- 40 upgrades over 3 years, likely 200 hours in electrical upgrades alone.

Yeah, I'm in Excel for everything from paying bills to keeping to-do lists. I have an Auto Maintenance worksheet with a tab for every vehicle we have or have owned. One for the Oliver of course, another for the TV and everything else. It denotes the dates of expenditures and maintenance completed so to keep a full history and what's needed next.

My $5K included 900 Ah Epoch Essentials mostly at 2024 prices ($2,819 total). Today, I would go with a cheap model since the batteries I have cost $3,750 list price today.

We spent $2K in Victron devices; a SmartShunt, the MP2 and two interfaces (Bluetooth and MK3-USB-C configuration interfaces), a 30A MPPT SC, the 50A Orion DC-DC charger, 15A SC for TV solar and 12|24 DC-DC for Starlink power. Then a 400A ANL fuse and housing, two 400A buses, 35A breaker, 4 and 10 AWG wire, etc.

The first reason costs are higher now is two years of inflation (cost of copper!) but in comparing systems it's mainly the cost of dual 50A SCs (vs. my single 30A) and the "Victron Lynx Distributor, Cerbo GX MK2 with GX Touch 70 Display." Instead of a cabin display (I read my app more often when outdoors or from the driver's seat), I went with a simple VE interface for $83 which reads temp and is a Bluetooth interface for the Multiplus II.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FCV43LQ/

The two GX devices are likely $500+ depending on where you buy them (do not suggest Amazon), more when buying from a "professional installation company." I went without Cerbo accessories for not wanting additional device integration, nor a cabin display.

I used basic 400A 8mm pure copper buses, a pair for $40, where Lynx Distributors can be $200-400 each.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D59Z9S7W/

We all have different needs and I can tell you, when you do all the work yourself, have ready all the parts you need to minimize time (drawings, good planning), and buy all the hardware you want that makes you happy! 😎

As it costs 2-3 times as much to get this work done for you, labor included!

John,

Thanks for sharing that your electrical upgrade took nearly 200 hours. When my project is complete, I suspect I'll be much closer to that number than to 100 hours, especially when I factor in the time spent researching products, sourcing all the required components, and figuring out the best installation methods within the limited space available in our camper.

This type of upgrade is a significant undertaking, particularly when you're first removing and correcting a poorly executed installation left behind by a previous owner who hired out a smaller upgrade. I'll save those details for another post.

You're also absolutely right about how much prices have increased over the past several years. My roughly $5,000 upgrade does not include batteries, as my trailer already came from the factory with 640Ah of Lithionics lithium batteries. It's hard to believe, but I've spent nearly $1,000 on cables, fuse holders, fuses, mounting boards, and other miscellaneous hardware alone. For example, a quality Class T fuse from a reputable manufacturer costs around $65, and of course I needed a spare, for a total of two.

That brings me back to the original topic of allowing members to list used or surplus parts for sale on the forum. During this project, I've removed a number of fully functional components that could be valuable to other owners looking to replace failed equipment or complete their own upgrades. Providing a marketplace for these parts could help fellow owners save money while keeping quality equipment in service.

[Dean and Mary]

20 hours ago, jd1923 said:

We all have different needs and I can tell you, when you do all the work yourself, have ready all the parts you need to minimize time (drawings, good planning), and buy all the hardware you want that makes you happy! 😎

 

I enjoy projects like this, but like any major undertaking, they come with their share of frustrations. One of the biggest challenges is having to be a contortionist to route wires in such a confined space. Being in my 70s certainly doesn't make that task any easier.

Another familiar frustration is getting to a point where I realize I need one more trip to the hardware store for that specific screw, bolt, or bracket needed to finish a portion of the job. Most of my electrical components are ordered online because the big-box stores carry very little that is suitable for RV electrical systems. That often means putting the project on hold while I wait for the correct parts to arrive before I can continue.

Despite those challenges, seeing the system come together and knowing it was done correctly makes the effort worthwhile.

[jd1923]

6 hours ago, Dean and Mary said:

Thanks for sharing that your electrical upgrade took nearly 200 hours. When my project is complete, I suspect I'll be much closer to that number than to 100 hours, especially when I factor in the time spent researching products, sourcing all the required components, and figuring out the best installation methods within the limited space available in our camper.

This type of upgrade is a significant undertaking...

It sure is! 🤣 And yes, it doesn't get any easier as we get older. For months, I got used to kneeling on a dinette back cushion (have new cushions now) to get my upper body into the basement openings. I was 69 then, and now at 71 if I had to do it again, it would be harder!

Looking back at the summer of 2024, I spent the whole time working Oliver upgrades. We don't travel much in the summer. I worked my main electrical upgrade Jul-Aug, just after (almost) finishing my duct work mod. I say 'almost' because I was still waiting on delivery of the return duct and filters. I've gotten used to patiently waiting on parts for one project while working another.

There's always something to do! At least that was the case for quite awhile! My first Oliver project was a new A/V system in July 2023. My last major project was our Chill Cube A/C upgrade Dec 2025. I worked 35 documented upgrades in these 2 1/2 years! 

First step was replacing LA batteries with lithium (lucky you starting with 640 Ah Lithionics)! Then removing a Xantrex 2K inverter with external ATS, and some crazy junction box containing a dozen residential wire nuts, OMG! Then rewiring everything to the under dinette seat area (no switches/fuses under the bed) and this ended with the Victron Multiplus II installed on a custom platform, all in working order.

Then I added the SC and wiring for a 400W Renogy suitcase (Aug-Sept). I added the Orion DC-DC charger the next spring as I collected all the necessary parts in the time between. We had 100 things to do and if one effort was on hold waiting parts, I started on the next task on the list! 😎

Edited Friday at 10:09 PM by jd1923

[Geronimo John]

On 10/11/2026 at 10:48 AM, BackofBeyond said:

As I type this post, my mind reminds me of the several issues we had on our prior unit, the many mods I made to improve some function or fix a design issue, tempered by the satisfaction enjoyed in many a remote outpost. It was true to me then - 7 years back, the Oliver was a great thing to have in the wilds of American backcountry travel, it was relatively trouble free, and the Oliver company never let me down when there was a problem. That continues to be true today. I can only look forward to that remaining the case and perhaps improving. I'll let you know next March......

Well stated.  

I believe that OTT tries at all times to "Do What's Right".   I wish many other firms would have their amazing integrity.

GJ