OBI Dweller Review and Discussion

[fireangel1313]

Hey guys. hoping to revive this thread a bit.

I don't have a Dweller, was close to buying but between a divorce and a difficult market to sell the old RV it took a while, well I'm finally back.

Here are my questions guys:

1) Guys that have owned the Dweller 15s for 2+ years now, would you guys consider them reasonably good products? I know that RV's are problematic in general but do you find that between build quality, low end parts & any difficulty in obtaining replacement parts, the D15 is below average?
2) Anyone have a highly modified D15 for sell within range of TX?

Thanks!

PS. The other trailer that really also meets my needs is the TrailManor and I feel pretty strongly that it's a bit better built, it's American made, and parts are available easily. It's offroad enough to drag down a beach which is mostly enough for me. It'll fit in my garage. The downside is that you can't enter it without expanding the entire thing. So to work on it or even to grab a bite it needs to be fully open. Also, it's not nearly as cool looking.

Those MT trailers are an interesting concept. I’m sure they are built well for what they are intended for, which probably isn’t much off roading actually. Sounds like if you’re mostly going to the beach I’d say it’s a good fit.
I throw them in the same category as I do the Hike and some other light weight trailers that are “off road” capable. The fact that it’s longer than the 15 and weighs half as much should be telling you something. My Dweller is built like a tank, and weighs it too, and I’m not worried about it if I scrap against a tree or hit a rock. I’ve also designed an air bag setup for it but haven’t been able to install it due to the winter weather. Seems to be a worthwhile
upgrade newer Aussie models have over the Dweller. Good luck with it all!


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[Xid_az]

well that explains a couple of 'mystery wires' ... thanks !

Keep in mind, that wiring diagram was reverse engineered from a D13. The D15's are very different from the 13's. From what I've come to understand, the D13's don't have a fuse panel, where the 15's do. Regardless, the Truma propane heater in both the D13 and D15 are 12V and run only off battery. Since I've had my 2022 D15, I've had it attached it shore power while camping 3-4 times. Every other outing is solely off-grid and has worked great.

 

[Xid_az]

Here are my questions guys:

1) Guys that have owned the Dweller 15s for 2+ years now, would you guys consider them reasonably good products? I know that RV's are problematic in general but do you find that between build quality, low end parts & any difficulty in obtaining replacement parts, the D15 is below average?

For the price we paid, ~30K in 2023, our 2022 D15 has been great. I have done some tweaking like many others have, such as the Monroe shocks upgrade, replacing the Chinese bombs they call tires, and upgrading to LiFePo4 batteries, along with some rewiring of the 12V wires around the batteries and the distribution block, and swapped the PWM solar controller for an MPPT controller. I love taking the Dweller out into the back country of Arizona and Utah. If you can pick one up for 30K or less and don't mind investing a little bit of time and money into these basic upgrades, I think you'll be happy.
Like many have mentioned, the outside stove is not the best and the outside sink is tiny, but we've been able to make due with it and will use a coleman stove on the inside if it's really chilly outside. We look forward to our trips with it every time we go out.

 

[landy66]

Keep in mind, that wiring diagram was reverse engineered from a D13. The D15's are very different from the 13's. From what I've come to understand, the D13's don't have a fuse panel, where the 15's do. Regardless, the Truma propane heater in both the D13 and D15 are 12V and run only off battery. Since I've had my 2022 D15, I've had it attached it shore power while camping 3-4 times. Every other outing is solely off-grid and has worked great.

yep it's pretty darn close (if not exact) to my D13 (I doubt the D15 is that much different .. ?) My last TODO item - put proper tires on it

 

[landy66]

Sorry you’re having trouble…I know how frustrating it can be. This past camping trip I wasn’t getting any flame on the kitchen burner or at the water heater/furnace. I tried everything, even switching out propane bottles. My wife said “maybe there is a switch somewhere”, to which I responded in a not so nice of a way.
Turns out…there is an on/off switch on the actual heater itself that I had accidentally turned off while working on something else under the bed.


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The two are related, but only the heater has an on/off switch... more likely your LPG regulator is failing... as did mine ... got a proper US made regulator and life is so much better now...