Starcraft 2 week until delivery of Starcraft 17.58-3 OB

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Robert

Member
Apr 15, 2015
14
35
13
Wollongong
Received a phone call from Jayco today and the new 17.58 -3 outback is in the Sydney yard (1 ½ months early). Arraigned to collect a week Friday (would have been sooner but we are off to the Gold Coast for a week tomorrow).

We use to camp with tents, then we went to the camper trailer and back to a tent ("quick" set up a blackwolf turbo tent,), but after a couple of very wet trips away with friends with caravans and poptops GLAMPING here we come :}

Got the Sydney show special – TV, stereo etc. and added:
an external shower with light above
roof air con (will be hardly used but allowed extra space by not having the wall unit)
bigger fridge
drifter control panel
eternal picnic table
extended draw bar
bike rack
3 extra 12v power point inside
swapped/upgraded the 120w solar panel for a 150w solar panel.​

Looking forward to the first trip away, see if we can still bush camp away from power. Will be interesting to see if the batteries we currently have and the one in the caravan will see use through a week or two away with the kids (7 & 10) having the call of the TV.
Also having a shower will chew through the water, need to get the kid & wife to limit the use - turn off whilest soaping up etc, dont like my chances!!

Anyone have any feedback on the power usage whilst away from mains power? I could run the waeco fridge(my new beer and soft drinks fridge thanks to the fridge in the van) and lights off the two batteries for most trips especially if we went on a day trip or two to top up a battery. We will probably have to look at getting a portable panel or two the keep the extra batteries charged.

CANT WAIT for the new camping trips away with the Jayco :)
 
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bigcol

bigcol

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Nov 22, 2012
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welcome to the forum,
we love to hear about your trips & planning of them
we LOVE pictures of your trips
and
we will help you spend your hard earned coin on modifications...........

B U T
there has been many many discussions about battery usage while free camping

(and what I know about the subject you could print in 4' letters on the back of a postage stamp)

someone with a lot more knowledge about it than me should be along shortly
 
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dagree

dagree

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Mar 3, 2012
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:welcome: to the forum @Robert and congrats on the early arrival....
We went from 20 odd years of tenting followed by searching for a camper trailer and drove out with a 16' Expanda tourer with soft bed lids (Missed the camper trailer stage!!!). Tried the 16'er for 3 years then upgraded to the current 17' Outback!

As for battery life/usage I'm reasonably new to it myself but have had a few weekends away with no issues (3 Adults and a 4yo). Just make sure the solar panel sees lots of sunshine. Only issue we have had was when Mrs Dagree left the inverter switched on after charging the laptops... A quick run of the gennie fixed that with enough charge to run lights overnight and a full charge done in the morning.

Quite a few experienced and knowledgeable people on here so there is no doubt you will get the answers you want!
 
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Steve1307

New Member
Jun 23, 2015
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Sydney
Rather than start a new thread with exactly the same title....... I might just jump on here and "double tow", if that's OK..

I am also picking up a 17.58-3 OB in 2 weeks and have similar questions, and some other ones.

Similarly I've been brought up with tents as a kid and still have a couple in the garage somewhere.

More recently, played around with a borrowed soft floor camper for a bit but decided its better to be a little bit of the ground when going anywhere where it might rain or where the ground is a bit lumpy.

Eventually we got hold of a Swan OB and that has served pretty well for a few years. Very spacious for its (folded) size and not too difficult to erect provided its not raining. I copped a soaking at Christmas trying to beat a thunderstorm when setting up. My wife's main complaint is the low height of all the bench/sink etc.

Upgraded the towing Vehicle late last year (see signature line) and the jokes started flying "You bought a ____! " and " You're gonna need a bigger Van ". Nope..... the Swan will do just nicely.

Anyway now, the situtaion ahs changed, as it happens we're also getting a family upgrade :preggers:with an extra member in a couple of months.:eek-53:., so now the Swan OB is going and we "need" (as the wife says) something with more space and a shower and bog.

We bought one from stock which had been made up for a show (apparently) so it had a few options we didn't really need.

17.58-3 OB
Roof air - (definitely like that)
Big fridge 164L
Drifter control panel
19.5" TV/DVD w/ aerial
Stereo w/ int & ext speakers
External shower
Bed converter
picnic table external fold down - big one
extra sunshade thingy with the awning
extra 12V sockets external for a Waeco fridge & lights
Extra internal 240V GPO near the big fridge - not sure how they're doing it (dealer electrician is fitting)

I'm pretty sure we've only got the 1 battery 100Ah? and the single Solar panel 120W?

The drawbar is a standard length so getting the bikes x 3 mounted could be a challenge as will fitting a WDH with the jockey wheel on the outside.


The Waeco 12V fridge we have really sucks the juice (its old and heavy - 10amp max on high) so I doubt we could use it when free camping for too long. Checking the photos from our last free camping adventure in the Swan (single battery) shows there is a big Esky sitting on the stand where the Waeco normally goes so it must have been left at home.
FAQ for fridges and batteries. http://www.portablefridgesonline.com.au/fridge-faqs/fridge-faq-battery-and-electrical-setup.html - might have to do some maths to work out the how long the waeco will go before the van has to be filled up with electricity again.

Towing question:
The brochure specs on the Starcraft 17.58-3 OB say the towball load is only 150kg (empty).
Sounds a bit light... is that right? The plate of my Swan is 149kg (empty).
The Jeep tows the Swan like there's nothing there at all and there's no need for a WDH.

If the Towball load is very similar with the Swan vs Starcraft then I probably wont have any issue with towing level but will still get a WDH for towing stability as the ATM of the van will be just more than the Jeep's minimum recommendation.
Seems a lot of Starcraft owners here use WDH with Playdoh , Pajero etc

I can see in the photos the Jockey wheel located on the outside is going to be a PITA with a WDH so is there any easy way to get it mounted on the inside of the drawbar without welding? The Van is already made so I cant order one fitted in the build.
(Is there a U-bolt mounted plate for 150(?)x50 drawbar available, not a swivel one, searched last night and couldn't find one)

Rearview cameras. The rear of Expandas seem to have a molded casing with space behind to run wiring before the rear panel wall, but with the Starcraft, is it just a single ("solid") panel with multiple layers? So if I drill the hole in the panel for a camera, does it just go straight into the inside of the van?
Anyone with a Starcraft pop-top have a rear view camera mounted?
There seems to be a few threads on doing it in an Expanda but none on Starcraft style construction.

Looking forward to some adventures with the new van. (and a new small human :baby:)
 
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B

Bluey

Well-Known Member
Mar 31, 2014
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Australia
Robert said:
Received a phone call from Jayco today and the new 17.58 -3 outback is in the Sydney yard (1 ½ months early). Arraigned to collect a week Friday (would have been sooner but we are off to the Gold Coast for a week tomorrow).

We use to camp with tents, then we went to the camper trailer and back to a tent ("quick" set up a blackwolf turbo tent,), but after a couple of very wet trips away with friends with caravans and poptops GLAMPING here we come :}

Got the Sydney show special – TV, stereo etc. and added:
an external shower with light above
roof air con (will be hardly used but allowed extra space by not having the wall unit)
bigger fridge
drifter control panel
eternal picnic table
extended draw bar
bike rack
3 extra 12v power point inside
swapped/upgraded the 120w solar panel for a 150w solar panel.​

Looking forward to the first trip away, see if we can still bush camp away from power. Will be interesting to see if the batteries we currently have and the one in the caravan will see use through a week or two away with the kids (7 & 10) having the call of the TV.
Also having a shower will chew through the water, need to get the kid & wife to limit the use - turn off whilest soaping up etc, dont like my chances!!

Anyone have any feedback on the power usage whilst away from mains power? I could run the waeco fridge(my new beer and soft drinks fridge thanks to the fridge in the van) and lights off the two batteries for most trips especially if we went on a day trip or two to top up a battery. We will probably have to look at getting a portable panel or two the keep the extra batteries charged.

CANT WAIT for the new camping trips away with the Jayco :)
Click to expand...
Welcome what you doing christmas mite want to book as parks filling fast if not full already we are off to murramerang resort then lake tabourie then culburra beach still spots there I think but not many all around ulladulla
 
davemc

davemc

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Oct 29, 2013
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www.expandasdownunder.com
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Steve1307

New Member
Jun 23, 2015
8
18
3
Sydney
davemc said:
congrats @Steve1307
I put my camera on the rear bar as was the easiest thing and I did not want to cut into the van. Can't find a picture :(

@achjimmy has a great thread on all he has done he put his on the back on the van. Jimmy is the 17.58 Mod King :)
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/starcraft-17-58-3-mk11.5928/page-10


There is also a big thread on 17.58's going so feel free to post there
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/starcraft-17-58-3-options-quirks-post-them-here.5166/
Click to expand...

Thanks @davemc Jim's thread is exactly what I was looking for...... but just as I feared it doesn't look easy :grey:.

I've read thru most of the "options and quirks" thread.

When I pick up the van, I'll put up a pic of the extra 240V GPO next to the "big fridge" if they manage to do a decent job of it.
In that thread it mentions Jayco can't put a GPO in that position. (I think you're in that discussion, come to think of it)
 
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achjimmy

achjimmy

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Jan 24, 2011
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Welcome @Steve1307 great choice of van. The rear view camera wasn't too bad and if you can source an attractive bit of conduit (they have some really good ones for hiding TV cables nowadays) it would be pretty easy. 1/2 day if your handy? It's certainly a great mod.
 
R

Robert

Member
Apr 15, 2015
14
35
13
Wollongong
jayco rear.jpg
jayco collect.jpg


Collected the van from Sydney on Friday afternoon (really good service) really happy with it, had forgotten just how big it is compared to our box trailer. Stopped in at the sister-in-law’s on the way back in the “shire” to show it off (they have ordered a smaller starcraft at the same time – they are still waiting). We decide to make our first trip away in their front yard on Saturday afternoon and the 4 kids (2 or ours and 2 of theirs) could try out the van as well. Turned up late Saturday afternoon and set up really quick and easy, went to the local for an evening meal and Sydney decided to put on a storm. Once back at their house the kids decided to sleep in side due to the rain and thumder (possible the cold as well), so after a few more drinks the wife and I braved the weather conditions, needless to say the van was perfect. No leaks, heater kept the van warm, comfortable bed, plenty of room/storage, all in all we love the van.

Cannot wait to start planning the weekend away, first few will have to be 1 nighters as the kid have sport Saturday mornings, the first big trip will be Adelaide in the next school holidays.

Glamping all the way :)

First night.jpg
 
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Robert

Member
Apr 15, 2015
14
35
13
Wollongong
trip to Adelaide last school holidays way great. Able to take the time getting there stopped at some great places (and free camped) and caught up with friends. The van was a dream, easy to tow, held all our stuff with plenty of room to spare, and best of all super quick to set up/pack away. The way back way 2 x 7hrs days on the road with 2 kids in the back so they could get back to school, not ideal but they were good for most of the time ;)
 
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Melinda

Melinda

Member
Nov 8, 2015
23
29
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Brisbane
Hi everyone, we've just joined your forum and yes, we own a 17.58.3...we've been living in our van in Bne since April and we're about to take off on our shake-down cruise to Goulburn in NSW for a couple of months over the summer...me, two, kids, two dogs and a cat (don't ask:))...my question is about self sufficiency and batteries. We've had now power this weekend because of the storms and have been happily using gas and batteries...but not sure how long we could keep this up. Back on mains power now but I'm hoping to bush camp down south. We have the outback model with one solar panel...btw my kids are teenagers and they've been running their dvds thru their computers rather than the tv/dvd combo...also glad to know from your forum comments that we made a great choice with our van...next step will be to upload a pic
 
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