newbie from Perth

RobRoy

Active Member
Apr 20, 2017
108
135
43
Perth
Hi all,
We are looking at upgrading form a Hawk camper trailer. We had a swan before that.
After admiring all the "cool kids" in their expandas, we are going to join you.
Tossing up between the 16.49-4 and the 17.56-1, these are the bunk bed options without showers.
Any tips on options and accessories we should consider when ordering will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all
Rob
 

twscoot

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2013
990
1,691
93
Brisbane
Welcome @RobRoy
There's plenty of us here that have done the jump up from a hawk/eagle/dove/swan to the Expanda. You wont look back.
There's plenty of threads here about what to include - but how many in the van? What will you tow with? Touring or longer term camping in one spot?
Of course your could go straight to a StarCraft....!
 

RobRoy

Active Member
Apr 20, 2017
108
135
43
Perth
Hi twscoot
Just two adults and two kids 10 and 3.
The wife and I are both TAFE lecturers, so we school holiday at caravan parks a lot.
Really hoping to continue to use a 2015 diesel xtrail (I know, I know).
We just came back for Denmark (5hrs) with a fully loaded hawk and bikes on the roof and averaged 7.8 L/100
Its hard to give up great fuel economy. But needs must, I will see how it goes.
 

bigcol

Well-Known Member
Nov 22, 2012
6,814
10,164
113
Swan Valley Perth
as I am biased, I would suggest the 16'
but if your kids are male/female and you NEED the bunk beds, then go the 17'

either either will be over the limit for the Xtrail I think, but you know this already, and nothing will beat the economy of it

also think about the oldest (if boy) maybe wanting a swag in the awning................

ordering new...........
extended draw bar
as much solar as you can afford
hot water
TV antenna
under slinging the axle if going for Touring model

hope this helps
 
  • Like
Reactions: KECL and RobRoy

Lionel

New Member
Mar 27, 2017
4
6
3
61
Western Australia
Hi all,
We are looking at upgrading form a Hawk camper trailer. We had a swan before that.
After admiring all the "cool kids" in their expandas, we are going to join you.
Tossing up between the 16.49-4 and the 17.56-1, these are the bunk bed options without showers.
Any tips on options and accessories we should consider when ordering will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all
Rob
Hi Rob,
Just by chance have you had a look under for sale ---2014 17.56-2, Lionel??
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobRoy and bigcol

Chans027

New Member
Apr 22, 2017
8
10
3
41
Perth
Hi all,
We are looking at upgrading form a Hawk camper trailer. We had a swan before that.
After admiring all the "cool kids" in their expandas, we are going to join you.
Tossing up between the 16.49-4 and the 17.56-1, these are the bunk bed options without showers.
Any tips on options and accessories we should consider when ordering will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all
Rob

We have just ordered a 17.56-1, Have 3 kids (9,6,3) and its a nice upgrade from our camper trailer, Ordered on 9th April and Caravanland saying ?mid June delivery, Not too sure on exact time frames or how often they are built. We are looking forward to it.
 

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,723
19,450
113
QLD
Welcome and you are in good company over in Wait Awhile, some top Expanda owners over there to guide you.................Plenty of time to trawl around the site and collect some ideas..................stay in contact and don't forget the pics...
 
  • Like
Reactions: dagree

bigcol

Well-Known Member
Nov 22, 2012
6,814
10,164
113
Swan Valley Perth
welcome @Chans027 from another Wait Awhiler,
yes its usually a 4+ months wait, as they only produce 1 model at a time in runs
good idea to start to make yourself a checklist for Handover, for asking questions, writing answers etc

you will get absolutely over whelmed by the information you will get in that 2 hours.........
 

coneheadpaul

Member
Feb 3, 2017
32
35
18
60
perth
Oh yeah !...make them explain everything like you are two years old ...and dont be in a hurry to hand over money ....i picked fault like fxxk.
I even checked the van out as far as poss without anouncing who i was a few days before the scheduled meet.
I was a real prick...then on the handover day i hit them up with every niggle.i let them see the cash but didnt hand it over...thats the salesmens commission right there.......get your nostrils round that mate.
Dont try and use a credit card as they will hit you up with a credit card fee...think it was 2....2.5 percent.

Use cash and play hardball...dont be in hurry to drive the van away.
I also rang up jayco dealers round the factory area...their prices were like 4k cheaper than caravanland perth...i had a chat to the lovely casey...no longer there unfortunately. ..and instantly got 2k off...suited me didnt fancy driving across nullabor...but you get my point.

Make them earn that commission. ..youll be amazed what you can get thrown in.....yes i am a tight xrse pom.
Cheers though cp
 

Maximage

Member
Jan 6, 2017
68
73
18
46
Perth
I also rang up jayco dealers round the factory area...their prices were like 4k cheaper than caravanland perth...i had a chat to the lovely casey...no longer there unfortunately. ..and instantly got 2k off

I can confirm this pricing difference too, if you are up for a road trip. I initially got the price down to $60k locally for our 18.58-2 with the extras I was wanting, rang a few other dealers around the country, and ended up at $55k at Page Bros. Went back o Caravanland and said I can get it for this in Melb, what can you do. Salesman looked me square in the eye and said "not budging", despite them announcing over the loundspeaker at the March Caravan and Camping Show that you pay no more to buy locally any more. Utter bollocks you don't. I think he was trying to call my bluff but it didn't work.

A few years ago Jayco standardised the shipping fee that dealers pay, so Perth now pay the same price that Melbourne and Sydney etc all do, i.e., the cost price landed at the dealers kerb is identical Australia wide, no extra shipping charges for WA. So there is absolutely no excuse for this, it is pure greed due to the Perth dealer having a monopoly on this side of the Nullabor. I ended up adding a few extras that I know Perth would have charged at least 2k for, but Page Bros only hit me for 1k, so what would have cost me over $62k locally only set me back $56 plus $1300 in fuel to collect.

Collected it from Melbourne a couple of weeks ago on the sheer principle of it. :)
 

coneheadpaul

Member
Feb 3, 2017
32
35
18
60
perth
There you go ...play hard ball...as far as jayco are concerned.


....yeah not made up mind yet .....looking around ...thinking about yhis brand ....thinking about that ....not sure .

Blah blah ...work them ...dont make it easy.

They will do whatever ...to get a slice of your wedge...work those mike foxes.
Cheers cp
 

RobRoy

Active Member
Apr 20, 2017
108
135
43
Perth
We have just ordered a 17.56-1, Have 3 kids (9,6,3) and its a nice upgrade from our camper trailer, Ordered on 9th April and Caravanland saying ?mid June delivery, Not too sure on exact time frames or how often they are built. We are looking forward to it.
About to do the exact same thing, about 47k from memory
 

RobRoy

Active Member
Apr 20, 2017
108
135
43
Perth
Oh yeah !...make them explain everything like you are two years old ...and dont be in a hurry to hand over money ....i picked fault like fxxk.
I even checked the van out as far as poss without anouncing who i was a few days before the scheduled meet.
I was a real prick...then on the handover day i hit them up with every niggle.i let them see the cash but didnt hand it over...thats the salesmens commission right there.......get your nostrils round that mate.
Dont try and use a credit card as they will hit you up with a credit card fee...think it was 2....2.5 percent.

Use cash and play hardball...dont be in hurry to drive the van away.
I also rang up jayco dealers round the factory area...their prices were like 4k cheaper than caravanland perth...i had a chat to the lovely casey...no longer there unfortunately. ..and instantly got 2k off...suited me didnt fancy driving across nullabor...but you get my point.

Make them earn that commission. ..youll be amazed what you can get thrown in.....yes i am a tight xrse pom.
Cheers though cp
You might be a tight curse Pom, but my wife is Scottish and has read your post with interest
 

Chans027

New Member
Apr 22, 2017
8
10
3
41
Perth
welcome @Chans027 from another Wait Awhiler,
yes its usually a 4+ months wait, as they only produce 1 model at a time in runs
good idea to start to make yourself a checklist for Handover, for asking questions, writing answers etc

you will get absolutely over whelmed by the information you will get in that 2 hours.........


Thanks,we cant wait! I checked with caravanland yesterday and they said the van is still scheduled to be " off line" on 30th may so am guessing it will be a while after that because of shipping... hope they can send by truck rather than boat. Im spewing as on one of the fb groups a lady here in perth got a baby q thrown in as an extra with hers... apparently an upcoming promo but she got it thrown in early with her order. Wish we knew about it before signing on the bottom line.

Have started our list of things we need to start purchasing, thankfully most things from our camper trailer like cutlery and Kitchen crap we can use in the van but all the other extras like hoses, cover, mattress topper just to name a few we will start getting this week. first things first is our 2nd driveway to start. Pavers got delivered yesterday just waiting 2 weeks for our brickie to start so our panda will have a nice home to park on.

Will definatly keep you up to date on the progress. We have named our van " Jack" after a friend our ours who passed away a few weeks ago saving the life of another person, seemed fitting as it kinda made us realise you only live once and we need to make the most of things... and therefore taking the plunge to buy a van! Feels a bit strange calling a Caravan by name :p
 

Dobbie

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2014
3,061
5,872
113
Not strange at all to keep naming caravans....it makes it more personal.

We've had Kenny, Charlie, Alvin ....just to name a few.

I seem to remember someone here named theirs Escargot, which I really liked.

You're on track with prep, excitement, location adjustments, .........enjoy!
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigcol and Wanda

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,723
19,450
113
QLD
Very exciting........................we sit back and wait for the pics................:couch2:
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigcol

Laneway

Member
Jan 4, 2017
38
73
18
36
Leinster, WA
@Chans027 we did our handover on Saturday and it certainly is a get you in, get your van, get out type of thing at caravanland. We had Mel do our handover and she was great, so i hope you get her. When you do your handover, as said above, pick as much as you can and say your not happy with certain things and they will throw things in for you at the end....theyre allowed to do that. We got a free $80 step and didnt even ask

But make things on your terms and as far as im aware as said by the dealer, everything comes on the boats now and takes about 3 weeks from end of production until pickup.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigcol