Hi Expanda down under members we have just purchased our first van and its an expand pop top 17.56-2 Outback 2014 model with JTec suspension.
We live in Sydney and purchased the van from Queensland and have not even transferred the rego yet as just got home. The chap I purchased it off was nice but was very crook on the day of purchase and was in no shape to run me through all the aspects of the van that I wanted to learn more about. So I headed home learning how my new Redarc brake controller worked never having towed before but arrived home safely.
I am not all that electrical minded but happy to learn and would appreciate some advice from others on the following:
a. when i plug the van into the car should the van aux battery under the dinette be getting charged and how can i check it is?
b. when I plug the van into 240v at home/van park etc should that charge the aux battery in the van under the dinette seat? and if so how can i check it is?
c. When i plug the van into 240v at home van park etc should that charge the break safe battery in the van also under the dinette seat? and again if so how can i check it is?
d. I noticed the break safe unit has a small lead out of it and looked it up to see it is for a 240v charger. I've ordered one off the net for $50 or so as the previous owner when i called him can not recall ever seeing it. is this the only way to charge the brake safe battery or is question b above relevant here. I also got the wireless in car unit with the van which appears to have paired ok as it gave off a low battery alarm even after i had driven home 12 hours with the van the day before and set off the light and a buzzer when i puled the breakaway unit out of the van.
e. The van has a solar panel on the roof and i presume connected to the aux battery in the van how can i check this is working i.e sending charge to the aux battery.
f. I have checked the hot water system works as i flicked on the heater switch and waited a while and we had hot water in the kitchen and shower. I believe if we started the heater with no water in it it could cook/damage the heater unit. How does one check the heater unit itself has water actually in it before turning on?
g. Whats a good cover to get for the van so i can get in van when stored. I called jayco and they have a cover that has 3 year warranty can't recall the price. do they facilitate the power lead plugged into the side.
h. whats a good way to cover the drawbar and gas bottles at home. is it a tarp or is there something better? I called jayco and they have a cover that has 3 year warranty can't recall the price.
i. when van stored at home should I just plug the 240v into it and forget it or should i be placing in some form of trickle charger as i presume solar will be useless as it will be under the cover.
j. where is the best place to buy the black privacy screens for the awning i'm thinking the long side and one for either the front or rear. The van came with an annex but it looks like a hassle to set up just to slow down the breeze, slow down a bit of rain and get some privacy. how do they fix to the awning?
k. I live in sydney and would like to carry say 2 x bags of firewood occasionally on the van and find a good external storage place for the hoses. What are peoples thoughts on a tool box on the rear that could carry such items, has anyone done this and know of some one sydney (north west Blacktown etc) who could do this work. I don't think this van has an extended drawbar not sure to be honest and at the moment the idea of a box on the front and moving the spare and the gas bottles appears to me would cost more than the box or a gal custom shelf on the rear for wood and hoses. Interested in peoples thoughts.
l. is there a good mesh stone guard that can go on the front occasionally that has rubber flaps that protect under a little as i have seen on outback vans.
j. what are the items on or under the van that can get damaged easily from stones from my vehicle's tyres and the vans tyres that i should consider protecting and how do people protect such items.
k. how do people carry a long plastic table and half a dozen good camp chairs in their 17.56 or similar van when travelling?
L. What are the key spares I should get i.e are there fuses i should carry.
M. I tried the Jayco jack at home and it looks almost fully extended using the jacking points on the van. do people carry a jacking plate to assist with height/spread load to change a tyre if ground a little soft.
Sorry its a long list i just want to look after it as best as possible and at least pretend to look like i know a little about my van when i front up to my first van park somewhere soon.
Thankyou in advance so much for any responses to my request for assistance/information.
Regards
Jeff
We live in Sydney and purchased the van from Queensland and have not even transferred the rego yet as just got home. The chap I purchased it off was nice but was very crook on the day of purchase and was in no shape to run me through all the aspects of the van that I wanted to learn more about. So I headed home learning how my new Redarc brake controller worked never having towed before but arrived home safely.
I am not all that electrical minded but happy to learn and would appreciate some advice from others on the following:
a. when i plug the van into the car should the van aux battery under the dinette be getting charged and how can i check it is?
b. when I plug the van into 240v at home/van park etc should that charge the aux battery in the van under the dinette seat? and if so how can i check it is?
c. When i plug the van into 240v at home van park etc should that charge the break safe battery in the van also under the dinette seat? and again if so how can i check it is?
d. I noticed the break safe unit has a small lead out of it and looked it up to see it is for a 240v charger. I've ordered one off the net for $50 or so as the previous owner when i called him can not recall ever seeing it. is this the only way to charge the brake safe battery or is question b above relevant here. I also got the wireless in car unit with the van which appears to have paired ok as it gave off a low battery alarm even after i had driven home 12 hours with the van the day before and set off the light and a buzzer when i puled the breakaway unit out of the van.
e. The van has a solar panel on the roof and i presume connected to the aux battery in the van how can i check this is working i.e sending charge to the aux battery.
f. I have checked the hot water system works as i flicked on the heater switch and waited a while and we had hot water in the kitchen and shower. I believe if we started the heater with no water in it it could cook/damage the heater unit. How does one check the heater unit itself has water actually in it before turning on?
g. Whats a good cover to get for the van so i can get in van when stored. I called jayco and they have a cover that has 3 year warranty can't recall the price. do they facilitate the power lead plugged into the side.
h. whats a good way to cover the drawbar and gas bottles at home. is it a tarp or is there something better? I called jayco and they have a cover that has 3 year warranty can't recall the price.
i. when van stored at home should I just plug the 240v into it and forget it or should i be placing in some form of trickle charger as i presume solar will be useless as it will be under the cover.
j. where is the best place to buy the black privacy screens for the awning i'm thinking the long side and one for either the front or rear. The van came with an annex but it looks like a hassle to set up just to slow down the breeze, slow down a bit of rain and get some privacy. how do they fix to the awning?
k. I live in sydney and would like to carry say 2 x bags of firewood occasionally on the van and find a good external storage place for the hoses. What are peoples thoughts on a tool box on the rear that could carry such items, has anyone done this and know of some one sydney (north west Blacktown etc) who could do this work. I don't think this van has an extended drawbar not sure to be honest and at the moment the idea of a box on the front and moving the spare and the gas bottles appears to me would cost more than the box or a gal custom shelf on the rear for wood and hoses. Interested in peoples thoughts.
l. is there a good mesh stone guard that can go on the front occasionally that has rubber flaps that protect under a little as i have seen on outback vans.
j. what are the items on or under the van that can get damaged easily from stones from my vehicle's tyres and the vans tyres that i should consider protecting and how do people protect such items.
k. how do people carry a long plastic table and half a dozen good camp chairs in their 17.56 or similar van when travelling?
L. What are the key spares I should get i.e are there fuses i should carry.
M. I tried the Jayco jack at home and it looks almost fully extended using the jacking points on the van. do people carry a jacking plate to assist with height/spread load to change a tyre if ground a little soft.
Sorry its a long list i just want to look after it as best as possible and at least pretend to look like i know a little about my van when i front up to my first van park somewhere soon.
Thankyou in advance so much for any responses to my request for assistance/information.
Regards
Jeff
