14.44.4 Our first van

achjimmy

achjimmy

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Jan 24, 2011
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I've got the AFK and are using it less and less. I have the wide Velcro jobs. The beauty of those is its seconds to have the awning down. With the AFK it's a pain at 2am when you decide the wind on the coast is too much even with the AFK and you start to disassemble it!
 
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Drover

Drover

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Nov 7, 2013
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Thats why I like those velcro jobs also @achjimmy , a recent storm that I thought might have hail, saw my awning and screens down and packed in a couple of minutes plus the 14's awning is only 11ft if that.
 
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davemc

davemc

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Oct 29, 2013
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Yes sometimes easier to bring in if not the full kit. On our 19' awning we have AFK, 3 rafters and middle rafter I sat through a storm at Tocomwal waiting for it to blow away, it was too late once the wind whipped up to bring it all in. Lucky for us the wind came in from the van side.
Ended up helping next door bring there one in took 4 off us as it really wanted to go.
 
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spiderpig

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Nov 7, 2015
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No worries will do. 2 velcro jobs per side? Was thinking of a couple of the $50 curved rafters to help in the rain to go with the velcro straps, couple of end screans and guy rope on each end of awning to the ground and see how that goes.
 
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Drover

Drover

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Do a couple of trips to see what you actually really need, that applies to everything, buy first and you may end up with a pile of $$$$ sitting in the shed gathering dust.
We only have a side and end screen, velcro AF no need for a centre rail at all, rains runs off freely but would really like a porch like @Axl has on his 14.
 
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spiderpig

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Nov 7, 2015
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Been a busy few weeks getting the van ready for our first trip away with a few mods. Not blazing any new ground here but thanks to this forum and the people who have been there done them all it made my life alot easier getting these things done now instead of finding or working it out later :)

Was going to go one fan initially but thought stuff it. The one on the left is the "electrolux" kit you can buy from van shops, comes with a thermo switch. Bit expensive, $70, but it pushes/pulls alot more air than the blue one on the right from jaycar as i found out later.
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Working out best spot to install thermo switch...

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Lockwired here for now to see how it goes, extra little ply panel fitted to help seal top of fridge off better from the heat,

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Should keep the mobile ratbag contained for now on the lower bunk, extra panel installed on top bunk (not in pic) to stop other one rolling out. She can move yet so will do for now,

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Standard Jayco bed fly, seems to fit pretty good actually, added a few extra snap fastners to stop it flapping,

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Loved this idea i found on this forum so copied it :)


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And this one, to store the TV,

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Anderson plug straight from car battery via a VSR under the bonnet, thanks @achjimmy , 6 B&S wire all the way to the fridge with a 30A auto reset CB. Hopefully will keep it cool on 12v while on the road,

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Gas detector...

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Heading off tomorrow, cheers everyone for your tips, merry xmas!!
 
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spiderpig

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Thought we were doing pretty well than old mate showed
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up yesterday next to us with this :)
Apparently he had been staying in a park up the road for a couple of weeks, got sick of getting his pillows wet in his jayco pop top camper trailer he had, stopped in at jayco coffs on way home to Tamworth and drove out with this. Decided to come into the park we were staying at for a night to give it a shakedown. He must have some good reserve cash in his bank account would hate to think how much the changeover was!
 
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Marv_mart

Marv_mart

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Jan 3, 2014
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spiderpig said:
No probs with tv stored that way for now, but weve only done one trip. Havent heard of anyone else hating problems?
Click to expand...
We have always put the tv back in its box with the foam ends and put it in the 'wardrobe' with the spare pillows for support. Works for us. Always v. reluctant to leave it on the bracket on bouncy roads.
 
Dobbie

Dobbie

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Jun 18, 2014
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Our TV, which was an unexpected bonus, came facedown and tucked in under the cushion on the seat. It has always travelled in that place since then. We just put our pillows around it.

It's been over some very rough terrain and never moved. So much so, that we often forget it's there.
 
Smirke

Smirke

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May 9, 2014
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Palmyra, WA
Dobbie said:
He may be poorer but at least he's got good taste.[/QUOTE
spiderpig said:
Thought we were doing pretty well than old mate showed View attachment 38020 up yesterday next to us with this :)
Apparently he had been staying in a park up the road for a couple of weeks, got sick of getting his pillows wet in his jayco pop top camper trailer he had, stopped in at jayco coffs on way home to Tamworth and drove out with this. Decided to come into the park we were staying at for a night to give it a shakedown. He must have some good reserve cash in his bank account would hate to think how much the changeover was!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Wonder if he's sick of having his door hit the kitchen window yet, or have they fixed that issue? (love my left hinged door!!! :D)
 
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