16.49.3 OB from a Swan OB

[Wes]

Hello All

Have finally upgraded from 2012 Swan OB to 2009 16.49.3OB Expanda. Looking forward to the extra storage, quicker setup time and inbuilt loo for my girls.

Was originally looking for a 18.57 with bunks however they're just too physically big to get to some of the spots we have been to and hope to return to again. Plus this will be so much easier to tow and store, and in reality its big enough for us anyway.....

At the moment, its fairly standard and is a 1 owner (older crew than us and really nice people to boot) with a few extras like outdoor shower and inbuilt safe. List of mods at this stage:
1. undersling axle and might refresh springs and shocks too because i'm going to add some weight as below
2. front mounted generator slide out, bbq and general storage box. Thinking of making this myself as its going to be custom. Will involve moving the gas bottles slightly and
3. relocate spare to under body of van to allow for front box
4. swing away rear bike rack and jerry can holders.
5. get some privacy screens for awning

Any hints and tips with these mods will be gratefully received. I have researched on this site and these mods seem reasonably common except not many people seem to have upgraded their factory springs. If anyone could point out any threads I've missed on this would be great!

Our tow tug and family getaway/explorer is a lightly modified 200 series petrol - when I towed the panda 100 kms home it actually seemed easier to tow than the Swan...very stable cornering and under brakes and just in general really. Anyone know the rough costs to convert brakes and hubs from 6 stud to 5 stud to suit?

First job is to get the Swan emptied and cleaned and then present it for sale. Will be sad as many memories go with this van but gotta keep moving....anyone know anyone looking for a 2012 Swan OB with annexe and factory air-conditioning, keep your eyes on the classified section soon!

Then let the fun begin!

 

[Dobbie]

Well done...another 16'.

You'll enjoy it after the Swan...we did the same.

 

[Bushman]

Well done with the upgrade, it's a natural progression, we went Eagle, Swan with extra goodies then the Expanda now The Beast, that too will limit us to some places, however it was for a purpose.

Oh and welcome to the Forum.

 

[chartrock]

Welcome @Wes. Check with @Drover as I think he has done a spring change over.

 

[mfexpanda]

Hello All

Have finally upgraded from 2012 Swan OB to 2009 16.49.3OB Expanda. Looking forward to the extra storage, quicker setup time and inbuilt loo for my girls.

Was originally looking for a 18.57 with bunks however they're just too physically big to get to some of the spots we have been to and hope to return to again. Plus this will be so much easier to tow and store, and in reality its big enough for us anyway.....

At the moment, its fairly standard and is a 1 owner (older crew than us and really nice people to boot) with a few extras like outdoor shower and inbuilt safe. List of mods at this stage:
1. undersling axle and might refresh springs and shocks too because i'm going to add some weight as below
2. front mounted generator slide out, bbq and general storage box. Thinking of making this myself as its going to be custom. Will involve moving the gas bottles slightly and
3. relocate spare to under body of van to allow for front box
4. swing away rear bike rack and jerry can holders.
5. get some privacy screens for awning

Any hints and tips with these mods will be gratefully received. I have researched on this site and these mods seem reasonably common except not many people seem to have upgraded their factory springs. If anyone could point out any threads I've missed on this would be great!

Our tow tug and family getaway/explorer is a lightly modified 200 series petrol - when I towed the panda 100 kms home it actually seemed easier to tow than the Swan...very stable cornering and under brakes and just in general really. Anyone know the rough costs to convert brakes and hubs from 6 stud to 5 stud to suit?

First job is to get the Swan emptied and cleaned and then present it for sale. Will be sad as many memories go with this van but gotta keep moving....anyone know anyone looking for a 2012 Swan OB with annexe and factory air-conditioning, keep your eyes on the classified section soon!

Then let the fun begin!

Congrats ! We went from a swan to a expanda OB as well .
We had the springs underslung on our 2011 which brought it to what should have been factory standard .

 

[crackacoldie]

Welcome and congrats on the best model expanda!

 

[Drover]

Oh yeah the fun begins for sure, changing from 6 to 5 stud to match the tug I presume means forking out for the drums, hubs and rims you can check here for prices https://www.couplemate.com.au/ but I've never seen a real need for it, far easier just carry an extra spare than all the expense of having your van tyres match the tug, also the offsets on the rim for van may not match what the tug needs so do the homework first, stud pattern is just part of it.
As for changing springs just depends on what the ones on it are like, adding greased shackles is always a must though and axles under the springs is common and a few write ups on here about it but measure your tow ball height first, add about 80mm to 100mm to see where you new height should be. It can open a can of worms on getting things level again. Won't go into the regulation height though.

 

[crackacoldie]

You will probably find the offset will prohibit the ability to have interchangeable brims between tug and van

 

[Wes]

Thanks everyone for the welcome and comments.

I hadn't considered offset.... I ran the 17" Patrol alloys on the Swan from new and found that the extra rubber helped with the 'pneumatic' effect on rough roads at 22psi. That was probably the main driver behind the change and the fact that they matched the tow tug ( at the time) was a bonus. The cruiser alloys are a +60 offset, the patrol alloys are a +10 ( I think), so that 50mm difference will definetley prevent fitment. So that's the end of that then..... might still be able to use the patrol alloys I have to help with height and to give the bigger rubber again.

The van needs to come up about 140-150mm to match the 200. So I was hoping that underslung axle would give me about 80 mm, fresh springs another 20mm and then the 17" tyres another 40mm = 140mm. The Patrol alloys looked great on the Swan too

 

[Dobbie]

Are you missing the winder and the tug out beds yet?

Even though the expanda takes more time to set up than a full conventional caravan, we still smile when we see a Swan or similar pull in.

Best upgrade we did and appreciate the effort saved.

A 12min setup is now our record....and that's with it ready for drinks and food.

Don't know if this helps but we to with a Patrol, no WDH and the whole unit is super level. All wheels are standard.

 

[Wes]

Thanks Dobbbie - looks good. Your Patrol is standard height though - my 200 is raised and so was my Patrol before this. BTW - you should slap a set of patrol alloys on that van to match it all up!
Is yours independent or live axle suspension? If live axle, could you please tell me how much travel you have to the bumpstop? I only have about 40mm, so I suspect my springs have sagged a fair bit...
My Swan sits/sat nice and level behind both its tow tugs, but the 16.49 is nowhere near it.

 

[Dobbie]

Sorry, thought you still had the patrol....must read things slower.


I think it's independent but would have to check specs. As per original factory standard for Y 61 (?).

We try to keep things as simple as possible but don't always succeed.

The van has now done over 18,000km with the Patrol as setup and it feels right when towing....and van is not yet 12 months old.

Long may it continue.

 

[Dobbie]

Just remembered that Jayco changed our hitch a bit when we collected van...turned it upside down so it was all level. You've probably done all that but thought it was worth mentioning.

 

[Drover]

If you grab your tug spare, set a flat edge across the inside rim/bead and measure to flange/hub if it's under 80mm you may be able to have a van set up, but in the end matching tug to van is not worth it really, an expensive exercise when learning how to fix a tyre is actually easier.