2009 12.37 build up

[rags]

Dingo, the van looks good in action. I keep looking at your van mods and think must get onto some work on ours , mainly a new 2way fridge and some solar panels. I must try and catch up with you when we are next up the coast.
With regards the tank capacity, I understand it to be 90 litres however you will never use that capacity as the tank draw of is approx 25 mm up from the bottom of the tank and the moment that the tank draw off breaks suction due that draw off point being exposed to air it is game over with maybe another 10 litres left.The only way to draw off that last few litres would be to tip the van on its side!

 

[Dingo193]

Hi..Rags thnx...we are really loving it compared to the Dove.The solar is working really well. 5amp in cloud and 16amp in sunlight.The panel is a top of the range LG got it from Nambour. My mech. Boys are trying to get rid of them..
My battery is fully charged by 10am..
Im rinning a 55l 12v evakool plus lights ..phone charging and Sirocco fan.The fan was the best addition .I think we used it every single day.
If you are thinking of a 12v fridge..Evakool make ones to fit..can get seconds from factory at substantial discounts.Good to catch up.

 

[Dingo193]

I thought Id put a pic of when I just picked up the Expanda and looked at the birds nest on the underside...you forget how much time you invest in them...but super happy with the result. Here is when I got it home

 

[Dingo193]

Water in front boot issue. Have been in some torrential rain stprms ..on the road and camping.. anyway i thought it was the pinch seal leaking..in Cairns it happened again .and my lighting strip up sbove boot was wet.. so definately not the pinch seal. I sealed the light up on the front top cnr. And put some over the cover strip above noot where top mould section meets the boot...stopped the leak.It turned out water was behing plastic strip that is only held on with too strips of tape and a little sealant.The white stuff they use to seal had craked where they fill between the two panels. It took about 1hr. to clean all sealant out and refill. Strip went back on remarkably well..no more leaks.So moral is when you buy a used one redo all sealant.
So no real issue just a bit of time lost..

 

[chartrock]

My 14' went back to repairer twice under warranty before they found that problem. Strip just had a couple of bits of silastic along the strip. It was removed and fully sealed which ended the problem.

 

[Brenton]

Looking good Dingo, I just added a Truma gas hot water system in mine and spent the weekend at double Island, it worked great!

 

[Dingo193]

Hi Brenton Did you stay at freshwater.? Where did you fit it.
Should put up some pics..we bought an instantaneous hotwater system but havent used it. We are using shower bags. Still in caravan park in Cairns. House hasnt gone unconditional as yet.

 

[Brenton]

Hi Brenton Did you stay at freshwater.? Where did you fit it.
Should put up some pics..we bought an instantaneous hotwater system but havent used it. We are using shower bags. Still in caravan park in Cairns. House hasnt gone unconditional as yet.

Hey mate no camped on the beach but near freshwater. Basically follow the beach as far as you can when the no more camping sign comes up and I camped pretty close to that. That way its a 5 min drive to freshwater to refill water and empty the port a loo. Great spot up there I love it. Expanda went great on the sand. What sort of hot water system did you get? I had one like that in my camper and it worked well. The Truma was surprisingly easy to install, there is some pics in my build thread if you are interested.

 

[Dingo193]

Sounds great went there with my old Dove in Freshwater and around on the beach front. Bought a Joolca on Special...delivered with $50 off from down south.
Van is going good, been in torrential rain for the last two days again...definitely doesn't leak now...so very happy.

 

[Brenton]

Sounds great went there with my old Dove in Freshwater and around on the beach front. Bought a Joolca on Special...delivered with $50 off from down south.
Van is going good, been in torrential rain for the last two days again...definitely doesn't leak now...so very happy.

Yeah nice, I live in Brissy so much quicker to go over the barge at Noosa north shore and drive down the beach instead of via freshwater. Thats good no leaks mine doesn't leak either.

I would recommend running hot and cold lines for the heater, the John guest fittings are the go. I ran one line in my camper and adjusted temp for hot and warm water, if I had my time again I would run separates, way better.

 

[Drover]

It would be a game person who would drag a van on along the Freshwater Track be scary enough coming in from the beach I reckon, I've dragged a trailer in but I think a van would be in a sorry state at the end.

Thats a good leak test @Dingo193 , get a wind test if you were up here now.

 

[Brenton]

Low tide you could pull a 20 foot van up there with a commodore I reckon. Saw a couple of big expands's up there with the slide outs the brand new model they must have been at least 20 foot. Great looking vans

 

[Drover]

Lot easier and safer coming up the beach from Teewah, have seen some chancing it from Rainbow as well.

 

[turbopsi]

@Dingo193 can you share some info on how you raised your van and did you do anything about the hitch height? Thx

 

[Dingo193]

Hi went to a trailer place. We put eye to eye alko 1600kg springs on . The axle was put underneath. But not rotated all the way due to having a 2400mm height restriction into garage and also new legs. We also put original 15inch jayco rims with 235x 70 x15 tyres as per jayco offroad series. Ive put an alko offroad hitch which matched my original 45mm lift. The new Prado needs a lift. Im happy with the result. Any more question ask.

 

[turbopsi]

Thanks Dingo, would love to see pics if you've got any handy. Cheers

 

[Dingo193]

Let me know what pics you want to see.

 

[turbopsi]

Let me know what pics you want to see.

Pretty much just the springs and axle. Any reason for the spring upgrade? I've got the 16 footer expanda and was under the impression that underslinging the axle was all I needed?

 

[Drover]

The 12 and 14ft tour models had slipper springs so swapping for eye to eye springs makes them ride heaps better and also gives a bit more lift so putting the axle under is not always needed ...................

 

[Dingo193]

Always spot on Drover . @turbopsi turbopscheck out @Moto Mech motoposts .He put some great build posts on his freedom .So I chated with him . Cost to do my springs was $1100 including cold galv axle,new bearings and seals,plus new brake backing plates.I can lift mine another 45mm but didnt need to. The main thing is to find a place that does it.The rims and tyres lift ot anout 30mm so spare will not fit in frame.If you have an annex the cost to modify to new height was about $700.So i sold mine on expandasdownunder and went to Aussie traveller. Satisfied with cost..got a new 4ply awning as well.