23 73 6 O/B Base Station

[ShaneT]

I hope Im in the right forum (grew tired of the fighting on caravanersforum very quickly)
Put our money down on a new 23ft outback Basestation from Pagebros in Seaford.
It will be ready for pick up end of September and we will be picking in up mid October (just to give them a bit more time just incase).

The list of extras, please let me know if I have missed anything as Iv added to the list 3 times now that I have been reading this forum.

Alko ESC
3x 120w solar
Drifter Control
Washing machine
IBIS A/C
Waeco RPD 215 fridge
4BO oven
The new canvas bed end screen
External shower (Free)
2nd battery provision (will run 2x 100amp/h lithium)
2nd set of folding bunks in rear
3x extra windows in rear (one for each bunk)
Full height robe in rear
Anex light on other side
4 seasons hatchs
Jockey wheel inside A frame
3rd water tank
and a bigger kitchen window
delete microwave
delete hand pump
delete mechanics rack
delete battery


Will be staying around Seaford for just under a week while I install my diesel heater, lithium batterys, solar reg, inverter and chargers, while the mrs unloads the ute to pack the van and shoping for the fridge and pantry .
Does any one now any nice parks around this area? Doesnt have to be seaford but just dont want to stray to far away incase i need anything fixed and the fact i have to go to the port anyway.
Thanks alot for your time
Shane

 

[cruza driver]

Welcome to the firum @ShaneT.

There is a few work n plays and I'm not sure if you have seen @bigman0510 he has a well equipped Base Station.
It sounds like a great adventure when you head over this way to pick it up.

:tea:

 

[17triton]

Welcome to the forum @ShaneT I hope you enjoy it here it is a lot more friendly over here mate. I haven`t stayed around Seaford so I can`t help there sorry.

 

[davemc]

there are a lot of parks down the mornington peninsula. BIG4 Frankston not far away

 

[Colsar]

giday shane t, not a lot in seaford, I'm down the road 20 mins away, on the mornington peninsula, there a few down this way. if you find one near frankston fwy or the new peninsula link it will help with the travel. i keep an eye out and let u know if i see anything suitable, don't often look in my own backyard for spots to go.

 

[Moore Family]

Hi Shane
I am seriously looking forward to seeing the photos of your new basestation it sounds awesome.

I had a quick check for camp site in seaford on the wiki camps iPhone app. The best one for a van of your size is 12klm away in frankston.
http://www.big4frankston.com.au

Hope this helps you.

 

[DRW]

What an awsome beast you have there, love to see some pics when you get going and love to see what you intend to put in the back!! 100% correct about the other forum as well it really is a peeing contest between grumpy old people

 

[Colsar]

big4 frankston, most likely the go as mentioned, 10mins from pages bros, 5 mins from Bunnings and Adaconda & rays outdoors, if ur working on the van. easy to get to just 5 mins from the end of fwy.

 

[Smergen]

Congrats @ShaneT you've got my "dream" family van right there... Awesome stuff and I can't wait you get it and hopefully post some pics...

 

[Holden_man]

Welcome @ShaneT it's a great forum, very friendly folk. Sure you will enjoy it.
Sounds like a ripper bit of gear you have ordered, like the others will look forward to the pics, have you had lithiums in a van before or is this a first. Will be very interested in seeing the lithium setup, and your thoughts on it as you use it more.

HM

 

[ShaneT]

Thanks for the welcome cant wait tp pick it up. This 1.5month trip will be the shake down run then June next year I plan to take my long service half pay giving us 6 months to head up the north coast WA and the back down through the NT and then maybe...maybe head back down The Great Central Road (pending more research on both the van and the road).

Big thanks to Moore Family for tha caravan site, and Colin&Sue for pointing out that bunnings and rays is down the road, sounds like just what I need, cheers

So can any one see anything I may have missed? Any mods you have done wishing you had got them done at the factory?
I think I may add a 12v outlet in the back for each bunk, just to run a fan on hot nights? May be one to the left of the door above the w/machine cupboard?

 

[ShaneT]

Thanks Holden_man, I had a 250w panel and 100amp lithium in our swan.
This time I will have 360w solar and 200amp lithium. Never had any issues with the 100amp/h but with the 215l 12v fridge freezer I thought I better up it a bit.
I have a lithium solar reg, A 240v 80amp power supply that I will use as a high output (lithium love this) manual battery charger and a (upto) 800w dc dc dual lithium battery charger/balancer.
I think I have all bases covered?? but time will tell, I love to play with this type of stuff.
The misses thinks I more excited to mod the van then the holiday....I think Im equally excited about both .

 

[Holden_man]

Thanks Holden_man, I had a 250w panel and 100amp lithium in our swan.
This time I will have 360w solar and 200amp lithium. Never had any issues with the 100amp/h but with the 215l 12v fridge freezer I thought I better up it a bit.
I have a lithium solar reg, A 240v 80amp power supply that I will use as a high output (lithium love this) manual battery charger and a (upto) 800w dc dc dual lithium battery charger/balancer.
I think I have all bases covered?? but time will tell, I love to play with this type of stuff.
The misses thinks I more excited to mod the van then the holiday....I think Im equally excited about both .

Sound great, as for mods, would second your thoughts on the extra 12v outlets at the bunks, we didn't, and now wish we had.
Other than that, I reckon you've got nearly every option possible and then some.....

 

[bigman0510]

That's a WELL decked out girl!! That design is what we wanted when we ordered ours and they said it wasn't possible...grrrrr

Welcome and enjoy mate, she will be a heavy one..

 

[M Cressey]

Hi Shane, we have also ordered a 23.73 OB and I think that it is being built in the same run in September as yours, the differance is that we are in NZ so it will have to be shipped over here so we will have to wait a bit longer
We have also asked for a few extras:
Same as you, Third tank, Drifter Controller, extra battery and external shower (raised to be 1500mm off the ground) and the larger kitchen window.
I have also asked for the following:
- 500mm x 500mm hatches to be replaced with the 750 x 500 hatch in the front and rear
- Fusion Stero upgrade with the universal doc for our ipod
- wider table by 150mm as they are not the full width of the club lounge
- Additional 12v and 240v sockets in the rear of the van
- additional annex light on the main side of the van
- Club Lounge bed converter
- Stove upgrade to 4 burner full gas stove / oven not 3 gas 1 elec
- Fridge vents upgraded to vent from the roof so we can put on a full annex

Just check on the location of the gas heater 12v controller as i have seen that it is mounted in the hanging locker
looking forward to following your posts
When we get closer I will also put up a post

Mark

 

[ShaneT]

That's a WELL decked out girl!! That design is what we wanted when we ordered ours and they said it wasn't possible...grrrrr

Welcome and enjoy mate, she will be a heavy one..

Thanks bigman, what has changed design wise that you mised out on? I did want 4 tanks but they would only do 3 same with the solar but thats about it, oh I was trying to get the new ibis 3 fitted aswell but they wouldnt do that either.
I would of loved them to offer the same thing but in a 5th wheeler with the bed at the front.
Are you still happy with yours? any regrets?
I am worried about the size coming from a swan, what does your weigh?

I am kiting the BT out for the extra load
Adjustable shocks in the rear
PWR Intercooler
F150 tranny sump, holds a extra 3L and is finned for extra cooling
Just need to add a bigger tranny cooler now and all should be good
still thinking about a 3" exhaust but seeing as im after low down power I dont know.

 

[bigman0510]

Thanks bigman, what has changed design wise that you mised out on? I did want 4 tanks but they would only do 3 same with the solar but thats about it, oh I was trying to get the new ibis 3 fitted aswell but they wouldnt do that either.
I would of loved them to offer the same thing but in a 5th wheeler with the bed at the front.
Are you still happy with yours? any regrets?
I am worried about the size coming from a swan, what does your weigh?

I am kiting the BT out for the extra load
Adjustable shocks in the rear
PWR Intercooler
F150 tranny sump, holds a extra 3L and is finned for extra cooling
Just need to add a bigger tranny cooler now and all should be good
still thinking about a 3" exhaust but seeing as im after low down power I dont know.

Yours has the slide out club lounge and the fridge on the awning side, that's what we wanted and they said not possible. Also, if your not looking at carrying bikes etc all the time I would change the cargo door to swing into the cargo area instead of the living area. We are thinking of actually changing it again to a concertina door for ease of access to the cupboards. Our ATM is 3010, and it's 2 ft shorter than yours. We still love it, it's huge! And no matter where I look there is no van that has the room in the bunks (3+ bunks) for the kids to sit up in.

 

[M Cressey]

Hi Shane,
Totally agree with all of Bigmans comments, we currently have the same Basestation as Bigman and we have done a trade in for the new Club Lounge OB we actually put a 3.8 inflatable pontoon boat on its tralier in back and we have roof racks and carry 2 kayacks and 2 windsurfers / paddle boards on the roof. We spent 56 nights in the van last year and just love it it is out second home. hence the reason that we are so excited about the new 23.73OB that extra 3ft and the club lounge will make all of the difference.

Our tow vehicle is a Pajero LWB 3.2 DIDC Exceed, we have done no upgrades but i would look at getting a load lifter, we are getting one for the new van.
The most important bit of kit of your tow vehicle is the break controller, we have a Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller well worth the extra cost makes towing a breeze.
http://www.tekonsha.com/products/br...trollers/p3-/TzaIxkVx1cI5XOy!osRB55TR19SXShj4
Are you going to add a full annex, if you are you will need to get Jayco to move the fridge vents to the roof as the new code is not allowing full annex's with fridges venting into the annex

This is our current setup

Happy for you to drop me an email if you want anymore questions answered

Kiwi Mark

 

[ShaneT]

Hey Mark we may even pick up around the same time, we are giving them 2 weeks to make sure all is good before we fly over, although I have no idea how long it takes to get stuff to NZ.
I like your 1500mm shower, I will email them again.....4th time now I think While Im at it Im going to see if they can just delete the bottom fridge vent all together, its a compressor fridge and the condenser is at the top with its own fan so fingers crossed.
I love the light thoses huge vents let in but heard that hail breaks them, so I got scared and went the 4 seasons.
Im not sure what you mean by checking the heater controller? Iv never had hot water before.

Hmm bigman you have me worried now I wonder how much weight the slide out adds? Do you run a load hitch? If so what type and how many Kgs, sorry for the stupid questions but I have never towed a van this big.

I have done quite a few loads of hay (20min trip), about 4-5 tons behind a 99 model hilux she was flat out at 70km/h, and I didnt think It was to bad, besides the speed all I had was adjustable shocks in the rear and they made a massive difference when towing. Now I will have my wife and 2 kids (3y and 5m) with me so It all need to be 200% and dont really want to learn by trial and error with them in the car.
Thanks Shane

 

[bigman0510]

Yeah I wouldn't tow the big girl without a WDH, I have to check the brand and size, it's pretty heavy duty..