Alistair & Sandra's First Ever Van - 17.56-2 OB (2013)

[Ren77]

Sandra we did the exact same thing, only when Matt unhooked again after putting it up on the chocks, realised he hadn't put the vans handbrake on so it rolled straight back off them. Hence he had to rehitch again lol! It is all a learning curve isn't it?

 

[Flossymk1]

Lol @Ren77 yes it certainly is!

We're home now from our shakedown trip - and were unfortunate/fortunate? enough to cop a bit of rain yesterday... It was fortunate because we discovered that our awning is leaking in several places! It was dripping all along the seam at the top of the awning (van roof end), and also all along the other end.. It was a pain because all my kitchen stuff that was up against the van wall on a table got wet Has anyone else ever had this happen??? I'm quite peeved about it actually..

And my question as to whether I would need waterproof bed ends has been answered - both beds got wet!

Apart from the rain dramas everything else went quite well! I'm very glad we got a quick trip in before our main weekend away next weekend - I am just really hoping it doesn't rain again because I don't think the awning dramas will be an instant fix

 

[achjimmy]

They generally run a seam of sealant along the top edge of the awning as well as the sail track

Have your bed ends been weathered yet? They really need to be soaked and dried a couple if times to tighten up.

 

[Flossymk1]

They generally run a seam of sealant along the top edge of the awning as well as the sail track

Have your bed ends been weathered yet? They really need to be soaked and dried a couple if times to tighten up.

Thanks for the reply - good to know the drips may be easily fixed with sealant. Re the bed ends, we purchased a 2013 floorstock model so I presume it's been rained on quite a few times (it went through an NQ wet season). However I don't know whether they rush out and fold up all the beds every time it rains though..?

 

[Ren77]

Oh no! We have found quite a few things too. They tell you that they go over the van with a fine tooth comb and check everything but we have certainly learned that this is not the case. Will update our issues on our thread so as not to hijack your post!

 

[Flossymk1]

All in all was a good first trip - definitely looking forward to next weekend - additional things on the shopping list this week are:-

* Sunbuster end shade wall (more for a bit of rain protection than sun)
* Cover for Weber
* Weber cooking light?
* New outdoor table (old one with its wobbly legs is just not going to cut it on future trips lol)

Other than that we were fairly well-prepared surprisingly - I think it's definitely thanks to all the info and advice I've got from this forum, so thank you everyone!

I will also put some kind of battery operated light on the wall in the shower (above the sink so away from the actual shower), so the kids can actually reach the light to turn on at night - I was extremely happy with the fridge sensor light so I will probably do something similar

I should also update on how my pizzas went in the Weber - the first one I made went on the pizza stone - which was almost a disaster! I managed to get the pizza on to the stone using baking paper as people suggested, however when I tried to remove the baking paper it didn't want to come out and I nearly lost half the pizza in the process! Also for some reason the BBQ just wouldn't heat up - I couldn't get the temp over much more than 130-150c... So eventually it cooked, however the base was still a bit doughy...

2nd pizza went in on a normal pizza tray on top of the trivet (turfed the pizza stone out of the bbq), and it came out perfect! It was so yummy we munched it all then I realised I should have taken a photo first lol

So I don't know why I stressed about having a pizza stone - wont be bothering in the future, as just a normal pizza tray worked a treat and is also much easier to store!

 

[Ren77]

I want to find one of those fridge lights you have. Do you remember what it was called and whereabouts it is in Bunnings?

We had trouble with our weber heating up properly at first too until we realised that the size of the alfoil I had put in covered most of the plate which therefore inhibited the heat from rising up. Once we trimmed that back to the same size of the trivet, it was amazing how much quicker it heated. We are virgin weber owners so again, we are learning lol

 

[Flossymk1]

I will get back to you re what the light is called - but if you are going to bunnings they have a smallish section in the lighting dept with a whole bunch of small sensor lights/night lights (at domain central it was on the end of lighting aisle).

It worked so well I'm going to get a couple more for one of the cupboards we are using as our clothes cupboard (the cupboard under where our tv sits), as it's a bit dark in there when you are fishing around for bits and pieces lol

Re the weber I think our piece of alfoil might have been a bit big too - are you supposed to cut slits in it? I didn't, but I wondered afterwards whether I should have..

And lol yes we are totally weber noobs! But it's awesome though - I can see why people love them!

I cooked bacon and eggs on the breakfast plate this morning and that worked out well - bit painful to clean though, so I might look at one of those BBQ mats that a lot of people say they use.

 

[dagree]

Re the weber I think our piece of alfoil might have been a bit big too - are you supposed to cut slits in it? I didn't, but I wondered afterwards whether I should have..

Yes you need to cut slits in the alfoil.
1. It lets any fat/oil drain into the pot.
2. It lets more heat get into the cooking area.
Like yourself we learnt the hard way

 

[Ren77]

Yes you need to cut slits in the alfoil.
1. It lets any fat/oil drain into the pot.
2. It lets more heat get into the cooking area.
Like yourself we learnt the hard way

@dagree are the slits only for when you are doing roasts?

 

[dagree]

@dagree are the slits only for when you are doing roasts?

Yes @Ren77 but I was also advise to put slits in the alfoil when doing pizza, bread or anything at all that sits on the trivet to help with an even heat flow!

 

[Ren77]

Yes @Ren77 but I was also advise to put slits in the alfoil when doing pizza, bread or anything at all that sits on the trivet to help with an even heat flow!

Ok cool, thanks for the tip!

 

[Colsar]

Couple of fridge light pics on my van under my jayco forumn, colin&sues mods. FYI

 

[Chooky]

@Flossymk1 we had the same issue with our beds getting wet once, never want to go through that again. We made these plastic end covers that just Velcro onto the shade privacy screens. They may not look the best but for $100 bucks it will do the job. Better then paying $900. Maybe down the track we might get something made but can't justify it at this stage, to many other things to buy hope you find a solution the works best for you. We are going to Townsville this weekend so I'm going to Bunnings to check out those lights for fridge etc....

 

[Ren77]

Sandra, Bunnings have bifold tables for$49. They are excellent and some members store there's between the bed end and bed end lid.

 

[Pace]

I want to find one of those fridge lights you have. Do you remember what it was called and whereabouts it is in Bunnings?

We had trouble with our weber heating up properly at first too until we realised that the size of the alfoil I had put in covered most of the plate which therefore inhibited the heat from rising up. Once we trimmed that back to the same size of the trivet, it was amazing how much quicker it heated. We are virgin weber owners so again, we are learning lol

Have a look here. Works a treat, Thx Mrs Pace.
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/aldi-specials.2430/page-2#post-52164

 

[Flossymk1]

Sandra, Bunnings have bifold tables for$49. They are excellent and some members store there's between the bed end and bed end lid.

Thanks for the tip - will go and check them out tomorrow!

 

[Flossymk1]

Have a look here. Works a treat, Thx Mrs Pace.
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/aldi-specials.2430/page-2#post-52164

@Pace that's a very fancy looking fridge light! Where did you get it from?

 

[Flossymk1]

@Ren77 here is a link to the sensor light I got from Bunnings -

http://www.bunnings.com.au/osram-3-led-nightlux-sensor-light_p4350523

 

[Flossymk1]

@Pace

Cancel that question @Pace - just saw the "big green shed" comment and worked it out lol