Dandy's new 17.56.1 picked up today

[davemc]

@Dandy we will be the same. have a large pile of stuff to put in the Starcraft when she comes. We got our gates done last month, had the car fitted with a 12 pin and reverse camera with spare cable for van. Booked caravan parks Queens Birthday weekend and sep holidays already. Now all we need is the Caravan.
How long was your wait we done 2 months already just under 2 to go.

 

[Burnsy]

Very nice @Dandy ....enjoy!

 

[davemc]

@Dandy so in it again tonight when is the first big trip

 

[Dandy]

@Dandy we will be the same. have a large pile of stuff to put in the Starcraft when she comes. We got our gates done last month, had the car fitted with a 12 pin and reverse camera with spare cable for van. Booked caravan parks Queens Birthday weekend and sep holidays already. Now all we need is the Caravan.
How long was your wait we done 2 months already just under 2 to go.

Sounds very familiar @davemc. We were looking at 2nd hand towards the end of last year and probably would have put it off a few months because we live on a steep block with limited access. But then over Christmas my Mum offered her front yard (on a corner block) so I started planning and building gates. I took my wife to a dealer and she was keen. Then the jayco sale started so I rang around and found a 2013 model and got a price. When I realized that the 2014 model came with all the extras ( solar, independent suspension, battery, LEDs all including awning, roof mount air con, big fridge, sky light, new windows, security mesh door, gas bayonet, tap on drawbar and it looks cool with the black and green) it was a no brainer! I was really surprised that for less than $2000 more I could get all the "options" which would have cost a fortune as add ons and have a brand new van. We were in a good position because we weren't trying to trade so I spent a day negotiating (it pays to haggle). The next trick was to get delivery before Easter, we realized the model run for the 17.56.1 was late March so we grabbed the best price on the condition we got one of those spots. It worked out well.

The dealer arranged our 12 pin. I'm really interested to get the reversing cameras. Which one did you get? Did you do it it yourself? Did you have a compatible head unit or install a dedicated screen?

 

[S&k]

Looks good

 

[Dandy]

Looks good

Haven't found a fault yet. Fingers crossed.

 

[davemc]

@Dandy we brought a safety Dave setup at the caulfield show dedicated monitor we did not have a reverse camera on car so got that fitted and they ran cable ready for caravan.
It runs all the time and you can switch inputs
Looking to put the caravan camera above the spare on rear, so will run the cable myself under caravan when we get it.

Yes we looked for a while hired an expanda started looking at swans and hard floor campers.

 

[benrosenick]

I spent several weekends sorting out the gate etc. then waited months for the big day (not counting the browsing and research) so there was no way would miss out on the first night. I still had to be at work in the morning. A little bit of inconvenience in exchange for a bit of fun, a shared experience and a memory.... Well worth it. The kids will have as story for show and share.

Good on you-plenty more of those to come too!

 

[Dandy]

Pleased and proud to say we managed to make our way down to Phillip Island in one piece and set up after dark. Not possible with the camper! All within 5 days of delivery. A lot of jealous looks this morning! Still loving our Panda! Found the patrol was happy towing at highway speed. Had the auto upgraded for towing (valve body and lock up) well worth it. Still working out the brake controller. Haven't attempted annex yet will need to buy a ladder. Is this the same for all the outback tribe?

 

[Ben Stanford]

Yeah I invested in a Gorilla Extendable platform! When it extend the leg length is 900mm, so when the annex is set up it doubles as a table for the BBQ! I was just going to get a set of small steps but the platform works wonders! I'll post some pics of it in the next few days if you like, picked it up at Bunnings!

 

[Pace]

Pleased and proud to say we managed to make our way down to Phillip Island in one piece and set up after dark. Not possible with the camper! All within 5 days of delivery. A lot of jealous looks this morning! Still loving our Panda! Found the patrol was happy towing at highway speed. Had the auto upgraded for towing (valve body and lock up) well worth it. Still working out the brake controller. Haven't attempted annex yet will need to buy a ladder. Is this the same for all the outback tribe?

Great to hear @Dandy Which park did you pull up at in Phillip Island? Re: the annexe, get one of the kids up on your shoulders, all part of the camping experience. Oh, what is the switch for nearest to the sink tray? Pace.

 

[cruza driver]

Enjoy the van @Dandy sounds like plenty of fun times ahead

 

[Dandy]

Great to hear @Dandy Which park did you pull up at in Phillip Island? Re: the annexe, get one of the kids up on your shoulders, all part of the camping experience. Oh, what is the switch for nearest to the sink tray? Pace.

I had my 8 yo on my shoulders for the roof clips and to switch the awning but for the first ever annex assembly apparently I need to put the double sided Velcro on the pop top wall (I assume that there is some sort of demarcation between TEBBS and Page Bros). It's not a huge big deal but I want to be properly balanced and not relying on the kids to line it up properly. We always knew this trip would show us what bits an pieces we would need. This site isn't level so probably not the best place to test the annex. Any advice for leveling would also be helpful. I have some chocks that I used with the camper trailer they were a bit trickier with tandem.

We are at Amaze n Things it's a bit "old school" it was familiar and I knew that we could drive through if the neighbouring site was empty. No slabs and sites are a bit uneven. Kid friendly and just behind the maze and mini golf. It's not a bad location for the penguins etc.

I think you must have spotted the battery switch. From what I can tell the standard set up now has the battery switch, control panel and solar reg next to the fuse box under the microwave. There is nothing except the setec face plate at floor level.

 

[Dandy]

Some pics of the set up

 

[Pace]

I had my 8 yo on my shoulders for the roof clips and to switch the awning but for the first ever annex assembly apparently I need to put the double sided Velcro on the pop top wall (I assume that there is some sort of demarcation between TEBBS and Page Bros). It's not a huge big deal but I want to be properly balanced and not relying on the kids to line it up properly. We always knew this trip would show us what bits an pieces we would need. This site isn't level so probably not the best place to test the annex. Any advice for leveling would also be helpful. I have some chocks that I used with the camper trailer they were a bit trickier with tandem.

We are at Amaze n Things it's a bit "old school" it was familiar and I knew that we could drive through if the neighbouring site was empty. No slabs and sites are a bit uneven. Kid friendly and just behind the maze and mini golf. It's not a bad location for the penguins etc.

I think you must have spotted the battery switch. From what I can tell the standard set up now has the battery switch, control panel and solar reg next to the fuse box under the microwave. There is nothing except the setec face plate at floor level.

All good mate, our Tebbs annexe is absolutely great, not an issue with it or them, did you get the dual roof rafters for the awning too so it doesn't sag when pools on it from them too. I know of the velcro you speak of and l found our right at the bottom of the bag. Made a pencil mark as I had the top sections in place then stuck on no issues. Suggest wipe canvas with baby wipes first and dry prior to putting on.
Re: the levelling, we place the water bubble on the draw bar and use tyre ramps to achieve level van. We use 4Lo when placing van on ramps within site for greater throttle control. Mrs Paces all ways checks the fridge door too to see how it reacts when levelling so it doesn't swing on it own, up there for thinking she is.

Cheers Pace.

 

[Dandy]

All good mate, our Tebbs annexe is absolutely great, not an issue with it or them, did you get the dual roof rafters for the awning too so it doesn't sag when pools on it from them too. I know of the velcro you speak of and l found our right at the bottom of the bag. Made a pencil mark as I had the top sections in place then stuck on no issues. Suggest wipe canvas with baby wipes first and dry prior to putting on.
Re: the levelling, we place the water bubble on the draw bar and use tyre ramps to achieve level van. We use 4Lo when placing van on ramps within site for greater throttle control. Mrs Paces all ways checks the fridge door too to see how it reacts when levelling so it doesn't swing on it own, up there for thinking she is.

Cheers Pace.

Thanks @Pace we did get the rafters. Some advice was that they are not needed but we decided that a couple of seconds to fit them was worth the relatively small outlay. We are just getting the hang of the awning. The weather has been enough to keep us inside for the short periods we have been at camp. Do you use the rafters without the walls?

I have a spirit level on the old camper trailer and some chocks but they weren't quite enough. If I was bush camping the shovel would have come out. (apparently that is frowned upon in caravan parks ). I'm wondering if this is out of the ordinary for caravan sites. I assume that most don't have this much slope. For a couple of days it's OK but I don't think we would put up with it much longer.

On a positive note. Got the weber going on the bayonet first try.

 

[Pace]

Do you use the rafters without the walls?

All the time no matter what occasion while away, when the awning is out, the rafters and AFK (anti flap kit), are on.

 

[Brad]

Thanks @Pace we did get the rafters. Some advice was that they are not needed but we decided that a couple of seconds to fit them was worth the relatively small outlay. We are just getting the hang of the awning. The weather has been enough to keep us inside for the short periods we have been at camp. Do you use the rafters without the walls?

I have a spirit level on the old camper trailer and some chocks but they weren't quite enough. If I was bush camping the shovel would have come out. (apparently that is frowned upon in caravan parks ). I'm wondering if this is out of the ordinary for caravan sites. I assume that most don't have this much slope. For a couple of days it's OK but I don't think we would put up with it much longer.

On a positive note. Got the weber going on the bayonet first try.

Congrats on the van @Dandy. We run with a couple of chocks still in caravan sites.
Nothing worse that sleeping sideways in the bed.

 

[Petenlou]

Need some pics of a Annexe put up on a new Expanda our don't look right tebbs reckons its us but i don't think so
What do you guys think

 

[Dandy]

Need some pics of a Annexe put up on a new Expanda our don't look right tebbs reckons its us but i don't think so
What do you guys think

Hi @Patenlou we have only set ours up as a test run. We discovered that the door an window we ordered wasn't supplied. It wasn't a problem just meant we had to drop it back in. What I did find is that it's really important to get the awning position right.

The pics show that you posted have the white flaps at the bottom of the walls on the outside. I think they should fold them in under your flooring so you can peg the bottom of the walls down.

We're going away on Queens birthday so we'll have another go.....