First ever trip - caravanning revelations!

[Gilmorehappy]

so as total newbies we picked up our 22.68 starcraft and set out from Newcastle to Goulburn. The trip was a bit of a baptism of fire, beginning on a rapidly warming Friday morning starting out down the freeway. The first revelation is what a difference 2.5 tonnes + makes to your focus levels in heavy traffic! The whole rig is alive and demanding of respect. Anything over 100 seems irresponsible, that is on those few occasions when enough momentum can be built to achieve the ton. The second thing is the effect of a big semi overtaking. It really suck you towards them requiring a minor but unnerving correction at the helm! The other discovery is the sense of pure satisfaction that you have such a toy behind you, a thing that can be central to so many adventures and great memories.

Then there's pennant hills road in peak hour, and the m2 and m7. Just stay central in your lane and it all good!

Arriving onto the Hume and we are over 41 c and a good breeze whips up. Gusting to 100kph in fact, according to our hosts at big4 Goulburn. Just sent to unsettle us newbies. Swmbo is hanging onto the seat as the ever stronger gusts lay the trees over and I say....... Brace yourself. The whole family moans as the gusts impact the rig, as yet again I decellarate to be at a safe speed for the conditions, and good news we made it though I had a case of what knuckle fever

 

[MDS69]

That is a great explanation of how I felt when picking our van up from Heatherbrae and towing back to the Hills district in Sydney and ours is only a 14 footer.
Congrats on the trip. Got any photos of the destination.

 

[chartrock]

Gotta love Pennant Hills Rd in peak hour. :fear:

 

[Bonners]

Aaah yes pennant hills road is a baptism of fire, but I think, if the semis can stay in the lanes and get thru it, I can. and then the wind on the hume is exciting. a great recount @Gilmorehappy

 

[davemc]

and remember everyone has to get past a caravan and cut you off then go slower then you where before

Never felt the semi's with the 17' the 22' I do.. just go your own pace everyone else can wait

Enjoy your trip put up some nice pictures of you all having fun

 

[Gilmorehappy]

More about towing for the first time, our own newBy discoveries that you don't think of as a car only driver.......plan ahead and look at your route, and even where you might be able to park. You don't want to end up in a dead end st as a 3 point turn is not going to be on the cards! Also those low country bridges will remove the top of your caravan, so be more attuned to signs which say 'vehicular access only' as there may be such an obstacle ahead.

Another point is that the performance of your rig will become that of one of the average semi trailers. On a steep freeway climb the Colorado got down to as low as 70 kph with the taps fully opened, in third gear. As the experienced folk on here say, forget overdrive as it is too much grinding, and if you think about using top when descending, don't bother as instead, you should use a gear which holds your combination from rolling away on you! We discovered the optimum speed for fuel consumption was 90 at 13.6l per 100km, and at 100kph, we got 14.4. Pretty happy with that for rollin hills freeway motoring.

Was nervous about the brakes not knowing what to expect in terms of performance. So if you haven't picked up your van and you are wondering, well I was pleasantly impressed with how well nigh on 5 tonnes pulls up. The secret is to set the controller such that you can feel the rig pulling the car and just back it of the tiniest bit. You don't want the van to be braking less than the tug, and push you into a jack knife, which I think is the main point!

Just Ecstatic with the van by the way

 

[Gilmorehappy]

Gotta love Pennant Hills Rd in peak hour. :fear:

Yeah sometimes it's a bit like dodgem cars......:noidea:

 

[Gilmorehappy]

That is a great explanation of how I felt when picking our van up from Heatherbrae and towing back to the Hills district in Sydney and ours is only a 14 footer.
Congrats on the trip. Got any photos of the destination.

Yes will put some up today...Need to get them from the family's various devices onto here!

 

[Gilmorehappy]

and remember everyone has to get past a caravan and cut you off then go slower then you where before

Never felt the semi's with the 17' the 22' I do.. just go your own pace everyone else can wait

Enjoy your trip put up some nice pictures of you all having fun

@davemc yes some photos to come!
What speed to you normally sit on with your 22?

 

[Sweet Pea]

Gilmorehappy congrats on your first trip. We too left on Friday for our first trip after picking up our Starcraft from Jayco Sydney November 4th. We traveled to Gerroa on the South Coast and when we left at 9am and it was already 30.c which for us is a very hot day as we rarely get over 28.c and assumed the lovely South Coast would be cooled with a sea breeze but we were wrong. It was 42.c very with a very hot stiff wind blowing.

Back to the trip. Out Nissan Pathfinder simply ate up the hills and performed very well in low or high gears. Traffic was heavy on the M7 but as mentioned above the most annoying thing was cars that sped up to get past us then pulled right in front and slowed down. Very dangerous. We sat on 100 when the speed signs allowed but didn't feel we needed to go any faster.

I was a tad apprehensive that something would go amiss with the Starcraft as we've all heard the horror stories but we only had one problem and that was with the gas fuse valve thingamy on the two gas bottles. They both read empty so wouldn't let gas through to the van yet when we'd picked up Starcraft everything gas was turned on and working and the bottles were and still are full. Dear husband simply removed the fuses and we had gas so on the first service we'll have them checked or replaced.

Our caravan was immaculate inside and out when we picked her up and once away we used everything we could and everything worked well and she didn't let us down. We can't wait to get away again but will leave it till after summer we think.

Can't work out how to post photos.

 

[davemc]

@davemc yes some photos to come!
What speed to you normally sit on with your 22?

90-100 whatever feels right. I know we had it up to 110 in the flat on a freeway. Although we already taken the 17' away for almost 10,000 before we got the 22'. I watch for semi's passing on dual highway, if there is a yellow sign for a bend saying 80 I do 80 or under. Trucks use low gears I drop the auto down the hill.
Normally I drive to conditions not fuel then cry at the fuel later
doing 80-90 would save on fuel although can make it a worse drive as everyone then really needs to get past you now.
Although if I feel like i need to go 80 I go 80.

 

[Gilmorehappy]

Gilmorehappy congrats on your first trip. We too left on Friday for our first trip after picking up our Starcraft from Jayco Sydney November 4th. We traveled to Gerroa on the South Coast and when left at 9am and it was already 30.c which for us is a very hot day as we rarely get over 28.c and assumed the lovely South Coast would be cooled with a sea breeze but we were wrong. It was 42.c very with a very hot stiff wind blowing.

Back to the trip. Out Nissan Pathfinder simply ate up the hills and performed very well in low or high gears. Traffic was heavy on the M7 but as mentioned above the most annoying thing was cars that sped up to get past us then pulled right in front and slowed down. Very dangerous. We sat on 100 when the speed signs allowed but didn't feel we needed to go any faster.

I was a tad apprehensive that something would go amiss with the Starcraft as we've all heard the horror stories but we only had one problem and that was with the gas fuze valve thingamy on the two gas bottles. They both read empty so wouldn't let gas through to the van yet when we'd picked up Starcraft everything gas was turned on and working and the bottles were and still are full. Dear husband simply removed the fuzes and we had gas so on the first service we'll have them checked.

Our caravan was immaculate inside and out when we picked her up, we used everything we could and everything worked well and she didn't let us down. We can't wait to get away again but will leave it till after summer we think.

Can't work out how to post photos.

Hi @Sweet Pea, congrats on your first trip too! The trick with those little gas gauges, is to depress them as they sit into a spring. They will then give you the reading. I hope that is what the problem was, as easy little trick. I've gotta say ours was faultless and exceeded expectations, as so many people say to expect faults to become apparent on a shakedown trip!

The only fault on the van is this..caused by me... Well, as it was so windy on arrival, I had just finished being o.c.d with the family about not letting go of the door as the wind could blow it open and dent it! So, I opened the door five minutes later, and like poetry........ You know how it ends with a dent and me being ridiculed all weekend like a stoopid dad........and I deserved it.:brick:

 

[Gilmorehappy]

90-100 whatever feels right. I know we had it up to 110 in the flat on a freeway. Although we already taken the 17' away for almost 10,000 before we got the 22'. I watch for semi's passing on dual highway, if there is a yellow sign for a bend saying 80 I do 80 or under. Trucks use low gears I drop the auto down the hill.
Normally I drive to conditions not fuel then cry at the fuel later
doing 80-90 would save on fuel although can make it a worse drive as everyone then really needs to get past you now.
Although if I feel like i need to go 80 I go 80.

Thanks that is good advice. I think it is real driving where so much more awareness is required, not just of handling, fuel etc, but also being considerate. A fair balance, but as you say about the 80 / 80 part, totally agree!

 

[Gilmorehappy]

And some more discoveries relayed through newby eyes... The bed was comfortable, and long enough, and I am 99kg and 6'4". At one point I rolled in the night and punched the cupboard knocking the skin off a few knuckles, but I still woke up feeling refreshed.

The shower was a great surprise. I let the boys know for the ceiling fan to work they needed to open the hatch, and that worked well too. Being tall the seperate shower was spacious enough to get the job done. Good the shower head is on a flexible hose. We installed a three compartment pump pack to wall which is awesome, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel. see big W approx $40 bucks. Soap banned due to scum. Water nice and hot from electric element switched on.

Toilet apparently worked, but not tested for any heavy lifting. havent used it myself, but I think it would be a pleasant alternative to some of the queues and wonderful toilet experiences and ...aromas...at roadside long drops.

Rangehood was good and effective, microwave just as good as the one at home, tv was good, fusion stereo excellent, lighting more than excellent and love how the whole light show can be switched off from bed! Fridge struggled in 40 degrees but that's to be expected. Was great once it caught up. Got a heap of small storage compartments from bigw as per @davemc previous YouTube link post on storage. Good tips and nothing fell or broke!

Curtains / window roller shutters etc very effective, but we all let one go at some point on the weekend, so slammed shut at high speed!

Hatches worked well. Can be left open slightly even when raining to allow better ventilation.

Tv was good, and aerial easy to use. Works well coming through fusion unit into speakers.

Cafe dinette worked well for the four of us.

Fiamma Bike rack remains untested.... Will try that with four bikes in a couple of weeks when we go to Darlington beach cp up north.

cant wait for next trip coming soon!

 

[davemc]

bike rack take your time working out the arms one for each bike and you will need a step ladder.
Sarah likes the bed better then home one
We have not used the oven or grill never did last van.. Although said we will this one although not as yet after 5 trips.
I have not put the TV through the speakers as yet. Its either on early in the morning to keep kids quiet or late at night when kids asleep.

Glad your enjoying it and after a few trips you will start moving things around.

 

[Crusty181]

Great write up @Gilmorehappy. You've squeezed in most of the testers on the first outing .... a wet drive, and setup in torrential rain and the trainings complete. Well done mate. Glad you made a great lifestyle choice

 

[Sweet Pea]

Gilmorehappy thanks for the tip on the gas valve I'll show your post to dear husband tonight and see if that's the problem. Oho the first dent or scratch is always the worst and something we all wait for at least it's over and done with.

The separate shower in our caravan was great but we found the space a little cramped outside when drying off so will dry off in the shower next time. The space in the ensuite was fine for cleaning teeth and using the loo just a bit cramped flinging the towel around.

Bed was really comfy and dear husband being 6' 2" had plenty of room. The lounge and table was more than adequate for the two of us, the fridge, grill, hot plates, air con and tv all worked well although it took us about 3 hours fiddling on the tv to remember we had to turn on that switch over on the wall near the fridge.

We had several snapping roller blinds but by day 3 got the hang of them. We hadn't packed very well so I took everything out last night and will repack properly over the next couple of days but honestly I'm a little lost at how to pack. Is there a thread anyone could recommend for some pointers?

 

[icetechaus]

WRT the Gas Fuses, I had one on a previous van and found that if you open up the tap all the way the fuse trips. It created a hell of a lot of confusion at first.

 

[Gilmorehappy]

Great write up @Gilmorehappy. You've squeezed in most of the testers on the first outing .... a wet drive, and setup in torrential rain and the trainings complete. Well done mate. Glad you made a great lifestyle choice

Thanks @Crusty181. I reckon that torrential rain will be inevitable at some point. Just glad it's a full van, as our last holiday home was a large canvas tent, and with it came the risk of the wet weather pack up! I'not looking forward to driving in the wet though. Might take a while to build up the experience and confidence methinks.

 

[Gilmorehappy]

View attachment 37267 View attachment 37268 Gilmorehappy thanks for the tip on the gas valve I'll show your post to dear husband tonight and see if that's the problem. Oho the first dent or scratch is always the worst and something we all wait for at least it's over and done with.

The separate shower in our caravan was great but we found the space a little cramped outside when drying off so will dry off in the shower next time. The space in the ensuite was fine for cleaning teeth and using the loo just a bit cramped flinging the towel around.

Bed was really comfy and dear husband being 6' 2" had plenty of room. The lounge and table was more than adequate for the two of us, the fridge, grill, hot plates, air con and tv all worked well although it took us about 3 hours fiddling on the tv to remember we had to turn on that switch over on the wall near the fridge.

We had several snapping roller blinds but by day 3 got the hang of them. We hadn't packed very well so I took everything out last night and will repack properly over the next couple of days but honestly I'm a little lost at how to pack. Is there a thread anyone could recommend for some pointers?

Hi @Sweet Pea @davemc recently posted a great YouTube clip from Howard's storage world on all the fitted containers for both fridge and cupboards. Big w has similar stuff for less, which was a discovery just from shopping around- looks identical, and we Brought a heap of that and worked very well. If I can work out how to post the link to you I will! Glad the van went well for you - looks great!

Glad we weren't the only ones to learn about the snapping blinds!