Gday everyone!

[Dropbear]

Hi everyone!

We're excited to have joined the world of caravans with our first buy - a 2013 17.56-1Outback in fantastic condition. Towing vehicle is a 2014 Prado diesel.

Looking forward to getting out and about more with our young kids and not having to pay through the nose for accomodation!

As a newbie to this world, I have lurked on here after work for the last couple of weeks since committing to buy and it seems there is a wealth of knowledge and experience in this community.

We are about to have our first run this coming week, a practice before a major holiday throughout July.

Have practiced hitching and unhitching plenty, and 20km drives out of town to get a feel for the van with and without load distribution bars.

I just wanted to say hello and ask a couple of basic questions.

1. I have changed from the 12 pin on the van to a 7 pin flat to match the car, then connected the 2 power cables into an anderson plug to also plug into existing anderson plug on car (Prado is all set up with dual batts, towpro etc). Just wanted to ask if many people replace the standard wire from the 12 pin to thicker guage? I remember reading about plugs heating up.

2. These power wires send charge to the battery(?), and when driving you can flick the fridge to "DC", when stopping and turning car off one should remember to quickly turn the fridge to AC or gas (depending on whether you're on or off the grid) as not to flatten the car and house battery. Is this correct? Do many people run power direct from the car to the van fridge or does this get a bit complicated?

3. I was thinking about portable solar as I'm not ready to drill holes just yet, can anyone recommend good value brands and specs of panels, and the most important part of this question, should I plug into the same anderson plug when setting up the panels, or look for the solar plug my van apparently has, and connect to that?

Sorry for questions that may seem silly but I've never really dealt with solar, and I'm inexperienced with DC in general. I have been working flat out so haven't had heaps of time to research thoroughly, also not too much time to look through the van's wiring. I'm sure I'll be learning plenty this year!

Any other general tips, tricks or advice is greatly welcome... 17.56 or otherwise!

Cheers everyone,

Dropbear

 

[dagree]

Welcome to the forum @Dropbear and good to see another West Aussie on board.
First off: A good choice.... 17' Expanda and Prado

Yes there is a lot of info and experience on here and a few that will help spend your hard earned as you get into it!

I'll give some answers a go but there will be others to follow with their experiences/knowledge:
1. Depends on the gauge of your current wiring size but the thicker the better to reduce volt drop (I ran 6 B&S/13mm2 direct from the second battery to the Anderson Plug on the Prado and 6mm2 from the Anderson Plug on the van to battery and fridge). Jayco also tapped into the van's Anderson for charging the Brakeaway system and ESC.

2. Correct... Unplug and switch to AC or gas when stopped. If only stopping for a short while (Lunch etc) I fitted a Low Voltage Switch to the fridge wiring that will cut power to the fridge if the battery drops to 11V. If your van isn't wired direct to the fridge it is easy enough to do if you are reasonably savvy with 12V.

3. Haven't set up portable solar on ours yet as we just use the roof mounted setup. Many others on here have and will no doubt jump in and give you some advise!

also not too much time to look through the van's wiring.

Make sure you do have plenty of time on your hands when you do

I'm sure I'll be learning plenty this year!

I'm sure you will and it'll be more than a year as ideas for changes/mods/additions happen during "every" trip

Looking forward to hearing and seeing your trips!

 

[chartrock]

Welcome @Dropbear, I have mixed memories of Tom Price. We drove there from Karajini NP and planned to fill up there but the only servo was out of diesel and unsure of when it would arrive so a cautious drive back to the van where I had a 20 L jerry can waiting. My reserve light came on and we ran the last 18km at very economical speed. As to your questions:-

1. Anderson plugs are the way to go but it sounds like you are connecting both the fridge and the battery through the one plug. If this is so then you are pulling high fridge current plus battery charge current through the one cable in your car. You do need reasonably heavy cable for the fridge, at least 6B&S and it would be better to use similar for the battery charge

2,It is OK to run the battery charge from the 2nd battery in the tug but the fridge should have a separate 6 B&S wire from the main battery via an ignition controlled relay to its own anderson plug. This means that when you stop the car and switch it off the fridge is automatically off and has no drain on the battery.

3. If you have a separate anderson plug for the van battery then you can plug a portable solar panel directly in to it to charge the van battery.

I hope this helps and I am sure other members will chip in with more info as required. Enjoy

 

[Dobbie]

Agree with rhe above but.....not another westralian !!

They must breed with expandas cos they're on the increase.

Just make sure you have an isolator on the battery feeding the fridge...either main or secondary ....to,protect when you stop for lunch, toilet stops or sightseeing. It's not pretty if you don't. Fridge on dc is not that efficient but it can drain the battery.

Enjoy the panda!

 

[Dropbear]

@Dobbie On top of being West Aussies, the wife also happens to be an Eagles supporter. Let's just say as a Docker, that last night was tough (as I expect this year to be )

Thanks for the welcome guys!

So I have only changed from the 12 pin standard on the 'panda to the 7 pin and Anderson, I'm guessing this goes direct to the house battery and the fridge in turn goes off the house battery when driving? I've heard the fridges struggle to maintain temperature, and if this is also causing high current draw on the house battery, I'll have to look at going to the fridge direct in the future. I will definitely upgrade the wiring before our major trip to larger gauge... much more researching/hassling auto sparky mates methinks. I know the tug has a voltage drop protector but until I get things sorted I'll be super vigilant in turning that sucker off every time the car is off. Will also need to hunt for this supposed solar plug, hopefully it is Anderson. Or can I plug a portable setup direct into the main Anderson that I now have on the hitch?

@dagree

First off: A good choice.... 17' Expanda and Prado

The setup of champions... so I've heard

Make sure you do have plenty of time on your hands when you do

What is this "time" thing you speak of and where do I find it?

@chartrock Love Tom Price, been in town just over 10 years now. I think the wife loves it more than me. Still quite warm up here at the moment, it was a bloody hot summer. We actually only go to Karijini it seems when we get family or friends visiting - even though it is so close. Though the kids are getting to a good age now, I think overnighters will be on the cards more.

Our favourite place is Coral Bay, now with a caravan we are excited at being able to go more often

 

[dagree]

What is this "time" thing you speak of and where do I find it?

It is what you will need to follow Jayco's wiring and sorting out the "Birds Nest's"

 

[burnsie]

Welcome @Dropbear good to see another West Aussie here

 

[SMJ x2]

Welcome.Tom Price is a nice little town.I know the pub well used to go there every second Sunday when I was working at West Angelas and Yandi

 

[Dropbear]

Still is a great place, lots of young families and a great community to bring up kids. Plenty of sport and events to keep busy.
Don't go to the pub very often, I tend to come back with an empty wallet

 

[The Goodwins]

welcome to an absolute van and truck twin @Dropbear ...WOW....Mine is cooler though.....

 

[Dropbear]

Top stuff @The Goodwins ! I knew there had to be some other people out there with a great sense of style

Heading off on our first trip tomorrow to Point Samson! Been prepping and tinkering all day, can't wait!!

 

[SMJ x2]

Mmmm fishermans basket at point Samson pub.Is it still as good as it was a few years ago.

 

[Dropbear]

I'll let you know, I haven't been there for about 8 years and can barely remember it. We usually go to Coral Bay. Stay tuned!

 

[SMJ x2]

Sounds like I spend a lot of time in the pub but that is not the case at all.
When you work remote and only have 1 day off per fortnight usually go to nearest town and lunch at the pub.

 

[Dropbear]

@SMJ *Try posting a bit more so your post isn't boring* lol hearing ya mate The old shift change night. Been there done that, we changed to 8/6 straight day shifts about a year ago. I don't miss night shift at all, though the summer hurt a bit, 8 full days on the ground out in the pit. Feel much more human when you get to break now without coming off night shift.

 

[Dropbear]

@SMJ *Try posting a bit more so your post isn't boring*

I didn't write that, how did that happen? Thought I just tagged your name. SMJ *Try posting a bit more so your post isn't boring*. Still figuring this forum thing out.

 

[dagree]

This link might help to explain things @Dropbear !

 

[Dropbear]

Gold. I feel like my initiation is progressing somewhat

 

[SMJ x2]

I am in line for the gold medal for the most boring poster

 

[Dropbear]

It's been suggested you lift your game a few times I imagine?