G'day

[bigcol]

as for the clearviews seeing as they are a bit more expensive they will take a little more thinking about:noidea:. In the long run they look like a good option but I don't want to rush in and spend that amount of dough without thinking it over a little.

I was thinking the same, the first, second, third and forth time I looked at them
they first started at $300.00, and progressively got dearer - to the point, I dont know if I want to know how much they are now

BUT
after the forth time looking at them, and having a near heart attack at the price, while talking to SWMBO, she asked how much a new mirror to replace a broken one was.......
it was nearly the same price as the Clearviews - for 1 mirror
that sold it for me

I still have the original mirrors to put back onto my car if and when it ever gets updated

 

[Sammy D]

Well it is now April and seeing as we were told mid to late April when we first ordered our basestation I decided to give jayco Newcastle a ring and see how things were traveling. I've been trying not to think about it in the hope that time would go a bit quicker but that has had mixed results lol. Anyway on Tuesday I had a few spare minutes so I rang JNewcastle and got told our (of course we don't own him but the one who looked after us) salesman was busy and could he ring us back later, well being the wonderful customer that I am I agreed, silently thinking to myself that I would have to ring again tomorrow. But low and behold a half hour later the phone rang and it was him,

"You must have esp Sam" he says
"Why is that?" I ask
"Well your basestation rolled in yesterday (Monday) and you were on my list of people to call this afternoon!"

Well that was a very pleasant surprise as I had been telling myself that the end of April would most likely be the earliest we would see it so I was on a bit of a high!

So the long and short of it is we are booked in to pick it up next Friday (15th) afternoon (fri arvo, what could possibly go wrong lol!) so we are now super excited. I don't have any pics but I will be sure to take a few when pickup time comes!

 

[bigcol]

sooooo, which brake controller did you end up getting
have you had the 12 pin wired into the back of your car...............
did you end up getting either the Clearviews or the eBay knock off's..................


do you have a spot picked out for Friday night & Saturday & Sunday to test it out................

 

[Sammy D]

That's a lot of questions Big Col.

Yes I've had it into our auto lecky and got my 12 pin sorted, I did already have a 12 pin but it didn't have the breakaway battery monitor checker thingy wire and needed the fridge power wire upgraded. I do plan to eventually go Anderson plug for the fridge but i will wait till I can take the van and the car into the auto lecky together to do that, he ran an extra wire ready for that while he was at it so not as much work when the time comes. He put all that on a solenoid that cuts out when the voltage drops so if I switch off the car the fridge won't flatten the battery stranding us.

As far as brake controllers go, the auto lecky uses a redarc one (not the towpro) but still compatible with the alko esc. I still don't understand exactly why the esc needs a special controller? But I will leave that to those in the know and trust them.


And for mirrors, yes after much reading and checking and reading and checking I decided on the clearviews and found a place that would fit them for not much extra so they will go on next Wednesday. Laziness played a big part in this choice, well busyness did as well. I've left it so long to make a choice (I though I would have a couple more weeks!) so I have limited time and the farm is super busy so getting them fitted by someone helped me choose the clearviews, having said that I could've paid someone to fit the eBay ones a lot cheaper but the clearviews are at a one stop shop so no chasing around and from what I've seen they have wonderful resale value if we ever decide to change vehicles. (Assuming I don't flog off the originals!)

As for a shakedown trip, it will depend entirely on how much work I can cram into the next week. I've been sitting on the tractor until 3ish each morning and starting again by 8 for the last week or so and am hoping to be all caught up by mid next week. (I am giving myself an early mark tonight for a bit of recovery time as I'm starting to feel it, I mustn't be as young as I used to be. ) I haven't told SWMBO but I was thinking of finding a cp near Newcastle/beach just to have a feel of it but i won't really know until we are ready to head down.

 

[bigcol]

That's a lot of questions Big Col.

nah mate, was only 4............................ hehehehe

 

[bigcol]

Yes I've had it into our auto lecky and got my 12 pin sorted, I did already have a 12 pin but it didn't have the breakaway battery monitor checker thingy wire and needed the fridge power wire upgraded. I do plan to eventually go Anderson plug for the fridge but i will wait till I can take the van and the car into the auto lecky together to do that, he ran an extra wire ready for that while he was at it so not as much work when the time comes. He put all that on a solenoid that cuts out when the voltage drops so if I switch off the car the fridge won't flatten the battery stranding us.

very wise decision, and even better that he has started to "pre-wire" things for you
excellent

 

[dagree]

That's a lot of questions Big Col.

Not for @bigcol

 

[bigcol]

And for mirrors, yes after much reading and checking and reading and checking I decided on the clearviews and found a place that would fit them for not much extra so they will go on next Wednesday. Laziness played a big part in this choice, well busyness did as well. I've left it so long to make a choice (I though I would have a couple more weeks!) so I have limited time and the farm is super busy so getting them fitted by someone helped me choose the clearviews, having said that I could've paid someone to fit the eBay ones a lot cheaper but the clearviews are at a one stop shop so no chasing around and from what I've seen they have wonderful resale value if we ever decide to change vehicles. (Assuming I don't flog off the originals!)

tempting as the money that has been offered, I will not sell my originals
because if I upgrade, then the clearviews will sell better

good idea if you are time poor to get the best deal you can, with the least about of mucking about for you

I have cousins that are Farmers............. trust me, I have been swindled into being in a harvester for 15hours when I only poped in for a quick visit...........

 

[bigcol]

As for a shakedown trip, it will depend entirely on how much work I can cram into the next week. I've been sitting on the tractor until 3ish each morning and starting again by 8 for the last week or so and am hoping to be all caught up by mid next week. (I am giving myself an early mark tonight for a bit of recovery time as I'm starting to feel it, I mustn't be as young as I used to be. ) I haven't told SWMBO but I was thinking of finding a cp near Newcastle/beach just to have a feel of it but i won't really know until we are ready to head down.

thats a great idea, surprise her, tell her to pack 1 bag, we're off for the weekend,


then blindfold her, so she wont see that you are towing the Van

hahahahahahahaha

 

[Dobbie]

If you take the tractor that might give it away.

Ploughing ??

Or other stuff?

I've always wanted to use a tractor to move the van...repair places and distributors do it and make it look easy.

Enjoy the pickup.

 

[Crusty181]

Congrats on the van Sam. The 23ft'er is a massive leap from resister to participant. Well done

As for this .....

personally camping is camping whether you are in a van or a swag or anything in between.

Ive got both .... and your right, the swag is camping, but the (in our case) 20ft'er ill admit isnt camping

 

[mfexpanda]

Congrats on the van Sam. The 23ft'er is a massive leap from resister to participant. Well done

As for this .....

Ive got both .... and your right, the swag is camping, but the (in our case) 20ft'er ill admit isnt camping

You are getting soft @Crusty181 traveling around Aust in that luxurious 20 ft behemoth you should be doing it in a swag !

 

[Crusty181]

You are getting soft @Crusty181 traveling around Aust in that luxurious 20 ft behemoth you should be doing it in a swag !

I left my slippers and aroma therapy candles at home.



(ok, i didnt leave the aroma therapy candles at home)

 

[Sammy D]

If you take the tractor that might give it away.

Ploughing ??

Or other stuff?

I've always wanted to use a tractor to move the van...repair places and distributors do it and make it look easy.

Enjoy the pickup.

Yes ploughing, but I am nearly caught up. I think with a few easy10-12 hour days this coming week and I'll be done (well until the cotton comes off at the end of the month) so maybe taking the weekend will. Be very doable.

I hadn't allowed for the school holidays though, spare sights might be at a premium in the coastal cp's. Anyway I will have plenty of time sitting in the tractor to google some different places.

And as a post script, I am well and truly excited now.............

 

[bigcol]

And as a post script, I am well and truly excited now.............

awesome news mate....

 

[Sammy D]

Well today was our big day. With a 3pm handover I was a bit nervous that we would have hassles and not be able to get it but all went swimmingly smooth (the couple beside us didn't have such good luck but I might relay there story later when I have a bit more time.)

So being complete noobs we got the full rundown on everything and I think I have my head around most things now, I was a bit worried about cramming it all in but so far I've remembered everything I needed to.

Getting settled into a cp has been a hilarious (after the fact) job though. When I googled cp's in the area I found a couple of good looking ones in the Anna bay/one mile beach area and found a link to the active holidays cp in what I thought was one mile beach, that's were the fun started. After we got away from jayco (5:15 or somewhere thereabouts) we started out for Anna bay, seeing as I was going to cut it fine to get there by 6 we gave the number a ring again and organised for them to leave us an after hours checkin pack. Anyway we got to the active holidays park at Anna bay at about 5 to 6 which I thought was perfect, that was until they said

"we have never heard of you!"

Well after a few minutes of head scratching they finally realised what my problem was, it turned out that even though I was looking at the active holidays one mile beach in Google I had got the number for active holidays soldiers point! So not a real big problem but it was a 15 minute drive or so to get to the park I had actually booked into.

So that was all good, we got to the right park and got our late checkin pack and got through the boom gate. Then I miscounted the turns and ended up a skinny lane with only cabins:doh:, well that had me laughing in an exasperated sort of way but it was a relatively easy fix. SWMBO got the job of getting out and keeping an eye out for kids and I backed out fairly promptly with only one onlooker coming up to have a grin lol. Anyway I carefully checked the map and found the right lane and we got into our spot without further ado.

Even though it isn't where I wanted to be this still seems like a very nice cp with beautiful newish clean and tidy amenities and, even though it is school holidays and it seems fullish, the crowd is very quiet which is a pleasant surprise.

I've been a bit busy so only have one photo but I will try and get some more once we hook up and head home tomorrow afternoon sometime, I'm tired enough to sleep on the floor so I don't think I will be complaining about the mattress tonight!

 

[SMJ x2]

Congratulations on your new van.
You are very keen ,pick up overnighter and a post all in one day.

 

[Dobbie]

Well done!

Don't forget to keep the Jayco book package in the van, close at hand.

We packed it away carefully ( in the car) and had to search for when we had minor fridge problems and to remind us how to use the hot water system etc etc.

And it's surprising what you forget from the handover....it's also surprising how much you remember as well.

Enjoy the van!!!

:first: :eagerness:

 

[bigcol]

awesome @Sammy D
the Boss looks pretty happy, thats the main thing

looking at the active holidays one mile beach in Google I had got the number for active holidays soldiers point!

done this a couple of times over the years
think we have booked into 1 park, to find we had the numbers mixed up

 

[Bushman]

:welcome: