Hi all another newbie doing research on the expanders - working out options

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solterb

Member
Mar 10, 2012
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Melbourne
ok have sold the flamingo for more than i brought it for - not by much but i think its the only thing I have ever sold second hand after buying new and made money.

The 17.56-1 is in at Ballarat and driving up from Melbourne to pick up Thursday. Have got the LED ready for the camping trip over cup weekend with out any power. This weekend away for two weeks holidaying up north to burn the germs out of our winter bodies. When we get back the following weekend is cup weekend and we are going away up around Barmah for about 4 days to try out the new Van. The oldest 5 - is exited about his new bunk the other oldest 47 is exited about not having to setup and pack up a flamingo!!! will miss it but really looking forward to the luxury. 3 more sleeps...
 
Xpandafan

Xpandafan

Seriously Likeable!
Aug 24, 2012
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Kealba, Victoria
Welcome. You'll sure miss that Flamingo. We did, as I think I posted elsewhere, the saddest time was the couple of weeks between dropping the Flamingo off and picking up our Expanda. We have never looked back since! We are in ours now in Moama for a few days. Set up is a breeze. Demonstrated a few tricks learned/shared on this forum and had the guy on the next site trying hard not to look interested. Our Expanda is longer than his Winnabago.
 
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solterb

Member
Mar 10, 2012
72
27
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Melbourne
ok have the green light for pick up Thursday. Now I did want the reversing camera in but Safety Dave had a supply issue from China so now I am getting a bit nervous about backing in to the driveway. I used to be able to do the Flamingo fairly comfortably but the extra length and width is worrying me. I have measured and can fit it in. It all comes down to parked cars on the side and my reversing skills!
IMG_0523 (Small).JPG
 
paulie484

paulie484

Active Member
Apr 12, 2012
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Perth WA
You'll be fine backing in...twin axle makes life easier
I had a swan and now 17.56.1 ob...took me nearly hour to get out of our tight storage spot (only a inch or so each side) but once out they are pretty responsive to move
 
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solterb

Member
Mar 10, 2012
72
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Melbourne
It FITS!!!. The hardest bit was getting the right angle off the road without scraping the side as you go through the openning.

IMG_0008 (Medium).JPGIMG_0009 (Medium).JPGIMG_0007 (Medium).JPG
 
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solterb

Member
Mar 10, 2012
72
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Melbourne
Drove up to Ballarat to pick up the beast this morning and had a good handover of about 1.5 hours. All is as I ordered it and all seems to be working (need to test fridge yet). Things that I noted
- Like to new external table its easy to add another if you want as its not recessed like the old one
- Too many keys - will change when warranty is over
- no plug on the gas bayonet so if its dusty etc need to do something about that.
- Measured and didn't need WDH
- It towed like a dream - sat on 110 with no issues (I have the new ford titanium diesel model)
- Fuel consumption was 12 litres per 100 KM. It was from Ballarat so its was a more downhill than up and there was at some stages a strong side and then a few places tail wind. So would imagine it will go up a litre or so, still very happy with that. With side wind, up hills or down didn't feel at any time it was difficult.
 
Xpandafan

Xpandafan

Seriously Likeable!
Aug 24, 2012
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And congratulations from me. Well done slotting it up the driveway without taking down the fence first. Off to the Shamrock (Echuca) for dinner and end of this brief getaway, so I'll have one to christen your new baby. Too thirsty to wait for Holden Man's delivery!
 
Holden_man

Holden_man

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Aug 21, 2012
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Brisbane - Carindale
Xpandafan said:
And congratulations from me. Well done slotting it up the driveway without taking down the fence first. Off to the Shamrock (Echuca) for dinner and end of this brief getaway, so I'll have one to christen your new baby. Too thirsty to wait for Holden Man's delivery!
Click to expand...

:D
that makes two of us mate......
Hope ya havin a XXXX not a VB
 
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Glenn

New Member
Sep 6, 2012
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Bittern, VIC
G'Day solterb,

After driving Semi's for many years it much easier to reverse into a driveway on the drivers side of the vehicle than the blind side, didn't rely on any Camera's until i got the Disco !

Sorry Jas much prefer a full strenght than a mid, Go the VB !

Cheers Glenn
 
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solterb

Member
Mar 10, 2012
72
27
18
Melbourne
Glenn said:
G'Day solterb,

After driving Semi's for many years it much easier to reverse into a driveway on the drivers side of the vehicle than the blind side, didn't rely on any Camera's until i got the Disco !

Sorry Jas much prefer a full strenght than a mid, Go the VB !

Cheers Glenn
Click to expand...

Yep found that as well - its also a slightly better angle come from that side - not as tight.

Me I am a bourbon man myself
 
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solterb

Member
Mar 10, 2012
72
27
18
Melbourne
Two other things re the van
- One dual battery placement is not great they take up a lot of room
- no longer have a valve to control water to the two tanks they perform as one. Not sure if thats going to bother me or not.
- Tare with 1800 Kg total about 2200. So have to think about that if I add a storage box and Genie.

Had a bit of a play and installed some LED last night got them from ebay and they were 90 bucks for 8 standard and 2 of the down lights. Much cheaper than bright lights auto parts. they were going to cost me about $250 but got them from LEDNomad for $90! Good service etc but not sure of the longevity obviously yet.
 
brookes2622

brookes2622

Active Member
Jun 24, 2012
383
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Bywong NSW
Glenn said:
G'Day solterb,

After driving Semi's for many years it much easier to reverse into a driveway on the drivers side of the vehicle than the blind side, didn't rely on any Camera's until i got the Disco !

Cheers Glenn
Click to expand...

Sorry to side track this thread a bit but it should be for long. I wonder what you mean Glenn when you say "drivers side" vs "blind side"?
 
Antman

Antman

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2012
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Brisbane
almcrae.blogspot.com.au
Holden_man

Holden_man

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2012
1,407
341
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Brisbane - Carindale
Antman said:
When we did our pickup in Mildura, the lady doing the handover got a white rubber door stop and it fits straight over the gas bayonet and stops all the dust! Cheap, quick and easy. Its underneath so you can't see it so didn't matter what it looked like.

Like this one http://www.lsc.com.au/image/cache/product-detail-large-9d6dd350115af63f752dcf64936da2fa.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks ant,
That's a simple, cheap, but effective solution, just the type I like, thanks for sharing.
Jas
 
Holden_man

Holden_man

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2012
1,407
341
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Brisbane - Carindale
solterb said:
Yep found that as well - its also a slightly better angle come from that side - not as tight.

Me I am a bourbon man myself
Click to expand...

Bourbon...VB..... What's wrong with you folk south of the border.:bounce:
You guys need to come up here and drink real beer. :thumb: we have laws up here about drinking VB.
 
macca

macca

(aka maccayak)
Mar 20, 2012
1,660
832
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Victoria
Full strengh VB returning very soon, original recipe. Should be in stores within the next week or so.
 
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