Looking for our first van

[Getting it Easy]

Thanks for the opportunity to join this site.

We are about buy our first van and would like some advice on what is around. We have been looking for about a 6 weeks and are finding it a little daunting. We need something that will fit 4 kids, mum and dad.

That said our other important thing is that we don't have the biggest of tow vehicles, we have a KIA carnival with a towing capacity of 2000KG. All this in mind we have narrowed it down to the Jayco Expanda style of van, in particular something with bunks will be a necessity, single axle around the 15-16ft in length. Next deciding thing is budget so if we can get away with mid to high twenties we would be happy.

Have rang a few dealers and looked locally with not much luck. If you guys and girls can give us any pros and cons for what we are looking at that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bigcol]

hiya, @Getting it Easy welcome to the forum
lots of great people on here with heaps of knowledge for sure...........

what to buy............. certainly a very hard decision

keeping it under the 2000kgs will be hard, but can be done

have a look for the 16" touring (on road van) probably around the 2003 year
this will get you under the weight, but hopefully also under the budget

gumtree will be your friend and constant companion until you find what your looking for

once you have had that for awhile, you most probably will upgrade your tug.......... for more towing capacity

 

[Delano]

Thanks for the opportunity to join this site.

We are about buy our first van and would like some advice on what is around. We have been looking for about a 6 weeks and are finding it a little daunting. We need something that will fit 4 kids, mum and dad.

That said our other important thing is that we don't have the biggest of tow vehicles, we have a KIA carnival with a towing capacity of 2000KG. All this in mind we have narrowed it down to the Jayco Expanda style of van, in particular something with bunks will be a necessity, single axle around the 15-16ft in length. Next deciding thing is budget so if we can get away with mid to high twenties we would be happy.

Have rang a few dealers and looked locally with not much luck. If you guys and girls can give us any pros and cons for what we are looking at that would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome @Getting it Easy .
We also had the dilemma of 2tonne towing capacity
And also wanting room for our kids and grandchildren
Decided to buy the 16.49-4 on road Expanda which has bunks as well as 2 double beds.

 

[Tricky]

Welcome to the forum. You are right - the tow capacity will limit you to a 16 ft Expanda

 

[chartrock]

Welcome @Getting it Easy, enjoy the forum. Good luck with your search and I agree with the previous posts but you should really enjoy a 16' with bunks.

 

[twscoot]

16 foot as others have said is where you should be looking.

With your car I'd be looking at ATM (total weight of van including payload) closer to 1600-1800kgs than the full 2000kgs. Check your ball weight too. This might be a limiting factor.

Narrow yourself down to two or three models and you'll get a feel for the value (or not)

A quick search found several secondhand 16.49-2 Expandas available but not near you. We had ours for about five years (2 adults and 2 kids) and loved it.

When searching on caravan sales use the keyword 'bunk' in your search. This will help and usually comes up many with family orientated vans.

You can then narrow the search by location, length, make etc. The Jayco brand will serve you well in the resale of your van.

 

[Bank of Dad]

Hi mate. Ideally a 17.56-2 standard would suit your tribe, but your car won't. A 16' with a full annex is your go, the kids outgrow the bunks quickly anyhow. What's the ages, boys / girls etc? If you have girls, a shower / toilet is the go.....the wife will love you for it. Go for the hard lid expand as too.......pm if you have any issues or questions you don't want out there!

 

[dagree]

Hi @Getting it Easy and welcome to the forum.
Agree with many above that the 16' tourer (on road) expanda with bunks would suit the best due to weight limitations.

We sold our 2007 non hard lid model (toilet/shower not bunk bed model) 14 months ago for $27,500 so that might give you an idea of costs.
Bear in mind we are in WA (Wait Awhile) and prices are slightly higher over this way.

If not a lot of options nearby there is always the option of a road trip to pick one up if feasible and enjoy a leisurely trip home with it over a few days

 

[17triton]

My 2012 17-56-1 has a tare of 1650 and is for sale but a bit dearer than what you are looking at. But you might be able to add that model to the search.

 

[willobee]

I would agree the 16s are probably the go.
We are 2 adults and 3 small kids and the 16.49.4 will suit us for a long time we hope.
External shower has that sorted and we will probably get a porta loo as the kids get older

 

[Getting it Easy]

Thanks to everyones comments they are greatly apreciated. It seem we are on the right track with the 16.49 size van. Spoke to a jayco dealler in Brisbane yesterday and he was very helpful. Helped me understand what the model numbers where and explained them. He told me that for a bunk version I would be looking for either a -2 or -4 in the later models. Standard size fridge was a 90L but I might find one with the larger fridge as some where optioned to a 150L. Most of the late model expandas have the 150 as standard. Loooking at all the sites that you have suggested their is a few choices in Vic and NSW a road trip might be in order.

Being limited by our towning vehicle is not going to change soon, with all our kids under 11 we need the "soccer mum" car to get us and the kids around and we alway have a spare kid in the mix.

We are moving out of the caming stage and we have got a lot of stuff we can use in the van. Genorator, solar panels, shower, toilet and all the mod cons that you need when glamping, pretty much evrything thing to be self sufficent.

Found a link to a 2007 brochure that might help some else and it can be found here.