Moto Moto's new...........Expanda 16.49-3OB!
- Thread starter Moto Moto
- Start date
Beautiful Towing.....BTWhat's a BT?????
Thanks for the comments all, yes the BT/Expanda combo looks very nice indeed.
One thing i did notice at pick up is how much higher the new models with the Jtech suspension are, they would have to be sitting around 75mm higher than the older leaf spring models. But this van sits nice and level behind the BT (Best Truck) so very happy with my combo.
Very happy indeed @relgate. Miss Seven said to me 'lets never sell this van dad, it has everything we will ever need'. I think she has a point
One thing i did notice at pick up is how much higher the new models with the Jtech suspension are, they would have to be sitting around 75mm higher than the older leaf spring models. But this van sits nice and level behind the BT (Best Truck) so very happy with my combo.
Very happy indeed @relgate. Miss Seven said to me 'lets never sell this van dad, it has everything we will ever need'. I think she has a point
looking good @Moto Moto . what brand are the mattresses do you know? We have removed the small zip part from ours but i would be interested in a 50/50.
Hey @Antman not sure but i will check on the weekend for you.
We went away in the van last weekend to Shoalhaven Heads with the family for the first time an i can honestly say i have never been so comfortable on a an expanda mattress.
Hi @Antman I am the previous owner of the 16.49.3 that @Moto Moto now owns and I did the mods to the beds. I have contacted him and he is OK with me responding to your query about the mattresses. I copied this mod from postings by others, in particular @Lara
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/laras-16-49-1-ob.2667/page-6
I did the mod to the bed bases first. This required raising the base above the storage to be level with the base on the fold out part. I used 90 x 18mm Pine DAR for the frame and as I am not a carpenter I had to find a way to ensemble the frame inside the van. I bought some lengths of metal from Bunnings and cut into suitable lengths to use as brackets.
For the rear bed I had to trim about 10mm of the frame (80mm) but the front I didn’t. After putting the frame in I thought that maybe I should have trimmed 5mm off. As no one actually slept on the mattresses before we sold the van it I cannot say if it level. @Moto Moto may comment on this. The existing laminated lid and base plate for the storage are secured with 5 screws into the metal frame. The rear lids and rear plate were able to be used as is as the bed is vertical (other than a small cut for some wires on the right side) while I had to trim the front plate as the bed slopes inwards. I removed the plastic edging, trimmed the wood and then put the edging back on.
I bought the mattresses thru Makin Matressess which has stores in Canberra, Brisbane North and South and the Gold Coast (and others). The sizes are slightly different for the front and rear beds. Front is 1800 x 700 and the rear is 1800 and 750. If I remember correctly it is 1800 which is just right to fit between the metal supports on the outside of the beds. These dimensions mean they are a tight fit. The two pieces are then velroed together.
Others who have done this mod have said that their new mattresses are 20cm thick. When we were ordering ours the ones we selected were about this thickness (hard to measure) and at the last minute we said yes to pillow tops on both sides. Once we got them ( two days before we went on a 4 week trip) we found that they were about 21cm thick and made it very difficult to fold the beds. As it was just the two of us travelling we left the front mattresses at home and traveled with one of the rear in each of the front and rear. Meant making the bed up each stop.
When we got back to Canberra I rang Makin Mattresses and asked if they could remove one of the pillow top, which they did for a very small amount considering they picked them up, altered them (4 mattresses) and then delivered them back. The altered ones are about 19cm thick.
All up the mattresses cost about $1000, for the originals and alterations. Best value spent and result in a very comfortable bed.
The other big plus for doing this mod is the gain in storage space.
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/laras-16-49-1-ob.2667/page-6
I did the mod to the bed bases first. This required raising the base above the storage to be level with the base on the fold out part. I used 90 x 18mm Pine DAR for the frame and as I am not a carpenter I had to find a way to ensemble the frame inside the van. I bought some lengths of metal from Bunnings and cut into suitable lengths to use as brackets.
For the rear bed I had to trim about 10mm of the frame (80mm) but the front I didn’t. After putting the frame in I thought that maybe I should have trimmed 5mm off. As no one actually slept on the mattresses before we sold the van it I cannot say if it level. @Moto Moto may comment on this. The existing laminated lid and base plate for the storage are secured with 5 screws into the metal frame. The rear lids and rear plate were able to be used as is as the bed is vertical (other than a small cut for some wires on the right side) while I had to trim the front plate as the bed slopes inwards. I removed the plastic edging, trimmed the wood and then put the edging back on.
I bought the mattresses thru Makin Matressess which has stores in Canberra, Brisbane North and South and the Gold Coast (and others). The sizes are slightly different for the front and rear beds. Front is 1800 x 700 and the rear is 1800 and 750. If I remember correctly it is 1800 which is just right to fit between the metal supports on the outside of the beds. These dimensions mean they are a tight fit. The two pieces are then velroed together.
Others who have done this mod have said that their new mattresses are 20cm thick. When we were ordering ours the ones we selected were about this thickness (hard to measure) and at the last minute we said yes to pillow tops on both sides. Once we got them ( two days before we went on a 4 week trip) we found that they were about 21cm thick and made it very difficult to fold the beds. As it was just the two of us travelling we left the front mattresses at home and traveled with one of the rear in each of the front and rear. Meant making the bed up each stop.
When we got back to Canberra I rang Makin Mattresses and asked if they could remove one of the pillow top, which they did for a very small amount considering they picked them up, altered them (4 mattresses) and then delivered them back. The altered ones are about 19cm thick.
All up the mattresses cost about $1000, for the originals and alterations. Best value spent and result in a very comfortable bed.
The other big plus for doing this mod is the gain in storage space.
What's a BT?????
Boys Toy..
Looking good MM, certainly shinier than when I saw it prior to pick up, glad to see you managed to drag it away already.
Thanks for the info @BruceD by far my favorite expanda mod ever. I have since added a sheepskin underlay to the rear bed for added warm and comfort and the bed folds up fine with that and a fitted sheet. So probably bang on 200mm thick now.
Yep the boys at Albury did a great job detailing the van for delivery, i was very impressed with their service.
Boys Toy..
Looking good MM, certainly shinier than when I saw it prior to pick up, glad to see you managed to drag it away already.
Yep the boys at Albury did a great job detailing the van for delivery, i was very impressed with their service.
Did a few things to the van for the first trip away, the usual shower screen to keep the bog catcher dry, kept in place with the some Bunnings suction cap hooks, and shelves in the robe (@BruceD had already done all the hard work there for me though).
Also discovered that there is ample room in the dinette area for out porta-cot, only use it at night though, day sleep on on a bed end for the 6 month old.
The van got the tick of approval from a local too
Also discovered that there is ample room in the dinette area for out porta-cot, only use it at night though, day sleep on on a bed end for the 6 month old.
The van got the tick of approval from a local too
Glad you reminded me, best be doing that mod tomorrow as I had forgotten to do it before we go way in a couple of weeks and my stepson will appreciate the extra length.