New 17.56-2

benrosenick

Active Member
Nov 26, 2013
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Sydney, NSW
www.bushpalace.com.au
Hi there,

Just ordered a new ex-stock (Nov 13 build) 17.56-2 OB from Jayco Newcastle, trading up from a 2006 Swan OB. It has air, Drifter, large fridge, LED lights, wind up aerial, ext shower and stereo- with the exception of the Drifter all 'standard' options now I think? In addition have added external speakers, picnic table, 170w solar, annex walls and bed converter. TV and battery will be coming from the Swan, and the dealer is throwing in the 12 pin plug, hotwire and breakaway monitor.

Have already ordered some LED strip lights and remote control for annex lighting, and TV mount based on what I have seen here; once I have it will be looking for best option to get 4 bikes onto it somewhere as well.

Whoever we were camped next to in Dubbo Big4 about 6 weeks ago has a lot to answer for... My wife watched him setup in about 10 minutes, and so after setting the Swan up again last weekend for an hour (full annex etc) decided we should 'have a look' at Jayco Newcastle to see if there were any 2nd hand expandas with bunks & shower. Turns out there were only a couple of new ones....

Picking it up in 3 weeks, just in time to head off for Christmas!
 

chartrock

Forum Patriarch
Staff member
Sep 26, 2010
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Welcome to the forum @benrosenick, you have been caught the same way a lot of members have been, watching some one else set up an Expanda while spending lots more time setting up a camper. Congratulations, you wont look back now. :D
 
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benrosenick

Active Member
Nov 26, 2013
146
181
43
Sydney, NSW
www.bushpalace.com.au
Hi @benrosenick. Nice move up. Don't feel too bad about skipping the usual "character-building waiting period" You'll hardly need a count down timer for 3 weeks!
Thanks @Xpandafan, Lol... You know, I think I'll be ok! Having said that, 17 Dec is feeling like a fair way off- I don't know how anyone manages waiting for months... Buying new stock doesn't seem like the worst option if you are lucky enough to find what you are after on the lot.


Also made an executive decision to get WDH and anti-sway today. There seems to be pretty polar views on WDH needs for Expandas but eventually I've settled on a 'can't do any harm' perspective, and given I'm not planning to upgrade the suspension on my tug (2013 Prado diesel) I reckon it's a sensible path. Also now looking for a reasonably priced 23" 12v TV and interested in recommendations for a cover. Had a good one on the Swan (Prestige) and so am tending towards that, but interested in any opinions.
 
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benrosenick

Active Member
Nov 26, 2013
146
181
43
Sydney, NSW
www.bushpalace.com.au
That could possibly be me, we were there a few weeks back and yes i do use a drill :D. what car did they have?

I've no idea-as soon as I got whiff of the competition I spent the next 3 days looking the other way! We were on an ensuite site, was probably around September, a week or so before the bush fires in the Blue Mts...
 
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benrosenick

Active Member
Nov 26, 2013
146
181
43
Sydney, NSW
www.bushpalace.com.au
Thanks @Bushman, definitely - and also now get to dispose of all of the gear I'd bought to compensate for in the Swan; chemical toilet, Coleman Hot Water, shower tent, extra fridge... I didn't realise until I unpacked all of the gear that we permanently left in the Swan but I reckon theres easily 100KG in there that I'd never really accounted for!
 

benrosenick

Active Member
Nov 26, 2013
146
181
43
Sydney, NSW
www.bushpalace.com.au
The wait is starting to get expensive... since we signed on the dotted line I've got a new 24" 12v TV, LED light strip & associated bits ready to fit under the awning, a new Baby Q bbq (had the Gasmate Cruiser before but can't use it with the bayonets), ordered an additional gas bayonet from the dealer (came with one on the front, added one to the rear - $205 fitted which sounds reasonable based on other prices I read about here), new 18v drill/driver so I can permanently allocate my old 12v to the Expanda, new linen (not my idea), tv mounting arm, VESA quick release..... and thats on top of the WDH & anti sway.

Oh - forgot - was planning to re-use battery from Swan but its only 40ah, so have also bought a new 130ah battery as well...

Hopefully my discretionary funds will hold out until I can collect it week after next!
 
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