New 2013 17.56 OB

Shayne mears

New Member
Aug 21, 2013
13
1
3
Branxton, nsw
Hi all, just made a deal for a 2013 17.56 OB, hope to pick it up in a couple of weeks. We have just sold the eagle and are looking forward to getting out and about. Will be towing it with a 2012 triton glx. Although the wife and kids loved the weekends away in the eagle we decided to upgrade. We have mainly spent weekends away around the nelson Bay Area but would like to make some trips up the coast and find some great camping areas around the myall lakes area. Can't wait to get out there!!!! Will post some pics when we pick it up.

Cheers
Mearsy
 
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17triton

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2013
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Ballarat
Welcome Mearsy good to see another 17 in the ranks! Did you go the 17-56-1 or 2 and what extras?
 

Aussiecris

Member
Jun 11, 2012
51
37
18
Umina Beach
G'day Mearsy
You wont regret your decision
We upgraded from a Hawk outback to a 2010 17.56-2 Outback and couldn't be happier
especially how fast setup is and you can access the fridge for lunch on the road
look forward to see some pics

Cheers Cris
 

Shayne mears

New Member
Aug 21, 2013
13
1
3
Branxton, nsw
Thanks everyone, yeah matt we went with the 2. Has roof air, 150 fridge CD player, battery, the only extra at this stage was the external speakers but I'm considering the outside tv point. I'm also considering the holiday annexe bed end canvass, I've heard good things about them on here.

Cris, I couldn't agree more. The eagle was great for longer stays but we were doing a lot of short weekend trips and after seeing a mates 17 we saw how easy they are to setup. I'll be sure to post some pics. Anyone have any advice or ideas for other extras I should consider?
 

TTBRIDGE

Well-Known Member
Mar 12, 2013
382
348
63
Brisbane - Northside (North Lakes)
@Shayne mears, mate we got ours a few months ago. For what they are worth, get the extended draw bar. Best 300 you will ever spend. If you ever want a box on the draw bar, also easier to back and tow better.

Depending if you want to use the rear dinette. Not many spec it but we changed it out to a bunk bed. Figured we would never use the table. A flat surface (bed) can store more on. Also given storage is tight in the thing, under the bed opens up a massive amount of storage.

We have not yet filled it, but if you ever get an annex or something you will be glad for the room. So have fun, when it arrives, and welcome to the forum.
 

Soaring

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2013
998
1,249
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Melbourne - Eltham
Thanks everyone, yeah matt we went with the 2. Has roof air, 150 fridge CD player, battery, the only extra at this stage was the external speakers but I'm considering the outside tv point. I'm also considering the holiday annexe bed end canvass, I've heard good things about them on here.

Cris, I couldn't agree more. The eagle was great for longer stays but we were doing a lot of short weekend trips and after seeing a mates 17 we saw how easy they are to setup. I'll be sure to post some pics. Anyone have any advice or ideas for other extras I should consider?
Hi Mearsy,
I've just picked up the same van and am as happy as a pig in s@*t.
Unlike Tim and Trish, I went with the rear dinette. I like the idea of the lids having their own area to sit and draw /read/ipad etc. you can still convert to a lower bunk, but it means I don't get the storage a fixed lower bunk would offer. One thing that was interesting at handover ( something I can remember;)) is that you can fold the top bunk back, and use its mattress to make the lower bunk into a lounge. I also added two reading lamps under the top bunk to better illuminate the small dinette area.
Also, as per TTs point, I have found storage is a little tight, including the small front tunnel boot. The extended drawbar will allow a toolbox to be mounted to fit BBQ, hoses, tools, flooring, shade walls etc. this will be one of my first mods.
The other extras I added were roof mount solar, a drop down picnic table, and an external TV point, an external shower, and a light above the external shower.
 
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Shayne mears

New Member
Aug 21, 2013
13
1
3
Branxton, nsw
Picked up the van on Friday from Watsons caravans and Rv's from Coffs Harbour and couldn't be happier with their service. The guys were great in showing us the van, installing WDH and brake monitor. I would highly recommend Watsons Coffs Harbour to anyone wanting to purchase a Jayco. The water tanks were full, battery charged, fridge cold, chemicals in the toilet and both gas bottles were full. They also gave us one free nights accommodation to a caravan park which we used on Friday night. We stopped at Nambucca heads where we used the fridge, air con, toilet/shower etc and all worked well.

Although the Triton towed it well for most of the trip it did struggle a bit on some steep hills. This doesn't bother me as I'm not out to break any speed records. I think both water tanks being full might have contributed to this and next trip I might only fill them a quarter or so. The van its self looks great and I couldn't find any issues except on the door side of the van the 'e' is missing from the expanda sticker haha. I'll get them to wack one on at the first service. Apart from that we are very happy with the van and can't wait to get it out.
 

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Holden_man

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2012
1,407
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Brisbane - Carindale
Thats classic, the bloke putting the stickers on forgot the "e".....
just one to thing about with the water, being a bit of a novice to towing, I went to a towing safety seminar at the caravan show here in Brissy in June and they mentioned that there are benefits for Caravan stability with running tanks full as it help lower the centre of gravity for the van. Guess there may be a slight fuel penalty pulling extra weight but if it keeps things more stable then not a bad thing. Certainly changed my thinking, before if I didn't need water i didn't fill the tanks but may run them with more water now. just a bit of food for thought really.

HM
 

Shayne mears

New Member
Aug 21, 2013
13
1
3
Branxton, nsw
Thanks HM, Yeah I believe that it probably makes it more stable on the road. Our trip home was very windy and it was extremely stable on the road. Maybe the full water tanks are worth the extra few bucks in fuel to ensure stability. We are going on a short trip in two weeks time and i'll empty the tanks just to see the difference. In regards to the missing 'e' I reckon they must have put them on a Friday afternoon just when old mate was ready to knock off haha.
 

crackacoldie

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2013
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Newcastle NSW
Looking good Shayne. In the 20 odd years we have had caravans, I've always run the water tanks full, not only for stability but also for tose times you get somewhere and there isn't any mains taps, or if you decide to stop on the side of the road for a camp, etc. have emptied them quite a few times when we thought we wouldn't need them.