Our 2013 17.56.2 Outback

[geejay13]

Ok here's hoping this all works.
Got the new rig in March, it ticked all the boxes for us space, the feeling of still 'camping', ease of set up, comfort and the all important price. We visited the yard many times and planned our personalisation of the panda. Jayco agreed to remove the bunks and replace it with a bench with a washing machine hidden away at the back end (happy wife.......)we also put some led down lights over the bench and the cafe diner, then added some suction towel rails, some shelves in the robe to make a pantry and a tv bracket so I can watch the footy

 

[paulie484]

Washing machine bench...That's mental !! Love it

And, you have the best profile pic ;-) think I've stood in that exact spot !

 

[geejay13]

Next was the spare wheel problem. Can't believe Jayco 'designers' thought consumers would be OK with taking the gas bottles off to replace a flat! We specified 4.5kg bottles and still couldn't get the spare out. So I removed both bottles and regulator, welded on 2 pieces of 50x50 galv sq tube to support a gullwing toolbox(which I scored for an absolute bargain) welded another steel tube 76x38 laid flat behind the 50x50 and welded a wind down chain mechanism purchased from a wreckers, for more than the tool box!! This can be worked using a long bar similar to what we use for the drop jacks. Result gas bottles enclosed out of sight and an accessible spare wheel with the bonus of some space for man stuff. The added weight is less than the original spare cradle which came in at 12kgs when I removed it More pics to come bsafe

 

[geejay13]

Washing machine bench...That's mental !! Love it

And, you have the best profile pic ;-) think I've stood in that exact spot !

 

[geejay13]

Hi Paulie thanks for that, if you know the spot lets keep it a secret a little longer , it's my favourite place sshhuusshh.

 

[paulie484]

I'm hearin ya...was there few weeks back for school hols, had to wait two years !!

 

[17triton]

Next was the spare wheel problem. Can't believe Jayco 'designers' thought consumers would be OK with taking the gas bottles off to replace a flat! We specified 4.5kg bottles and still couldn't get the spare out. So I removed both bottles and regulator, welded on 2 pieces of 50x50 galv sq tube to support a gullwing toolbox(which I scored for an absolute bargain) welded another steel tube 76x38 laid flat behind the 50x50 and welded a wind down chain mechanism purchased from a wreckers, for more than the tool box!! This can be worked using a long bar similar to what we use for the drop jacks. Result gas bottles enclosed out of sight and an accessible spare wheel with the bonus of some space for man stuff. The added weight is less than the original spare cradle which came in at 12kgs when I removed itView attachment 14139 View attachment 14140 View attachment 14142 View attachment 14141 View attachment 14143 More pics to come bsafe

Great stuff mate, love the mods great toolbox! The bench in place of the bunks is a ripper too.

 

[TTBRIDGE]

We get ours in a couple of week, but i have to say i love the idea of an extra bench space and washer. Would be the ideal van for a lap with a few kids, particularly with the washing machine.

 

[Lara]

What a brilliant idea, Love the extra bench space and washing machine.
Now that is one unique Expanda!

 

[geejay13]

Guys my lady takes all the credit for the washer bench. I wanted to buy 16.43.3 ( would of been plenty big enough for the two of us...... My male thinking) but MrsGJ just loves her washing... She really does and it was on her list of 5 most important wants/ needs so we had to go for a 17 series because Jayco wouldn't fit one in the 16 series. Having lived in the panda she was absolutely 100% right and his van is right for us for the foreseeable future

 

[Lara]

Clever wife you have yourself geejay13! When I think about how much I spend/waste on washine machines and dryers when away.......... Really wish I had a washing machine in the Expanda, it would pay for itself in no time!

 

[geejay13]

OK, for Burnsy and others.I found the table Jayco provide to be a little bit big or maybe thats me! So I thought I would make a slightly narrower table to replace the original. I purchased a new table assembly and used a piece of 17 mm AA quality ply, left over from making go- carts for the grandies at Christmas. I really didn't have a plan but didn't want to drill any un necessary holes so thought around the original table fixings. So the table is 550 mm wide and 1110mm long. After cutting and sanding the ply and then fixing the table I came to the stark conclusion the table was still too big to comfortably slouch and read or watch tv. Doh! So I thought I would cut the table into three sections like on some of the more expensive vans around . Here's some pics. Dimensions and method available as well BsafeView attachment 14158 View attachment 14160 View attachment 14161 View attachment 14162

 

[geejay13]

Pics again

 

[Pace]

GJ13, wow that is great table/ shelf set up :first: . You know we had our house built by a mainstream builder and we altered the plan to suit our needs/liking. The next season of new homes released from that same builder they had our alerted plan as their new design.

So watch out for this to become an option for expandas now. Cheers Pace.

 

[Johnstons]

We love the table idea and have been wanting to do that for a awhile but too scared to cut!!!!!!!!!:nightmare:

 

[17triton]

Pics againView attachment 14163 View attachment 14164 View attachment 14165 View attachment 14166

Damn this forum looks like another job lol!!!

 

[Geoff]

Top idea and great looking result GJ13.

 

[Soaring]

Great mod. I've also found the table is "too big" but surprisingly it only occurs where I sits it. Not where any of the tin lids sit. The table looks to be even and square.......must be some sort optical illusion I think,

 

[cruza driver]

@bushpalace has done the same thing in his 16

Neat job mate

 

[Scott Rowlands]

Hi GJ13
love what you have done with the spare wheel and toolbox! Have you got a standard drawbar or an extended one?

Next was the spare wheel problem. Can't believe Jayco 'designers' thought consumers would be OK with taking the gas bottles off to replace a flat! We specified 4.5kg bottles and still couldn't get the spare out. So I removed both bottles and regulator, welded on 2 pieces of 50x50 galv sq tube to support a gullwing toolbox(which I scored for an absolute bargain) welded another steel tube 76x38 laid flat behind the 50x50 and welded a wind down chain mechanism purchased from a wreckers, for more than the tool box!! This can be worked using a long bar similar to what we use for the drop jacks. Result gas bottles enclosed out of sight and an accessible spare wheel with the bonus of some space for man stuff. The added weight is less than the original spare cradle which came in at 12kgs when I removed itView attachment 14139 View attachment 14140 View attachment 14142 View attachment 14141 View attachment 14143 More pics to come bsafe