Warren,
Congrats on your new van, from my experience. I think for your size family you have made a good choice in van. I have read most people will have a number of vans over the years as the family changes and working out what you want.
Our first 16” was really to small and after going through a couple of caravan shows, only the 20ft expanda was our fit. 99% of all other family vans are the same layout with a small dinette, but we want to all fit around the table, and with guests.
Have a stone stomper lined up, but until I can get measurements, cant order it, is yours a extended drawer bar ? Where abouts in Sydney are you ? if I can ask ? But we are looking forward to everything about the van, and yes just waiting as then we do a 6 weeks trip to WA at XMAS.
Afternoon Swerve,
What a beautiful day in Sydney hey!
Originally I was trying to keep costs down and look for a smaller van, being our first time and all that, did not want to run the risk of it not being used and have to sell up and lose money. However, after a few months online working my way through the spider web of potential vans and settling on a 17ft Expanda, the wife basically said that if we are going to this then lets do it properly and make sure we have everything we want when we go away. I took her to the caravan expo at Rose Hill this year and we both fell in love with the 20.64-1. The dinette was one of the major selling points for the same reason as yours, along with the way it makes the van feel even bigger. The other major difference was the en suite set up, it just gives the van a more homely feel and is much more practical than most of the other Expandas.
With no more additions to the family we have had it set up with accessories with a view of growing into the van over the next 10 years, there really should not be a reason to change from this one. Even then when we factored in the depreciation it really is an investment, unlike buying cars (which I have plenty of experience in).
I did not extend the drawbar, even though I done months of research reading through forums it didn't seem too relevant at the time. From my understanding it makes the reversing easier and also allows for extra storage on the front. Now I have the taken the van out the reversing was fine but I admit I would like to have an extra box on the front for tools etc. I thought I would have enough storage with the front boot, that is until I picked up the bed end storm covers and the full annex, accompanied with the extended captains quarters and front porch, anti flap kit and poles, outdoor shower tent, damn I wish I knew what was coming with trying to store all that stuff. I am looking at putting a mesh cage under the rear of the van though to help with some stuff, plenty of ground clearance so might work!
Being first timers I had to research and buy EVERYTHING, I had a huge list of things and can not believe how much there is to consider when basically setting up for a family of 6, camp chairs, bedding, cutlery, matching towels for the colour scheme (the wife insisted), the list goes on. I have to admit though I enjoyed every minute of it, shopping on line between stores and getting them when the sales were on, reading the posts from the experienced guys really helped as well.
The stone stomper, is that a guard across the front of the Van? that would be a wise investment as it looks like you get to do more travelling around this huge country than I will for the moment and will be gliding along the occasional dirt road.
I live in Luddenham near where the new airport will be built, how about yourself?
The only issues I have come across so far are:
1. On the strap that is used to keep the en suite door closed, the press stud has broken, easy fix though. This is something I highlighted tot he missus as a potential problem with the kids just yanking at it.
2. The other issue is the DVD player on the TV stopped working on our first trip away. Warranty claim when I get the chance to take it in. (lucky I had my laptop which has Foxtel go on it for the kids evening movie time)
3. Being so high off the ground a step is need for the kids and also to stop someone rolling their ankle, I have looked at the double pull out step but not sure yet, time will tell.
6 week trip at xmas sounds great, I have to settle for a couple of weeks to Queensland and back, never the less I cant wait for the trip. What route are you taking to WA, are you going around the top or across the middle? I feeling Jealous!
