Testing prior to our trip, some very simple mods and our first trip

[solterb]

Hi all have been testing things in the van and did our fist trip over the cup weekend and here are some photos and some thoughts I had along the way

- we had a flamingo and I miss the front hatch, will be adding a front tool box once warranty expires
- brought and amphibian only issue was I had a thick 15 amp power cable so had to file the hole to ensure the amphibian closed
- fitted the bed end flies from Hunter Valley annexes - took about an hour to install, very easy and only takes about 2 minutes to put up and take down. I actually store them rolled up at the top of the beds from the outside in the gap -shown in the picture below.



- seasoned the canvas
- Installed a safety Dave reversing camera - works great and replaced my reversing mirror while driving. I have an Ford Territory Titanium diesel and couldn't incorporate in to the that system.
- put in a curtain around the top bunk bed - you can see the photo and it still needs hemming but it worked a treat
- put some rubber stoppers for when the fridge opens and rest against the back of the seat
- warranty items
- Tap on A frame broke during drive back from Ballarat to Melbourne
- Gas strut screws have stripped and will need to be fixed
- water indicator on back tank shows half full when its empty
- Found the car loaded I do need to do something about either a WDH, Stiff springs or air bags - interested in peoples thoughts on pros and cos of these.
- I did have one incident, after 20 years of driving campers and never smashing, scratching etc as I was driving out of my drive and I didn't allow for the extra tail length of the expanda and took out next doors fence post, broke the external shower cover and LED - DOHHH. Good thing is when I repair it I am going to make the fence section removable will make backing in and coming out much much easier - always a silver linning
- Found the two water tanks would last about 8 days and thats using it for everything including baby bath every day or so.
- The battery didn't show any decrease in charge over the whole time we had the water pump, exhaust fan, lights going, Iphones charging and stereo playing. When I got back (didn't charge via the Anderson so I could test further) I ran all lights (LED except the two FAN ones), the two fans and the stove exhaust fan for six hours straight and i still had pretty much a full battery - I was wrapped. So my limiting factor when free camping is the water which should last 8 days without being frugal.
- Packing up and packing was sooooooo much easier than the flamingo for the obvious reasons but also because now its easier to get in and do things when the van is in the drive way. I hardly broke a sweat packing up which was not the case with the flamingo and with the flamingo you had to pack it how you wanted to find it when you went on the next trip. The expanda I can do things at home in the driveway much easier

All in all a bloody fantastic experience and very very happy with our purchase.


The chopping boards under the drop jacks I got the idea from this forum and the dishtray is not a mod but great as its small enough to fit and we also use a mat that is designed to soak up water from wet dishes.

 

[Brad]

Nice one solterb.

I have only ever used a WDH and love it. Can't compare to other options you mention.
Those fence posts have a mind of their own how they just seem to jump out and just ask to be run over.

 

[albo42]

great post thanks solterb, love those bed end flies, the chopping boards and the dish drainer - just got me itching even more for my imminent new arrival! Been wondering about how long my batt will last with the solar panel - what panel set up have you got? cheers Al

 

[Spot]

Thanks solterb for sharing your experience, love your photos partially the panoramic type photo of the camp site as it’s a typical surrounding experienced when camping with good friends which makes it all the more fun.
You have been extremely busy preparing your gear so I guess you should have smooth sailing on upcoming adventures as a result of your hard work, some great ideas taken on board also thanks.
Love the bed flies, we have the same from valley/holiday annexes waiting in the shed to install on our 16.49.04 in the week or so which look well made.
Good thing are created from destroying to make things fit, love the positive on the negative silver lining angle.

 

[expanda]

Looks great but I think the dog has the best bed in the campsite !!!!

 

[Hit the road]

magic setup solterb
Ive ordered the 17.56.1 and am wondering, is it the one batt setup with the solar and is it the standard jayco 150w solar panel?
how much did the bedends cost please, they look great, does it make it any hotter inside did you think!
Don't sweat the fence post either, im sure it had it coming!

 

[Burnsy]

Sounds like a successful first trip solterb, love the dishtray, where did you buy from? One of the wires from your water tank monitor will be shorting out underneath, I have temporarily tidied mine up but will redo, the way Jayco cable tie them to frame with no protection is sure to cause a problem.

With the strut, not sure how Jayco will fix (bigger screw, plug holes or reposition) if it was me I'd probably plug with matchstick and glue then put back in same spot. Depending on how far you are from dealer sometimes it's easier to do yourself and know it's done right. As far as the tap goes, that's a tricky one, I'm assuming the screws have sheared? Two options, drill out screws (not easy to get on centre) or reposition leaving the screws in.

I have polyairs and WDH and find I need both, the combination works great for me, however I will consider a heavier (maybe higher) spring down the track!

Cheers.

 

[solterb]

Answers to questions
- The battery setup is two 100 AMP hour batteries. I have only two ways to charge at the moment and that is via Anderrson plug while driving or mains electircity. So during the 4 days and testing when I got back I did not charge the batteries at all. So in hindsite I may have gone with one battery and solar to save space in side. I have solar pre wired and will setup in the future.
- Dish rack i found actually at Bunnings.
- Fixing things - yes did think the same myself about doing it to ensure it gets fixed properly - lets see how they go. the Tap yes they would need to be re drilled and new stronger screws used. This is something that is not uncommon from what I was told.

Forgot to add picture of curtain

 

[Spot]

Hard lid top strut bracket



Look guys the top strut brackets are inadequate for the force the strut applies and if one is able they need to fabricate brackets similar to the ones in the attached photo. I have fabricated my own which is adequately stronger removing the lever action from the two screws stabilising the bracket against the lid. The brackets are simply two L sections spot welded together and screwed to the stiffener on the roof.
I have advised Jayco of this fault which they confirmed passing my concerns on to the R&D department so hopefully the units coming off the assembly line have been amended.

 

[solterb]

That looks great. Have to get on to it.

 

[Hit the road]

Great curtain idea!
where did you get it and how did you fix it to the roof?

 

[Spot]

Brilliant, that curtain arrangement looks very professional; we are looking at doing something similar to the bunks in our 16.49.04 love to know bit about the product and how it’s mounted to the roof.

 

[Xpandafan]

Got two 120w panels on roof from Jayco. Bit of overkill. Two batteries charged by time I've had my breakfast. All the lights, TV, charging, water pumping we ever need. Always use gas for HWS. Use gas for fridge when away from mains.
Unless you're really power hungry a 120w or 130w would do fine.

 

[mrhappi]

Very nice setup you've got there. Looks like a good camp too!

 

[solterb]

Brilliant, that curtain arrangement looks very professional; we are looking at doing something similar to the bunks in our 16.49.04 love to know bit about the product and how it’s mounted to the roof.

Everything was purchased at Ikea. the rails and mounting items screw to the roof. I used screws that were compared to other things that screwed in to the roof. The roof is a bit soft but if your careful its fine. We got a normal 250cm curtain and put it on the side and stitched the curtain hooks directly on to the curtain. We still need to hem it. I am saying the preferable we but my wife is the one handling that side of it :smile:

 

[hollywood]

Nice solterb, thanks for sharing the pics, how much was the bed flys !!
Cheers

 

[solterb]

I think for both ends total of about $900 - expensive but great canvas and quality fit. Only worry that I had was that its not fixed around the bottom so not sure how its going to handle the wind.

 

[Bank of Dad]

Only worry that I had was that its not fixed around the bottom so not sure how its going to handle the wind.

Could you fit elastic ties to the bottoms like they fit to the standard screens?

 

[leesy]

Got two 120w panels on roof from Jayco. Bit of overkill. Two batteries charged by time I've had my breakfast. All the lights, TV, charging, water pumping we ever need. Always use gas for HWS. Use gas for fridge when away from mains.
Unless you're really power hungry a 120w or 130w would do fine.

I have a 120w fold out panel which keeps our 2 x 105 AH Batteries full, we bush camp heaps and never go flat!! even charging all the "kids" toys.... perhaps mine too..... we use gas the same way as Xpandafan

 

[Spot]

Thanks solterb, looked at a few places and couldn’t find track with a radius corner. Cheers