The What Did You Do On The Weekend Thread!!

[leesy]

Hey Jas

We have the Baby Q100EAU -has the high lid, temp gauge and continuous spark for $10 more than the Q100AU. Absolutely love it!. We used it over the weekend to cook for 4 adults and an infant whilst away. We cooked bread - pics to come in the bread post, a roast for dinner and toast, bacon and eggs for breaky on the breakfast plate that was actually designed for the Q200 rather than 100. On the breaky plate I cooked the bacon first and then put to the side whilst cooking the eggs. 8 eggs will fit on the breaky plate (10 at a push) and with the lid down take no time at all to cook. BTW - cooks toast pretty well too! Just heat the toast up about 2mins before eggs cooked in the Expanda's grill as it takes forever to toast bread and its small - i cooked 7 slices at once on the Q

Im not sure what size the front storage is in your expanda, but in the 16", the q will fit only with lid off and has to put into it from the inside. Im thinking that the box the bbq came in will actually fit under the dinette table... going to have a play and see if it does. If so, my plan is to put a blue tarp in a bag in the top of the box, that will come out first and go on the ground (to keep sand and stuff out of the box on pack up) then the box will sit at the front of our van. Well thats the plan.

Ants

Hi Ants,
I too have the baby Q with high hood, BIG FAN they are just great, i was taking the hood off and storing in the front hatch but it had to go in from the inside of the van which was a bit painful.
I just had a large heavy canvas bag made and will travel with it on top of the spare wheel strapped down, i think it will be safe there and out of the way too!
Cheers

 

[Antman]

Hi Ants,

I just had a large heavy canvas bag made and will travel with it on top of the spare wheel strapped down, i think it will be safe there and out of the way too!
Cheers

Let me know how it goes on the spare wheel, would be interested in seeing this setup. Could be a really good spot for it.
Cheers
Ants

 

[Xpandafan]

Thanks ants,
You had a pretty good cook up. Thanks for the info, really appreciated it. Interesting the 200 plate fits in the 100. The main BBQ we would use it for would be brekky and steak type main meals with the odd roast. Do you reckon the webber is the right type if barbie for that?

And Xpandafan, given your penchant for led lighting why am I not surprised you got the model with LED lights

Thanks for the info, certainly makes a tough decision between 200 and 100.

Jas

I guess I'm just stupid, Jas. These are the three most expensive LEDs I've purchased. And now evenings are drawing out I'll have to cook dinner at 9.00pm just so someone will see the lights. Don't fancy breakfast cook up at 4.30am either.

 

[Holden_man]

I guess I'm just stupid, Jas. These are the three most expensive LEDs I've purchased. And now evenings are drawing out I'll have to cook dinner at 9.00pm just so someone will see the lights. Don't fancy breakfast cook up at 4.30am either.

Nah mate you're not stupid, just a bit scared of the dark I reckon :scared:
If they are available I'll be getting LEDs too!!

 

[Xpandafan]

Managed a lamb rack roast in the BabyQ tonight (complete with led lighting which goes on automatically when you open lid) following a day at the Elmore Field Days. Looked nearly as good as the photo in the instruction book and tasted fantastic. Full points so far.

 

[leesy]

Let me know how it goes on the spare wheel, would be interested in seeing this setup. Could be a really good spot for it.
Cheers
Ants

Will do Ants, i have already had the large canvas bag made by Alpine canvas who do the awnings for some of the Jayco dealers here in Vic, i am also looking at the fold up fire from Drifta to be stored in the same spot, i have had my half a beer keg in that spot with no dramas so i recon the space should be ok, will try on the weekend and let you know.
Cheers

 

[Xpandafan]

Had a great couple of days at A Shady River (Big 4) caravan park at Moama (NSW). Proprietors been there about 18months and are doing a lot of good work. Nice timber-framed compacted granitic sand van site. Tall gums providing dappled shade and lovely outlook. Pools (2), Jumping Pillow, playground, games room etc. Clean, bright, well serviced amenities, etc.
Located a few clicks from Echuca and situated right between the Moama RSL and Morrisons Winery.
Gave a few recent mods a trial. The bed end privacy screens now don't need guy ropes. The new carpet was terrific underfoot in the mornings. Also christened the Weber BabyQ (rack of lamb with sweet chilli) BBQ fits nicely in the front hatch.


Sullage hoses cut to size and fitted with joiners, stored in chassis rails worked well (2 long lengths slide into rails from rear; shorter length into cross rail at front). Fresh water hose couplings join up to seal hose for storage and goes in canvas bag. My coach screw/angle bracket awning pegs (screwed in with rechargeable impact driver) attracted a bit of attention.


Now to plan for Melbourne Cup long weekend – hopefully Balmoral (Victoria) to follow up some family history.

 

[Xpandafan]

Elmore is a great day out, I worked the show for a few years and it was always good fun, enjoy!

Hi Paul. You'll be pleased to hear that we certainly had a great day at the Elmore Field Days (on Wed). Weather was perfect and atmosphere was great.
Thanks for encouraging the visit.

 

[Antman]

Hey Expandafan,
Can you explain to me the sullage hose setup and how you stop it from falling out?
Thanks Ants.

 

[Xpandafan]

Hey Expandafan,
Can you explain to me the sullage hose setup and how you stop it from falling out?
Thanks Ants.

Hi Ants...I simply fed the hose in as far as it would go (try both rails first) then cut to match with just enough excess to simply tuck up at the back of the van (for the two long lengths) and give you something to grab hold of. The shorter (cross) piece is cut to an exact fit. The weight of the hose and friction seems to hold it all together quite nicely. I used a mixture of threaded plastic joiners I got from Bunnings and the push on rubber-like joiners to give me a few different combinations. I have another 2m length in the front locker in case I need it. Does away with the space robbing coiled hose in a bag thing. Happy to measure or post some specific pics if you need.

 

[brookes2622]

I do the same with the sullage hose but double it over at the end then wedge it in. Haven't lost it yet but it is early days.

 

[relgate]

I do the same with the sullage hose but double it over at the end then wedge it in. Haven't lost it yet but it is early days.

Me too. I found one came out a little on one trip. Not sure but perhaps i didnt put it in tightly enough.
I've found it a bit of a lottery getting the longer hose into the chassis rail. It seems to snag easily on teck screws. I suspect the cheap bunnings hose doesnt help as it is vry thin and not at all rigid.

 

[Xpandafan]

It's probably those screws that Relgate mentions that provide what I call friction. Heavier hose still tends to want to coil so that helps keep it in place. None of mine have moved at all on trip back from Moama, but as it is early days I might fix long ends to rear bar with removeable cable ties. (Just in case!)

 

[relgate]

It's probably those screws that Relgate mentions that provide what I call friction. Heavier hose still tends to want to coil so that helps keep it in place. None of mine have moved at all on trip back from Moama, but as it is early days I might fix long ends to rear bar with removeable cable ties. (Just in case!)

I'm going to continue to live dangerously!

 

[andrea]

Ants, we have our sullage and hose on the spare wheel. We've always put it there...Matt just occy straps it on. Just returning from a 4000km trip (now done 6000km all up) and haven't had any problems.

 

[Bushman]

Well sadly we are back from our adventure outback NSW :frown: so the weekend will be spent doing the chores you have to catch up on, not to mention cleanig the Panda and tug not to mention fixing the fliclk mixer tap on the Panda sink which for some reason has come loose. :mmph:

But as it's so wet had crappy here today I guess I'll just have to finish my report and do the indoor stuff, all the while reminding my self that the Victoria HC meet up is only 7 wks away :rockon:

 

[cruza driver]

Our weekend started last weekend started last weekend and ended today when we returned from a week (7 nights) up around Corryong and Tumbarumba and a vist to Geehi Hut as well. Trip report to come :thumb:

 

[Greg]

This weekend Im hooking up the boat and having 4 days at North Haven on the NSW Mid North Coast, just in time for a deep low pressure system, lucky I packed the surfboard.

Greg

 

[Burnsy]

Have a good one Greg, but yeah take it easy, some nasty weather predicted and big swells with this low!

Cheers.

 

[Xpandafan]

Got a busy weekend lined up for me, so I got an early start this week.
The first job is possibly an original idea (or just one I've missed on this site!)


I've cut the annoying underslung spare tyre carrier off, turned it over and trimmed to fit (so tyre is as far back as possible , while still accessible without removing gas bottles, etc.) and it's ready to weld when the rain stops.
Replaced the sophisticated Jayco OEM single bolt with a longer ($2) one and added a cross bar with a couple of studs to engage wheel holes and hold everything a bit tidier.


The second task was an idea borrowed from many on this forum. I replaced the old awning light with a new LED one and stuck up my LED strip lights and wired them in at the same time. (Working inside the top shelf of the pantry to get to the wiring was the interesting bit.) The second pic is without flash. I'd already locked the awning up when I decided to take photos of my handiwork, but you get the idea. Great reflected light from awning when it's extended.