Wannabe expanda

[PandaLee]

Hi

I have been reading everything on this site since finding it and have really enjoyed this great site.
We currently don't own an expanda or a jayco we are still in the wannabe expanda group!!

After doing years of camping in a tent, and friends in camper trailers (never want one of those!!) we have started borrowing the in laws van (older viscount) and are never going back to the tent lol!! We now love the vanning experience so much with our young family, it's now time to get our own van (because apparently the in laws won't upgrade to our choice of van for us .). We actually can't wait to have our own van to make it our home away from home.

Just picking a model expanda has been a journey in its self so after much debate and endless trips looking at vans we are down to one expanda outback 17.56-2 (well there's still the 16.49-3 L-shaped lounge ob in the background).

Finally decided on an extras list which I'm sure is longer due to this site!!! Now the fun has begun with getting prices etc, once we place an order there will be a painfully long wait till the van arrives....

Anyway that's a little from me and hoping the next real introduction into the expanda group is of our ordered expanda van and the daily whinging of is it here yet???

 

[crackacoldie]

:welcomePandaLee , this is a great place for ideas and plenty of people willing to help you spend your coin. Both great layouts you are looking at although I am biased towards the 16. Look forward to reading about your journey into Panda land!

 

[dagree]

Welcome aboard @PandaLee , As crackacoldie says this forum and members will certainly help you spend your hard earned $'s... Been there, done that

We had a 16.49.3 tourer previously and just upgraded to a 2014 17.56.2 OB so you must have good taste
We liked the 16'er but not having the hard lids we felt like we were still tenting it setting up the bed fly's etc so looked around for a later model.

Ended up calling into local Jayco dealer to check out different floorplans and ended up walking out with a receipt for a deposit on the new 17'er they just got in for a display model.

Even though there is only one foot difference in the length it's amazing just how much more roomier it feels!

Good luck which ever way you decide, enjoy and share pics/trip reports!

 

[PandaLee]

Thanks @crackacoldie and @dagree. I love the open layout of the 16s especially the L-shaped lounge with table removed (I would want to change it to a u shaped lounge or club type lounge with cabinet opposite and believe someone on here has done that mod on their van). We only have one child at the moment so is plenty big enough although with the unknown of others coming to join him we kept going back to the 17 plus we always have someone we take along on our trips or come to join us.

 

[bigcol]

go for the Biggest and best-est you can afford - that way your not going "gosh, I think we should have done......"

with a family that will be growing - bigger is better.......

and
welcome to the forum, I hope you have fun with your new van......

 

[relgate]

Hi @PandaLee
Welcome
Great intro! The 17 is a great van.

Good luck with your journey. Will be following with interest.

 

[Janbo]

Welcome aboard, hope its not too long before you have your own Expanda, read the trip reports, they will certainly whet your appetite!

 

[Burnsy]

Thanks @crackacoldie and @dagree. I love the open layout of the 16s especially the L-shaped lounge with table removed (I would want to change it to a u shaped lounge or club type lounge with cabinet opposite and believe someone on here has done that mod on their van). We only have one child at the moment so is plenty big enough although with the unknown of others coming to join him we kept going back to the 17 plus we always have someone we take along on our trips or come to join us.

Hi there and welcome! We had a 16-49-1 with L shape lounge and that's what we did, took out the table. We now have an 18-57-6 OB and ordered it with L shape lounge and supply table loose so we have no hole in the floor.....works really well for us, creates heaps of floor space!
Good luck with your decision

 

[PandaLee]

@Burnsy I wish they still made the 18-57-6 OB. Have you got any pics of your internal setup with the changes?

 

[Capt. Gadget]

Welcome we love our 16:49:3

 

[Glen Bundesen]

Welcome Pandalee.
We have a 16.49.3 and enjoy it very much. Needed to keep to single axle as a tandem is too hard to turn around in our back yard. There are just the 2 of us but often have a few grandchildren camping with us, so the front bed gets used. Just came back from 3 days camping on a property in York where we had 2 of them! We too have removed the table and with the L lounge means we have lots of internal room.

 

[PandaLee]

Out of interest how many adults and children are you going away in the 16.49-3??

 

[Glen Bundesen]

2 adults & have had 3 children. When 3, then one sleeps on the lounge. Grand children ages are up to 14 years - could be all boys or all girls. Mainly happens when a few of the family are camping at the same place.

 

[DRW]

Welcome @PandaLee its all a personal choice, we prefer the 17 with the tandem axel only because it feels more stable(only my opinion), all depends on your vehicle and what you want I guess. There are only 2 of us but we often go with another couple (my son and his girlfriend) who have the rear bed, or just my mate and I escape up the beach, you will enjoy what ever you end up with I'm sure, cheers

 

[PandaLee]

Very true @DRW they are both very good vans.

 

[Burnsy]

@Burnsy I wish they still made the 18-57-6 OB. Have you got any pics of your internal setup with the changes?

Sorry for the delay mate, this is where my waeco travels now!

 

[PandaLee]

@Burnsy love it!!! If I was ordering the 16.49-3 that's exactly what I would order the l-shaped lounge and the cabinet opposite for the TV. The 17.56-2 does not come with this option but I wonder if this can be done also. I'm going to have to take a tape measure and go to the dealers to see if the setup is the same size in the 17 as the 16.

 

[Burnsy]

@Burnsy love it!!! If I was ordering the 16.49-3 that's exactly what I would order the l-shaped lounge and the cabinet opposite for the TV. The 17.56-2 does not come with this option but I wonder if this can be done also. I'm going to have to take a tape measure and go to the dealers to see if the setup is the same size in the 17 as the 16.

It's actually not an option with this model either and they were not going to do it as they hadn't done it before, that is until I emailed pics of one that was on Trading Post for sale. They then agreed but for another $500....
Good luck mate, hope you get what your after!

 

[PandaLee]

It's actually not an option with this model either and they were not going to do it as they hadn't done it before, that is until I emailed pics of one that was on Trading Post for sale. They then agreed but for another $500....
Good luck mate, hope you get what your after!

Cool this makes me happy!!! I might have a chance of getting a van exactly the way I want it!!! Maybe I will be quoting that they did it to yours !!! Surely can't be hard as they do the L-shaped lounge in the 16.
The 17 has a small dinette area under the top bunk I just can't see why I would need a second dinette ( the formal dining area went out in the 90s in house designs lol) and nothing says holidaying to me like being able to comfortably lay around on the couch!!!