Swan New Jayco Swan pickup
- Thread starter Relle & Mark
- Start date
Pay particular attention to how to close it up, the canvas on the off side wall can foul the wiring and the sink tap. Also the sliding of the beds can pinch the canvas wall too.
Should you be getting a annexe the attaching of the walls is all sectional, so can only go on together one way. A tip from experience, texta mark the poles discretely to assist in the erection of the structure. Don't be daunted by this, really its easy.
Anyone else with info, hey @Stan53 got any tips, your experience traveller now.
Where did you get it from. Page Bros??
Should you be getting a annexe the attaching of the walls is all sectional, so can only go on together one way. A tip from experience, texta mark the poles discretely to assist in the erection of the structure. Don't be daunted by this, really its easy.
Anyone else with info, hey @Stan53 got any tips, your experience traveller now.
Where did you get it from. Page Bros??
Check out the expandas while you are there, if your like most on this site(including me), you will be back in 12 months trading up 
I think Pace, you have about covered it. I found setting up and packing up very trying when I first got my Swift. A couple of years later and more than a few trips behind me, I wouldn't change.
On set up DO put the pipes that stretch the canvas roof over the bed before you do the velcro strips up.
Before I go away on a trip, I set up and pack up a few times. I can have kettle on in 5 minutes now.
I don't do that bag awning. I got an after market one.
Oh, you might want to enjoy the sheer pleasure of quiet camping.
On set up DO put the pipes that stretch the canvas roof over the bed before you do the velcro strips up.
Before I go away on a trip, I set up and pack up a few times. I can have kettle on in 5 minutes now.
I don't do that bag awning. I got an after market one.
Oh, you might want to enjoy the sheer pleasure of quiet camping.
Yeah it's funny guys you say It won't be long before there's an expanda upgrade, when we were looking at vans we loved the expanda first up but a little bit out of what we wanted spend and started to walk away & the sales guy said don't go what can we do for ya.
We said we are looking at the expanda he said have you looked at the swan.
I suppose ya gotta start somewhere stepping stone I guess.
It's like buying ya first home
Some great hints there guys keep them coming I'm all ears :biggrin-26:
We said we are looking at the expanda he said have you looked at the swan.
I suppose ya gotta start somewhere stepping stone I guess.
It's like buying ya first home
Some great hints there guys keep them coming I'm all ears :biggrin-26:
as @Pace and @Stan53 have said,
be aware of how to open and close, the sales guys do it at the shows in under 10 mins, but they are doing it all the time
make them show you up and down several times, until your happy.
as said, be aware of the off side canvas when your winding it up, I used to wind 1/2 way then check, wind the next bit until it was about 50mm off closed, then make sure all canvas was tucked away properly.
on the Flamingo (I had) on the off side is a switch to turn to power for your lights off - simple switch - incase you forget to un-plug the wiring for the roof, I broke that several times poking the canvas in.......
not sure, but you may have to ask about the Hoses etc..... sullage and water, and extension cord.... I know they dont provide them unless you ask over here....
I went and brought one of these
http://camec.com/plumbing-bathroom-gas/hoses-fillers-fittings/flat-drinking-water-hose-18m.html
awesome bit of kit, small space, nice and tidy, wouldn't have anything else..... also, cannot forget the fittings off the tap anymore, as you are winding it up.
maybe go to Bunnings (or whatever, as I did) and buy a piece of pine plank - 50mmx250mmx1500mm, I then cut them into 250x250 blocks for putting under the feet,
also made 4 with holes drilled into them, but not all the way through for putting the bed fly poles into, so they dont sink into the ground.
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I also got a 10L water bottle (after we used it) and cut the top off, and added Cable ties to it and some plastic pipe - hey presto have a tent peg holder and rope container.... hammer and crap fits as well
@Pace said, watch out for it, and mark them poles, and get them to put it up for you to show you how......
dont EVER feel like your wasting their time, they wont tell you what you want to know, if you dont ask them.........
also, take heaps of Piccies at your handover
1) we LOVE Piccies
2) reference for when you ahhh, what did this do.......
Good Choice,
Good Luck,
and ENJOY........
be aware of how to open and close, the sales guys do it at the shows in under 10 mins, but they are doing it all the time
make them show you up and down several times, until your happy.
as said, be aware of the off side canvas when your winding it up, I used to wind 1/2 way then check, wind the next bit until it was about 50mm off closed, then make sure all canvas was tucked away properly.
on the Flamingo (I had) on the off side is a switch to turn to power for your lights off - simple switch - incase you forget to un-plug the wiring for the roof, I broke that several times poking the canvas in.......
not sure, but you may have to ask about the Hoses etc..... sullage and water, and extension cord.... I know they dont provide them unless you ask over here....
I went and brought one of these
http://camec.com/plumbing-bathroom-gas/hoses-fillers-fittings/flat-drinking-water-hose-18m.html
awesome bit of kit, small space, nice and tidy, wouldn't have anything else..... also, cannot forget the fittings off the tap anymore, as you are winding it up.
maybe go to Bunnings (or whatever, as I did) and buy a piece of pine plank - 50mmx250mmx1500mm, I then cut them into 250x250 blocks for putting under the feet,
also made 4 with holes drilled into them, but not all the way through for putting the bed fly poles into, so they dont sink into the ground.
'][/URL]I also got a 10L water bottle (after we used it) and cut the top off, and added Cable ties to it and some plastic pipe - hey presto have a tent peg holder and rope container.... hammer and crap fits as well
@Pace said, watch out for it, and mark them poles, and get them to put it up for you to show you how......
dont EVER feel like your wasting their time, they wont tell you what you want to know, if you dont ask them.........
also, take heaps of Piccies at your handover
1) we LOVE Piccies
2) reference for when you ahhh, what did this do.......
Good Choice,
Good Luck,
and ENJOY........
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Also make sure they show you how to connect the door. We were having great difficulties with it closing until someone showed us we connected it wrong.
What Col said plus. when they do the hand over it takes 2 plus hours. And I thought "you gotta be kidding. It's just a van for crying out loud!" Now I wish it had been ten.
Now, before I ramble on. Since I got Swifty I have been to a couple of leisure and camping shows. I have looked at just about every van under the sun. Camper trailers too. Not one said "by me". After I got use to Swifty's strange ways I wouldn't change for anything. I can have the kettle on in 15 minutes, 20 tops. Takes a bit longer to pack up.
When you first get Swanny, the canvass will be stiff and hard. Set it up a couple of times. Leave it set up. Wash and get the canvass wet. Very wet. Leave it weather a while. Practise practise practise. Oh, then practise some more. Work out a system to make it easier for yourself. I have crawled all over and under Swifty. They put switches in strange place. Weird actually. Like the 240 volt switch for the fridge. In Swifty it is located under a seat.
I think I mentioned the bed canvass.
I ditched the jokey wheel supplied. Got me a fancy ratchet type to help me move it round without busting some muscles that I haven't got although I think I might have.
But the best is to wait till you get it home and set it up for yourself. Oh, and dont rush into modifications. No, I did not rush and I am now glad I didn't.
I notice your in SE Melbourne. So am I. I'm happy to help wher I can and happy to give you my mobile number if you want.
Now, before I ramble on. Since I got Swifty I have been to a couple of leisure and camping shows. I have looked at just about every van under the sun. Camper trailers too. Not one said "by me". After I got use to Swifty's strange ways I wouldn't change for anything. I can have the kettle on in 15 minutes, 20 tops. Takes a bit longer to pack up.
When you first get Swanny, the canvass will be stiff and hard. Set it up a couple of times. Leave it set up. Wash and get the canvass wet. Very wet. Leave it weather a while. Practise practise practise. Oh, then practise some more. Work out a system to make it easier for yourself. I have crawled all over and under Swifty. They put switches in strange place. Weird actually. Like the 240 volt switch for the fridge. In Swifty it is located under a seat.
I think I mentioned the bed canvass.
I ditched the jokey wheel supplied. Got me a fancy ratchet type to help me move it round without busting some muscles that I haven't got although I think I might have.
But the best is to wait till you get it home and set it up for yourself. Oh, and dont rush into modifications. No, I did not rush and I am now glad I didn't.
I notice your in SE Melbourne. So am I. I'm happy to help wher I can and happy to give you my mobile number if you want.
Hi carpanda luv the name our first trip will be our back yard apparently its a family tradition :whoo::biggrin-26:
Some fabulous tips there bigcol & some great ideas, also that water container is a cracker of an idea Hmmm now I know what to do with one in my garageas @Pace and @Stan53 have said,
be aware of how to open and close, the sales guys do it at the shows in under 10 mins, but they are doing it all the time
make them show you up and down several times, until your happy.
as said, be aware of the off side canvas when your winding it up, I used to wind 1/2 way then check, wind the next bit until it was about 50mm off closed, then make sure all canvas was tucked away properly.
on the Flamingo (I had) on the off side is a switch to turn to power for your lights off - simple switch - incase you forget to un-plug the wiring for the roof, I broke that several times poking the canvas in.......
not sure, but you may have to ask about the Hoses etc..... sullage and water, and extension cord.... I know they dont provide them unless you ask over here....
I went and brought one of these
http://camec.com/plumbing-bathroom-gas/hoses-fillers-fittings/flat-drinking-water-hose-18m.html
awesome bit of kit, small space, nice and tidy, wouldn't have anything else..... also, cannot forget the fittings off the tap anymore, as you are winding it up.
View attachment 26093
maybe go to Bunnings (or whatever, as I did) and buy a piece of pine plank - 50mmx250mmx1500mm, I then cut them into 250x250 blocks for putting under the feet,
also made 4 with holes drilled into them, but not all the way through for putting the bed fly poles into, so they dont sink into the ground.
']
[/URL]
I also got a 10L water bottle (after we used it) and cut the top off, and added Cable ties to it and some plastic pipe - hey presto have a tent peg holder and rope container.... hammer and crap fits as well
@Pace said, watch out for it, and mark them poles, and get them to put it up for you to show you how......
dont EVER feel like your wasting their time, they wont tell you what you want to know, if you dont ask them.........
also, take heaps of Piccies at your handover
1) we LOVE Piccies
2) reference for when you ahhh, what did this do.......
Good Choice,
Good Luck,
and ENJOY........
i feel a trip to bunnings is on the cards.Attachments
Rest a sured, theres plenty of people and ideas here to help u spend ur money at bunnings.Some fabulous tips there bigcol & some great ideas, also that water container is a cracker of an idea Hmmm now I know what to do with one in my garage
Im sorry stan53 i did'nt answer your question where we purchased the van bayswater jayco
as @Stan53 said, set it up, and wet it down.......
really wet it
helps the canvas swell and seal up with the stitching, makes them 100% more water tight
really wet it
helps the canvas swell and seal up with the stitching, makes them 100% more water tight
Just thought to add this if you jump on you tube there are some excellent videos on how to set up you camper. There is an excellent one done by Prestige Jayco. There is another one done complete with flys and bag awning. Both are worth looking at.
We had our swan 3 months before we ordered a new expanda just something to thinks aboutYeah it's funny guys you say It won't be long before there's an expanda upgrade, when we were looking at vans we loved the expanda first up but a little bit out of what we wanted spend and started to walk away & the sales guy said don't go what can we do for ya.
We said we are looking at the expanda he said have you looked at the swan.
I suppose ya gotta start somewhere stepping stone I guess.
It's like buying ya first home
Some great hints there guys keep them coming I'm all ears :biggrin-26:
Cheers