Starcraft Ben's 17.58-3

Ben Sweetnam

Member
Oct 17, 2017
27
58
13
52
Sydney
New to the forum and caravaning in general

Got our Starcraft a few weeks back and have taken out for a few overnighters. Off to the High Country over XMas so now the mods really start

Will throw up some photos as i go along...

It came with
300w solar on roof
Waeco compressor fridge
Drifta control panel
2 fresh, 1 gray water tank

Have done a few little mods
Sorocco fan
2nd battery
2 spares on rear bar
Cupboard storage mod

My big one is a custom box ordered and coming hopefully next week - weber one side, genny the other and gas in the middle plus storage - early Xmas for me
 

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Jared01

Active Member
Oct 28, 2016
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Hey there and welcome to the forum.

I have the same van too and am interested in some of the mods you have done such as the 2 spare wheels on the rear bar as well as weber/gas/storage box on the front.

Did the Jayco dealer move the spare wheels to the rear for you or did you do that your self. Do you feel any weight differences (such as being unbalanced or swaying etc) and did anything have to be done to the rear bar to support the 2 wheels?

Any photos of the wheels/brackets on the back and looking forward to photos of your front box when you get it
 

Ben Sweetnam

Member
Oct 17, 2017
27
58
13
52
Sydney
Hey there and welcome to the forum.

I have the same van too and am interested in some of the mods you have done such as the 2 spare wheels on the rear bar as well as weber/gas/storage box on the front.

Did the Jayco dealer move the spare wheels to the rear for you or did you do that your self. Do you feel any weight differences (such as being unbalanced or swaying etc) and did anything have to be done to the rear bar to support the 2 wheels?

Any photos of the wheels/brackets on the back and looking forward to photos of your front box when you get it

Hi Jared

I did the wheels myself with some brackets off ebay - fairly easy. Its a bit lighter on the front but i expect that to change once the box goes on with the webber and genny - that should balance it nicely

I have only tow'd it locally so no opportunity for it to sway around yet. Main test will have the box on and down to Vic Hi so will see

I will get some photos up when i can
 
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bigcol

Well-Known Member
Nov 22, 2012
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Swan Valley Perth
welcome to the forum @Ben Sweetnam

nice looking tow rig you have......... (I am biased)

now if I could suggest - with out being to rude...............
ditch those mirrors and get the clearviews........
no more scratching on the glass
no more annoying sounds from the straps and wind
no more scratches from the belt as well

from this
044a.jpg


to this
IMAG0232a.jpg


much betterer.................
 

Ben Sweetnam

Member
Oct 17, 2017
27
58
13
52
Sydney
welcome to the forum @Ben Sweetnam

nice looking tow rig you have......... (I am biased)

now if I could suggest - with out being to rude...............
ditch those mirrors and get the clearviews........
no more scratching on the glass
no more annoying sounds from the straps and wind
no more scratches from the belt as well

from this
View attachment 58429

to this
View attachment 58430

much betterer.................

Totally agree - i went with the Taurus though but very happy - i just couldnt fit them in time to pick up the Van.
 
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Ben Sweetnam

Member
Oct 17, 2017
27
58
13
52
Sydney
Hi All

Have started the mod process - i hated the top drawer so made a bit of a change - i am not the craftsman some of the others are here so kept it very simple but works a treat
 

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Ben Sweetnam

Member
Oct 17, 2017
27
58
13
52
Sydney
Christmas came early last night with my toolbox arriving - a few issues that were not done per the quote and one measurement a bit off so the Genny is a tight squeeze but overall happy with the results
 

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Marv_mart

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2014
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Adelaide
How much does that add to your towball weight when fully loaded up? Have the two spares on the rear compensated enough for extra weight at the front?
Always worried about that when contemplating adding a toolbox.
 
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Ben Sweetnam

Member
Oct 17, 2017
27
58
13
52
Sydney
How much does that add to your towball weight when fully loaded up? Have the two spares on the rear compensated enough for extra weight at the front?
Always worried about that when contemplating adding a toolbox.
Moment of truth now, have mounted the box properly yesterday and has the genny, gas bottles plumbed in and weber in the tray - need to now get it on flat ground and measure the nose to see how much i have added. I believe the box, genny and weber is about 70 to 80kg. By moving the spare from front to back should give me plus 50 (25 off the front to back = 50) plus another 25 for the second spare so i am hoping for about a 200kg - 220kg ball weight when ready to travel but need to measure it all. My Patrol has 3.5t towing and 350kg ball weight but i dont want to get near that at all...
 
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Ben Sweetnam

Member
Oct 17, 2017
27
58
13
52
Sydney
Latest Mods done this weekend - always found the starcraft bed to narrow and uncomfortable. Made a 150mm side extension and replaced mattress with a hi density foam one. Bought the slats from Jayco ($22), some aluminium from Bunnings ($60) the new mattress and the two inserts from Clark Rubber ($600)

At the moment the extension is cantilevered and seems very stable - the original idea was to add a screw in leg but at the moment i dont think it is needed

Stole the idea from 17Triton

http://expandasdownunder.com/threads/upsizing-mattress-in-a-17-58-starcraft.10354/
 

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Jared01

Active Member
Oct 28, 2016
150
151
43
42
Sydney
Hello Ben,

Where did you get the drawers for the cupboard from and which size were they if you remember?