Dave's 2013 17.56-2 OB

[DaveR]

I there folks.
New here, but I have lurking for a long time gaining helpful info, plus some nice folk else where steered me here when I asked about their Expandas.
Here is our Expanda. It is a 2013 model with simplicity load sharing independent suspension, a very impressive set up underneath.
The extras it has apart from standard are.

.Longer Draw bar
.Simplicity offroad independent load sharing suspension
.ESC, Electronic Stability Control
.Strengthened rear bar with bike rack for 3 bikes.
.Bed Ends have the privacy screens, and storm covers also.
.Each bed has 12 volt power, reading lights. Fans for the fold out beds.
.The main lights have a night light mode.
.TV with DVD player, windguard areial and booster. Stero that plays USB.
.Hyland Coupling
.Drifter Panel.
.2x 120 watt panels, 30 amp controller.
.2 x 105 amp hr batteries
.Outside power, 12 and 240
.Slumberest beds
.BBQ connection

A custom tool box up front, bit of an unusual shape to it, I think I'll be changing it.
Now for some pics.
1st up here she is behind my ol faithful 1999 HZJ 105 poverty pac which is an ongoing project... endless one might say.


Now on the front drive where it fits, just.


Here is is with the storm covers, not the best pic, but sure you get the set up.


Now a few inside





Now underneath. Better ground clearance then the tug.


There are a few changes I want to make, plus couple of things to repair.
More on this later.
Now, I am under the pump, got 8 days before I leave on a 17 day, 4,500 k's trip, possibly without a test run....

 

[DaveR]

First job was move the 2nd battery to be below the rear of the front seats.
I don't understand why it is in the front section.


Now in the new spot.



Which gives space for more stuff.



The 3 overhead lights had a intermittent fault where they would be dim.
Some checks lead me to this, must have been done by the work experience kid......







Which also lead me to this fine work where all the positives were connected together.



Well, at least I know what I am in for. Doubt Jayco would want me as a new van buyer.....

 

[DaveR]

I fitted a Ctek 25 amp charger and disconnected the original by simply unplugging the 24 volt supply from the GPO.
The 2 x 120 watt panels up top work very well, via the 30 amp controller. I'll be fitting the power supply from an anderson plug to the batteries for charging when driving.

Another mod I'm in the middle of is the microwave.



I pulled it out.



And will convert this to a cupboard. To do this I'll use some melamine to cover the cables, and have got a cut piece from an original color matched jayco board that the local caravan repairer had in stock and a cabinet maker is putting some edge banding on. I hope to get it tomorrow and mount it all.....

Got a few more mods to go, including a big one.

 

[bigcol]

looking good mate, very nice

yes, it seems to be a never ending saga with Jayco and their electrical apprentice for as long as I have had Jayco's
they have got the "Plug and Pray" cabling sorted, its just the connections themselves that still suck balls

 

[DaveR]

I had a day of tinkering, adjusted the bed end top cover latches to make them close against the hatch seals more firmly.
Crawled about underneath, to admire it, as I found nothing of concern...
Then off to the Truck alignment place to give the suspension a good look see, they found a need for a very minor adjustment, and we rotated the wheels, left to right. They charged top $ for it, $350.... but when you got the toys and know how to use them, i guess you can.
I now have piece of mind that it is all good underneath.



Tomorrow I get the door panel for the new cupboard and the BIG bits for the last mod I need to do before we go away.....

 

[achjimmy]

Dave when your hardlids open fully just check they don't go too high if that makes sense? There's a point where the curve near the hinge slopes back so water runs to the corner and onto the canvas when it rains I adjusted mine so the hardlid only just cleared the canvas. Then I actually sika'd lollipop sticks from the hinge to the edge to stop the water tracking back get inside in the canvas the storm covers should help this now

 

[DaveR]

Thanks for that, I'll check it out. Not gotten that far as yet to look for things like that.

 

[DaveR]

Off to Camec this morning to get the new toy.







Yep, it is a compressor fridge, Danfoss to, with a manual dial temp control. This means less crap to go wrong and a fridge that works to my liking, I am a bit fussy.
If you want more info, here is a link.
http://www.vitrifrigo.com/ww/en/dp150i_internal_cooling_unit_3
I should add, if you are interested, there is a big special on these for the month of march, I just saved $800.

 

[DaveR]

Starting to think I have taken too much on for completion is such a short time.
Due to be done, dusted, tested and loaded on the road wednesday.
Anyway.
Preparations are happening for the fridge to go in. The original has the 12 volt supply straight from the anderson plug and car due to the high current draw of the fridge when on 12 volt (the reason I am changing it). I have cut into this line and re routed it to the batteries for the new fridge supply from house batteries.
A new anderson plug is being fitted to charge the house batteries on the road from the tug, this will give 3 seperate methods of charging, in addition, with the 60 engle fridge in the tug, the solar or 25 amp Ctek chargers in the van can charge the tugs Aux battery as well when parked up.
I have fitted a Ctek 25 amp charger to the van.
Eventually I'll up the 30 amp solar controller to 40 amps and get 2 x 120 watt projector blankets to have in addition to the 2 x 120 watt panels on the roof for more flexible solar set up.

So it was out with the 3 way fridge,




Clean up the fridge space, mount things correctly. The original gas lines are in place, just secured out of the way and safely plugged, and the isolation valve is closed and secured.



Tidy up of the original elecs, not 100% happy but it will do for now. At least the solar panels are connected correctly now....



The fridge job is coming on well, waiting for the paint to dry in this 99% humidity is a bit tiresome... I have made a board for 2 x 120mm silent fans. These are going to blow air out from the top fridge vent. I.hope to place a filter over the lower inlet vent.
The best fun will be getting the old fridge out and new in. Out via the rear bed is has to be.
Hope my mate next door aint busy in the morning.

 

[NoWorries]

I got mine out of the door, but you had to remove the doors of the fridge and then remove the screws on the top where the dials were so you could move it back and then you had a few mms gap.

 

[DaveR]

Thanks for that, I'll give it a good look at before undoing all the rear bed.

 

[NoWorries]

You have to take the legs off as well, I can also tell you that the new compressor fridge draws power like a small town
I have 200w of solar 200a/h battery and find myself looking for power after two days. I also removed the gas pipe and drain (you have to get rid of the pink foam) and then got a blanking cap to screw on the stop cock

 

[DaveR]

I have 240 watt now and soon will have 480 watt of solar.
That can wait till after my 1st 2 week trip as I'l either be in tow or connected.

 

[Duncanblake36]

Starting to think I have taken too much on for completion is such a short time.
Due to be done, dusted, tested and loaded on the road wednesday.
Anyway.
Preparations are happening for the fridge to go in. The original has the 12 volt supply straight from the anderson plug and car due to the high current draw of the fridge when on 12 volt (the reason I am changing it). I have cut into this line and re routed it to the batteries for the new fridge supply from house batteries.
A new anderson plug is being fitted to charge the house batteries on the road from the tug, this will give 3 seperate methods of charging, in addition, with the 60 engle fridge in the tug, the solar or 25 amp Ctek chargers in the van can charge the tugs Aux battery as well when parked up.
I have fitted a Ctek 25 amp charger to the van.
Eventually I'll up the 30 amp solar controller to 40 amps and get 2 x 120 watt projector blankets to have in addition to the 2 x 120 watt panels on the roof for more flexible solar set up.

So it was out with the 3 way fridge,




Clean up the fridge space, mount things correctly. The original gas lines are in place, just secured out of the way and safely plugged, and the isolation valve is closed and secured.



Tidy up of the original elecs, not 100% happy but it will do for now. At least the solar panels are connected correctly now....



The fridge job is coming on well, waiting for the paint to dry in this 99% humidity is a bit tiresome... I have made a board for 2 x 120mm silent fans. These are going to blow air out from the top fridge vent. I.hope to place a filter over the lower inlet vent.
The best fun will be getting the old fridge out and new in. Out via the rear bed is has to be.
Hope my mate next door aint busy in the morning.

Yeah thats what mine looked like before I started.

Install a fuse box and terminate them into that. Looks and functions so much better.

 

[DaveR]

Yeah thats what mine looked like before I started.

Install a fuse box and terminate them into that. Looks and functions so much better.

View attachment 48501 View attachment 48502

Thanks mate, it is something I 'll be doing for sure, there are many things I wish to address with the elecs, but can wait till our trip sth is done.

 

[DaveR]

A big day outside to be had, I got the fridge in.
I whimped out and got it out through the rear bed, it was easier and I did it on my own.



I mounted a pair of 120 mm fans up the top vent, they are silent and move enough air for the cavity cooling, a relay is in place which turns the fans on when the compressor cycles.



Now the outside.



The hard bit was the width of the new fridge is narrow by 70 mm compared to the old. I made alloy strips up to size, gave a lick of paint and secured them in place. The new fridge is held in place with the screws from the front which meant a decent mount face was needed.



Its flash alright, even has a LED light inside.



I got the microwave cupboard door done also.



Still have a few jobs to go, may even get it done tomorrow and go for a test run for sat night out to Canungra, just to get a feel for it before I go sth on wednesday.

 

[chartrock]

Let me know if you go to Canungra on Saturday, @DaveR I might be able to pop out for a look Sunday morning, it's only 15 minutes from home, be good to check it all out.

 

[DaveR]

Will do, all depends how today goes and how much I get done.
We go to the show grounds, an easy spot to get to, creek, fire, no white lines on the ground, perfect, unless there is a large organised group there...

 

[chartrock]

I know it well, we lived in Canungra for 10 years and our two boys and their families are still there.

 

[DaveR]

Thanks to a bit of a balls up, no test run trip tonight.
First job of removing the anderson plug for the fridge, then insalling the new 50 amp leads via a circuit braker to the batteries went well. New anderson plug on the lead, I used the flexible conduit for the cable and ran it inside the near side draw bar. That went well, and I silcaflexed the cable ends in the conduit and the hole in the floor.
I had to fit the system to the car to power up the ESC, I used a relay and have a switch on the console to turn it off if needed and ran the new cable neatly down the back and into a red anderson plug holder.



These jobs went well.
The dummy run hook up didn't, I now have learned there are different types of anderson plugs and these don't fit together. The Vans ESC plug wont fit the new one fitted to the car, it is a different shape and it is only a small difference with the center peg. As I can't see what type it is, this morning I'll need to go get another one and change it out on the van.