Hey guys new to the forum looking at buying a jayco expanda 16.49.1 van 2nd hand. Just wanting onwers opinions on which couch setup is better? Also do the 2.2 airconds that they all seem to come with do a good job of cooling does the cool get into the bed ends? Are the std fridges okay 2 use on 12v? Any other hints and tips of what to look out for would be great. Thanks michael
16' Series expanda help which lounge set up etc
- Thread starter michael d
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We've got the cafe lounge thingy. Mainly because we like to avoid trying to manoeuvre around the table to get into bed so it's more of a free flow but less room for sitting inside....which we don't do.
Aircon is fine for both bed ends. Just put it on about 30 mins before bedtime....if you sit outside....and it's cool enough to sleep.
Fridge is hopeless on 12v as its only really for keeping (or trying to) temp while driving. Not designed to do anything more than keep it ticking over. Gas is far more efficient and 240v almost as good.
Aircon is fine for both bed ends. Just put it on about 30 mins before bedtime....if you sit outside....and it's cool enough to sleep.
Fridge is hopeless on 12v as its only really for keeping (or trying to) temp while driving. Not designed to do anything more than keep it ticking over. Gas is far more efficient and 240v almost as good.
Welcome to the forum @michael d
We had a 16.49.3 with a club lounge and found it nice and comfy but it did make it a bit squeezy to get into a seat and getting into the front bed.
Currently have a 17.56.2 with a dinette style setup and although not as comfortable it does give more room (Also has the smaller dinette for the grandkids when any of them come away with us)
The 2.2 Heron aircon in the last van was OK but did need to make sure all vents, windows etc were closed. Have roof mounted Truma aircon in the current van and find it a lot better. If you do get one with the wall mounted heron and it stops for no reason..... UNPLUG it and take off the front cover. There is a small white plug behind the cover that apparently has a tendency to vibrate loose (Only happened to us once in three years though)
12V for running the fridge is only for when traveling and make sure it is wired to the car and not the van's battery. They will kill the battery's charge in a matter of hours. Run it on 240V or gas only when parked.
The first thing to look at is under the mattress's when opened up and look for any water stains on the bottom of the mattress and/or the timber base. If there is a lot walk away as that means it has (or did have) a major water leak at some stage.
Apart from that make sure you run and test all appliances etc. Ensure you look at the van with water hooked up and turned on etc.
Plenty of info on here so have a good look around and if you can't find an answer just ask away!
We had a 16.49.3 with a club lounge and found it nice and comfy but it did make it a bit squeezy to get into a seat and getting into the front bed.
Currently have a 17.56.2 with a dinette style setup and although not as comfortable it does give more room (Also has the smaller dinette for the grandkids when any of them come away with us)
The 2.2 Heron aircon in the last van was OK but did need to make sure all vents, windows etc were closed. Have roof mounted Truma aircon in the current van and find it a lot better. If you do get one with the wall mounted heron and it stops for no reason..... UNPLUG it and take off the front cover. There is a small white plug behind the cover that apparently has a tendency to vibrate loose (Only happened to us once in three years though)
12V for running the fridge is only for when traveling and make sure it is wired to the car and not the van's battery. They will kill the battery's charge in a matter of hours. Run it on 240V or gas only when parked.
The first thing to look at is under the mattress's when opened up and look for any water stains on the bottom of the mattress and/or the timber base. If there is a lot walk away as that means it has (or did have) a major water leak at some stage.
Apart from that make sure you run and test all appliances etc. Ensure you look at the van with water hooked up and turned on etc.
Plenty of info on here so have a good look around and if you can't find an answer just ask away!
Hey thanks guys. How long will the fridge run for on a 9kg gas bottle? If free camping do you guys take an engel or similar or just run caravan fridge from gas? Is it worth getting the bigger fridge or dont they cope to well being bigger? I will probably have more questions. We have found one with a bunk at rear instead of fold out bed we have 6 yr boy and 8 yr girl thought bunks might be better so in a couple of years there not saying i dont want to sleep in the same bed.
Hi Michael.
I can only comment on our experience but we do a lot of free camping.
Re gas...a 9k bottle lasts us over 3 weeks with running 150l fridge on gas, hot water system and a Weber BBQ.
When free camping we only use caravan fridge now as we've ditched the Engel ...no longer need it. The 150l fridge is more then sufficient for us. 2 adults. The fridge copes well now in extreme heat as we've added a couple of fridge fans but it did struggle a bit before the fans were installed.
We had a 90l fridge in a Swan and found it wasn't enough capacity so had to carry the Engel then so I'd definately opt for the bigger fridge....freezer is bigger as well and that's important for free camping. If you need another fridge you might be better to go with a 3way and run it on gas from the van rather that have to increase 12v power with a 12v fridge. I know most now opt for Engels or Waecos and we've had both, as well as a Dometic Chescold 3 way and have not noticed that the efficiency of the 3 way is inferior to the Engel etc.
That way you don't have to have multiple batteries, huge solar etc etc and save on weight as well.
The bunk option for kids sounds better than the alternative. Try to avoid using the table as a bed as it reduces the available space inside and that's what's great about Expandas....space!
Have fun with your search.
I can only comment on our experience but we do a lot of free camping.
Re gas...a 9k bottle lasts us over 3 weeks with running 150l fridge on gas, hot water system and a Weber BBQ.
When free camping we only use caravan fridge now as we've ditched the Engel ...no longer need it. The 150l fridge is more then sufficient for us. 2 adults. The fridge copes well now in extreme heat as we've added a couple of fridge fans but it did struggle a bit before the fans were installed.
We had a 90l fridge in a Swan and found it wasn't enough capacity so had to carry the Engel then so I'd definately opt for the bigger fridge....freezer is bigger as well and that's important for free camping. If you need another fridge you might be better to go with a 3way and run it on gas from the van rather that have to increase 12v power with a 12v fridge. I know most now opt for Engels or Waecos and we've had both, as well as a Dometic Chescold 3 way and have not noticed that the efficiency of the 3 way is inferior to the Engel etc.
That way you don't have to have multiple batteries, huge solar etc etc and save on weight as well.
The bunk option for kids sounds better than the alternative. Try to avoid using the table as a bed as it reduces the available space inside and that's what's great about Expandas....space!
Have fun with your search.
Hi Michael,
I also live in Adelaide (northern suburbs) and have a 16.49-3 with dinning lounge, 150L fridge and roof a/c. I have made a couple of changes to make seating better with little more room. Happy to pm you with address if you want to visit and have a look over and talk about good and bad. I have done free camping so have run fridge on gas as well
Hi Michael,
We have a 17:56-1 with bunks we had the cafe dinning that I removed and changed to an L shape lounge this gave us plenty of room to move.
At dinner time if we need to eat in side due to weather or those pesky flys we have a pop up table in the cubbord.
Agreed with the other posts running on battery for your fridge isn't the best for free camping I normally plug my 150lt fridge in at home early in the week before I go away and use the gas and it works well the battery runs lap top tv and lights.
We have a 17:56-1 with bunks we had the cafe dinning that I removed and changed to an L shape lounge this gave us plenty of room to move.
At dinner time if we need to eat in side due to weather or those pesky flys we have a pop up table in the cubbord.
Agreed with the other posts running on battery for your fridge isn't the best for free camping I normally plug my 150lt fridge in at home early in the week before I go away and use the gas and it works well the battery runs lap top tv and lights.
Vere
I have started a conversation with you by clicking on your name not sure if that kinda means private message or not. I guess it will notify you of my msg.
I have started a conversation with you by clicking on your name not sure if that kinda means private message or not. I guess it will notify you of my msg.
Hi @michael d,
Similar to you, we had the same consideration in terms of beds as we have a 10 y o daughter and 8 y o son. My wife also had the toilet/shower as a non-negotiable for a new van and our prado can't tow anything heavier than the 16.49-3 OB - herein lies the conundrum!!
I spoke to an awning/tent manufacturer in Bendigo to see if they could make a removeable canvas divider running across the rear fold down bed but crossways rather than lengthways. The idea is that it will run 3/4 across so my son can crawl around the end of it into his own bed space, and my daughter will have the same, albeit right beside him but with a strip of canvas between them. As the mattresses are two separate 1/2 mattresses, the divider will tuck down between them. He estimated $3-400 to remove the canvas end, sewing the canvas required in, and reconnecting it all again.
I mentioned our idea to Jayco Geelong when we ordered the new van, and they are going to do it for us as a trial so they can offer it as an option for other people. We're still 8-10 weeks away, but happy to share photos when we get it.
Cheers
Oops, sorry just realised a little off topic!:focus:
Similar to you, we had the same consideration in terms of beds as we have a 10 y o daughter and 8 y o son. My wife also had the toilet/shower as a non-negotiable for a new van and our prado can't tow anything heavier than the 16.49-3 OB - herein lies the conundrum!!
I spoke to an awning/tent manufacturer in Bendigo to see if they could make a removeable canvas divider running across the rear fold down bed but crossways rather than lengthways. The idea is that it will run 3/4 across so my son can crawl around the end of it into his own bed space, and my daughter will have the same, albeit right beside him but with a strip of canvas between them. As the mattresses are two separate 1/2 mattresses, the divider will tuck down between them. He estimated $3-400 to remove the canvas end, sewing the canvas required in, and reconnecting it all again.
I mentioned our idea to Jayco Geelong when we ordered the new van, and they are going to do it for us as a trial so they can offer it as an option for other people. We're still 8-10 weeks away, but happy to share photos when we get it.
Cheers
Oops, sorry just realised a little off topic!:focus:
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Okay so we went to look at 3 vans today 2 that were for sale 1 a nice expanda owner from here offered me a look at his and some good info. Now after seeing the smaller couch setup my wife would have it think she still leans towards the bigger L shaped lounge but would be happy with either. One thing the first sellers pointed out that I think we agree with is that with the bigger fridge not having to take an engel etc is a plus but with only having the one in the caravan the kids will be in and out all day to get drinks. so maybe better off having the std fridge (more bench space) using engel outside for drinks etc?
one other question the tare weight of the van is say 1450 is that with full gas bottle and full water tank or all empty? anyone have an older van without the hard covers on the beds? just wondering if worth paying the extra. thanks for the input so far.
one other question the tare weight of the van is say 1450 is that with full gas bottle and full water tank or all empty? anyone have an older van without the hard covers on the beds? just wondering if worth paying the extra. thanks for the input so far.
We had the heron in our first Expanda it's okay and great for drying towels and girls hair. We never really used the cooling side. The heater is a element not reverse cylce.
In both our 16's we had the lounge. The reasoning for us was we slept 5. Two in the bed with a divider down the centre hook (modded sheet) and the third on the lounge. Yes the lounge makes it hard to access bed but kids will usually climb anything anyway. What the lounge was good for is lounging around. We always perfer being outside but sometimes and at night you need to be inside. We now have a dinette in the Starcraft and would swap it for a lounge in a heart beat if I could. The ability to lounge around inside a van when needed makes a huge difference to how comfortable you can be whilst traveling IMO.
But it really is personal I know plenty on here perfer the dinette.
In both our 16's we had the lounge. The reasoning for us was we slept 5. Two in the bed with a divider down the centre hook (modded sheet) and the third on the lounge. Yes the lounge makes it hard to access bed but kids will usually climb anything anyway. What the lounge was good for is lounging around. We always perfer being outside but sometimes and at night you need to be inside. We now have a dinette in the Starcraft and would swap it for a lounge in a heart beat if I could. The ability to lounge around inside a van when needed makes a huge difference to how comfortable you can be whilst traveling IMO.
But it really is personal I know plenty on here perfer the dinette.
Hi @michael d
Welcome!
I'd definitely go for bunks with kids at that age.
A suggestion: The 16.49-2 is a great setup and I agree with others regarding the 150l fridge being all you need.
We've since upgraded but for a van with heaps of room with an young family, a second hand 16.49-2 would do you well. The dual couch setup is brilliant and we miss the room it offered us.
The heron was ok but nothing on the ibis we currently have. For heating, just use a $20 blow heater.
Cheers.
Welcome!
I'd definitely go for bunks with kids at that age.
A suggestion: The 16.49-2 is a great setup and I agree with others regarding the 150l fridge being all you need.
We've since upgraded but for a van with heaps of room with an young family, a second hand 16.49-2 would do you well. The dual couch setup is brilliant and we miss the room it offered us.
The heron was ok but nothing on the ibis we currently have. For heating, just use a $20 blow heater.
Cheers.
Thanks twscoot thanks for the info. I have only seen the layout your talking about online not I person. I like the idea of 2nd table but don't like the idea of a smaller kitchen.