17' Series New Expanda

[KWOZ]

Hi all, just thought i'd add to the general chit chat on this forum.

We bought a new 17.56 Expanda just yesterday and very excited about what the future holds. Must admit I sat in it for an hour yesterday afternoon just looking and thinking - I think my wife thought I was mad - it may even take over from my frequent weekly visits to Bunnings!

I have a thousand questions but luckily I work with someone who's got a identical model (although its a year old) so its good to know I can use him for something.

I've been reading some of the posts and I'm glad I have, as I've come to the conclusion that a battery may not solve my CPAP requirements. I'm also thinking about modifying the front of the draw-bar to take a toolbox to take the gas bottles and storage into one - which I've seen some do. Are there long rectangular toolboxes out there that just slide in under the front bed from the outside which can be accessed from either side? I thought this would make it a lot easier rather than going inside to access or stretching from the outside into the cabinet?

KWOZ (I'm a Kiwi, the missus is a Ozzie)

 

[chartrock]

Welcome aboard @KWOZ, even Kiwis are welcome here. Look forward to your input and trip reports and some pics of your rig.

There has been some discussion here about CPAP so I’m sure you can get good advice from members. You can also find lots of info about boxes on the draw bar with slides inside for easy access to fridges and barbecues so these would be similar to your requirements.

Enjoy the forum and remember, there are no “ dumb” questions so ask away.

 

[Drover]

More than welcome, we allow Victorians so a Kiwi is a shoo in, the topics you mentioned are covered by a couple if threads, my Mate travels by van and they both have a CPAP and find dual batteries, a good bit of solar on roof covers them but they only use the humidifier if really, really needed, of course a Honda as back up...so fire away or search for answers, no dumb questions we've all been there and I reckon this place is the friendliest mob, we do tend to wander, sling off a bit so join in.

 

[Bluey]

Welcome BRO sitting in the van can be good ideas on how to spend more cash develop that way i got same van but the 1756=2 2014 lot of help here what are you towing it with

I sat in mine for a while then built a cot in the bottom bunk best thing eva
Ideas some are good some not so good

 

[Disco Duck]

Hi KWOZ.
Welcome to the site. We too have a 17 series but it's a 2011 so may not be too much help but there is always someone on here who knows what they are doing.
We have one battery in the van and two setup in the back of the car, 400W of solar panels on the roof of the van and I have no problem running my CPAP all night, as well as televisions computers, pumps, heaters and lights and whatever else it takes to keep everyone happy.
As Drover said, the trick with the CPAP is to turn off the humidifier. I have a Fisher and Pykell and they have a setting called aeroplane mode. When in that mode they use very little power. I have never had a problem other than the air you breath gets very cold in the alpine areas.

 

[KWOZ]

Welcome aboard @KWOZ, even Kiwis are welcome here. Look forward to your input and trip reports and some pics of your rig.

There has been some discussion here about CPAP so I’m sure you can get good advice from members. You can also find lots of info about boxes on the draw bar with slides inside for easy access to fridges and barbecues so these would be similar to your requirements.

Enjoy the forum and remember, there are no “ dumb” questions so ask away.

Thanks very much for the welcome , I’m sure I’m going to enjoy the forum. Looking forward to getting involved and hopefully helping others at some stage too.

I hope I’ll still be welcome after we win the Rugby World Cup this year

 

[KWOZ]

Welcome BRO sitting in the van can be good ideas on how to spend more cash develop that way i got same van but the 1756=2 2014 lot of help here what are you towing it with

I sat in mine for a while then built a cot in the bottom bunk best thing eva
Ideas some are good some not so good

Cheers for that , the missus reckons we don’t need to spend any more money on it - it’s got everything, but I’m thinking the ideal goal is to live off the grid - this the CPAP is my first priority. As much as we like socialising , we like to get away from the crowds too. Towing it with a Isuzu Dmax 3.0 turbo diesel . So much better towing a tandem over the 16.5 foot Regent series II single axle that we traded.

 

[KWOZ]

Hi KWOZ.
Welcome to the site. We too have a 17 series but it's a 2011 so may not be too much help but there is always someone on here who knows what they are doing.
We have one battery in the van and two setup in the back of the car, 400W of solar panels on the roof of the van and I have no problem running my CPAP all night, as well as televisions computers, pumps, heaters and lights and whatever else it takes to keep everyone happy.
As Drover said, the trick with the CPAP is to turn off the humidifier. I have a Fisher and Pykell and they have a setting called aeroplane mode. When in that mode they use very little power. I have never had a problem other than the air you breath gets very cold in the alpine areas.

That’s great advice regarding the humidifier - thanks very much I’ll look into that .

 

[chartrock]

I hope I’ll still be welcome after we win the Rugby World Cup this year

Yes, you will be as we will flog you in the cricket.

 

[DRW]

When it comes to spending money it’s a lot easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, do we even play rugby? I guess winning league, cricket, netball we should try union one day lol
PS welcome

 

[sierramason]

Hi all, just thought i'd add to the general chit chat on this forum.

We bought a new 17.56 Expanda just yesterday and very excited about what the future holds. Must admit I sat in it for an hour yesterday afternoon just looking and thinking - I think my wife thought I was mad - it may even take over from my frequent weekly visits to Bunnings!

I have a thousand questions but luckily I work with someone who's got a identical model (although its a year old) so its good to know I can use him for something.

I've been reading some of the posts and I'm glad I have, as I've come to the conclusion that a battery may not solve my CPAP requirements. I'm also thinking about modifying the front of the draw-bar to take a toolbox to take the gas bottles and storage into one - which I've seen some do. Are there long rectangular toolboxes out there that just slide in under the front bed from the outside which can be accessed from either side? I thought this would make it a lot easier rather than going inside to access or stretching from the outside into the cabinet?

KWOZ (I'm a Kiwi, the missus is a Ozzie)

Hi Just wondering what the new 17.56.2 go for these days?

 

[KWOZ]

Hi Just wondering what the new 17.56.2 go for these days?

Hi , all up we paid just under $50k but that was with extras included .

 

[sierramason]

Hi , all up we paid just under $50k but that was with extras included .

Hi
Thanks for the price indication. What extras did you end up going for and which dealer did u deal with.
Thanks

 

[Disco Duck]

I was just on the Jayco website and they are quoting:


17 ft Jayco Expanda Pop Top 17.56-1 2019
$46,990
Tare Weight (kg): 1790
Tow ball (kg): 150
Travel length (mm): 7145
Travel height (mm): 2650
Body (L): 5660
Interior (L): 5200
Interior (H): 2115
Sleeps Up To: 5



17 ft Jayco Expanda Pop Top 17.56-1 Outback 2019
$51,990
Tare Weight (kg): 2060
Tow ball (kg): 190
Travel length (mm): 7025
Travel height (mm): 2850
Body (L): 5660
Interior (L): 5200
Interior (H): 2115
Sleeps Up To: 5

 

[Bluey]

Id like to challange that ball weight i have a outback 1756=2 2014 add a bathroom thats it my ball weight not evan close to that whish it was another poll how many vans match there compliance plate ???????? Dont trust the plate i did but was very wrong doing so

 

[Drover]

Id like to challange that ball weight i have a outback 1756=2 2014 add a bathroom thats it my ball weight not evan close to that whish it was another poll how many vans match there compliance plate ???????? Dont trust the plate i did but was very wrong doing so

We did have a thread on compliance plates way back when, don't think anyone had one that was near correct, someone even had the wrong VIN number......ball weight like tare is a fairy tale .

 

[carco]

I use a Resmed CPAP machine with humidifier. The $$ they wanted for a 12v charger was outlandish so I went for an inverter.
That way we can run small 240v appliances.
Just took the camper out to Birdsville, no trouble for the batteries to keep up with 12v freezer and the CPAP over a couple of days/ nights. (It has 2-130ah AGM batteries.)
Have been using this setup for about three years bush camping.

 

[Disco Duck]

I use the inverter for my CPAP too.

 

[sierramason]

I was just on the Jayco website and they are quoting:


17 ft Jayco Expanda Pop Top 17.56-1 2019
$46,990
Tare Weight (kg): 1790
Tow ball (kg): 150
Travel length (mm): 7145
Travel height (mm): 2650
Body (L): 5660
Interior (L): 5200
Interior (H): 2115
Sleeps Up To: 5



17 ft Jayco Expanda Pop Top 17.56-1 Outback 2019
$51,990
Tare Weight (kg): 2060
Tow ball (kg): 190
Travel length (mm): 7025
Travel height (mm): 2850
Body (L): 5660
Interior (L): 5200
Interior (H): 2115
Sleeps Up To: 5

Hi , all up we paid just under $50k but that was with extras included .

Hi KWOZ
Is

Hi , all up we paid just under $50k but that was with extras included .

Hi KWOZ,
Is that price for a 17.56.1 or 17.56.2
on road or Outback model?

 

[KWOZ]

Hi
Thanks for the price indication. What extras did you end up going for and which dealer did u deal with.
Thanks

Hi , sorry been off line for a few days,. we paid $50k ex Jayco Geelong for series 2 with the toilet and shower. We got an external gas bayonet, side table, a couple of extra power points inside and out and shelves for the pantry unit. We got as a trade in the same price we paid for our old van 2 years previous and that was after i gutted it and made the two single beds into a king which we loved and thought it was a great idea.

Just returned from being away for a few days with the new van and although everything went reasonable well, a little disappointed about a few things - the canopy over the gas bottle did not stay on the clips and we were forced to take it off after just 200kms on the road, the shower leaked into the hallway floor, the jockey wheel clamp bolt is hard to get the first thread into the nut when the jockey wheel is on. I'm also amused the hotwater switch is in such a hidden location and nothing to actually pin point it. But overall the towing and camping experience was good. Not sure why Jayco have decided to go with an App to check water and battery levels while a gauge would've done the job.

My initial future plans are to fit a couple of level gauges and fit a drawbar toolbox as i'm finding I'm short of room for external stuff like the weber etc. Solar stuff is certainly in the plans but i have read the posts on this subject and I must admit i get a little confused on what to do. My mate who has a 2017 Expanda has just put in a chinese diesel heater and i'm impressed with the finished product.

Kwoz