New member new ( hopfully soon ) 16.49-4

[roscoe]

Just found this forum and looks pretty good

We are in the process of buying a new Expander and are tossing up the value of the OB pack. Anyone been able to just pick the eys out of the pack and is it worth it? Most of my travelling has been black top although we did go up/down the Oonadatta track last year in a camper trailer - Jayco Eagle outback.

What would you get if given the choice?

 

[expanda]

Just found this forum and looks pretty good

We are in the process of buying a new Expander and are tossing up the value of the OB pack. Anyone been able to just pick the eys out of the pack and is it worth it? Most of my travelling has been black top although we did go up/down the Oonadatta track last year in a camper trailer - Jayco Eagle outback.

What would you get if given the choice?

Really depends on your needs and budget....

As much as I love the look of the checker plate and the extra height I had it on my first two vans but on the third one I just got them to under slung the axle.

When you add up in terms of dollars though its worth it when you consider, bigger chassis, bigger rims + tyres, checker plating etc etc etc as if you decide to it later it will cost you a pretty penny especially if you have a dual axle.

For instance I was thinking of putting bigger wheels and tyres on the disco but cost for 5 rims and tyres is close to 1k alone if not more.

Welcome to the site to I am sure others will chime in.

What model are you looking at getting??

 

[Lara]

Hi Roscoe and Welcome,
I personally would go for the outback, even if your are sticking to the black stuff. Better clearance so you won't be bottoming out on driveways etc. And great to have the checker plate protection too.

 

[Soaring]

The value equation varies depending on the Expanda model you choose.
If you are looking at a van that doesn't have the ensuit, then the $2500 you pay for the OB is pretty good considering you get the second gas bottle and the extra water tank in addition to all the rest of the OB gear. These come standard on the ensuit models, but you still pay the $2500 premium.
From memory the rest of the OB features are:
Larger chassis
Beefier suspension
Aluminium chacker plate sides
Shock absorbers on single axle
External 12v point
Offroad rated electric brake magnets
Gas bayonette
Offroad wheel/tyre package
Mud flaps
Drop down jacks (a must have in my view)
Gal rear bumper

Hope this helps.

 

[Chooky]

I think it depends on your tow vehicle aswell, if you have a 4wd the hitch height will most likely be closer to being level than with a standard road going model. Even my outback hitch height was way to low behind my patrol and it only has a 2 inch lift, I think even with the standard suspension it would of still been to low. Plus it just gives you the added option of clearance if you do want to go off the beaten track a bit. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[sledge]

Roscoe

I went the other way with choosing the standard road model after having an outback camper. Reasons were similar in that we travel mostly blacktop and I spent the extra $2500 cost on getting more value for money in factory fitted extras. By the way, we have also just picked up a new 16.49-4 model from factory last week and absolutely love the layout. We drove straight from the yard on Saturday to a foreshore campsite for 2 nights and found the A/C a blessing in our current Melbourne heatwave. Another reason I went road model was to reduce unnecessary drag with the additional height as I tow with an XR6.

Cheers sledge

 

[Chooky]

Sounds like a great choice given you tow with XR6 not really any need for outback model and money better spent on options. We also have the 16.49-4 and love the layout. Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new family member. You are in good company on here as there seems to be a lot of people stepping up from jayco poptops to expanda's.

 

[Pace]

welcome roscoe, look as is you allready have the good oil of information your after. lots of helping hands here. look forwards to your post. cheers pace.

 

[gwadir]

Hi Roscoe,
Welcome to the forum, they are a great bunch of people here.

We to are in the process of purchasing our first Expanda and have decided on the outback for ground clearance, robustness and ability to take us where we want to go.

Choose your options carefully and check out the threads which is what we have been doing to get all our ideas.

Good Luck and look forward to seeing some photo's of your new rig when you get it.

Dave

 

[roscoe]

thanks all. Ifthe cost is only $2.5K, then getting anything done later may be more expensive. Just don't want the rear bumper. adds nearly 3-400mm to the length and storage space is a premium at home. We'll see what that drops off the cost and look at other options. Cheers.

 

[Lara]

Hi Roscoe,
Ok, so I'm still very new to the world of expandas and I'm sure other members can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong...... But I thought the total length was the same, regardless of whether you had Outback or not. I thought it was only the height that was the difference between the 2.

 

[roscoe]

Lara, you could be right. Coming from my camper trailer experience, the outback rear bumper extended an extra 100 and then the spare was mounted adding another 300. they may not move the spare on the expanda. Should just ask, but that's too simple. I'm a guy remember, we don't ask for directions.

 

[Lara]

Lara, you could be right. Coming from my camper trailer experience, the outback rear bumper extended an extra 100 and then the spare was mounted adding another 300. they may not move the spare on the expanda. Should just ask, but that's too simple. I'm a guy remember, we don't ask for directions.

Ha, you're all the same! Men......

 

[Brad]

And we never turn the map upside down.