16' Series New to us 16.49 3B OB and a few questions

[RidgePanda]

Hi all

We have recently acquired a 2010 16.49 3B Outback and have a few questions if I may.

In background we sold out 12 yo Trak Shak and now the girls are 20 and 22 they are not so keen on travelling with the oldies so determined that due to size the 16 was right for us but need a shower and toot. Now mostly camping in van parks but the occasional free camp through the year.

The forum is awesome and very encouraging, and i read all 38 pages of threads (no not every thread but lots of them) and this seriously answered lots of questions and would recommend that to any newbie. Sorted out my questions on beds and covers, tyre pressures, running the fridge on gas v electric, taint in the water tanks etc. So eliminated about 6 questions from here!

So my questions.

Those that have other than a standard coupling, so tregg, trigg, mchitch etc, do you still use a WDH or do you find the offroad hitches eliminates the yaw and pitch to some degree? i am more keen on an offroad hitch than a WDH at the moment but was wondering opinions. Mine currently has a standard coupling.

When collapsed is it true you cannot access the internal end storage? Or have we collapsed incorrectly?

Any ideas on what works best for packing we start tomorrow for Easter (wife has 1 day off before Easter so its either tomorrow or I get to do it and you know it will be all wrong lol)

Mounting external gas bayonets for the Webber back and front, my plumber is coming and says its very small gauge pipe and he will need to hunt around to get some and fittings? Would have thought this was standard, also those that have fitted do you run the pipe to the front from just after the regulator as there doesn't seem to have any pipes on that side of the van otherwise. The back I presume would be mounted near the cock at the rear for the fridge?

Thanks in advance

Greg

 

[mfexpanda]

I have a standard hitch but I dont use a WDH at all on ours and it feels fine. Its our second 16 and no problems at all.
But if I had one on it would come off when off-road .
Yes unless you have external hatch you have to open the rear bed to get to that storage end.

 

[RidgePanda]

Thanks MF interesting comment about the WDH and confirming that the bed ends are down correctly!

 

[cruza driver]

Welcome Greg, we have the Treg on ours and no WDH. I would't say it stops the yaw and pitch at all as its still a point thats pivots between the Van and tow vehicle. There is no clunking noise though as its opertion is nice and quite with the poly block.

 

[RidgePanda]

Thanks Cruza....interesting somewhat blows my theory apart! The pitching and yaw effects SWMBO more than me, well on the highway that is.

 

[crackacoldie]

only thing I have heard when using a WDH with a treg is that the poly block can wear quicker because of the forces the WDH places on the connection point. Personally we have a hyland hitch and I have used both WDH and not. The pitch and yaw is definitely more noticable without the WDH, it is not overbearing.

 

[Burnsy]

G'day Greg, welcome mate. I use a wdh with standard hitch and works well. The 5/16" copper pipe is hard to get but I'm sure your plumber will sort you out.

cheers.

 

[Timbo]

Hi Greg,

Our 16.49.3 came with a WDH, but I mostly just use the standard hitch, because the WDH drops down fairly low on the Navara and I scrape coming out of the driveway. The rear doesn't sag much without the WDH anyway. Personally, I think the offroad hitch isn't necessary, as you the departure and breakover angles the van will allow won't be enough to push the limits of the towball coupling.
Regarding accessing the storage boot, it is a mongrel to get stuff from the front and rear boots when collapsed. I can sneak some small items out when collapsed, but that is all.
Cheers, Tim

 

[RidgePanda]

Thanks Crackadoodle, Burnsy and Timbo, seems a WDH is the way to go and probably dump the idea of an off-road hitch as fanciful.
Interesting comment about the pipe Burnsy, text'd my plumber the size and he comes back what about we re plumb the van in 1/2..........with the big smiley face......I think he was joking. May shelve that plan for easter and just go with the long webber hose form the gas bottle. Lots of years to use the future extra bayonets me thinks.

Packing day for us today, well the front end, cannot get near the back end of the van to open, small thing called a house in the way.

Thanks for all the guidance, appreciate it.

Greg

 

[Burnsy]

I had a bayonet done in 3/8" copper pipe on the 16 for that reason, T piece is the same it's only the flare nut that's different. Have a great trip mate and make sure you snap some pics!

cheers.

 

[bigman0510]

if you feel up to the challenge, you can always put your own hatch in???
Like I did HERE

 

[Capt. Gadget]

G'Day Greg and welcome I have the same model as you with a McHitch coupling and airbags in the back of the Tug, It tows just fine, I've never used a WDH so cant really give you an comparison, also didn't bother with the Bayonet as we use our WebberQ at home and it would mean having to get some way to connect it at home organised as well. As for packing The Back storage we use for spare blankets, Games, beach towels and other light weight stuff that doesn't necessarily get re packed each time, the cupboard next to the shower we have fitted an extra shelf and that gets used as the Pantry, pots pans crockery etc all under the sink, Clothes go in the overhead cupboards at either end, Ours is dinette model so the cupboard near the door has all the technology i.e. torches chargers vast receiver etc and the overheads there is for other small items that you need to get hands on quick like aeroguard, keys and stubbie holders. Front boot has Chairs floor mat and other dirty stuff hope that helps
Cheers Grant

 

[Antman]

Hey mate and Welcome :welcome: to the forum.

We have an ozhitch and a WDH setup. Certainly get more movement without the WDH on however its not too bad. There are other things to consider though which would be specific for your setup. Just how much does the van drop your car at the back and raise it at the front and what side effects -other than what you can feel - does this create?

I would suggest as a starting point having a look here on the pedders site for an explanation. I was concerned firstly (and this was before reading anything and had no knowledge on the subject) in regards to under / over steer issues. You have your family in the car and other road users to consider safety also.

I think airbags are a great idea as they give you the flexibility of altering the ride height depending on what you are doing where as if you setup the suspension you are changing it entirely. Sorry a bit off track but I thought worth pointing out.

We also have a bayonet for our webber on the front of the van. It is under the side just in front of the door. Sorry i can't tell pipe sizes etc as it was fitted by jayco but I think 3/8?

Hope that helps.
Cheers
Ants

 

[RidgePanda]

Bigman........me thinks next time in Sydney I will lend you my angle grinder and see what happens (ps didnt think about putting sliding draws in did ya??

CG - great help, the wife and i have just finished packing all the stuff except clothes, so we still have empty the robe, the cupboard next to the door, the drawer under the lounge, the OH end cupboards and also the boot at the back(casue we can't open the back) so much room compared to the Trak Shak - considering taking cement in the Triton to keep the back weighed down

Thanks Ants - even more leaning to the WDH now, just told the wife.............not happy Jan....