18' Series Our new Expanda 18.57-6 OB

[panda girl-18]

Hi all,

We have recently upgraded our 2008 Jayco Swan to a brand new Expanda 18.57-6 OB, picking it up from Jayco Newcastle. They had the van already in stock, so we didn't have to wait months for delivery. The sales experience was fantastic, we couldn't fault it. The van came with all of the extras that we wanted including aircon, a rollout awning, washing machine, 150 litre fridge, windup TV antenna, canvas bed end and mesh wall. We decided against an annex, as we barely used the annex we had with the Jayco Swan.

We have had one short trip to Lane Cove National Park to check everything out. All we can say is - we loved it. Compared to our six week driving holiday to Darwin last year with the Swan, setup was a breeze.

The next big trip is up to Port Macquarie for Christmas for some R & R and fishing, so we can't wait.

Our tow rig is a 2010 VX Toyota Prado auto diesel, with a HR WDH keeping the Panda riding along comfortably behind.

Hope to see many other Panda owners on the road. Have a happy Christmas and New Year and safe travels.

Matt & Sherree

 

[Burnsy]

Hi and welcome guys, congrats on the new van.....excellent choice too, post up some pics when u can!

Cheers.

 

[chartrock]

Welcome to the friendly forum, Panda Girl. Thanks for the great introduction and glad you were happy with Newcastle Jayco (we bought ours there too). As Burnsy said, we would love some pics.

 

[Xpandafan]

Welcome Matt & Sherree. Nothing wrong with the Swan but an 18.57 is something else again isnt it? Many years of happy travels with her.
Lots of posts on here about the joys of waiting for a new Expanda if you still want to share the experience of the sense of anticipation. Wouldn't have coped myself...well done on taking the short cut. Look forward to you posts and pics.

 

[relgate]

Exciting times! Congratulations and welcome to the forum. Is it just the 2 of you in that huge van?

 

[panda girl-18]

Thanks Burnsy. Have read with interest your story - fingers crossed that we have many years of trouble free vanning.

 

[panda girl-18]

Thanks for the welcome. Looking forward to reading the posts. At the moment we have an eight year old boy and six year old girl in tow with us as well. The bunk beds were a good move for us from the pull out bed on the Swan.

 

[Pace]

Welcome guys to the forum. Nice selection of van, wife wanted the 18-57.9 till I informed that we couldn't store it. Look forward to your travel tails. Cheers Pace.

 

[Xpandafan]

Exciting times! Congratulations and welcome to the forum. Is it just the 2 of you in that huge van?

Come on mate, an 18 is ideal just for two! Theres only one wardrobe, one bathroom and one tv remote after all.:smile:

 

[panda girl-18]

Re - 18' Series Our new Expanda 18.57-6 OB

Hi all,

Thanks for the welcome to the Expanda Forum. We hadn't initially driven to Newcastle to buy a new van, but the timing was right and the deal was too good to pass up. We had purchased our Swan brand new and the anticipation was good then, but nothing like the anticipation waiting for all of the pre-delivery stuff to happen before we picked up the Panda in October 2012. Our 8 year old boy and 6 year old girl put dibs on the bunk beds before we had even left Jayco at Newcastle! What was very pleasing was that the old Swan (that we had had a lot of fun in) held its resale value.

All of us are looking forward to many years of fun vanning, hearing about other's travel adventures and reading the posts.

I have posted some pics below - any suggestions most welcome.

Regards

Matt & Sherree

 

[expanda]

Welcome and excellent van !!!!

Sure looks to be a huge step up from the swan....

 

[Hit the road]

welcome guys, looks amazing, what a stepup!

 

[Brad]

Welcome Matt & Sherree.
I am interested in that last pic of yours. Did the bed ends come with the roll up canvas windows or did you buy that after market?
I thought Jayco only sold privacy bed end covers.

 

[Holden_man]

Hi guys,
Welcome, and great taste in van and tow vehicle I reckon. They are a beautiful van. We head off on our first trip this coming weekend and can't wait. I too am interested in the bed end, do you have any info on it?

Look forward to hearing about your future pandaventures.

Jas

 

[relgate]

Come on mate, an 18 is ideal just for two! Theres only one wardrobe, one bathroom and one tv remote after all.:smile:

I guess I'm just jealous!

 

[andrea]

Welcome and congrats on the new van !!!

There's a bit if a thread on the Bed ends on here somewhere but they are made at http://www.holidayannexes.com.au/about

 

[MolongMick]

Welcome and congrats on the van. It is a beauty.

I too like the bed ends. They are a great idea.

Enjoy the van guys.

 

[BUSH PALACE]

:high5:Hi guys and welcome to expanda land,nice lookn set up . Plenty to read , see and do on this top forum
anyway enjoy guys

 

[cruza driver]

:welcome: to the forum, the camper to Expanda progression sure is a popular one :thumb:

 

[Bushman]

:welcome: Matt & Sherree , certainly a big set up from a Swan to an 18, looks great.