Outback Swan

[Swannie]

     Thanks for the replies,was going to upgrade the fridge but I run 2 engels in the car one small one as drinks ,snacks fridge and a 45ltr as a freezer on extended trips.Will also be purchasing a portable solar panel for topping up batteries was told the fridge upgrade was nearer $800.The bed end flies will not be Jayco the dealer have their own canvas shop so make them.Was leaning more to not getting BBQ you just made my mind up.Will do the shelves thing myself have ,asked for payload upgrade when first placed order have still not heard back from Jayco as to whether or not it can be done.
    Brindi I have put 2 gig plugs up near were the kids will sleep and 1 down the other end near the bed.

                Cheers Dice

So your buying from prestige? That's we're I got my swan, your more than welcome to come around a check their own canvas products anytime.


Swannie

[Dice]

    I'll take you up on that offer sometime soon Swannie,Thanks Dice

[nbd73]

Dice, hope the TV antenna works for you. I bought one from camec for just under $300 and it was next to useless. Threw it away and got one of the satellite dish/vast receiver packages from itech world in Perth (they're on sale at the moment for bucket loads off the normal price) & it's perfect. Dead easy to aim etc, just have to renew your free licence every 6 months on line.

[Jacmark30]

If your going with the webber / BBQ instead of slide out, good choice! ,consider a second bayonet at the back of the camper, if your like me, I like to cook with a view, so some campsites the view is at the back of the camper but the weber has to stay up the front.
I'll be putting a second bayonet on our swan in the near future.
Happy with our highland coupling also.

[Nutto]

If your going with the webber / BBQ instead of slide out, good choice! ,consider a second bayonet at the back of the camper, if your like me, I like to cook with a view, so some campsites the view is at the back of the camper but the weber has to stay up the front.
I'll be putting a second bayonet on our swan in the near future.
Happy with our highland coupling also.

Or, rather than have the expense of extra bayonets and gas lines installed by Jayco, just have none, and carry a 2 or 4kg gas bottle and have the flexibility to cook wherever you like???   Works for us

Edit:  I see the new swans have one bayonet std now, so you'll have one anyway.

[crackacoldie]

I think the arsenal of batteries and panels will push me out of getting the waeco.

I have a Waeco 156 litre 2 door 12 v compressor in the Expanda.  We have 2 @ 100aH batteries an 2 @ 120w solar panels.  I never turn the fridge off and the van is not connected to power at home.  The batteries drop to approx 13 v overnight and return to full charge by 9am.

Having had both 12v compressor and 3 way fridges in the past, I find the Waeco is far better than the 3 way, which doesn't like to work when they are hot, or cold, or not vented properly, or the vents are in the sun....

If the budget allows, go the compressor fridge.

  Cracka

[Red1]

We have the Waeco in our swan, will last a few days on the 2 x N70Z batteries in the camper, and also have a 120W panel that keeps it all topped up.
Also have the slideout BBQ, suited us better as it is one less thing that has to be packed so that it doesn't move about and maybe scratch stuff inside.. I built in around it and this gives another small shelf obove it(accessed from inside under the lounge) to put small items out of the way, like the kids toiletries etc. We also got rid of the wardrobe altogether, this is our 3rd jayco, 1 hawk, 2 swans, we decided that the wardrobe would be a PITA to put up and down all the time, as we tend to only stay a few days and move on during longer road trips.
Also have the HWS, and dont really need both gas cylinders. Can't remember how long one lasts, but it is ages, as the HWS holds its heat for a long time, so does not cycle very often

Had aTrigg on the last one, went with an AT35 this time, i find it easier to hook up by myself(wife is usually busy with the kids)
Cheers

Red

[Jenko67]

I don't suppose you could post a picture of where you moved the tap too. I have ordered a tap on drawbar and would like it to be in a practical position.

Hey, the tap was basically in line with the front of the boot which is in the way for when I want to put a pole carrier box on and i kept hitting my head on the bed base when I wanted to use the tap... It was annoying.. I moved it forward about 68cm from the middle of where it was (to the left of the bed pole attachment in the pic) to about directly under where the bedend pulls right out.. Great now... no head hitting and easy access to the front, for me anyway I like it in that position..

[Dice]

  When at the dealer today they had a 2013 O/B Hawk there thats for the Melbourne Caravan And Camping Show they have a new wheel design and the front boot is different to the 2012 much better access to the gas etc and LED lights internally and externally, also realised as Iv e extended the drawbar will be able to set up without unhooking the vehicle bonus for the quick overnight stop.
    i did take some pics but they are on my phone and I dont have the cable to get from phone to computer,if I can work out how to post pics from phone Ill post them tomorrow.  Cheers Dice

[BrindiCruiser]

I went to choose colours on the weekend, and I gotta say that none of the fabrics float my boat. I could have found 2-3 options better in each of the last few days. Ended up choosing the block silver - Gray colour.

Don't suppose it is possible to get old fabric colours....

And the answer was no.

[Dice]

    Heres the new wheel on the 2013 Outbacks
 

[BrindiCruiser]

I need to finalise my options today. I have not currently got the hotwater system or water battery monitor or dual gas bottles.

The gas/electric hotwater system is pretty expensive option. Any thoughts on value for money or performance of the Jayco hws.

$1500 option including shower. But it takes up a whole cupboard. So this is not getting a jersey with us.

Water monitor seems a good price to get at factory. However, the battery monitor part seems pretty unsophisticated. In any case, my battery needs to power to stock led lights and water pump only. A NASA BM1 seems like a much better battery monitor and that can be added down the track. I wonder if I actually need a water monitor with 2 tanks, and a jerry can of water. Can anyone convince me.

I will use the fridge on gas. I like idea of two 4.5 kg gas bottles, rather than a single 9kg bottle. Downside is that I don't think it is as space efficient. + extra cash.  I do have a small 2kg bottle with a POL adapter. Maybe that could be my reserve if the big 9kg bottle runs out. I also don't have any 4.5 kg bottles.
$200 - I reckon I will stick with a single gas bottle.

Already have ordered:
Tap on drawbAr
12 v tap
Extra water tank
Extended drawbar
Roof rack
Battery
Awning bagged
Annexe walls
Bed flies
Shelves in wardrobe

Colour is slate grey.
Will come with the 2013 wheels and led lights.

[nbd73]

Hi Brindicruiser, if the jaycos use the truma 14l gas hot water system then it is the same as my GS. Depends on the style of camping you intend to do and whether you have young kids (& whether your pockets are bottomless!!). I have not regretted for one instant. The wife loves it, makes things so easy for washing up and just being able to have an instant hot shower is gold.
If you go with it then the extra gas bottle is a must. The HWS will use a bit of gas if left running all the time, but then that's the point of on demand hot water (can turn off overnight to conserve gas). I have 2 x 9kg which many seem to think is overkill, certainly without the HWS then 2 x 4.5kgs would be adequate. The advantage is never having to worry about running out or refilling part empty bottles. 1 x 9kg will last a couple of weeks easy so with 2 I just keep using until 1 bottle runs out, then swap over & refill prior to next trip. Well worth it IMO.
Water tank gauges: once again if you don't option the shower then water use is pretty minimal in reality, but with the shower they are really handy. I did not option them from the factory, but at first warranty issue repair had the dealer add them on (and it wasn't cheap).
Hope this gives you another perspective.

[BrindiCruiser]

Thanks for input and perspective. but essentially it adds up to an extra $2k for convenience. And nice to have things.

Also I am not keen to lose the cupboard space.

[nbd73]

Thanks for input and perspective. but essentially it adds up to an extra $2k for convenience. And nice to have things.

Also I am not keen to lose the cupboard space.

Yep, there's no getting around the fact that 2k is a big chunk of hard earned $, and its a matter of priorities. And yes you do lose a lot of storage space. It's my biggest gripe: nowhere to really store clothes inside the CT except on the bed which can be a PITA. Sounds like you know what u want and that's half the battle, otherwise over zealous salespeople would have u add $20k of extras to a $25k CT.

[BrindiCruiser]

I ended up staying with my original extras list. Just had some wobbles during the course of the day.

Hopefully, will not have regrets down the track.

[Swannie]

Mate, all will be good. Just get the thing and use it!

Swannie

[Smitty]

Hey Dice congrats on the new purchase. We bought a new OB Swan mid last year with hot water and shower with the other options except roll out BBQ and have found them all invaluable ... For winter we installed the D2 heater ourselves which got used all the time when cold plus I got the upgraded lights for the bed ends with the built in fans which are fantastic when free camping on hot nights which we run on low constantly and draw bugger all power... Also get decent woollen underlays for the beds as the cold does come up through the mattress in cold climates... Good luck and enjoy the new investment....

[Smitty]

We also opted not to have the standard microwave which was converted to a cupboard from factory which is a huge storage compartment for pots, pans, slabs of beer (when the fridge runs dry) and nappies for the sprog...

[Smitty]

One last thing, you should have a cooling period from when you put a deposit down to the confirmation to build just in case you change your mind on any options in the mean time...

[Smitty]

Oh and one last thing, the only thing we run low with and it's not battery power or  gas but it is water, even with the 2nd water tank but we do use the shower with the kids, so I personally recommend the 2nd water tank but that's my opinion...

[nbd73]

We also opted not to have the standard microwave which was converted to a cupboard from factory which is a huge storage compartment for pots, pans, slabs of beer (when the fridge runs dry) and nappies for the sprog...

Smitty, spot on, I wish I had. Have used it all of about 4 times whilst at powered sites. Useless otherwise I store bread in it).
And you're also spot on RE water use with shower. Even being super conservative it does not take long to vanquish 130l of water. 4 adults +2 kids we find about 90-100l per day (all usage and very young kids admittedly). I reckon 80% of that is the shower. Extra water tank + jerry cans mandatory.

[Smitty]

Yeah we thought the microwave ok for microwave pop corn but you more or less live off the hot plate when camping and more storage for beer is win win...

[reol950]

Hey Dice congrats on the new purchase. We bought a new OB Swan mid last year with hot water and shower with the other options except roll out BBQ and have found them all invaluable ... For winter we installed the D2 heater ourselves which got used all the time when cold plus I got the upgraded lights for the bed ends with the built in fans which are fantastic when free camping on hot nights which we run on low constantly and draw bugger all power... Also get decent woollen underlays for the beds as the cold does come up through the mattress in cold climates... Good luck and enjoy the new investment....

Can you show us a picture of the fans and a link of where to get them

[Dice]

Have a look here and Jayco dealers sell them        http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=26706.0