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Author Topic: Newbie from the Gold Coast  (Read 12367 times)

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Offline Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback

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Newbie from the Gold Coast
« on: July 22, 2013, 06:38:06 AM »
Just wanted to introduce myself. Have been lurking on the forum for a month or so after my better half steered us towards a Jayco Swift Outback instead of a soft floor camper trailer after visiting the Brisbane camping show last month.

After reading how many people have them on here and that almost everyone loves them to death we took the plunge on Saturday and purchased the Swift Outback from Brisbane Camperland. Thankfully they had the perfect one already in stock so we will only be waiting a couple of weeks.

We can't wait for our first weekend away in it.

Josh and Mandy
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Offline HEM19X

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2013, 07:02:47 AM »
Welcome to The Show guys, there are a lot of amazing places close by,.

Regards
Hem
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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2013, 07:15:46 AM »
Welcome to the tribe Josh and Mandy.  Congratulations on the Jayco purchase.  Look forward to reading of your adventures.

Happy camping
KB
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Offline oldmate

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2013, 07:24:36 AM »
Welcome from another gold coaster. Enjoy your time here
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Offline Malcolm Tugless

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2013, 07:59:12 AM »
Welcome aboard.

Must say I is mighty impressed with the new Swift, mighty impressed.

If after a couple of months you decide you don't like it, I'd be more than happy to offer you half the original purchase price ... it is the outback model isn't it.  ;D

Interested to know why you went to the Brisbane dealership when there is one in Tweed Heads.
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Offline Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2013, 12:16:38 PM »
Quote from: Malcolm Tugless on July 22, 2013, 07:59:12 AM
Welcome aboard.

Must say I is mighty impressed with the new Swift, mighty impressed.

If after a couple of months you decide you don't like it, I'd be more than happy to offer you half the original purchase price ... it is the outback model isn't it.  ;D

Interested to know why you went to the Brisbane dealership when there is one in Tweed Heads.

We initially approached Tweed but found them unwilling to negotiate on a price or match our quote from Brisbane. In our opinion we got a better Camper that was significantly cheaper than Tweed.

Generally we were just more impressed with Brisbane. The range was huge and staff everywhere. We were very impressed with the service from the sales team and the honesty they showed. We were tossing up between the new Swift or a 2nd hand dove and Paul from Brisbane let me set up the dove on my own and generally left me alone to prod, inspect, go over with a fine tooth comb and make the decision without being pushy and over bearing.

« Last Edit: July 22, 2013, 12:20:34 PM by Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback »
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Offline Malcolm Tugless

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2013, 01:42:13 PM »
Thanks for the heads-up, as I've suspected this to be the case for a while now.

Having made some enquires about the price of the swift, we found Watsons caravans at Coffs Harbour very approachable and well priced.
So on a recent trip down there we popped in for a chat. They weren't surprised, seems they get quite a few customers from up this way.
After returning home we made some enquiries at the "local" dealership, the price was a fair bit higher than Watsons, with the explanation being the added freight cost. Funnily enough my brother had recently purchased one in FNQ at a price that bettered that given by the local mob down here.

Word of mouth can be a good advertisement for service and price, but it can have the opposite effect when the feedback is negative.


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Offline Hairs

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2013, 01:57:45 PM »
G'day Josh and Mandy,

To Myswag,
Congrats on your purchase.
There are plenty of great trip reports to get you out there and enjoying it.
Hope you enjoy your time here.
Happy & Safe travels.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2013, 08:03:18 AM by Hairs »
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Offline Rob C

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2013, 08:07:36 AM »
Welcome Josh & Mandy,

Might catch up in the Great south East.

Rob
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Offline Paul (SA)

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2013, 07:21:50 PM »
Yay! Another Swift owner on the forum!!!!!

Keen to hear your reviews on he new Jayco. Did you get any extras?
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Offline muzza01

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2013, 09:06:31 PM »
Welcome Josh and Mandy. Congratulations on you new purchase. You both must be very excited. Muz
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Offline Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #11 on: July 25, 2013, 07:38:26 AM »
Quote from: Paul (SA) on July 24, 2013, 07:21:50 PM
Yay! Another Swift owner on the forum!!!!!

Keen to hear your reviews on he new Jayco. Did you get any extras?

Got a couple but nothing to fancy. We got the mandatory bed fly's, upgraded to Brisbane Camperlands innerspring mattress, and had the 120W Solar panel and battery fitted.

We passed on the bag awning as they look a bitch to set up and will be shopping around for a nice gazebo which we feel will suit us better. We plan on lots of weekends away and want ease of set up in the dusk or dark of a Friday. I will also be shopping around for an off road hitch to add to it eventually but as yet haven't made my mind up. I like the tregg ones but I saw a trailer fitted with 4wd hitch that takes the standard tow ball size at the last show but can't remember what they're called. Anyone have suggestions?
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Offline Tjupurula

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2013, 01:13:02 PM »
Hi John & Mandy
Welcome to the wonderful MySwag family, well that is how I refer to it.
Regards
Tjupurula
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Offline Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2013, 08:43:10 AM »
Just wanted to update everyone on our Swift Outback. Yesterday we headed up to Brisbane camper land to have our hand over session and finalise all of the paper work. Loved the hand over session and the attention to detail was great. One handle was a bit funny and was replaced straight away. I had the brake controller and 12v fridge wiring fitted at the same time and it seems to working great.

Once everything was finalized we spent some more hard earned folding stuff in the accesories store and then started on the journey home. I'm almost a complete towing novice and was feeling pretty nervous about towing her home. We took it easy and my confidence grew thanks to how well it towed behind the Grand Vitara. My car towed it fine but I new it was on the back when we came to even small hills at speed on the highway. I'm not sure how it would go pulling it the beach at Fraser.

Once home we loaded up the car with our gear and two dogs and headed down to the Mt Warning caravan park to set it up for the first time and spend the weekend camping. We struggled at bit with the bed flys only because the don't show you how to set them up. But after 5 mins of  head scratching the light bulb went on and we had them both up.

Set up was a dream and even with the bed fly drama would have taken no more than 20mins. Running the fridge on gas took a bit to get going but after playing with the levels it fired up. Did take overnight to get cold but thats my fault for heading away straight away.

All in all it has exceeded our expectations. It was really warm last night in the cold mountain air and to have a decent innerspring mattress it has already paid for itself.

We are in love

Josh and Mandy
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Offline Armadillo & Customline Campers

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2013, 11:51:23 AM »
Quote from: Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback on July 25, 2013, 07:38:26 AM
Got a couple but nothing to fancy. We got the mandatory bed fly's, upgraded to Brisbane Camperlands innerspring mattress, and had the 120W Solar panel and battery fitted.

We passed on the bag awning as they look a bitch to set up and will be shopping around for a nice gazebo which we feel will suit us better. We plan on lots of weekends away and want ease of set up in the dusk or dark of a Friday. I will also be shopping around for an off road hitch to add to it eventually but as yet haven't made my mind up. I like the tregg ones but I saw a trailer fitted with 4wd hitch that takes the standard tow ball size at the last show but can't remember what they're called. Anyone have suggestions?

Hi and welcome,
We use a hitch call "Hyland"
It uses a 50mm 3.5T ball and is for off road.
Just google Hyland hitch and you'll find it.
 :cheers:

Rod......
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Offline Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #15 on: August 04, 2013, 06:13:57 PM »
Packed up and headed home this morning and again hit a few snags with the bed flys. Not a fan of them but I have it all sorted now.

Packing up was a bit more fiddly than setting up. Getting the beds back in took a couple of goes to get them in there tracks and then making sure all the canvas goes in correctly before the roof comes down. We also had a couple of goes getting the roof to fully close. We'll get better with more practice :-)

Still incredibly happy with everything and would recommend one to everyone. Just need to work out how to post some photos to show everyone.
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Offline Paul (SA)

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #16 on: August 04, 2013, 06:49:27 PM »
Quote from: Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback on August 04, 2013, 06:13:57 PM
Packed up and headed home this morning and again hit a few snags with the bed flys. Not a fan of them but I have it all sorted now.

Packing up was a bit more fiddly than setting up. Getting the beds back in took a couple of goes to get them in there tracks and then making sure all the canvas goes in correctly before the roof comes down. We also had a couple of goes getting the roof to fully close. We'll get better with more practice :-)

Still incredibly happy with everything and would recommend one to everyone. Just need to work out how to post some photos to show everyone.

I agree with the bed flys, but you will get used to it. When I first used my Swift, I was anal about rolling them in tightly, but now I just get them bagged and then sort them out when I get home. You can always slide the whole bag off and sort it out on the grass at the end of the camping trip or holiday season. In fact, I tend to leave my bags off now at home and attach them when we go out.

Am keen to see the pics of your trip. The most important thing is to have a great time, no matter what you are camping in.

Cheers, Paul

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Offline Memem284

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #17 on: August 04, 2013, 06:57:05 PM »
Malcolm, we bought our OB 2011 Eagle second hand from Watsons Coffs Harbour  and couldn't fault them. We weren't looking for a dealer camper but the price was great and the camper came with stacks of extras. After a phone call asking them to hold it, a quick dash to Coffs from Newcastle, dashing to the bank at 4:55pm, Watsons staying open for us, we were driving it home that day.

After having it a few months we had a little issue with the winder clunking at bit, so after as couple of calls to Watsons, it was agreed we could take it to Jayco Newcastle to get it fixing at no cost to us.

I would happily head back up to Coffs to buy our next Jayco.
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Offline Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #18 on: August 04, 2013, 07:04:28 PM »
Trying to post pics



All ready to head off on our Maiden voyage



All set up
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Offline Swannie

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #19 on: August 04, 2013, 07:07:32 PM »
Looks great..
Swannie
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Offline Jenko67

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #20 on: August 04, 2013, 07:12:55 PM »
Hey josh, what is the mt warning caravan park like, amenities etc?
Regards

Scott
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Offline Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #21 on: August 04, 2013, 07:42:21 PM »
Nice and relaxing. We have dogs so we have to stay in the front section of the park but have previously stayed in the back section as well. They have a little shop with the basics and the staff a very friendly. The park is very tidy but the permanent resident vans are a little dingy and make it look a bit run down, the amenities are simple and clean but a little outdated in the front section and similar in the rear but with push button showers.

We love the little creek running through the park and its great for photos and I can imagine kids would love a little swim in it. All the un powered sites have little fire areas and you can bring your own wood or buy a bag from the shop. Be warned that if you go around the middle of the year it is a bitterly cold spot to stay.Great in the day but chilly at night. Seem to get down to around 4 degrees last night and as soon the sun drops down in the afternoon it chills down quite quickly.

Its quiet at the moment due to no access to the mountain but it can be quite busy with people leaving to head up the mountain at 3am
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Offline Rob C

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #22 on: August 05, 2013, 07:22:37 AM »
Quote from: Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback on August 04, 2013, 07:04:28 PM
Trying to post pics



All ready to head off on our Maiden voyage



All set up


Good looking set up guy's, well done.
Don't worry all of have start up problems, but it just gets better all the time.

Rob
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Offline mrw63

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #23 on: September 05, 2013, 07:01:59 AM »
Another Gold Coaster with a 2013 Swift Outback  ;D

We love ours it has already been on a 2 week trip to the outback and tows like a dream.
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Offline Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback

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Re: Newbie from the Gold Coast
« Reply #24 on: September 05, 2013, 08:39:27 PM »
Quote from: mrw63 on September 05, 2013, 07:01:59 AM
Another Gold Coaster with a 2013 Swift Outback  ;D

We love ours it has already been on a 2 week trip to the outback and tows like a dream.

We'll have to do a Swift trip one day  :D  where about's on the coast are you? We're in Pac Pines
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