The car is a 2014 Nissan Navara V6 twin can ute. 7 speed auto, turbo charged 3ltr diesel engine producing 170kW power and 550 NM torque. Jus shy of a one tonne carrying capacity. It pulls the 3tonne van without any fuss. The car has a US made Snugtop fibreglass canopy with 3 double locking awning windows, Safari snorkel and ARB winch bar. A 9500lb winch missed out before xmas due to time constraints, but is on the list for early next year. Poly bag suspension and a V5 WDH. The usual LSD is replaced with a Active Brake LSD. I will likely get a long range fuel tank, and a suspension lift.
The van is a 21 foot Jayco Expanda Outback edition. It comes complete with ALL the luxuries of home (… and a few luxuries we don’t have at home)
A lot of energy has been expended on researching the right van for an extended trip. Our love and preference for the Expanda tent section bed end weight heavily on the decision. A lot of consideration was given to the configuration and the set up and options we wanted for the long term. This aspect proved extremely difficult and dealing with both the dealer and Jayco was at best a frustrating lucky dip, and very much like dealing with a backyard operation, which is astounding considering the size of the company.
We order as best we could, as close to what we wanted with a very murky idea of what we would end up with. We knew a lot of the finer details would have to be modified after we picked it up.
The list of inclusions, options and additions from the order process is
The van arrived with the new hard lid, but at my request was exchanged for the old hard lid
Slide out lounge deleted, to reduce the weight.
(Couch returns are marginally shorter, but window seat and table are significantly bigger
Had the Tare weight reduction added back to the ATM, which gives us almost 600kg capacity)
Extended drawbar to allow for more control and a drawbar mounted storage box
Full Oven
150ltr 3 way 12v/gas/elec fridge
Light polyester bed cover, which has plastic and storm windows
150w roof mounted solar panel
Extra power points to couch and kitchen bench … plus additional ones fitted where Jayco wouldn’t
Power points deleted from next to kids head in the bunk, and relocated to the foot end wall, along with 12v and TV point
Kept the 150ltr fridge. We have an Engel, and its cheaper and better for us to add another Engel if necessary … doubt it tho.
Outside Entertainment Unit behind the sink. Knuckle heads fitted it slightly behind the open van door, and the door catch is rendered useless, but with some dealer input we think the Silverline magnetic catch will solve that.
Rear mounted Fiamma 3 bike rack
900mm rear under bunk storage hatch …. ordered in black, came in white so they thought it a good idea to paint it.
Winegard snowflake terrestrial TV antenna.
External shower was deleted because they were going to put it in the front boot. Ill add it later if we find we might use it
Drifter control panel, controls 12v, water pump, solar panel and water tanks ….. although I managed to bugger it up. Ha
Fold down outside table, saves carting one around in the back of the car
Ibis remote control roof mounted air condtioner
Fusion stereo ….. which has internal and external speaker. It bluetooth to the phone and is pretty impressive unit
3kg full plumbed fully automatic washing machine
Full annex
Pre wired for 4 TV s, main, one in each bunk and an outside access TV … all connected to terrestial and Foxtel TV
Modified 12v sullage sump pump to discharge waste, uphill, downhill or wherever (not poo, it goes into a tank)
The van antenna coax (against all efforts to get it wrong) was, with a few adjustments and tinkering a minor success
We use a portable satellite dish, the receiver will sit in the overhead over the TV where it gets its signal via the outside road side coax input. A second indépendant coax runs from the TV area to both the Entertainment Unit, and bunk outlets. Once set up, we can switch the Ent Unit and bunks to either terrestrial or Satellite TV. The main Tv remains independent and can switch btw terrestrial or Satellite
12v sullage pump. External bayonet gas connection to run the BBQ from the vans gas supply. Twin 120amp AGM DC batteries for off grid camping. 150watt roof mounted solar panel to auto direct charge the onboard batteries; plus a 2.0kW generator for the aircon …. and Barbs hair dryer. (Actually the generator is for Barbs hairdryer; but it can also run the aircon)
Off road independent Simplicity style suspension (which causes an increase in van height; enough for Ross to buy a granny step after his knees started to ache climbing in and out at Ballarat) We have a full annex
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