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Expanda Experience

During 2005 we found ourselves on the road for 5 months in one stretch, working as we went along. To this end, as much as we love our T-van and it will virtually go anywhere offroad, it was a little difficult to live and work out of it for such an extended period of time. We opted to try out the Jayco Expanda, which gave us the room inside to spread out our computer gear and all the paraphernalia that goes with it. It also gave us the opportunity to have family and friends join us later during our travels and live with us in the van.

The Expanda range of vans from Jayco is so called because of their ability to expand to a much bigger unit when set up. The range includes two 12-foot models and two 16 foot versions, all of which are pop-tops while the 18-footer is a full fledged caravan unit. While the small units have only one fold-out bed, both the 16 and 18 footers have a fold-out bed at each end of the van, while the large van has a slide-out lounge, taking the ‘expanda’ terminology to the limit.
While our long-term test unit is an alloy clad frame version, all of the Expanda range now feature what Jayco call their ‘Tough Frame’ exterior wall construction. In fact, before departing on this long trip we had one of the first Expandas - an 18-footer - in this new body construction style which includes a 25x25mm tubular alloy frame with four layers of material. These layers include fibreglass, ply, and polyester foam, while the outer fibreglass layer is finished with a high-gloss gelcoat skin, some 1.5 times thicker than the previous aluminium skin finish. The final stage of this manufacturing process is the vacuum bonding of the frame for added strength and quality and this style of construction, by Jayco’s own admission provides an almost dent-resistant 100% insulated frame.

The body top and roof top frames are aluminium while the roof is a solid domed one-piece fibreglass unit. Such a construction method ensures good strength as well as keeping the centre of gravity for the whole unit low.

This unit had been run on the test tracks at the Anglesea proving ground in Victoria and had been given a sustained flogging on the ripple strips to see how this new construction method would survive extreme outback corrugations. When we got it, the unit was still as tight as a drum.

The whole unit rides on Jayco’s ‘Millennium Design’ chassis which has unique PSC cross members, which are used to support the 13mm floor and are reportedly more resistant to bending and compression than normal standard box section steel.

The unit we had included the optional ‘Outback Pack’, which includes a solid beam axle backed up by a 7-leaf suspension set-up with rebound damper springs to improve the shock absorption of the spring. In addition there’s hydraulic shock absorbers while the tyre rim size has increased from 14 to 15 inch. These bigger rims wore 235/75R15 Dunlop Super Gripper rubber.

The Outback Pack also adds bigger, stronger 150x50mm main chassis members, a 125x50mm A-frame, improved electric brakes and an obvious aluminium checker-plate finish to the sides and rear.

The two configurations of 16-foot pop-top available are similar, one having an in-built toilet/shower combo which dictates a slightly different layout of sink and stove and a little less storage space. The 16-footer we have on test doesn’t boast the shower/toilet but comes with so much cupboard and storage space we are a little non-plused what to do with it all. Considering we are carrying a mobile office with us, which includes two laptop computers and a host of ancillary equipment that takes up four of the overhead cupboards, that is saying something.

Three of the storage areas could also be accessed from outside but two were a little hampered by their outside doors. The large storage area on the off-side of the van had too small a door for real handy use, while the storage are on the near-side of the van had its access hampered by the support arms of the Carefree awning, which meant it could only be accessed if the awning was set up. Still both could be accessed from inside.

The interior features also include a large stainless steel sink, mains and hand-pump fed water to said sink, 4 burner stove and grill unit, one burner of which is a very handy 240-volt element meaning you don’t need to use gas when on caravan park supplied power. A 12-volt light and range-hood finish the cooking area off although a microwave oven is also now standard fare. A Dometic RM2350 3-way fridge looks after the salads and beer, while 12-volt lighting throughout the van means there is ample illumination. A 240-volt AC to 12-volt DC converter and battery charger, along with a heavy duty battery looked after power supply in the van.

                                                  

What we really liked about this 16-foot unit though is the amount of space when set up. With the beds folded out from each end and taking up none of the floor space that a bed, or beds do in a normal van we found there was ample room in the van to live and work comfortably. With the large island and lounge seats around the offset swivel table we - four of us for the first month, just Viv and I after that - lived, ate and worked in comfort without getting under each others feet!

Setting up took just a couple of minutes. Access to the interior was possible even without the roof lifted and we had many lunch-time stops with the roof down. Four clips and a slight push of the canter-levers inside, at each end of the roof and the roof lifts easily into place. The beds - both very good size doubles - took a little longer to deploy. A couple of screw-down locks need to be undone and then the wall-come-base of the bed is dropped into position, being supported by strong stainless steel cables. From the inside of the van a support frame extends the canvas and the bed, which is folded slightly (with bedding in place), is allowed to fold out and the whole operation is complete. It was again remarkably easy and quick but still, oldish couples may find lifting the drop-down bed back into the travel mode position a little too strenuous.

Only when we were staying for more than an overnight stop did we bother deploying the Carefree awning. Not that it was any great trouble to do so - it just wasn’t required in such situations. These awnings are self supporting but in windy WA they really need a couple of guy-ropes to ensure they don’t lift-off!

Another big plus with this van is the amount of ventilation it has to offer. Each bed end has three large insect screened windows and these being located at each end of the van ensures a good flow of air through the van. That was important, especially as we didn’t have the optional air conditioning and the weather sat between 36 and 42 degrees for the whole two weeks while we were at Exmouth!

We then got rain – some of the best rain WA has had in years – and we travelled and camped in that for four days. Once again the Expanda came through with flying colours. Such a bed set-up means though that you need to protect the bed with a blue plastic tarp or similar so the wet canvas roof doesn’t soak the bed. Camper trailer people will know all about it, but really this is a small price to pay for the units’ convenience.

On the road the van tows very well. Weighing in at just over 1400kg empty the van is probably nudging 1800kg to two tonne when full of water (our unit an the optional second water tank), supplies and the like, but its travelling height is no higher than our Patrol is with roof rack so wind resistance because of the van is negligible. Certainly the Patrol knew it was behind, especially on the hills, but on the open roads we generally cruised at 90-100kph.

Our excursions off the tarmac at this point have been limited to just a few hundred kilometres but again the van and its suspension have handled it well. You can’t expect to get into places where a smaller, lighter, dedicated offroad camper trailer can access, but then again you don’t get the luxuries and working and living space that you do in an Expanda either. But we did head down a few dirt roads, some of which were quite chopped up, as well as a few soft sandy station tracks looking for a remote quite camping spot beside the sea. The Jayco took it all in its stride!

As the sale pitch goes, the Expanda 16-foot van is like living in a 22 or 24-footer but with all the advantages of towing a much smaller unit. After living in this unit on the road for a couple of months now, we can only agree. It works extremely well and with fuel prices like they are, it makes a lot of sense to tow something smaller!

Priced from around $23,000 for the 12-foot version to $36,000 for the big 18-foot model the Carefree awning adds $1320 while the Outback pack adds another $2217. For more info see the complete range at your favourite Jayco dealer, check the web at www.jayco.com.au or write to Jayco, PO box 636, Dandenong, Victoria, 3175.

We Liked:
The amount of living space when set-up
Compact towing size
Cupboard space
Outback pack
Ventilation

We would have liked:
Better access to storage areas from outside
Battery and charger to be positioned less obtrusively in storage box
A lightweight fly over the bed sections to keep moisture off the canvas.

You can contact Jayco to learn more about the Expander Series Models available on their web site: www.jayco.com.au/

See you in the bush

Ron & Viv Moon
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