Hello All, we have just purchased our first van! Very excited, we pick it up on Saturday. We were a bit stuck with what we could get, we have a 3 year old Mazda cx7 which we purchased brand new, so we were disappointed to find it only had a tow ball weight of 85 kilo which really restricted us. Anyhow after much searching we found a jayco freedom 14.5 foot with tow ball of 74 kilo, it hasn't been modified or anything and although quite small it will do us for our first van. It is in perfect condition with only 1 owner and hasn't been used for the past 2 years. We will be buying some stuff to take with us so would appreciate any help on what we def need to take. At this stage we will only be doing small trips, 2 weeks maximum from Melbourne up to probably Port Macquarrie and stopping on the way. One thing it doesn't have is air con, we seriously wanted to add this but have now heard that it may not be advisable in a pop top? Our van has a rear entry door.
One other thing, we would like to buy all new bedding, it has a double bed but are these double bed sizes for bedding? Anyone recommend where to buy or just a normal bedding place? We will keep the mattress but want new doona, sheets etc.
Any advise will be greatly appreciated.
Boothy & Mrs
Kooroorinya Kelpie said
02:34 PM Jan 14, 2014
G'day Boothy & Mrs. Welcome to the source of higher learning for all you seek to learn. We were all at where you are now at sometime and got to where we are by picking the brains of people on this forum. No refunds if the pickings are a bit on the lean side though. Welcome and good luck.
jules47 said
07:15 PM Jan 16, 2014
Welcome Boothy (Mr & Mrs) - hope you get lots of knowledge from this forum - as to the double bed linen etc., your bed is probably the same size as ours, and we use double bed sheets etc., and doona. From normal shops! I have bought doona covers quite cheaply at KMart - then can have a couple of different ones to ring the changes.
neilnruth said
02:22 PM Jan 17, 2014
Welcome from us too. Ditto to double bed sheets etc. As for air/con and poptops - we've seen them but you need to just check out what the caravan equipment advise. Have fun on this forum.
Dougwe said
07:47 PM Jan 17, 2014
Welcome from me too Boothy, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Radar said
08:09 AM Jan 18, 2014
Boothy welcome
We have a pop top caravan a bit longer then yours with a spit system a/c that works rather well. One part is under the dinning seat and the other above a cupboard at shoulder high. It is quite to a point and effective, friends own pop tops and there's is roof mounted, mine was like yours a second hand van. Cheers
RosieW said
07:54 PM Jan 19, 2014
Welcome Boothy!
Boothy said
01:14 PM Jan 20, 2014
thanks everyone! We have been setting up the van on the weekend, bought the double bed sheets/doonas - all good! Also bought a dunlop overlay (the eggshell look) as I read somewhere they were a good idea. We will go on our first trip this weekend up the Murray (vic/nsw) to give it a burl and then work out what we need and don't need. Still unsure about the aircon, we can get it but it looks as if it will set up back about 2.5k, seems alot? Uncle has a pop top said he has never needed it, travels up north every winter but I'm unsure. thanks for the warm welcome! Love the van, it's small but great!
EbnFlo said
04:43 PM Jan 22, 2014
Hi Boothy,
It is so exciting to hear from people who are just starting out. We will take delivery of our brand new 16ft Manta Ray sometime in Feb. We can't wait to start kitting it out and find some time to take it for a test drive. We plan to hit the road for an extended trip in June/July this year.
Happy trails!
EbnFlo aka Rod and Diane
carliz88 said
03:09 PM Jan 29, 2014
Welcome Boothy,
We had poptop with factory fitted aircon (reverse cycle- i think most are- hot and cold) and also under seat and ducting under cupboards. It never is "needed" but mightly handy in the Vic/NSW Murray heatwaves of summer, 45degrees anyone?
Also now - thanks to the forum- we have fitted a fantastic 12v oscilating fan. from whitworth marine, caframo brand, sirocco model. it is terrific and works a treat. has a timer and draws very little power. thanks to those in the know
Hello All, we have just purchased our first van! Very excited, we pick it up on Saturday. We were a bit stuck with what we could get, we have a 3 year old Mazda cx7 which we purchased brand new, so we were disappointed to find it only had a tow ball weight of 85 kilo which really restricted us. Anyhow after much searching we found a jayco freedom 14.5 foot with tow ball of 74 kilo, it hasn't been modified or anything and although quite small it will do us for our first van. It is in perfect condition with only 1 owner and hasn't been used for the past 2 years. We will be buying some stuff to take with us so would appreciate any help on what we def need to take. At this stage we will only be doing small trips, 2 weeks maximum from Melbourne up to probably Port Macquarrie and stopping on the way. One thing it doesn't have is air con, we seriously wanted to add this but have now heard that it may not be advisable in a pop top? Our van has a rear entry door.
One other thing, we would like to buy all new bedding, it has a double bed but are these double bed sizes for bedding? Anyone recommend where to buy or just a normal bedding place? We will keep the mattress but want new doona, sheets etc.
Any advise will be greatly appreciated.
Boothy & Mrs
Boothy welcome
We have a pop top caravan a bit longer then yours with a spit system a/c that works rather well. One part is under the dinning seat and the other above a cupboard at shoulder high. It is quite to a point and effective, friends own pop tops and there's is roof mounted, mine was like yours a second hand van. Cheers
thanks everyone! We have been setting up the van on the weekend, bought the double bed sheets/doonas - all good! Also bought a dunlop overlay (the eggshell look) as I read somewhere they were a good idea. We will go on our first trip this weekend up the Murray (vic/nsw) to give it a burl and then work out what we need and don't need. Still unsure about the aircon, we can get it but it looks as if it will set up back about 2.5k, seems alot? Uncle has a pop top said he has never needed it, travels up north every winter but I'm unsure. thanks for the warm welcome! Love the van, it's small but great!
It is so exciting to hear from people who are just starting out. We will take delivery of our brand new 16ft Manta Ray sometime in Feb. We can't wait to start kitting it out and find some time to take it for a test drive. We plan to hit the road for an extended trip in June/July this year.
Happy trails!
EbnFlo aka Rod and Diane
We had poptop with factory fitted aircon (reverse cycle- i think most are- hot and cold) and also under seat and ducting under cupboards. It never is "needed" but mightly handy in the Vic/NSW Murray heatwaves of summer, 45degrees anyone?
Also now - thanks to the forum- we have fitted a fantastic 12v oscilating fan. from whitworth marine, caframo brand, sirocco model. it is terrific and works a treat. has a timer and draws very little power. thanks to those in the know
www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp
cheaper online than in the shops.
cheers
hot and bothered and loving the heat.