After using the Eagle O/Back a few times, we have decided to up grade to a new Jayco Journey, Touring Pop Top 16ft. I'm going to ask for some extras, as deal sweetners, it doesn't come with mudpflaps or a gerry can holder ,do you very experienced nomads, think they are handy add ons, also I'm having a Solar Panel and the roof mounted Turma Ac unit put in, but no annexe, do you think we will miss an annexe, we are looking to be on the road for about 3 months initially. Thanks, looking forward to your hearing your thoughts. Ps, we are very very new Grey Nomads.
One thing befor you have the air con fitted to your roof is to try a nother caravan of the same size with the air con all ready fitted and try and rase and lower the roof with the extra weight on it, You may be supprised at the differance!!!!. See if you can not have one incorperated in to one of the couboards of the caravan.
As for the solar, well worth the extra cost, but try and get a 100 Amp Hr battery as well thrown in. As for the annexe, well worth the extra cost, great to sit under on a hot day or to live outside and not be couped up in the caravan.
I couldn't agree more Valiant81 about the air con. As far as the rest goes, Solar panels should be mandatory on all Rv's. The annexe is another matter and it would depend on how you intend to use your new van. If you tend to stop at camps for only one or two days, I reckon an annexe is a waste of time and money. By the time you have it set up properly, it's time to start folding it up again. We have a similar van to your current one and we have a great annexe, which we've used only a couple of times in 14 years!!!
A decent quick and easy pull-out awning on the other hand is invaluable. However if you tend to stay in the one spot for a week or so at a time, which we don't, an annexe is an excellent addition and well worth the cost.
As for mudflaps, and big ones at that, they should be automatic especially when you start driving on dirt roads. Gerry can holders are a total necessity once you get away from the bitumen, for both extra fuel and water. They might add a bit of additional weight, but we wouldn't leave home without 'em.
We went through a similar process. We went from a Jayco Eagle to a Crusader 15ft Pop Top.
We have just had an annex made for it
and we had an "Air Command Sandpiper" air conditioner thrown in with the deal. It's the foam esky looking object under the bed. The arrows show the vents in and out (as well as holes through the floor)
It's reverse cycle and If I had a criticism of it is that it moves too much air on it's lowest setting (so a bit noisy in a smallish space). Still it's very quiet when turned off
-- Edited by Kendo on Tuesday 8th of July 2014 07:57:44 PM
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Hi everybody, thanks for all your great advice, the deal is now done, we decided not to go with an annexe, but to purchase a good quality shade/ privacy cloth. I got the mud flaps thrown in, but apparently you can't put Gerry can holders on the front of a Journey, because believe me I asked .lol The air conditioner is a Truma, and it hasn't made that much difference to raising the roof. All we have to do now is wait till November, when it is ready. Thanks again for all your thoughts.
Ps, we are very very new Grey Nomads.
