If you are a user of the Jayco Pop top Expanda caravan type, I would be very grateful to hear your experiences and views of this configuration.
I would love to hear from someone who I can have confidence in, and who better than other grey nomads who are not trying to sell me something. I have been a caravan user for many years, in the UK and now Australia, so I more or less know the pros and cons generally.
However, a change in my circumstances means I would like to consider a caravan again, but travelling with my Daughter (49) The Jayco Expanda, with a double bed at each end is appealing to give us the sleeping privacy we would like, but why am I nervous about taking the plunge.
Sleeping on a shelf outside the caravan in good conditions sounds OK, but what about winter time, or in bad weather. How are they in setting up and holding the weight of an adult who could do with losing a few pounds.
Any advice you can give will be greatfully received
G'day Barry,
Firstly I've had no experience with an Expander but I did look at them before buying our current van. Some said the bed had to be made up each time, others disagreed, although there are two types - one a complete fold (Jayco), the other with slide in/out beds (Windsor).
We had a Jayco Eagle, had no reason to doubt the strength of the beds & had experience of Canberra in winter! Yes, it was "cool" sleeping in a close to our heads tent but with a cotton blanket under the mattress, a good poly something blanket, flannelette sheets & a doona we were really cozy until the walk to the loos at 2 or 3am when it was down to -1 to -4 degrees!! Thankfully our current van has a combined ensuite - the toilet is a plus!
When it was blowing, raining it was essential that we prevented anything touching the side(s) of the tent that faced the weather. The later Expanders do have a rigid roof so that is a plus.
For your requirements, they would be ideal. Look at ease of setting up - I assume you're not a spring chicken anymore; and storage.
Hopefully other forum members can assist you.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
Youre right, Im not a spring chicken. I looked at the beds on a couple of Expanda caravans for sale, for the ease of setting up and how well they support the occupants. I did like the solid top and Im sort of convinced they would support me OK, Im no lightweight, but not over the top either.
It was the thought of going partially back to my camping days that has made me think long and hard about my choice and why I came to Grey Nomads. You have reminded me of something I had forgotten. Dont touch the sides of a wet tent. How do you fully avoid that when your sleeping in there?
Why a cotton blanket under the mattress? Would that be to prevent condensation in cooler places.
I wont buy a caravan that doesnt have an ensuite, thats a deal breaker for me. I would have to get up in the early hours for a visit to the loo and there aint no way Im leaving the van for that. Storage is fine at the house, we had a Kingdom Kensington caravan for a few years and that had its own hard standing, so the parking place is already there.
The setting up doesnt look too bad, but Id like to hear what others think after using this style of van for some years. I also like the pop top for ease of towing, less wind resistance, greater stability, easier to clean and store, but advice very welcome.
Well, I am definitely a Nomad, but travelling with my adult daughter, so that configuration would be great for us, but I have some reservations, hence the shout out to those who may be willing to share experiences, good and not so good
Unfortunately Barry, as Possum says, my experience of the Expanda vans as we travel around is that there are few people of our age who have them.
Many of the units I see are families, and so you may find there are few members here that can give you the feedback you seek.
If you go to Google, you may be able to find a dedicated Expanda site, as well as on Facebook. If you do that you may get more of the feedback you are looking for.
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
We loved our small expander,we would have kept it if it had the hard top over the bed end.We had the early model with the canvas fly over the drop down bed.
Due to a bad bad back ,the wife had trouble helping to roll up the fly.
We struck real bad weather when camped in the Eurobodalla Nat. Park over 480mm.in a few days,no problems with rain,just sat it out.
If your main worry is the canvas getting wet, a simple measure is to erect a fly sheet over the extension. The fly sheet takes all the rain or condensation, and you can roll it up, tie it back and leave it on the van whilst you travel. The hard top is the best, but a canvas top with fly sheet is very close in performance.
Whichever you chose, in cold weather, you will lose a lot of heat through the canvas, but then again, the roof canvas loses heat as well.
A poptop caravan is easier to tow because there is less wind resistance, and also the centre of gravity is a bit lower than for a full height caravan.
Thank you. Theres nothing that worries me that much. Its just that I started off camping and moved to a van when I got a bit better off. Seeing those bedrooms hanging out of the end of the van, I could help but ask myself the question. Am I going back to camping to some degree.
The configuration for a father and Daughter is perfect and all your replies all help, so thanks for your time and trouble .
I feel its better to listen to those with experience, who are not trying to sell me something. The dealers of course will tell you what they think you want to hear.
Barry i have an expander type but not a jayco mine is a windsor rapid which has a hard roof over the bed i have never had any problems with condensation or rain getting in the pros for me are smaller for towing lower roof lets me get it into my shed it grows from 15 foot to about 21 foot they take only minutes to set up some of the cons are shortish beds, less cupboards , they do get colder but thats not a prob for me as i follow the sun my advice would be to buy what you want ,not what other people tell you you want then got out and enjoy it
Well, neither myself or my daughter are tall people so no problem there. Thanks for the feedback its gratefully appreciated. Ive towed caravans before and I like the lower profile and like you Im not likely to do much travelling in the cold. I live in SE Queensland so in winter, would go north, which is what we did with our Kingdom caravan.
I dont have shed storage, but the lower top would make it easier to cover when not used and clean I suspect.
A few years ago we had an Expanda with double/queen beds at each end. Enjoyed our times very much. Often a friend travelled with us, and as you mentioned the beds at each end, separated by the rest of the van, gave a degree of privacy. Our Expanda was a 16ft single axle Outback version. Easy enough to manoeuvre and to take on some restricted roadways.
That van had fabric flys over the bed ends and we were envious of those with later model vans that had the hard covers over the beds. Better weather protection and quicker to setup and pack up. We, too, tended to travel where there was no Winter coolness.
If required, the van could sleep five adults. Two at each end bed and a shorter adult in bed made in the cafe table/seats.
-- Edited by watsea on Tuesday 20th of July 2021 10:19:18 AM
-- Edited by watsea on Tuesday 20th of July 2021 10:29:18 AM
