Logistically supporting fleet(s)

[ty55101 (OP)]

So, how do you guys support your fleets as they get farther from your start.  Do you have a ship/pdc with maintenance modules, fit ships to go for years without supplies, bring maintenance supplies on the ships to just repair when needed, or something else?

This game I am playing the ships have a much shorter maintenance life and range than my last ones, so I am trying to figure out how to support them without just expanding my colonies.

[83athom]

My fleets are usually self sufficient for several star systems (60b km+ range with years of life). But for the long term when my empire gets large I set up fleet bases (space stations) with limited factory production (a factory on the ground with some population in orbital habitats), maintenance capability (maintenance module on a station part), defensive capability (weapon bays, fighters, and FACs), and repair/rearm capabilities (large hangar that can fit capital ships).