MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jakster1 on June 12, 2016, 07:18:28 PM
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I've been thinking more and more about going from the johnnos offroad soft floor camper to a jayco outback offroad thingy and the idea seems like a good one.
But I'm just not convinced that they are a camper trailer but more of a caravan type thing.
So just putting it out there...
Are they a "camper trailer"?
We like to go off the beaten track and I'm not just talking graded roads but some rough lesser travelled tracks and local campsites/ beaches etc. does the jayco outback withstand that sort of travel without too much hassle?
Any owners shed me some light please 😄
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Iv just back traded so to speak, had an 03 aussie swag hard floor, and due to family size decided to get into a dove outback. I have found it is as easy as the swag to get to where we used to go. i doubt if you were planning on doing some serious outback corrogations etc they may suffer but some have done this and hasnt been a problem overall. i like the dove too as its the second smallest size in the range so doesnt impact up the tight tracks like one of the longer ones would or could.
my 2c's
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I think it depends on the size, if you look at the Swift then it is more like a camper but when you get into the larger models like the Swan then it is more like a caravan than camper. We had a small Finch for many years and it served us well. One disadvantage is that they measure 2050mm wide which is wider than the usual 1850mm of a camper.. They aren't, the robust unit that you might find from the dearer offroad campers but with a bit of care and a tek screw here and there they will serve a purpose.We now have a 12ft Jayco expander which besides the width is a great unit.
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Why do people get so hung up on the caravan thing? Let your tyres down and take it easy, you'll get a jayco anywhere you'll get your camper.
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you'll get a jayco anywhere you'll get your camper.
yea but some people wanna get it home again in 1 piece
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Why do people get so hung up on the caravan thing? Let your tyres down and take it easy, you'll get a jayco anywhere you'll get your camper.
$30000 odd is a fair bit to put down only to realise it's not what your after, So be the case. It's the overhangs, weight and overall strength which worries me a bit. the departure angle on the jayco appears to be a fair bit less than a CT, I have never personally inspected one up close so I could be wrong. Just after owners views, that's all.
Being a family with 2 kids and a dog id probably be looking at a half decent size one.
I've bumped, scraped and dragged my current CT to some pretty nice camp spots, just wondering if I'm dreaming or not by even considering a jayco.
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Mate I bought a Jayco Swan August last year and love it. I must say I am really sorry I didn't buy the single axle Expanda now as there wouldn't be very much difference at all towing up the beach. It really depends on where you plan to travel.
A wise man told me today when you pick the camper / van you want to buy, buy the next model up again because there will always be something else you want out of it.
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Just purchases a 2010 Swan and if you are wanting to get off the bitumen you are buying the wrong toy. These vans are a on road only, otherwise you are defiantly going to have problems.
If you love the size of the camper you are better off buying one of the imitations in another brand.
http://kokodacaravans.com.au/product/frontline/
And then the price goes up.
Mate we dragged a camper trailer and tented a fair bit of WA and to get to the good spots I would destroy the new van.
But with two kids entering high school we are going to keep to the local favourites.
Best bet they are cheap enough to hire for a weekend trip, go give one a try and have a close look at the fit out.
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Just purchases a 2010 Swan and if you are wanting to get off the bitumen you are buying the wrong toy. These vans are a on road only, otherwise you are defiantly going to have problems.
If you love the size of the camper you are better off buying one of the imitations in another brand.
http://kokodacaravans.com.au/product/frontline/ (http://kokodacaravans.com.au/product/frontline/)
And then the price goes up.
Mate we dragged a camper trailer and tented a fair bit of WA and to get to the good spots I would destroy the new van.
But with two kids entering high school we are going to keep to the local favourites.
Best bet they are cheap enough to hire for a weekend trip, go give one a try and have a close look at the fit out.
You should have bought an outback with independent suspension then you could get off the hard stuff.
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Strongest Outback models were made from 2002 to 2005. Aluminium frame and body with a 6" draw bar. Later models are timber frame? Fiberglass body and 4" draw bar.
Our 2002 OB Finch has been everywhere with its stock OB leaf spring suspension, from the Tanami Road, through the Kimberlies to Warraweena in the Flinders to the sands of the Murray Mouth.
780mm under floor clearance seems higher than most and being a Finch, never had issues with departure angles.
Always inspect and service things like suspension, bearings and brakes prior to those outback trips and as said previously, drive your rig and camper to the conditions with correct tyre pressure and speed and you won't have a drama.
We didn't want to spend big $$$$ on a caravan as we were taking to places caravans won't get to and the Australian made camper trailers like the Kimberley Kampers are just way over the top in price.
The width of these Jayco OB's are great if you're over 6 foot tall, you can lie in bed and still have a bit of room.
They also tow great off road.
Having said that, I have found that there is no perfect camper on the market for us, unless I build it myself ;D
:cheers:
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......with independent suspension then you could get off the hard stuff.
:laugh: :laugh: :cup: :cup:
:cheers: :cheers:
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Just purchases a 2010 Swan and if you are wanting to get off the bitumen you are buying the wrong toy. These vans are a on road only, otherwise you are defiantly going to have problems
I believe the warranty paperwork agrees with you.
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After a 10 month trip in our 2012 Swan can absolutely recommend it. Towed it onto Fraser Island through some soft sand, into the Bungle Bungles, up to Cape Leveque, into Palm Valley. Only issue we had was a couple of screws coming out of drawer runners. If something does break parts are easy to come by. It's a great thing to tow, can get into places they won't let caravans with more comfort than a camper. Don't believe the knockers!
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Why just look at a Jayco?
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We owned a "off rd" Dove 2005. I changed the hitch to a hylander and changed the hubs and wheels to suit the then 105 L/C.
Places we towed to visit /camped. places such as
Bluff hut.
Lovicks Hut, and came back down with about 2ft of snow,
Mitchells homestead via the slate mine,
tabacco flats etc etc.
Crossed rivers like into Jamison hut , Pineapple flats grounds. Frazer and towed to Waddy point.
and plenty of out of the way places.
And we broke.... pretty much nothing.. a few battle scares and that was it. My biggest problem was it width. It rather wide on tight tracks.
Drive to the conditions and it'll be fine. If i was to buy another 1 I'd be looking at something around 5year plus old. Warranty isn't really worth what the say it is. And if it does have any serious problems it should be visible by now... plus save $$$$.
Joe.
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I had a Jayco dove 2005 outback for a little over 10 years, Even though it never did any real hard core off road trips, It did do pleanty of rough dirt roads and tracks,
And as others have said drive to the conditions they are ok,And in all that time the only thing that broke has a bottom came out of one of the draws, and if I recall the size of the hole I hit and the speed I was going should have been a lot more damage.
Good luck with your decisision :cheers: :cheers: :ehsc
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After a soft floor camper we bought a new Jayco Outback Eagle that we had for a few years.
Followed the car where ever we wished to take it. Included lots of unsealed roads like GRR, parts of the NT and a fair bit of WA with only a few minor issues.
Never tried dragging it along a beach as the track is wider than the car.
Outbacks have a beefed up chassis and are a lot higher off the deck for clearance and water crossings.
Although Jayco cover their backside with the warranty, these campers from my experience can handle dirt roads, corrugations, etc with reduced tyre pressure and a sensible driving habitsl.
Whether it's a camper or not I don't know but I would suggest a reasonable size tow vehicle to lug it around.
Don't be off put by the nannies who argue against off road travel.
We now have a fully optioned Jayco Outback poptop caravan and in hindsight wish we had done it sooner.
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Thanks for the replies everyone. Sounds like they can handle general touring quite well and owners generally are happy campers😂
Think a bit more research is needed on this one.
Someone asked why just looking at a jayco? And to be honest they're the only ones I know of, of that style of camper/van. Are there other makes out there of a similar thing?
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Thanks for the replies everyone. Sounds like they can handle general touring quite well and owners generally are happy campers😂
Think a bit more research is needed on this one.
Someone asked why just looking at a jayco? And to be honest they're the only ones I know of, of that style of camper/van. Are there other makes out there of a similar thing?
Goldstream?
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Coromal & Windsor as well but windsors are just rebadged coromals i think.
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Gold stream never heard of but I shall have a look. Coromal and Windsor I thought just made normal caravans, but once again never really looked into it. The best option would be to build a bigger shed, keep the camper trailer and have a caravan too. Now just have to convince the missus. Like that's gonna happen!
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My Penguin's been to Palm Valley and back .. As mentioned above only damage was the drawer runners - drawer was holding cans at the time !! Mandrake
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The Jayco outback range are just a normal Jayco with a beefed up chassis. You will take them anywhere as previously mentioned with sensible driving and correct tyre pressures for tracks like Birdsville, Tanamai etc but taking one up the cape the hard way or through some knarly track where you have rocks and trees overhanging you will damage the body but not the chassis.
When a normal soft floor CT hits a rock wall you will do minimal damage usually and can just bend it back and paint it but the Jayco style trailers you will rip off cladding or gouge a fibreglass wall which is a costly repair. Everything inside a CT is usually welded steel in one form or another and very basic where as a Jayco style trailer has timber joinery with draw runners, latches etc and is not as durable to cop a pounding compared to a soft or hard floor CT.
We have gone from a off road soft floor CT to a OB Expanda but realise we can't drag the Jayco across the Simpson like we did with the CT. Our camping has changed a bit but will still be doing the Flinders, Kimberley's etc and lots of other places that are out there to explore.
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Gold stream never heard of but I shall have a look. Coromal and Windsor I thought just made normal caravans, but once again never really looked into it. The best option would be to build a bigger shed, keep the camper trailer and have a caravan too. Now just have to convince the missus. Like that's gonna happen!
Coromal have always done campers, not so much Windsor though now they are the same Company and now both built in WA at the Coromal plant.
Coromal were and no doubt still are more expensive than Jayco, Jayco's body design give better ground clearance than Coromal.
Have to admit while we love the comfort of our big beast, I do tend to miss our Swan/Expanda at times for ease of towing and access to places, just don't tell the handbrake. :angel:
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Too wide. Not robust enough in the body and internal build. Painfull to get at your stuff when down.
Great if your kids are little and will sleep in the same bed (unless you're happy to convert lounges each night) and you stay put for a few days at a time.
And dont let anyone tell that you need indi suspension to get off the tar.
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Gold stream never heard of
??? ??? ??? ???
http://www.goldstreamrv.com.au/our-range/campers.html (http://www.goldstreamrv.com.au/our-range/campers.html)
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$30000 odd is a fair bit to put down only to realise it's not what your after, So be the case. It's the overhangs, weight and overall strength which worries me a bit. the departure angle on the jayco appears to be a fair bit less than a CT, I have never personally inspected one up close so I could be wrong. Just after owners views, that's all.
Being a family with 2 kids and a dog id probably be looking at a half decent size one.
I've bumped, scraped and dragged my current CT to some pretty nice camp spots, just wondering if I'm dreaming or not by even considering a jayco.
I got a 2012 outback swan with 2 90 litre water tanks and HWS. Bit heavy. I personally would not take $30,000 down corrugations fully loaded. Even slow they are not strong enough and cheaply build. Some may argue but thats what it is. No ifs or buts. Just stating a fact.
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Gee lucky I didn't see this thread before going on any of the following trips with my Jayco Outbacks, or I may have never left the driveaway.
Flinders Rangers twice, including Arkaroola (Outback Hawk)
Then with the Expanda Outback
Ooodnadatta track
Winton QLD to Broken Hill NSW, the dirt way (Lark Quarry, Jundah, etc)
The Gibb River rd, Quoandong point Karijini NP etc
Plus everything in between without naming every little side track here and there. These were all separate trips too so I must have made it home again in one peace. Plenty more to see and do too.
Just choose what best suits you ask lots of questions to people who have owned a Jayco etc for real life experiences.
Like old mate I was talking to sitting at Mt Barnett roadhouse (on the Goibb) who also had a Jayco Outback, we both couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces being parked up next to the big $$$ campers and offroad vans around us doing exactly the same thing.
The smile wasn't because we were happy with the Jayco's it was because we were out there doing it!!
Yes I know I can't drag it over the Simmo or through the High Country but I'm a realist and didn't by it for that.
I have done a lot of pretrip preparation on the van but hey that's half the fun learning what needs to be done from the experiences of every trip.
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ask lots of questions to people who have owned a Jayco etc for real life experiences.
That's what he was getting, wasnt it? 8)
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I got a 2012 outback swan with 2 90 litre water tanks and HWS. Bit heavy. I personally would not take $30,000 down corrugations fully loaded. Even slow they are not strong enough and cheaply build. Some may argue but thats what it is. No ifs or buts. Just stating a fact.
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Why did you buy an outback model if you do not think they are strong enough to handle corrugations? >:D
There are ifs and buts as demonstrated by posts in this thread that folk actually use them off road. That's a fact. >:D
EDIT: That includes me. Had an new 07 outback eagle that I used for for 8 years (as I posted earlier)
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Why did you buy an outback model if you do not think they are strong enough to handle corrugations? >:D
There are ifs and buts as demonstrated by posts in this thread that folk actually use them off road. That's a fact. >:D
True that!
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Why did you buy an outback model if you do not think they are strong enough to handle corrugations?
So if it was called the Jayco Lava you'd feel safe driving through a live volcano... its just good marketing.
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Why did you buy an outback model if you do not think they are strong enough to handle corrugations? >:D
There are ifs and buts as demonstrated by posts in this thread that folk actually use them off road. That's a fact. >:D
My opinion mate!! I'm not here to try and convince YOU or other. I have taken her on 5 major outback trips and last year 9 trips. Some bad spots and other just on the black top. (so its not siting in the shed and gathering dust) MY OPINION IT IS not made for the real off-road trips that I intended to do. But like you asked. Why did you buy it???
Cause the extra luxury was appealing at the time for me and the mrs.
Corrugations for 70km nonstop shakes everything loose mate. Even on 25 down to 15 psi! The wider wheel track is also a bit of a downfall. Depends on what tow vehicle you got. But like others have said. Depends on how and what you do with it.
But I still love the OB swan to bits.
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Once drove a Forester on the beach. Only just made it out alive!
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My opinion mate!! I'm not here to try and convince YOU or other. I have taken her on 5 major outback trips and last year 9 trips. Some bad spots and other just on the black top. (so its not siting in the shed and gathering dust) MY OPINION IT IS not made for the real off-road trips that I intended to do. But like you asked. Why did you buy it???
Cause the extra luxury was appealing at the time for me and the mrs.
Corrugations for 70km nonstop shakes everything loose mate. Even on 25 down to 15 psi! The wider wheel track is also a bit of a downfall. Depends on what tow vehicle you got. But like others have said. Depends on how and what you do with it.
But I still love the OB swan to bits.
You are right, but you know that. They are great at some things but they are not built for extended outback stuff nor for tight offroad stuff.
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Always interesting hearing the expriences of people who have never owned an outback Jayco!
Had 3, first one had been around the block twice and was rock solid. Second one went around after us and had no dramas and our current has done fair bit of dirt around NSW including up through pooncarrie and sideways in mud at menidee. A cupboard door came off. They are incredibly durable if towed sensibly. I've done a few common sense mods to the current one to minimize underneath stone damage. I don't think anything but the extremely expensive off roaders really offer better.
Few things I have noted though. The newer jtech Independent is a better off-road rig to tow than the leaf spring models. Can't wait till there's an airbag option it'll be better again !
There's a lot of reasons not to buy a Jayco and this will probably be our last. But the outbacks off-road capability is certainly not a reason to get one.
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So if it was called the Jayco Lava you'd feel safe driving through a live volcano... its just good marketing.
Doh! I had an Outback Eagle but I didn't really think it would fly.
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My opinion mate!! I'm not here to try and convince YOU or other. I have taken her on 5 major outback trips and last year 9 trips. Some bad spots and other just on the black top. (so its not siting in the shed and gathering dust) MY OPINION IT IS not made for the real off-road trips that I intended to do. But like you asked. Why did you buy it???
Cause the extra luxury was appealing at the time for me and the mrs.
Corrugations for 70km nonstop shakes everything loose mate. Even on 25 down to 15 psi! The wider wheel track is also a bit of a downfall. Depends on what tow vehicle you got. But like others have said. Depends on how and what you do with it.
But I still love the OB swan to bits.
As you said "it's your opinion".
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As you said "it's your opinion".
Whatever makes your camper rock buddy
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That's what he was getting, wasnt it? 8)
Yep and its funny hearing everyones experiences who hasn't had one LOL
Been a while since I've seen you on here to mate
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Righto, so what size is adequate for 2adults and 2 little kids? I want to try to stay as small and light as possible, but also with enough room to be comfy? We don't spend much time inside the current camper anyway. Swift will probably be too small??? So maybe the dove or hawk will be the go. Any Jayco family of 4s out there with tips?
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Righto, so what size is adequate for 2adults and 2 little kids? I want to try to stay as small and light as possible, but also with enough room to be comfy? We don't spend much time inside the current camper anyway. Swift will probably be too small??? So maybe the dove or hawk will be the go. Any Jayco family of 4s out there with tips?
we've got a 2008 OB hawk for a family of 4. Youngest is 4 oldest is 6. I was looking at a swan and flamingo but neither would have fit in the garage. Plenty of room for us inside and kids like sleeping at one end together. we actually use the table inside when it's cold or wet and only have the fiamma wind out awning. we love it and since the set up is so easy we usually get away at least once a month. i was set on buying a forward fold but once we saw both set up we were sold on the hawk.
brett
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We went from a soft floor camper to a Jayco Hawk Outback back to a soft floor Trackabout.
I really liked the idea of the Jayco at the beginning.
But quickly worked out that this style of camper was not for us and our style of camping.
Setup times were no quicker, I hated the build quality, small awning size, bed flys pi$$ed me off and the overall width of it for getting off road was very limiting.
IMO the Jayco is more caravan park friendly than our Trackabout Extenda. But for the remote type camping that we mainly do the Tracky wins hands down.
:cheers:
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Righto... So have any owners actually taken their jayco say, Up and down Fraser or on a soft sandy beach? Sounds like they're upto dirt road type stuff no worries but I'd still like to be well setup for beach camping trips. At this stage looking at a hawk or eagle.
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Righto... So have any owners actually taken their jayco say, Up and down Fraser or on a soft sandy beach?
Millions have.
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Millions have.
Yep. You see them all over the country....
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Righto... So have any owners actually taken their jayco say, Up and down Fraser or on a soft sandy beach? Sounds like they're upto dirt road type stuff no worries but I'd still like to be well setup for beach camping trips. At this stage looking at a hawk or eagle.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/Joff/DSC_0561.jpg)
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Change tyre pressure and they'll go anywhere within reason ...
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Thanks guys, been researching these and reviews vary from " they will go anywhere" through to "only suitable for dirt roads", and they're " the bees knees" through to "what a pos". It's hard to know what to believe.
Anyway stopped at the local jayco dealer today, probably lucky for me, we were too late and they'd closed shop for the day.
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We owned a Finch for about 6 years. Is was our second camper after a few years of owning a soft floor. We thought it was good at first, but we came to realise that our camping style didn't suit it.
We like to spend our time camping outside including cooking and eating. We would therefore drag everything out of the Finch and set up in the annex and a tarp beyond. We found that it was a pain to go in and out to grab anything that we forgot, particularly kitchen stuff. For our longer camps, we would end up setting up a camp cupboard under the annexe to avoid the trips in and out.
It terms of sleeping. It was good when the kids were young and we could "top and toe" them. But after a while, the kids didn't want to sleep with us (or each other) and wanted their own tents/swags. We also found that the front bed of the finch is too narrow for two adults to sleep comfortably, particularly when it was hot. The Dove front bed is wider, and would be better.
So, over time, we found that we would only use the camper to drag our gear around in and to sleep in (although not comfortably). The set up and pack up was just as long and annoying as our soft floor camper trailer.
We have recently moved on to a canopy/rooftop tent set up.
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=45966.0 (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=45966.0)
We read on here many years ago that it takes a few campers to work out what really works for you.
On our third go, we worked out the key things for us were: light weight and more compact (our finch was about 1200 kg loaded up and over 2m wide, our current set up is about 900kg and 1800 wide); everything very accessible from outside; both at home and at camp (the finch didn't tick this, our canopy does), a bigger bed for my wife and I (the roof top tent is huge) and a quick set up and pack up (another tick because almost everything stays in the canopy).
It's horses for courses though.
Cheers
JB
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Righto... So have any owners actually taken their jayco say, Up and down Fraser or on a soft sandy beach? Sounds like they're upto dirt road type stuff no worries but I'd still like to be well setup for beach camping trips. At this stage looking at a hawk or eagle.
we used to tow an old 1970's Millard pop top caravan on Fraser Island mate, it's not that hard to do there if you time the tides right.
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Saw atleast half a dozen jayco types, Swan's / Hawk's / Dove's being taken across Inskip point and up the east coast + others set up on Fraser last week, plus a couple of Jayco expanders and a big tandem axle New Age offroad van, none had any troubles that we saw ..
A few vids here of Jayco's on Fraser https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jayco+camper++on+fraser+island+ (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jayco+camper++on+fraser+island+)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4h6M1QtNBc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4h6M1QtNBc)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzM_Lq9Lp10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzM_Lq9Lp10)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfQ9guGBzYQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfQ9guGBzYQ)
Might help answers some questions, draw your own conclusions.
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Thanks spada, I watched it this morning👍
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Righto... So have any owners actually taken their jayco say, Up and down Fraser or on a soft sandy beach? Sounds like they're upto dirt road type stuff no worries but I'd still like to be well setup for beach camping trips. At this stage looking at a hawk or eagle.
Yep the wife and i have. 1 week up at waddy's point (think thats the correct name).. in via the inland road which was some of the worst corragtions we ever had. Back via the beach.
As i have mentioned b4. We love ours. Even got pictures of us parked/camped up right at lovicks hut in 2 foot of snow. Only modes i ever did was for 33s to match the cruiser. Just drive to the conditions. Was a 2005 dove, i had it for 5 years brought second hand and sold it for $1,000 less then want it owned me. Not bad i think.
Joe.
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When we had our soft floor we travelled and camped on Fraser with some other families that towed a Swan and I think Eagle. Both OB models. We caught the barge/ferry from Inskip and went up the beach to Cathedral Beach with no issues. Both towed by 100 series LC, one a after market TD and one just a diesel.
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Got onto Fraser OK. We were on the heavy side too!