Tour of the Jayco Factory

[Fly Fisher]

I spent 2 hours walking around the Jayco factory down in Dandenong today, I must say what an eye opener. If ever your down that way I strongly recomend the tour especially if your considering buying a new Jayco. I was very impressed by the shear size of the place and how well it all comes together.

[villiwood]

Didn't happen to see my Flamingo did you?...........................still waiting

[Paul (SA)]

Didn't happen to see my Flamingo did you?...........................still waiting

Or the bloke who damaged my lino floor and hand pump when mine was being made?

They weren't school kids on holidays putting them together by chance?

[Fly Fisher]

Didn't happen to see my Flamingo did you?...........................still waiting

Nope, didn't see my Dove either. Just a whole herd of Swans. And one very interesting c/t chassis with independent coil suspension. I'm thinking maybe an option they are considering.

[Fly Fisher]

Or the bloke who damaged my lino floor and hand pump when mine was being made?

They weren't school kids on holidays putting them together by chance?

To be honest I was quite impressed with the amount of quality control that seemed to be in place, considering what I've read. No doubt there would be the odd one that has a few faults but considering a Jayco comes off the line every 12 min, I think the majority off them would be good.

I was shocked to see them putting there vans on a shakedown machine with about 30 high pressure water spray nozzles squirting from every direction. The test lasts 45 min they have 3-4 bays doing this.  They then open it all back up and check or leaks and damage etc.

[Chriso100]

Well that sounds great!  I have always had an interest in the Jayco product, so that sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the topic!
Chris

[cruisindub]

Every 12 minutes?
Really?

You wouldnt have thought so.

[Fly Fisher]

Yep every 12 min. I couldn't believe it either. They are currently doing 100 camper trailers a week and 100 expandas a week.

[Fly Fisher]

Well that sounds great!  I have always had an interest in the Jayco product, so that sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the topic!
Chris

Highly recommended, I enjoyed it. You may want too book in early as they only do tours twice a week and are booked out up until June? I was lucky enough to tag on the end of another group because I was by myself, and got in within a week.

[dazzler]

Did you see the fella that uses a spade drill bit to splinter the holes for the wiring under the seats?

If so I hope you put his spade bit where it wont see the sun anytime soon! 

[Griswold]

To be honest I was quite impressed with the amount of quality control that seemed to be in place, considering what I've read. No doubt there would be the odd one that has a few faults but considering a Jayco comes off the line every 12 min, I think the majority off them would be good.

I was shocked to see them putting there vans on a shakedown machine with about 30 high pressure water spray nozzles squirting from every direction. The test lasts 45 min they have 3-4 bays doing this.  They then open it all back up and check or leaks and damage etc.


Mine must have missed this process..My Van has leaked twice since ive had it (under 12 months old) in fact I think i missed the whole quality control side of things..

[Fly Fisher]

It is quite surprising Jayco have 48% of the caravan / ct market with the amount of complaining people seem to do about the product and issues they have had. They still must be doing something right otherwise they wouldn't sell.

[paulo]

Just a whole herd of Swans.

Better gey some insurance from AAMI....

[MDS69]

Yep every 12 min. I couldn't believe it either. They are currently doing 100 camper trailers a week and 100 expandas a week.

If they are pushing out 200 units a week I can't begin to imagine how many families and retiree's are buying these things when you add up all the other manufacturers and the 2nd hand market.

Edit: I just googled and found a figure of just over 22,000 units sold in 2011 (caravans and RV's). Again factor in the used market and that is just for one year.

[Bunyip]

It is quite surprising Jayco have 48% of the caravan / ct market with the amount of complaining people seem to do about the product and issues they have had. They still must be doing something right otherwise they wouldn't sell.

Surely it stands to reason that if there are that many going out the door there will be that many more complaints.

What would be interesting is to get the stats on the percentage of issues compared the the number of units produced. That would then show a true indication of the build quality.

Bunyip

[Fly Fisher]

Totally agree with Bunyip.

Get any caravan / camper trailer manufacturer to build as many units as Jayco do and see if there's are perfect. I highly doubt it, not unless you wanted to wait two years for it to be built and pay 5 times the cost of a new Jayco.

It's like comparing a Holden or Ford to a Ferrari. If Ferrari were to build as many cars as Holden and Ford do for the same cost in the same time frame then I bet there build quality would come down too.

[Barry G]

Totally agree with Bunyip.

Get any caravan / camper trailer manufacturer to build as many units as Jayco do and see if there's are perfect. I highly doubt it, not unless you wanted to wait two years for it to be built and pay 5 times the cost of a new Jayco.

It's like comparing a Holden or Ford to a Ferrari. If Ferrari were to build as many cars as Holden and Ford do for the same cost in the same time frame then I bet there build quality would come down too.

I agree, up to a point, however, how much more difficult would it be to drill holes in timber properly, so the wood doesn't splinter, or use correct size wire, rather than run the risk of fire?