Where can a jayco outback go (or not go)?

[whoosha]

Hi
My wife really likes the look of the jayco outback campers (hawk, eagle etc) but I was wondering what their restrictions are. I am sure there are several topics on this but cant locate.
Being in WA we are wanting to do Gibb River Road in the next couple of years but just dont know if the jayco is the right move - big investment.

I am keen to hear where you:
1.Have taken your Jayco Outback or
2. Where you would not take it.
3. Also if you are in Perth what are good weekend trips you would recommend with a camper.

Thanks
Nev

[D4D]

Lot's of threads on this already. They are heavy and wide therefore some prior planning of tracks is required. If you drive to the conditions they will be fine.

[Sharshebelle1]

We are taking ours along the Strezlecki and Oodnadatta tracks in September and have spoken to a few who have already done this without much issue. If you take precautions and drive sensibly you can take them far.

[John Connor]

I have had the Coromal equivalent of the Jayco Off Roaders and I was surprised how long it took to put up' it was also very heavy so you need a fairly large 4wd to tow them off road safely. I have worked on a few of the Jaycos over the years and except for the above comments found them pretty good units.

Camper Tragic

[Swogjb]

We recently purchased an OB Hawk and have done some basic mods to make it more outback friendly. It is never going to be an extreme off road camper but I believe it will handle the easier tracks without any major issues. IMO dust will be the biggest enemy on roads like the GRR and that is the area where I have tried to improve our camper. Having been on the GRR a couple of times in a soft floor camper I'm very confident that the Jayco will handle the conditions if driven in a sensible manner.
 

[Racer]

I have had the Coromal equivalent of the Jayco Off Roaders and I was surprised how long it took to put up' it was also very heavy so you need a fairly large 4wd to tow them off road safely. I have worked on a few of the Jaycos over the years and except for the above comments found them pretty good units.

Camper Tragic

What do you have John?

[topcat]

Hi, just did the GRR 2wks ago (in Karratha now) - couple of smaller recent model Outbacks and seemed to go ok. Main hard tops / caravans were TVans / Vista / Ultimates but as said previously, should be ok if driven to the conditions.
TC

[Crisp Image]

They can go anywhere it is just a matter if you can get them home again!
Getting there is only half the trip. If you climb Mt Everest getting to the top is the easy bit. Getting home is the hardest part so I am told.
Regards
Crisp Image

[RebsWA]

I read all the positives and negatives about them but bought one a few years ago for the extra comfort afforded. Did some work on dust exclusion, the mandatory few mods and fixed all the usual quality control stuff that jayco are renown for and never regretted the purchase. Their only limitation is their physical size but its been everywhere (and back) that I've wanted to go. Their chassis and running gear is some of the best around IMO. As posted earlier, use the search, there is lots of threads on this.

[John Connor]

Hi racer,
as to what I have myself, a Trackabout of course, might have something to do with me being the local Trackabout agent. But I have worked on just about every brand of camper over the years and most of them are pretty good.
Camper tragic

[Moto Moto]

As posted above, they are not an extreme offroader.

A bit of preparation, and towed sensibly to the conditions, you should be fine. Just know they are mass produced to a budget, so you may need to do a bit of tinkering to get them up to scratch

[whoosha]

Thanks for the feedback. I will keep searching the archives for more details.
Just took a step closer to our jayco. put a deposit down today.
Now need to get an electronic break controller.

[rodw]

Thanks for the feedback. I will keep searching the archives for more details.
Just took a step closer to our jayco. put a deposit down today.
Now need to get an electronic break controller.

get the Prodigy P3. They are very cheap  on eBay. I bought mine for about $180 and it arrived from SA in about 48 hours. About half the price of Camec who are Prodigy dealers..

[Nutto]

Whoosha
What Jayco layout did you end up getting?
Re brake controller,  Lots have the P3, as above.  I have the tekonsha Primus IQ (ebay) which is internally identical to the P3 and has all the same features, but with a simpler screen & diagnostics (i.e. not as bling...), and about $60 less.   It works a treat and is easy to install if you are that way inclined.

 
Nutto