Purchasing Jayco Flamingo 2011 - Some Questions on Options

[Travln]

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading this forum for a couple of weeks now and have found it really informative. It is really nice to see so many Jayco owners and not too much Jayco Bashing!

We have owned a Jayco Hawk (on road) for about 8 years.  It is a 2002 model. We absolutely love it and the only thing we hate about it is that it is not an Off Road model.  We bought it when we were driving a Commodore Station Wagon, but upgraded to our Toyota Landcruiser not long after we bought it and since then have debated selling and upgrading or doing the spring conversion.

Finally after all these years we are biting the bullet and have decided to buy a brand new 2011 Flamingo with pretty much every option available.  There are a couple of options we are still debating. Firstly the extended drawbar. It will give us more room to store things like polecarriers which don't fit with the new boot design.  But it may be a drawback when offroad? Would appreciate thoughts on that.

We currently have a bag awning on our Hawk but no annexe.  I have been wanting an annexe since we bought the Hawk.  But now we have a dilemma.  Apparently the new Jayco awnings with the peaked roof are impossible for two people to roll back up into the bag. We looked at the Kakadu, but they cost so much more and the annexe walls are the stripey circus tent type.  I really like the look of the Jayco Annexe and it matches the colour of the van. We thought about the Fiama (I was really pushing for that as I thought it would be good for overnight stops where we don't usually bother with our bagged awning) but apparently they are no good if it is windy, the annexe is hard to put on and again it is the stripey circus tent.  Does anyone have the new awning?

[Bushman]

G'day and Welcome to the family.

Seeing As your going all out on options with the new Jayco take a look at the Aussie Traveller Coolabah awning, Quick easy set up, strong and the annex walls dont look like a circus tent

[Travln]

Hi Bushman and thanks for the welcome. 

We checked out the Aussie Traveller, but have just found out that Jayco are going back to the old style bagged awning without the peaked roof.  So we have decided to go with that and the Jayco Annex.

So now our only decision is on the extended drawbar.  Does anyone have one of the longer campers - Swan or Flamingo with the extended drawbar and what do you think of it?

[dsajfar]

Kaz n Karl, I too am about to receive my new model 2011 JOutback Swan and face the same Annex Problem, All the delers talk agains the original Jayco Annex claiming its mad ein China and poor Quality however at least the Jayco Awning look slike it belongs on the camperm unlike the Circus tent annex's the dealers are pushing.

Can you explain to me what you know about the new Jayco Annex and what you mean by the peaked Roof, is the Origian Jayco Annex a good product an deasy to set up, is the reany oinfo on it on the WEB?

Thanks

[Travln]

Hi dsajfar,

The problem is with the bagged awning.  We have had a bagged awning on our 2002 Jayco Hawk and have been setting it up and rolling it back up for the last 9 years without a problem.   However last year Jayco apparently changed the design so that it had a gable - a peak in the roof - the idea being that water would run off more easily instead of pooling on the awning.  However we have heard that it is impossible for two people to roll it back up into the bag - you need three people and even then it is hard to get back into the bag as the bag is too small.

But we have been assured that they have gone back to the flat design again and that this will be available by the time we get our camper in May.

The annex is still the same but it will now be in the new 2011 colours. So the annex will match the camper and the whole lot will look like it belongs together.   We actually ordered our camper on Monday and it will have the genuine Jayco bagged awning and annex. 

[GOLDIE]

I have the fiamma awing and annex. If it's set up correctly with the sidearms on them they are fantastic. If you just use it how they suppy it they are terrible. If you are in Sydney and you want to look at mine feel free. I have had mine in some big wind and had no problems 

[AJC2]

Hi dsajfar,

The problem is with the bagged awning.  We have had a bagged awning on our 2002 Jayco Hawk and have been setting it up and rolling it back up for the last 9 years without a problem.   However last year Jayco apparently changed the design so that it had a gable - a peak in the roof - the idea being that water would run off more easily instead of pooling on the awning.  However we have heard that it is impossible for two people to roll it back up into the bag - you need three people and even then it is hard to get back into the bag as the bag is too small.

But we have been assured that they have gone back to the flat design again and that this will be available by the time we get our camper in May.

The annex is still the same but it will now be in the new 2011 colours. So the annex will match the camper and the whole lot will look like it belongs together.   We actually ordered our camper on Monday and it will have the genuine Jayco bagged awning and annex.  

I have a 2010 Swan OB with the Jayco bagged awning with the peaked roof. Yep, it takes a bit of effort to roll it however my wife and i manage...you just need to start tight, and flip up the side edges and front gable  onto the top  before you start rolling.  Its also a tight fit inside the bag but is doable. A bit of hassle is worth it for dry walls / annex IMO but each to their own own!

[swanny]

G'Day mate and welcome to my swag, awesome site with heaps of info, search for jayco mods mate and u will be amazed.

I have an OB Swanny and the wife, kids and myself love it.

My 2 bobs worth, sounds like your keen on some off road type travel and camping ??, if so please dont think that you will be able to traverse the more difficult tracks etc with ur jayco, some will disagree, and each to there own, but IMO its not for heavy 4wd, light stuff no probs, the odd bit of difficult stuff also no probs, but defo not for prolonged travel on heavy stuff, food for thought, just my opinon. 

If i had my time again, and was able to sweet talk my lovely wife around, i would go a decent hard floor camper, i think it provides the best of both worlds.

On the ext draw bar, defo go for it, i dont have one, and only have a tight space to store her, the added monouverabilty would be a real asset, also allows to locate a stone guard without to much trouble.

Sounds like you have the awning stuff sorted by now.

Only my thought mate, again welcome.

[Cammo]

Travln

We have ordered a Swan Outback and we went with the extended draw bar to allow more room between 4WD and camper, turning angles, allowing room for stone guard and easier towing.

We originally  were getting the Fiamma awning but were talked out of in preference of the bag awning and walls. The wind rating was a major issue and being able to leave chairs and table under cover when out for the day with some security. Mostly I assume we will use the bag awning only unless staying for a while.

There are so many decisions to make when ordering, especially if you have only been a tenter before so I listened to friends and experience folk on the forums. I won't be able to comment until ours arrives in August.

Regards

[flamingo]

  Gday Travin and welcome!  Well we are picking up our new Flamingo this Friday! Cant wait! We got the bag awning but not the walls. I didnt get an extended draw bar.  We did get the hot water service and outdoor shower tho. Not fussed about annex walls.If i need them i'll get them later. Plus i was"nt keen on the stripes!!  What state are you in? We have been waiting since March for ours!!  All the best  Phil 

[Black Diamond]

Gday Travln welcome to the fold mate.

Bit of a bummer with the annexe. Yep thats Jayco for ya, trying to re invent the wheel.

I too am not a big fan of the Circus stripes thats why i went for a solid colour as you can see below. Bags awnings are great but if i had my time again i would go the Fiamma or similar with the annex walls, only because i do a few 1 nighters and would make it a lot easier. You can buy the Aniflap kits with them that make them a lot more stable.
My annexe is made by Alpine Canvas http://www.alpinecanvas.com.au/ and is very well made. They are made here in Melb and depending where you are im sure it can shipped.

Enjoy you stay mate 

[flamingo]

  There ya go Travin.. i was hoping BD would post. I reckon his annexe looks great...  Phil

[Travln]

Wow - I love it when a thread comes back to life after a while!  Thanks for the advice Swanny - we have actually had on "On Road" Jayco for the last 7 years and have taken it to many places that you wouldn't expect - like Fraser Island!  We have finally decided to upgrade to a new Jayco with all the things we have been wanting for the last 7 years.  We hate Caravan Parks and want to be able to set up camp for a couple of weeks without power so that is why all the extras.  We are not looking at trying to do Shotgun or any other extreme 4WD stuff - just go on lots of dirt roads to out of the way places.

Hi Phil - we are in NSW and ordered our Flamin' Go in March - it arrived at the dealer last week and we are picking it up next Friday (still lots of things to be done to it by the dealer before we pick it up)

That's a very nice looking Annex you have Black Diamond.  We ended up going for the standard Jayco awning which will match the colours of the Flamin' Go.

[Black Diamond]

  We ended up going for the standard Jayco awning which will match the colours of the Flamin' Go.

Top stuff mate 
 

  BD

[flamingo]

Gday we picked ours up today!!! Whoo whoo im stoked!! looks great cant wait to get away in it!!     Phil

[Travln]

Congratulations Phil!  Looking forward to seeing some pictures and hearing all about it.

[Racer]

That annexe looks good BD. We have ordered the 'Colorado' awning with our new Flamingo, its basically the same as a Fiamma but has 12v auto wind out motor. Been around in the states for a while however Jayco have them as an option now....

We would only use the full annexe once a year so there is no rush to locate walls....

[MDSimpson]

Hey BD, in your Flamingo, is the fridge on the annex side? If so, how does it go with the gas venting and the annex? Would you sleep the tin lids out there? That is my only concern with looking to buy a Flamingo, are the fridge vents into the annex,.

Can someone please ease my mind about this....