Jayco Camper with Simplicity Suspension

[Smithyworld]

HI All

We have just order the Jayco Outback with Simplicity Suspension but I haven't seen what the Simplicity suspension is like on the Campers. Does anyone have the Simplicity Suspension on the Jayco Camper and if you do, do you have a pic that you can share? Also what do you think of it? was it worth the upgrade??

Thanks!
 

[Macca357]

Hi Smithy,

Yes we have simplicity suspension on our OB Hawk.  Very happy when towing on bumpy roads and also helps when towing on 4wd tracks with deep wheel ruts as the underneath of the camper between the wheels has a clear 'tunnel' so that you're not scraping the ground. See pics. 

The dealer automatically upgraded our axle rating to 2 Tonne.  The only downside is that it added nearly 200kg to the overall weight of the Hawk.
  Macca.

[Smithyworld]

Hi Smithy,

Yes we have simplicity suspension on our OB Hawk.  Very happy when towing on bumpy roads and also helps when towing on 4wd tracks with deep wheel ruts as the underneath of the camper between the wheels has a clear 'tunnel' so that you're not scraping the ground. See pics. 

The dealer automatically upgraded our axle rating to 2 Tonne.  The only downside is that it added nearly 200kg to the overall weight of the Hawk.
  Macca.

Hey Macca

Thats great, I was starting to think that nobody else had done it...lol Have you taken it anywhere serious off road or do you mainly stick to gazetted roads?

Thanks for posting your pics!

Chris

[Macca357]

Hi Chris, semi serious. We've had two trips across to Fraser Island. First trip we towed the Hawk across the Island from Wangoobla Creek to Eurong and then up to Cathedral Beach. The second time from Inskip Point to Cathedral. Both trips involved creek crossings, rock hopping, ramp drop offs on the bypass tracks and deep ruts. There were occasions on 4wd low range to ensure we had plenty of torque and to keep the speed down whilst driving over exposed rock ledges etc.
Some of the outback Qld roads can get pretty lumpy between Goondiwindi and Dalby and out from St George. If you follow my 'Hawk Has Landed' post there is some pics of our Hawk and the first trip to Fraser Island in 2011.
  Macca.

[Nutto]

Macca
Great pics of the clearence offered by this suspension set up, but can't help thinking that it would be nullified by the 4wd tow vehicle clearance anyway, e.g diff pumpkins dragging in ruts?
200kgs more - that's some solid ass suspension though and for where you've been, can see why you have it.
I've got the std beam axle, and not had any clearance issues and with the same leaf pack, would not appear to ride any harder.
regardless of which set up, they still appear heavily sprung...

 
Nutto

[Smithyworld]

Hi Chris, semi serious. We've had two trips across to Fraser Island. First trip we towed the Hawk across the Island from Wangoobla Creek to Eurong and then up to Cathedral Beach. The second time from Inskip Point to Cathedral. Both trips involved creek crossings, rock hopping, ramp drop offs on the bypass tracks and deep ruts. There were occasions on 4wd low range to ensure we had plenty of torque and to keep the speed down whilst driving over exposed rock ledges etc.
Some of the outback Qld roads can get pretty lumpy between Goondiwindi and Dalby and out from St George. If you follow my 'Hawk Has Landed' post there is some pics of our Hawk and the first trip to Fraser Island in 2011.
  Macca.

Thanks Macca. Will check out your other thread!

[Macca357]

Hi Chris, to help you overcome the waiting period search the myswag member list for createit. This is my brother in law and he has a Dove Outback with simplicity suspension. He has a good thread on his 2011 Dove including mods and last years trip to Fraser.
  Macca.

[JU5T1N]

never to late to chip in....I to have the simplicity suspension, only I have a little more clearance under my hawk thanks to 33's
They don't scrub at all and getting in and out of the van is still just as easy. Bonus for those that run 33's on their tug.

[Red1]

Hi,
We have had it on all of our Jayco's, a Hawk and 2 swans. The hawk went down the Gibb River Rd as well as heaps of other places, and the first swan went to Fraser. They travelled well, others commented on how well the hawk rode compared to the same one that was with us on a trip that had ordinary springs.
Cheers

[Smithyworld]

Hi Chris, to help you overcome the waiting period search the myswag member list for createit. This is my brother in law and he has a Dove Outback with simplicity suspension. He has a good thread on his 2011 Dove including mods and last years trip to Fraser.
  Macca.

Thanks Macca. Will do. Off to the Caravan and Camping show again tomorrow to look at accessories!  :-D

[Smithyworld]

never to late to chip in....I to have the simplicity suspension, only I have a little more clearance under my hawk thanks to 33's
They don't scrub at all and getting in and out of the van is still just as easy. Bonus for those that run 33's on their tug.

Interesting.... I run 33's on my truck too. I've opted for 16inch rims too so 33's could be a good idea....although we have bought the Annex walls. If we had 33's would that mean the walls would be too short? Also what about the stabiliser  legs? Will they be long enough?

Cheers
Chris

[Swannie]

The walls will be long enough with the outback they always make the walls longer, in my case too long a lot of the time as in tucking in 300mm of canvas if on level ground.
Swannie

[GeeTee]

Macca
Great pics of the clearence offered by this suspension set up, but can't help thinking that it would be nullified by the 4wd tow vehicle clearance anyway, e.g diff pumpkins dragging in ruts?
200kgs more - that's some solid ass suspension though and for where you've been, can see why you have it.
I've got the std beam axle, and not had any clearance issues and with the same leaf pack, would not appear to ride any harder.
regardless of which set up, they still appear heavily sprung...

 
Nutto

Smithyworld, is it too late to un-order this Simplicity suspension?

[crackacoldie]

Smithyworld, is it too late to un-order this Simplicity suspension?

Why would you want to?


We have simplicity on our Expanda and it tows considerably better than live beam axles, rides corrugations better and is more stable.

  Cracka

[GeeTee]

Why would you want to?


We have simplicity on our Expanda and it tows considerably better than live beam axles, rides corrugations better and is more stable.

  Cracka

wow the suspension you had under your Expanda before must have been really crook.

It's good that you are happy but - like 99 percent of trailer indy suspensions - this trailing arm design is heavier, has less travel, is inherently weaker and due to a total lack of camber gain during cornering and inevitable dynamic toe-out, will chop the tyres' inner edges quicker on bitumen and the outside shoulder quicker on bumpy terrain.

And as Nutto has quite sensibly pointed out, the 'extra' clearance is useless when following a tow car with a beam axle.

At least this one, with leaf springs, offers a lower floor height than coils and puts the load into the chassis at four points, rather than two.


 

[grafy82]

And the swing arms aren't painted bright red which means they're crap, right GeeTee 

[cruisindub]

No offence intended.

It always amuses me when people buy something, then write in questioning their purchase.

Was a guy who bought a fridge, then questioned it. A few others I've read.

You've selected the upgrade, ordered the camper, be happy with your decision.  No doubt you've done your research and investigations. I'd be surprised if you ordered the suspension without knowing what it looked like or performed like.

Don't stress, no doubt the wait will be anticipated enough, probably enough time to get together all the extra bits and pieces you neêd/want.

Don't spend the time stressing about a decision ........

[JU5T1N]

can't help thinking that it would be nullified by the 4wd tow vehicle clearance anyway, e.g diff pumpkins dragging in ruts?
Nutto

I guess that then depends which tyre I'm running....33", 35" or 38".....not really an issue for me

the extra clearance on your trailer that can't steer independently makes for 1 less issue to worry about off road, if the car has passed over the obstacle the trailer is in the clear so to say, also in case of mud its going to be less drag.

[GeeTee]

And the swing arms aren't painted bright red which means they're crap, right GeeTee 

 

... But as always, it's what under the bling and jingle that really matters

[Nutto]

"........and it tows considerably better than live beam axles, rides corrugations better and is more stable.

 

Tows considerably better? Surely it would be std fitment if it was that much better - would be a clear selling point for any brand.
I might be missing something here, but the photos of this suspension shows heavy duty leaf spring packs. Regardless of confirguration, it's the leaf springs that control the compliance of the ride, whether they act independent of the other side or not.  There are more leafs in this spring pack than my beam leaf spring jayco

Not trying to flame anyone, as I haven't experienced 'independent leaf spring suspension'  (doesn't sound as flash as simplicity does it?), these are just my thoughts, be they right or wrong.

 
Nutto

[crackacoldie]

I have owned and towed caravans on live beam axles for over 20 years, the last of those being a 2008 Jayco.  I never had issue with the beam axles.  Our current van came with the simplicity independent and I have found it tows considerably better, simple things like not getting a wobble when one side of the road is damaged, not bouncing when on corrogations. 

Again, there is nothing wrong with beam axles, however, independent is nicer.

Why is it not standard fitment?  Jayco are a budget builder and this suspension is an extra cost of $2000.  I am certain that people would look at other brands with an increase in cost.  Many of the high end builders do include independent as standard, however do you spend $40k on a jayco or $100k on the others. 

[Smithyworld]

I have owned and towed caravans on live beam axles for over 20 years, the last of those being a 2008 Jayco.  I never had issue with the beam axles.  Our current van came with the simplicity independent and I have found it tows considerably better, simple things like not getting a wobble when one side of the road is damaged, not bouncing when on corrogations. 

Again, there is nothing wrong with beam axles, however, independent is nicer.

Why is it not standard fitment?  Jayco are a budget builder and this suspension is an extra cost of $2000.  I am certain that people would look at other brands with an increase in cost.  Many of the high end builders do include independent as standard, however do you spend $40k on a jayco or $100k on the others.

Well said.

[dazzler]

  The only downside is that it added nearly 200kg to the overall weight of the Hawk.
 

200 kg.......?.  As in 1/5 of a tonne?

[Bushman]

Seems they've change the Simplicity a little, my old Swan had a "slipper" arrangement at the not a shakle/bush

I saw a Jayco Sterling van over the weekend in Tumut that was riding on dual axle Simplicity, Geeezzzz that thing was riding high.

[GeoffA]

Seems they've change the Simplicity a little, my old Swan had a "slipper" arrangement at the not a shakle/bush

Got a photo of the front of the spring??