DeeJay
15th August 2018, 10:40 AM
Hi all,
My daughter is seriously planning a half round Aus trip ( Vic to WA/NT then home via Alice) and we are researching camper trailers plus maybe a post 2000 Jayco camper - it would be sold after the trip. She is 22 years old and has 14 weeks from May next year. The plan was to get to Broome or Derby via Perth and her mates ( 2 or 3) & boyfriend will join her then as they only have 4 weeks available. I was not happy for her to travel alone, so I will go with her as far as Broome or Derby then fly home. By then, she should be familiar with the Defender to share driving with her boyfriend ( ex Army guy) as her girlfriends cant drive manual.
So, the question is, would it be better to wait until after the Christmas holidays to buy a camper?
Do prices/ availability vary over the year?
Also, one question that nags me is that do we really need an outback Jayco when the only real corrugations/ dirt road would be the Gibb River Road which she is determined to travel. I'm happy to upgrade springs/ axle /shockers - Its just that quite a few forum comments say that, taken easy, an ordinary model is capable & any internal damage would happen anyway. The price differences are significant between second hand on road & Outback Jayco's.
See this from a 2009 forum.
Personally, I think the Jayco ‘Outback’ range is the mastery of marketing over function.
I have no doubt that the chassis of the Outback is quite a deal stronger than the on road version. The
suspension (https://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Accessories/Suspension.aspx)
is improved with shocks and heavier springing and there is increased ground clearance. However, the body remains the same, as do the internal fittings. Jayco does not appear to differentiate in the construction of the body between both styles, and they are built to a price (one which I could afford!)
I would suggest that any road that would destroy the chassis of an ‘on road’ Jayco would destroy the body of an ‘Outback’. The springs, shocks, clearance and the name is not the universal panacea to the damage to body and fittings that long distance, high speed travel on corrugations or crawling along narrow tracks can inflict
The down sides of the ‘Outbacks’ are that they are heavier and significantly higher than the on road versions (I can use internal mirrors in my Pajero with an on road version). Due to their height they are more difficult to erect; double steps are a pain
The more important down side is they are more expensive. You can buy a lot of fuel with the price difference
For what it’s worth, I have owned 3 ‘on road’ Jaycos, and am acutely aware of their limitations and their strengths. I will (and have) travel on dirt roads with them, but not off road. Next time you go to some out of the way place check out what people have towed in there. I’ve seen more ‘Outbacks’ in caravan parks than in National Parks.
I'm thinking an OZtent would be sufficient for the extra bodies and reckon the "sweet point" for Jayco's Outbacks is 2005 & 14K
Looking forward to your comments.
David
My daughter is seriously planning a half round Aus trip ( Vic to WA/NT then home via Alice) and we are researching camper trailers plus maybe a post 2000 Jayco camper - it would be sold after the trip. She is 22 years old and has 14 weeks from May next year. The plan was to get to Broome or Derby via Perth and her mates ( 2 or 3) & boyfriend will join her then as they only have 4 weeks available. I was not happy for her to travel alone, so I will go with her as far as Broome or Derby then fly home. By then, she should be familiar with the Defender to share driving with her boyfriend ( ex Army guy) as her girlfriends cant drive manual.
So, the question is, would it be better to wait until after the Christmas holidays to buy a camper?
Do prices/ availability vary over the year?
Also, one question that nags me is that do we really need an outback Jayco when the only real corrugations/ dirt road would be the Gibb River Road which she is determined to travel. I'm happy to upgrade springs/ axle /shockers - Its just that quite a few forum comments say that, taken easy, an ordinary model is capable & any internal damage would happen anyway. The price differences are significant between second hand on road & Outback Jayco's.
See this from a 2009 forum.
Personally, I think the Jayco ‘Outback’ range is the mastery of marketing over function.
I have no doubt that the chassis of the Outback is quite a deal stronger than the on road version. The
suspension (https://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Accessories/Suspension.aspx)
is improved with shocks and heavier springing and there is increased ground clearance. However, the body remains the same, as do the internal fittings. Jayco does not appear to differentiate in the construction of the body between both styles, and they are built to a price (one which I could afford!)
I would suggest that any road that would destroy the chassis of an ‘on road’ Jayco would destroy the body of an ‘Outback’. The springs, shocks, clearance and the name is not the universal panacea to the damage to body and fittings that long distance, high speed travel on corrugations or crawling along narrow tracks can inflict
The down sides of the ‘Outbacks’ are that they are heavier and significantly higher than the on road versions (I can use internal mirrors in my Pajero with an on road version). Due to their height they are more difficult to erect; double steps are a pain
The more important down side is they are more expensive. You can buy a lot of fuel with the price difference
For what it’s worth, I have owned 3 ‘on road’ Jaycos, and am acutely aware of their limitations and their strengths. I will (and have) travel on dirt roads with them, but not off road. Next time you go to some out of the way place check out what people have towed in there. I’ve seen more ‘Outbacks’ in caravan parks than in National Parks.
I'm thinking an OZtent would be sufficient for the extra bodies and reckon the "sweet point" for Jayco's Outbacks is 2005 & 14K
Looking forward to your comments.
David