Thread: camper trailer or jaco camper

Camper Trailer Pros
* Typically shorter than a Jayco. Less space to store
* Can usually see better over them on the rear view mirror when towing
* More capable offroad if you get an offroad version
* Cheaper (unless you are buying an Ultimate or KK)

Jayco Pros
* You get up off the ground (good in really wet situations)
* Bit more luxury

I am not convinced that a Jayco takes significantly less time to set up than a CT

Originally Posted by isuzu110

Camper Trailer Pros
* Typically shorter than a Jayco. Less space to store
* Can usually see better over them on the rear view mirror when towing
* More capable offroad if you get an offroad version
* Cheaper (unless you are buying an Ultimate or KK)

Jayco Pros
* You get up off the ground (good in really wet situations)
* Bit more luxury

I am not convinced that a Jayco takes significantly less time to set up than a CT

some good points as for set up time they are pretty well on par from what i have seen a mate has a small camper trailer and that takes about the same time maybe a bit quicker but not long than a jayco but than you dont have to set up to cook in a jayco

We just purchased a Jayco but we have three little ones which would not be anywhere near as comfortable in a camper trailer. I have only ever done one trip in a camper trailer and we have only done three on our jayco so cannot provide a lot of feedback but my intial thoughts on the jayco are:

More Storage
Better Kitchen Set up
More Beds (ours is a 7 berth which is pefect for our family of five)
Built in table/lounge great
Easy to set up
Easy to pack down (even in the rain)
Room for 4 35's on top across 4 racks

It is a big trailer which takes a lot of room in the shed (more then the disco). Tows great but is wide and you loose a fair bit of rear visibility. Ours is an onroad model which runs slightly larger wheel with a spring over set up, standard hitch and electric breaks. I have had no issues towing it into 4wd parks but i would never do a big outback trip with it (but that is not the type of driving i do anyway so was not a requirement).

Hope that helps somewhat.

before you spend a buck on buying any thing hire every thing you may think would be okay then buy but think about the cost of buying plus fees lic, ins, etc etc would hireing be better ??

Before we bought our Jayco we had a Trackabout Camper Trailer. I have to say the Jayco is so much easier to set up and pack up. When we go away to a 4x4 park for a weekend, hubby goes for a drive on the morning we are leaving and I stay back at camp and have just about the whole thing packed up. I could never do that with the Camper Trailer. There are pro's and con's for each of them. It all comes down to what suits!

Jodie

We've got a home built copy of a Jayco. Agree with all of the comments made so far - it does take up more room in your yard or shed than most camper trailers would, and it is wide, but I can still see down both sides with the standard Disco mirrors. Used to be able to see over the top of it too, but not since I've replaced the chassis, suspension & wheels.

As far as setting up / packing up goes, I've always found ours to be significantly quicker than most camper trailers (except some of the hard floor models).

As you get older, believe me, you'll appreciate the comforts of the Jayco style over the tent style trailer. I'm thinking of getting rid of ours in the not too distant future and replacing with a Jayco Expanda off road version (getting even softer in my old age).

Jayco are prone to letting *lots* of dust in on outback roads....

The owners often have work arounds (taping vents shut etc) ....

Jayco fit and finish is pretty darm poor compared to their competition too...
I'd suggest looking at their competitors...

Just food for thought...

Jayco aren't the best at keeping dust out or the quality of finished isn't the best either as Tombie has said, also you void the warrenty if offroad, they are not an off road camper, even the Outback model, so beware of this, if anything breaks and your offroad you will have to pay for the repairs yourself.

If you want this style of camper, then look at the Goldstream or Coleman, these two have designated offroad models.

The easiest campers to setup are hard floor camper, Cub, Aussie Offroad, KK, T-Van and so on, they aren't cheap though, Cub being the cheapest.

Baz.