buying a 20 year old poptop - what to check?

I reckon checking the canvas, stitching and seals would need a good look at too..
Maybe set it up and give it a good shower hosing???

hi there bob have a good look for water damage take a torch with you and look in all the dark places under beds take your time look along the alluminum you will see if it saggs also if its a step down door have a look along the top of the door to see if its straight because over the years people getting in and out that part of the floor drops
look also at the staples in the ceeling lining if there rusted there might have been some water damage
this all depends on how much time you want to spend looking you could check the brakes get under it and have a good look at chassie for broken welds to much rust anything bent out of shape
make sure the fridge and stove lights and 12 v are all working and gas

if its any good buy it and enjoy i know i do ............ len

Robbg:
I have a Jayco 1999 model poptop. I endorse what has been said about water leaks and particularly about chassis sag. Mine is a newer version and I doubt that it will sag, but I have seen several earlier models with very droopy chassis. They seem to be too weak around the axle area and they certainly sag. I have spoken with several owners who had Jayco weld plates to the sides of the chassis rails . That will help. but where the reinforcement is required is on the flanges (horizontal surfaces) of the chassis, not the sides.

I have had some nasty issues with Jayco after-sales service because of poor assembly quality control and actually have a dented chassis where the axle actually hit and dented the chassis, but I reckon it will be OK. I am a professional mechanical engineer, so I have a little knowlege of stresses etc and I think will be OK, but only because the design was a bit oversized in the first place. Anyone can have a bad day in manufacturing anything but I seemed to get a really bad day from Jayco. I accept that, but I do not accept Jayco's after-sales service which was abysmal. Enough of my grumbles - I have hopefully sorted it all out by now.

Certainly the older chassis design was a lot lighter than new ones. If buying any older Jayco van, I would look carefully at the chassis - it may even have been beefed up already. Other than that, I think they are as good (bad) as anything else - you cannot get a 100% caravan in Australia - you just have to hope you egt 95% or better quality and accept what is offered. With used vans, you have even less choice. Look at the chassis and if it seems non-droopy, it will probably be OK.

Rob, I have a friend with a Jayco about 20 years old.

He has only just found out a couple of days ago while on an outback trip, that a lot of the timber in the back underneath the van, has almost rotted away.

He is now, studying all the roadmaps to see which is the best way home on the blacktop before the back of the van completely gives way.

He told me that on reflection, he had noticed the top wasn't winding up level like it used to.

So, maybe have a real good look underneath at the framework and timbers, and wind the top up and down.

Dave