Jayco Outback camper trailer.any good?

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 11:49
ThreadID: 41694 Views:8909 Replies:2 FollowUps:7
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I am looking for some comments concerning the jayco Outback camper trailers. I am planing an extended trip including off road travel ( Gibb River rd, Oodnadatta track, Dalhousie Springs ) I am considering purchasing a Jayco and was wondering if anyone has off road experience with them, are they up to it ? and any problems encountered.. Thanks
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Reply By: Member - Andy Q (VIC) - Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 14:02

Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 14:02
G'day fouldsie,
Yeah! we have a Jayco Outback Dove, travelled Savannah Way(well most of it) Plenty Hwy and lots of other roads in between. They have advantages and disadvantages but overall we are happy, it's great when you set-up(20minutes) and can sit inside out of the elements and as Sally(wife) says we're off the ground. Tows easy and is stable, we did get a few extras with ours, full annex, bed end covers, inner sprung mattress, Trigg Hitch. I have also replaced the shocks but now they are coming off and I'm going to add a leaf to the four that are there. Shocks on or off makes no difference to the ride or the way you pack the van . Inside the van Sally got rid of the Flounces around the rim of the roof and added velcro attachments like a mirror that folds up, some hanging pockets- for keys, wallet, watches,fly/mosquito net, velcroed, hanging above entrance to the bed.
We spent 11 weeks on our last trip, left Melbourne travelled north to Broken Hill, Tibbooburra, Cloncurry, Burketown, Gregory River Downs you get the drift, all across the top into NT and back again. Down to Allora, where we had lived for a few years, then Newcastle.
On our way home went through Jinderbine and down the Barry Way(bit tight and twisty)
Sorry I digress, off road we did the hills between Windora and Winton(The Quart Pot Range) We went off road into many quarries and camped bush!.
Like any trailer, camper, caravan there are always pros and cons, it's up to you and your wallet!!
The major complaint I had with our Jayco was the fact that the cover/protection for the water tank( on our model ) looked like it was made of tin-foil, by the time we had arrived in Cloncurry it was holed in many places it's also too short and didn't cover the inlet pipe, this was smashed off while travelling, we lost 60litres of water.
Apart from that I'm happy with it

andy
AnswerID: 218177

Follow Up By: Member - Andy Q (VIC) - Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 14:39

Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 14:39
dear fouldsie,
I'm Sally, Andy's wife, I want to add that the Jayco rode really well when we drove off the roads and into the bush to camp. At the Quart Pot range, north of Windorah we drove over the lumpy edge of the road, up a bank and across rocky ground to the edge of the plateau. The Jayco was great, easy to make level, and we could move it by hand into position, fully loaded,( just had to be on fairly level ground to do it by hand.) The high clearance allowed it to go almost anywhere especially with the Treg coupling. I loved to watch it weaving about following the car on uneven ground. I packed things in the fridge in bubble wrap and put the pillows and towels in the cupboards to prevent breakage.

As Andy mentioned, the protection plate for the water tank was totally inadequate as stones from the road ripped into it and also tore off the unprotected inlet tap near it on the plastic pipe. We had a new plate made at Cloncurry, it was 2.5 mm thick and 100mm longer to cover the pipes at the end and we had no further trouble.

Also remove that silly flounce around the ceiling, put it back on when selling later. I then made removeable hanging pockets and mirror and mossy net to hang around; extremely useful. We also hang dowel towel rails up inside using the velcro attached to material loops. We store these under the mattress when travelling.

It's a great camper -open and airy- enjoy.

sally.
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FollowupID: 478614

Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 14:42

Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 14:42
If it rode really well, why would you put an extra leaf in the springs, way too many campers are oversprung!
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Follow Up By: Member - Andy Q (VIC) - Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 14:54

Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 14:54
Hey Shaker,
that's my personal preference, but you know what really bleep es me off, is people that try and hijack the original subject.
If you have something to say to fouldsie about his question say it to him NOT TO ME

andy
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 15:41

Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 15:41
Sorry, misread it ... but get over it, it wasn't personal!
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FollowupID: 478620

Follow Up By: Harry - Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 20:33

Sunday, Jan 28, 2007 at 20:33
G'day fouldsie,
Mate of mine has Jayco and his fridge piping sort of shook off on the Gibb, (18months old) but he had it replaced in Broome under warranty. The part was $800, so he was lucky it was still under warranty. Don't know about his water tank but I am putting rubber sheet about 4mm thick in front of water tank protector on my camper tank just in case.. I bought some from Clarke rubber and the guy said it was re-cycled tyres and it was only $20/m 1.2 wide. Jayco shockers were a bit on the small side compared to the Ultimate 1's on my camper, but they can be changed as mentioned.
I will find out from dealer in Broome if my model Dometic fridge has similar problems, if so then I'll fibre-glass it same as mates has been done.
I have a list of fridge dealers Australia wide so I have no problems looking for fixit man. (get list off Dometic site)
Also learn how to use batteries to weld in case something breaks. (LCOOL site)
I noticed dust had entered through his the fridge vents as well, might be something to look at. This can be a problem where fridge is in van itself with any camper.
I block mine off with foam from inside, but I DON'T run the fridge on 12v when mobile. I have ENGEL in vehicle and only use van fridge when base camping.
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Follow Up By: fouldsie - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 13:20

Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 13:20
Thanx Andy and Sally for your input. We have just sold our soft floor camper to upgrade. Going over the pros and cons of so many different types of campers!! We still love the soft floor campers but can see the benefits of being off the ground and easy quick setup, especially with two young rug rats in tow during our planned 6-12 month trip. Just not sure if I am ready for that caravan type feeling. If we do grab a jayco your tips will be most useful.
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Follow Up By: fouldsie - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 13:30

Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 13:30
Thanks Harry. If thats all that fell off the Jayco along the Gibb then thats not too bad I guess. Last time I was there in 96 I lost more than that off my 4wd! As long as they havent laid bitumen all along the Gibb Ill give the Jayco a tick. Reading old posts concerning the same topic over the past 18months seems more nays than yays concerning their off road duarability..... Cant under estimate the drivers input to durability though.
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FollowupID: 478758

Reply By: Member - Bucky (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 15:25

Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 15:25
Get a Trak Shak, ( or equivalent ) you will never look back.
We brought a used one, that has done heaps of trips, including the Simpson, Cape York, and the Kimberley's, and now we take it everywhere, including the Plenty, and Walker's Crossing, and those gr8 roads around Innaminka, and that road to Chambers Pillar, and to Finke
So far I have spent $65 on it fixing up my mis-understanding of electric breaks, and a new set of shockers,, they are brilliant
Jayco are too lightly made do do these trips. They will rattle to bits on the corrugations.
The Trak Shak will do it easy, it will go anywhere you are game enuf to drag it.
It takes me under 10 minutes to be cracking my first can, and relaxing, and there are heaps of room in them, both for liviing in and storage.
Cheers Mate
Bucky
AnswerID: 218392

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