Coromal or Jayco

Get underneath and have a good look at how well they are designed and constructed before you make a commitment.
There is more to love than outside appearance.

Neil

if you're considering the Coromal, have a look at a Goldstream Wing 3 too, all have similar internal layout. Goldstream and Coromal both a step up from the Jayco, but also a fair amount dearer, and do the same job so need to weigh that up. Lots of Jayco's running around the countryside. Slide out kitchen in Coromal worried us regarding dust ingress and longevity. We ended up buying the Goldstream as the caravan show 'special' consisted of freebie bed end flys, wind out awning and battery pack which were things we would have ordered anyway.

With no children you could go with one of the ones with the permanently made up beds and trade it later when the need arises as they do hold their value pretty good.

Cheers, Nige

Hi Brinic - we owned both a Jayco Dove then a Coromal Magnum - both offroad wind-ups.
As the Dove was 20yrs old, our experience with it is not much use. Todays units are probably much better constructed. We owned it for over10 yrs camping with 2 children, before it died.

We absolutely loved the (almost new) Magnum - only recently traded it on a Coromal offroad Poptop. Dragged it everywhere with our 4.2 Patrol - cattle station tracks, Frazer Island sand, Innaminca (through the flooded Cooper + mud), mountains, rocks, gem fields and even over some bitumen. Construction was the main priority for our choice of the Coromal - it had to handle some reasonably serious off road work.

Like all things made by man, it needed some minor improvements (but then I stress over little things). Fitted a deep cycle battery with anderson plug to the car, second water tank and gas bottle. Needed some reinforcing of the inside timber - eg seat supports, draw and cupboard frames etc.
The hot water system is nice, but the outside shower uses your drinking water - so was useless. (We use an outside shower, and put creek/river water through an onboard filter for showering.)

Do a forum search to find all previous posts. Both would provide many years of comfortable camping.............................Keith
nb - second hand we paid $17k for the Coromal, but took some months to find. Could be worth a trip to the East if you can make the time.

Hi,

I agree with comments made by Nige. We just brought a new Goldstream Star 2 in the offraod model and we are really impressed with it. They are dearer than Jayco but when you get right into build etc then I think they are good value.

Hope you find something that suits your needs.

Definitely check out the eastern states as well. Unless you wait until 1 July for the exemption from stamp duty in WA, if you buy and get license transfered to you in a state with no stamp duty on trailers, you may save the cost of your trip to collect it.

Hi Brinic,
I agree with Nige and Brian B and have a Goldstream soveriegn.The build quality is superior on the goldstream and coromal over the jayco and if you can get to a show you might be able to do your own comparisons.
Cheers Mark

Checkout the resale, have a look at Trading Post etc.

Coromals seem to be 5 to 10 grand dearer new, but do not hold that premium when sold second hand.

Jayco is IMHO the best value van on the market by a mile. AND, their camper trailers have an absurdly high resale value. Having now owned two Jaycos I cannot see any reason to pay extra for a "premium" van. Still, it comes down to personal choice.

Cheers,

Jim.

We have an 01 off-road Dove that happily follows our patrol wherever we want to go.
We reset the springs 1 inch higher, with an added leaf, to lift it a bit more so that we can match the tyres on the patrol (265/75r16's).
Simply slow down a bit when off the black stuff and drop the tyre pressure.
All these "campers" have limitations but with a bit of planning before hand,,,they will go just about anywhere.

meow.

rick.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Truley appreciate it. I think we will end up with the Jayco and work our way up from there. Will have a look at the Goldstream tonight as they look the same but as Blaze said, If I can save around $7000 and it takes a couple of hours to fix it and it is good, well can't ask for more than that.

Hopefully will have many years of camping in from of us.

May talk to you all again soon.

Nicole

Nicole, we recently looked at Coromal v Goldstream v Jayco after selling our 2005 Jayco finch, and we went back to Jayco again.

I cannot justify an extra $10,000 for the Goldstream. Yes it's a little better build quality, but ten grand?

With the Coromal, in the pro's and con's excersize, three things stood out on the wrong side.

1. Sit on the edge of the the bed. Get up and down off the bed....a rather uncomfortable exrcise that one!

2. The front boot it is flimsy, leaks water, space is taken up by the gas bottles and having to reach across to undo two latches is a pain.

3. Athough appearing bigger inside, the cupbourd space lost in the slide out ktchen, and the tiny little table and chairs are not well thought out.

The one thing I thought was excellent, really excellent, is the door! Its dust proof, water proof and doubles as a travel table. BRILLIANT!!!

Hi all,

Well I have to retract that we will be getting the Jayco, we have decided to go with the Goldstream Wing III. Beautiful layout, great quality and it has everything we wanted. It is a little more than the Jayco but not much and cheaper than the Coromal and the quality was better than the Coromal.

It was small things in the construction that we had a look at that changed our minds. Thanks everyone again. It has been great. We are now looking at options for the van and will check out what has been stated before.

Happy vanning everyone. :o)