Jayco Swan Freedom Outdoor poptop - after some advice
Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:02
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Rocko Wallaby
Heya folks
I've just sold my Campomatic
Ranger GL to my old man, who wants it for touring, and am thinking of changing to a very small caravan-type unit. Had originally considered something like a Jayco Hawk/Dove/etc in the outback config, but came across a Jayco Hawk Freedom, which rather than being the full poptop style, just has the roof pop. Seems an easy tourer for 2 people, which is all I need. It's teeny, being only 13 foot, but seems robust enough. Certainly, I don't expect it to match the Campomatic in sheer robustness, which was ludcrously strong, but I still want something I can pull up te beach at Fraser, or through some corrugated, rough roads (not heavy 4x4), and with a mass of less than 1.1 tons loaded, and 100kg ball weight, it's still pretty light. Plus, it's damn comfortable, at my old age of 37 (Yeah, I'm a softie;) Thought it'd be plenty good enough for some basic touring also.
Anyone have any Jayco Outback units, of any config? How tough are they? Any problems, such as corrosion, leaks, etc? Any good benefits?
Appreciate the advice.
Cheers,
Scott
Note: Pics below of a similar unit, but not an outback model
Site Link
Reply By: Rocko Wallaby - Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:03
Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:03
Sorry. missed a pic. And it's a Hawk, not a Swan, like I posted in the title...Dur!
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384331
Reply By: Member - Lewis K (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:12
Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:12
Gday Scott,
I have a Jayco Freedom that is "off road" but soft off road. Its all about how you drive more so than the van itself. I have no complaints at all with the beast. Only issue I have ever had is a small
water leak in the front that took some time to find. Turned out to be the front lights (top right and left hand sides) that had not been sealed properly. Pulled them off, a dab of silicon and no troubles since
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Follow Up By: Rocko Wallaby - Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:29
Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:29
Thanks Lewis
Will it be towed down a beach OK, and through minor dune tracks, etc? Don't plan on Taking it across rocks and such, but again the odd trip to fraser or the like would be nice, and some of the tracks are a bit on the soft side. Certainly, no flogging down bush paths or the like...have a tent for that ;)
The Campomatic didn't flinch on Fraser...never even knew it was on, even towed by the 6 cyl Frontera, and it weighed around 850kg loaded. Hoping 1.1T isn't a major effort.
Scotty
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Reply By: greenextreme - Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:32
Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 16:32
Hi Scott, I've borrowed one on two ocassions and towed it carefully along short stretches of gravel [say 50-70km]. No major problems but found a few small things developed like door [hinge] became sticky, minor dust entered via
tools compartment, wind-up mechanism became harder to wind, and stone guard on the
water tank collected rocks [btwn
tank and guard] which led to a small leak in the
tank. It was otherwise a great van. I don't know if Jayco build them for offroad use [beaches, river crossings, long stretches of gravel, etc]. Might pay to check what their engineeered to withstand. cheers,
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Rocko Wallaby - Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 17:38
Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 at 17:38
Well, the "outdoor" package, according to their brochure, Jayco advise...
"With Jayco’s Outback range you can now venture throughout Australia’s vast network of unsealed roads, freeing you up
to explore some of the nation’s most incredible hideaways.
Jayco’s Outback range has the added strength and clearance you’ll need for rugged conditions, but there are limits!
Some bush tracks are barely suitable for a 4WD, let alone a Pop Top!"
Grinz...that's a carefully worded statment if I ever heard one ;)
This unit has no winder, since only the very top pops up. Second hand, of course. 2003 model. Fairly clean, but their statement it's only done "2 short trips" is obviously exaggerated, since they slipped at least one trip was to
Perth from
Brisbane ;)
Only a 2 berth, since no pop-outs, which is fine by me, as there's only one of me, and the dog ;) Take a friend occasionally, but not frequently.
ATM was apparently 1145kg, which isn;t too bad. Net was 1335kg. Still pretty light.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: ozjohn0 - Thursday, Sep 24, 2009 at 09:58
Thursday, Sep 24, 2009 at 09:58
Hawk, Swan, Dove etc are not Pop,Tops, but Camper Trailers.
The unit you're looking at is a 'Pop Top'
Jayco don't make any 'Off Road' products. They do however make what they call 'Out Back' models. These have a heavier stronger A-Frame and and Spring Over Conversion. i.e.
The springs are over the top of the axle and not the normal way of springs under the axles.
This conversion although raising the body does not increase the axle to ground clearance. If taking the unit on rough roads don't place any heavy items in the overhead cupboard. Lower speed and tyre pressures when traveling on corrugated roads.
ozjohn.
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Reply By: Rocko Wallaby - Thursday, Sep 24, 2009 at 16:12
Thursday, Sep 24, 2009 at 16:12
Yes, have to say the designation "Hawk" had me confused too, although the specs for this model are no longer available from Jayco. It certainly is a pop-top, not a camper, like the standard Hawk/Dove.etc, but I've now come across several of these models listed in
classifieds as "Freedom Hawk", so I just went with the flow ;) I also saw a listing for a similar unit as a Freedom 13.42-1 Freedom, which I feel is the real specs. Unfortunately, Jayco no longer have this model, or specifics on it, so can't find further info on it.
How about beach work? Will they handle sand OK? And what about the ply floor? Was surprised it wasn't gal, to be honest.
One last thing...Is there a relatively foolproof way to tell between a genuine "outback" and modded standard model? I'm just a little suss they haven't flipped the axle under
the springs, and put heavy duty axle and hubs on it. Wouldn't be that difficult. So, apart from this, I understand the chassis is heavier (although diff models and years seem to have diff specs, just to confuse things), but anything specific to look for?
Thanks
Scotty
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