New Jayco Fifth Wheeler.

iana · Guru

New Jayco Fifth Wheeler.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Have you checked out the "Travelhome" 5th wheeler Ian?? Nice unit for sure if you are in the market for a 5th.

iana · Guru

Been and had a look at several Travel homes, but didn't like the bed set up. Like a lot of 5th wheelers, access to the bed, i.e. the steps can be awkward as one gets older. The height difference between the main floor and the bed floor seems to be the result of using the De-Angelo hitch, and the fifth wheeler being built to suit utes with "well" rear bodies.
At the moment the Southern Cross models are favoured by the wife, whereas I like the True-Lux vans, one of the issues I have identified, with 5 wheelers is the issue of storage. The True-lux addresses storage, the bed height, and has the recliners at the back of the van. Its just they are all very expensive.

Phillipn · Guru

Check out www.winjana5thwheelers.com.au they make a good unit. One of their 5th wheelers has the floor plan of a caravan with the bed at floor level, [no steps to climb] . The area above the hitch is storage space.

Winjana use quality materials that won`t fall apart.

We have one of their caravans which is 5 years old now, and we are very happy with it.

whiteman · Senior Member

We did a factory tour some years back of the Winjana set up and was impressed with overall strength..........True-lux very good but very expensive IMO.....same goes for Travelhome and looks like a horse float.......which leaves Jayco, build can be problematical but lots of value for money......so we face the age old problem of which one ??, which is why the jury is still out .

iana · Guru

Whiteman, I suggest you have a look at the Jayco web site, the 22ft model ticks most of my boxes, but being a Jayco you take what they sell you, no changes. It doesn't have a slide out which we do not want anyway, more to go wrong. But I would like to have a couple of reclining chairs.
I think the market over east is pretty good with the sales of 5 wheelers, TrueLux is an 8 month wait to get a spot on their production line, and much the same for Southern Cross.

Phillipn · Guru

whiteman wrote:
We did a factory tour some years back of the Winjana set up and was impressed with overall strength..........True-lux very good but very expensive IMO.....same goes for Travelhome and looks like a horse float.......which leaves Jayco, build can be problematical but lots of value for money......so we face the age old problem of which one ??, which is why the jury is still out .

If you pay peanuts, you only get monkeys.

Looks are only skin deep, it`s what is underneath that counts.

PeterS · Veteran Member

We have a Winjana Cattai 760 Hybrid with the bed down below. It is just over two years old now & we are very happy with it, bar a few teething problems which were fixed without any sweat. Heaps of storage as the entire gooseneck area is storage! Also Andrew Brennan, the owner, will build you anything you want, ie layout wise!

whiteman · Senior Member

Oohhhh Phil, put your claws away, we well & truly understand that.

iana · Guru

Interesting, storage space is an issue in the SMALLER fifth wheelers. Take away the bench type lounges (storage) and replace them with recliners, and the only storage that is really left is under the bed. I am discussing the storage required for permanent on the road, short trips away from home will not be an issue.

The height difference of the bed, or area over the hitch is governed largely by the type of hitch used. The goose neck gives the least height difference between the main floor and the floor above the hitch. But this requires a tray top ute.

The DE Angelo hitch allows the use of a ute with a well body, but makes the floor above the hitch much higher to reach.

Gooseneck hitch.jpg DeAngelo Hitch 1.jpg DeAngelo Hitch 2.jpg

TrueLux have solved the getting to the floor above the hitch by extending the floor area, and using a couple of low height steps. You can stand up in the bedroom area, and they have used the space under the extended floor as storage.

Winjana have for the Cattai 760 Hybrid used the entire area above the hitch for storage to get around this problem.

On most of the other vans floor height above the hitch and storage if you do away with the club lounges remains a problem.

Phillipn · Guru

whiteman wrote:
Oohhhh Phil, put your claws away, we well & truly understand that.

Just quoting facts whiteman. On our trip around Australia last year we were parked next to two vans [ both Jayco`s] Both owners were not happy people. Both said they wish they had never purchased Jayco`s. After sales service was poor .

At another camp a new Jayco parked next to us, they were complaining about the cupboard doors falling off.

iana · Guru

Like I said, Jayco have bought out a small 5th wheeler, while quality may not be as good as the others, the price is reachable to many, and now may make the ownership of a 5 wheeler reality over a caravan.

We owned a Jayco and the cupboard doors did not fall off. Everything around them did though .

I plan to have a look at one to do an inspection, and to be able to include them in my evaluation. Looking forward to their reply email blankstare .

Correction some doors did fall off, hinges pop-riveted through plywood, and I did put my arm through the side of the wardrobe, stapled.

-- Edited by iana on Monday 9th of March 2015 10:30:58 PM

iana · Guru

I now know there is only one 22ft van here for viewing, and it is at Bayswater Jayco in Victoria, so those interested should go see.

whiteman · Senior Member

I`ll let you have the last word Phil, but before I sign off, please read the post...... I agree with you it is what`s under the skin that count.....over and out permanently on this topic.