Opinion on Jayco caravan

Trew · Member

Opinion on Jayco caravan

travelyounger · Guru

Hi Trew

They are good budget van with plenty of dealers around the country but usually when you buy a new one you may as well have bought any van and they have problems like any other van but depends what you want out of your van as there are lots of models in the Jayco range.

Cheers

Possum3 · Guru

Cheap mass production should result in better builds - unfortunately the largest manufacturer also has been reported as having many products with serious issues.
There has been a case brought against them by www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-takes-action-against-jayco

Before purchasing any caravan or motor home do your homework check out all the lemon sites not just the reviews on dealer sites.

Do your due diligence and ascertain the rights of a purchaser.
Download all technical reports and checklists at Caravan Council of Australia at www.caravancouncil.com.au/

Cupie · Guru

I'm happy with the Jayco that I purchased. But that was 21 years ago.

But the company is still the biggest seller in Au. So that must tell you something. Lots of other majors & lots of minor manufacturers have gone under in that time period.

cheers .. G

oldbloke · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
Cheap mass production should result in better builds - unfortunately the largest manufacturer also has been reported as having many products with serious issues.
There has been a case brought against them by www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-takes-action-against-jayco

Before purchasing any caravan or motor home do your homework check out all the lemon sites not just the reviews on dealer sites.

Do your due diligence and ascertain the rights of a purchaser.
Download all technical reports and checklists at Caravan Council of Australia at www.caravancouncil.com.au/

Well, not before time. Historically the ACCC has been pretty week. Looks like the new leadership means business. This isn't the first decent quality sized company he has taken on.

Trouble is that even if the ACCC wins will only cost Jayco 1 or 2 days profits.

dogbox · Guru

most new vans will have issues , some companies have a better reputation when dealing with the issues, some think you will go away if they ignore you .

jayco have a reputation of rectifying their issues even if they are a bit slow , an a lot comes down to which dealer you use .

Mike Harding · Guru

A friend has owned a Jayco Journey for two years and is happy with it, no serious issues but a few minor ones. As caravans are largely hand built some issues are likely. My advice is to be tough on warranty from day one (tough not nasty) and put *everything* in writing (e-mail is fine).

Traditionally caravans have been built with a timber frame and cladding but more recently sandwich composites and aluminium frames have been used (my Snowy River SR-19 is one such) and I suggest it has many advantages over wood.

Jayco are a long standing and good brand and I'm sure you'll be happy with a Journey but Jayco have lost considerable market share in Oz over the past few years which suggests others are building good vans too.

the rocket · Guru

Hello and welcome. Our previous van was a jayco and it was very good. 1997. we went for a free tour of the factory in victoria and were impressed. No idea what the new ones are like. I like the aluminium frame best. Happy shopping.

vince56 · Senior Member

I have owned two Jaycos over the years and have found other brands far superior in build quality and QA, had lots of silly issues that should have been picked up prior to delivery.

-- Edited by vince56 on Wednesday 12th of August 2020 01:06:09 PM

gwb · Senior Member

Have had 3 Jayco vans over the past 16 years and they have all had a lot of kilometres put on them as we do a minimum of 15,000 kms a year with them, such are the joys of living in Queensland and having rellies in NSW and Western Australia. See have been very happy with each of our vans with any problem fixed by the dealer we have in Brisbane. The problems were very minor.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi Trew,
Jayco products are built to a fair price - mine & many other owners!
They use the same components that most other Australian built vans use, sure they may miss a cross member with the odd screw - so they add a few extras.
And Mr Jayco would not be terribly impressed to find out where we took our Outback Eagle camper - it survived two horrible roads that I was stunned that only a couple of small screws fell out!

I'm on my second second-hand vans. Oh yes, I'd love something better but this one just fits in my carport, my car can tow it, it's comfortable, it isn't over priced to the stage where my wife would dread taking it out & wrecking it on some nice, adventurous track.

Learn how to do the maintenance & the Journey will see you right. And as others have said, there are plenty of dealers. Some brands have only one dealer in the state!!

Even some of the flasher brands have dramas from time to time. A friend could tell you a not so good story about a very expensive "G..." van that she couldn't use for a year for legal reasons.

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Hi Trew,

We have a 2015 Jayco Outback Journey ordered with some extra's. IMO you should be mechanically minded.Able to look over the van total, before accepting delivery and handing over any balance of payment.

Trying to get service / Warranty in Sydney, is a JOKE. Try 3-4 months to get Warranty service alone.

In your negotiable deal, if you go down this track. Have everything in writing TOTAL. I would include in the contract 1 x Chalking gun , One 350g Extreame liquid nails.

Don't laugh The cuboards can and do fall apart.

If The sales person thinks your kidding, walk away.

We ended up in legal proceedings and got an order plus costs, to fix the lot.

O Champ · Member

Hi Trew,
I have a 2016 Journey 17.55-9 16 JY (single beds model, not outback). I have had some problems. Firstly and fortunately in torrential rain there was a leek at the front right hand side - fixed under warranty. While in Bourke the front boot came off as I closed it. I fixed that temporarily with a few heavier screws I had with me. Fixed permanently when I arrived home with stainless steel bolts (cost a few dollars). The mixer taps in the kitchen and en-suite worked loose - fixed myself with a couple of spring washers. Fixed the same thing on a friends $70K van which also had a leak in the roof which he paid for himself as it was too difficult under warranty. Another fellow with an AOR rig I spoke with in Derby indicated he didnt have many problems then went on to list about 10 to 15 he did have. Another vaner we met at Music in The Mulga was having a new van (very expensive) built for him as the one he had (purchased new) was actually falling to pieces. I didnt know at the time that the suspension on our van only had a three month warranty. Murphys law-one of the tyres scrubbed on the outside. Alignment can not be done at a normal tyre shop. Had to take it to a place that does buses, trucks and semi trailers - cost $400 ouch. Chap who did it said that it soliloquy have come out of the factory like that. He said that if Jayco spent another 10 or 15 minutes on the alignment there wouldnt be the problem. I spoke to another Jayco owner who had the same problem on his single axle van. Another friends $60K van leaked - under warranty. While in Parkes at the Elvis Festival his fridge would not get under 18 degrees - no warranty- dealer put in fans $200. As you can see it doesnt matter what you pay there may be problems.
Despite the problems I am happy with my van. Wife loves the en-suite. Previous 2 vans, not Jaycos, didnt have internal shower and toilet. I have travelled a few hundred kilometers of dirt roads with corrugations and only a small amount of dust inside as I forgot to cover the vent above the stove.
Hope this helps. Whatever you do enjoy.
Kev.

The Bear · Veteran Member

I have had 3 Jaycos over 20 years I have had problems with each one but I have never had any problems getting them repaired by ringing Jayco in Melbourne, I have had trouble with the Dealer. The Floor in the shower on my current van began to crack 18 months out of warranty I rang Melbourne, The floor was completely replaced no problems. Great aftersales service.
BEAR

Pariss · Veteran Member

Were onto our third Jayco caravan. Our latest is a Starcraft Outback TL, 18.55.3 purchased new in 2017. We had a couple of teething problems that were corrected without fuss at the 1st FREE service. We live in Cairns, and have taken this van all over Queensland, including up the Peninsular Developement Road, most areas of Cape York and Gulf country. Adels Grove and Lawn Hill NP. More than happy with the build and finish quality. The Pedders independent off road suspension is just amazing on corrugated roads (tyre pressure down to 28psi) and travel at 70kph, just skims over the worst corrugations without any bother. Great van for the $$$. Even $150k caravans have problems. There's a reason why Jayco have 65% of the Australian Caravan market, their bloody good value 4 money, and you get many years of reliable use, + they hold their value well.

Onedodger · Guru

We have a Jayco Journey Outback 19.61 full van with ensuite.

We did have some minor teething problems fixed at first service and have now done in almost 28 thousand K's and are extremely pleased with it.

This is our second Jayco the last being a poptop with a combo Ensuite and we were happy with it exceeding 90 thousand K's.

As said previously some small repairs and maintenance is often required to keep them in good shape.

We have been around the block 3 times and I will tell people if you are going to do a big long trip in time and k's then you are in fairy land if you think nothing will go wrong with your tug or van.

-- Edited by Onedodger on Wednesday 19th of August 2020 01:25:22 PM

2trout · Senior Member

Like others- owned 2 Jayco's. A few minor problems, always readily fixed. I like 'em.

Greg 1 · Guru

Haven't owned a Jayco personally but a few friends have and they all seem to have had a pretty good run out of them. Sure you can get bigger better pricey vans but that's no guarantee either. I have seen some vans that claim all sorts of claims that they are the strongest and the best shed cupboard doors, break bits and pieces, leak like sieves and generally driven their owners mad. Considering the number of vans that Jayco produces, the number of complaints are pretty small percentage wise.

bfirth · Member

what is the difference with DX on a Jayco van

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

I have had two Jaycos.

One older one, second hand, and one new back in 2018.

Both vans have not had any major trouble.
Apart from service the old one was completely trouble free.

The new one had a couple of small problems, one I fixed myself and two other minor things that the dealer fixed during a service.

My only complaint was that I should have got a GVM or ATM upgrade from the factory.
I got one later which I had to pay an engineer for his services. This was still no biggie as it was a couple of hundred from memory.

I recon I would buy another one considering some major faults that are experienced with some other brands.
From my observations a Jayco is engineered to achieve weight distribution easily unless someone decides to add items for which it was not designed.

Saying this, anyone can do the wrong thing with weights so attention to detail is important.

Again from my observations some vans are shockers and should be avoided. Remember you cant polish a turd.

Ubique 68 · Veteran Member

We've had four Jaycos of different styles. Currently have a Journey DX outback 17.58 2019 build. Fully optioned with all the items that other Jayco models and makers charge extra. No issues as such with any of the four. Some minor adjustments under warranty. Replacement of a major items on Jayco's initiative as they were not happy with the manufacture's build standard: an awning replaced during a standard service. Their roadside assist is in my opinion is first class and free-lost keys and faulty door lock relaced while in Normanton. They have an extensive Australia wide network of dealers and agents- no return to factory for repairs. We have used the same dealership over the last 12 years and have had no issues. Summary: they build quality Commodores. If you want a BMW-go for it.

Onedodger · Guru

dogbox wrote:
most new vans will have issues , some companies have a better reputation when dealing with the issues, some think you will go away if they ignore you .

jayco have a reputation of rectifying their issues even if they are a bit slow , an a lot comes down to which dealer you use .

This is oh so true. More often than not it is the dealer that stops any real communication with the Manufacturer.

I have a Jayco Journey Outback and am pleased to say that this van has done well and has travelled over 50k in the 4 years we have had it with the only real trouble was getting the wheel alignment right which was done by the dealer at the normal servicing interval. The Jayco dealer here in Dubbo is a good one.

Brodie Allen · Guru

I have had 9 vans in my time - all cover huge mileages and are never under cover.

NONE have been any worse or better than any other and I must say that
Jayco covered warranty work without question and surprisingly all over
Australia at the multitude of dealers. Was quite heartening, I must say.
Items that were not Jayco manufacture on current van totally replaced
when mostly a small repair would have sufficed and no wingeing and promptly:
Water heater
Water pump
Window stay
Wheel bearing
Microwave

Given that my Jayco was close to $20,000 less than my next similar choice
the few wiring issues (was quite disgraceful at the batteries) and the
$400 to make that first class I find it hard to justify the extra.

Would almost certainly go the same way soon at trade-up time.