Jayco campervan

By Malcolm Street

Jayco lays claim to being Australia’s largest caravan manufacturer. So it was big news when the company announced it had moved into the campervan/motorhome market.

Jayco opted to use the Fiat Ducato van as its base vehicle, as it is large enough to offer several design variations, but is still a very easily handled motorhome.

Not all Jayco dealers stock the new campervan, and our test unit came from Watson’s Caravans at Coffs Harbour, NSW.

There are three designs: a new single bed model, one with a permanently set up rear double bed, and the third with a bed made up from the dinette. We had the latter which offered us slightly more living space.

Definitions in this market are tricky. Smaller vans are undoubtedly campervans, larger coachbuilt units are motorhomes but what are Fiat Ducato vans? Jayco says its new model is a campervan, although some think that the toilet/shower cubicle redefines them as motorhomes… then again, others have started to use the word motorcamper. I have to say the latter term has some appeal for me.

Outside

External modifications are few, apart from fridge vents, external light, Fiamma F45 awning and a compartment for the 4kg gas cylinder. The Thetford toilet cassette door is fitted inside the rear doors and an electric step pops out from under the sliding door.

The paintwork is the original Fiat Carioca Yellow – definitely a standout. Other options include white, metallic blue or metallic silver.

Inside

Large rear windows lend a spacious feel, even though it’s very compact inside. A front marine-style roof hatch provides natural light.

The layout design can effectively be divided into four quarters: kitchen in the offside rear, bathroom in the nearside rear, and the front two quarters hosting the dinette/bed, fridge and entry area. Access to and from the driver’s cab is quite easy.

Only one person will fit into the kitchen but it does have a decent sized stainless steel sink, a two-burner hob (no grill) and some benchtop space.

The microwave is in the overhead locker above the dinette, which I thought was slightly awkward. The fridge is not really in the kitchen at all but behind the passenger seat. It faces into the van and is a little out of the way, but may face rearward in later models. Back in the kitchen proper, there is a reasonable amount of storage.

Flat foam cushions in an L-shape form the dinette with space enough for two. The table sits on a single removable leg but is a little on the low side.

Above the dinette are two overhead lockers, and there’s the usual storage underneath the dinette seats. The house battery, charger and Truma hot water heater are hidden under the wall seat.

Making the bed is simple – the table is lifted with the base drawn out. The back cushions are then used to make up the mattress: 6ft 2in (1.87m) in length with a width of mostly 3ft 9in (1.1m) that slides down to 3ft 4in (1m) at the base.

Manchester and other gear can be housed in a storage shelf above the driver’s cab.

The bathroom is, not surprisingly, squeezy for a motorhome of this size. It has a Thetford cassette swivelling toilet, flexible hose shower, shower curtain, a vanity sink, fan hatch and an incandescent light.

Lighting is 12V with a mostly halogen downlights underneath the overhead lockers. Overhead lighting comes from two halogen lights on a track – which tall people should be wary of.

Water tank levels are easily monitored by two gauges fitted next to the microwave and hot water is supplied by a 14 litre Truma gas/240V unit.

Between the shower cubicle and the rear of the sliding door is a small cabinet, the best place for a small TV.

On the road

The Ducato is almost the ‘runabout’ of the motorhome world. Its potent 2.8 litre turbodiesel, coupled with the five-speed gearbox, moves the van along at a sprightly pace.

Front wheel drive and rack and pinion steering make the Ducato quite nimble; all-round disc brakes work well and external mirrors give good rear vision.

Highway driving is a comfortable cruise. Creature comfort items are the power windows and keyless central locking.

Summing up

Jayco’s campervan is undoubtedly going to be of interest to people who like travelling, and want something bigger than the traditional campervan but not a coachbuilt motorhome. The Ducato-based van is certainly comfortable enough for two people and makes for very easy driving.

For more information and your nearest Jayco campervan dealer call (03) 9791 6599 or visit <a href="http://www.jayco.com.au/"><span><u><font color="#800080">www.jayco.com.au.</font></u></span></a>

We liked

Quick to make bed

Good storage for this size van

Easy driving

We would have liked

Different position for microwave oven

Somewhere to store table

Opening windows

Easier way of accessing under-seat storage