Jayco celebrates 45th anniversary
Tens of thousands of Jayco camper trailers have been holidayed in since 1975Australia's biggest RV manufacturer Jayco is celebrating 45 years since founder Gerry Ryan built his first wind-up camper trailer in a ‘cow shed’ on the outskirts of Melbourne.
A testament to the original hand-built quality of the first Jayco campers with quite a few surviving the ‘test of time’ - including some with original canvas intact -- the humble Jayco camper has seen numerous updates over the years, but remains a firm favourite with young families and budget buyers.
The Dandenong, Victoria manufacturer recently marked the significant milestone by releasing a short 'flashback' video on social media, and asking for readers to send in a photo of their old Jayco camper.
Of course, Jayco's camper trailer range has expanded over the years from the original wind-up campers to the latest forward-fold, teardrop and hard-wall hybrid models.
Some have been more successful than others, but here's a quick rundown of 45 years of Jayco camper trailers...
• Australia’s first camper trailer built in 1975 in a Melbourne backyard by Gerry Ryan and his team of eight. Flatteringly copied by Goldstream and Coromal (and others including New Age), the range remains the backbone of Jayco sales today, although demand is seasonal.
• Australia’s first ‘Outback’ camper trailer, introduced with a stronger chassis arrives in 1988.
• Jayco introduces the Expanda, an innovative composite-walled hybrid marrying the best design elements of the camper trailer and pop-top, in 2002. It was quickly copied by numerous rivals.
• Britz bolsters rental line-up with Jayco campers in 2010 (best option these days to 'try before you buy' a Jayco camper is through a peer-to-peer platform like Camplify).
• Jayco's wind-up campers benefit from a new, more robust interlocking roof with ABS corner moulds and one piece fibreglass roof sheet in 2011. "The old style roof has been relatively unchanged for 35 years, so this innovation is a huge advancement," then Jayco marketing director Andrew Ryan said at the time.
• In-house designed J-Tech independent coil spring suspension released in 2014, allowing Jayco camper buyers to venture further into the bush than before.
• Short-lived US-built and imported J8 camper trailer, badged ‘Starcraft Sport’ launched at 2015 Melbourne Leisurefest. Priced at just $10,990, it found few buyers down under.
• Even cheaper $9900 J-Pod teardrop camper released at 2015 Victorian Supershow. Later replaced by bigger, more practical and expensive version including range-topping JPod Outback off-roader.
• New cut-price Freedom wind-up camper released in 2017, priced from $14,490. More sub-$20,000 offerings followed, including latest six-berth Lark.
• Tough Penguin Adventurer wind-up camper released in 2018, priced at $39,990 -- setting new price record for a wind-up Jayco camper.
• Jayco's answer to the flood of cheap Chinese campers arrives in 2018 in the form of the JTRAK tent trailer. Some concern among patriotic buyers due to some major components of the new forward-fold camper imported from China.
• Jayco launches first hybrid (part caravan/part camper trailer) model in the form of the CrossTrak. Strong early interest from buyers suggests another sales winner for Jayco.
• 2020-model wind-up camper range gets latest grey look, along with redesigned boot, commercial-grade fittings and minor price rises.
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