Jayco fifth wheelers hit the market

Jayco has released further details of its new range of fifth-wheeler caravans, which will start arriving at Jayco dealerships next month.

First revealed in February, the spacious, fibreglass-clad fifth wheelers are available in 24ft 8in and 28ft 8in body sizes, featuring electric slide-outs and a choice of layouts.

Sporting a similar interior style to Jayco’s range-topping Sterling caravans, the new fifth wheelers come standard with a host of luxury items including leather upholstery, reverse-cycle air-conditioning, wireless LED lighting, electric wine cooler, 2.5kg washing machine, pillow top mattress, and electric awning and step.

Other standard features across the range include 22 litre 240V/gas hot water heater, 240V/12V transformer, battery and water tank gauge, 90w solar pack, 163 litre water storage, and external picnic table.

Kitchen equipment extends to four-burner cooktop and oven, rangehood, microwave, electric wine cooler, and Dometic fridge/freezer (184 litre in 28ft model). A decent entertainment package includes CD stereo, 32in LED TV and DVD players, with internal and external speakers.

The only options available are a satellite dish, solar upgrades and bigger capacity fridges.

Boosting Jayco’s product range to eight variants, the Australia-built fifth wheelers are priced competitively at around $85,000 depending on specification.

The 24ft model has a Tare weight of 2711kg, ATM of 3186kg and (maximum) king pin weight of 607kg, whereas the roomier 28 footer has a 3386kg Tare, 3886kg ATM and 930kg maximum king pin weight.

The 28ft model boasts a larger ensuite separating the elevated front bedroom from the rear living/kitchen area. It also has three seating areas; a dinette, separate lounge and two recliners at the rear, as opposed to the 24ft footer’s solitary lounge/dinette combo.

Apart from at shows, the fifth wheelers will only be available at “selected” Jayco dealerships in each state, which doesn’t currently include Page Bros RV in Melbourne, one of Australia’s oldest and most successful Jayco dealers.

Although fifth wheelers only accounted for around 30 of the 20,000-plus RVs built in Australia in 2012 Jayco, which produces around 9000 RVs a year, is optimistic about the sales potential of the big, ute-towable models.

“We see a significant market for the fifth wheeler, particularly among those who are more or less full-time caravanners,” Jayco national sales manager Shane Holloway said. “We expect to produce about 250 annually.”