Jayco joins 'precious metal' caravan club

Jayco founder Gerry Ryan's investment in a local metalwork business is starting to bear fruit, with at least two off-road models on the Jayco stand at this year's Victorian Caravan Supershow standing out with their trendy, custom laser-cut exterior bolt-ons.

Most prominent is a new, bare-boned toy hauler trailer called the CrossTrail, which features countless metal fabricated 'eye-candy', finished in either black or olive green.

The open rear deck is finished with aluminium tread plate, and tie-down points for securing two dirt bikes, with custom fold-up ramps stored at the front of the trailer.

The top structure supporting the rooftop tent also lifts up on struts to provide enough headroom when wheeling the bikes off and on.

Other features include twin jerries, a front toolbox with a slide-out for a portable fridge, and a slide-out kitchen with a twin gas cooker, sink with tap and a storage drawer.

Another external locker houses a Projecta battery charger, touchscreen and various electrical sockets.

The Jayco CrossTrail OB toy hauler has a starting price of $21,990, with the optioned-up show trailer complete with front toolbox, 180 degree awning, roof tent, lithium power system, solar panel, front light, plumbing system, storage and fridge trays and a slide-out kitchen, priced at $33,605 drive-away.

It had a plated Tare weight of 1177kg, 177kg ball weight, and an ATM of 1843kg, to deliver a decent payload of 666kg.

Close by, a number of Olive Green MY25 Jayco All Terrain caravans came fitted with a new premium rear platform bar, similar to the type popularized by industry trend-setters Lotus and Titanium Caravans.

The black powdercoated platform bar includes two wood boxes, two jerry holders, a spare wheel cradle, and a slide-out storage drawer. Other highlights included smoky tail-light strips and stylish hexagon cut-outs.

Also targeted at the off-road market, Jayco displayed a rolling chassis fitted with a new airbag version of its JTECH 2.0 independent trailing arm coil suspension.

Featuring self-levelling as well as manual height adjustment features, the new JTECH 2.0 airbag suspension was developed in conjunction with Cruisemaster and Pedders and will be available as an option on new Jayco MY25 off-road models.

Pricing for the airbag upgrade will be around $3500 (single axle) and $5800 (tandem axle), with retro-fit options also available.

Addressing cost-of-living pressures, Jayco also released another cut-price 'Lite' model at the show, based on its entry-level 19ft JRV campervan.

Priced at $88,207 driveaway, or around $17,000 less than a regular Renault Master-based JRV campervan, the new JRV Lite camper gets a kitchenette with fridge, sink and cooker, two-person dinette and a fixed rear double bed, plus a rooftop air conditioner, but misses out on an internal ensuite and microwave.