Jayco plugs off-road caravan gap

Just when you thought Jayco had plugged all gaps in the RV market with its ever-expanding line-up of campers, pop-tops, caravans, toy haulers, expandas, hybrids and motorhomes, along comes a new dirt-ready 19ft fibreglass caravan pitched at couples and families who want to head a little bit further off the beaten track, but without breaking the bank.

Adding to Jayco’s popular mid-spec, Journey full height caravan range, the new Journey All-Terrain sits above the Journey Outback rough-road model but below Jayco’s full off-road Adventurer caravan.

Classified as a semi off-road caravan, the new Journey All-Terrain gets the same Endurance 2.0 chassis and JTech 2.0 independent coil spring suspension as the Outback versions, but adds a few extra ‘rugged’ features to make it more appealing to off-road adventurers.

These include a thicker section A-frame, Cruisemaster D0-35 coupling front checkerplate and rear taillight boxes from the Adventurer, along with higher (570mm) checker plate protection along the sides and back, a front stone deflector and under-body rubber protector.

There's also an Adventurer-style front toolbox with generator provision, two 9kg gas bottles, two jerry can holders and 16in black alloys with all-terrain tyres.

Like the Adventurer, the Journey All-Terrain gets more sturdily built interior furniture, including the use of stronger fixing brackets made from aluminium instead of plastic used in other Journey models.

Externally, the All-Terrain Journey also comes standard with a picnic table, entertainment locker and external shower, while inside it benefits from leatherette upholstery, two Sirocco fans, and an upgraded power system including two 100Ah batteries and two 160W roof-mounted solar panels.

Other standard features on the All-Terrain are the same as the Outback, including a large three-way fridge, Wi-fi unit, rooftop air conditioner, four-burner cooktop and oven, gas hot water, microwave and powered awning.

Distinguished by new All-Terrain decals on its light grey fibreglass body panels, the Journey All-Terrain is currently only available in two 19ft (body length) layouts: a couple’s version with north-south queen bed, central kitchen, four-person café dinette and full width rear ensuite, and a family layout including east-west double bed, central kitchen, two-person café dinette, and bunks and separate shower and toilet at the back.

Jayco says the Tare weight of the Journey All-Terrain will be around 300kg less than a 19ft Adventurer, at 2500kg, with a tow ball mass at Tare of 259kg.

Both All-Terrain variants are priced from $69,990 – around $13,000 more than the 19ft Journey Outback but around $20,000 cheaper than a similar-sized Jayco Adventurer.

Options available include a grey water tank, gas space heater and top-load washing machine, and Jayco will consider introducing other All-Terrain variants if there’s sufficient demand.