Jayco Starcraft

 WE LIKED:
>> Overall package and price
>> Relatively light weight
>> Clever interior layout

NOT SO MUCH:
>> No front boot
>> Tight toilet/laundry area
>> Block-out sliding blinds on all windows would be nice

There’s no question that Jayco is a dominant player in the Australian RV market. The revered manufacturer offers a vast range of product, from bare-bones camper trailers to luxury caravans and motorhomes.

Jayco’s success is based on a simple idea: uncomplicated, keenly-priced products suited to their operating environment, produced in large volume to deliver value for money.

With a finger in all popular segments of the market, the Melbourne company also has the ability to react to trends. So when the high-end of the sub-$100,000 caravan market struggled as super funds shrunk after the GFC, it had just the product: the Starcraft, which comes in five versatile caravan designs, while the pop-top model has two alternative floorplans.

Jayco’s brochure describes the Starcraft as “the ideal RV for the budget-conscious”, but after spending time with a 6m (20ft) Starcraft van and talking to some happy owners, I think Jayco undersells its entry-level pop-top and caravan models.

The Starcraft seems to me a sensible RV in good times, as well.

BANG FOR BUCKS

With prices starting at $43,000 (plus dealer delivery and registration), the 19.61-2 Outback model reviewed is a lot of caravan for your money.

It features most of the bells and whistles found in RVs worth double the price, and more than you will find in many second-hand upmarket vans at similar money.

Plus, it’s a Jayco. What that means for the free-roaming traveller is a network of service centres around Australia, an excellent reputation when it comes to warranty support, and an enviable retained value.

So where’s the cost-cutting catch? Certainly not in the Starcraft’s galvanised chassis, which in Outback spec includes sturdy 150 x 150mm (6in x 6in) RHS main chassis members, plus a 125 x 50mm (5in x 2in) RHS A-frame, ALKO outback rocker leaf-spring suspension, shielded telescopic shockers, ALKO drop jacks, 15in alloy wheels with 4WD-spec tyres, and lower-body checkerplate cladding.

This setup is exactly what you’ll find on the more expensive 2012 Sterling vans, with the exception that big brother boasts 16in wheels.

The Starcraft also shares a similar welded aluminium frame, but instead of the smooth-sided and bonded fibreglass sandwich walls now used in the majority of Jayco’s RV products, the Starcraft uses traditional ribbed aluminium outer cladding.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. While Jayco’s fibreglass walls on the Sterling are 150 per cent thicker than the Starcraft’s aluminium, making them more dent-resistant and better thermally, they also are heavier.

As a result, the 6m Starcraft weighs in at around 150kg lighter than a similar-sized Sterling, making it easier and more economical to tow.

Besides, many people still prefer the character of ribbed aluminium cladding, to the more clinical look of smooth fibreglass.

The sparkling white aluminium also makes a statement about the Starcraft. This is a practical family caravan, designed to appeal to the head, rather than the heart...

TRIED AND TRUE

Unlike the Sterling, the 6m Starcraft’s twin 9kg gas bottles sit on the A-frame, not inside the van’s front boot. They’re hidden from view and protected from stone peppering by a near fibreglass cover cleverly held in place by two fixed tabs and a simple over-centre catch.

And rather than being cradled under the frame, the spare wheel bolts old-style on the back of the van, where it can be easily reached.

An optional slide-out barbecue and a drop-down picnic table completed our test van’s exterior picture.

The van’s simplicity extends inside, where its logical layout will win many friends.

On the tandem-axle 6m model, entry is via a rear side door with combined toilet/laundry and separate fibreglass shower cubicle at the rear, to your right; kitchen and dinette to your left; and double bedroom with twin wardrobes beyond, at the front of the van.

Alternatively, customers can specify twin single beds, in which case a larger single wardrobe separates them.

Once inside, the first impression is of space and light, as the blond wood cupboard finishes, beige-coloured furnishings and light bamboo-look flow reflect the natural light that floods in via five large side and front windows and two roof hatches.

This combination of clever layout and decor makes the 6m Starcraft feel larger than it is. If you want to take further advantage of this, you can specify an optional L-shaped dinette, instead of the twin seats and central table for entertaining.

FEATURES APLENTY

Despite its modest price, the Starcraft comes packed with features. These include an innerspring mattress, a generous 150 litre Dometic three-way fridge, Smev four-burner gas oven and grill, microwave, and dual 82 litre water tanks.

Options that many will specify to top off the luxury level include a rooftop reverse-cycle air-conditioner, TV with wind-up antenna, music system with speakers, and a Carefree roll-out awning.

Including dealer and delivery charges, expect most 6m Starcraft models to leave the yard at closer to $50,000, which is still substantially less than a similarly-equipped Sterling.

One feature that all owners will appreciate is the Starcraft’s generous interior storage, ranging from its profusion of upper and lower cupboards to the large space under the lift-up double bed – importantly at the ball-end of the van.

This is just as well, as there’s no external boot, and hatch space is limited if you specify the optional barbecue for the nearside bin.

The other feature that will endear the Starcraft to many travellers is its relatively light weight. In basic form, it has a Tare weight of just 1860kg, which combined with a ball weight of 130kg means it can be towed behind most family-size 2WD sedans or station wagons.

With the Outback option specified the Tare is around two tonne, making it easy work for most medium-sized 4WDs like the Prado or Pajero.

VERDICT

This is a good, honest, feature-filled caravan, available at a price that makes ‘new’ affordable.

JAYCO STARCRAFT 19.61-2 OUTBACK

Overall length: 7.55m (24ft 9in)
External length: 6m (19ft 11in)
External width: 2.47m (8ft 1in)
Travel height: 2.85m (9ft 4in)
Interior height: 1.98m (6ft 5in)
Tare: 1860kg (add approx 150kg for Outback spec)
ATM: 2635kg
Ball weight (advised):130kg
Frame/body: Aluminium
Chassis: galvanised steel
Suspension: ALKO outback leaf-springs, shocks
Cooktop: Smev four-burner
Fridge: Dometic 150 litre three-way
Microwave: Yest
Shower: Separate cubicle
Toilet: Dometic chemical
Lighting: 12V LED
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Fresh water: 2 x 82 litre
Price as shown: $43,000 (towaway, Vic)
Supplied by: Jayco Australia,  Dandenong South, Vic

WE BOUGHT ONE!

Hobart-based Derek and Edith Oseman owned two Jaycos before they purchased their 6m Starcraft in April last year.

“We had good experiences with our previous Jaycos, and virtually got our money back on both of them, but we wanted something a little larger in a full caravan,” explained Derek.

They also wanted a new van. “We like to have our own things, not someone else’s,” said Edith. “New is nicer!”
Equipped with optional awning, TV, antenna and a top-loading washing machine, they paid around $47,000 on the road for their Starcraft.

Following a one-month shakedown from Melbourne to Perth, they were delighted with their purchase when we caught up with them in Margaret River.

“Despite its size it’s relatively light, so it’s ideal for long-distance touring,” said Derek. 

However, he pointed to a few stone dents in the aluminium cladding on the front of the van.

“They came from an oncoming truck on the Nullarbor. Jayco should extend the padding on the boot further up the van. I think I’ll have it done at a dealer.”

He also pointed to some bubbles and mismatching in the decals on the side of the van. “They are being fixed under warranty,” he said.

He and Edith really like the Starcraft’s interior layout, and its rear ensuite was a major attraction.

“There’s so much natural light and so many power plugs,” said Edith, who also particularly appreciates the large plastic splashback around the kitchen sink and bench area.

“It’s a very good value-for-money package,” said Derek in summary. “It’s the Ford or Holden of caravans, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”

NEW OR USED?

It’s a dilemma many RV purchasers on a budget face: a new van, or a used van, perhaps of higher quality, that originally cost more?

The ripple effect of the GFC and the subsequent growth of the $40,000-$60,000 RV market has made new fully-equipped rigs like Jayco’s Starcraft range more affordable, and most come with equipment that was an extra-cost option on older vans.

Balanced against this is quality. To a large extent, you still get what you pay for. A second-hand caravan that originally retailed for $75,000 is likely to be better screwed together than one that sells for $30,000 less.

So, if a fully-optioned 6m Starcraft caravan costs close to $50,000, what could similar money buy you in a late-model used van?

Looking on this website at similarly-sized vans on offer suggests that the same money would buy you a well-optioned 2010 or even 2011 Jayco Sterling.
Looking at other quality caravans, the same money could buy a 2008 Roma Elegance, 2011 LaVista Seville, 6m (20ft) Coromal 635, 2011 Windsor Genesis or Rapid, 2009 Millard Sunseeker, 2010 Franklin Belair with full annexe, 2010 New Age Big Red Series 19 that has travelled just 10,000km, or a 2009 European Geist 630 XClusive.

It will only take you five minutes to be convinced that there are many similarly-priced used alternatives to a new Starcraft, most with similar features and many with more.

But, like buying a new car when your head says you should be shopping ‘used’, you have to factor in the value of getting exactly the van you want, and the virgin pleasure of being the first to sleep in its beds, use its ensuite and take pride in its sparkling newness on site.