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NEWS
Jayco undercuts motorhome rivals
New entry-level Freedom motorhome cracks $100K barrierJayco is claiming the cheapest, cab-chassis based motorhome on the market with the introduction of a new 6.34m long, Renault Master-based motorhome priced from $99,990 drive-away.
With its Luton-style, separate motorhome body hosting a drop-down electric queen bed over a café dinette at the front, well-equipped kitchen in the middle section and a full width ensuite with separate shower and toilet at the rear, the entry-level Freedom RM.20 model undercuts similar sized motorhomes from Avida, Winnebago, Avan and Sunliner by up to $20,000.
Speaking at the Victorian Caravan Supershow, Jayco’s Motorhome Manager Bruce Astbury said the “competitively priced” front-wheel drive Renault Master cab chassis base vehicle, along with a more basic, rental-style layout and equipment list, allowed Jayco to crack the $100K barrier for a new motorhome for the first time in years.
“We used to have (the Fiat Ducato-based Jayco Conquest) under $100grand around three or four years ago, but it’s not until now with the front-drive Renault that we’ve been able to get it back down to that price-point,” Astbury said.
The new, fibreglass bodied Freedom motorhome is similar to the rental models built for Jayco chairman Gerry Ryan’s new business Let's Go Motorhomes, albeit with a more convenient drop-down electric bed instead of a rear lounge that has to be converted to a bed at night.
“We build these for the rental company but while they’re similar we build different layouts for the rental fleet,” he explained. “(The electric bed is) not suitable as a rental product because it does bring an element of wear and tear and obviously they have to make it as stupid proof as they can for rentals."
Astbury said the entry-level Freedom has also been “down specced a little bit” from Jayco’s Fiat Ducato-based Jayco Conquest range, which kicks off around $110-120,000, depending on base vehicle.
However, the standard equipment list is still decent and includes a 100Ah battery system with 120W solar panels, roof hatch, roll-out awning, 4kg gas bottle, 185 litre fridge, two-burner cooktop, microwave, roof-mounted air conditioning, gas/240V hot water service, premium stereo, 18.5in TV DVD and aerial, 65 litre fresh water and 45 litre grey water tanks, and a reversing camera.
There’s also a larger, 7.26m long Freedom model, based on the rear-drive Renault Master, also keenly priced at $124,950 but with a four-berth layout that includes a front shower/toilet and rear lounge/dinette that converts to a queen bed.
As well as having a rear-wheel drive platform including tandem rear axles, the bigger Freedom is better equipped with more water capacity and gas storage, electric instead of manual entry steps, a generator slide-out and four-burner cooktop.
Jayco also displayed two examples of its new Toyota
HiAce-based Freedom campervan at the Melbourne Supershow: one with the 118kW/243Nm four-cylinder petrol engine and five-speed manual transmission for $59,990 driveaway, and another with the 100kW/300Nm, 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and four-speed auto, plus additional internal cabinetry, for $64,890 driveaway.
When asked whether Jayco would be adding a 4WD motorhome or extra-long wheelbase campervan models to the line-up, Astbury replied: “At some stage… it’s something that we’re looking at, but probably not this year.”
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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