JB Touring 2024 Review

When JB Caravans acquired Gold Coast-based Paradise Motorhomes in early 2023, you didn’t need to be Einstein to anticipate the arrival of the first JB motorhome model. That category spearhead has now arrived, with the JB Touring first appearing at the 2023 Let’s Go Brisbane Caravan Show late last year.

However, don’t assume that just because this is JB’s first motorhome, that it’s going to be lacking in any way. Because on closer inspection, it’s clear that JB’s attention to detail and manufacturing nous, along with the hard-won expertise gleaned from its recent acquisition, have resulted in an RV any travelling couple would be proud to call their own.

The JB Touring Motorhome is made in JB's Melbourne production facility and it's priced from $216,000 plus on-road costs. However, for that price you get a long list of standard inclusions, including niceties such as a washing machine and an EcoFlow lithium battery set-up.

This initial model is currently only available in the one layout as tested, suitable for a single or couple. The forward door opens to a compact two-seater dinette which flows through to a mid-kitchen, east-west bed and then an ensuite.

However, JB says an additional layout, with a forward single bed and a couple of different lounge configurations, is expected later in the year.

“We’ve also looked at doing a smaller version of this, probably 450mm shorter, but it requires getting rid of cupboards or pull-out pantries and changing things around,” says Jacque Bolt, JB’s Victorian Sales Manager. “So, as a base, we already know this layout is the best at Paradise, so it’s just been about taking their things and making it our own.”

And in terms of customers making it their own, JB offers plenty of flexibility.

“Being a JB, it’s customisable, so you can move things around, there’s a choice of colours and so on,” says Bolt.

“You’re always going to have some motorhomes that are a little cheaper, but in anything that’s firstly built with the quality that JB expects, you don’t have lithium, you don’t have the big [storage] tubs on the outside, you don’t have the large shower, you don’t have anything like that. So at that $216,000 mark it’s actually very comparable to many other motorhomes out there; if anything it’s a little cheaper for what you’re actually getting."

The JB Touring sits on IVECO’s Daily 50 cab-chassis, and with a 4496kg GVM it can be driven on a standard car licence. IVECO specialises in commercial vehicles, everything from LCVs like the Daily up to prime movers, and while for much of its history the Daily has been purely utilitarian, in recent years it has become increasingly driver focused, with attractive cabs, a high level of comfort, and an increasing array of safety and driver convenience features.

To that add a motorhome body developed over many years by Paradise. With a smart full composite fibreglass construction, a strong one-piece floor, and a sleek design, it’s a very solid foundation to which JB has applied its own touch.

Starting up front, the driver and passenger seats swivel to face the two-seater dinette, which is sumptuously upholstered in genuine leather and has a table that can be adjusted in a multitude of directions and heights.

The kitchen has a sizeable sink, a two-element induction cooktop (gas option available) with a 25L microwave below, and a large 224L fridge/freezer opposite with a twin-deck pull-out pantry just aft.

The queen-size bed features an innerspring mattress with bolster. There’s a Dometic reverse-cycle air conditioner overhead, while either side of the bed are cubbies with power/USB points plus LED reading lights and pouches for reading material, as well as Sirocco fans.

That leaves the generous rear ensuite, with its massive 900mm wide by 750mm deep shower cubicle, Dometic cassette toilet, and nearside vanity, with storage within the vanity itself and below, alongside a 3.2kg top-loading NCE washing machine.

The JB Touring also comes with a Wi-Fi-equipped Fusion entertainment system, two 24in smart TVs (with three mounting points – two inside and one outside), full LED lighting inside and out, a hatch with rain sensor, an electric awning and step, a reversing camera, two 4kg gas bottles, and an EcoFlow lithium battery setup.

The tinted windows come with retractable insect screens and full blockout blinds.

As for options, a diesel heater, bicycle rack, and Redfoot auto levelling system are all available, among others.

While the JB Touring hasn’t been assessed under Australia’s ANCAP safety framework, the IVECO Daily 50 does come with an array of active and passive safety systems, along with a number of driver aids.

In addition to the four airbags, there’s autonomous emergency braking, traction control, antilock brakes, lane keep assist, an automatic hill holder, rollover mitigation and crosswind assist, among others. Adaptive cruise control is another welcome feature, as is the electronic park brake.

From a technological standpoint, this JB Touring’s EcoFlow power system is the star of the show.

“This motorhome uses a 48V system so it charges three times faster than a 12V system – there’s less heat produced, less power loss, so as an overall system it’s a lot more efficient,” says Bolt. “Having the same lithium setup with a 12V system wouldn’t last anywhere near as long.”

The standard EcoFlow setup in the JB Touring comprises two 2kW lithium batteries that deliver a combined capacity of 330Ah, but you can expand the system up to 15kW, if desired. The system is mated with a powerful 3600W inverter, there’s 600W of solar on the roof, and you get the neat EcoFlow touchscreen interface (and accompanying smartphone app).

JB says that for off-grid living, you’ll run out of water long before you run out of power (on that note, the JB Touring has a 200L freshwater tank, and a 75L greywater tank).

The EcoFlow touchscreen is located in an overhead locker above the entrance, alongside a digital tank level monitor, the switch for the Swift instant gas hot water, and the Fusion entertainment system.

Owners will love the convenience of the electric Carefree awning, as well as the electric entrance step, with the buttons for both just inside the door. I did however find the internal grab handle a little awkward to use (I’d prefer an external grab handle), and you have to watch your waist on the sharp corner on the edge of the kitchen sink/cooktop unit, as you head into the living space.

As for the IVECO Daily 50, the cab has an inductive smartphone charger, a 3.5in TFT multimedia unit, and it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone connectivity.

Under the bonnet lies a 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that IVECO says is good for a maximum output of 132kW (180hp) at 3500rpm and 430Nm at 1500rpm. It’s a Euro 6 unit with EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction), and so there’s a 20L AdBlue tank in addition to the 100L diesel tank.

The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. At 100km/h the rig is calmly ticking over at around 1750rpm.

As for fuel efficiency, we just spent a day in the JB Touring so you can take this figure with a grain of salt, but unloaded and over a mix of city and country driving we saw the trip computer deliver an average fuel economy of 14.5L/100km. That should drop further for highway cruising, but that figure delivers a range of over 650km.

The IVECO Daily 50 serves as a solid foundation, giving a surprisingly refined driving experience.

We love the steel chequerplate step on either side of the cab, which makes hopping and out that little bit easier. The fabric-upholstered seating is comfortable, supportive, and adjustable, although armrests would give a little added comfort on those longer days.

The cab has a flat floor and it's no bother to walk back into the body of the motorhome, minding the slight step up as you do so. The dash-mounted shifter for auto and the electric park brake keep this central part of the cab clear and uncluttered.

The truck-style twin-deck mirrors are large and we love the wide-angle view afforded by the spotter mirrors, although the arms could be just a little longer to give a better view past the motorhome’s body. Our demo unit featured an aftermarket reversing camera but subsequent models will have a fully integrated unit with internal wiring.

On the road the four-cylinder turbo-diesel is relaxed but grunty. We tackled a few appreciable grades on the day and it coped with the inclines well. The auto transmission is also a winner, shifting smoothly and cleanly, generally selecting gears appropriately and readily shifting down on descents.

The disc brakes offer good power and feel and the suspension delivers a comfortable enough ride over our typically average road surfaces. The cab is open to the motorhome body and there is a bit of road noise and some engine noise, but it’s far from excessive. In a similar vein, there are some minor squeaks and rattles when underway but it’s all regular fare for a motorhome, and testament I think to JB’s high build quality.

Add in all the safety systems, the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and adaptive cruise control, and the IVECO does a great job of hauling around this home on wheels.

As a home away from home, the JB Touring ticks all the boxes. Let’s begin with one aspect often lacking in a vehicle like this: storage.

The JB Touring packs in a heap of storage options both inside and out. Externally, the JB Touring adopts the Paradise cue by having several external lockers located down each side of the vehicle, down low behind the model’s protective black skirts. On the nearside, the forward locker houses the motorhome’s two 4kg gas bottles, while the largest one at the rear is a particularly roomy locker ideal for camping chairs, tables and more.

The lockers on the offside offer more space, along with homes for the two 2kW EcoFlow lithium batteries and the inverter, as well as external access to the massive storage area under the bed. All these lockers have sturdy and lockable twist-type closure mechanisms with hydraulic struts to hold them open.

Inside, the cabinetry is of a high standard and we love the positive action of the pushbutton closures on the overhead lockers and various drawers. There’s just a lot more storage space than I was expecting, so you’ll be able to make good use of the vehicle’s generous 735kg payload.

And travelling comfort is a highlight. From the expansive bed with bolster, to the particularly roomy ensuite, the JB Touring feels cosy and inviting but it’s anything but cramped. The large windows let the light flood in – we particularly like the view through the large window opposite the bed – and the LED lighting adds a wonderful ambience throughout.

The overhead LED units offer multiple brightness settings or a blue ambient setting, and there’s recessed LED strip lighting around the perimeter of the ceiling for an added touch of class.

Yes, the kitchen is quite compact and so is the two-seater dinette, but for a motorhome sans slideouts, this JB Touring is an opulent and luxurious base for your travels.

In a word, yes – you should! When you take all the expertise and strength of JB Caravans and add in a quality design and extensive knowledge from Paradise Motorhomes, the end result is a superb product right from the off. Yes, it may be JB’s first motorhome model but this JB Touring still benefits from decades of experience, and the end result is an enviable luxe lifestyle on wheels. It's a spacious two-berth on-road motorhome you can drive on a standard car licence too.

Given the quality craftsmanship, the functional layout, and the long list of standard inclusions, we think this JB Touring motorhome is priced right and will impress anyone who walks through the door.

Price: From $216,000 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Base vehicle: Iveco Daily 50 cab-chassis
Dimensions: 7.9m long, 2.4m wide, 3.2m high
Weight: 4495kg GVM (optional 5200kg). 8700kg GCM. Payload 735kg approx.
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 132kW/430Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 14.5L/100km (as tested)
Safety rating: Not tested