More cut-price Freedom fighters

Jayco targets new-used gap with no-frills Freedom Expanda and camper trailers

If there’s one thing that market leader Jayco can’t be accused of, it’s sitting on its laurels.

That’s why the release of three new ‘no frills’ Freedom models at this year’s Melbourne Leisurefest caught some other manufacturers by surprise.

While they were eying rivals’ products to set their range, Jayco has plugged the relatively narrow gap between its new and used prices with the new Freedom models, while arresting the inroads being made by imported (mainly Chinese) products at the same time.

Based on existing Jayco Camper Trailer and Expanda architecture, all three new Freedom models have been specced on the premise that they will be the next step by many couples or families transitioning from tents to above-ground RVs,

Priced identically at $14,490 – less than Jayco’s current entry-level Swift on-roader – the new Freedom 11.1 (Family) and 13.1 (Couples) camper trailers are based on Jayco’s existing Dove and Penguin models, yet are stripped of standard comfort items such as their hot water services, kitchen and fridge to get the price down.

This is based on Jayco’s expectation that those who have tent camped will already have a top-loader fridge, a portable cooker and perhaps an immersion hot water service that can simply migrate to the new camper, while allowing them to sleep easier and set up faster, off the ground.

Being a regular Jayco Camper Trailer, the Freedom 11/1 has a wind-up roof with slide-out double innerspring-mattress beds at each end. A 4-5 seater-lounge, with a dining table than can be lowered to form an additional single bed, plus two other interior storage areas provide family occupants plenty of options, while one hinged-top section of the benchtop has space beneath to house a top-loader 45-litre fridge/freezer.

The other Freedom Camper Trailer – the 13.1 – is based on Jayco’s popular Penguin ‘couples’ camper and hence has a fixed transverse double bed within and no slide-out ends. Like its sister Freedom, it houses a table and two-seater lounge that can be converted to a single bed, plus portable fridge provision.

SIGNIFICANTLY LIGHTER

In all other respects including their aluminium body frames, fibreglass cladding and simple leaf-spring beam axle suspension and brakes, the new Freedom models are principally the same as all other on-road Jayco Camper Trailers, but with one significant difference: they’re significantly lighter.

Weighing in at 862kg and 794kg respectively, both models can easily be towed by mid-range SUVs, making the transition from tent to trailer even easier for many buyers.

If a buyer would like a little more ‘meat’ on the bones, Jayco have three option packs for each model.

The ‘Comfort Pack’ on the 11.1 adds a bag awning, walls and bed flys for $2290, while without the bed-end flys this reduces to $1925 on the 13.1 model.

The ‘Bush Pack’ for either model, which makes them suitable for free-camping, adds a 100AH battery, a 120W solar panel, an underslung axle and a gas bottle and cooking ring for $1490.

However, there’s no water tank option with either Camper Trailer model.

SUB-$30K EXPANDA

Working on a similar philosophy, the new $29,750 Expanda Freedom with its single, rear queen bed, differs from its camper trailer stablemates by being clad in ribbed aluminium instead of fibreglass.

However, working on the basis that some buyers will be upgrading from a camper trailer, it gets more gear as standard, including a 90-itre, 3-way fridge and a two-burner cooktop.

Ordering the $4490 ‘Comfort Pack’ will get you air conditioning, an awning, an internal/external TV point and a picnic table. The Expanda’s ‘Bush Pack’ adds 120W of solar, a bumper bar, gas bayonet, single Jerry can holder, mud flaps, an underslung axle and a water filter for a further $2100.

This tiered pricing is designed to make the new Freedom Camper Trailer and Expanda models a more attractive option to many buyers than a used, premium-model Jayco camper, whether sold through a Jayco dealer or privately.

But at the same time, with an unrivalled service network throughout Australia and a Gold Standard re-sale reputation, what the new models are also doing is giving potential buyers a plausible reason to buy local, instead of Chinese. . .

More cut-price Freedom fighters

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