New Jayco Adventurer cracks $40,000

Just over two years after it was introduced at the 2016 Melbourne Leisurefest, Jayco has completed its dedicated off-road Adventurer range with a new tough-looking camper trailer.

Initially offered only with the Penguin internal fixed queen bed layout, the Adventurer camper trailer joins the single axle pop-top and tandem axle full height Adventurer caravan models that have been added progressively to the range since full production of the models commenced nearly 12 months ago.

Designed to sit on top of existing Jayco camper trailer models – even those fitted with the Outback option – the Penguin Adventurer camper at $39,990 costs around $10,000 more than a Penguin Outback Camper, but comes standard with additional checker-plate body protection, J-Tech independent suspension with dual shock absorbers, a DO-35 off-road hitch, dual 82 litre water tanks, a hot water service with external shower, a Waeco 108 litre compressor fridge, a stainless steel outdoor kitchen with 2-burner cooktop and plumbed sink, a premium sound system and Jayco’s J-Hub control system, with dual batteries and twin 120W roof-mounted solar panels.

Weighing 1228kg empty and with a ball weight of 176kg, the Adventurer camper trailer is light enough to be towed behind small to medium-sized SUVs, but is more specifically designed to tap into the demand for rugged hard-floor off-road campers that currently sell in the $40-$50,000 range, hoping to win buyers with its rapid set-up and the service and resale benefits of the Jayco nameplate.

The first Adventurer camper trailer was rushed to the show and production versions are likely to feature the distinctive red steel bush bars fitted to other Adventurer models.

Meanwhile, the even tougher Jayco XPLO shown in prototype form at last year’s Melbourne Leisurefest, remains on the backburner, with no decision yet made on production of the extreme off-road model, which was displayed with distinctive external bush bars, lashings of checker-plate, an industrial-style powder-coated meal interior and a suggested retail price of $77,790.

Jayco’s National Sales Manager Shane Holloway said that Jayco had received a lot of feedback from visitors to the show and had already identified areas for improvement.

“No final; decision has been made,” he said at this year’s Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow.

"At Jayco we are looking at every market segment and every area of new technology. Some things, like the Adventurer, make their way into production while others take longer and are shaped by the market and public demand.”