jayco journey set up

• Advertise |
• eMagazine Subscription
• Printed Subscription
• Caravan Reviews
• Camper Trailer Reviews
• Motorhome Reviews
• Classic and Vintage Caravans
• Classic Collectors
• Celebrity Campers
• Environment Heroes
• People & History

Review: Jayco Journey Outback

In 2014 Jayco combined the best of two models, the Destiny and the Sterling, into a new caravan, the Journey. It’s grown to become the most popular in the range of Jayco’s pop-tops, and continues to find new fans thanks to a line-up of sought-after features.

The Journey range is divided into two basic groups, those designed more for highway touring and those equipped for tougher operations on less accommodating tracks. Designated as the 17.55-8 and -9 or Outback models, these are the biggest sellers in the Journey range.

Jayco’s pop-top vans have always been popular with those looking for a lower roof line for enhanced aerodynamics, fuel consumption or storage reasons. They are also sought after by buyers who don’t want to fork out for a larger tow vehicle.

Today they’re increasingly an option for couples moving up from something like a camper trailer, or those moving up from tent camping and looking for more creature comforts. With good ground clearance in the Outback models, tougher set-up and a smaller travelling profile than most caravans, they can still be taken to many of the places you once sought with your camper trailer or tent.

The Outback kit including Jayco’s popular JTECH independent trailing arm suspension package with heavy duty drawbar (120mm deep instead of 100mm), a front jerry can holder, black checkerplate panelling over the lower portion of the body, external 12-volt power outlet, galvanised rear bumper bar, gas bayonet fitting to the exterior for use with an external barbecue and 120 watt roof-mounted solar panel. These vans have a much better resale value and give you that element of extra flexibility no matter what circumstances might throw at you.

The Outback fitout also introduces larger 235/75R15 tougher all-terrain tyres on alloy rims in place of the touring 185R14 rubber found on the highway models.

The downside to this is the weight increases by an extra 150kg and the ball weight increases by 25kg, although neither is excessive.

Since they have a shower fitted they come standard with a 100 amp-hour gel battery for the water pump, a second 82-litre water tank, and a second 9kg gas bottle to run the water heater unit.

image by: Brett Goldsmith

All of the 17ft vans, including the 17.55-8 and -9, also come equipped with a Truma air conditioning system. These excellent German-made units do a much better job in extreme conditions and are worth having.

Like all Jayco vans, the tandem axle shower-equipped models have a 475kg of carrying capacity to accommodate the extra water.

The fitout provides for a range of features that are worth having. There are 12 internal layout styles to choose from across the range. One of the attributes brought over from the Sterling was the higher walls. This allows for tinted Dometic double glazed windows built-in blinds and insect mesh.

With the larger windows, zip-out panels in the pop-top walls and a roof-mounted skylight over the bed, the interiors of these vans are bright and sunny.

The fully separate all-in-one bathroom across the rear is the stand out feature. It comes with comfortable layout, plenty of storage spaces and the shower has been improved with a single-piece unit eliminating the risk of leaks.

There are a range of bathroom and kitchen options to choose from. The Outback model as tested came without a normal oven to allow for extra storage, but it is an option. There is a microwave, Smev three-burner gas hotplates and single electric hot plate gas stove with griller underneath.

The extra electric hotplate comes in handy, saving gas when mains power is available, as does the dual-mode water heater. The fridge, which was 110 litres capacity in the Sterling, has now gone up to a standard 150 litre three-way unit.

For sleeping, there’s either an island orthopaedic double bed or two singles, with inner spring mattresses. For peace of mind, all the Journey vans are equipped standard with a Camec security door.

While the Outback vans are designed basically for two, there is a $299 option to purchase an additional cushion and baseboard, which converts the dinette into another bed.

A stand out feature certainly not available in the 1970s is the electrical and entertainment systems. Lighting is all LED and completely wireless. This eliminates the risk of any wiring problems and also means you never have to get out of bed to switch off a light – there’s a remote for that. A USB charging point is standard as well as an 18-inch LED television/DVD player with mounting bracket and wind-up antenna. There’s a Fusion CD/radio system, complete with external speakers.

To complete the outside living experience there’s an optional external shower (with free-standing shower tent if desired) and an external TV socket. To extend your options all Jayco outlets offer an annexe kit.

All the Journey models come with a white Euro-style fibreglass body, with sloping aerodynamic nose. Smart graphics set off the finish and give a sharp style to these vans.

There are so many options to choose from across the range. One certainly worth considering for off roaders is the Coast to Coast Control Panel ($207) which monitors water levels in up to four tanks (two standard plus optional third and waste water tanks) as well as battery charge levels   There is also the excellent Al-Ko Electronic Stability Control to keep your van where it belongs, as well as a longer A-frame, Tregg offroad polyblock coupling, and leather seat coverings.

Pop-tops have come a long way since the first humble camper was introduced by Jayco in the 1970s and they remain as popular as ever. The reason for that is undoubtedly due to their value for money in terms of quality, resale value and great list of standard features.

At $41,563 RRP as tested, it is excellent value.

Link: Read the full review and specs in Issue 15 of Time to Roam .

Review by David Cook.

REDARC Lithium In-Vehicle Charger

Uniden jump start kit, related posts.

Review: Coromal Element E661s Slide Out

Review: Winnebago Burke

Review: Living Edge Venetian

Review: Jayco Conquest Renault

Jayco Caravan Weights & Lengths (Comparison Tables)

Jayco are by far the number one caravan brand in Australia. You just have to take notice of how many Jaycos you pass along the highway, versus that of any other brand.

Jayco offer very competitive prices in the caravan market and are 100% Australian owned and manufactured in Melbourne, Victoria, which crosses off any chance of them being imported from Chinese productions lines.

Just like anything, there are lovers and there are haters when it comes to Jayco. I personally owned a Jayco Starcraft for years and loved it, however our own experiences will always shape our opinions.

If you’re seeking out Jayco caravan weights and sizes, I’ve pulled all of the information together and condensed it into some handy tables so that you can easily compare and find what you’re looking for.

Good luck with your caravan research and safe travels!

We are a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to ebay.com and other affiliated sites. We may earn a commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you. For more information, see our disclosures here .

Key Caravan Weight Terms

Here are the key terms that you will need to know when looking at the following Jayco caravan weights and lengths tables.

• BODY LENGTH  – length of external caravan body, excluding draw bar & rear bar
• OPEN LENGTH – length of the entire caravan once all beds have been opened at the ends (for relevant models)
• TRAVEL LENGTH – full length of caravan from the tip of the draw bar to the end of the rear bar
• TARE  – EMPTY caravan before adding anything (i.e. what it weights as you collect it from the dealer)
• PAYLOAD  – the amount of STUFF you can add to the caravan (accessories, mods, luggage, water etc.)
• ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass)  – maximum FULLY LOADED weight the caravan is allowed to be (set by Jayco)
• TBW (Tow Ball Weight) – what the Tow Ball Weight is when the van is empty. Tow ball weight will change every single time you load/ unload the caravan.

For the full guide on working out your weights, check out my caravan towing weights explained post.

How to Read Jayco Model Numbers

Jayco make it pretty easy to read their model numbers and to quickly get the information on the caravan’s length and layout (once you know what you’re looking at).

Using the example above, the Jayco model number 22.68-1 means that the caravan is 22 foot or 6.8 metres long, in layout number 1.

However, I did notice a confusing discrepancy as I was putting together the body length information below. Each model on the Jayco website has the body length listed in millimetres, which I then converted (using an online converter) into feet. Sometimes, the conversion length in feet was slightly different to feet listed in the model number.

Therefore, just because a Jayco model states that it is (example) 19 ft, just be aware that the caravan won’t exactly be 19 feet long. It may be 18.8 ft or it could be 19.3 ft. For the exact caravan lengths, always look at the mm.

For more on lengths, here are the 6 ways to measure your caravan’s lengths .

Jayco POD CAMPER Weights & Lengths

Key terms for reading the Jayco J-Pod weights and lengths.

• TARE  – EMPTY caravan
• PAYLOAD  – amount of weight you can ADD
• ATM  – maximum allowable FULLY LOADED weight
• TBW – Tow Ball Weight when van is empty

Check out the full list of pod campers Australia to see all other manufacturers.

Jayco J-Pod

Jayco camper trailer weights & lengths.

Key terms for reading the Jayco Camper Trailer weights and lengths.

For a full camper trailer weight chart (across 35 Australian models), check out the how much camper trailers weigh post.

Jayco Swift Camper Trailer

Jayco lark camper trailer, jayco eagle camper trailer, jayco penguin camper trailer, jayco swan camper trailer, jayco wren camper trailer, jayco pop top caravan weights & lengths.

Key terms for reading the Jayco Pop Top Caravan weights and lengths.

For a full list of Australian pop tops, check out the Pop Top Caravans Spreadsheet .

Jayco Journey Pop Top

Jayco expanda pop top, jayco all terrain pop top, jayco hybrid caravan weights & lengths.

Key terms for reading the Jayco Hybrid Caravan weights and lengths.

For a full list of Australian hybrids, check out the Hybrid Caravans Spreadsheet .

Jayco CrossTrack

Caravan Buyers Guide

Take the stress out of buying a caravan with this interactive step-by-step guide!

• 15-page Guide
• Checklists to tick off
• Interactive prompts to fill out
• STEPS INCLUDE:  Budget, Set-up, Towing Weights, PPSR Check, Handover, Hitching Up & more!
• DIGITAL & PRINTABLE

Jayco CARAVAN Weights & Lengths

For a full list of Australian caravan weights and lengths, check out the The Caravan List Spreadsheet .

Jayco Starcraft – Touring

Jayco starcraft – bushpack, jayco journey – touring, jayco journey – outback, jayco all terrain, jayco all terrain – off-grid x, jayco silverline – touring, jayco silverline – outback, jayco toy hauler caravan weights & lengths.

Key terms for reading the Jayco Toy Hauler Caravan weights and lengths.

For more toy haulers, check out the full list of toy hauler caravans Australia .

Jayco Toy Haulers

Jayco campervan weights & lengths.

Key terms for reading the Jayco Campervan weights and lengths.

• TARE  – EMPTY campervan
• GVM  – maximum allowable FULLY LOADED weight of campervan

Jayco JRV Campervan

Jayco motorhome weights & lengths.

Key terms for reading the Jayco Motorhome weights and lengths.

• TARE  – EMPTY motorhome
• GVM  – maximum allowable FULLY LOADED weight of motorhome

For a full list of motorhome manufacturers and specs, check out the Motorhomes Australia Spreadsheet .

Jayco Conquest

Jayco optimum, australian rv directory.

Fast-track your caravan research with the Australian RV Directory , an interactive spreadsheet. ↓

• 200+ motorhomes & campers
• 2,300+ caravans
• Select the number of berths, RV style, bathroom, tank size, solar power etc.
• Narrow down your search
• Find the price and information details for your caravan shortlist

Jayco Caravan FAQs

A Jayco caravan can weigh anywhere from 1,763kg (Jayco Journey Touring) to 2,897kg (Jayco Silverline Outback), which are their tare weights (unloaded with empty water tanks). You can expect an allowance of between 350kg to 600kg for payload (the amount of “stuff” that you can add). This puts their average ATM (fully loaded) average at 2,138kg – 3,497kg.

The lightest Jayco in Australia is the J-Pod Sport, with a tare weight (empty) of 756kg and an ATM (fully loaded) weight of 972kg. This leaves a payload (loading weight) of 216kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco J-Pod is 830kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 1,088kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Swift is 983kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 1,368kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jacyo Lark is 1,022kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 1,437kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Eagle is 1,196kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 1,611kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jacyo Penguin is 1,150kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 1,465kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Swan is 1,288kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 1,790kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Journey is 1,501kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 1,832kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Expanda is 1,974kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 4,949kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco All Terrain is 2,068kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 2,586kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco CrossTrack is 1,458kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 2,015kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Starcraft is 2,037kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 2,637kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Journey Touring is 2,114kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 2,686kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Journey Outback is 2,245kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 2,817kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco All Terrain is 2,496kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 3,096kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco All Terrain Off-grid X is 2,492kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 3,092kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Silverline Touring is 2,622kg. while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 3,222kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Silverline Outback is 2,759kg, while the average ATM (fully loaded) weight is 3,359kg.

The tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Work ‘n’ Play is 2,065kg, while the ATM (fully loaded) weight is 2,815kg.

The tare (empty) weight of a Jayco Basestation is 2,733kg, while the ATM (fully loaded) weight is 3,543kg.

The average tare (empty) weight of a Jayco JRV Campervan is 3,094kg, while the average GVM (fully loaded) weight is 3,963kg.

If you’re looking for more on caravans, head over and read 160+ Caravan Brands Australia and 11 Types of Australian Caravans .

Safe travels!

Travel Planning Tools

6 thoughts on “Jayco Caravan Weights & Lengths (Comparison Tables)”

I am attempting to get some idea of the weights for our Journey Outback Pop-Top for when i collect it late April/mid may. My order is for a ‘17.55-8 Tandem Axle. This vehicle does not appear in your online. Hope you can assist!

Here are the weights for the 2024 Journey Outback Pop-top 17.55-8 – TARE 1980 kg, TOW BALL 160 kg. You can find all of the Jayco Pop Top weights here https://www.jayco.com.au/range/pop-tops/journey-pop-top

Hi, I was hoping tho find the details for the 1991 Jayco Dove here as I inherited it after my Dad passed. Is there a manual that has the specs anywhere?

Hi Kell, you could either ring Jayco and see if they have the info of that model on file. Or, you can measure and weigh the caravan yourself. Here’s the full guide on how to weigh a caravan – https://myrigadventures.com/how-to-weigh-a-caravan/ . For measuring a caravan, the general length we look at is the outside of the body (not including the draw bar or rear bar etc.). Here’s the full guide on how to measure the dimensions of a caravan – https://myrigadventures.com/caravan-sizes-dimensions/ . I hope that’s helpful in figuring out the specs for your van.

The nayco conquest lenght information is for the current models. Do you have any info for a 2010 model conquest. How do I measure the lenght. Rear of body to where.

That’s right, these are all the most current models. To find out the length of your caravan, you measure the outside of the body only. So, from the rear of the body, to the furtherest point at the front of the body. This DOES NOT include the A-frame or rear bar etc. Here’s an article I’ve written on the topic, which goes into more detail https://myrigadventures.com/caravan-lengths/

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Preference Center

Consent management.

• Cookie Settings

Privacy Policy

We collect your Name & Email Address for the sole purpose of Email correspondence from our website. We do not pass your information onto third parties.

Advertising

Jayco Journey Outback, A Van Tour And Review

Jayco journey outback - van tour and review.

Jayco Journey Outback – Van Tour, Review and Extras

Traveller Profile

Names: bianca and simon, instagram: @outbackinfront, car: landcruiser thunder series, van: jayco journey outback.

It’s never easy to find a great caravan to utilize for your Aussie Big Lap. Tired of scrolling through hundreds of videos and reading lengthy reviews that don’t show you much of what you need to see? You must have wondered how difficult it is to discover that one review that provides details that you absolutely must consider when looking for THE caravan.

Worry no more, as this video showcases some of the best features of the Jayco Journey Outback. The features that you can include on your caravan, storage tips and where to buy them.

Bianca and Simon from Instagram @outbackinfront give us a quick tour of their caravan held by their Landcruiser Thunderbird series. Check out the modifications they’ve made and how it’s most suited for their family of three.

Jayco Van tour

Their main area’s best feature is this modified day and night bed-turned dining table. Whether you want to study, prep your food, sleep, or relax as you watch a movie, c onverting this from a bed into a lounge room, into a dining room, is such a great multi-purpose hack for family tours.

Club Lounge

Dining Area

Talking about caravans, is there such a thing as too much storage space? Make sure to stay organised from the bedroom to your dining and kitchen area, and transform cluttered cabinets, linen closets, spice racks, and more into systematized joy. From plain Kmart storage containers, Bianca personalised and kept their things looking tidy and creative by label-printing their names using a Dymo label.

Storage Containers from Kmart with labels made by Dymo Label Maker

Plant lovers wanting to bring some outdoors in can do so with this adjustable open shelf from IKEA. But don’t stop there, from pens to plants, there’s quite a number of things and areas you can use them for.

Ikea Open Shelf – used as plant pots

To ensure privacy whenever you need it, you can also put a curtain to make your open floor plan divided into two separate spaces like what Bianca and Simon did on their caravan.

Bringing your dream into reality and customising your van to work for your needs really doesn’t have to be that hard. Just write down what you need the most, your budget, and how you decide to live in it. If you need more ideas on sprucing up your van, check this link to learn the most popular caravan essentials for 2021.

Make sure to watch this Jayco Journey Van Tour to know how the Australian-based Jayco Caravan can give you beautiful interiors, customization availability and unbeatable value for money.

Did their review help you decide?

Comment down below your thoughts and experiences.

Want to share your own van tour for the Big Lap community? DM us on Instagram at @biglapbible

Chrissie Caballero

Life is an adventure! Embracing my new journey and learning to balance my life as a mom and a professional while finding joy and fulfilment in the moments along the way

Completing The Big Lap In 9 Months + Hilux Setup Tour! (Aussie Travel Stories)

Setting up expectations on the big lap (aussie travel stories), you may also like, featured aussie travellers setup – what’s yours, leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Planning your Big Lap of Australia? Enter your email below to get our FREE Big Lap Planning Series

No thanks, I’m not interested!

• Travel Gear and Gadgets
• Jayco Camper Tips & Mods
• Hints & Tips
• Must See Destinations
• The Family Travel Podcast

Select Page

23 Tips For New Jayco Camper Trailer Owners

Aug 17, 2020 | Jayco Camper Tips & Mods | 6

Disclosure: When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network

Here’s 23 tips for new Jayco camper trailer owners

(plus some answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions)

These are things that are specific to the operation of a windup camper trailer…

…and are things I wish I knew when we first got our Jayco Swan.

Here we go:

1. Hang the upper part of the door flat against the ceiling

How you hang the top part of the door makes a BIG difference when you wind down the roof of your camper.

This was a mistake we made:

If you leave the door hanging down at the entrance when you attach the little clips…

…then it can get in the way when you lower the roof.

This can make the lid hard to close, or even bend the clips.

But if you push the metal plate up first?

The door folds flat to the roof:

This makes the roof easier to close and gives more space for bedding

(and lets us keep our Ever Rest Memory Foam mattress topper on the bed when we pack down)

2. Check your roof safety switch if your lights aren’t working

A question that pops up nearly every day:

Why aren’t my Jayco camper’s lights working even though I have power everywhere else?

There’s a roof safety kill switch whose job is to cut power to the roof when it’s packed down

(so if the lights are accidentally left on they don’t melt the canvas or cause a fire)

The most common reason the lights aren’t working:

The switch often malfunctions because the metal lever gets caught and doesn’t let the white button drop down

So you might just need to check it here:

(on our Jayco Swan the metal lever has fallen off the switch at some point)

Believe it or not, cutting it out and simply joining the wires is one of the 35 Most Popular Jayco Camper Trailer Modifications

[because if you’ve turned off all the switches and/or disconnected the power before lowering the roof then there’s no power supply anyway]

Also, check that the 12 V plug near the sink is seated correctly too… and not corroded

3. Check the telescopic arms have lifted while you’re winding up the roof of your camper

Sometimes when you’re winding up the roof of your Jayco camper trailer the middle telescopic arm doesn’t slide freely.

This can cause one of the lifting arms to pop out and really ruin your holiday.

So when you’re winding up the roof of your camper it’s wise to stop half to three-quarters of the way and check the lifters

[It’s a step in our  Jayco Camper Trailer Set-Up Checklist ]

If the main outer sleeve looks like this:

Gently slide it up with your hand so it looks like this:

But… it’s important you find out WHY this is happening:

Unless the lifter arms are bent it’s usually that the arms need to be sprayed with some silicon spray

(or that the camper isn’t levelled properly)

HINT: The Velcro covers  are there to keep  your lifter arms clean and dry

[you’ll see what I mean in Number 6]

4. Cool down your 3-way fridge well before you need it

The 3-way fridge in a Jayco camper is pretty much designed to be run on:

• Gas when you’re free camping
• 12V from your car when you’re driving
• 240V when you have access to mains power

It takes about 24 hours for your fridge to cool down…

Should you run the fridge on 240V with the roof of a Jayco camper trailer wound down?

Some people have been doing it for years with no problem and say it depends on the van:

• If it’s an older model that has venting in the top of the bench then ‘no’
• If it’s vented outside then it’s fine

But… even on our 2014 Jayco Swan OB (vented outside) it still has this warning:

This might be some good ol’ fashion butt covering…

…but then there’s this Jayco Penguin that was for sale for parts:

Maybe it would have happened anyway even if the roof was up?

Anyway… to make sure you can keep your camping supplies cool when you reach your destination a couple of options are:

• Put some pre-frozen bottles of water in the fridge to cool it down while you’re travelling (and take things in an esky), or
• Plug your camper into 240V a day or two before you travel

(we don’t have a 15A power point installed so we got one of these Ampfibian 15A to 10A adaptors from eBay)

If I can’t set up our Jayco Swan before travelling, I’ll stick with the first option

Want to learn more about getting the most out of your 3-way fridge?

Read :  3-Way Fridge: Jayco Camper Trailer Hints, Tips and FAQs

5. Always make sure your camper is level before you set up

There was this one time (before I fixed a T-spirit level to our drawbar) that I set up our Jayco Swan and it wasn’t level:

The door wouldn’t shut properly. Water pooled on the sink.

But the big one?

The roof was noticeably leaning to one side

(the whole time I was worrying that it would bend the telescopic lifter arms)

And… not having a 3-way fridge level can stop it from working properly.

Sticking a T-spirit level on the drawbar is the best $5 you’ll ever spend on your camper

(another entry on the list of the 35 Most Popular Jayco Camper Trailer Modifications )

HINT : Don’t stick it straight on there… just because your drawbar is level, doesn’t mean your bench or sink will be too

Check out :  How To Fix A T-Spirit Level To Your Caravan or Camper Drawbar [5 Steps]

6. Use roof support poles (but as backups only)

A pair of roof support poles now come as standard when you buy a Jayco camper trailer:

They’re like 1200 mm insurance policies in case your roof collapses.

If your camper didn’t come with (at least) 2 of these then grab a pair for the corners opposite to the door and wardrobe

But remember:

There’s no designated weight-bearing area in the roof for these poles. They’re a fail-safe only. Don’t take tension off the lifting arms and rest the roof on the poles.

Ours came with 4 and take less than a minute to put in

(I do it while I’m checking the sleeves are fully up and when I’m closing the Velcro).

You can get them yourselves with some aluminium poles and rubber stoppers from Bunnings.

But to be honest?

By the time you’ve bought all of that it’d be just as cheap to buy them from your local Jayco store

[they’re about $12.50 each]

I scrounged the Internet and could only find one single example of the roof collapsing once it’s up. Collapses seem to occur during set-up…

7. Double check that the roof clips are undone before you start winding up the roof of your camper

One of the most common causes of cable failure is forgetting to undo one of the catches and starting to wind up the roof.

Even if it doesn’t fail now, it can start to open up the eye bolts that hold the cable

(they’re an engineered weak point)

I’ve given myself this gentle reminder:

8. Keep slack off the cables when the roof is down

When you’re winding down the roof of a Jayco camper it’ll usually stop a couple of centimetres off being completely closed.

Resist the temptation to keep unwinding because the cables will get slack in them

(and may not spool properly when you go to wind it up again)

Use the clips to close the roof… and give the handle a GENTLE turn to take any slack off the cable

9. Do the bed end fly mod (so you’ll use them more often)

I thought the bed and flys would be something I’d only use in bad weather.

But I’ve since come across some reasons to use them (nearly) every time I set up.

There’s probably more, but here’s…

9 reasons to use bed end flys on your Jayco camper trailer:

• They keep your van a bit darker in the mornings (important with small kids!)
• Creates more privacy if your windows are open
• Stops condensation landing directly on your bed ends on cold and damp nights
• Keeps your bedding dry during pack up
• You can stand under them to keep your bed dry while you’re setting up
• Keeps the sun off the bed ends to keep them cooler
• They create an air gap for extra insulation
• Stops rain from landing and pooling on your bed ends
• No folding bird poo into your bedding!

Our Jayco Swan came with these CampSmart ones

(we love them)

Sure, they’re one extra thing to do during set-up and pack-up, but they’re worth it.

Want to make the bed end flys quicker to set-up, with less poles, and less  guy ropes to trip over?

Then check out the bed fly conversion kit from SupaPeg via eBay

(about $40 and one kit does both ends)

Read :  Bed End Fly Modification For Jayco Swan Camper Trailer (Our Review)

10. Insert the hockey sticks before doing up the Velcro on your bed ends

If you fasten the Velcro on your bed ends before inserting the the hockey sticks, then this:

• Makes it harder than it needs to be, and
• Can snap off the round bit on the Plastic Bed Saddles

(we carry spares a couple of spares, they’re about $7 here on eBay )

Our set-up routine is pull out the beds, go inside to insert the hockey stick, then go back out to do up the Velcro.

11. Create a checklist of things to do before you lower the roof

There’s some things that are a pain in the bum if you forget to do before you lower the roof.

If you forget to switch the fridge over it won’t work while you’re driving.

If you forget to turn off the lights it can cause a fire.

Full credit to the person we bought our Swan from…. they made this handy laminated list for the inside of our door:

• Battery switch
• All power switches

(I was surprised that ‘door’ was on this list… until one day I went to wind down the roof without doing it too!)

For our full list, read:  Our Jayco Camper Trailer Set-Up Checklist

12. Lubrication is your friend

Unlike a caravan, a Jayco camper trailer has a lot of moving parts…

…so it’s important you keep things well lubricated to reduce wear, tear, and effort.

A can of this stuff is less than $10 from Bunnings:

The first time I used it I noticed a massive difference in:

• Opening and closing the zips on the bed and flys
• Sliding the beds in and out
• Letting the sleeves on the telescopic lifter arms move more freely

HINT: Hold a piece of cardboard behind the lifter arms when you spray so you don’t stain the canvas

13. Keep your canvas as dry as possible

Anyone who’s owned a camper trailer before knows that you should:

• Try to let your camper dry out as much as possible before packing up
• If you have to pack up when it’s wet, set it up at home and let it dry out
• Open it up regularly to make sure there’s no moisture trapped inside

(it’s easy to kill mould, but removing mould stains is another story)

One of the things about a Jayco camper trailer is that there’s still air circulating even when it is closed down.

Moisture absorbers are only a couple of dollars…

…get them from hardware stores, cheap shops, and most supermarkets

(you’ll be surprised how quick they fill up)

14. Turn the battery switch on when you’re on 240V to charge your battery properly

Your battery will not charge properly if you’re plugged into 240V and the battery switch is off.

Depending on the model of Setec charger that’s in your Jayco camper leaving the switch off will either give:

• Trickle charge at 0.8A, or
• No power at all

If you have access to 240V… both Setec Series II and Series III manuals say the same thing:

Turning it on allows it to use its 4 modes:

This extends the battery life. During store mode, the unit exits to boost mode for 15 minutes every 24hrs to maintain charge in the battery.

And if you can’t (or don’t want to) leave it plugged in?

Leave the power supply on for at least 2 – 5 days with battery connected

NOTE : If you’ve got something different to a Setec charger (like a BMPro) then turning off the switch may have no impact on the charger

15. Fold the canvas flat to make it easier to close your roof

If the canvas is all bunched up on the mattresses then:

• It creates more bulk, and
• Air pockets can get trapped

[this can make the difference between keeping your bed made or leaving a mattress topper in place]

To get things as flat as possible the method that works for us is to:

• Push the rear bed in first
• Go inside to pull the rear canvas flat
• Fold the front canvas using the “envelope” method

How to fold up a Jayco camper trailer bed canvas like an envelope:

• Fold the corners of the canvas into the middle of the bed

• Fold the long edge of the canvas back into the middle

• Push the bed in slowly, neatening it up as you go

I’m not even sure where these pics came from (they’ve been shared by so many people)…

…but whoever took these photos is a legend!

When you’re packing down, don’t forget…

16. Remove rings and use the back of your hands when pushing in the canvas

Anyone who’s wound down the roof of a Jayco camper trailer knows that you need to stop a few times to go around pushing in the canvas.

But something that some people have learned the hard way?

Fingers can poke holes in the fly screens, and diamond rings can get caught

[especially as the fly screens get older]

So a big tip is remove jewellery and use the back of your hand to push in the canvas so that you don’t accidentally stick your fingers through the flyscreens.

17. Don’t worry about the ‘clunk’ noise when you’re about half way through winding up the roof

I was skeptical when I was told this at handover:

“Don’t worry about it, it’s normal, it’s always done it”

I wasn’t convinced because there was no REASON given…

…but it’s a question that gets asked all the time.

It turns out that it is normal for a wind up camper system, which winds a cable around a winch drum:

The cable slips on itself as the first layer is complete and it’s starting a new layer

( TIP : I use it as my cue to go around and check that the telescopic arms have lifted)

18. Adjust your roof clips so that they don’t come loose while you’re driving

You can adjust how loose or tight the roof clips are by twisting them

(they have a nut and bolt built into them)

So any time you go to clip down your roof and it feels a little loose, it’s worth adjusting them so they’re snug.

I’m sure you don’t come loose often, but if they do, once is enough!

19. Don’t plan on your power points working if you’re not connected to mains power (unless you have an inverter or generator)

A simple way of looking at things is that you’ve got 2 separate electrical circuits in your camper:

• Your battery powers a 12V system
• Your power points run off a separate 240V circuit

So if you’re not plugged into mains power, your 240V power points won’t be live

(this includes USB chargers if they’re part of a 240V power point)

Read :  Pop Up Power Point for Jayco Swan (Installation and Review)

So if you’re free camping plan on cooking on gas…and buy 12V appliances where you can.

If you insist on using 240V appliances, you could:

• Get an inverter (but you’ll more than likely chew through your battery really quickly), or
• Run a generator (but be prepared to lose a few friends)

20. Make sure you have the right 15A gear to plug your camper into 10A mains power

The electrical system in your Jayco camper trailer is rated to draw up to 15 amps of current at once…

…while your home runs on a 10A power supply.

So to start with, you need a heavy duty extension cord that’s rated to 15 amps

(which won’t fit into a standard power point).

Then you have 2 options:

• Get a qualified electrician to install a 15A power point to plug into, or
• Purchase an approved 15A to 10A adaptor (which is handy for travel anyway)

Changing the head of the power lead to a 10A one or grinding the earth plug down to size are not options.

The most popular and best option is an ampfibian adaptor. You can get them at Bunnings, but we bought ours a bit cheaper here off eBay .

21. If you’re using an awning make sure you have a way to even out the tension on the other side

When you put up an awning (or annex) it can pull the roof sideways.

• Put a bending force on the lifting arms
• Stop the door frame from being in alignment

One option is to replace the lifting arm bolts with eye bolts to create a spot to connect guy ropes…

…but another option is a kitchen awning privacy sunscreen:

[ get them here from eBay … perfect for keeping the sun off the fridge in summer]

22. Protect the 12V plug that’s near the sink from water with some plastic tubing and a chopping board

<insert your favourite joke here about this amazing Jayco camper trailer design feature>

Protecting the 12V socket from water is important for obvious reasons.

A culprit seems to be when you connect to mains and first turn on the tap:

Water can come blasting out!

Some tips that a few people have done to help this include:

• Attaching some 8mm tubing (Bunnings) to increase the length of the tap
• Placing a chopping board behind the tap and in front of the 12V plug

23. Know how water affects your weights

Here’s a couple of important numbers to know:

300 kg is the standard load carrying limit for a Jayco camper trailer

You’re carrying 82 kg of water when you fill the standard 82 L capacity tank

So it’s worth keeping those numbers in mind when you’re wondering whether you should travel with your water tanks full…

…especially when you consider that the 300 kg limit includes your awning, aircon, solar, etc

[there’s no straight answer about how water will affect your tow ball weight because it’ll differ depending on where tanks are relative to your axles]

Summary: Tips for Jayco camper trailer owners

I’m sure this is just scratching the surface of tips for Jayco camper trailer owners

…but these are the ones that jumped out at me as important to know

(and I only learned most of them AFTER we started using our Jayco Swan)

You might also like :  7 Tips to Keep Your Jayco Camper Trailer Warmer in Winter

Otherwise, check out our most popular article:…

Read :  35 Most Popular Jayco Camper Trailer Modifications

Or one of our more recent articles…

Read :  9 Tips To Save Time Setting Up Your Jayco Camper Trailer

Related Posts

Buying a Jayco Camper Trailer: 23 Things To Look For [Checklist]

July 24, 2021

Tunnel Boot Picnic Table Modification for Jayco Camper Trailer

April 15, 2020

What Size Fiamma Awning for My Jayco Camper Trailer?

December 27, 2020

Roof Won’t Close On Jayco Camper Trailer: 6 Most Common Causes

April 16, 2021

Awesome list. Keep them coming!

Thanks Caleb… If you think of anything that’s not on here, please let us know!

What a great list and so many great ideas. My swan is 8yrs old and I noticed the winder has been getting more difficult on a recent trip. Guess what fraying Amin 5mm cable. Your pages, ideas and links will help me fix it myself. Love the diesel heater install as well. And I really like that you have included the links on where to obtain the various bits and pieces. Thanks

Hi Peter, thanks for your kind words! If you have any things you’d like a hand with or need more detail on, more than happy to help

These are all great. Thanks so much! Never thought about the balance of the roof when annex is only out.

We bought our Hawk in July and have already managed 8 different destinations in Vic. We love it!

G’day everyone, I am new to the carvaning scene. I am enjoying reading and getting tips when setting up our van. We have just purchased a 2014 Jayco hawk outback. As a novice to owning a caravan I gradually getting ideas on how to make things a easier, like we have just installed a jackajay lift system and fitted a fiaama s45 awning also a cruisemaster 35 hitch and other handy items like a ampfibian caravan power adaptor. Looking forward to our first adventure soon. Thank you for sharing your tips, advice and comments

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

AFK Journey Codes (April 2024)

AFK Journey is a 3D world-based strategy card RPG set in Esperia, a fantasy world resembling a picturesque storybook. In this realm, you can team up with companions to dispel the Miasma and forge your own legendary tales.

The game is all about immersing you into a visually exciting environment where you can get involved in real-time battles using classic strategic card gameplay. Its dynamic gameplay also adds depth to the overall experience.

While you're on your journey in Esperia, it can be helpful to get freebies. Luckily for you, the developers often release reward codes that you can use to get great items.

Here are the latest AFK Journey codes in April 2024.

How To Use AFK Journey Codes

AFK Journey codes are surprisingly easy to use. Follow these steps to redeem your free rewards:

• Launch AFK Journey.
• Tap on your Profile icon.
• Select the 'Settings' button.
• Tap the 'Redeem Gifts' button.
• Enter a working code into the box.
• Press 'Exchange' to redeem the code.

Once you complete these steps, the rewards will be instantly sent to your in-game account.

If your rewards fail to appear in your inbox, we recommend relaunching the game and checking again.

New AFK Journey Codes

Here are the active AFK Journey codes:

• AFKJourneyLGIO – 200 Diamonds & 20,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyJianhao – 200 Diamonds & 20,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyJoshdub – 100 Diamonds and 18,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyVIVA – 200 Diamonds & 20,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyTGT – 200 Diamonds & 20,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyVG – 200 Diamonds & 20,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyNOGLA – 200 Diamonds & 20,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyCMK – 100 Diamonds and 18,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyCarbot – 100 Diamonds and 18,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyMSA – 200 Diamonds and 20,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyDE – 100 Diamonds and 18,000 Gold
• AFKJourneySqueezie – 200 Diamonds and 20,000 Gold
• AFKJourney88 – 100 Diamonds and 18,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyZanny – 100 Diamonds and 18,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyTT – 88 Diamonds and 16,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyArt – 327 Diamonds and 16,000 Gold
• AFKJN2024 – 188 Diamonds and 18,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyPAX – 400 Diamonds and 40,000 Gold
• AFKJourneyCreator – 200 Diamonds and 18,000 Gold
• PlutoMall – 5% discount for Dragon Crystals on AFK Journey online store

We suggest you redeem these codes as soon as possible because they are only available for a limited time.

Expired AFK Journey Codes

Here are the expired AFK Journey codes :

• BETATESTING
• PLAYAFKJOURNEYCOM

These codes can no longer be used to claim any rewards.

How To Get More AFK Journey Codes

If you want to get the latest AFK Journey codes, we recommend following the game on Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , and Instagram . The developers usually release new codes during events, special occasions, and after certain milestones.

These pages are also great sources if you're looking to stay informed on information about new content, updates, and future in-game events.

STARCRAFT POP TOP

Journey pop top, all-terrain pop top, all terrain, basestation, jrv campervan, optimum campervan, all terrain campervan, conquest motorhome, optimum motorhome, a guide to your jayco rv: how to hitch your caravan.

One of the most exciting parts of caravanning is hooking up your caravan to your tow vehicle.

This signifies that your holiday is right around the corner.

It’s very important that you safely hitch your caravan to ensure that the vehicles are securely attached.

We suggest setting up your tow vehicle and caravan methodically, with no interruptions, to ensure each step has been completed.

A checklist is a great way to outline everything that needs to be done from start to finish.

In the following video, Chris will be demonstrating how to hitch your caravan on a Silverline Outback caravan.

This guide will ensure you have safely connected your vehicles before you and your family hit the road.

The following instructions are applicable to all Jayco RV’s with the standard coupling.

Step-by-step guide to hitching your caravan:

Before hitching your caravan, make sure that your coupling is higher than the tow ball.

This ensures that when you’re backing up, your tow ball will sit underneath the coupling, which will make it easier to lower the caravan onto the tow ball.

When dropping the van onto the tow ball, make sure you unclip the coupling at the top by pulling the lever.

Pull this upwards to lock it into place.

Wind down the jockey wheel so that the coupling lowers on top of the tow ball.

Once the coupling is sitting on top of the tow ball, release the lever and drop it down over the lock.

This will secure it in place by locking the coupling onto the tow ball.

Safety chains must always be crossed.

Make sure you do this so that in the unlikely possibility that the van becomes disconnected, they will cradle the coupling.

You need to also ensure that you don’t have an excessive amount of length on your chains.

When coupling this to your vehicle, make sure you use Rated Dee Shackles to connect these as it’s an important part of your breakaway system.

The caravan breakaway system is a safety measure which ensures that if your caravan happens to become uncoupled during towing, the electric brakes will switch on all wheels to keep your caravan from moving.

Connect your 12-pin plug.

Lower the outer casing and insert the plug so that it’s firmly on.

If you have an Anderson plug, make sure you insert this.

It will operate the power for your RV fridge.

The reversing camera can also be connected if applicable.

This is a pigtail that will run between your tow vehicle and caravan.

Insert the pigtail into the tow vehicle and into the caravan.

Make sure you twist this to firmly connect it.

Wind down and remove the jockey wheel.

Don’t forget to lock off and close the jockey wheel clamp.

Release the hand brake and triple check your connection to the tow vehicle.

That’s how you safely connect your RV to your tow vehicle.

For more information, tips, or guides, please visit https://www.jayco.com.au/community/category/how-to-guides

Jayco E-Newsletter