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Caravan review: Jayco All-Terrain 17.55.8

This capable offroader will suit those looking for a mid-size van that can fold down to fit into many carports

Jayco is our largest caravan builder by a long stretch, and their range is immense. There have been more than 200,000 Jayco RVs produced since they commenced production in 1975, so you don’t have to go far to see a Jayco on the road or in a caravan park. However, with a predominance of blacktop tourers in their range, it might not be the brand that comes to mind when we think of a van for offroad destinations.

So when we had the offer to review an All-Terrain through Watsons Leisure Centre in Coffs Harbour, we were right on it. The mid-NSW north coast dealership has been in business for over 40 years, and their monster yard is hard to miss on the Pacific Highway as you drive into town from the south.

You will find a vast mix of vans across the Jayco range, and it’s one of only a few companies these days that stays with pop-tops. These lower profile vans are easier to store in lower sheds, and their reduced wind resistance makes them a better towing proposition. The van on review is a 17ft All-Terrain version that shares its layout in the range with the more blacktop oriented Journey series. The 17-footer sits with full-height 19ft and 22ft caravans in Jayco’s All-Terrain group directed to a more offroad lifestyle.

Jayco’s large facility in Dandenong, Victoria, employs over 1200 workers across a 25ha site. Almost all the build process is carried out in-house, including chassis, suspension, walls, joinery and upholstery. 

The chassis on the 17-footer is an Endurance 2 and is hot-dipped galvanised with an extended A-frame from heavier gauge steel than the standard range. Dimple cut cross members save weight, support the floor, and give an out of the way route to protect plumbing and electrical leads. Suspension is Jayco’s own tandem independent J-Tech trailing arm system with Pedder’s coil springs and lay down shock absorber at each of the sturdy-looking box-section arms. Tow in and out can be adjusted for wheel alignment. Installation of the two 80L freshwater tanks and an optional grey tank was neat and seemed to be well-balanced.

Black alloy wheels are shod with 245/70 offroad tyres, which, like all Jaycos, are filled with nitrogen to run cooler and improve ride quality. On top of that, there’s a tyre pressure monitoring system that connects to your smartphone.

The body is all modern technology. The aluminium wall frame sits inside vacuum bonded composite fibreglass panels with polystyrene insulation. The roof is a similar single sheet of fibreglass for improved weather protection.

Connection to the tow vehicle is through a Cruisemaster DO35 hitch which has a high level of articulation for travel on rough ground. Electronics include a breakaway system and Lippert Sway Command Tow controller on the latest models. Inside there’s a Wi-Fi hub for better internet connection when away from home. A set of 9kg gas bottles sit between two jerry can holders, and even though they are pretty high, I’d like to see some stone protection for the gas regulator. 

Storage on the All-Terrain is improved over the Journey range with a standard checkerplate box that straddles the entire width of the A-frame. However, it’s extra-large, and care should be taken not to overload it with heavy items that would upset the weight balance of the van. 

Even though the body rides high on its suspension, the pop-top has a purposeful and well-balanced profile that I find very appealing when the top is down. It doesn’t have that top-heavy look of a full height offroad van, and you would have to imagine that being lower, it will be better at getting along tree-lined tracks without damage. 

In recognition of its dirt road-bound adventures, a high 570mm skirt of black checkerplate runs all around the sides and ends. A forward-mounted storage box, a fold-down picnic table, and an entertainment hatch for power and TV mounts are along the passenger side. A 14ft awning gives weather protection while sitting outside and because it’s connected to the pop-top roof, there are different procedures to adapt when deploying and packing down. All should be good if you keep to the correct instructions. 

Up top, we see a Dometic Dust Reduction System and the large Dometic air conditioner, so it’s not immune to damage from low trees altogether.

THE INTERIOR

With the top down, you have 1.64m of roof height to negotiate to the pop-top lifters at each end of the van, so you will need to stoop down until the roof is lifted. It’s best to raise the rear section first to open up some room to make your way to the front. Once the top is lifted, the ceiling is a very generous 2.07m high and with the side curtain zips open, it makes for a very airy and spacious interior.

The layout is the popular and sensible rear door front bed arrangement, leaving the central area for living space and the ensuite across the back. The kitchen runs along the passenger side and includes a reasonable 1.7m bench clad in a light grey marble finish. Storage includes three big pot drawers and a small slide-out pantry, but overhead cupboards space is compromised by the relatively high skirts of the pop-top.

 A stainless steel sink has a draining board, and the cooktop has a folding lid, so there’s a reasonable amount of preparation space given the size of the van. Cheers to Jayco for placing the microwave at a safe height under the stove, which has gas/electric burners and a grill. High microwaves are a safety hazard, and they are one of my pet gripes in all RVs.

On the driver side is a dinette with an L-shaped lounge and a swivelling 1.1m x .47m table that is removable and drops to convert to an occasional bed. 

Up front, the comfortable caravan queen innerspring mattress has great views through extra-large windows on either side. The bed lifts on gas struts for access to storage and a timber box with the water heater and pump.

Around the bed are side and overhead cupboards, reading lights with USB ports and a couple of Sirocco fans that, for me, were mounted too close to my head when lying down on the bed. 

The full-width bathroom is compact, but it’s roomy enough to move around and usable even if the high vinyl walls and curtains might not offer the privacy some might expect. 

Since our review, Jayco has introduced a more comprehensive range of colour options and have improved furniture durability with an interlocking construction method. 

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

With a pair of 200W Solar panel charging a single 100Ah lithium battery, there should be enough power to keep the very efficient 12V fridge running for as long as you like off-grid. The limiting factor will be the 160L of water, but even that is reasonable as long as you minimise shower times. Charging is through a Projector system which offers easy monitoring on a panel mounted at the dinette.

CUSTOMER CARE

All Jayco products come with a two year manufacturer warranty to cover the internals and five years on the structural components, including chassis, suspension and body. Accessories have their own cover from the relevant supplier but I’m reassured dealers like Watsons Leisure Centre live on their reputation for doing right by their customers.

DEFINING OFFROAD

Jayco calls the All-Terrain an ‘offroader’ right through its marketing strategy, so we need to take that at face value. The latest warranty document for the Adventure range gives broader cover than for the blacktop tourers. According to Jayco, these vans “have been designed and constructed to give added strength, ground clearance and durability for offroad use.” Sensibly though, because of the need for gas vents low on doors, “under no circumstances should these RVs be exposed to water crossings at or above floor level.”

The overriding advice is to drive to the conditions and avoid tight undulating or extreme 4WD tracks unsuitable for trailers. 

We didn’t stretch the friendship with the dealer by pushing the limits of offroad travel, but we found some forest tracks west of Coffs for our drive. Tare is 2154kg, and the ATM on new models runs to 2754kg, which is a hefty load for a single axle van and offers a very generous 600kg payload if you want to take it up. This still leaves plenty of opportunity for mid-level SUVs and a sensible option for our country’s range of twin cab utes.

The All-Terrain towed smoothly behind my old LandCruiser at highway speeds and in the bush. There was a bit of conflict with my spare tyre hitting the drawbar on a tight turn on an incline, but that was my fault for not checking. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

The 17ft All Terrain is a tempting option for anyone entering the market or downsizing to something more sensible. In today’s ever-burgeoning, post COVID market, the $67,990 base price is very competitive for an offroader. I like the pop-top ideal, and the All-Terrain version makes a lot of sense as an easy to tow and store prospect. Plenty of those transitioning from a camper trailer will love the ease of setup and the relatively roomy interior.

To check out Jayco RVs currently for sale, head over here .

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 

Body length 5.7m (18ft 8in)        

Overall length 7.2m (23ft 7in)

Width 2.47m (8ft 1in)

Height 2.67 m (8ft 9in)

Tare 2154kg

Payload 600kg (calculated)

Ball weight (at tare) 202kg

Ball to TARE ratio 9 per cent

Frame Internal alloy

Cladding Fibreglass

Chassis 6in galvanised steel

Suspension J-Tech 2 Independent trailing arm with shock absorber

Coupling DO35

Brakes 10in Drum

Wheels 16in alloy 245x70 x16in A/T

Water 2 x 80L

Battery 1 x 100A Lithium 

Solar 1 x 220W

Air-conditioner yes Dometic

Gas 2 x 9kg

Sway control Lippert

Cooking Swift cooktop and grill

Microwave yes

Bathroom yes

Hot water yes

PRICED FROM

OPTIONS FITTED

Reversing camera, Dometic fridge upgrade

PRICE AS SHOWN

Watsons Leisure Centre

6 North Boambee Rd Coffs Harbour 2450

Ph: 02 6652 7544

W: watsonsleisurecentre.com.au

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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.

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Journey   Our 17.55.8 Jayco Journey OB

• Thread starter WHHEMI
• Start date Jun 26, 2016
• Caravan Forums
• All Other Jayco Discussions (Non Expanda)

Well-Known Member

• Jun 26, 2016

• Aug 2, 2016

Finally have our van back from Bayswater Jayco, it's been there for 3 weeks for waranty repaires again. Still not all fixed but managed to get them to order parts and I will fit them myself.  

looks good mate,  

• Jun 16, 2017

• Oct 11, 2017

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Jayco Journey Poptop 17.55-8

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Check availability in the calendar below and complete the form below with your dates.

• Island caravan queen bed with innerspring mattress
• Full ensuite with separate shower/toilet
• 240V/Gas HWS
• 2 x 82 litre water tanks
• 2 x 9kg gas bottles
• Radio/CD with external speakers
• Solar panels
• 100amp battery
• Large 185L fridge/freezer
• Rooftop Air Conditioner/Heater
• 4 burner gas/electric stove and griller
• Roll out awning
• Generous storage space

Specifications

• Body Length – 5705mm
• Travel Length – 7223mm
• Travel Height – 2550mm
• Towball Weight – 121kg
• Tare Weight – 1,793kg
• Minimum Tow Vehicle – 2,193kg

Caravan Floor Plan

Accessories included

• All essential kitchen items are supplied.
• eg. Dinner set for 6, saucepans, frypan, kitchen utensils, kettle, toaster etc.
• You will need to bring outside table/chairs and linen/bedding.

For full specifications for the above caravans, log on to www.jayco.com.au

Hire Rate Jayco Journey Poptop 17.55-8

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Jayco Journey 17.55.8

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• VIN: M1Z55541
• Chassis Number: n/a
• Condition: Used
• Warranty: No
• External cabin length: 17ft / 5.5m
• Empty Ball Mass: 160kg
• Tare Mass: 2050kg

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Jayco Journey Pop Top 17.58-1 Outback

Approx price: $48,490.

Journey Pop Top 17.58-1 Outback is a caravan by Jayco and is a caravan that is categorised as being Off Road and can sleep at least 5-6 people .

Click here to find the best price on the market for a Journey Pop Top 17.58-1 Outback by Jayco.

Journey Pop Top 17.58-1 Outback by Jayco is rated as Off Road in terms of capability.

Basic specifications:, is journey pop top 17.58-1 outback a top ranked caravan in australia.

So, when it comes to comparing Journey Pop Top 17.58-1 Outback with the rest, is it in the Top 10 Caravans in Australia? Is it in the Top 20 Caravans in Australia? Well, the best way to find out is to check our Current Australia Best Caravan Rankings and see if Journey Pop Top 17.58-1 Outback makes the list of most wanted Caravan in Australia!

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