17' Series Jayco 17.58-3 and Questions...:)

[onehdft]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum - just wanted to introduce myself and ask a few questions...

Apologies in advance if they have been asked a thousand times before...

My wife and I have come from a remote touring background and currently have an Ultimate camper but a growing family and a desire for more comfort means moving to a different model. We are thinking about caravaning it on the formed dirt roads, and then tenting in and out of destinations if we need to...

I had a look at the Karavan, Nautilus and Bushtracker which look to be fantastic bits of gear but if I'm honest seem to be overkill for what we want and frankly not affordable for us. The weight in the Bustracker is also a bit of issue although it's a fantastic product- I need to keep any solution to 2000 tare, 150kg ball and a 2500 ATM.

My questions relate primarily to the 17.58-3 pop top Outback but am considering the 20 foot full caravan version as well...

1. I'm considerate of machinery, fastidious about tyre pressures and drive very conservatively to the conditions - do you think there will be any issues apart from the odd cupboard or plumbing issue taking these models down corrugated tracks like the Tanami, Gibb, Bridsville, Oodnadatta etc. at their worst.... I can live with doing a few running repairs for a purchase price of less than half the other vans I've mentioned I just don't want to have any serious structural failures.

2. Are Jayco conservative of tare, ball and ATM estimations or pretty close all things being equal - I've already read they can vary with the outback models unloaded...? Are my tare, ball and atm goals unrealistic...?

3. When ordering is there opportunity to do things like supply your own batteries (Lithium would be the go now I'd think) or make small changes such as go for a half height fridge for more bench space etc. or are they all the same and that is it..?

4. A pop-top appeals for weight saving and ventilation - does this bear out in reality, are there lots of pop-top owners wishing they'd gone for the full height van...?

4. Does the air conditioner on the roof of the pop top make lifting the roof a trial...?

Many thanks in advance,

Cheers,

Mark...

 

[davemc]

Hi Mark and welcome to the forum.
We had a -1 my wife could never lift the pop top with the air although I could. Could be height or strength I would go try one yourself.

A few people have taken there 17.58's offroad although do you think I can find the threads.. sorry no

I personally just went to a 22 non outback more as the -1 had no toilet although do like the fact its a full van more space in cupboards although will make getting some places off road harder.

There is a large 17.58 thread here
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/starcraft-17-58-3-options-quirks-post-them-here.5166/
@achjimmy has a nice -3 with 16 wheels etc he will be able to add to the above.

I would go for a trifold table if you can as I do not like the standard dinette.. Got our second one in the 22.68 I do not like just a personal thing.

Good luck with it

 

[Bluey]

I have a 1756-2 outback 2014 model and i know the older models say 2011 had leaf spring and not the new jtech the leaf spring ones are a few hundread kgs lighter just something to think about i should have got an older model but the jtech is fantistic leaf spring may not suit where you want to take it mmmmm dont know

 

[cruza driver]

I have a leaf sprung Expanda that has done the Gibb, parts of the Cape Leuque rd (Quandong Point) Oodnadatta trk from Maree and out through the Painted Desert, Winton to Broken Hill the dirt way via Windorah, Vic High Country etc and has survived everything in between.

The coil suspension wasn't available when we purchased ours.

Its all about extra preparation with a van and drive to the conditions.

 

[achjimmy]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum - just wanted to introduce myself and ask a few questions...

Apologies in advance if they have been asked a thousand times before...

My wife and I have come from a remote touring background and currently have an Ultimate camper but a growing family and a desire for more comfort means moving to a different model. We are thinking about caravaning it on the formed dirt roads, and then tenting in and out of destinations if we need to...

I had a look at the Karavan, Nautilus and Bushtracker which look to be fantastic bits of gear but if I'm honest seem to be overkill for what we want and frankly not affordable for us. The weight in the Bustracker is also a bit of issue although it's a fantastic product- I need to keep any solution to 2000 tare, 150kg ball and a 2500 ATM.

My questions relate primarily to the 17.58-3 pop top Outback but am considering the 20 foot full caravan version as well...

1. I'm considerate of machinery, fastidious about tyre pressures and drive very conservatively to the conditions - do you think there will be any issues apart from the odd cupboard or plumbing issue taking these models down corrugated tracks like the Tanami, Gibb, Bridsville, Oodnadatta etc. at their worst.... I can live with doing a few running repairs for a purchase price of less than half the other vans I've mentioned I just don't want to have any serious structural failures.

2. Are Jayco conservative of tare, ball and ATM estimations or pretty close all things being equal - I've already read they can vary with the outback models unloaded...? Are my tare, ball and atm goals unrealistic...?

3. When ordering is there opportunity to do things like supply your own batteries (Lithium would be the go now I'd think) or make small changes such as go for a half height fridge for more bench space etc. or are they all the same and that is it..?

4. A pop-top appeals for weight saving and ventilation - does this bear out in reality, are there lots of pop-top owners wishing they'd gone for the full height van...?

4. Does the air conditioner on the roof of the pop top make lifting the roof a trial...?

Many thanks in advance,

Cheers,

Mark...

Hi mate welcome

1. No issues heaps have done it with leaf sprung and the new JTech rides better. No issues if commonsense prevails.

2. Jayco have NFI and don't list a Tare only a ATM often cause it's bollshot. Our was played 2350 atm something but that was 125kg short of the proper payload. Got her replated for 2650 atm btw you will pretty much add 500kg if you are conservative ! Careless and 6-700kg is easy!!!

3. Jayco are getting more limited to changes, for production reasons. Exprience has shown me they stuff them up anyway. Good tip get two batteries ordered with van. That's 60kg added to Tare. Lose em latter.

4 poptops generally heavier to brace the roof. Had three poptops next van full height. Only advantage to poptops is they are lower.

In theory Jayco should add heavier struts for AC in practice I find them heavier. aCs are a wank in a poptop unless you are going west in summer. Noisey suckers too. Only getem for resale!

 

[onehdft]

Many thanks for the replies guys - I really appreciate it.

It's good to know that these vans will cope with the corrugations if tackled sensibly - most of our travel will be on-road but if we can use major dirt to get to stepping off points that is good enough. I don't mind "fixing" a few things if I know what to expect.

We drove the Gibb in 2011 and took the Ulti up to Mitchell Plateau - there were a lot of people caravaning into Drysadale and then heading to the Plateau with tents. Ningaloo station was another good example - quite a few standard vans in there despite the road in being corrugated....

The set up and pack down time of a camper trailer vs the accessability and towability is changing for us. We used to consider pulling the Ulti into places for the challenge - I'm over that now... if we can get to 70% of the places or near to then I'm happy....

Cheers,

Mark...