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Jayco Journey 19.61-3 Outback Review

• Published: April 25, 2021

Australian caravan manufacturers have been building family caravans with bunk beds for decades. Although they are an established sector of their market, they are not so common here in New Zealand. But Jayco Auckland say that is changing. The Outback version of the Jayco Journey 19.61-3 reviewed here is a good example of a family caravan.

INTERIOR LAYOUT

At the front is a large east-west double bed; at the rear are two bunk beds kerbside, opposite the driver’s side washroom. The kitchen is centrally located alongside the entry, with the dinette opposite. Separating the sleeping areas provides some privacy and allows continued use of the lounge area once the bunk occupants have retired to bed. The decor throughout is an understated mix of light greys and dark browns.

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

The double bed has an innerspring mattress, and the bunks have foam mattresses. All bed bases have sprung wooden orthopaedic slats. Both floor level beds have good storage space below the mattress, and gas struts take away the pain of lifting the beds for access to this storage.

For added comfort, the lower parts of the walls surrounding the double bed are covered with upholstered panels. Jayco include bed linen, duvet and pillows in the standard package. There are two reading lights at the head of the bed. A TV wall bracket is mounted at the foot, where it can also be viewed from both the kitchen and the dinette. A battery management charger and the house battery occupy a small corner of the storage space under the bed.

For caravanners, bunks are a practical answer to the question, where are we all going to sleep? Tucked away in the rear corner of the Journey, they offer a snug retreat for all ages, especially the younger ones. In the two-bunk option reviewed here, each bunk has a privacy curtain and a window, and the lower one has a light of its own. The upper one shares the corridor light. A curtain screens off the corridor from the front of the caravan so it doubles as a changing room. A three-bunk option is also available.

The dinette provides the only seating in the caravan. It has the distinctive, very comfortable Jayco two-piece back rests. Covered with a soft, warm woven fabric, it makes the dinette an attractive spot for dining or relaxing. Alongside is a large opening window, and there is a ceiling hatch above, so it is a refreshingly light, bright place to be. The drawers below the seats offer more storage.

At around 1800mm long, the kitchen bench includes a four-hob LPG cooktop and stainless-steel sink/dish drainer, with room for meal preparation and serving at the end. It’s a typical Jayco RV bench – you’ll find them in most of their caravans and motorhomes. Jayco fit them because they have met and continue to meet the needs of their RV buyers.

If you like overhead lockers, you will love the array in the Journey: four over the bed, two over the dinette, two with shelves over the kitchen, one over the hob and another in the washroom.

Along with the kitchen under-bench cupboard space, the two pantry cupboards, the drawers and cupboards beside the bunks as well as the 171-litre fridge/freezer, the storage is more than adequate for four people, their clothes, personal possessions and supermarket shopping.

BATHROOM/LAUNDRY

Behind a concertina curtain on the other side of the corridor is the bathroom/ laundry. It’s a four-function set-up with a handbasin to the left, alongside a Sphere washing machine. To the right, behind a three-piece sliding door, is the shower. Roomy enough for the big and tall, it has shelves for soap and shampoo, and a fan vent in the ceiling. The opening window behind the central placed toilet will be an asset. A large wall mirror behind the handbasin makes the washroom feel more spacious. There are cupboards below the basin and a locker over the toilet. A single centre light, two more over the basin and one in the shower provide plenty of lighting.

The bodywork is finished in a light shade of grey, with a skirt of black checker-plate panels down each side, a black bumper across the back, and a black stone-chip resistant panel across the front. The Outback variant, riding on the latest version of Jayco’s JTECH suspension, has higher ground clearance than the standard Journey, adding to its sense of purpose.

Up front is a conventional cast-iron hitch, handbrake and safety chains. An electric breakaway cable system is also fitted to most Journey models. Jayco’s trademark freshwater tap is mounted on the side of the A-frame.

The Journey’s chassis is hot-dip galvanised steel, which is both lightweight and strong. As well as offering increased ground clearance, this chassis/suspension combination is stable, smooth-riding and has excellent handling qualities.

At its core, the body has an aluminium frame. This is inset with high-density polystyrene foam panels for thermal and acoustic insulation, and externally clad with hail and dent resistant fibreglass panels. The rig runs on 15-inch black alloy wheels and higher rated 235/75R15 AT tyres. Altogether a very solid package.

At the front on the kerbside, a tunnel locker that runs the width of the caravan replaces the conventional front boot. It can be awkward to retrieve items from the middle of the locker, but at least they stay clean and dry. There is good external access to storage under the double bed (front) and bunk bed (rear). A fold-out alloy step is fitted below the habitation door to make entry/exit easier. Up above is an electrically powered 5-metre awning, complete with a strip of LED edge lighting. Below is the wall-mounted outdoor entertainment centre, comprised of a fold-down table, 12-volt and 230-volt outlet plugs, a TV aerial plug and a pair of speakers, all under a wall-mounted light. Aussies are serious outdoor entertainers.

Up top is a 160-watt solar panel, two roof hatches – one over the bed, the other over the kitchen – an aircon unit and a TV antenna.

There are two hatches on the driver’s side, one for the toilet cassette at the rear and one for the tunnel storage at the front. A service hatch for the hot-water boiler, a freshwater fill point and a radio aerial round out the equipment list. A well thought out package, well equipped with durable fixtures and fittings.

SAFETY FIRST

Nitrogen-filled tyres fitted to the Journey reduce tyre temperatures and provide more consistent tyre pressures, even on the hottest days, reducing the risk of tyre blowouts. Having the Lippert Sway Command Tow Control Technology aboard reduces the risk of losing control of the caravan in emergency manoeuvres. As mentioned, the electric breakaway system for caravans with electric brakes is fitted as standard to most Journey models. When a caravan accidentally separates from the tow vehicle, the cable connection is severed, activating the electric brakes and brake lights.

OUTBACK UPGRADE

Jayco Journeys are available in both standard and Outback versions. As the name and appearance suggest, the Outback is equipped to cope with more arduous off-road conditions. As well as the suspension/chassis upgrade, it has a larger 160-watt solar panel, Outback corner steadies, an external gas bayonet fitting for the BBQ, Jayco mudflats and an 8-inch jockey wheel.

The interior of the Jayco is pragmatic and unpretentious, quite in keeping with its exterior presentation. A caravan to live in comfortably while you enjoy the things the destination has to offer. Not for the bling-hearted. I find it very appealing.

• Good volume of external and internal storage
• Very practical interior layout
• Efficient use of space in the washroom
• Two slide-out pantries instead of the two pantry cupboards would be good
• No dedicated cutlery drawer

Jayco Journey 19.61-3 Outback Specifications

Price [Updated for 2022 model]: $98,590

Find out more at jaycoauckland.co.nz

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Caravan review: Jayco Journey 17.55-8 Pop Top Outback

Written by: John Hughes; Photographer: Capture Factory

June 10, 2024

It’s no secret that Jayco Caravans ' vans are made for the masses and have made it possible for countless Aussies to experience the joys of caravanning. They are not perfect, and you can see aspects of the vans that are ‘built to a budget’, but they get the job done. I reckon the Jayco 18ft pop-top is one of Jayco’s all-time classic crowd-pleasers.

As caravan journalists, we have the opportunity to review all kinds of beauties. There is probably a bit of a bias towards covering the biggest, fanciest, cutting-edge vans available on the market. It’s partly driven by manufacturers supplying the media with the most upmarket vans they have because that’s what their marketers get excited about. And it’s partly driven by our curiosity to see what the latest and greatest offerings are so we can keep abreast of advancements in the industry. While this may make interesting writing for us and hopefully reading for you, some of these vans are reaching ‘unobtanium’ status for the average punter with some vans pushing price tags towards $300k.

The Jayco Journey Pop Top range is far from unobtanium. This one is an 18-footer that has all the core things you need, including a bathroom, with prices that start from under $60k for the Touring model. In this review, we are looking at the MY23 Outback variant priced at $66,203 which is more rough road and off-grid oriented. I think this is the price bracket a lot of people would be shopping in. Let’s see what you get for your money.

I have reviewed a few Jayco vans now. This Journey Outback Pop Top follows Jayco’s now well-established build regime. Underneath we have the Jayco-designed and in-house fabricated Endurance 2.0 chassis. It is hot dip galvanised and the main rails and A-frame are substantial 150mm x 50mm RHS steel. Additional rails feature cutouts to minimise weight. The chassis is matched to Jayco’s proprietary suspension system known as JTECH 2.0. It’s a trailing arm independent suspension that Jayco first launched in 2014. The JTECH concept utilising coil springs and shock absorbers is used across the Outback models while the Touring models sport a more basic leaf spring setup. 

The van rolls on smart-looking 15in black alloy rims and 235/75R15 all-terrain tyres. Sixteen-inch wheels are more the norm on most vans I see but I don’t think this will hold back the Outback as it appears to have good ground clearance — reportedly 185mm more than the equivalent Touring version when unladen. Upgraded electric brakes are another point of difference for the Outback. Both the Touring and Outback versions sport sway control by Lippert which is a great piece of kit at this price point.

Jayco also makes its own one-piece walls and roofs. The walls start with a welded aluminium frame marketed as Tough Frame. A fibreglass skin, outer and inner ply along with polystyrene insulation is then laminated to the frame in a vacuum press. Jayco claims it is both stronger and lighter than the conventional ‘timber and tin’ aluminium-clad walls and provides great thermal and acoustic insulation. 

Overall, the Journey Outback is a purposeful yet minimalist-looking van. The A-frame is not adorned with the ubiquitous toolbox but instead features a little pod to house two 9kg gas bottles. The optional jerry can holder sitting on the A-frame looks a bit odd to me, but it is highly functional. The rear wall is a cleanskin with no jerry can holders or spare wheel to be seen. The spare wheel resides under the chassis towards the rear of the van.

Talking about underneath, some of the plumbing does look exposed and vulnerable to stone damage. This is something the average DIYer could probably address with pool noodles and zip ties. Some of the plumbing fittings look reminiscent of what you see in home garden irrigation. They probably do the job fine, and this is an example of where Jayco can keep costs down. One of the plumbing lines was squashed though which would severely restrict flow, but this is something that could be fixed in less than five minutes.

Liveability

I like the inside of the Journey Outback. I reckon Jayco generally nails interior aesthetics and creates a stylish look that won’t offend anyone. This model has cosy seating with a compact table and overhead storage space is optimised for a pop-top van. Overhead storage is always a bit harder in a pop-top because you have less height to work with than a fixed-roof van to allow room for the roof to close. Our male model for this photoshoot was very tall and he was at risk of banging his head if he tried to sit under the overhead cupboards. Fortunately, this problem is easily negated by sitting on the part of the L-shaped seating not encroached on by cupboards.

The Journey Outback has a roof-mounted Dometic Harrier Lite air-conditioner which is the optimum position for cooling as cold air falls down. Some pop-tops have the air-conditioner fitted inside the van under furniture to keep weight off the roof. This makes it easier to push the roof up and puts less stress on the roof when bouncing around on rugged roads. We found the roof to be quite manageable to push up with the manual lifting mechanism and the roof construction appears to be sound, so the roof mount air-con is a winner . 

The appliances are all fine. A Thetford four-burner gas cooktop with a built-in griller is as good as you will find in much more expensive vans. The rangehood with 12V LED light and twin fans is up to the task as is the Sphere microwave right underneath the cooker. I am less excited about the old-school Dometic 153L three-way absorption fridge on board. Compressor fridges are capable of getting from ambient to operating temperature much faster than absorption fridges. Plus, compressor fridges can drop from ambient to operating while driving whereas absorption fridges are really only capable of holding temperature while driving. If I were buying this van, I would be looking at what needed to be done to run a small compressor fridge. To find out more about RV fridges and how they work, head here .

The bed area can be showered with natural light thanks to two huge windows and the surrounding storage is really good with side robes, drawers and more overhead lockers. The bathroom is pleasant and functional. A contoured storage nook with a very shallow benchtop allows enough space for the toilet. The nook has a nice big opening for housing towels, but the absence of doors means you wouldn’t be able to put tall items in there for the risk of them falling out when travelling. Showers in pop-tops always look a bit agricultural compared to full-height vans but the Journey Outback example is as good as I have seen. 

External liveability is very minimalistic. It’s nice to have a traditional rollout awning and picnic table included. If you want to cook outside you will be bringing your own little barbecue which can fit in the front tunnel boot. Apart from that, there’s not much to report. 

Minimalist is the keyword here again. You get a 100Ah AGM battery fed by a 200W solar panel working with a basic Projecta controller. There’s not enough oomph here to be doing anything fancy but that’s the whole point. You have to remember at the other end of the scale there are some vans with mind-blowing power packages that alone cost nearly as much as this entire van. If you want to learn more about powering your van for off-grid travel, read this article . 

The two 9kg gas bottles will give you plenty of old-school energy for cooking and powering that absorption fridge that I’m not a fan of. But here’s the thing, powering the absorption fridge with gas is the most initial outlay cost-effective way to do things.

Arguably the three 80L fresh water tanks are too much for this van — refer to the towing section below. A grey water tank does not come standard but can be optioned in. Your balance of fresh water to grey water is something you should give some serious thought to match your needs given that some camping locations mandate grey water storage.

There are a few high-end things missing from this van. Apart from keeping the cost down it also gives you a much lighter van — fully loaded you are looking at 2.5T. Combined with the low profile afforded by the pop-top design this is a highly desirable match for a so-called 3.5T tow-rated dual cab ute . In my opinion, this is the smart way to tow; it takes the stress off the tow vehicle and the driver and provides plenty of margin for error regarding legal towing weights. 

One thing to think about is how much water you want to carry. In round figures, this spec Jayco Journey Outback has a payload of around 500kg. In standard trim, it has 160L freshwater storage leaving you with around 340kg of available payload after filling the tanks. However, the test van had an additional 80L fresh water tank optioned on, bringing the combined water capacity to 240L. If you filled all the tanks, you would only have 260kg of payload to play with. Of course, you don’t need to option in this extra tank and even if you do you don’t need to fill it all the time. 

The bottom line

If a friend came to me and said they want to give this caravanning thing a crack, but they don’t want to break the bank, I would happily suggest they go and check out a Jayco Journey Pop Top Outback. 

HITS AND MISSES

• You get a lot of van for $66k
• A two-year manufacturer’s and five-year structural warranty gives peace of mind
• Light weight and low profile are winners
• I would be looking to upgrade from an absorption to a compressor fridge

JAYCO JOURNEY 17.55-8 POP TOP OUTBACK RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY You will find it very hard to get so much for your money from any other local manufacturer

TOWABILITY   I am a big fan of a 2.5T van

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING   If you want reasonably priced minimalist travel, this van could be for you

BUILD QUALITY I think Jayco often cops an unfair rap. There are some signs where Jayco reduce cost, but you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

LIVEABILITY Hook up, head off, live simply and have fun

SELF-SUFFICIENCY It’s far from cutting edge but you can easily make it work

CUSTOMER CARE Two-year manufacturing and five-year structural warranty along with an enormous dealership network is reassuring

INNOVATION Not much innovation on show here, but that’s fine with me

X-FACTOR Price, strong local backing and comes with all the essentials

JAYCO JOURNEY 17.55-8 POP TOP OUTBACK SPECS

Weights and measures.

Jayco Journey 17.55-8 Pop Top Outback price from  $64,155

OPTIONS FITTED

• Jerry can holder
• Extra 80L freshwater tank
• External shower
• Reverse camera
• Water filter

Jayco Journey 17.55-8 Pop Top Outback price as shown  $66,203

MORE INFORMATION

To enquire about this caravan or the other models in the Jayco range, head here . 

THE NEXT STEP

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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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Exploring Jayco Journey Range

Jayco's Journey is an impressive range of caravans, with a wide range of layouts and lengths in both caravan and pop-top models.

One of the major benefits of being Jayco, Australia’s largest caravan manufacturer, is that it can produce many models and layouts. Something for every purpose, budget and road condition be it a sealed road, rough road or offroad. 

The models include everything from a camper trailer to a toy hauler, but undoubtedly one of the big sellers is the Journey caravan range. Available as either a pop-top or full caravan, the Journeys are available in multiple layouts with different body lengths. All are offered as either a touring van or what Jayco calls its Outback range, something designed for handling rough road travel, not offroad. That includes two family vans, one a four berth and the other a six berth. 

Measuring up

Starting with the full caravans, there are eight different models. Jayco distinguishes between them by length, that is 16ft, 18ft, 19ft, 21ft and 22ft. In several cases, like the 19ft and 22ft , there are different layouts for the same lengths. What is slightly confusing is that the lengths are not actually an indication of the external body length, so the 16ft van actually has a body length of 17ft 6in (5.34m) and the 22ft van is 22ft 11in (6.99m) long. In between we have 18ft (18ft 8in/5.69m), 19ft (20ft 3in/6.18m) and 21ft (22ft 3in/6.79m). Consequently, all the vans are longer than might be expected. 

Weighty matters

For any caravan purchase, the caravan weight should be a consideration. Jayco does list all the van weights in its specification listings, but that should be taken as a guide only. Individual van weights will vary depending on the accessories fitted. 

Weights will of course be different with increasing body lengths. Just to give a couple of examples, the 16ft van has a tare mass of 1763kg and the  four-berth 22ft van has a tare mass of 2233kg. Although increasing length usually means an increased weight, that’s not always the case. The 21ft van has a tare mass of 2333kg, 100kg more than the 22ft but there’s a reason for that. All the vans have a payload of 600kg, except for the smallest, the 16ft, a single axle, which can carry 375kg. When comparing all the respective weights, it’s not surprising to learn that the Outback models with similar layouts all have a weight penalty, an extra 82kg in the case of the 16ft van and at the other end of the scale something like 190kg for one of the 22ft layouts. 

Layouts to please

Within the Journey caravan range there are several variations of the much-favoured front bed, and full-width rear bathroom layout. The 16ft and 18ft designs have a forward door entry and the 19ft has a rear door. The reason for the shorter vans having a forward door is that it’s a little more space effective. The alternative 19ft also happens to have a forward door entry but that’s because it’s a bunk van layout with accommodation for four people. To fit everything in, the front double bed is east west, not an island bed. 

A unique van in the Journey fleet is the 21ft layout being the only Journey with a slide-out. Hence the weight issue mentioned above. Fitted to the offside, it contains the east-west bed. A van designed for two, it has a full-width bathroom and a front club lounge, something appreciated by many. 

There are a few surprises in the longest vans, the three 22ft models. One is a bunk bed layout for four with plenty of room to move. Another family layout has beds for six, with a somewhat unusual arrangement for the bunks and the third has what many regards as the doyen of layouts, a rear club lounge. That’s achieved by having an island bed up front and a split bathroom next to the front bedroom. 

Fully equipped 

In all cases, the Journey vans are well appointed, with the fully equipped kitchen containing essentials such as a microwave oven, 171 litre three-way fridge and a four-burner cooktop with a separate grill and oven. Most of the bathrooms have a separate shower cubicle and cassette toilet. Items such as air conditioners, house batteries (100Ah), solar panels (200W) and two 9.0kg gas cylinders are all standard items. 

Pop-tops are go

A little surprise in the Journey range is the considerable array of pop-top layouts that Jayco has available. There’s more floor plan variety than the caravan range and in many cases smaller and lighter. The respective tare masses vary from 1110kg to 1817kg with payloads mostly between 350kg and 400kg. 

The pop-top lengths start with a pair of diminutive 12ft (3.83m/12ft 7in) units and extend all the way to four 17ft (5.48m/18ft) designs. Those include single and island bed layouts plus several family van designs. One, the 15ft (4.86m/15ft 11in) is a four-berth unit with an east west double bed and double bunks across the rear. Like the smaller vans, it does not have a bathroom but that keeps the weight down and makes them ideal for lightweight, caravan park style touring. Both the 16ft (5.2m/17ft) rigs have full-width bathrooms and are available in either single bed or double bed layouts. There are four vans in the 17ft (5.48m/18ft) range, two are bunk van designs and the other two are either single bed or double bed variants. Like the 16ft model mentioned previously, one of the 17ft layouts does not have a bathroom but it does have beds for a family of five making it a good budget option.

Similar to full caravans, the pop-tops are also available with Outback specifications. That does add extra weight of course but also gives more choice of touring destinations and ways to get to them. 

While fully fitted out, the pop-top equipment level specifications are a little lower than for the caravans. So, for instance, there’s a smaller fridge, an oven is optional, and the solar panels are only standard on the Outback models. 

It’s not really in the Journey line up but the 17ft Expanda is in a range all its own with just one model. I mention it because it has a pop-top roof. In addition to the roof though, the van also has expandable front and rear sections with beds at both ends. Having an external length of 5.62m (18ft 5in), its open length of nearly 8.0m (26ft 2in) is truly impressive. To say the least, that particular feature allows for much more living space inside the pop top. Not to mention beds, in standard form there being enough for six people. The tare mass of 1846kg and payload of 500kg makes the Expanda ideal for a wide range of tow vehicles. Like the Journey pop-tops, the Expanda is also available as an Outback version. 

Construction

Journey caravans and pop tops are all built the same way with most of the manufactured items done in-house. That starts with the hot dipped galvanised steel chassis, which is built with Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) rails and drawbar. C-section steel, with a weight saving punched hole design, is used for the cross-section members. The bodywork is definitely not the ‘sticks n’ tin’ approach but one that uses vacuum bonded quad layer construction. An aluminium frame supports the structure which consists of internal 3mm polyester coated plywood board, high-density polystyrene foam for insulation, external 3mm composite board and finally, a fibreglass panel exterior. The latter, according to Jayco, used to be hail and dent resistant, as well as being easy to clean. 

Outback extras

Touring Journey caravans and pop-tops are all fitted with leaf spring suspension as standard. However, the Outback vans come with a few extras like Jayco’s JTECH 2.0 independent coil suspension. Fitted with coil springs, shock absorbers, stub axles and bearings that are suited to using a Lippert Sway Command. In addition, the Outback vans have higher ground clearance, off-road electric brakes and protective side aluminium chequer plates. 

The bottom line

There’s an almost bewildering array of caravans and pop-tops in Jayco’s Journey range but the benefit of that is that there’s something for everyone, ranging from a diminutive 12ft single bed pop-top to a six berth 22ft caravan. 

THE NEXT STEP

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Jayco Journey

Jayco's re-named and up-market journey is arguably australia's best value pop-top.

Now, are you paying attention?

Jayco's premium caravan is no longer called the Sterling. It's now re-styled, re-equipped and re-named the Silverline .

The Discovery range of pop-tops, which previously sat between the Sterling and Expanda pop-tops, is history.

In place of the Discovery, there's the new 12-model Journey range of 16ft and 17ft pop-tops, 10 with combined shower/toilets and two with full shower-toilet ensuites across their rear.

These latter two, the 17ft 17.55-8 we review here and the 17.55-9, which is identical except for its twin front single beds instead of a single queen bed, are now Jayco's premium pop-tops.

If you want a smaller and/or cheaper pop-top, there are two further Jayco choices: one is the smooth-wall Expanda, available in sizes from 14ft-17ft, where the beds drop down from the ends, or the entry-level Starcraft with its ribbed aluminium walls available in sizes from 13ft-17ft.

Jayco's re-naming and re-positioning upwards of both models is bound to cause a little confusion in the used van market, but not if you're shopping for a premium specification new pop-top.

Quite simply at its price (ex-Victoria) of around $45,000, the 17ft Journey Outback 17.55 has little if any real competition.

While the concept is the same as the now-superseded Discovery – an aluminium wall-framed, but smooth fibreglass-clad full pop-top with fixed ends, there's a world of difference in the detail.

For a start, the Journey's exterior styling is much sharper and less rounded than was the Discovery's, from its new nose to its more abrupt Euro-look tail panel, with the actual pop-top roof now extending all the way to the very end of the roofline.

The black-framed, double-glazed windows are also larger and re-shaped, while on Outback-specced Journeys, the lower, stone-prone side panels are protected by black propeller-plate, whereas it was silver on the Discovery OBs.

However it's inside that you'll find the big changes.

In many ways, the interior look and feel of the Journey is similar to that of the previous Sterling. Jayco's stylish, flush-fit and light-toned timber CNC-cut cabinetry with new chrome handles, off-white benchtops and the light mock timber floor, gives the Journey a light, airy ambiance.

Unzipping the fly-mesh protected 'windows' in the pop-top doubles the effective 'window' area and the light just floods in, particularly into the full-width rear ensuite where the pop-top extends to the outer wall. This gives you the delightful feeling of showering outdoors, yet in total privacy.

The layout is pretty standard for a van of this size: front north-south island queen-size lift-up double bed, with good storage beneath, flanked by half-robes, two overheads cupboards and two huge, double-glazed, hopper-style picture windows.

In the centre there's an L-shaped three-seater dinette on the off-side, with a good-sized galley kitchen with reasonable, rather than exceptional, storage room opposite.

The cupboard to the right of the Dometic three gas and single electric burner cooktop and gas grill looks as though it should be a slide out pantry, but only houses shelves. Prep space is limited but adequate.

There's no oven (I personally don't see the need for them in caravans these days when you can bake cakes in a Weber Baby-Q), but there's a Sphere microwave at a sensible height above the Dometic 150 litre three-way fridge/freezer on the opposite wall.

The full-width ensuite is immediately to the right of the rear entry door, but the long curtain that shields the ablution area from the rest of the van is a cheap touch, as it blows out when the pop-top rear window is open. Even a concertina door would be better, but a sliding door would be best.

Otherwise the ensuite is workable, with a large vanity mirror above the half basin and flick mixer tap. There's a Thetford swivel cassette toilet and a good-sized, square ABS shower. 

This is all pretty good for $45,000, but it's underneath where the 17.55 OB makes its best business case.

Jayco's new independent trailing arm tandem JTECH suspension , which it developed in-house with cooperation from Australian spring and shock absorber specialists Pedders, is standard on all Outback-spec Jaycos, from the smallest Swift Camper Trailer; it's also original equipment on all Silverline models.

Jayco's challenge when it first considered moving to independent suspension was how to make it work in a 'Jayco' sort of way across its wide range of caravans and pop-tops. It also had to fit the existing wheel boxes, whether on a single or tandem axle van, as any change here would have the expensive knock-on affect on the CNC-cut furniture, which in turn would impact on layouts, fridge sizes and venting.

Apart from offering greater ground clearance, thanks to the elimination of the low-slung beam axle between the wheels, JTECH allows Jayco pop-tops like the Journey to go further and travel easier off the beaten track. Thanks to its 40mm diameter foam cell heavy-duty shockers, JTECH also means a softer ride for the caravan and its contents on corrugations.

It all looks beautiful in its red and black livery if you're prepared to crawl underneath – and perhaps for the first time on a Jayco, this is a worthwhile experience! There you'll also find that most wires and pipes are either well protected, or tucked up out of the way of wayward stones, with the exception of some wires we found dangling in the left hand rear.

Outside, there's not much storage space, except inside the generously-sized front boot with its partitioned compartment with the twin gas bottles. It would be good to see some sort of auxiliary storage solution on the otherwise naked (save for a single jerry can holder) A-frame. The Journey OB's ball weight of 154kg unladen would seem to allow some room for this.

My other two gripes are minor, but need attention.

The front left roof-latch for the pop-top cannot be released without either lifting the awning by about 30mm, or else letting it swing out a little. And vice-versa when re-clipping.

What is really annoying about this is I have to do the same thing on my 2008 model Jayco Expanda and I believe people were also doing this with Jayco pop-tops 10 years ago. Moving the awning 20mm to the rear and the front latch 20mm to the left would solve it!

The other one is that the pop-top's wall-mounted awning light is completely obscured when you open the door. And surely you're going to have the door open, even if the flyscreen section is closed, when you're seated outside.

In part compensation, the inside of the Carefree roller awning is fitted with a row of tiny LEDs – looks a bit too much like Christmas lights for my liking! Again, a really simply solution is to just relocate the outside light to the centre of the pop-top body.

But to be fair, these are small grumps for what otherwise is a well-thought out pop-top, made all the better with its new decor, rear full ensuite and above all, its JTECH independent suspension.

The new Jayco Journey 17.55 is a whole lot of pop-top for modest money, with a good, workable layout, a bright, cheery interior and all wanted features in an easy-to-tow, 2.5-tonne package.

Tick the Outback option box and Jayco's new JTECH independent suspension truly makes this a pop-top for all roads and all reasons. It will take many adventurous travelers comfortably well off the bitumen, where it will serve as an excellent base station for even an extended touring holiday.

WE LIKED:  >> Price and standard equipment >> Layout including rear ensuite >> New independent suspension

NOT SO MUCH: >> A-frame finish poor, with sharp dags of galvanizing >> Pop-top heavy to raise at front end >> Location of exterior light and front pop-top latch

JAYCO JOURNEY 17.55 POP-TOP

Travel length: 7.2m External body length: 5.705m Internal body length: 5.186m Interior height: 2.115m External body width: 2.470m (incl. awning) Travel height: 2.655m (including air con) Tare: 1994kg? ATM: 2432kg Ball weight: 154kg Wall structure: Aluminium frame/high-density polystyrene foam insulation/ply inner liner Chassis: 150mm x 50mm hot-dipped galvanised Suspension: JTECH tandem independent trailing arm with coil springs and shock absorbers Brakes: 10in electric?off-road Stability Control: Optional Wheels/tyres: 15in alloy wheels/235/75R15 tyres Fresh water: 1 x 82-litre fresh water Battery: 100Ah deep cycle Air-conditioner: roof-mounted, Truma Aventa Gas: 2 x 9kg in front boot Cooking: Four-burner Dometic gas cooktop, plus gas grill Fridge: 150-litre Dometic three-way Microwave: Sphere Toilet: Thetford cassette? Shower: Separate moulded ABS cubicle with additional external shower Lighting: LED throughout Price (ex-Melb): $45,212 Options fitted (not included in above price):  A-frame extension (spare wheel fitted within the A-frame to allow for bike rack), Fiamma bike rack to rear, 150w solar upgrade in lieu of 120w, External TV point (outlet), Control Panel, External Shower, Picnic Table Supplied by: Jayco Australia , Dandenong South, Victoria

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