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Jayco Bringing
Its Stamp of Quality To The Campervan Market |
March 30, 2004: The campervan was unveiled at the seven-day Melbourne Caravan and Camping Show, which started on March 30 at Caulfield Racecourse. Having become the pre-eminent manufacturer of “towable” recreational vehilces in its 29-year-history Jayco used all its know-how and technical excellence to create a new benchmark in luxurious campervan design. Jayco, with its state-of-the-art high-tech manufacturing processes, has come up trumps in its first foray into the highly competitive campervan and motorhome market. Jayco went through a detailed selection process to choose a van that had a reputation for reliability and performance and studied European and American trends and Australia’s own campervan market. The Fiat Ducato won out with more than 1.2 million Ducato vans worldwide, including tens of thousands used as campervans in Europe. The van was introduced to Australia in 2002. While the Ducato is a commercial vehicle, up front it doesn’t have a commercial feel about it. The driver’s seat is a comfortable armrest-equipped chair that can be adjusted in all the required directions to ensure thousands of kilometres of comfort behind the steering wheel. Essential for campervan owners on the road. The Fiat Ducato has a reputation for high performance and economy from its outstanding direct injection common rail turbo intercooled 2.8 litre 93.5 kW diesel engine. The transmission consists of a five speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels. The load compartment is spacious, and with height at 1.85 metres ( 6ft 1 in) and a payload of 1500 kg the Ducato filled all of Jayco’s criteria for its first campervan. “Once the Ducato was selected our research and development people set about designing a van to be an easy-travelling, easy-living holidaying experience for a couple,” said Jayco’s marketing manager Bruce Astbury. The designers developed computer generated graphics before settling on a specific design to take to the factory floor. Bruce Astbury recalled: “Everything we did was documented so that we could develop a construction program to create a production line model that would make for efficient, cost-effective manufacture so that we could retain Jayco’s high standards of quality while also build a campervan that provided value for money.” Entry to the living area is easy, through a large side sliding door and there is also a rear back door that gives easy access to stowed holiday gear. To maximise day time use there is no double bed taking up valuable living space. At night the dinette quickly and easily converts to a double bed. The shower and toilet compartment is easily accessible both in living and sleeping modes. The kitchen includes a Smev four-burner gas stove. A 12-volt Dometic refrigerator is built into a cabinet behind the passenger seat. There is excellent storage in cupboards, seat lockers and wardrobe. The furnishings, curtains and overall décor of the campervan have that hallmark stamp of Jayco luxury and styling. Jayco’s attention to detail also went as far as using powder coated aluminium to build the dinette seating and has introduced curved and rounded workbench edges,. The Jayco campervan sells at $75,625 plus on road costs. Jayco has an arrangement with Fiat so that the campervan can be serviced through any Fiat, Kea or Western Star Trucks service centres across Australia. Selected Jayco dealers handling the campervans are also developing service centres that can also service the vehicles. For maintenance and servicing of the van’s furnishings and fittings Jayco dealers nationwide offer service facilities. Jayco Campervan at a glance Vehicle |