jayco journey outback gvm upgrade

Caravan ATM upgrade – what it is, what’s involved and how to get one If you weigh your caravan and it’s overweight, what are your options? Here's how to get a caravan ATM upgrade, and what’s involved.

If you weigh your caravan and it’s overweight, what are your options? Here’s how to get a caravan ATM upgrade and what’s involved.

The most talked-about subject among caravan owners is weight compliance, and to many, the whole subject can be downright confusing. With many new couples, singles and families getting into caravanning, there has never been a more crucial time to make sure you fully understand all the weight terminologies and ensure your rig is compliant.

Let’s take a quick look at the terminology

Before we talk about caravan ATM upgrades, let’s have a look at all those weight terminologies and acronyms that are recorded on the caravan compliance plate . These ratings and capacities are there to ensure your caravan is legal and able to be operated safely.

Tare Weight (TARE)

Tare weight is the total dry weight of the caravan as it leaves the factory with all accessories fitted, including empty water tanks and empty gas bottles. This does not include aftermarket items fitted after manufacture by the caravan dealer or a previous owner.

Towball Mass at Tare

The Towball Mass at Tare is measured at the tow hitch with the caravan level. This weight is added to the wheel weights to calculate the empty caravan’s Tare Weight.

Towball Mass (TBM)

Towball mass measures the weight the caravan tow hitch imposes on the tow vehicle. Most manufacturers these days do not specify a maximum allowable Towball Mass on the caravan compliance plate. If this is the case, the maximum download for the caravan tow hitch is then determined by the allowable tow ball download of the tow vehicle.

Gross Trailer Mass (GTM)

The GTM is the maximum allowable weight that the fully loaded caravan imposes on the ground through its wheels and axles.

Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM)

The ATM is the total weight of the fully loaded caravan, unhitched from the tow vehicle. The ATM includes the total weight imposed on each wheel plus the weight imposed at the tow hitch. These measurements all need to be taken at the same time to ensure the result is correct. So TBM + GTM = ATM

Axle Group Loading (AGL)

The AGL records the axle capacity of the caravan, which is usually determined by the chassis manufacturer or the axle manufacturer.

First things first – get your caravan weighed

Now that you know what all the weights mean, the next thing to do is get your caravan weighed. Remember that to be compliant, you need to ensure you are under all the compliance ratings: Towball Mass, Gross Trailer Mass, and Aggregate Trailer Mass. We’ve spoken previously to Dave Lewis from Weightcheck , a mobile caravan weighing service, and he reports that over the past three years, around 45% of the caravans he has weighed have exceeded their ATM. Many others had problems with their TBM or GTM.

In order to achieve the most accurate results, Dave points out a crucial piece of advice:

Weighing the caravan involves measuring the weight of each wheel and the tow ball download all at the same time, yes, all at the same time. First, the caravan must be at the same altitude or angle as it is when attached to the tow vehicle. The tow ball mass must also be measured with the tow hitch at the same height it is when attached to the tow vehicle. Anything other than this will mean the measurements, especially the TBM, will not be accurate.”

It’s overweight!

Okay, you’ve weighed the caravan and now, to your dismay, you realise that you have too much gear. It has exceeded the ATM, GTM, or TBM or maybe all three. So what are your options to get around this nightmare and ensure your caravan is compliant?

Firstly, don’t panic. Have a seriously good look at how you can reduce weight in the caravan. You have to be a hard taskmaster, and we recommend going through every cupboard and drawer and if it’s not absolutely essential that a certain item is in there, then take it out.

Open up that front boot and sort out all those tools and other stuff we all take just in case something breaks. Realistically, you probably don’t need some of it. Next, get the bathroom scales and weigh everything that comes out, no matter how small or insignificant. One of Dave’s recent customers did exactly this and was able to pull 63 kilograms out of the caravan in the blink of an eye.

Getting more payload

So, you’ve had a cull, and the caravan is still over its ATM, so what is your next option? How do you get more available payload in your caravan? The answer may be an ATM upgrade, which involves increasing the payload of the caravan by overriding the original compliance plate ratings.

The process is very complex and thorough and can only be completed by a licenced engineer, who also needs to be an accredited person with the relevant state transport authority. If all goes to plan, a Modification Plate will be attached to the caravan beside the original compliance plate, with the relevant paperwork submitted to the State Transport Authority to reflect the new ATM on the caravan registration.

How a caravan ATM upgrade works

So, let’s look at what is involved in a caravan ATM upgrade and how it works. Most engineers will first supply an assessment sheet that provides the formwork to ascertain whether an upgrade is possible with the caravan in its existing state without the need for structural modifications. The details from the existing compliance, in particular the Axle Group Loading, play an important part of the assessment. There are also many ratings and sizes of various caravan components that will affect the outcome. Let’s look at some of them.

• Tyres: The tyre size, load rating, maximum pressure rating, and the tyre date code.
• Rims : The rim size, load rating and type of construction (alloy or steel).
• Coupling : The make, load rating, type (ball or off-road), and the bolt size and type of nuts.
• Chains : The chain size, number of chains, and markings (Aust. Standards AS4177)
• Suspension : Type of suspension (Leaf/Coil/Torsion/Airbag)
• Springs : Type of spring, (Slipper/Rocker/Roller), width, thickness, and number of leaves
• Axles : Type of axle (straight/drop/overlay), shape (round or square), and the load rating
• Bearings : Type, size, and load rating
• Brakes : Brake type (disc/drum) and size (10in/12in)

Required measurements

There are also a number of measurements that need to be taken, which form the basis of the assessment. These measurements allow the engineer to ascertain if the caravan’s chassis is strong enough to handle the increased payload, as well as ensuring it will handle safely and predictably when being towed. These measurements are entered into a computer program that then calculates the effect the new payload has on the tolerances of the existing, unmodified chassis.

The measurements include:

• Drawbar length
• Tow hitch to boot
• Chassis overhang
• Axle spread
• Hanger spread
• Crossmember length
• Outrigger length
• Coupling plate thickness
• Crossmember size
• Chassis size (length x width x thickness)
• Chassis reinforcement, if applicable
• Drawbar size (length x width x thickness)
• Drawbar reinforcement, if applicable

If any of the component ratings or measurements do not meet the guidelines, the engineer will make recommendations as to what repairs or modifications would need to be carried out, in order to proceed with the upgrade. This may require work, for instance, to reinforce the chassis or drawbar or upgrade or increase the size of a chassis component such as brakes or axles in order for the assessment to continue.

The final part of the assessment

The final part of the assessment is a full inspection of the chassis and caravan that hopefully will not show up any defects that make the upgrade unachievable. It’s worthwhile noting that this could prove an advantage because if a fault is discovered during this inspection, it’s likely the owner was probably unaware of it. Dave Lewis recently referred a customer with an overweight caravan to an engineer for a potential ATM upgrade, only to discover that the caravan chassis had multiple hairline cracks and it needed some urgent repair work. Once completed, however, the caravan was able to have an ATM upgrade.

The upgrade will normally increase the compliance rating of both the Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) and the Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM). The engineer may also suggest that the Towball Mass (TBM) be maintained at a certain weight in order for the caravan to be towed safely with the increased payload.

The legal bits

Once the assessment is complete and the engineer is satisfied the caravan will handle the increased payload, they will complete all the relevant State Department of Transport paperwork and attach a Vehicle Modification Plate that specifies the upgraded compliance ratings. These new ratings are then recorded on the caravan’s registration certificate.

And finally…

Before ordering a caravan ATM upgrade, the first thing to do is get your caravan and tow vehicle weighed when fully loaded. There are six compliance ratings that need to be checked, including the Gross Combination Mass, which is the total weight of the caravan and tow vehicle combined. For instance, if your rig is under its GCM, but the caravan is over its ATM, then the option is there to look into an ATM upgrade. Remember, it is a different story if the caravan is over its ATM and the rig is over its GCM, so you need to get the bigger picture first.

The best advice is to get good advice before you decide on a path to follow.

Words by Dave Lewis, Weightcheck , Brisbane.

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If you weigh your caravan and it’s overweight, what are your options? Here's how to get a caravan ATM upgrade, and what’s involved.

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Chassis   ATM UPGRADE SUCCESS NSW 20.6 EXPANDA

• Thread starter Pottsie
• Start date May 5, 2019
• Caravan Forums
• How To's / Tech Help / Tech Talk

• May 5, 2019

Attachments

• Finke Report.pdf 823.9 KB · Views: 807

Well-Known Member

• May 6, 2019

Great write up. I We had our payload upgraded at purchase (2016 20.64.1) without the extra bracing, I would need to check but am assuming still a stich welding and so on. But having the second battery and everything in your payload is A+ Well done.  

Thanks Mecca. If I purchase a new van in the future I will be sure to do as you did and negotiate sufficient payload in the contract. Cheers Pottsie  

• May 7, 2019

That's a really well done and thorough process and I appreciate you sharing it. Out of interest, what do you tow the big girl with?  

Great report and I found it very interesting, especially the metal work pics ............... with my Ute loaded I wouldn't legally be able to it.  

Drover said: Great report and I found it very interesting, especially the metal work pics ............... with my Ute loaded I wouldn't legally be able to it. Click to expand...

I have a Ford Ranger which means with a GCM of 6000kg I am still doing a balancing act. The only accessory on the car is an ARB alloy Bull bar for our outback travels. We are careful to only take away what we are sure to use and have a few empty cupboards in the van. Last time on the weighbridge I was just under the 6000kg GVM. I figured I could only become lighter from that point as we consumed the beer, wine ,food etc. The only heavy items in the Ute tray were a generator and an Oz Pig.  

Cheers Pottsie... oh the joys of not having to cart a whole bunch of stuff in your car! With the mods to the Rock Truck just means towing something that big just blows the GCM out of the water for me. Well done on being responsible and all across it. Many aren't.  

Thanks Smergen. Even though the combination tows beautifully I don't like being at the maximum limit. A 200 series with perhaps a GVM upgrade would be the answer, but you have to ask yourself where does it end.  

So long as you are using weigh bridge tickets and not compliance plate fantasy, around the campfire tonight a fella with a 79 series showed me his weigh bridge ticket, GCM was all good but he blew it on GTM for van and GVM for tug by a hundred odd kg on each, checked the compluance plates, I explained to him vehicle weight compliance requires a number of boxes ticked before you pass....GTM, ATM, GCM and GVM must all be ticked, over on any and you fail, if you dig deeper you can tick all of them and fail an axle load.... The bean counters in government don't make it easy....... I reckon 200kg under GCM is good then your not flogging the crap out of your vehicle ......  

• May 8, 2019

Pottsie said: Thanks Smergen. Even though the combination tows beautifully I don't like being at the maximum limit. A 200 series with perhaps a GVM upgrade would be the answer, but you have to ask yourself where does it end. Click to expand...

I wonder how the engineer decided where /why to put the strengthening plates etc on Pottsies 20.6 Expanda. This apparently only gives around 200kg.extra ATM. which is spread over 4 load bearing wheels with independent suspension and two exterior frame sides of the van chassis.This still does not address torsional stress etc,which maybe worse (new springs) now on the rest of the chassis and suspension frame..I also note the van has the Enduro GT tyres. On my 16.5 2 wheel Journey Outback Poptop these tyres are at their load carrying limit when the van is at max legal towing weight.!! My mate towed his Silverline with a new Ford Ranger trayback. Well overweight when loaded ,plus it was the tail wagging the dog on the road.White knuckle stuff.Sold R and bought 11 year old LC100 now found he is still overweight. A vehicle with a 3.5 towing capacity is the max the vehicle should tow, towing this max weight day in and out will put huge stresses on both tow vehicles and the van.Plus the driver!  

BJM said: I wonder how the engineer decided where /why to put the strengthening plates etc on Pottsies 20.6 Expanda. This apparently only gives around 200kg.extra ATM. which is spread over 4 load bearing wheels with independent suspension and two exterior frame sides of the van chassis.This still does not address torsional stress etc,which maybe worse (new springs) now on the rest of the chassis and suspension frame..I also note the van has the Enduro GT tyres. On my 16.5 2 wheel Journey Outback Poptop these tyres are at their load carrying limit when the van is at max legal towing weight.!! My mate towed his Silverline with a new Ford Ranger trayback. Well overweight when loaded ,plus it was the tail wagging the dog on the road.White knuckle stuff.Sold R and bought 11 year old LC100 now found he is still overweight. A vehicle with a 3.5 towing capacity is the max the vehicle should tow, towing this max weight day in and out will put huge stresses on both tow vehicles and the van.Plus the driver! Click to expand...

Just Sayin !! I have rebuilt a few vans over the years.The Jaycos like my 2015 Journey Outback poptop have a floor that is glued and screwed.In some areas of mine on the cross members the glue has let go.I have also seen the ply floors crack.Probably from a twisting action.A redeeming feature of the 4 wheel independent it is much kinder on components than dual straight axle setups. It also has a substantial frame that the trailing arm suspension is attached to. . I just think a great lump of steel plate on the outside of each chassis rail may not really be needed.  

Most 3.5t tow cap vehicles when loaded can only tow 2.8t anymore and you blow the GCM, I reckon if you need to spend heaps of $$$ upgrading for increase GCM then you have the wrong vehicle, upgrading just means your flogging it, since majority of folks have no idea about weights overloading will continue, the tyres on new vans are usually cheap rubbish fitted for cist and bling.........  

• May 9, 2019

Hey @Pottsie don't think we are rubbishing your upgrade mate, its really very good and something that shouldn't really be needed if things are built and tagged properly. One thing I did notice in the pics, you need to upgrade your jack, that scissor Jack is a killer, if you use it on anything other than flat concrete it has a 99% chance of collapsing, cut it up throw it in the bin they shouldn't be used at anytime, get a bottle jack and a nice solid base plate, live longer. @BJM I have often wondered why they don't hang suspension off its own frame with the van chassis mounted on it, easier to work on and handle flex.............when I replaced the suspension on my 14.44 I found on one of the hangars they had burnt thru the chassis when they welded the hangar on originally, a stressfull thing to find and patch up.  

Drover. The JTech independant suspension as on mine and Pottsies is built on a separate frame that is then welded to van cross frames and chassis rails.It is a substantial unit in its own right. Thats why I questioned the need for the side plates.It would need a huge amount of stress to bend the original fittings/components etc.Something else would go first.!!  

BJM said: Drover. The JTech independant suspension as on mine and Pottsies is built on a separate frame that is then welded to van cross frames and chassis rails.It is a substantial unit in its own right. Thats why I questioned the need for the side plates.It would need a huge amount of stress to bend the original fittings/components etc.Something else would go first.!! Click to expand...

Don't worry Drover. I am all good with the discussion. As you said most folks don't have a clue about weights and may become more informed by us posting our experiences. The caravan manufacturers could be doing a lot more to build lighter stronger caravans, but that would probably come at a cost.. As BJM mentioned the JTech suspension is solidly constructed and so I also wondered what the side plates were going to achieve in that location. Not being an engineer I accepted the certifiers report and got on with the upgrade.  

@Pottsie I love your opening post. Your the first person I can recall that has completed this process ( sorry if others have I just don’t remember) and it has been documented well in English in what looks to be a simple step by step process. I am sure you had a lot of road blocks and set backs initially but your outcome gives the rest of us who may want to go down that path some hope.  

Johanson Brothers Motorsport

Jayco upgraded atm.

Available for most Jayco models including Silverline, Starcraft, Journey and including all outback models.

Update 2023 – Now ATM upgrades to 4500kgs with suspension drawbar and chassis modifications

With the assistance of King Springs we have designed custom springs to suit most Jayco models that will carry extra weight to support ATM and GTM increase. Restoring ride height and bump stop clearance and reducing sway.

We have engineered these springs, drawbar and a suspension modification to safely allow a certified weight carrying capacity increase.

Enquire now by clicking the link to see how we can help you- Compliance Certificate Enquiry – Vehicle Engineering

Quality – Integrity – Honesty

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/

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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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Jayco Journey Outback Walk Through

The Jayco Journey Outback is fast becoming one of our most sought-after products—for both new caravanners, and existing carvanners looking to upgrade from a smaller pop top.

The Jayco Journey Outback really ticks all the boxes for everyday caravanning and those longer trips around the country. Paul knows the Journey Outback like the back of his hand, so it’s only fitting he takes us through all the features on offer in this amazing home on wheels.

Jayco Journey Outback Features

One of the terrific features on the Jayco Journey Outback is the 12 Volt awning. With the simple press of a button on your smart phone, extend your awning out, and it takes one of life’s dreary tasks and turns it into a. bit of fun.

The Journey Outback also comes with our popular optional slide out kitchen. Feauting a sink, two-burner cooker, and foldout tray for your Weber as well.

Once we get inside this amazing caravan, you’ll find a pillow-top innerspring mattress on the main bed, which lifts up to find very generous storage.

The kitchen has plenty of bench space, cupboards, and features Jayco’s famous grill and oven combination with four gas burners on top.

And, you can’t live without it…a standard 24″ modular tv screen with dvd for the family nights in.

The Journey Outback also features generously sized bunks, a separate shower and toilet, and the all important standard washing machine.

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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 . 

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