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Itching2go's avatar
Itching2go
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2013

2008 Jayco Designer 35RLSA... Thoughts?

Getting close to pulling the trigger on a 2008 Jayco Designer 35RLSA, and looking for any comments, good or bad, about the rig... quality, equipment, manufacturer, towability, etc. The unit is equipped with plenty of options, including washer/drier, satellite antennae, 50 inch TV with surround sound, whole-house vacuum, etc. Pulling with a 2007 Chevy 3500 D/A, so well within specs there. Asking price is in the mid-$30,000 range. Anyone have experience or advice for me on this? Much appreciated...

Thanks in advance... Bill
  • If its in good shape, it should continue to be a good unit. Unit in my sig has held up very well, without problems with general maintenance. Your tv should be well matched for it. Not sure about the price. Seems a little high to me, but I've not been in the market for awhile. Good luck!
  • Our friends have that exact year and have had few problems. They love their unit.
  • We had that exact unit. Owned it since new--and it was well used.
    Loved the following....side isle bathroom, Quality of things meant nothing really fell apart, Mor-Ryde Hitch(towed like a dream), Convection Microwave(1/2 time oven), the day-night shades really did darken the room. Loved that large rear window. Big TV, and surround sound.
    WE towed our unit on multiple trips....Glacier, Yellowstone, Zion, Tetons, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Redwood, Crater Lake, Lassen...I think you get the idea...lots of places. It towed like a dream...but it has some weight...so on some grades we had to take it real easy.
    Things we did not like....
    The vent over the stove---does not vent to the outside--unless a modification has been made--even though there is a exterior vent...had issues with the rear electric jacks(broken shear pin & bad resetting circuit breaker), A/C units rear unit leaked water from not being properly tightened the front unit had a problem with leaking water after running for about 90 minutes.
    Our decal on the front did crack and have to be replaced. We had an issue with one of the slides---a bolt broke and had to be replaced--not huge but had to tear into the underbelly. Only a handful of times did we find the SIZE of this unit to be an issue.
    Don't hear that I hated this unit...cuz we did not. Replaced it spring of this year....as we needed something different for our next stage of travel.
    Your price of mid 30's sounds about right....maybe a tad high but not too out of line.
    Hope this helps.
  • Thanks, all, for the information.
    RVing... intrigued by your comment about 'taking it easy on some grades'. Were you pulling with the Dodge 3500 in your sig? If 'yes', how 'easy' did you have to go?
  • Sorry----I didn't elaborate. I meant going "DOWN" hill. Due to weight had to go easy down hill. More than once brakes heated up. I wasn't bashful about the kinds of downhill grades I took it on. AS to going up hill....unit had no issues being pulled by the Dodge 3500 dually. Again, towed like a dream and had little to no chucking. I'd have to say it towed much better than my Montana today.
  • Ahhh... Makes sense. I was thinking that you shouldn't have too much of a problem uphill with a Dodge 1-ton Diesel. Now downhill, I can get that. Really need to do something about that 'gravity' thing... :-)

    Thanks, RVing...