Considering a new TT, looking for thoughts/opinions

Jaycos are nice. One floorplan you might check out, which many manufacturers make, is one with a rear sliding queen bed and a quad bunkhouse in the front. My sister as one and it was one of their only options to get a quad bunkhouse they could tow with their Expedition. It has some compromises being an ultralight but they're happy with it overall. My biggest knock on it is no side slide and a low ceiling.

I think they're pretty much all rubber roofs, and certainly that's the case with the mainstream brands as far as I know.

Jayco makes a good unit. I think you are correct on the roof(s) - almost all TT manufacturers are using EPDM rubber roofs, now.

The Jayco model you mention will have about an 800 - 850 lb. tongue weight loaded. With 1/2 ton trucks, the payload capacity is exceeded long before the "towing capacity" (as listed by the truck manufacturer) is reached. I would load the truck with full fuel, people, gear, hitch (I hope you plan on using an equalizer hitch with sway control) and head for the nearest CAT scales. Subtract the scale weight from the GVWR on the door sticker and see what you have left over for tongue weight.

Before going full-time, we towed a 6,000 lb. GVWR TT with a Tahoe with the 5.3. It's a good motor, but would stay at 3,500 RPM for long periods on grades (and that's on interstate highways in the Eastern U.S. with only two of us in the vehicle). This was even more pronounced in the mountains in North Carolina and East Tennessee.

Rob

I had a Layton for 11 yrs. it was rock solid the entire time. Never had to touch it for any kind of repair.

So far,(3000 miles) i'm 100% happy with my flawless Jayco. Just got back from my lake site for a one month stay.

Jayco Jayflight has 15" wheels . I know on my 23RB, the OEM wheels and tires, do the job with about 15-20% load margin left.
Alum skin is lightweight and no slide makes this towable using a GM heavy duty max tow package.

compare the two SLX vs Jayflight
http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f7/would-you-do-it-slx-vs-jayflight-22926.html

Go to the Jayco website Jayflight 26BH .
This is the longer bunk model than the 23RB that i now have. See my profile for a pic. Im loaded up and it sits level with a WD hitch. This floorplan works very well with lots of storage.
We have a large dog who thinks this rv belongs to her, and we still have plenty of room to move about inside on those rainy days.
I have the elite package that gives us many extras, the 90 gals of water is nice once we set up on a state campground site with no hookups .

2017, they be had for under 19k.
http://www.keystonervcenter.com/2017-jayco-jay-flight-26bh-new-travel-trailer-pa-i1950370

Welcome and congrats on looking at a new rig!!!

I was actually going to suggest the Jay Flight 26 BH (no slide) or the 27 BHS (slide). The Flight's have a little more options available, and usually a little more cargo capacity vs the SLX model. Though you won't go wrong either way! There are other manufactures with the same floorplan as well if you choose to consider other manufactures. We have been very happy so far with our '16 Jayco. Few minor issues, but so far so good in about 15 months of ownership.

As mentioned, the big issue you face is the payload of your truck. As a starting point, there is a yellow sticker in the drivers door jamb that states "All occupants and cargo not to exceed XXXXlbs". How much is this stated payload?

As the sticker states, all passengers, cargo (coolers, bikes, firewood, etc) in the truck, any accessories added (truck topper/tonneau cover, step bars, etc), the wdh (weight distribution hitch), AND the tt tw (travel trailer tongue weight) all count toward the max payload of the tv (tow vehicle).

Make sure you get a good wdh with integrated sway control if you don't have one already. The Reese Dual Cam, Reese SC, and the Equal-I-Zer 4 way system are all very good models.

Good luck!!!

Wow, excellent responses, thanks y'all!

I appreciate all the thoughts. Yes, I looked at the specs on the Jay Flight versus the SLX. Looks to be about a $4k difference in price give or take.

The brochure language on the second to the last page concerned me where it talked about construction materials and it said "NA on the SLX" which tells me there is a difference.

I guess in the grand scheme of things $4k more is not a lot when considering a new rig that I'd want to keep 10yrs. I do like the large handle on the entry way of the regular Flight, I like the aluminum wheels, larger fresh tank capacity (that is really nice) and then little things like the black tank flush (no more having my wife use the spray wand at the dump station), the plastic slid out cubbies under the dinette seats, ETC.

Also seems like the regular flight is higher off the ground (more ground clearance?) On my 89' Layton I did an axle relocation and changed it to over-slung from under-slung, which gave me about 3" more ground clearance (was too low going into and out of my driveway) I checked and the Flight SLX is under-slung. The sewer connection on it seems pretty close to the ground, so that is a concern for me.

I'd go with the regular Flight especially if they are built with better materials for the framing members and such. The rear ladder is a huge plus because I like to check roof calk joints twice per year.

How long do these Rubber roofs last typically? Of course my Layton is still wearing the original, one piece aluminum roof after 27 yrs and it's still in great shape. That's going to be very hard to beat in a new rig I'm afraid. I guess that's one reason I've always liked the 80's rigs, built heavier when weight was not as much of a concern. My Layton is 93" wide and the Flight is 96 so not much difference there. I can't help but feel like my Layton has more interior storage compartments, even when looked at against the larger Jayco. Could be just me though. The Layton has a 20' box and is 23' overall ball to bumper. It's 6,000 GVW so heavy for what it is, but I don't mind that.

As far as Payload, yes, I know that's a consideration. I don't know what the GVW is on the regular Flight, but the SLX is 6500, so only 500 more than my current rig, so I'm not to concerned. My 15 Chevy CC 4x4 has a Payload of 1740 I think, so over 3/4 ton of pay. I figure with me, my wife, two boys and gear in the truck that's probably 7-800 lbs or so, including the hitch (boys are 9 and 12) so that leaves me with over 1,000lbs for tongue weight. Even if the 800lbs for us and the gear is light, I'd still have 8-900 lbs for tongue weight so I think i'd be OK and within all limits. Absolutely agree on a good (new WDH and sway control) what I have now is not heavy enough for the added weight of the Flight 26 BH. I've been RVing for a long time now and want to do it safely. It's a big responsibility running down the road with a TT of the size/weight of even my current rig. The speeds some folks run with TT's is crazy. I got passed just this past week on a local highway by a GMC Yukon Denali towing at least a 30' trailer. He passed me when I was doing 70mph so he had to be 75-80. I was just thinking at the time when I'd see him along the side of the road with blown out tires. Hopefully for his sake that didn't happen.

That is exactly why I wanted to stay with a 7000lb GVW trailer MAX. Any more than that I'd really have to think about 3/4 ton trucks because I like extra margin. Really, the regular Flight 26 BH is probably the most I'd want behind my Silverado.

What other OEM's out there have similar, no slide floor plans? How does the cost compare to the Jayco? Quality compared to Jayco?

The other option is to just put some money into the Layton and keep it another 4-5 years, I haven't completely ruled that out, but the thoughts of a brand new rig with a 2 yr warranty is appealing to me with how much we have been camping the past few years.

Thanks again,
G

Since you have some TT experience why not rent what you think you want and see if you like it.

Also, virtually all the TT makers in northern Indiana are in the heart of Amish country, so they can all draw from the same pool of highly skill, old world type, fine craftsmen; provided they can pound out 25 or so units a day.

Thanks. I have to admit, looking at the jaycos, and other brands at shady maple Rv, I did see a lot of quality issues. Just sloppy workmanship. There isa video on you tube of a Jayflight 26 by with tons of issues. There's also a video out that Shows Jayco building a trailer in under 7hrs start to finish,. Really slapped together. They may all be that way, but it was not confidence inspiring to say the least

I think, judging from my tours of RV factories, they are all thrown together pretty fast. Shady workmanship abounds.

trail-explorer wrote:
I think, judging from my tours of RV factories, they are all thrown together pretty fast. Shady workmanship abounds.

That's my concern. I don't want to sell my Layton, despite its issues and wind up with a new rig thats nothing but headaches. Especially after spending all that money. It's a tough decision

I saw that video, they are going thru production real quickly. Would you want to sit and watch for 7 hours? Ever been thru an auto assembly plant.....same thing, only it's robots instead of humans. Now, i am on my 4th Jayflight. If i couldtake the pain, i wouldhave the Jayflight emblem tatood on my ass (oops,i mean butt). Even after number 4, which is an SLX, i still believe they are by far the best bang for the buck.... and by far the best product that comes off the line at Jayco. The are quite a few differences between the Jayflight and the SLX. What it comes down to is what your budget allows you. Where they cut corners to keep the costn weight down has nobearing what so ever on the quality ofthe SLX. Mine came home 3 weeks ago, and i havegone totally thru it, she's near perfect.
As for the video, John Mcdonald, they guy who is on the video, was working in their Customer Service Dept wayback in '99 when i had a water leak issue with my Lite Hawk. It was because ofthe way he (and Jayco), went well beyond to make sur i was taken careof and satisfied, ihave gone on to purchase many more trailers, and only Jaycos ( ok, one sister Starcraft), and 4 were Jayflights!