Jayco Jay Flight 26BH vs Salem Cruise Lite 261BH (advice)

Dawgfan83 wrote:
Oh and this one too...

http://m.rvtrader.com/dealers/Camping-World-RV-Sales---Woodstock-2886582/listing/2014-Heartland-Wilderness-2350BH-110623568

That's the same floorplan as the Jay Feather 228.

Dawgfan83 wrote:
Thank y'all for all the advice/suggestions. I'm still looking and actually came across another camper we really like. Thoughts or opinions on this one:

http://m.rvtrader.com/dealers/Camping-World-RV-Sales---Woodstock-2886582/listing/2014-Heartland-Pioneer-RB22-112499964

We aren't sold on the BH because we grew up in pop-ups and it was never an option or need. I like the BR size of this one, don't know anything about the brand. I like the thought of getting the price down some more too. Too many choices out there, lol.

Thanks in advance again!

That's the same floorplan as the Jay Flight 22FB. For only 500 lbs more, I'd get the 26BH. The price difference is only $1000 more but you get all the extra storage under the double bed and the extra sleeping.

Just seen, Jayco Discontinued the Jay Flight 22FB but still has the floorplan in the Jay Feather 221.

Oh and this one too...

http://m.rvtrader.com/dealers/Camping-World-RV-Sales---Woodstock-2886582/listing/2014-Heartland-Wilderness-2350BH-110623568

Thank y'all for all the advice/suggestions. I'm still looking and actually came across another camper we really like. Thoughts or opinions on this one:

http://m.rvtrader.com/dealers/Camping-World-RV-Sales---Woodstock-2886582/listing/2014-Heartland-Pioneer-RB22-112499964

We aren't sold on the BH because we grew up in pop-ups and it was never an option or need. I like the BR size of this one, don't know anything about the brand. I like the thought of getting the price down some more too. Too many choices out there, lol.

Thanks in advance again!

If you haven't taken a look at the Z-1 by crossroads they have a very similar model with an additional benefit. The bathroom and the bunk beds are swapped. As a benefit Crossroads has added a second entrance in the bathroom. Very handy when the kids are outside playing and need to go potty. They can go straight to the restroom. Also helps keep dirt out of the living area.

We had a no slide camper and would have another. I am going to look long and hard on these models for our future TT.

Thanks,

Jeremiah

Oh yeh, the Forest River Salem Cruise Lite rear double bed, isn't a double bed. I believe it's a twin 40" width bed. The Jay Flight has a 48" width double size bed.

So you may not be able to fit 2 people on the Salem bottom bunk. Salem uses a screwy bathroom configuration so you don't have as much room for the bottom bunk, as most other makers. Salem also only gives you a front bedroom shelf where Jay Flight gives you a dresser/cabinet. Also you don't have any night stands in the Salem as they bring the wards all the way down. This is a big minus as having a place to put things is a must, such as a CPAP machine.

I've been seriously looking at upgrading to the Jayco 26BH from a 2012 Swift SLX 184BH. I don't think the 2015s are "Swift" models. Looks like they had those in 2014 (Swift 264BH) and they did have smaller fresh water capacity at 48 gal and GVWR of 6,500. The website says the 2015 has 90 gal fresh water capacity and 7,000 GVWR. The Elite "upgrades" to 80 gal capacity tanks but I'm not sure how that's an upgrade unless I'm missing something. Maybe someone can enlighten us.

If this is your first travel trailer, I'd suggest going with at least another model size larger than what you think you want. I didn't jump right in and buy, so I just knew we'd be happy with the 184BH for years to come - beats sleeping in a tent after all! We looked at all kinds of campers, including the 26BH. Did a lot of research and read a lot on this forum (including some other's advice to buy larger than you think you want). Now - two years later - I'm quickly realizing I would have been much better off to buy the 26BH to begin with. We've had a great time in ours and been from Georgia to Maine in it, but now it's time for an upgrade with our growing family - just me and the wife two years ago (and two large dogs that LOVE camping); now a 6 month old and likely another on the way within the next year.

Good luck with whichever model you choose and hope you make wonderful memories in it.

We have a 2013 26BH and love it. Our kids are young (5 and 10) and there is ample storage space but it does get a bit crowded in the kitchen area when everyone is running around inside the TT on those rainy days.

$16,900 seems a bit high but it depends on the options you are getting. I brought in a quote from another dealer on the same TT and our dealer came way down on the price.

What are you going to use as a tow vehicle?

We had a Jayco 2011 26BH and liked it. It was just too small. I'm not up on the models or if they changed to go downline (swift). It had good build quality and a lot of nice features. I don't have any experience with the other unit.

Love my 2012 Jay Flight 26BH but they did cheapen it up significantly by discontinuing the Jay Flight design and build, and cheapening it to a Jay Flight "Swift" but with the standard "Jay Flight" name. Nothing wrong with the cheaper "Swift" design but it's drops a lot of standard features that the Jay Flight has as the omission of ducted in-floor heat, the heavier duty 7500 lbs GVWR chassis, 90 gallons of fresh water, and better storage separation walls and framing. You can get more gee wiz features now but build quality is always my first priority.

You have to get the Elite package to get what was standard with the previous Jay Flight models but also gets good options as nicer suspension, bigger fridge, kitchen skylite, and better kitchen faucet. Most other stuff was standards on previous Jay Flights with a few being options. You don't have the in-floor duct heating, better GVWR or high capacity fresh water tanks now or even as an option, which is a big disappointment.

I still would likely buy it but I would want a really good discount since the 2013s and 2014s were so much better. I believe the Salem line is built by Forest River, which I wouldn't even consider, but that's me and my disappointment in many of their makes.

I will say that the 26BH is really a great floorplan with a lot of room. We are a family of 4 with the addition of either 1 or 2 guests depending on the trip. The camper fits us great with a lot of storage as well.