Jayco is entering the Diesel Pusher gang

[kerrlakeRoo]

Just saw an article on
www.rvbusiness.com
that Jayco is building new Class A units on the Spartan Chassis. First one to be 37' and have 4 slides. New product line to be named the "Embark"
More expansion in the industry.
It's already on their website too
www.jayco.com

[JCGibson]

Compared to our Newmar Ventana 3709 we had which is similar in length and price:

- Length: Ventana 3709 - 37'10"; Embark 37MB - 37'10"
- Wheelbase: V - 242"; E - 236"
- GVWR: V - 37300; E - 32000
- Chassis: V - Freightliner with Comfort Drive w/360HP Cummins & 3000 Allison Tran; E - Spartan with Independent Front Suspension w/360HP Cummins & 3000 Allison
- Towing: V - 10K; E - 10K
- Fuel Cap: V - 100 gallon; E - 100 gallon
- Fresh Water Cap: V - 105 gallon; E - 100 gallon

Not saying Jayco is anything close to Newmar, but on paper the chassis is fairly close to our Ventana and with independent front suspension the ride should be very good on the Embark.

Here are the specs on the Chassis: http://www.spartanmotors.com/rv-range/jayco-embark-37/

[irishtom29]

On the other hand the door at the front corner of the body places the front wheels farther to the rear, shortening the wheelbase. Note that gas coaches have the front wheel farther forward thus giving an opportunity for a longer wheelbase in a shorter coach, though Tiffin is the only gas coach maker that takes much advantage of that, most gas coaches having awkwardly long rear overhangs.

[Mile_High]

Mr.Mark wrote:

The Logans wrote:
Too many negatives for me... short wheelbase, residential fridge, under-powered diesel engine, entry door in front of the passenger seat, dinette and couch not together, so that everybody can't watch the TV together.

Seems like it was designed by somebody who has never camped before!

I was agreeing until you said the front door is in front of the passenger seat.

The area at the passenger is dead space. Putting the entrance door behind the passenger seat really breaks-up usable space (storage, cabinets and/or a slide). Putting the entrance door at the front utilizes the whole passenger wall.

At 37 ft., that is very valuable space.

Safe travels,
MM.

Interesting. My wife hated that door up front when we were shopping but she didn't know the floor closed under her feet at the touch of a button. Most of the time the batteries were dead. Now that she knows, she is fine with it.

I agree with Mr. Mark, the mid doors not only take a lot of room, I always thought they were a bit hazardous for your passengers trying to walk back there down the road. I worried about the kids falling down the steps to that door and busting through it on our old gasser so I wouldn't let them get out of the seat unless I'm stopped. I'm not so concerned now with the front door, but of course they are grandkids now 🙂

I also see the residential fridge as a +, not a - for a MH. Trailer maybe not.

[ro_sie]

https://www.jayco.com/files/downloads/prod_brochure_filename_68.pdf

I have a new neighbor, just moved next door about 3 weeks ago. They have a really great looking Embark class c It has bunk beds. I dont know the length, but it looks long, close as the length of my 40 ft revolution. I havent seen the inside of it, but the outside looks outstanding. It is a diesel, sounds good and strong. I wont knock it until I see something that looks shoddy.

[Mr_Mark1]

The Logans wrote:
Too many negatives for me... short wheelbase, residential fridge, under-powered diesel engine, entry door in front of the passenger seat, dinette and couch not together, so that everybody can't watch the TV together.

Seems like it was designed by somebody who has never camped before!

I was agreeing until you said the front door is in front of the passenger seat.

The area at the passenger is dead space. Putting the entrance door behind the passenger seat really breaks-up usable space (storage, cabinets and/or a slide). Putting the entrance door at the front utilizes the whole passenger wall.

At 37 ft., that is very valuable space.

Safe travels,
MM.

[Mile_High]

The outside body molds look like the 2013-2015 Entegra. Guess they didn't want to throw out the molds so started a new line 🙂

[The_Logans]

Too many negatives for me... short wheelbase, residential fridge, under-powered diesel engine, entry door in front of the passenger seat, dinette and couch not together, so that everybody can't watch the TV together.

Seems like it was designed by somebody who has never camped before!

[wolfe10]

azdryheat wrote:
236" - I wonder what else they'll skimp on. Even the gassers have longer wheelbases.

For comparison, our 2003 Alpine 38' is on a 260" wheelbase. More (longer) IS better.

[az99]

I sure hope for their sake they do a MUCH better job with the Embark this time around. The last Embark in the 2009-2012 time frame was their luxury,high $ version of the Seneca. Unfortunately the Amish "craftsmen" built it like all their other out the door let someone else fix it junk.

[dougrainer]

old guy wrote:
didn't jayco build the entegra? and then sold out to thor

Jayco makes the Pusher Entegra line AND built a C class Embarq a few years ago and failed with the Embarq and dropped it. THOR does own Jayco and the Entegra division now. But, it is still a Jayco company. Thor does not really change the Manufacturers they buy. They buy them because they are satisfied with how they are run and built. Jayco's problem is simple. In 20 years they have NEVER been able to build a Diesel pusher motorhome that has not failed. The Entegra division was purchased from the old Travel Supreme that went under and Jayco used the Travel Supreme designs and builds in the new Entegra division, which is why that division has a good motorhome line. Doug

[BillofPA]

also a small diesel engine

[Dale_Traveling]

Jayco has a reasonable reputation but with a MSRP of $289,411 for a first production model they lost me as a buyer. The specs are pretty much the same as any other under 40' DP so why should I be a test subject when for the same price I could pick up a coach with a known production history?

[old_guy]

didn't jayco build the entegra? and then sold out to thor

[lj2654]

I'll pass!

[kerrlakeRoo]

azdryheat wrote:
236" - I wonder what else they'll skimp on. Even the gassers have longer wheelbases.

I guess they're learning from Thor.