Comparing Jayco X18D to Roo/Shamrock 183 and Starcraft 187TB

[noelleh]

Hi all,

We are looking to upgrade from our trusty old popup to an HTT with 3 popout beds (tall & still growing teenagers), and I'd love your input on deciding between these different brands. I hear that Jayco is generally a high-quality brand, but I have nothing else to really compare the 3 mentioned in my subject line. Are there other brands that have this similar configuration?

I'd love help with comparisons on long-term quality, features you love, value/price, etc. of the various brands. Are there major differences in quality in these brands, or are the cost differences due mostly to trim packages?

Currently we have our eye on a used like-new 2012 Jayco X18D nearby, but we would be willing to buy new if the price was right and/or buy a different brand altogether, perhaps.

THANKS !! 🙂


Noelle in MN

[Jayco25E]

indybp57 wrote:

Jayco25E wrote:

Chuck_S wrote:
Ground clearance on the Jaycos has always been a problem not noted on the Roos.

-- Chuck

Ground clearance is not an issue on Jayco's. Yes some set lower than others. I prefer the lower ground clearance. One is it makes it easier for my dogs to get in and out. Second it has less wind resistance going down the road. So do not listen to all the na Sayers that think it’s better to have their HTT jacked up in the air. You can compare and make your own decision.

My comment about the step really wasn't about ground clearance. My sisters Jayco and our Roo are about the same from floor to ground. Our Roo, however has 2 steps to enter the door whereas my sisters Jayco has only one, and it is a big step to climb in. The steps are bolt on and am sure a dealer could change them. I was merely pointing out the differences.

No your commemt was good information for the OP to compare. And its also ok to say that different makes might have different ground clearance. And the OP can take all the info into account. But I and other Jayco owners get irritated when someone says ground clearance is a problem on a make that he does not own.

[bid_time]

Chuck_S wrote:
Ground clearance on the Jaycos has always been a problem not noted on the Roos.

-- Chuck

Can you point to even one post with firsthand experience where this has been a problem? Hack Job. How about your 7 tubes of caulk to fix leaks?

[indybp57]

Jayco25E wrote:

Chuck_S wrote:
Ground clearance on the Jaycos has always been a problem not noted on the Roos.

-- Chuck

Ground clearance is not an issue on Jayco's. Yes some set lower than others. I prefer the lower ground clearance. One is it makes it easier for my dogs to get in and out. Second it has less wind resistance going down the road. So do not listen to all the na Sayers that think it’s better to have their HTT jacked up in the air. You can compare and make your own decision.

My comment about the step really wasn't about ground clearance. My sisters Jayco and our Roo are about the same from floor to ground. Our Roo, however has 2 steps to enter the door whereas my sisters Jayco has only one, and it is a big step to climb in. The steps are bolt on and am sure a dealer could change them. I was merely pointing out the differences.

[Jayco25E]

Chuck_S wrote:
Ground clearance on the Jaycos has always been a problem not noted on the Roos.

-- Chuck

Ground clearance is not an issue on Jayco's. Yes some set lower than others. I prefer the lower ground clearance. One is it makes it easier for my dogs to get in and out. Second it has less wind resistance going down the road. So do not listen to all the na Sayers that think it’s better to have their HTT jacked up in the air. You can compare and make your own decision.

[Santa_Fe]

I made the same Jayco X18D/Starcraft 187TB comparison last summer before I bought. My Starcraft has a larger fridge/freezer compared to the Jayco, a surround in the shower, sewer hose storage in the bumper as opposed to the body of the trailer, and higher ground clearance. You can see what my final decision was...I picked up one of the "traded in the first two years" units. I think it's the ideal layout and don't miss not having a slide. There's a ton of floorspace in the trailer that makes it feel like a much bigger unit, not to mention it tows great behind my 4Runner.

[Chuck_S]

Ground clearance on the Jaycos has always been a problem not noted on the Roos.

-- Chuck

[indybp57]

My sister has a 2012 Jayco 19D (3 bunk) and we have a 2013 Roo 183. The Roo has permanently attached canvas on the bunk doors which makes for quicker setup/teardown. Jayco has the canvas that must be snapped down then unsnapped. The Roo mattresses snap to the bunkdoor before you close them. My sister must remove her matresses, close the bunk, then store the matresses in slings inside the bunk. My sister is envious of
our double sink, I am envious of her bench seat that spans the. full width of the front of her trailer. After that there is not a lot of significant differences. She has one huge step to get inside we. have 2 smaller steps.

[Padlin]

They are all so darn close in quality it really makes no difference which you go with, you can still get a lemon with any of them. Just pick out the floorplan and color scheme you like best. I had heard somewhere that something like 80% of people trade them in in the first 2 years anyway which the folks selling the 2012 you're looking at discovered.
You can go to RVdirect and see what a new Jayco should go for, compare it to the used one. Sometimes driving to get one of these direct sales units are worth the drive.

[galexander]

DW and I have had our 2013 Jayco X18D for a year now and have been completely satisfied it. There is just the two of us so this smaller unit is just the right size for us. A slide out would be nice but for the extra cost and maintenance, it is not worth it for us. The best advice on what to buy is to buy what you like, what fits your needs, and how much do you want to spend.
Good Luck

[PAThwacker]

not all models are the same. Take a look back a few years find gems. Bunk house hybrids that allow winter turtling and heavy payload.
Mine is a 2008 21ft bh htt 3400lb empty 5000lb loaded.

[bikendan]

Jayco, Roo/Shamrock and Starcraft have been considered the best hybrids made for many years. they sell more than any other brands, so that says something.

the Roo/Shamrock appears to have a double sink, while the other two have a single sink. the Starcraft has a linen cabinet, that the others don't appear to have. but it's heavier and longer than the other two.

bottom line is you can't go wrong with any of them since they are almost all exactly alike. i'd say whatever one you can get the best price from. be sure to get quotes for the Roo from RVW and for the Roo, Shamrock and Jayco from RVDirect. use those quotes for shopping.

i will say that many who've bought one of these, have later wished they had bought the bigger/longer versions with the slideout, like the 233S. you must have a tow vehicle that's not capable of towing anything bigger.

[Jayco25E]

noelleh wrote:
Hi all,

We are looking to upgrade from our trusty old popup to an HTT with 3 popout beds (tall & still growing teenagers), and I'd love your input on deciding between these different brands. I hear that Jayco is generally a high-quality brand, but I have nothing else to really compare the 3 mentioned in my subject line. Are there other brands that have this similar configuration?

I'd love help with comparisons on long-term quality, features you love, value/price, etc. of the various brands. Are there major differences in quality in these brands, or are the cost differences due mostly to trim packages?

Currently we have our eye on a used like-new 2012 Jayco X18D nearby, but we would be willing to buy new if the price was right and/or buy a different brand altogether, perhaps.

THANKS !! 🙂


Noelle in MN

We did the same thing back in 2007. Basically you are comparing two manufactures. Jayco owns StarCraft so they are the same camper with different decals. And Roo and Shamrock are also the same camper with different decals. There might be some small differences but overall the same units. I own a Jayco and love it. They are built well and have had no major issues. I have also heard folks say good things about Roo's as well. I have never owned a Roo so I cannot say anything good or bad about them. We are glad we made the upgrade from a pop up. And this is from someone that swore he would never own a travel trailer other than a pop up. lol