New Jayco Jay Smart

[whywait]

Hey there - In a recent issue of Trailer Life they showed a picture of a great looking, European-inspired TT that Jayco has decided to market in North America. It's called the Jay Smart. I can't find anything about it on Jayco's website, nor online. Can anyone shed any light on this?

[RobertRyan]

Hope Jayco puts in one of the updated European Interiors.
from a Swift Caravan SE

[AlbertaNewbie]

RobertRyan wrote:

Mike Up wrote:
Wind gusts around 40 mph are very common around here especially off of the lake. An instable trailer has no right to be on the road.

Get gusts like that in Europe and Australia

and most cars there that have the same platform as NA cars have the tow capacity of a small pickup .....and they tow with them. When a trailer is loaded properly for its configuration it doesn't matter where the axles are or how much tongue weight it has.

[RobertRyan]

Mike Up wrote:
Wind gusts around 40 mph are very common around here especially off of the lake. An instable trailer has no right to be on the road.

Get gusts like that in Europe and Australia

[RobertRyan]

Photo of the Jayco Jay Smart

Photo of Australian Jayco's new Silverline

[RobertRyan]

Campfire Time wrote:
Just because its different and "European" doesn't mean its better. People go ga-ga over Ikea. While I don't think there is anything wrong with Ikea or its furniture, quality is no better than any thing made in the US.

Well IKEA is bargain basement furnishing in Europe, so not exactly high end.

[LisaD]

I disagree - lightweight comes at a price. Techy and not light doesn't have to be flimsy at all. That said, there's such strong PR on the Jay Smart that I almost wonder if the person from Jayco gave me wrong info. I remain hopeful.

[camperforlife]

Mike Up wrote:
Wind gusts around 40 mph are very common around here especially off of the lake. An instable trailer has no right to be on the road.

Yep, and that's why Indiana sports a huge wind farm and it's not unusual to hear of a semi blown off I65 or the toll road. Feb 15 when I drove to Chi town I counted 4 blow overs going up and 2 coming back and saw one portable "danger high wind" sign blow out in the road and get run over by a truck.

[Mike_Up]

NYCgrrl wrote:

I don't get it either. In general, US RV manufacturers, seem so afraid of change. I do think the market is here and hope more companies step up to the plate sooner rather than later. A lot of baby boomers have no need for double bunkbed units and granite kitchens that mirror that of their stick and brick homes. They are looking to travel light in surroundings that better reflect their lives and without driving a big truck to accomplish the deed.

Very light weight trailers are usually built with poor payload and quality due to weak lightweight materials. It's not just one brand. I was in the hunt for a lightweight trailer and found nothing but very expensive junk.

Jayco wants to keep a good reputation that's not tarnished by flimsy built boxes. They previously build some really small, light trailers with sub-par light materials and it bit them. Don't think they'll want to make that mistake again.

As far as the comment made by another, Indiana is the perfect place to base an RV decision as we are the RV capital of the world. In normal communities that aren't ruled by dictator led HOAs, a large percentage of homes have some type of camping trailer.

[Campfire_Time]

Just because its different and "European" doesn't mean its better. People go ga-ga over Ikea. While I don't think there is anything wrong with Ikea or its furniture, quality is no better than any thing made in the US.

[goducks10]

gmw photos wrote:
It will be interesting to see how these things tow in the american midwest on a typical day of gusting 30-40 mph crosswinds at 60 mph driving speed.
Not much tongue weight and axles pretty much centered looks like a prescription for sway to me.

Propride and Hensley will be all over this opportunity.....Sean....you paying attention ... ?

I think you just wrote about our last TT. A 2010 Heatland Northtrail 26 LRSS. Nearly centered axles and a 9% TW from the factory.

I see for 2014 they have a new frame. Go figure.

[gmw_photos]

Having spent 40 years working for a major corporation, I will say that decisions made by management are based on input from various departments.
Marketing is to sell product. Engineering is to ensure it works. Legal is to protect the company and shareholder assets.
While we have no way of knowing exactly what was said in that conference room, we can assume the relevant departments had their say, and when all said and done of course, mgmnt told marketing to put a palatable spin on what gets output to the dealers and public.

I go back to my earlier statement: I like tongue weight. Engineering and legal do too, I suspect.

[NYCgrrl]

LisaD wrote:
I contacted Jayco about this and was told.... "it's been determined, with input from our dealers, that the timing on the Jay Smart is not quite right and has turned out to be cost prohibitive for the market segment we were targeting."

The disparity between USA and overseas is astounding to me and I was really excited to read the Jay Smart was actually going to be launched. What did they do? Talk to some dealers in Indiana? Someone needs to step up. So disappointing.

I don't get it either. In general, US RV manufacturers, seem so afraid of change. I do think the market is here and hope more companies step up to the plate sooner rather than later. A lot of baby boomers have no need for double bunkbed units and granite kitchens that mirror that of their stick and brick homes. They are looking to travel light in surroundings that better reflect their lives and without driving a big truck to accomplish the deed.

[Mike_Up]

Wind gusts around 40 mph are very common around here especially off of the lake. An instable trailer has no right to be on the road.

[gmw_photos]

I dunno....maybe they talked to some ENGINEERS in Indiana, and were told....this thing is not gonna tow well here in the big 'ol wide open, windy expanses of the USA at the speeds we run......

I like tongue weight.....