Outdoors RV vs Jayco - Owners, Please Share Your Thoughts

[Baja_Man]

Hello--

Been looking for a used TT for my family of 5. Me, DW, DS (18), DS (13) and a furry friend. Our 13 yo has Autism and will be camping with us for years to come. Unlike most teens, DS (18) enjoys spending time with us and his brother so he will go with us as much as college allows him to.

Considering late model (2014+) Jaycos.... 28BHBE and 32BHDS. Used prices are around $15K-$20K

During my search I ran into a 2016 Outdoor RV Timber Ridge 280RKS. $32K is asking price. Did a little research and found it to be pretty well made.

What can those of you who own, or have owned, these models share about the Outdoor Timber Ridge 280RKS compared to Jayco Jay Flights?

The 280 RKS floor plan is nice. There are no bunks but the added two recliners allow wife and I a place to have coffee if our boys sleep in.

I know there is an additional $10K-$15K in cost. Wondering if the additional cost has merit and is worth nearly twice the price of the Jayco? Resale?

I plan on keeping for several years and using often once I retire in 6 years. In the meantime, 3-4 (4-6 day) trips per year, and a two week trip during summers.

Thanks!

[Baja_Man]

Thanks Tucquala!

I will have to go and see it again to check cabinet sticker. BTW....what does your yellow door jamb sticker and outside sticker state for CCC?

[TUCQUALA]

Did you look for the sticker in the interior cabinet??? I am betting the "tire sticker" is calculated with full water tank.

And yes, at 34' 3", the trailer is long. Has cut out a few mountain sites we have frequented. But never have gotten into any nasty situations on the back roads!!!

[Baja_Man]

Well, went to look at the 2016 Timber Ridge tonight....BIG mistake! Now the wife is hooked and wants it!

What a difference between this one and other units we have seen. Furniture quality, cabinetry, windows, fit/finish, 15" wheels /tires, shock absorbers, etc. Simply a nice trailer.

Now, I did look at the yellow sticker and it states CCC 929# I don't know of this includes full tank of water. Owner said it does not.

He also said ORV had WAY underestimated the weight. This is what they told him when he asked about the brochure and sticker discrepancy.

He also said this TT is a 2016 1/2 due to it including some options that were not included in early 2016.

It is a looooong unit at nearly 35' overall length.

Now to decide......2016 Jayco 32BHDS used for $20-22K or this Timber Ridge?

[Candie4749]

We have a 2017 Jayco Jay Flight 34RSBS and we love it! We traded a 2004 Jayco Eagle which was also a quality built trailer.

[TUCQUALA]

In our 280RKS (and all newer trailers), there is a sticker inside a cabinet door. Ours is in upper cabinet right next to the control panel. Ours shows 1842 CCC, and 1038 hitch wgt as built. Each trailer will have its own sticker according to what is installed when finished. Ask the seller to pic the sticker in the one you are considering for real info!!!

As with "brochure" figures, take them with a bit of open mind!! Ours is pretty close to the specs. We travel 80% of the time with full water tank, and lots (!!) of "stuff" in trailer. Having done weights often on highway scales (almost always on in WA & OR), have never found that we are near the 9600 lb GVWR of our trailer. I 'spose that if you add hitch weight in, we may be over some, but I don't worry about it at all. Same trailers in 2017 with 16" tires had the GVWR increased to over 10K. Axles total 10400 lb capacity, so I wouldn't worry aboot the CCC!!!!

[carringb]

Baja Man wrote:


Does your 2016 have same CCC of 929# or close to it?

Thanks

Brochure CCC does not include water. Trailer sticker assumes full fresh water. My fresh water system is 103 gallons. So.... You might have to sometimes leave some water at home. Or just don't worry about it and just make sure you stay under the axle weights.

[Baja_Man]

pconroy328 wrote:

Baja Man wrote:
Our 13 yo has Autism and will be camping with us for years to come. Unlike most teens, DS (18) enjoys spending time with us and his brother so he will go with us as much as college allows him to.

No help on the TT but just wanted to chime in that we're in the same boat with our 15 year old son.

He loves camping and his older brother enjoys spending time with him too.

what year / model TT do you have? Bunks or ?

We're debating a 2014-2016 Jayco JayFlight 32BHDS for $22K used

OR

2016 Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 280RKS for $30K It has a Hide A Bed and large U shaped dinette and 2 nice swiveling recliners. Wonder if making up dinette and Hide A Bed every night and morning will become too much of a chore. It's not like we're living in it, but not sure how that process would pan out.

[pconroy328]

Baja Man wrote:
Our 13 yo has Autism and will be camping with us for years to come. Unlike most teens, DS (18) enjoys spending time with us and his brother so he will go with us as much as college allows him to.

No help on the TT but just wanted to chime in that we're in the same boat with our 15 year old son.

He loves camping and his older brother enjoys spending time with him too.

[normal_dave]

"man, puleez...":B

Jayco construction

Outdoors RV construction

[Baja_Man]

TUCQUALA wrote:
Prior to our 280RKS, we had a 2010 Jayco 24RBS. We enjoyed it, was pretty well put together, but didn't compare to our Timber Ridge in almost all aspects. Our son had a 2012 Jayco 26RKS before he got a Wind River 270CIS. He had quite a few problems with his Jayco, the worst being the roof of slide sagging a good amount!!

Neither of our ORV products have not had problems, but they have been minor, and have been taken care of easily both by myself and the factory. Lots of room and storage INSIDE the 280RKS, but minimal outside storage. Minor for us, and I have added 2 outside doors to access the dinette seat area from outside. Tows great, lots of fresh water and holding tank capacity, and well built. Warmer than the Jayco up here in the NW during spring and fall camping.

Jayco is a great trailer but not as great as an ORV, in my opinion. As you can see price also reflects that somewhat. Go with an ORV if finances allow!!

If you haven't been on this site, go there and read all the positive and negative posts. Good info!!

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f282/

I just looked at a photo of the outside specs sticker on the unit I am considering. It states CCC of only 929#. I called owner and he said ORV had grossly underestimated the out the door weight and actually wrote in brochure for 2016 models a CCC of 1800. That is waaaay off! Not sure about the low CCC of 929#.....seems rather low for such a robust TT. But I guess all of the heavy axles, wheel, furniture, woodwork, etc. add up. Kind of sad such a nice TT only has 929# of CCC.

Does your 2016 have same CCC of 929# or close to it?

Thanks

[hawkeye-08]

I don't have details, but my brother just sold his Jayco and bought an Outdoors RV. They are really enjoying it.

[jarata1]

Outdoor all day

[carringb]

ORV gets my vote! I had a bad experience Jayco. It was a long time ago (~2002) but our trailer had many issues, and Jayco had trouble approving repairs in a timely manner, to the point the dealer had possession of it for most of a year. Some of the issues were caused by driving on rough terrain, which the Jayco simply wasn't designed for. But the lack of good factory support was unacceptable. It sounded like they had made improvements in service since my experience, but the Thor takeover is unlikely to continue that trend.

ORV on the other hand... It's better built. Hands down. Hundreds of miles of dirt, rock, gravel, and non-existent roads, combined with 10s of thousands of snow & ice driving, and the ONLY thing that shook apart was a single window shade valance. I've never seen the slightest sign of chassis flex even in the harshest driving conditions. Compared to the Keystone trailer I originally cross-shoped, ORVs chassis is massive.

Now, I did have some issues. First one was greased brakes. Possibly by the original delivery driver? It has EZ lube hubs, and they got packed full and then some. I toured the ORV factory, and the axles are pre-lubed so it probably didn't happen there. But ORV covered replacement at a dealer (not even the one I bought from). I had several Schwintek issues, and ORV covered round-trip transport to the factory to replace that system each time. They always offered to send a transporter, but their insurance won't allow transport when roads are icy, in which case ORV reimbursed my fuel and RV park expenses. So I would absolutely buy another, or a unit from their sister company Northwood.

My only outstanding issues are 1) It still has Schwinteks. Keeping my fingers crossed I won't have more issues. 2) The brakes aren't big enough. I wish it had 7k axles for the larger brakes, and also I could share spare tires with my van. I am going to try heavier wiring, and different shoes, and hope that makes it acceptable. Otherwise I probably will do some sort of axle upgrade in the future.

[TUCQUALA]

More comments on 280RKS: Obviously not a bunkhouse, but your two sons can use the trifold sofa and the large dinette to sleep very comfortably!! Furry one can sleep anywhere as our 2 boxers do!! We only use one recliner, which opens up the interior even more. Lots of closet and bath storage, good mattress. Not a full queen, but not a problem for us.

See you have a V10 as we do. You should have no problem pulling, we travel many backroads and mountain passes and have had no towing difficulties, even with full tanks. Even better than when we had 3.73 axles. 4.30s are probably the best ratio for towing with a V10.

[TUCQUALA]

Prior to our 280RKS, we had a 2010 Jayco 24RBS. We enjoyed it, was pretty well put together, but didn't compare to our Timber Ridge in almost all aspects. Our son had a 2012 Jayco 26RKS before he got a Wind River 270CIS. He had quite a few problems with his Jayco, the worst being the roof of slide sagging a good amount!!

Neither of our ORV products have not had problems, but they have been minor, and have been taken care of easily both by myself and the factory. Lots of room and storage INSIDE the 280RKS, but minimal outside storage. Minor for us, and I have added 2 outside doors to access the dinette seat area from outside. Tows great, lots of fresh water and holding tank capacity, and well built. Warmer than the Jayco up here in the NW during spring and fall camping.

Jayco is a great trailer but not as great as an ORV, in my opinion. As you can see price also reflects that somewhat. Go with an ORV if finances allow!!

If you haven't been on this site, go there and read all the positive and negative posts. Good info!!

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f282/