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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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Jayco Vs Coachmen: Which Is Better And Why?
In the world of recreational vehicles (RVs), two brands that have stood the test of time are Jayco and Coachmen. The debate over Jayco Vs Coachmen: Which Is Better And Why? is a common one among RV enthusiasts.
Jayco, established in 1968, has carved a niche for itself for its innovative design and quality construction, offering a wide range of travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes.
On the other hand, Coachmen, serving the industry since 1964, is known for its versatile lineup of RVs that cater to diverse customer needs and budgets.
If you have spent a sufficient amount of time on any RV campground or you have taken the time to have a closer look at the travel trailers plying the road, then it is more than likely you have seen a Jayco or a Coachmen RV.
For starters, Jayco is one of the most popular RV brands in the United States, and Coachmen is another leading RV brand.
The choice between Jayco and Coachmen often comes down to personal preference, specific model features, and budget considerations. If you are actively interested in purchasing an RV for your travels and you are unsure which RV brand of the two is for you then read on to find out.
In this comparison article, we will discuss the philosophies of both brands, what they offer, and their quality.
A Brief History of Jayco
Jayco RVs are renowned for their extremely high quality, affordability, and layout choices. The brand is one that prioritizes quality craftsmanship and focuses on providing an excellent customer experience.
Jayco was started in 1968 by husband and wife Lloyd & Bertha Bontrager in Indiana. They first began with a prototype camping trailer. The folding trailer came with a unique lifting system which enabled them to find success in the market.
In 1985, Lloyd Bontrager unfortunately passed in an air accident, however, the firm continued to blossom focussing on affordability, technology, and connectivity. This proved successful as Jayco was crowned the world’s biggest RV manufacturer held in private hands.
A Brief History of Coachmen
The very first Coachmen-branded RVs were created in a plant in Middlebury, Indiana. Coachmen Industries was created by three brothers, Claude, Keith, and Tom Corson.
In its first production year, it created 80 truck caps, one truck camper, and 12 travel trailers. Since that time it has created almost 750,000 Coachmen branded RVs which have been sold.
December 2008 saw it become a subsidiary under Forest River Incorporated. Coachmen RV today has more than 220 acres where its dedicated manufacturing plants churn out Coachmen branded travel trailers, fifth wheels, and class A, B, and C motorhomes.
The Jayco Difference
Jayco RVs are created using numerous distinguished manufacturing processes. For one it has different room systems such as the Magnum Truss XL6 and Magnum Truss roof systems, sturdy foundations, Climate shield, and of course, industry-leading warranty which includes its 3-year structural warranty and 2-year limited warranty.
Jayco Roof System
The roof system used by Jayco is the Magnum Truss roof which has been created to handle about 4,500 pounds of weight. This is 50% over what other RVs are able to handle.
Jayco states that the roof is in part stronger because it is held together with the decking using screws instead of staples that other RV manufacturers use. It uses nail plate joint fasteners to help keep the roof trusses stable on both sides.
This design ensures that it is a much tighter fit producing increased strength and less movement. The roof utilizes 2 by 2 vertical studs to enable additional room for wires.
Jayco uses wooden studs rather than one-inch aluminum pieces typically used by other RV manufacturers. This is done to help lower the chance of electrical shorts.
Jayco Climate Shield
The climate shield built into every Jayco RV ensures that your RV is protected from any weather extremes, be it hot or cold. This enables you to have all-season weather protection regardless of if the weather is freezing or boiling.
Every Jayco RV is temperature tested ensuring that Jayco Climate Shield can keep the interior cabin cool at a temperature of 71° while the temperature outside registered 100°. Every RV is also cold tested, ensuring that no pipes or attached plumbing systems are affected when the temperature is 0°.
During this time, the temperature inside the cabin was maintained at 68°. Jayco’s Climate Shield also includes a heated and completely enclosed underbelly, PEX plumbing, tinted windows, and two-sided flex foil insulation.
Foundation
Each Jayco RV is constructed using a customized frame. A customized frame is selected instead of a stock frame as it ensures that the frame is not manipulated or stretched to accommodate the RV’s size.
There are two frame types utilized by Jayco, the Norco NextGen frame and the I class structural I beam. This I-beam frame single molded design piece eliminates the need for seams that are susceptible to warping and bending over time.
Jayco utilizes its Norco NextGen frame in its ultra-light RV models due to its impressive strength-to-weight ratio. the frames are created using low-allow steel which has a high tensile strength rating.
The alloy steel has also been coated to help prevent rust. Every Jayco RV and trailer is created on a custom-made laser-sheared one-piece frame ensuring that it has the most efficient weight distribution when the RV’s body is placed on it.
This type of construction helps lower the occurrence of sagging or vibrational damage which can cause the RV to age prematurely
Warranty
If there is one brand that claims to provide its customers with the very best RV warranty, it is Jayco. It does so by proudly displaying the full details on its website.
This way prospective customers understand what Jayco will restore, repair, and protect before they purchase an RV. As stated earlier Jayco has two warranties with the first one being a 2-year limited warranty that covers your RV for 24,000 miles or 2 years.
This was then supplemented by the 3-year structural warranty which included structural essentials like floors, walls, and the roof. This supplementary 3-year structural warranty was introduced with Jayco’s 2020 models.
Top Features of Coachmen RVs
Every Coachmen RV has its NOBLE SELECT protection which is a 3-year warranty covering the exterior of the RV. The sidewalls of the RV have been coated with a high gloss coat made from gel to ensure the finish does not fade.
While other RV manufacturers use wood side walls that can swell, expand, or even turn moldy, Coachmen utilized Azdel composite to create its side walls. Adzel is impervious to rot, water and it wouldn’t mold.
It also has less than a 1% chance of splitting and delaminating ensuring that its integrity as a sidewall remains so for a long time. The side walls are also at least 20% lighter compared to the wood substrate materials used by other RV manufacturers.
This ensures that the RV has more carrying capacity for occupant cargo. Coachmen RVs are inundated with three times as much insulation as the next-rated RV to ensure that it can easily withstand extreme climates.
Coachmen use reinforced lamination to vacuum bond as well as pinch roll the floor, roof, and sidewalls together. A pull adhesion test is then performed to ensure the integrity of the RV. While most RV manufacturers tend to do either one of the processes, Coachmen does both ensuring that the longevity and strength of the sidewalls are improved.
Foundation
Owner assistance following the purchase
We are fully aware of how crucial post-purchase support is. In fact, during the course of our 58 years in business, some of our most devoted clients have come from our post-purchase assistance. Because we cherish the relationships we have with our owners, we will always be there to support you with a first-rate warranty, reliable service, and access to hundreds of authorized Coachmen dealers as well as our Coachmen Owner’s Association, which offers you countless opportunities to enjoy your RV. An enjoyable ownership experience is the result of everything!
Coachmen get the basics right: they construct to the highest requirements for each category’s overall quality, fit, finish, safety, and functionality. And providing excellent warranty support to support it after purchase. An RV offers many potential for things to go wrong, just like in a house.
We make sure that our Warranty and Customer Service Support are available to assist you in the event that something goes wrong, even though we strive hard to ensure that nothing goes wrong!
Warranty
Forest River, Inc.’s Coachmen RV business offers a one-year limited warranty. We don’t provide any other kind of guarantee for our merchandise. Numerous vendors that Coachmen works with offer warranties for their own goods, and some parts might have extended warranties available from the component maker.
It should be noted that the majority of RV dealerships offer after-market “Extended Warranty Contracts” with a range of durations, terms, and conditions. These might work well for you, depending on what you require. Before making a purchase, we strongly advise you to carefully read and comprehend the contract.
Known Issues of Jayco RVs
There are quite a lot of different opinions shared concerning Jayco RVs. While certain RVers are extremely satisfied with the purchase, there seem to be quite a few other Jayco RV owners who have complained about their RVs.
As stated earlier, there are quite a number of features and facilities built into the Jayco RVs making them extremely attractive when you see them. Nevertheless, these things reportedly fail after a while and cause massive maintenance costs.
Some of the most common problems include incorrectly installed ventilation, water leakage, and missing fixtures.
Known Issues of Coachmen RV
Since its introduction back in 1960, there have been quite a number of Coachmen RV models released into the market. Most of the time, the products are of good value and seamlessly meet the range of demand from customers.
Nevertheless, it does appear that there are several issues that pop up in the Coachmen RVs later which ultimately negate its overall usefulness while out on the road. One of the biggest complaints has to be that the quality Coachmen RVs were once known for has waned.
The bulk of the quality issues associated with the RVs have to do with the interior and this could significantly influence user experience. The slides and the drawer are flimsy and fragile making them unable to hold weight.
Leaks are also prevalent near the shower, sink, and vent according to several Coachmen RV owners. The leaks can get even worse if the RV is used in extremely humid and rainy weather. This generally ruins the overall user experience making your time in the RV inconvenient and stressful.
Who makes the most reliable RV?
When it comes to the question of who makes the most reliable RV, Airstream Inc., an American brand of luxury campers and RVs, consistently tops the list. Known for their distinctive aluminum bodywork, Airstream’s RVs offer a unique blend of style, functionality, and durability.
The company’s dedication to quality craftsmanship and innovative design ensures that their RVs stand the test of time, making them a trusted choice for many recreational vehicle enthusiasts. Thus, in terms of reliability, Airstream Inc. is widely considered to be the industry leader.
Which RV lasts the longest?
If you are thinking of purchasing a travel trailer then Airstream is your company but do get your wallet out as they are the most expensive in the industry model for model comparison.
Travel trailers made by Airstream
The reason Airstream travel trailers often survive the longest (about 50 years) is due to their sturdy and waterproof design. You won’t have to be concerned about easily pierced roofing material or leaky bump-outs when you have an Airstream.
Who builds the best Affordable Class A Motorcoach?
Prevost if you consider that affordable, 2 million plus. But for the mainstream Class A motorcoach purchaser, Winnebago Industries is widely recognized as the leading manufacturer of Class A motorcoaches.
With a rich history and a reputation for quality and innovation, Winnebago consistently sets the standard in the RV industry. Their Class A motorcoaches are renowned for their superior build quality, innovative design, and top-of-the-line amenities. They combine luxury, comfort, and functionality to provide an unparalleled travel experience.
Therefore, if the question arises – Who builds the best Class A motorcoach? The answer would undeniably be Winnebago Industries. They continue to lead the market by continually implementing advancements and refinements in their motorcoach designs.
This video has been included for its clarification of the topic matter. Credit goes to
Josh the RV Nerd at Bish’s RV
Conclusion
The debate between Jayco and Coachmen is a long-standing one in the RV community. Both brands have their own strengths and areas of expertise, and your choice may ultimately depend on your specific needs and preferences.
Jayco has been known for its high-quality construction and long-lasting durability. They offer a variety of RV models to cater to different customer needs and their interiors are often praised for their user-friendly design and comfort. Coachmen, on the other hand, is renowned for its innovative features and contemporary designs.
Their RVs often come equipped with the latest technology and luxurious amenities, making them an ideal choice for those who prioritize modern comfort and convenience.
The choice between Jayco and Coachmen largely boils down to personal preferences and lifestyle requirements. If durability and functional design are your priority, Jayco could be the better choice. However, if you’re looking for a more luxurious RV experience with cutting-edge features, Coachmen could be the suitable option.
Both brands offer a range of models to suit different budgets and needs, making them both worthy contenders in the RV market. Conducting thorough research and considering your own needs will help you make an informed decision in the Jayco Vs Coachmen debate.
Jayco and Coachmen are both wonderful companies that have gained a stellar reputation amongst RV enthusiasts. For those individuals who are drawn to family-run businesses that offer excellent customer support, you need to look no further than Jayco.
For those individuals who want an RV built by one of the oldest and longest-running names in the industry, look no further than Coachmen.
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