| Register/login to rate this article |
Article's Rating:  
|
Jayco’s Conquest 4 might just change your perspective.
When Fiat introduced its motorhome-friendly Ducato cab chassis and vans to the Australian RV scene, it didn’t take a company like Jayco long to understand the benefits. I mention this because until then Jayco had only been a caravan and camper trailer manufacturer. Clearly the Ducato opened some doors. Since that time, the company has produced a good selection of motorhomes, both in its Conquest and Optimum ranges. Everything from the low-roof 20ft (6.09m) Conquest to the 26ft (7.92m) Optimum with a Fiat cab and an Al-Ko chassis with tandem axles is now available.
Different from most of the Conquest and Optimum layouts, our review Conquest (Layout-4 in Jayco terminology) looks like it’s been designed for the New Zealand market as well – it has the classic “NZ back” design, i.e., large club-style lounge/bed in the rear with windows all round and a Luton peak bed.
This layout lends itself to family motorhoming, especially when the budget is a bit tight. It offers good internal living space and a decent-size dining area. Of course, the disadvantage is that the rear bed has to be made up every night, but there are always compromises, aren’t there?
MULTI-PURPOSE LOUNGE
Starting in the rear, the club-style lounge is quite multi-purpose. It offers room for four people to sit around comfortably, can be used by two people to stretch out with their feet up, or made up into a 2.13x1.4m (7ft x 4ft 6in) bed.
Overhead lockers are fitted all round, as are shelves and downlights under the lockers. The entertainment unit is fitted on the side of the wardrobe and consists of a swivel arm-mounted flatscreen TV and an AM/FM radio/CD/DVD player.
There is under-seat storage and the nearside seat storage is also accessible from an external bin door. The rest of the nearside is filled by the kitchen bench. It comes with a Smev four-burner cooktop/grill and a stainless steel sink. The kitchen does not have a great deal of benchtop space but storage is reasonable, with six drawers, two cupboards and four overhead lockers. Powerpoints are fitted to either end of the bench and the rear one is handy for using at the table.
Part of the cabinet area, which takes up the offside area of the Conquest, is utilised by the Dometic 121L fridge which has an LG microwave above. Fitted alongside are two narrow cupboards, one of which has slide-out wire baskets, the other just shelves.
Occupying the space between the pantry and rear seat is a full-height wardrobe with hanging space, a drawer and lower cupboard, part of which is occupied by the hot water heater. There is a handy mirror on the inside of the wardrobe door.
As might be expected in a motorhome of this size, the bathroom isn’t particularly large, but it is still very workable, with a Thetford bench-style cassette toilet and fold-down vanity sink and shaving cabinet above. The fold-down sink is a particularly good idea because it does not take up an excessive amount of space but is still of a useful size. There is, of course, a variable height flex-hose shower with flick-mixer taps.
Fitting into the space between the door and the driver’s cab is a small, full-height cabinet with cupboards and shelves. It blocks the swivelling passenger seat a bit but that’s the compromise of extra storage. Actually, the swivelling seat offers a family member (or anyone else) a private little reading spot! The cab curtains draw across the cab, but I’d prefer them to draw around the cab windows.
The Luton peak bed measures 2.1x1.3m (7ft x 4ft 4in), has a ceiling height of about 584mm (1ft 11in) and only one roof light.SOLID CONSTRUCTION
As in the rest of the Jayco fleet, the Conquest 4 has an aluminium frame and a wall structure that consists of vacuum bonded layers of fibreglass, ply and polystyrene foam. The cab surround is moulded fibreglass and the insulated floor has a timber frame that is sandwiched together with polystyrene foam.
External bin storage consists of a locker for two gas cylinders (one 9kg; one 4.5kg), plus a small locker mid-offside and a larger rear nearside door that accesses the under-seat area.
The 160 Multijet Ducato comes with a 115.5kW 3L turbodiesel engine coupled to Fiat’s six-speed AMT gearbox. That combination handles the weight of the Conquest without difficulty. In addition to the usual Fiat items like cruise control and power everything, Jayco has fitted a handy reversing camera. The standard LED running lights are also noteworthy. THE BOTTOM LINE
As mentioned previously, with its rear lounge setup the Conquest 4 is somewhat different to many layouts. It offers an alternative for couples who like to watch the world go by, and for families who need room to breathe and a flexible layout. Jayco Sydney, 63-67 Glossop Street, St Marys, NSW 2760, (02) 9623 1971, www.jaycosydney.com.au
For more information, including your nearest dealer, visit www.jayco.com.au Jayco Conquest (Layout-4)
Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato 160 Multijet
Engine: 3L turbodiesel
Gearbox: Six-speed auto
Max power: 115.5kW@3600rpm
Max torque: 400Nm@1700-2500rpm
Brakes: ABS disc
Tare: 3380kg
GVM: 4005kg
External length: 7.17m (23ft 6in)
External width: 2.33m (7ft 8in)
Internal height: 1.98m (6ft 6in)
Cooktop: Smev four-burner and grill
Fridge: Dometic RM 2455 121L
Microwave: LG
Gas: 1 x 9kg; 1 x 4.5kg
Lighting: 12V halogen
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Hot water: Truma 14L
Fresh water: 125L
Grey water: 130L
Second stage compliance: Yes
Price as shown $116,490 (drive-away, NSW) I Liked - Not everyone likes the “NZ back” layout, but it’s good to see that Jayco has one available
- Generous drawer space in the kitchen
- External bin door which gives access to the rear-seat storage area
- Because it’s not a layout that readily lends itself to it, I particularly liked the swivelling passenger seat
- Spacious club lounge with plenty of seating
I would have liked - Curtains that draw around the cab, rather than ones that close it off – this would mean the passenger seat could still be used when the curtains are closed
- Ceiling lights in the rear – it’s difficult to see into the overhead lockers at night
|