The Wanderer
Jayco is in a very privileged position in Australia. Being the largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles (RVs) the company can offer a wide range of just about everything – caravans and their multiple derivatives, a lesser range of motorhomes and even a few fifth wheelers.
Within the motorhome range there is a good choice of layouts and motive power options – the longer rigs having island beds and/or a slide-out. In the case of this review vehicle, a Conquest FD23- 4 at 7.13m (23ft 5in) has neither but does have design features that a number of manufacturers have successfully incorporated into their designs.
CAB AND CHASSIS
Like quite a few other vehicles in the Jayco fleet, the FD23-4 is built on a Fiat Ducato cab chassis. Wisely, Jayco opted for the 180 Multijet model with the 132kW/400Nm turbo-diesel, not the lesser powered 2.3-litre engines.
Behind the driver’s cab all the walls and roof are a vacuum-bonded fibreglass structure. There are fibreglass mouldings too – the top and side cab surrounds, along with the top and bottom mouldings at the rear. Underfoot, the floor, surprisingly, has a timber frame that is sandwiched together with polystyrene. According to Jayco that gives soundproofing and insulation qualities. Dometic double-glazed acrylic windows are used all round and the standard door has a top half, non-opening window. Undoubtedly the winning option on my review vehicle was the Crimsafe door which meant the main door could be left open avoiding any drama of intruding insects or something far worse.
There are three external bins along the nearside, one for the 4kg gas cylinders and one at the rear offside. In the latter case, it’s been designed with a tray that is sufficiently large enough to hold a generator. Generally speaking, there’s enough bin space for what most of us carry around in our motorhomes.
A couple of other options fitted to our review vehicle were an alloy nudge bar and a Fiamma bike rack on the rear. I know some might look at the latter with disdain but as a cyclist I reckon bikes are a great way to get around when the motorhome is parked up.
ON THE ROAD
Here’s a bit of background on Fiat Ducatos. Up until recently, most Ducatos used in van and cab-chassis conversions came with the largest and most powerful Fiat turbo-diesel available. Usually it was the 3.0-litre 160 Multijet engine (115.5kW/400Nm) until the arrival of the 180 Multijet (132kW/400Nm).
Some 2.3-litre 150 Multijet (109kW/350Nm) engines have been used – mostly in van conversions – but a few coach builds have the 96kW 2.3-litre 130 version installed.
I wasn’t terribly impressed with the 130 Multijet in tandem with the Ducato’s six-speed AMT gearbox in a coach-built motorhome; driving was hard work.
Which is why I have a definite preference for the 3.0-litre engine. It copes well with most road conditions and given the hesitancy at lower speeds that is a feature of the AMT gearbox, it makes for much smoother driving overall. Our review motorhome wasn’t so fitted but a TomTom satnav is standard on all Ducatos.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
It’s not new but one of the major features of the Conquest 23-4 model is the elevating bed in the rear. This little space-saving device sits across the motorhome above the rear club lounge. That leaves all the mid nearside wall area for the kitchen bench and the offside area for a bathroom – more or less directly behind the driver’s seat – fridge and plenty of cabinet space. Being a Luton model, the 23-4 has a removable bed above the cab. Both cab seats swivel easily but, given the layout, they don’t really integrate with anything else, just provide alternative seating. The space behind the passenger seat is neatly filled with a set of vertical cupboards.
SITTING BACK
One of the benefits of the elevating bed arrangement is that it allows for what I call a New Zealand back; that is, a club lounge that has windows on all sides. It was once a feature of just about every motorhome and allowed you to back up to any scenic view and just take it all in while enjoying the comfort inside.
In this case, the pews will seat four without too much trouble and the under-bed height of 1.75m (5ft 9in) allows most people to get in and out with minimal ducking and diving. Although the seat cushions are a bit square, the alternative cab seats at least offer contoured seating for those who struggle with back problems.
CATERING
Really hungry or just prefer a quick snack? Well the Conquest kitchen should be able to help facilitate both. It has a four-burner cooktop/grill plus stainlesssteel sink and, while the benchtop area is a bit light on work space, there’s no shortage of metal-sided drawers or overhead lockers. The microwave oven sits above a 150 litre fridge opposite the main bench area. All within easy reach.
SLEEPING HOURS
As noted above, there is a choice of two beds in this Conquest and both require ladder access, although the elevating bed at its lowest height is definitely easier to climb into.
At the rear, the elevating bed measures 2.0m x 1.4m (6ft 6in x 4ft 6in) and above the driver’s cab, the second bed measures 2.1m x 1.37m (6ft 9in x 4ft 5in). Most will undoubtedly want to use the elevating bed, given its lower height but, oddly enough, both have a similar problem – they are not easy to make up. Fitted sheets are looking good…
One other issue with elevating beds that few manufacturers seem to solve properly is reading lights. Indeed in some cases with any lights. Which is odd these days, given the availability of low-profile LED lighting. Conquest does have two reading lights but they are orientated along the back more for the lounge than the bed.
The flat-screen TV is fitted on a swivel arm mounted into a recessed cabinet on the offside and therefore can be seen from either the lowered bed or the lounge without difficulty.
KEEPING CLEAN
Slightly differently to most motorhomes, the bathroom cubicle looks bigger on the outside than the inside. That is not a derogatory comment. Although it does not have a separate shower cubicle there’s enough space for a flexible hose shower, fold-down wash basin (moulded) and a bench-style cassette toilet. In short, it’s designed for quick convenient use rather that spacious comfort. One of the reasons that the cubicle looks bigger on the outside is that there is upper and lower compartment space directly behind the driver’s seat.
VERDICT
There’s no doubt there are a few compromises that have to be accepted with this motorhome, mostly with the bed arrangement but the end result is a layout that has a spacious living area for a motorhome just over 7m long.
It’s a fairly easy motorhome to drive and one suited for either long- or short-term travel, given that it has a generous amount of overall storage space and a good load capacity.
GOOD THINKING
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
Category: Reviews
Written: Sun 01 June 2014
Printed: June, 2014
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