Buying A Jayco Swan Outback (9 Helpful Tips)

Buying a new or used Jayco Swan outback can be an exciting experience. It lets you get the experience of camping while still sleeping in a much more comfortable bed.

Not to mention, Jayco Swans are pretty easy to store, making them a great choice if you have extra space in your garage.

If you have never purchased a Jayco Swan before, or any other popup camper for that matter, it can be difficult to know what to look for. Whether you are looking for a new or second hand model, there are certain things you simply have to be on the lookout for.

Below are some helpful tips to consider when buying a second hand or new Jayco Swan motorhome, including:

– Go To A Dealer And Check Out Models

– Vehicle Tow Rating

– Materials

– Condition Of The Exterior

– Get A Mattress Topper

– Water Damage

– Lift System

Table of Contents

Tips For Buying A New Jayco Swan outback

Buying a new Jayco Swan comes with way fewer things to think about than buying a used option. New Jayco Swans come with the luxury of knowing that the item you’re getting is dependable, brand new, and attractive.

Here are some things you should think about before purchase:

1. Vehicle Tow Rating

No matter what sort of camper you select, make sure that your vehicle has a tow rating high enough to handle the camper.

Jayco Swans are really lightweight, meaning that they don’t require as high of a tow rating as other options.

Still, not all vehicles will be suitable for pulling a Jayco Swan. Check your vehicle tow rating to ensure that it’s powerful enough for the Jayco Swan.

Insert a tow kit to the back of your vehicle if you don’t have one already. You can either hire a professional to do this for you or you can do it yourself by purchasing an all-inclusive kit online.

2. Materials

Something else you need to consider before purchasing any sort of camper is the materials it’s made from.

Campers see a lot of elements and wear and tear. If the materials are not heavy-duty, your camper may break prematurely.

Lucky for you, Jayco Swans are made from great materials, both on the inside and outside of the camper.

This allows you to generally rest easy if you are sold on a Jayco Swan already. If you are still debating between this one and some other brand, don’t forget to check out the materials used.

3. Get A Mattress Topper

One thing many Jayco owners complain about is the mattress. This includes Swan owners, as well as owners of different models.

The mattress is innerspring, not foam. Many users agree that this is not as comfortable as they would like it to be.

If you know that you have a sensitive back, you may want to buy a mattress topper before you go on your first camping experience.

“If you are unsure if you will like it, you can save this tip until after you go camping and learn you don’t like the mattress.”

Based on reviews, you will probably want to go with a mattress topper. Most people recommend a memory foam option.

They also say that a double mattress topper is big enough for both beds inside the Jayco Swan.

Jayco Swan Outback – Virtual Tour >> Check out the video below:

Tips For Buying A Used or Second Hand Jayco Swan

If you’re buying a used Jayco Swan, there are quite a few more tips you need to think about. When purchasing anything used, you want to make sure that the item you are getting is still of great quality while being priced fairly.

Here are other things you need to think about if you are looking at second hand models specifically.

4. Vehicle Tow Rating

Just as you have to look at your vehicle tow rating before buying a new Jayco Swan, you have to look at your vehicle tow rating for a used Swan as well.

This is a really basic tip to keep in mind before purchasing any sort of camper or trailer.

5. Go To A Dealer And Check Out Models

Something that many used camper owners swear by is going by a dealer to check out the new models.

This is not necessarily because you might get a new model. Instead, it is to get a feel for the size and layout of the popup camper before purchase.

Popup campers are great for a slightly more luxurious camping experience, but they are really compact.

Seeing pictures simply does not do campers justice. Going to the dealer allows you the opportunity to see the interior first-hand and gauge whether or not it is right for you.

You do not have to tell the dealer that you are not interested in buying new models. Simply show up and check them out.

This will give you a good idea of whether a Jayco Swan, even if it is second hand, is right for you. If you don’t like a brand-new model, you probably won’t like a used one either.

6. Condition Of The Exterior

Before purchasing a used Jayco Swan, check out the condition of the camper’s exterior. The exterior is what protects the interior from getting wet.

If the exterior is in poor condition, you should definitely select a different option.

Look at the roof first. The material should be hard and not have any cracks.

If you notice that the roof is peeling around the perimeter, you might want to opt for a different option, but this is a quick and cheap fix if you are willing to do the work yourself.

Check out the canvas over the beds too. The canvas is more likely to be ruined than the roof simply because the material is less durable by nature.

Make sure the canvas is completely intact and not filled with mold and other unsightly items.

7. Water Damage

The interior of the popup camper is not as serious of an area to check out simply because you will probably want to renovate and clean the interior no matter what. With that being said, check carefully for water damage.

Water damage can build up around the beds or anywhere else inside the camper. Water damage is very difficult to fix inside a popup camper, and it tells you that there is an issue with the exterior materials.

If you find water damage, we recommend choosing a different option entirely. There is no point in spending money on a second hand popup camper that already has water damage inside.

8. Lift System

Before checking out the water damage, you will have to open up the popup camper. Ask if you can be there whenever the owner opens up the camper using the lift system.

You may even want to crank it yourself so that you can feel it in your hands.

The lift system can be really expensive to replace or repair. If the lift system is not working as it should, we recommend shopping around to find a better option.

This will save you a lot of money and time in the future.

9. Get A Mattress Topper

Just as we recommended with a new Jayco Swan, we recommend getting a mattress topper if you buy a used model.

In fact, you will probably want to buy a mattress topper even more if you buy a used Jayco Swan outback.

As we learned above, the Jayco mattresses aren’t very comfortable. This alone is reason enough to get a topper.

Factor in the fact that used models have already been worn down, and the mattresses are very unlikely to be comfortable and lead to a restful night’s sleep.

If your camper is used, we certainly recommend getting a mattress topper at the very least. You may even want to go the extra mile to buy an entirely new mattress to prevent spreading germs and bacteria, but you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.

Other Things To Keep In Mind

Overall, the most important thing to think about when purchasing a Jayco Swan outback, whether it is new or used, is the fact that your vehicle can tow it, the mattress, and the condition of the camper as a whole. Check out the exterior and the interior.

With that being said, the interior is much less important to worry about.

With used models, you can easily negotiate down the price if the interior is not up to par and use the saved money to completely redesign the inside to match your preferences.

Issues like mold, mildew, and dry rot should not be ignored, though.

Jayco Swan Outback Problems or Issues

In this video I go through our Top 10 issues that we’ve encountered whilst owning our 2019 Jayco Journey Outback 22.68-1. Thanks for Watching!!

Final Thoughts

Jayco Swans are a great option for a popup camper. You can either find them new or used. No matter which option you select, remember these 9 tips that we mentioned.

This can help you find the best Jayco Swan model based on your budget and preferences.

If you learn nothing else from this article, we hope that you learned that just checking out the basics of a Jayco Swan should help you find the best model.

After all, Jayco campers are very known and reliable, meaning you really can’t go wrong with them.

References

https://www.jayco.com.au/range/camper-trailers/swan-camper-trailer