Here I am

Jayco Legacy

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

Max Brake Impression

Camping with a dog

I am looking for anyone who has any experience with the Jayco Legacy line of fifth wheels. We are looking at a couple different models and have found very little information regarding these. Thanks all!
 
I don't have specific information but have towed a lot of Jayco trailers and have been inside and looked them over. I hauled for the transportation arm of Jayco about three or four years ago.

I like Jayco trailers and the company. The founder, now deceased, and his family and most employees are Amish who take pride in their work. A Jayco is not a top of the line trailer but offers excellent value for your dollar. A Jayco is a traditional stick built trailer but I consider them well built and durable.

Have you looked at the Jayco website?
 
Been to the website and have a copy of the brochure, but there are no detailed specs that I could find (such as Manufacturer of axles and brakes, etc). I have been told by one person that the Legacy is the top of the line Jayco fifth wheel and approaches the quality (and weight) of models like the DRV Select Suites (and that they didn't make a lot of them). 2009 was the last year for them and there are a couple new ones still out there (not much in the way of used ones though).
 
Last edited:
I am not sure but believe Jayco uses Dexter axle assemblies. When Keystone and Forest River were using $5 ChiComm tires Jayco was using Goodyear Marathons on light trailers.

Why don't you try calling the company and ask? Or just crawl under the trailer(s) you are considering. Dexter puts a name band on the axles and stamps numbers in the steel. Dexter will tell you the weight ratings if you have the stamped numbers.
 
MorparBob,



The 5th Wheel you're interested in is a Designer Lagacy and is 3 to 3. 5 star rated in the RV Consumer Group Guide. MSRP ranges from $40K to $50K.



I called the Jayco Manufacture and spoke to a rep this morning. He said that the axles and all the running gear are Dexter. Tires are Goodyear ST, 235R16, LR"G". This trailer is essentiality a Travel Supreme, since Jayco bought out the company. They stopped manufacturing the Designer Lagacy in 09 due to poor sales as the economy went bad.



Sounds like a well built trailer. If the price is right, go for it. He also told me all the insulation R values, which are better then most 5er.



Hopes this helps, george
 
That's right. I had forgotten about Jayco buying out Travel Supreme when TS went under in late '07/early '08. I didn't make the connection with the name Legacy.

I don't know that Jayco manufactured the Legacy exactly like a Travel Supreme but probably did since Jayco had no history or experience with that size and quality trailer.

Travel Supreme was building two or three models just before they shut down. The "true" Travel Supreme, the plush upscale model, was named Travel Supreme or "Supreme" IIRC. There was also a "Classic" which was also a nice trailer but less plush and before that was another model which was labeled "Express" which was not much more than an entry level trailer with the Travel Supreme name.

My point is at the price Grizzly listed above Jayco was probably not offering the solid oak cabinetry, plush drapes and carpets, and some of the other standard high quality features of the old TS.
 
i'm looking at a smaller jayco trailer.

what got me to look at them, is that a family member has one. and i like the fact that they use wood thicker than paneling for the bottoms of cupboards and drawers. heavy duty hardware and other extras that makes a unit hold up better.

cc
 
Harvey,



The Rep I spoke to said that the Designer Lagacy is not entirely a Travel Supreme. The outside skin and interior are still Jayco, but the frame work, floor, walls and roof are Travel Supreme, since they were built in the old Travel Supreme plant. I don't know about the solid oak cabinets, plush drapes and carpets. They maybe Jayco Designer Series. He also said that all the insulation are of the old Travel Supreme. Too bad that the economic downturn forced them to shut down that line.



I'm somewhat impressed with the LR G rated Goodyear ST tires. However they are still ST and not LT and they are not made in the USA. They were made in Canada and I believe they are now made in China. Also, it's still not a 4 star rated trailer, but close. MoparBob, can you tell me the model number. The year is a 2009? That way I can look it up on my RV Consumer Group Guide.



george
 
Grizzly,

Beware of LRG Goodyear tires. They have a long and sordid history. Large and heavy HitchHikers such as 34' and 36' Champagnes built on tandem axles have always installed GY LRG tires. Owners report lots of failures.

Longer 37' and 38' units are built on triple axles and use six LRE tires. The LRG GYs are known for blowouts and slinging their treads. GY has an excellent reputation for replacing the blown tires and paying for damage but who wants the hassle of highway blowouts and the sides of your new trailer torn up by junk tires?

GY changes their tires every several years and claims the new tires are better but I don't believe them and wouldn't use a GY tire on anything that runs faster or carries a heavier load than my Kubota tractor.

The axle and tire factors were significant issues I weighed before deciding on the trailer I wanted when I ordered my HH in early '07. I originally planned to buy a heavier Champagne but tandem axles and GY LRG tires on the models I liked was a big negative in my opinion.

My lighter and less expensive Discover America 32' on four Michelin XPS Ribs meets my needs very well.
 
MoparBob, can you tell me the model number. The year is a 2009? That way I can look it up on my RV Consumer Group Guide.

george

Yes sir. The Model number is 36 RLMS and we also found another model my wife is interested in which is a 37 RLSA (both 2009's).
 
They are one of the comp. That is still making trailers. A lot of them went out and byers got stung BAD They do bild a good trailor. If you are going full time they do bild a very good one. But most dealers does not stock it. Get hold of Jayco and talk to them about the Designer Lagacy. If you buy one have them to put Michelim tires on it at no cost to you. I run Firestone Trans Force LT. The goodyear JUNK did 3. 000+ dollars to my Fifth Wheel blew out all 4 in less than 2 or 3. 000 miles. The Firestone have over 40. 000 miles and still look good. == GOOD LUCK == Before you go that big I would go with a dully to be safe and a Jake brake. The empty trailor will be around 14. 500LB Or more.
 
Last edited:
Jayco is still building trailers but not the Travel Supreme Legacy or any other fifth wheel in the old Travel Supreme plant. The Travel Supreme product is now history.

I wondered why Jayco thought they could succeed where Travel Supreme failed when Jayco bought the remains of TS. Clearly they were wrong. It is hard to sell luxury RVs when the economy is going in the tank and Jayco learned an expensive lesson.

There is no reason why buyers of Travel Supreme, Teton, Alfa, Jayco Legacy, or any other buyer of high end trailers whose manufacturer went out of business should feel that they got burned. Those companies built good products and the trailers will provide many years of good service regardless of whether the manufacturer is still in business, or not.

I had a Travel Supreme fiver I bought used and enjoyed for several years. I used it as a home away from home in Indiana when I was transporting and found it comfortable in Indiana winters when overnight lows dropped to 0*. My son-in-law owns it now and one of his job superintendents has been living in it for 2 1/2 years at various jobsites as he built new buildings or remodeled older ones. I just moved it from Glen Rose to Tye, TX this week for the job supt. to remodel a bank building.

The appliances in a travel trailer are built by various companies like Dometic and Norcold, and a dozen others. They can be purchased at any RV discounter or RV dealer and installed by any RV repair tech. No big deal. The only time the owner of a trailer manufactured by a defunct company could be in trouble is if he crushes a fiberglass end cap. They are molded for specific trailers and not interchangeable.

Michelin doesn't make a load range G tire in 16" sizes so you can't have the dealer replace four load range G Goodyear tires with four Michelins. That's the reason why Goodyear is the only game in town for 16" LRG tires. If Michelin made LRG 16" tires nobody would buy Goodyears. A better solution would be to upgrade to 17. 5" wheels and Michelin commercial light truck tires.

Edit: A new post in the HitchHiker Owner's Forum late last night reported two failures of new GY 17. 5" trailer tires.

ttp://nuwaowners.org/forum/index.php/topic,11460. msg167722.html#new

I've never met that poster in person but I know from exchanging messages and reading his posts over several years he is an intelligent and thoughtful HH owner who posts reliable information based on facts, not nonsense.

That post is further reason why I would NEVER buy a Goodyear tire for use on a heavy trailer.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I wondered why Jayco thought they could succeed where Travel Supreme failed when Jayco bought the remains of TS. Clearly they were wrong. It is hard to sell luxury RVs when the economy is going in the tank and Jayco learned an expensive lesson.





Harvey, It's because Jayco cheapen the quality, as far as interior and outer skin, in order sell it at a more affordable price. It sound like the frame and running gear are pretty much the same as the Travel Supreme. The MSRP was a bit cheaper then the TS. This is kind of what the Rep said when I spoke to him on the phone.



george
 
Jayco would have had to take a lot of quality out of a Travel Supreme to sell one at a MSRP of $40 to $50k. Maybe they were building according to the plans and specs for the old TS Express.

The '95 33' double slide Travel Supreme I had sold for that much in 1995 when new. I had all the original paperwork with it. Similar fivers had MSRPs of $125k up in the mid-'90s. In 2007 I pulled a plush TS 40'+ fiver from a dealer in Orange County, CA to a doctor's RV site in an upscale RV resort in Palm Desert that I was told had an MSRP of $180k. I don't have to say it was a very nice fifth wheel.
 
Yes sir. The Model number is 36 RLMS and we also found another model my wife is interested in which is a 37 RLSA (both 2009's).





MoparBob, I haven't responded yet because my RV Consumer Group Guide does not cover the 09 and 10 model years. I have request, and paid for, the update addition to cover those two years. I'm still waiting on it. As soon as I receive it and download it to my computer, I'll post the ratings for both models requested.



george
 
Thanks George! You help us out a great deal with looking this information up and I am very appreciative of that.



Bob



Bob, thank you for your patients. I received an email from RV Consumer Group yesterday telling me that a CD with the 2009 and 2010 data would be in the mail. They had a delay in processing my order because, some how, they had misspelled my name and could not find it in their system.



george
 
Although nowhere near to what you are looking at, I have a 2003 Jayco Eagle TT 272 FKS. First disappointment were the drawers. They could be much better as they aren't very sturdy at all. Second was the vinyl floor area. This past winter, it lifted and split from the kitchen to the bathroom. Temps were about -22C (-7F) and the unit was unattended. It was an easy fix as there was no glue anywhere (and I mean anywhere) holding the vinyl down. Not even on the perimeter. Other than that, it has been a great trailer. Plus side are the tanks are huge: Fresh 54 gal; Grey 90 gal; and Black 51 gal.
 
We looked at a new Jayco Flight TT a few months ago. We were not impressed the quality. We are still looking... .
 
Back
Top