Jayco Hawk Outback 2018 review

The Outback’s specialised JTech coil-spring suspension – in all Outback models – keeps this camper settled on gravel and dirt tracks. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

Because of its compact size – especially relative to caravans which are, by their very nature, generally bigger and bulkier than camper-trailers – the Hawk Outback is a very easy thing tow as it sits low and stable on all surfaces and well within the confines of even narrower bush tracks.

The single-axle camper – 5060mm long (including drawbar), 1910mm high, 2240mm wide, and with a 1285kg tare weight – hardly registered behind our tow vehicle, a 2019 Ford Everest, with the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo-diesel engine (157kW/500Nm).

It always felt secure on the towball (with a 145kg download) during highway, gravel track and undulating dirt-road driving.

The Hawk Outback is designed and engineered to cope with light-duty bush driving. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

The Hawk Outback, like other Outbacks, has a hot dip galvanised Endurance chassis on Jayco’s JTech coil-spring suspension set-up. (Note: Jayco’s Outback models are designed and engineered for, at worst, dirt roads and gravel roads, not 4WD tracks. They are not built for hard-core off-roading.)

Another bonus: visibility is clear and open along both of its sides and even over the top – no need for towing mirrors here.

Jayco camper-trailers have a nice touring-friendly floor-plan but where the Hawk Outback deviates from the line-up norm is that its kitchen is positioned to the left of the door as you step inside, rather than in front and to the right of you as you step inside on other models.

The interior height tops out at 2070mm high – pretty standard for these campers – and inside is roomy enough not to feel like a confined space, although it will get squeezy if all four adults and two kids are in here and milling about at the same time.

Looking from the door, to the left is the four-burner stove, then, as you look to the front, the extended lift-up bed and storage, and, swiveling to your right, the Dometic 95-litre fridge (Touring models get the 90-litre fridge), then stainless-steel sink, dinette seat, table, club lounge, double bed, then TV cabinet.

Drawers are all Ezi glide pull-out style. The pop-in/pop-out button on each handle – to lock it in place and unlock it – is generally a good system but can be prone to becoming fiddly, even sticking. This is a minor problem and can be found in many campers with a similar mechanism on their drawers.

Interior lighting includes overhead LEDs for the main area and reading lights for the beds. There’s a fan for the beds.

This camper’s beds have innerspring mattresses and the bases are unsealed ply. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

The front bed is 1460mm wide; the rear bed is 1140mm wide and has child restraints aimed at preventing your kids from tumbling out of bed when they have a kip.

The sleeping spaces each have a privacy curtain, as well as zippered canvas windows and mesh screens.

This camper’s converted bed – which is created by rearranging the dinette area (as standard) – is a kids-only slumberland. The club lounge bed converter is an option.

You could add a 19-inch television to this set-up as an optional extra. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

There are plenty of accessories available for the Hawk Outback including, but certainly not limited to, air-conditioning, awning walls, 16-inch wheels (15-inch are standard), bike racks and roof racks.