Jayco Eagle vs Lifestyle Reconn R2

What's the difference?

The Jayco Eagle Outback, for me, is an example of a camper-trailer getting closer to what I reckon a truly off-road-capable Jayco camper will be like.

There's nothing in Jayco's current line-up that offers comfort and full functionality and is also capable of tackling decent off-roading, so we're looking forward to testing Jayco's first line-up of dedicated off-road campers, including the JTrak Outback and Outback X.

This is one of the campers that very finely straddles that line between camper-trailer and caravan. It’s light-weight and simple to use, even if (and mostly because) it lacks the wide-open comforts of a traditional caravan. It’s very capable, well-equipped and very well made. 

If you do like to escape the great outdoors occasionally while camping (or someone you dearly love, does), this is well worth a look. It’ll follow you just about anywhere and your camp life will be better for it.

These Jayco camper-trailers have a familiar touring-friendly floor-plan – check out the accompanying photos for proof of that – and most adhere to a similar approach to interior functionality – neat and simple – and that’s well suited to those who venture off the blacktop and hit the dirt.

Interior height is 2070mm, standard for campers of this type, so there’s plenty of stretch space for those of us not gifted with the vertical inches of Collingwood’s Mason Cox. Bench height, also standard for a camper-trailer, remains just lower than an average bloke’s hip so stooping to work in the kitchen is still an issue, but that’s part and parcel of the lifestyle, so stop whinging and get used to it.

Looking from the door, to the left is the front bed and club lounge; along the wall is the kitchen area (replete with four-burner stove, Dometic 95-litre fridge*, storage drawers and pantry); and to the right is the rear bed and dinette area. (* Outback models get the 95-litre fridge; Touring models get the 90-litre fridge.)

Overhead interior lighting includes LEDs for the main area and reading lights for the beds; there’s a fan for the beds.

There are also power points and USB port.

The Reconn’s interior is interesting, as unlike most modern caravans, there’s not a lot of free space in here, thanks largely, to the height of the bed. It sits right at the top of the camper, like a second-storey mezzanine. To get in, you have to climb onto the dinette lounge, or use the fold-down step built into the base. 

There is also a small dinette and lounge space with a folding table that’s comfortable enough for two to sit at ease and read or eat dinner, but I get the feeling Lifestyle doesn’t expect you to be spending the majority of your time in here – that’s not what this camper is about.

Above the dinette there’s cabinet space, while all the dinette seats lift up to reveal more storage areas. The dinette closest to the door has two drawers in it, to make accessing the storage easy. 

If this floorplan isn’t for you, there are three other options. One features a pair of bunks, another an ensuite with shower and toilet. The third packs both the bunks and the ensuite all in, somehow – it’s not an overly large space.

This single-axle camper – at 5060mm long (including drawbar), 1910mm high, 2240mm wide, and with a 1270kg tare weight – towed smoothly behind the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport we used on this review.

It sat snug and steady on the towball (with a 150kg download) during open-road driving, as well as during short sections of slightly bumpy gravel track and undulating dirt road.

The Eagle Outback has a hot dip galvanised Endurance Chassis riding on Jayco’s own JTech coil-spring suspension set-up.

Please note: Jayco’s Outback models are designed and engineered for, at worst, dirt roads and gravel roads, not 4WD tracks. Do not think that because these campers have been branded ‘Outback’ that they are actually able to tackle hard-core off-roading.

I towed it behind a RAM 1500 Laramie, which was serious overkill for a trailer of this size and weight, but it did all the right things. Because it has an adjustable air-suspension underneath, its ride is quite compliant and soft and its height can be adjusted to suit the terrain, or even lowered to reduce air resistance. 

Off-road, it posed little trouble, although the tracks we did were mild, at worst. It has no shortage of clearance (and can be dialled up further if you are short of it) and is fitted with a Cruisemaster DO35 off-road hitch.

One of its best off-road features, though, is the completely clean underside. There’s actually no plumbing, tanks, wiring or fittings under the floor or exposed to the elements, river crossings, dust or stones. The camper’s two tanks, batteries, pumps, electricals and plumbing are all contained within a compartment under the driver’s-side storage section. There’s even room in there for expansion – it’ll fit another water tank, another batteries and extra electrical gizmos easily.