Reviews have labelled the Jayco Jpod Sport an expensive bed on wheels but we are seriously considering getting one. A back injury and a recent foot surgery for David another solution to camping in a tent needed to be found. We are currently weighing up our options. To get tents, chairs, fridge, bbq and tables packed into the Jeep requires a lot of work for someone with a bad back. While setting up the Coleman pop up tent is relatively easy – packing it and lifting it up to a roof rack or getting into the car is much harder. Waiting for the dew to dry off a tent so that it can be packed up.
Reasons Tent Camping is becoming more difficult
- Limited space in Jeep – Packing everything in the back of the Jeep requires tetras skills and a strong back.
- Bending over to hammer in and pull out tent pegs.
- Climbing into a tent and crawling to get to bed
- Seasonal weather means camping in warmer months
- Waiting for tent to dry out to pack up
Alternative to Tents
- Caravans
- Pop Tops
- Expander
- Off Road Caravan
- Camper Trailer
- Off Road Camper
- Motorhome
- Campervan
- Teardrop Campers
In a process of elimination of the alternatives to tents we decided to focus on teardrop caravans. We are looking for easy set-up and pack-up, low maintenance and something that is small enough to get up our driveway.
Reasons for considering a Jayco Jpod Sport.
- Easy and light to tow
- Small enough to get up our steep driveway and put in carport
- Pull up to caravan park and open back of Jpod and thats the set up.
- Comfortable bed
- Protection from bad weather – can camp in cooler months too.
- Storage of bedding, fridge, kitchen/bbq, chairs which can stay when Jpod not in use
Hesitations with deciding to buy a Jayco Jpod Sport
- Inexperience at towing anything.
- Steep driveway with a turn at the top.
- Cost – Have to get a lot of trips in a year to justify cost. Staying in a cabin at a caravan park for a few nights, multiple times a year.
Visiting the Jayco showroom to see a Jpod Sport
It is hard to gauge the size of a Jpod so a visit to the showroom was going to either make us like or hate it. I think we instantly liked the look of it. It really is a bed on wheels. We climbed in and had a lie down on the double bed. We are tall people and normally sleep in a king size bed. The verdict was the the bed was more comfortable than our self inflating mattresses ( which we love too).
We got the sales guy to shut the door so we could see how we would go opening it. He locked us in and it was easily opened and once up stays open and provides a good shelter.
David is 6ft3 and could sit on the bed with his head bent (or with his head in the sun roof ). I can stand straight underneath the door when its open – however David had to bend his neck to avoid hitting.
Solutions to our hesitations in a Jpod Sport purchase :
Towing lessons – both David and I will have to take some towing lessons. We both want to be confident when driving, reversing and parking.
Steep Driveway – if we decide to buy the Jpod we will need to confirm that our driveway and where the Jpod Sport will be stored is doable. A Jayco staff member will come out and check out our driveway and make sure we can get it up, unhook it, and place it for when its not being used.
Cost – You only live once. Still does not make sense to buy a small teardrop caravan rather than multiple holidays over a few years, however to get more storage would end up costing much more in a 4WD upgrade.
Will we buy a Jayco Jpod Sport?
Still thinking about it seriously. Time will tell.
Update 15/11/2018 – Yes we will buy Jayco Jpod Sport!
We talked to many people about our steep driveway and got some opinions of experienced towers and they all agreed we would be fine getting a little caravan up and unhitched and out of the way.
So we went to Jayco for another look and had a go ourselves moving the Jpod around on the gravel and it was surprisingly easy. The top of our driveway is smooth flat concrete so should be no problems.
We pick up the Jpod in a couple of weeks. We had to get a tow bar and brake controller installed. Have booked us in for a full day towing course and lined up RACV insurance for when we get the Jpod.
Update 29/11/2018 – We picked up our Jpod Sport and towed it home!
We were booked into pickup our Jpod. The staff at Jayco were fantastic and did the run though of everything to do with the Jpod. We ended up buying a few extras which quickly added up – a blue food hose, a lock for the tow ball etc.
Read more about picking up and towing our Jpod for the first time!