Jayco founder and owner, Gerry Ryan (far left) on the factory floor at Dandenong South with suppliers
Caravan giant Jayco celebrates 50 years this year and, so far, things are looking good for this industry stalwart, despite the tough economic times.
This year is Jayco’s 50th year in business and it has got off to a good start for the founder and owner, Gerry Ryan.
On the weekend of 31 January – 2 February, Jayco officially unveiled its 2025 models to a small contingent of caravan industry media at the company’s Melbourne headquarters in Dandenong South.
Gerry Ryan hosted us for a Friday lunch, spoke candidly about his humble beginnings and passion for building caravans and arranged for a tour of the massive production facility in which 1000 staff churn out 25,000 caravans per year.
On 1 and 2 February, Jayco held an open to the public weekend at headquarters — akin to a mini caravan show with 40–50 new and superseded models on display.
To top off the weekend, on Sunday 2 February Gerry’s Jayco Alula cycling team won the 2025 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Geelong for the first time in the 10-year history of this UCI international one-classic event.
New Jayco Silverlines in production
The Jayco 2025 launch was a mini caravan show with 40–50 models on display
Living legend
Gerry Ryan OAM is a legend within the caravan sector and business in Australia more broadly. I had the honour of sitting opposite Gerry at the media lunch/launch in the Jayco cafe, chatting to him about all things caravan and touring with a smattering of family and his love of beetroot.
It would be fair to say that Gerry has done more for the RV sector in Australia than any other individual. He has his fingers in many pies — wine, cycling, horse racing — but Jayco is his first love.
An accountant by trade, he started 50 years ago working on the production line at Sunwagon Camper Trailers. Two months later he was foreman, after four months he was production manager. He went on a study tour to the US to understand more about the caravanning market. He started Jayco in 1975 and produced 326 caravans in the first year. He has survived a credit squeeze, a recession, the Global Financial Crisis and COVID. Over 50 years, Jayco has built more than 250,000 RVs.
Gerry is somewhat philosophical about his 50 years in the industry and the current challenges facing the sector — an economic downturn and stiff competition from Chinese imports, which currently comprise about 50 per cent of the caravan market.
“So long as it’s a level playing field and they meet all the Australian rules and regulations,” he said.
Post COVID, Jayco was producing 45,000 units a year. That figure is down to 25,000 units per year. Gerry says the market is in a slump and he predicts it will take a long time to recover.
New interiors for 2025
He believes strongly in using Australian made products in his vans wherever possible. He has his own metal fabrication and fiberglass factories in Melbourne but there are some things that he can’t get here — fridges and windows, for example.
He says his staff are key to Jayco’s success because they share the same vision and passion. He still appears on the factory floor every now then to say g’day and keep an eye on things.
His customers, too, are key. Jayco makes a difference in people’s lives and he listens to his market. “It’s not about what I want, it’s about what the customers want.”
Despite tough times, Jayco keeps innovating and improving its products, which hits the mark for a broad range of caravanners, from retirees to families and adventurers.
The top-of-the-range Jayco Silverline has received some exciting upgrades for 2025
New models for 2025
After a tour of the Jayco factory, getting a sneak peek of all facets of the production process, the new 2025 models were unveiled.
A number of models across the Jayco range have been updated for 2025, including camper trailers, Starcraft, Discovery, All-Terrain (pop-tops and caravans), CrossTrak hybrid, Basestation Toy Hauler and the top of the range Silverline. We had a walk through the Silverline and Discovery caravans.
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Jayco Discovery, Silverline and JPOD are among the Jayco models which have new features for 2025
Key new additions to the Silverline include:
- 16in black rims (Outback only)
- One piece PET floor
- One piece GRP internal side walls
- Fiberglass rear moulding
- Side mount under chassis gas bayonet fitting
- Starlink Mini ready with a 100W power socket on the offside
- New Tempur mattress
- New scandi-look interior colours
- USB and USB-C ports
- 27in smart TV including soundbar
- Three 200W solar panels
- 210Ah Projecta lithium battery
- 230L dual hinged fridge
- Brushed brass tapware
- White ceramic basin
- 12V frosted shower door (we didn’t get to see this in action because the remote could not be found)
- Feature strip lighting throughout
Key new additions to the Discovery:
- New Dune exterior fiberglass
- Black front moulding including gas bottle cover
- One piece PET floor
- Side mount under chassis gas bayonet fitting
- Two 200W solar panels
- 100Ah lithium batter
- Starlink Mini ready with a 100W power socket on the offside
- 27in smart TV with soundbar
- Continuous hot water service
- Cloud 9 pillowtop mattress
- One piece GRP internal side walls
- Enclosed washing machine with removable front
- Brushed gunmetal taps, handles, sink, shower screen
Jayco Discovery pop-top
For the full list of inclusions and new features in the 2025 Jayco range, head here.
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Related articles:
Jayco launches the new Discovery pop-top caravan range
Caravan review: Jayco Silverline Outback 21.65-3
Caravan review: Jayco J-POD X | Part 1
Watch our review of the 2025 Jayco Discovery 21.66-4 Outback here:
Jayco unveils new 2025 models and celebrates 50th anniversary