Jayco Camper Lift Kit

[Killswitch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Killswitch]

Hi guys, with our new bub due in a few weeks, wife and I are about to by a cheap Jayco Camper tonight. 1985ish. As the Prado is lifted, I was hoping to also lift the Jayco to match, and then put on some LT ATRs. Allow us to get a little further off the hard top.

Has anyone down this and can it be down without being to costly? Axle under maybe? Or replace the shackles or springs?

The Camper already has some issue with the electric brakes so they have been disconnected, so depending on what that is I might be up for some new hubs, so can convert to match Prado stud pattern and hopefully offset is close.

The Camper is a pop top and is pretty much exactly like this.


Cheers,

KS

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Hi guys, with our new bub due in a few weeks, wife and I are about to by a cheap Jayco Camper tonight. 1985ish. As the Prado is lifted, I was hoping to also lift the Jayco to match, and then put on some LT ATRs. Allow us to get a little further off the hard top.

Has anyone down this and can it be down without being to costly? Axle under maybe? Or replace the shackles or springs?

The Camper already has some issue with the electric brakes so they have been disconnected, so depending on what that is I might be up for some new hubs, so can convert to match Prado stud pattern and hopefully offset is close.

The Camper is a pop top and is pretty much exactly like this.


Cheers,

KS

My folks had their Avan caravan lifted by 2 inches late last year. It involved a new axle and springs from memory.
I'll see if I can dig up some info and cost.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

So...
Their Avan had a new axle installed ($295 for parts), resulting in about 1.75-2 inches of "lift". Unfortunately, they had a few thousand dollars worth of work on the same bill and the labour has been costed for the entire job. Only guessing, and someone else might know better, but there'd be a days labour in it at $100/hour...

[Boyce Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boyce]

We had an old Jayco like yours some years back. We added upgraded leaf springs and overslung the axle, which all worked well. Only cost a few hundred $ at local suspension place. Didn't bother with matching wheels so can't help with that issue. You can accomodate car/camper height difference by revering the tow hitch.

[Killswitch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Killswitch]

So...
Their Avan had a new axle installed ($295 for parts), resulting in about 1.75-2 inches of "lift". Unfortunately, they had a few thousand dollars worth of work on the same bill and the labour has been costed for the entire job. Only guessing, and someone else might know better, but there'd be a days labour in it at $100/hour...

The fitting costs don't worry me just the parts. I will do the lot myself. Thats good to hear it only cost them $300ish in parts.

We had an old Jayco like yours some years back. We added upgraded leaf springs and overslung the axle, which all worked well. Only cost a few hundred $ at local suspension place. Didn't bother with matching wheels so can't help with that issue. You can accomodate car/camper height difference by revering the tow hitch.

Great. Thats what I plan on doing and it shouldn't be too hard. Its the hubs and electric brake setup that has me a little concerned about the costs blowing out.

I was planning to buy a Dual Wheel Carrier, though now with the plan of the camper, I will mount 2 spares on the back of that. Giving 3 spares in total. That is if I can convert it to Prado offset and stud pattern.

With the hitch, we have the factory Toyota Hitch, so I dont think that is possible, it will be too high? Unless you mean after the lift of the trailer, if the trailer is lower at the front flip the hitch.

[seenthelight Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close seenthelight]

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topi...5148#msg425148
Have a look here
Cheers

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Trailers are all easy my friend. The old school trailers like yours seems to be can be converted to "spring over axle" in about 1.5hrs and $15 in parts if you're a real tight ass. All you really need is to jack up trailer and put on stands under chassis, remove wheels, one side hub and backing plate, undo u bolts and slide axle out. Put axle in place under springs and measure up to make axle centre, weld new spring perches to axle (only parts really required) and bolt back up with old u bolts.

If it were me though I would be replacing the u bolts, replacing or at least repacking the wheel bearings with new seals and dust caps and if it has an issue with the electric brakes two new complete backing plates would be in order (new shoes, magnets, springs, etc. all assembled).

If you want to convert to Prado wheels you would have to measure up for offset and width to ensure they will fit in the guard area. If the width is good but offset is wrong either a wider or narrower axle would have to be purchased. If by some chance you get lucky and the width and offset are good you would just need new hub/drums to suit both your brakes, stud pattern and wheel bearings. A good trailer shop should have all except the axle in stock on the shelf, the axle would be made to order.

Before you buy anything work out exactly what you need, because worst case you would buy a complete assembled axle with brakes, drums, etc. ready to have to spring perches welded on. If you go this way alko style 12" electric brakes with cable handbrake would be the way to go, they are the most common. Then wire up the brakes directly to the trailer plug and use an in car brake controller. Drawbar controllers are just asking for troubles.

I do this type of work at work, so if you have any questions shoot me a PM, if you have decent hand tools, a cheap stick welder and a measuring tape you'll be fine

Edit- oh, and don't forget it may need some type of bump stop on top of the spring to prevent to spring inverting under a large shock load (hitting pot hole or similar hard). Hit up the wreckers for a pair of these, look on the chassis of a 80/100 series, bolted above the diff. The metal tabs with the bolt holes can have some width cut off them so they clear the u bolts and can be welded to the spring plate.

[Brougham Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brougham]

Or just look for a cheap outback model that's already got higher clearance and built better...?


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[Killswitch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Killswitch]

Thank you @AussieAndy

Well, we bought it last night. It is the OffRoad model so it already sits a little higher and matches well with the 2" lift plus tyre increase in the Prado.

It has Jayco Torsion suspension under it, so it wont be as easy as a axle under swap.

[Brougham Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brougham]

Top stuff. We have a outback Swan and it matches the lifted 150 series perfectly as well.


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[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

A mate has done this to his jayco with axle moved under spring plus h/d springs gave 4 inch lift and catered for the 500kg of beer he used to carry inside it.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

If it has that Alko rubber suspension it will go forever. If it lacks shock absorbers get some - it should have the mounts on the suspension arms. My old Campomatic has that suspension and 10,000km + of dirt last year caused no issues at all.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

I had Jayco Swan Outback. Most important tools were 12 volt dust buster to get all the dust out after opening it up and a drill-driver to put all the screws in the cupboards back together.

[Brougham Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brougham]

Definitely not the same as ours then! 😜


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[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

I did this to my Jayco camper.and then did an outback trip last year and it was fantastic.Been up the high country and also worked great.
http://timbren.com/products-page/3500lbs/asr3500s06/