2018
Jayco Eagle HT Review
Purchased new November 2017. Stored unused until June 2018 when returned to
Jayco dealer to add Slide-Out Covers, wash roof and add recommended UV treatment. That’s when
problems began.
Dealer advised us roof was ripped up and they could not perform the cleaning or treatment. They asserted we must have driven under some trees and ripped roof. We could not believe this since we had not even used the trailer yet and had driven it only on interstate highways where there are no trees and stored it safely in our steel barn. Dealer advised roof needed replacement which they could do it for $7000! We were stunned. Our insurance agent, who specializes in RV claims, checked it out and said it looked like someone had ripped up the roof with a pressure washer! We felt vindicated but angry. He also told us that based on their claim history, our dealer had very poor reputation. No way we were ever going back to a lying rip-off dealer; asked for recommendations for honest, reliable certified
Jayco RV repair shops. Took trailer into a shop in San Jose who also said roof looked like it had been damaged by a pressure washer! They quoted $5000 for a full replacement (including plywood decking and a better and slightly more expensive roofing material)! Appears
Jayco dealer sent some inexperienced kid up to clean the roof and destroyed it. The worst part wasn’t that it cost us a $1000 deductible, but that they were so dishonest and wanted $2000 more!
Took unit on its maiden voyage in June 2018. Almost immediately, trailer began falling apart. Bottom of pot drawer broke out. Stove dropped out of alignment @ ½” causing the drip pan under the burners to come in direct contact with the burner flames and turn red hot. Almost every cabinet and drawer came open during towing, i.e., latches do not secure well. Propane door could not be closed without being bent out since the propane tanks protruded out about ½” and prevented a flush close. Just some of the 15 issues we had during first trip.
Next trip – more
problems. Venetian blinds fell off. Curved wooden headboard over bed came unstapled from the side wall. Cabinet door frames came apart. Electric water heater indicator light stopped working. Framing molding around bedroom slider came loose. Another 3 months to schedule and repair list of warranty issues.
May 2019- took cross-country trip and had bigger
problems. Electrical panel shook loose from wood backing board and the board itself came unstapled from its wood framing (major concern due to risks of shorts or even fire from wires which might come loose). While being towed, a hanging light over kitchen table came loose, swung against the other hanging light and shattered glass. Exhaust fan over stove works so poorly, it sets off smoke detector every time. Gray valves leaks. Annoying electrical hum developed when plugged into shore power. Sheet metal lining the wheel wells came unstapled and rubbed on tires. A cabinet shelf collapsed and broke revealing that staples had come loose (no evidence of glue or screws). Wood paneling on the side of the fireplace came unstapled and loose staples caught my wife’s leg. Mattress provides very poor support and after relatively little use shows permanent indentations where we sleep. Etc., etc.
Trailer in shop again for more warranty repairs. With over 40 warranty issues so far, we have lost confidence in this unit ever being reliable and are concerned about what happens after the 2-year warranty expires in a few months. We are now shopping for a more durable fifth wheel and it will not be a
Jayco!
We concluded a few things based on our experiences:
1. Local
Jayco dealer is a liar and a rip off thief. Cannot be trusted.
2.
Jayco brags about Amish quality workmanship. That’s bull. Most of our
problems were woodwork related and probably not Amish. Nothing but tiny staples and cardboard thick plywood. “Solid wood” framing is light weight with fancy wood grained vinyl cover. Very little evidence of glue or screws anywhere. Simply towing this trailer on interstate highways shakes it apart.
3. Nearly all
problems have been related to poor
Jayco quality and workmanship, not components or appliances made by others and installed by
Jayco.
4. HT (half ton) units are built light and cheap, i.e., durability and quality suffers greatly. Most fifth wheels we are now looking at have 8” or even 10” I-beams. This
Eagle HT has a 6” I-beam which I now realize is probably a good clue about durability. I recommend avoiding HT models.
5. RV review site distorts the ratings by averaging 5 factors with such things as floor plan and livability. Naturally reviewers typically give those factors 4 or 5 stars because that’s why they bought them! I now look at only 2 factors on these reviews and ratings, i.e., quality and support. When you average just those 2 factors,
Jayco Eagle HT rates poorly.
Wish we had figured all this out before!
Livability
Overall quality
Floorplan
Driving/towing
Factory warranty/support
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