Why the Jayco Optimum VW 22 1 is a Game-Changer for Modern Travellers
Over two decades ago, European light commercial vehicle manufacturers introduced their large vans to the Australian vehicle market. Mercedes Benz led the charge, but Fiat and Volkswagen weren’t far behind.
That was a game changer in the motorhome market. A number of manufacturers saw the possibilities and created what is now a solid market niche of small but well-equipped motorhomes.
Jayco was one of those manufacturers and its motorhome range includes a solid range of van conversions using Renault Master, Fiat Ducato, Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter vans. The Crafter is the base vehicle for my review motorhome, a Jayco Optimum VW.22-1.
Turbo Diesel Power for Effortless Drving
Jayco designed the VW.22-1 as a four-seater for transporting people around, but it only sleeps two because of the bed arrangements. The front-wheel-drive Crafter is powered by a 130kW/410Nm 2.0 litre turbo diesel and has an eight-speed automatic gearbox. On the van performance front, it’s right up there with the best of them. It has all the latest safety features, of course: front, side and curtain airbags for driver and passenger, Multi-Collision Brake (MCB), Adaptive Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA) and Traction Control (TCS). There’s more, of course, but all the essentials are there.
Getting behind the wheel of any VW is always a pleasure and the Crafter is no exception. Being a raised height off the road, the cab has good vision and all the essential controls are close to hand – including those on the multi-function steering wheel and the multi-media touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. These days, either is pretty much essential for hands-free phone use and navigating.
Stylish and Functional Exterior
A little different from many motorhomes these days, the Optimum is metallic grey, making it easier to pick out in a crowd of white. It’s quite stylish and, apart from the steel wheels, quite the premium model. Opening windows are fitted on both sides, including the sliding door; but the windows on the rear doors are fixed. The external fit-out includes a Fiamma 80S awning, rear-mounted wall light and external speakers. The retractable van step is a Stem model that is foot-operated. Apart from the aperture for the toilet cassette tank and the power and water connections, there are no other body openings. The gas cylinder bin is inside the nearside rear door. Like just about any large van conversion, the Optimum has no external storage.
Efficient Power and Water Systems
Driving the 12V system is a 120Ah Lithium LiFePO4 battery. It’s kept up to charge by the 200W solar panel and the Projecta PM235 Battery Management System (BMS) that incorporates a 30A charger. To supply the Suburban Nautilus instantaneous water heater and cooking hob, there’s a single 4.0kg gas cylinder. There are two water tanks, 86 litres of fresh water and 110 litres of grey water. That’s enough for limited off-grid stays but it depends a bit on local water supplies.
Minimalist Kitchen with Essential Features
Inside the Optimum, the décor causes no eye stress and looks easy to keep clean. The lighting scheme, with a mixture of downlights and semi-hidden strip lights, is subtle but effective. All the light switches are the standard Jayco touch-button style. The roof-mounted Dometic Harrier is a standard feature and for those who like winter travel, a diesel heater is an option. Another option worth considering, especially as rear windows are non-opening, is an insect screen for the rear door area. Great for warm nights.
Large van conversions generally offer a limited range of layouts; whilst there are no real surprises here, it’s a tried and trusted arrangement. The two sideways-facing lounges in the rear can form either two single beds or a large double. Up front, both the cab seats can be turned around and there’s a table and two more seats behind the driver’s seat. That leaves the mid area for the offside bathroom and the nearside kitchen. There’s not a great deal of room to move, but both the front and rear areas are flexible for use.
Single beds aren’t for everyone, but the benefit is dual-use lounge/beds and, for folks with mobility difficulties, a little more practicality at night. The single beds are slightly different sizes, the offside one at 1.78m (5ft 10in) being shorter than the 1.8m (5ft 11in) nearside bed. When made up into a double, the bed has a width of 1.177m (5ft 10in). Each bed has an overhead locker-mounted Sirocco fan.
The table between the lounges has a Northcoach RV swivel mounting and is quite easy to shift around and remove if it’s not needed. Under the seats, there’s a limited amount of storage space, mostly because the gas cylinder bin, instantaneous water heater and house battery/BMS all take up space. Overhead lockers are above the seats on both sides and are quite spacious. The handle-less doors are quite easy to open.
Interior Designed for Flexibility
Minimalist design is a good way to describe the Optimum kitchen bench. It has all the basics – a Dometic two burner hob, a round stainless sink and a Brass Monkey 65 litre compressor fridge. The fridge isn’t a large capacity and I understand the next Optimum generation will have an 85 litre unit. Fitted into the overhead locker space above the bench is an NEC 20 litre microwave oven. Two cupboards and a drawer sit below the benchtop but a nice touch is the rear cupboard that’s only accessible from the outside (it’s not quite hose and power lead size, but handy for small items like shoes and tools).
Doing a tango in the combo bathroom really isn’t an option but having a quick wash under the variable height flex hose shower certainly is. There’s just enough room for the Thetford cassette toilet and small corner washbasin. A fan hatch does the necessary ventilation and the outside of the cubicle door is mirrored.
Having the forward dinette which will seat four people without too much trouble does mean that unless a second table is needed, the rear bed doesn’t need to be made up every night if it’s being used as a double bed. Rail-mounted on the wall, the table can be shifted back and forth to suit the seating position. Below the table on the seat frame is a 12V/USB charger hub.
The under-seat area is all open, which looks a bit odd; but it does mean that it’s easy to get stored gear in and out. It’s a reasonable place to store hoses in a plastic container.
Why the Jayco Optimum VW.22-1 Stands Out
Jayco’s VW.22-1 is something of a niche motorhome, yet one that has plenty of appeal. Fitted with just about all the motorhoming essentials, it’s more of a short-term traveller and weekend escape vehicle. Being a four-seater, it’s a large van but still good for driving around town as a transporter. Primarily though, it’s a comfortable and lightweight camping machine, that’s highly manoeuvrable and an easy driver.
Specifications
VEHICLE
MANUFACTURER JAYCO
MODEL OPTIMUM VW.22-1
BASE VEHICLE VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER 35 LWB
TARE WEIGHT 3,360KG
GVM 4,000KG
LICENCE CAR
PASSENGERS 4
MECHANICAL
ENGINE 2.0 LITRE TURBO DIESEL
POWER 130KW @ 3,600RPM
TORQUE 410NM @ 2,000RPM
GEAR BOX 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC
BRAKES ABS DISC
DIMENSIONS
EXTERNAL LENGTH 6.84M (22FT 6IN)
EXTERNAL WIDTH 2.15M (7FT)
EXTERNAL HEIGHT 2.8M (9FT 1IN)
INTERNAL HEIGHT 1.94M (6FT 4IN)
REAR BED SIZE 1.8M X 0.66M (5FT 11IN X 2FT 3IN)
UPPER BED SIZE 1.78M X 0.71M (5FT 10IN X 2FT 4IN)
EQUIPMENT
COOK TOP DOMETIC 2 BURNER
FRIDGE BRASS MONKEY 65 LITRE 12V COMPRESSOR
MICROWAVE NEC 20 LITRE
LIGHTING 12V LED
BATTERIES 120AH LITHIUM LIFEPO4
SOLAR PANELS 200W
AIR CONDITIONER DOMETIC HARRIER
TOILET THETFORD C220 CASSETTE TOILET
SHOWER FLEX HOSE
HOT WATER SUBURBAN NAUTILUS INSTANTANEOUS
HEATER OPTIONAL DIESEL
WATER TANK 86 LITRE
GREY TANK 100 LITRE
GAS CYLINDERS 1 X 4.0KG
PRICE (ON ROAD) $146,189
OPTIONS FITTED ELECTRIC AWNING AND HYDRAULIC STABILISERS, AUTO LEVELLING
WARRANTY 3-YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND 5-YEAR STRUCTURAL WARRANTY
Supplied by
Jayco Sydney
63-67 Glossop Street, St Marys NSW 2760
Ph: (02) 9623 1971
Web: www.jaycosydney.com.au
