The Heritage, dubbed the “caravanner’s caravan” when released in 2002, remains the flagship of Jayco’s towable recreational vehicle (RV) fleet and this year’s model released as part of Jayco’s 30th anniversary celebrations, after the first six months are on track to being the country’s No. 1 caravan in 2005.

Jayco designers are forever stretching themselves as they seek to create the ultimate caravan, and 2005 Heritage model range is the best yet of any production line caravan ever built in Australia.

In the three years since the Heritage was first released it has set an Australian benchmark in caravan design, and the 2005 models have received a further upgrade to ensure Jayco stays ahead of the rest.

Apart from subtle upgrades in décor by using new colours for cushions, curtains and laminex the designers have concentrated on adding finer touches such as introducing new improved ceiling lights, draw faces and brushed aluminium appliances. They have also removed the large TV void and replaced it with an area for an LCD TV monitor to be fitted on to a wall.

Because larger Heritage models over 7 metres (23ft) are so in demand they have also installed a bigger Dometic RM 2553 refrigerator. RM4401 three-way refrigerators remain standard in the smaller models.

Seven-metre-plus models all now have queen-sized double beds (1524mm wide), which can be lifted up for storage. Beds all have orthopaedic slats underneath inner spring mattresses.

Jayco has also made a number of changes to the floor plans available throughout the range.

The Heritages, available as caravans and pop-tops, are exceptionally well appointed and styled to meet the needs of the most discerning owner.

External graphics have been upgraded to highlight the automotive styling that comes from the use of a sheer, dent resistant, high gloss, gel-coat finished fibreglass outer skin, which is 150 per cent thicker than aluminium.

Jayco has retained its Tough-Frame, which includes a welded aluminium frame that also wraps around all windows and doors. Walls are vacuum pressed for additional strength and accuracy. Added within the sandwich panel front, rear and side walls and roof is polystyrene foam, making the caravans fully insulated.

The vacuum-pressed walls are manufactured on a special press that was designed in the United States for that country’s huge recreational vehicle market.

The well-proven high-strength Millennium chassis is very much a strengthening construction process that has dramatically improved the overall build of all Jayco models.

The seating in the Heritage caravans and pop-tops are framed in aluminium making them much stronger and the furniture panelling uses 9mm ply rather than the traditional 3mm ply, adding even more strength to the overall build of the models.

Because of the popularity of 4WDs as the tow vehicle of choice for larger caravans, Jayco uses 381mm (15 inch) wheels as standard on all models of 7 metres (23 ft) and over, giving a similar ground clearance to complement the ground clearance of 4WDs.

Internally there is an atmosphere of spaciousness, accentuated by the cleverly profiled cupboard doors and curved overhead doors.

The brushed aluminium Newhome 4 burner oven, complimented by a brushed aluminium 12-volt range hood, has one 240 volt element in the cooker top to help conserve gas.

Lighting is all 12-volt, provided through a 240 volt to 12 volt transformer and there is an auxiliary battery charging facility.

Pop-top Heritage models come in two sizes 5.18 metres (17ft) and 5.48 metres (18ft) and there are more than a dozen floor plans offering front, rear and side kitchens and three models have shower and toilet compartments.

Of more than 25 Heritage caravan layouts, between 5.18 metres and 7.62 metres (25ft), almost all have shower and toilet compartments.