Jayco Swan Outback 2018 review

This Outback expands from 5365mm long at travel length to more than six metres when it's set up at camp. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

Features and options offered don't change a whole lot between camper-trailers – after all there's only so much manufacturers can pack into a unit without pushing the boundaries of physics and the law – but specifications, dimensions and weights may vary.

The Swan Outback – at a travel length of 5365mm – is the longest of Jayco's camper-trailer range tested so far; the equal second-longest Outbacks – the Hawk and Eagle Outback – are 5060mm long but have a heavier tow ball weight (145kg and 150kg respectively) than the Swan's 130kg.

Travel height (1910mm) and width (2240mm) remain the same.

The Swan Outback does, however, have a higher tare weight at 1385kg, than the Hawk Outback (1285kg) and Eagle Outback (1270kg).

Jayco reckons that the Swan Outback "easily sleeps four adults and two children, with an option to sleep two more children on a convertible bed". I'll be the judge of that.

Adhering to the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach, Jayco has ensured the Swan Outback uses the same simple set-up process as the other campers in its range.

On arrival at your chosen campsite, unclip a latch near each upper corner of the trailer’s body, remove the winder handle from its rack in the camper’s forward storage space, fit that handle into the designated position at the camper’s rear and then wind until the camper's roof hits the stars. Only joking – you wind until the support bars at each corner are almost at full lock-out but leave some slack in the canvas. Don't ask "Why?", just remember to thank me later.

Next step, pull the bed out at each end, place the bed support struts, which are stored underneath the mattresses, on each bed base and corresponding point on the camper body. This requires a bit of shoulder strength to get those bed bases up and into position. Make sure everything is securely in place.

Pull the canvas down and over the corners of each bed and secure all loose canvas in place with the sewn-in Velcro strips.

The remainder of the process involves positioning the interior ceiling poles for each bedroom (you did leave a bit of slack in the canvas walls as advised, didn't you?), and locking them into place with provided Velcro backing, and then moving furniture from its travel position into its camp-ready position.

Make sure everything is wound up to lock-out and fitted securely in its position.

Voila! You're now set up. It took me about eight minutes from start to finish, but I moved at a leisurely pace.

The Swan Outback is 6505mm long when set up; the Hawk Outback and Eagle Outback are both 6200mm long when fully extended. That's an extra 305mm, a little more than the length of a school ruler, the Swan Outback has over the other two Outbacks.

The kitchen area. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

If cooking is your cup of tea you should be right in this workable camp-friendly space.

The area is a simple layout with stainless-steel sink (with mains pressure), cutting board and meal-prep area, four-burner stove, and 95-litre fridge as standard. There is an 82-litre underfloor water tank.

Want to re-heat your coffee? The microwave is standard on Swan models. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

A microwave, positioned under the stove, is also standard on Swans, but a hot-water service and extra 82-litre water tank are options.

Feel free to tackle light-duty off-roading in this but don't head along 4WD-only tracks. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

The beds need a fair bit of 'old man gorilla' strength to lift and get the struts into place.

The beds' unsealed ply bases may suffer cumulative minor damage over time as the struts are repeatedly wedged into position.

Remember: Outback versions of the Jayco camper range may have extra ground clearance (over Touring models), all-terrain tyres and dirt track-ready coil-spring suspension, but they are not designed or built for hard-core off-roading – they are certainly not to be taken on 4WD-only tracks. Want some confirmation? Take a look at the warranty fine print.