Luxury features used to be reserved for large Class A motorhomes, but more and more the amenities we used to associate with these six-figure coaches are finding their way into smaller lower-priced units. Jayco’s all-new Melbourne 29D is the latest example of this trend, boasting triple slideouts and other high-end details on a manageable Class C
platform.
“We’ve seen through market research that there are a lot of Class A owners that want to downsize, and the Melbourne hits that market,” says Paul Gardner, Jayco’s director of product development. “It has an upscale, contemporary appearance and the features these buyers are looking for.”
For example, Gardner notes the Melbourne’s gelcoated side walls, which are curved instead of flat, and the aerodynamic one-piece front and rear cap. The roof is one-piece fiberglass as well, and there is even the option of full-body paint. Inside, the cabover bunk
traditionally found in family-oriented Class C motorhomes has been replaced with a 19-inch LCD TV. That’s not to say, however, that the Melbourne can’t accommodate overnight guests; the leather comfort lounger housed in the streetside slideout converts into a bed, as does the curbside dinette, also located in a slideout. And if you want more room to stretch out, another leather comfort lounger can be specified in place of the dinette. Either way, a small sofa table on the streetside can be used for snacks or a game of cards, and stowed away when not in use.
The kitchen is cleverly arranged so that it is part of the living area, yet uses as little space as possible. The Apollo three-burner cooktop and convection microwave combination are located just aft of the streetside comfort lounger, while the sink and generous J-Stone solid-surface countertop space are arranged like a buffet at the rear of the room. A 6-cubic-foot refrigerator is located on the curbside, just aft of the entry door.
The bath area is located amidships and is divided by the hallway. On the streetside is an enclosed toilet room with porcelain foot-flush toilet, lav and overhead medicine cabinet, and on the curbside, a shower with a glass door. This area can be separated with an
accordion door from the master suite, which features a walk-around queen-size bed, overhead cabinet, dual wardrobes and a chest of drawers.
Certainly the Melbourne has a long list of standard features, but what would a high-end coach be without options? In addition to those already mentioned, the Melbourne offers another 19-inch LCD TV in the bedroom, a Winegard satellite dish, a 400-watt inverter, a 15,000-BTU air conditioner with heat pump (13,500 btu standard), a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround-sound system with DVD player, an exterior entertainment center and an outside grill.
Available in four floorplans, the Melbourne lineup is already sold out for ’07, but the ’08 models will be on sale by the time you read this.
