Seasonal Camping with a Hybrid - 2012 Jayco 20E

safetylady · 12-26-2013, 05:34 PM

We have a Jayco 20E which we love. Have now decided that we want to become a seasonal camper in Cape Cod. We have two choices, sell the hybrid or use it as a seasonal. Has anyone left their hybrid open for extended periods of time? We are leaning toward selling and buying an enclosed camper.

Opinions please.

**Crabman** · 12-26-2013, 06:44 PM

I have never owned a hybrid but I do not believe the tentage is meant to be exposed indefinitely, I`m thinking time and the elements would eventually take its toll. Perhaps our hybrid owners have a different perspective, I`m just supposing....

Jagiven · 12-26-2013, 08:29 PM

I saw one as a seasonal this past summer. I saw it a number of times and it looked good all summer, I never looked at it closed it up or talked with them.

A good friend of ours has a seasonal site. Down the CG road, was a PU on a seasonal site, until this past summer. I thought it looked awfully dirty. Our friend said they have been there about 4-5 years and never closes it during the summer and never cleans it. It looked fine, but dirty, and was told that the owner has never discussed any issues.

Personally, I might try the 20E for one season to see if you like being a seasonal.

wmoses · 12-26-2013, 10:06 PM

It should last a season anyway.

mcfarmall · 12-27-2013, 05:02 AM

Just use it and close the ends when you leave. Not a big deal.

OnTheGo · 12-27-2013, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safetylady

We have a Jayco 20E which we love. Have now decided that we want to become a seasonal camper in Cape Cod. We have two choices, sell the hybrid or use it as a seasonal. Has anyone left their hybrid open for extended periods of time? We are leaning toward selling and buying an enclosed camper.

Opinions please.

safetylady, I think you are leaning in the right direction. We never left ours open for an extended time, and closed it up for high winds. IMO, hybrids are the most comfortable, have the most room per foot of TT, and you can't get a better nights sleep. So, I can understand you wanting to keep it. What I don't understand (and you don't need to explain), is why you don't open / close the bunk ends as you use it.

DocBrown · 12-27-2013, 07:54 AM

As Crabman said, the bunk ends aren't meant to be used for long periods of time. It says that right in the manual. At the private campground we go to the most there are several hybids in seasonal sites. The bunks are closed on all of them when not in use.

We also have an X20E, I would certainly feel comfortable using it as a seasonal trailer. But we would close the bunks if not using it. It only takes a few minutes to drop them down and throw our bedding on.

Paulx213 · 12-27-2013, 05:48 PM

Not sure if the material is the same as tent trailers but ours lasted a long time. My dad bought it in the late 60's and he would set it up every summer in the back yard for the kids to sleep in.(fun and beats the heat).

Even with it being open all summer and through countless camping trips it was still usable when he sold it in the early 80's.

That said they seem to be easy to close so might as well if you're going to be away for a while.

I will be using my hybrid as a seasonal next summer but it's a little different as the bed has hard walls. I will likely still close it just to relieve it of the weight of what is basically a 6 foot deep slideout.

safetylady · 01-01-2014, 07:13 AM

Thanks for the replys, they make me feel more at ease. We have batted back and forth trading in the camper but may very well just give it a try. If we do we will at least buy the covers for the canvas. We are looking very forward to spending time on Cape Cod this upcoming camping season.

safetylady · 01-11-2014, 12:23 PM

We ended up trading in our 2012 Jayco 20E for a 2014 White Hawk 29 REKS. Since we will be seasonal, we wanted more room. Thanks everyone.

Jagiven · 01-17-2014, 11:29 AM

Congratulations

Brightwhite · 01-17-2014, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safetylady

We ended up trading in our 2012 Jayco 20E for a 2014 White Hawk 29 REKS. Since we will be seasonal, we wanted more room. Thanks everyone.

Congrats!

Oddly enough I had the exact same thread going last year, well we did use ours out there for the season. We closed the beds about 90% of the time. This trailer will work for us, it's just a bit more work then a non hybrid.

Redhorse 823 · 01-17-2014, 05:54 PM

Congrats!

Brightwhite · 01-17-2014, 06:32 PM

If you don't mind me asking, how did the financial situation go?

Did you trade the x20 in? Obviously lost some cash being such a new trailer?

Reason I ask is were in the same boat, current trailer will work but it would be nice to upgrade. A quck phone call to the dealer and he said I would have to pay 5k and get into a new trailer worth 30+ to hide the negative equity. I know if I went down there I could get those numbers closer to my favour but still, selling a year old trailer were bound to lose money...

sunstarsmoon · 02-10-2014, 10:52 AM

We have a 23b and last year was our first year using it at a seasonal site. We did leave it open if we were leaving on a sunday and returning a few days later. This year we will be using it again but will be closing it when we leave for the week. I think you will enjoy being seasonal and in your new trailer! We are planning on a few years on upgrading out of the hybrid. As much as I love my hybrid it would be nice to arrive at our site and not have to do any setting up of any kind!

RoyBraddy · 02-10-2014, 01:30 PM

Since the Hybrid tent ends do not take up any room inside the trailer seems like it would be an easy thing to do by closing up when you are not using it.

I have the OFF-ROAD POPUP camper trailer and I always have a 9X12 tarp over my tent beds ends which has really protected the fabric pretty good over the years... These are what I call my poor man GIZMOs

Roy Ken

safetylady · 02-10-2014, 06:57 PM

We did trade in the 2012 X20E and feel that we did very well. We had bought it from RV Direct for a good price and had paid it off. This put us in a good place to start. We loved the X20E and are very excited for the 29REKS to arrived.

We have bought two used StarCraft popup and two new Jayco campers.

Is it time to go camper yet???

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