Jayco, Entegra Motorhome Trio

Three models in varying price points, types, and sizes illustrate just a few of the choices available to RV shoppers.

By Mark Quasius, F333630
October 2020

It’s a fact that one size does not fit all. Because of consumers’ diverse preferences and lifestyles, it’s easy to see why products come in so many flavors. Motorhomes are no different. For would-be RVers, or towable-RV owners looking to transition to a motorized RV, the choices can be bewildering. So many models, floor plans, decors, options, and prices. Where to begin?

Let’s start with Jayco Inc., which currently produces a wide range of Type A and Type C motorhomes, in addition to numerous travel trailers, fifth-wheels, and toy haulers. The lineup includes luxury motorhomes produced by Entegra Coach, part of the Jayco family.

We don’t have space to describe all of the company’s offerings in each motorhome category, so here’s a snapshot of two Jayco motorhomes and one Entegra unit available for the 2021 model year, each with its own appeal.

Jayco Greyhawk 29MV

The Greyhawk is Jayco’s midlevel offering in the Type C motorhome category, sandwiched between the entry-level Redhawk and, above it, the Seneca Super C.

Representative of Type C motorhomes, the Greyhawk has a front cab-over section. The 29MV comes standard with an overhead bunk in this area, though all floor plans are available with an optional front

entertainment center and/or storage if the customer prefers. Jayco’s cab-over areas are built with a seamless fiberglass cap, which prevents potential water leaks. The coach also has a one-piece fiberglass roof.

The 29MV features a 60-inch-by-74-inch queen bed in the rear bedroom. The head of the bed rests in a street-side slideout, across from a TV cabinet flanked by large wardrobes. Some Greyhawk floor plans contain a king-size bed. Add sleeping areas provided by the convertible dinette and the trifold sofa up front, and the Greyhawk has a total sleeping capacity of up to eight persons, depending on their size.

The bathroom includes a 30-inch-by-36-inch fiberglass shower enclosure with sliding glass doors. A private water closet with a foot-flush toilet and a stainless-steel vanity sink stands across the aisle.

Farther forward, the curbside galley incorporates an 8-cubic-foot refrigerator, a Furrion three-burner cooktop and oven, and an overhead microwave oven, with a pantry nearby. A larger, 12-cubic-foot refrigerator is optional, which eliminates the pantry if chosen.

A Sony infotainment center furnishes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Blu-ray player is standard in the living area.

The Greyhawk 29MV shown in the photos was finished in the optional Modern Farmhouse décor, currently popular in residential construction. This light-colored interior design is combined with numerous flush-mounted windows that let in plenty of natural light. Buyers may opt for a second décor, Huntington.

The Greyhawk comes with standard exterior graphics, and the option of three full-body paint schemes. A 16-foot patio awning is standard. Total basement storage space measures 55 cubic feet.

The 29MV is built on the Ford E-450 chassis equipped with a six-speed TorqShift transmission with overdrive. A 55-gallon fuel tank feeds the 7.3-liter Triton V-8 gasoline engine. The coach measures 32 feet 6 inches long. Its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 14,500 pounds. The fresh-water tank holds 47 gallons; gray-water and black-water tank capacities are 41 gallons and 32 gallons, respectively. The gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 22,000 pounds leaves about 7,500 pounds of towing capacity, assuming the coach is fully loaded to its 14,500-pound GVWR.

The Greyhawk comes with an upgraded JRide Plus suspension, which includes a heavy-duty rear stabilizer bar, Hellwig helper springs, a computer-balanced driveshaft, and Koni FSD shock absorbers. Company officials note that this results in better handling and a smoother ride.

A 4,000-watt Onan MicroQuiet generator and a 1,000-watt inverter ensure ample electrical power, and pop-up outlets in the galley provide 120-volt receptacles and USB charging ports. Two optional 11,000-Btu air-conditioning units keep the coach cool. An electronic leveling jack system is available.

When it comes to driving, the Greyhawk, like other Type C motorhomes, is very user-friendly. Seated in an automotive-style cab, with the hood out front, many RVers will appreciate the motorhome’s resemblance to a van or pickup truck.

The base manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the Greyhawk 29MV is $130,118. It comes with a two-year bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and a three-year structural warranty. In my opinion, the Greyhawk is a well-equipped Type C model, and as good as they come.

 Jayco Precept 34G

The Precept is a midlevel Type A gasoline-powered motorhome; the 34G floor plan measures 36 feet 6 inches long. If extra sleeping space is desired, this coach can be equipped with an optional front overhead bed on a power lift that drops down from the ceiling. This front bunk, along with dedicated bunk-bed floor plans, such as the Precept 36A, reflects a growing trend toward including more sleeping berths in Type As.

The 34G includes a 70-inch-by-74-inch king bed in the rear bedroom; as in the Greyhawk 29MV, the bed is opposite a pair of wardrobes and a TV cabinet. In this case, however, a full-wall slideout runs from the bedroom up to the front entry door. The front living area hosts a legless, convertible dinette and a theater-sofa, with a trifold sofa opposite. Altogether, the Precept can sleep eight.

The 34G’s bath area is all contained on the street side. It includes a 30-inch-by-36-inch fiberglass shower with a glass door, as well as a skylight, a vanity and stainless-steel sink, and a porcelain toilet with foot flush.

The curbside galley incorporates a Furrion all-in-one oven and cooktop, along with a microwave-convection oven an

d a 21-cubic-foot residential refrigerator with ice and water in the door. An optional 12-cubic-foot four-door gas-electric refrigerator is available. A stackable washer and drawer, also optional, can be installed in the large pantry next to the fridge. The galley also features an angled double sink and a decorative backsplash. The countertops here and elsewhere consist of solid-surface material.

The Precept’s living area offers ample seating and space. The coach features LED lighting, including within the hardwood fascia; hardwood cabinet doors and drawers; and a 7-foot interior height. A china hutch with a built-in electric fireplace provides a residential touch in this area. A Sony infotainment center offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 34G’s street-side slideout holds the dinette and a theater sofa. These seating areas are within view of the 50-inch 4K LED TV across the aisle, which rises from a concealed area via a power lift. A Blu-ray player, cable TV hookup with RG-6 coax and a video selector switch, and a digital antenna with signal booster are included.

The Precept 34G I toured featured the Modern Farmhouse décor, along with upgraded trim levels. A second décor package, Addison, is available.

The coach incorporates a vacuum-bond laminated roof, floor, and sidewalls. Buyers can opt for the standard exterior graphics or one of three full-body paint schemes. An outside entertainment center comes standard and is protected by a 23-foot patio awning. The 34G contains 155 cubic feet of basement storage.

The Precept’s Ford F-53 chassis is powered by a 7.3-liter Triton V-8 gasoline engine with electronic fuel ignition and incorporates a six-speed automatic TorqShift transmission with overdrive and tow-haul mode. It comes with an 80-gallon fuel tank. An Equalizer Systems automatic leveling system utilizes dual-acting hydraulic jacks. A 5,500-watt Onan generator is standard, as is a 1,200-watt inverter. The holding tanks (72 gallons fresh water, 40 gallons gray water, 50 gallons black water) are heated. The coach includes a 35,000-Btu auto-ignition furnace; a 15,000-Btu air-conditioning unit with heat pump; and a second, 13,500-Btu AC unit. Its GVWR is 22,000 pounds and GCWR is 26,000 pounds.

The Precept’s ride quality is smooth, partially a result of the JRide Plus suspension upgrades that Jayco installs. The 120-inch panoramic windshield affords an expansive view. The coach is equipped with backup and side-view cameras.

The base price of the Precept 34G is $168,301. This coach also is protected by Jayco’s two-year limited bumper-to-bumper warranty and a three-year structural warranty.

Entegra Coach Anthem 44B

The Anthem Type A diesel pusher is built by Entegra Coach, a Jayco company that specializes in luxury Type A and Type C motorhomes. Packed with amenities, this model may particularly appeal to RVers who travel full-time or for extended periods.

The Anthem is manufactured on a Spartan K2 tag-axle chassis equip-ped with a Cummins L9 450-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine and an Allison 3000MH six-speed transmission. Not surprisingly, this unit is capable of hauling most anything. Consider its specs: an 8,982-pound cargo carrying capacity, a 44-foot-11-inch overall length, a 52,000-pound GVWR, a 67,000-pound GCWR, and a 15,000-pound-rated tow hitch.

The Anthem is all-electric. An Aqua-Hot hydronic heating system warms zones throughout the coach and supplies continuous on-demand hot water. A 25-cubic-foot residential refrigerator and other accessories are powered by 50-amp service, a 12,500-watt Onan Quiet Diesel generator, and a pair of 3,000-watt Magnum inverters backed by a large battery bank. The coach features a heated tile floor, an electric fireplace, and three ducted 15,000-Btu air conditioners with heat pumps. Insulation is top of the line, including an R-40 floor. The coach contains 169 cubic feet of basement storage.

All coach systems can be accessed by the Vegatouch screen, which manages the slideouts, shades, lights, heating and air-conditioning system, entertainment system, and utilities. A smartphone app is also available to control these systems.

The Anthem’s plush interior includes wood-plank-look polished porcelain tile floors, solid-surface countertops, and cherry hardwood cabinets and trim. A 50-inch 4K LED TV rises above the fireplace across from a 100-inch L-shaped sofa, which can seat three persons; a 100-inch reclining sofa is available as an option. Three interior décor options are available. In addition, six exterior full-body-paint choices are offered. The dinette features swiveling seats.

The galley incorporates an induction cooktop, an overhead microwave-convection oven, a dishwasher, a deep single-basin granite farm sink, and a pull-out work center. The stainless-steel residential refrigerator comes with an ice maker and a water dispenser. As elsewhere throughout the coach, solid-surface counters are trimmed with dimmable LED accent lighting.

The midship half bath holds a toilet, plus a vanity and sink.

At the rear, a full bath stretches across the width of the motorhome. It includes a SaniFlo macerator toilet, an integrated glass sink, a mirrored medicine cabinet, and a 33-inch-by-41-inch porcelain-tile shower with a clear glass door. A skylight is positioned above the shower, which comes with a fixed showerhead and a hand-held spray wand. It also features an Aqua View Showermi$er water-saving system and a teakwood seat.

A cedar-lined wardrobe stretches across the rear wall of the bath area, next to a stackable washer and dryer.

The bedroom boasts a 72-inch-by-80-inch Sleep Number bed, plenty of storage, a 32-inch LED TV, a Sony Blu-ray player, a dresser and vanity, and a ceiling fan. Additional sleeping berths are available in the living area’s L-shaped sofa bed or optional reclining sofa.

Driving a diesel pusher is a dream, and the Anthem kicks it up a notch. The Anthem’s Spartan K2 chassis has independent front suspension on a 20,000-pound front axle that handles bumps and ruts as though they aren’t even there. The tag axle adds considerable stability, especially when the coach is beset with crosswinds and 18-wheeler bow wakes. The EZ-Steer steering mechanism takes the effort out of handling the wheel and adds yet more stability in crosswinds. A two-speed engine compression brake assists the air brakes to bring this 45-foot coach to a stop in short order.

The Spartan digital dash can be configured by the user, and the backup camera is augmented by a complete 360-degree camera system that gives the driver a bird’s-eye view of the RV and its surroundings on a large, split-screen view. An Xite XS63 radio system with Bluetooth is built into the steering wheel.

With a $576,848 suggested base price, the Anthem is one of five luxury diesel Entegra models for 2021, topped only by the Cornerstone. It comes with a two-year/24,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year limited structural warranty. As expected at this price point, the coach shines in seemingly every area.

Further Info

Jayco Inc.
(574) 825-5861
www.jayco.com

Entegra Coach Inc.

(800) 517-9137
www.entegracoach.com