Jayco’s largest and most luxurious Type C gas-powered motorhome line continues to evolve with new decor, appliances, and features.
By Bruce W. Smith
February 2024
When a camper van is too small for an RV enthusiast’s travel needs, and a Type A motorhome is too big, turning to the middle ground for a home away from home is what makes Type C offerings like the 2024 Jayco Greyhawk so popular.
The RV giant’s luxury brand of gas-powered coaches, built on the Ford E-450 chassis, has been around for more than 20 years. Like the platform they ride on, Greyhawk RVs continue to get even nicer as the lineup evolves, with new technology and minor design changes for the 2024 model year.
A prime example of the 2024 Greyhawk motorhomes is the 32-foot-6-inch 29MV that I walked through at Bish’s RV in Junction City, Oregon. The 29MV floor plan includes two street-side slideouts; the rear one contains the east-west bedroom, while the center slideout holds the tri-fold sofa (or optional power theater seating) and the dinette. The 29MV is a wonderful floor plan for those who want a floor-to-ceiling wall cabinet with split closets in the bedroom, a shower separate from the rest of the bathroom, and the option to upgrade from a 10-cubic-foot fridge to a double-door 15-cubic-foot model.
SUBTLE EXTERIOR CHANGES
An astute eye will note the 2024 Greyhawk’s new cleaner, less busy full-body-paint design. When full-body paint is not used, the coach’s conventional exterior graphics package also sports an updated design for the new model year. The unit incorporates a fiberglass front cap and frameless windows.
Traditional Type C coaches have always been a little shy on exterior storage, because the chassis they are built on don’t have the voids or height to accommodate spacious compartments like those on a Type A. The Greyhawks are no different. The perimeter has just enough exterior compartments to hold the requisite water hoses, power cords, wheel chocks, leveling blocks, tools, and sewer hoses for basic on- or off-grid camping. In addition, a small pass-through compartment beneath the bedroom can carry a few longer, bulkier items, such as fishing poles and golf clubs.
COMFORTABLE INTERIOR DÉCOR
More changes await on the inside. Greyhawk interior designers have always made good use of internal space to store stuff. Stepping inside reveals several improvements in flooring, décor, and appliances from the previous model years.
The 2024 model now utilizes a 12-volt 10-cubic-foot refrigerator instead of the 8-cubic-foot propane/electric version in prior models. The 29MV can also accommodate an optional 15-cubic-foot 12-volt fridge, which was in the model I walked through. The double-door fridge option ($2,843) is a great upgrade for those planning an extended road trip, especially with a full complement of family and friends riding along.
Another change from the previous year is the use of stainless-steel Furrion-brand appliances, which really gives the 2024 Greyhawk interior a richer, more upscale feel, not to mention making cleanups a little easier. The residential-sized microwave, cooktop, conventional oven, and deep dual-basin stainless sink provide a comfortable working area for taking care of meals, be that fixing a quick snack or cooking full dinners.
Speaking of the interior, Jayco designers continue to offer two décor options. The Dover design features dark wood tones; Modern Farmhouse, with lighter painted wood hues, is optional ($443). The model I checked out had the Farmhouse décor, which warms and brightens the whole interior of this coach.
DESIGNED FOR ENTERTAINMENT
Sitting on the standard 60-inch tri-fold sofa, it’s easy to watch the TV, which is mounted in the outside corner of the cab-over bunk near the entry door and can be swiveled outward for viewing in the living room/kitchen area. (This coach also had a second TV, a $383 option, in the bedroom.)
Instead of traditional wallboard, the cab-over area contains a custom-molded ABS surround with built-in storage cubbies. Company officials note this presents a more attractive look and is super durable.
If you want to swap out the standard tri-fold sofa and give up the added sleeping space in exchange for theater seating, featuring a middle armrest with cupholders, just tick the option box. It’ll add $743 to the MSRP.
A third sleeping area is provided by the convertible 42-inch-by-70-inch dinette, which is located in the same street-side slideout as the sofa. This is a handy space for youngsters if they aren’t comfortable hanging out in the cab-over bunk.
By the way, the captains chairs in the cab area swivel, too, so when the driving is done and it’s time to enjoy the company, both chairs can be turned around to join in the living room conversation.
BED AND BATH
One of the interesting features of the 29MV Greyhawk floor plan is how the designers placed the roomy 30-inch-by-36-inch shower across the narrow hallway from the rest of the bathroom. The shower has a big skylight and an adjustable showerhead, so it’ll accommodate a wide range of users. The private toilet room contains a small sink and vanity, as well as a medicine cabinet.
What I found interesting was the dark wood on the cabinetry in the bathroom and on the bedroom wall closet. I expected the woodwork in the bathroom and bedroom to carry the same light wood color as the Modern Farmhouse décor of the living area and kitchen. (But that’s why I’m an RV writer and not an interior designer.)
Storage space for clothes and other items is handled by a beautiful full-width, floor-to-ceiling enclosure in the bedroom on the wall opposite the slideout that houses the queen bed. The wall unit features shirt closets with mirrored doors that flank a nice array of drawers outfitted with chrome-rail handles. Two additional drawers are located under each closet. More storage space is avail-able under the flip-up bed and in a trio of smaller cabinets over the head of the bed.
RUNNING HOT ’N COLD
Many people purchase a new RV with plans to use it year-round. The 2024 Greyhawk 29MV is well-suited for this. All Greyhawks are built using one-piece fiberglass roofs with bead-foam insulation that has an R-value of 24, plus R-9 insulation in the floor and R-5 insulation in the walls. They also come with heated holding tanks, which are equipped with 12-volt heating pads; a 30,000-Btu furnace; and a 15,000-Btu air-conditioner with heat pump.
This particular Greyhawk 29MV was optioned out with dual 13,500-Btu A/Cs ($1,193), with the second unit in the bedroom; this should interest RVers who might venture to hotter, more humid climates during the summer. Although the Jayco Type Cs incorporate good insulation, they can benefit from a second bedroom A/C.
OFF-GRID POWER TO SPARE
To accommodate extended stays when not connected to a 30-amp local power grid, Jayco’s Greyhawk designers include a roof-mounted 200-watt solar panel and charging system with a dual controller and a second house battery as part of the standard fare.
Another standard feature is the super-quiet, fuel-efficient 4,000-watt propane-powered generator, which is located in the forward compartment under the street-side living room slideout. It provides enough output to easily run the 29MV’sdual A/Cs on the hottest of days when camping off the grid.
MOVIN’ DOWN THE ROAD
Jayco designers also take pride in using Ford’s gasoline-powered E-450 cab chassis, a stalwart plat-form for Type C motorhomes. With a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,500 pounds, the Greyhawk rolls easily down the highway behind the 325 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque put out by the Ford 7.3-liter V-8 engine.
Driving is further simplified by the six-speed TorqShift automatic transmission with overdrive. Com-bined with the bucket seats and built-in safety features (side-view and rearview cameras, traction control, stability control, etc.), the driver can comfortably enjoy the road trip.
Towing is also something Greyhawk Type Cs do well. If you need to pull a dinghy or trailer, the Greyhawks come with a 7,500-pound-rated Class III receiver hitch with 750-pound tongue capacity.
SUPERIOR TYPE C SUSPENSION PACKAGE
While many of today’s Type C motorhomes feel a little like a boat in rolling seas when going down the highway, the Greyhawks handle more like sports cars. The 2024 models are set up with Jayco’s JRide Plus suspension, which takes the stock Ford E-450 chassis and upgrades it using Koni FSD shock absorbers, a computer-balanced driveshaft, rubber isolation mounts, Hellwig helper springs in the rear, and a standard front stabilizer bar and heavy-duty rear stabilizer bar. (JRide Plus is included in the mandatory $9,000 Customer Value Package when you purchase a Greyhawk.)
These suspension upgrades, according to Jayco, greatly reduce the wallowing and floating sensations experienced while driving some Type C motorhomes, firming out the ride to provide a pleasant travel experience for all aboard.
Fuel economy for a 7.3-liter Type C typically hovers between 8 to 9 mpg, giving a driving range of around 400 miles between fill-ups. This motorhome’s size and design will most likely provide the same range from its 55-gallon fuel tank.
Overall, walking through this 2024 Jayco Greyhawk 29MV and studying the long list of features and improvements that come with the new model gave me confidence it will provide decades of stellar service to any RVers who settle on this unit as their Type C coach of choice.
SPECIFICATIONS | 2024 JAYCO GREYHAWK 29MV
MANUFACTURER
Jayco Inc., 903 S. Main St., Middlebury, IN 46540; www.jayco.com; (574) 825-5861
MODEL
2024 Greyhawk
FLOOR PLAN
29MV
CHASSIS
Ford E-450
ENGINE
7.3-liter V-8; 325 horsepower; 450 pound-feet torque
TRANSMISSION
TorqShift six-speed automatic
TIRES
LT225/75R16
WHEELBASE
223 inches
BRAKES
power, antilock
ALTERNATOR
210 amps
BATTERIES
chassis — (1) 12-volt;
house — (2) 12-volt
ELECTRICAL SERVICE
30 amps
EXTERIOR LENGTH
32 feet 6 inches
EXTERIOR HEIGHT
11 feet 8 inches (with satellite and A/C)
EXTERIOR WIDTH
100 inches
INTERIOR HEIGHT
7 feet
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING
14,500 pounds
GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR)
22,000 pounds
OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY (OCCC)
approx. 3,170 pounds
HOLDING TANKS
fresh water — 47 gallons;
gray water — 41 gallons;
black water — 32 gallons
FUEL CAPACITY
55 gallons
PROPANE CAPACITY
56 pounds
WATER HEATER
6-gallon propane/electric DSI
HEATING SYSTEM
30,000-Btu furnace
AIR CONDITIONING
(1) 15,000-Btu unit with heat pump, standard; (1) additional 15,000-Btu unit, optional
REFRIGERATOR
12-volt 10-cubic-foot, stainless steel; 12-volt 15-cubic-foot, optional
WARRANTY
coach — 2 years limited; 3 years structural
MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE (MSRP)
$178,043
MSRP AS REVIEWED
$185,741