Advice about used Pop-Up Jayco J1406

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Mark Williams - 09 Nov 2004 15:16 GMT

A friend is selling a 1991 Jayco J1406. Has the king on the back over
the 2' storage locker. Furnace with electronic ignition, 10 gal
storage tank, 3 way frig, deep cell battery, weight is 1800lb (?) and
has dual axels. And surge brakes. Bearings were just re-packed.
Selling to get a 5th wheel. They want $3000, is that fair? located
in Wisconsin.

We have used a few pop-ups in the past with single axels, what is the
advantage of dual? One we used had a trunk home made on the back and
after getting on the freeway with that full of wood, I had to pull
over and move the wood into the back of the blazer and move a buch of
stuff around due to the sway.

I have a 1998 S-10 Blazer with a tranny cooler. It also has a factory
sway bar.

We are planning to look at it this weekend. We saw pictures and they
look good. What should we be looking for with this age/model pop-up?

Thanks for your advice.

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Jim Redelfs - 10 Nov 2004 02:26 GMT

> A friend is selling a 1991 Jayco J1406. Has the king on the back over
> the 2' storage locker. Furnace with electronic ignition, 10 gal
> storage tank, 3 way frig, deep cell battery, weight is 1800lb (?) and
> has dual axels.

Tandem axles under a fully-loaded, 14-ft popup and only "1800" pounds? In
their dreams. Loaded for camping it will probably weigh well over 3,000-lbs.

> They want $3000, is that fair?

Dunno. For an almost 14-year-old camper, it would have to be in PERFECT
condition and EVERYTHING would have to work for that kinda $$.

> We have used a few pop-ups in the past with single axels, what is the
> advantage of dual?

They can carry more WEIGHT. Tandem axles also improve safety somewhat in the
event of a tire failure.

> One we used had a trunk home made on the back and after getting on the
> freeway with that full of wood, I had to pull over and move the wood into
> the back of the blazer and move a buch of stuff around due to the sway.

No doubt.

> I have a 1998 S-10 Blazer with a tranny cooler.

Hopefully it also has the 4.3L V6 engine.

> What should we be looking for with this age/model pop-up?

Assuming it is already set up when you arrive, have them take it down - then
set it back up. Have them operate all systems (water, furnace, refrigerator,
lights, etc). Walk carefully around the interior and place most of your
weight on ONE foot has you feel for SOFT/mushy spots in the floor.

Use your nose when first entering. It should not have a musty smell.

Good luck!
:)
JR

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Keith Williams - 10 Nov 2004 03:10 GMT

Mark,
Go to nadaguides.com and you can get the value of the PU for yourself. I
entered the options you listed on that years model and this is what I got:

Low Retail Average Retail
Base Price

$1,580 $1,900
Options

16 BTU Heater W/ Elect. Ign: $65 $80
3-Way Refrigerator: $70 $85
Hydraulic Surge Brakes: $60 $75

TOTAL PRICE $1,775 $2,140
It may include more options than listed here but I would surely use this is
a guide to begin negotiations...Down t a more resonable level.
HTH,
Keith

> A friend is selling a 1991 Jayco J1406. Has the king on the back over
> the 2' storage locker. Furnace with electronic ignition, 10 gal
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Thanks for your advice.

Reply to this Message

Jai - 10 Nov 2004 14:35 GMT

Double check on your towing capacity for your Blazer. We have a 1995 Jimmy
with the V-6 and if this camper weighs as much as JR thinks it does (and I
would tend to agree) then you are probably pushing your towing limit after
you add in all the people and other camping stuff.

Jaimie

> A friend is selling a 1991 Jayco J1406. Has the king on the back over
> the 2' storage locker. Furnace with electronic ignition, 10 gal
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Thanks for your advice.

Reply to this Message

meldx - 10 Nov 2004 16:49 GMT

>I have a 1998 S-10 Blazer with a tranny cooler. It also has a factory
> sway bar.

Factory Sway Bar ??? on a truck!! never seen that... maybe you meant
Factory Hitch Receiver ??

Mel

Jai a écrit:

> Double check on your towing capacity for your Blazer. We have a 1995 Jimmy
> with the V-6 and if this camper weighs as much as JR thinks it does (and I
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
> ---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

Reply to this Message

Jim Redelfs - 10 Nov 2004 21:29 GMT

> >I have a 1998 S-10 Blazer with a tranny cooler. It also has a factory
> > sway bar.
>
> Factory Sway Bar ??? on a truck!! never seen that... maybe you meant
> Factory Hitch Receiver ??

Nah. He probably meant a "stabilizer bar". You know what/where they are: It
appears to parallel the axle, below it, and "wrap around" the differential.
That stuff comes from the factory with some sport/offroad/whatever option
package.

:)
JR

Reply to this Message

Jim Redelfs - 10 Nov 2004 21:39 GMT

> Double check on your towing capacity for your Blazer. We have a 1995 Jimmy
> with the V-6 and if this camper weighs as much as JR thinks it does (and I
> would tend to agree) then you are probably pushing your towing limit after
> you add in all the people and other camping stuff.

Agreed. :)

If he does NOT have the 4.3 engine, he should run, not walk, away from that
monstrous trailer. Either that or buy stock in AAMCO Transmission (or save up
for a new tranny, whichever is more appealing).

Having done it personally for two seasons, towing *RIGHT AT* the max, even
though within factory limits, is NO fun at all. :(

Depending on the rear drive differential ratio, *IF* he has the 4.6L V6, I'll
bet the Blazer could tow his intended camper. Based on the comparatively
SHORT wheelbase of the Blazer, however, he will have to be particularly
conscious of the tendency to trailer sway.

...and this is NO rig to sway: There's NO trailer brake controller inside the
tow vehicle - the trailer has surge brakes.

My 1997 S10 with the aforementioned V6 engine was rated to tow 5,000-lbs.
There were a few Astro vans (same platform), I recall, that were rated to pull
6,000-lbs.

The tandem axle, 14-ft box Jayco is an AWESOME camper. All that ROOM and low
towing profile. This is about as good as pop-upping gets, IMHO.

:)
JR

Reply to this Message

Mark Williams - 11 Nov 2004 14:39 GMT

You guys are right, it is a stabilizer bar. Sorry for the confusion.

I have the 4.3 liter v6. 5000lb towing capacity. Large transmission
cooler.

I also called the local Jayco dealer and he verified the weight of the
huge 14' pop-up to be 1800lb, which I will verify on the tag when I
look at the camper Saturday. The bottom of the NADA page says that if
the camper is in good shape you can get more money. It has a newer
frige, newer tires and spare, bearings were repacked this spring. The
only things missing that I would have liked is an awning which looks
reasonable on e-bay, and I would have prefered the trunk on the front.
But based on the price and what is availiable around me this is the
best deal. I saw some newer with less features and smaller, and some
older same features that needed work.

I will be sure to keep plenty of weight on the rear axle.

Thanks for the help!

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Steph - 12 Nov 2004 16:55 GMT

> You guys are right, it is a stabilizer bar. Sorry for the confusion.
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Thanks for the help!

Never under-estimate the value of a small 8' camper as well.
You didn't give any background on your camping style, or entourage.
We switched from a 12' to a 10' even with 6 people.

Also remember, sometimes even free is too expensive. Maybe it is a good
deal, maybe not -- but if you pay $3k for a used trailer and don't like
it the odds of re-selling it without a loss don't look good.

Can't you still get a basic 8' or 10' for around $3500 with heat? I
paid $5500 and it is loaded.

Reply to this Message

asadi.... - 29 Nov 2004 22:31 GMT

You will be paying 'top' dollar, without even shopping around.

john

> > You guys are right, it is a stabilizer bar. Sorry for the confusion.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> Can't you still get a basic 8' or 10' for around $3500 with heat? I
> paid $5500 and it is loaded.

Reply to this Message

hotshot - 13 Nov 2004 17:56 GMT

WAY TOO MUCH!!! RUN LIKE THE WIND!!!

>A friend is selling a 1991 Jayco J1406. Has the king on the back over
> the 2' storage locker. Furnace with electronic ignition, 10 gal
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Thanks for your advice.

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